Diep 2012

dressager

I have what I consider to be ample belly fat and was also told that there's not enough to give me two full C cup breasts (my current size). I opted to go with smaller breasts.

 Texas, sure, I understand about privacy. No big deal--there are loads of DIEP pics on the web... but one never knows what will happen in their own case; I'm trying not to have any expectations based on the photos I've seen.

Good luck with your surgery. My BMx is tomorrow morning and my anxiety levels are pretty high. 

TexasRose

Oh wow, I didn't realize your MX was so soon! I do understand the high anxiety levels! Prayers, good thoughts...whatever you want, you got it! I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

I hear ya on the photos. I saw plenty of pics too before I signed up for the photo site here. Which was actually just a few months ago when I decided to do the DIEP. I'd been around a long time without seeing it. You are right. There are plenty of pics out there on the web and yes, we are all different anyway. Seems like every DIEP picture I see looks different.

I would strongly encourage you to take pics of yourself though. I wish I had three years ago before I had the first uni MX. I did take some yesterday of my current look.

goldlining

The length of surgery was certainly something that gave me trepidation beforehand, but in reality it was a non-issue for me -- except for how supremely relaxed I felt afterwards. My surgery was one side mastectomy plus bilateral DIEP. I was at the hospital at 06:00 and still awake at 08:30 and the next thing I knew it was about 7:30 pm, some of which could have been snoozy time in Recovery. There was a BS for the mx, and a PS for the DIEP, assisted by his three fellows. I guess in a non-teaching hospital, the staff availability could extend the time if someone had no extra hands. They give you advice based on what they can do best, and if they're good at their way, that should give you a lot of comfort.

I thought I had ample fat too, but the PS was emphatic afterwards that I wasn't that fat. The weight of each breast is 2/3 of the weight of the removed breast, and they removed quite a lot of vertical height. (The cool things you can read on the OR report!) I am sooooooo happy with that. I hated the size I was. Am also pleased to have donated the baby weight to the cause!

The use of the flap skin vs spared skin doesn't make much difference to me. Once the scars fade, I don't know that there will be much difference, and certainly not with clothes on, which is how most people (fortunately) see me. I would have preferred bilateral immediate just because it's more efficient, but that ship sailed before I had the chance to have an opinion, and when all is said and done as far as the appearance down the line, it's no biggie to me. 

TexasRose

My surgery is estimated to be about 8 hours. I will have two PS, one on each side. My surgery is like goldlining- the left breast is already gone, so they will remove the right and do DIEP on both. I'm at a teaching hospital and I specifically asked my PS if he personally would be performing the surgery. I absolutely loved my BS, but I don't believe for one minute that she actually performed my MX. He assured me that he would be doing it. He said he trained for a year to do these surgeries and he would most definitely be doing it himself. Well, him and the other PS who is also trained for it. There has been no mention of a BS, so I am assuming that one of them will do the MX on the right. My BS has left the hospital, so I do know it won't be her.

I didn't have a choice either on bilateral. My hospital will not do reconstruction while you are in active treatment. They say studies show there is increased risk of infection. I didn't have any choice but to agree because it wasn't an option they gave me and honestly, at