DIEP 2011

JustLaura

Misszed - Could it be the way your are sleeping or maybe unconsciously holding your body? I find I'm constantly hunching my shoulders (I'm not sure if it is for protection or discomfort) but I have to remind myself to get those shoulders back. Maybe you are doing something similar that is hurting your neck? If you could identify it maybe you could stop it?

IowaSue45

Sue from Fl. is up next her time is finally here!!! I am so excited for her. Prayers Sue ((((( HUGS))))) and a ton of positive energy sent your way for a perfect surgery and speedy recovery .

IowaSue45

I would have to say the sleeping on your back for 6 weeks is probably the biggest pain of the hinney of the whole surgery

mscal02

misszed; I had to sleep on two flat pillows with my shoulders pretty much half way on them.I still sleep on the two flat pillows eventhough I can sleep on my sides.

wolfe33

mamaoftwo- I filed a complaint and had my medical records and the op report pulled.  Believe it or not, no one did anything wrong.  There were no signs that there were any problems until I woke up and complained of jaw pain.  The hospital has been awesome and is paying for all visits to any Dr's about the jaw pain.  It is more that I am just frustrated and would love to EAT!!!  It turns out that this happens sometimes...it can even happen at a dentist appointment, but you are awake to tell them that your mouth is open to wide...I was not.

misszed: you are right around the corner from me!  Anyway, I did have neck pain and I used hot and cold, alternating, and after about a week of that (and a Valium) my neck pain went away.  My PS said that I was walking, sitting and just holding myself differently after the surgery and it caused my muscles to be 'out of whack'....that's why he gave me a Valium.  Only took one...and the hot and cold packs and now back to normal!

treesprite

I talked to Susan last night; she has all her pre-op visits today and on to surgery tomorrow. I'll post as soon as I hear anything from her family. She has been such a fantastic support to all of us, all that good karma should count towards a super smooth surgery and recovery!

alexanjb

Yes, best wishes to Susan.  She has gone above and beyond in keeping track of all of us. 

 & Thanks Treesprite for checking on her and keeping us posted.

alexanjb

I had neck pain after the Mx.  I was told it was probably from positioning during the surgery.  My BS prescribed Flexeril, a muscle relaxer, and I used it for a short time to get the knots out.  If it goes on too long without relief maybe you can get an Rx.

c8ndygr1

Susan, wishing you the best surgery and smoothest recovery ever. You stuck it out with the rest of us and now we are all here for you and sending you potent healing vibes. Soon you will be on the other side, waiting for Stage 2 like us. Hope to hear how you are doing as soon as you or your family can let us know. Sweet dreams!

IowaSue45

My friend and I getting ready to ride her pink john deere trac. in a local parade.

Kay_G

Hi everyone!  I am having a MX with immediate DIEP on Aug. 17.  Should have started on this thread a little earlier, but I guess was too busy with Chemo and could only think about one thing at a time.  Does anyone have any advice for me?  Is there anything I should buy before surgery that I will really need in the hospital or after at home?  Any advice would be appreciated. 

Wolfe33, that is awful!  I see you are from West Chester.  What hospital did you have your surgery at?  I hope not HUP, that is where I am having mine.  Hope you're feeling better every day and able to eat soon.

SAMayoFL

Hey ladies, I am posting fromy new iPhone in the hospital waiting room. I had all kinds of thoughts I wanted to share last night but never had the time. I am calm. Xanax andatharitas have done an amazing job helping with that!! LOL! I am getting ready to pass to the other side! Please send me your thoughts or prayers and hope that everything goes smoothly and I am one hot sexy granny when I wake up. I love each of youy sisters. Off to be DIEPed!

RetiredLibby

Good luck, Susan! I will be thinking about you today and sending good vibes to you and your surgeon!



L

RetiredLibby

Hi, Kay1963! I am a newcomer to this thread, too -- dx with a recurrence of DCIS June 24 and whisked through the process ... Scheduled for BMX (right prophy) with immediate DIEP on August 23. I have read all of the pages in this thread and I took notes of questions to ask my medical team. They said I was the most prepared patient they had ever seen ... So this thead is a wealth of information! Thanks, ladies!



L

momtomygirls

thinking of you today Susan

sending lots of positive vibes!!

mscal02

Susan: Be Blessed today! I will be praying for you and your doctors and everyone concerned with your surgery. Don't forget, once you have had the juice, you will wake up on the other side with new breasts.

Kay1963: There is a wealth of information on these pages. You may have to go back a few pages, but we have made it through by sharing our experiences.

Kay_G

Good luck Susan!  Saying a prayer everything goes perfectly and your recovery is swift and easy.

Thanks for the advice.  I will go back and read prior pages!

NotAfraid

Thinking of Susan today.  New Foobs Soon!!!

Sherryc

Prayers going your way Susan.  Hope you wake up one hot granny!!!!!!!!!!!

bdavis

hi susan... hope you are all done by now... keep us posted.

so... I was having lung pain last night so I went to see my primary... he sent me for some nuclear testing to rule out a clot... took all afternoon... wasn't planning on that... but better safe than sorry... all is good, no clot, but now I wonder why i had the pain???

misszed

OH THANK YOU LADIES for the tips, my neck is getting better after alternating cold and hot compresses. I also found that reducing the # of pillows is helping (down to 2 from a wedge plus 4 reg pillows LOL).

Wolfe33- I do come to WC from time to time, we should get together one of these days!

SUSAN FL- I am praying for your quick recovery, can't wait to hear from you (((hugs)))

mrsnjband

I had 2 checkups in the last week.  Breast specialist & MO got good reports from both.  Really good news is my hgb was 12.2! That is the first time since chemo that it has been above 12, woohoo!

Had my DIEP class where you get general info about it. I meet with the PS next week & bloodwork on Friday.  I can hardly believe I am 10 days away.

Still organizing the house.  A friend is coming Saturday to help me finish the garage & deep clean down stairs.  If I have to sleep in my recliner, I will rest better knowing it is clean.  Nesting still  

misszed, I woke up my mx with neck pain.  It took forever to go away.  I think they dissloted a disk some how during surgery. It is better now but I have to be careful how I sleep on that side.

treesprite

Hi Everyone!

Susan's husband called me this afternoon - She is through with flying colors!!

She went in at 7:30 am and was out of surgery at 4 pm -  8 1/2 hours for a bilateral diep, one side delayed and one side immediate. Her surgical team said everything went super smooth! 

Hooray for you and your team, Susan!!  I'm so happy for you!

Kathy /  Treesprite

treesprite

Hi Everyone!

Susan's husband called me this afternoon - She is through with flying colors!!

She went in at 7:30 am and was out of surgery at 4 pm -  8 1/2 hours for a bilateral diep, one side delayed and one side immediate. Her surgical team said everything went super smooth! 

Hooray for you and your team, Susan!!  I'm so happy for you!

Kathy /  Treesprite

wolfe33

kay1963- I had my surgery at CCH here in West Chester.....I want to say that I LOVE the hospital.  The nursing staff was amazing both in ICU and surgical floor...my PS is AWESOME.......but I do still hold a tiny grudge against the anesthesiologist.

misszed- I would love to!  I live right in the borough- lots of fun places to have dinner or drinks in town.  I could use some girl time!!!  

I am feeling good today and so happy that I went the DIEP route!  A woman that I work with is going through a tough time with infection from TE's.  I feel horrible for her.  DIEP has been such a blessing...I can't wait for stage ll.  I am soooooooo ready.

Sending happy thoughts and good vibes to all!

sueper13

I had my DIEP in 2009, after a left mastectomy, chemo and rads.  Had right prophy mast with my DIEP.  Had a seroma about one month after surgery, some healing problems along the way (no infections, just slow healing) and seven revision surgeries.  I have felt RESTORED since waking up after the first surgery.  If you're in or near Dallas, I know a great plastic surgeon.

The tummy issues, the loss of sensation, slowly resolving as time goes by. You have to get used to dressing a whole different body, but it does all get easier with time.  Sometimes I go days without remembering that I "don't" have breasts!

Best of luck to all and hang in there!!!

Sue

RetiredLibby

Ladies,

Just had my pre-surgery consultation with the physical therapist my PS asked me to have.  She went over lymphedema risk with SNB and gave me some exercises to do pre- and post-surgery. 

I'm finding that I am a little freaked-out at the restrictions on movement for up to 6 weeks ... only moving arms at 45-degree angle toyour body for 2 weeks, no lifting your arms higher than shoulder-height for 6 weeks, no "recruitment" of abs for 6 weeks, no lifting of anything at all -- AT ALL, she emphasized -- for 3 weeks and only up to 10 lbs after that for another 3 weeks  ...  how do you comb your hair?  Wash your hair?  Brush your teeth?  I know it is only temporary, but I am a little freaked-out nonetheless. 

How did you all do with the movement restrictions?  how did you do what needed to be done just for personal hygiene (coming your hair!) with the restrictions? 

Thanks,

L

Shellyann

I am now 17 days post op bilateral DIEP and I am having tightness above my incision...actually about in the middle of my stomach. It is like the muscle is balled up below my breast and above my belly button. I am also on zyvox for an infection. They are treating it as if it is MRSA because the other two antibiotics didn't have any effect. It is not an open wound....just swelling and redness on the recent mx side. Low grade fever and a bit achy. Today I see less redness so day 2 of zyvox shows promise.

Anyone have these issues?

SAMayoFL

I am finally a member of the 2hotboobs.com club. I would have posted sooner but I didn't have glasses and couldn't see my phone. At rest, I am on very little pain. Getting up out of bed was far harder than I thought. I am finally safely on the other side and soon great. I will share more later!

Kay_G

Wonderful Susan!  Congrats on being on the other side.  I am scheduled on Aug. 17.  Hope your recovery is swift and easy.  Kay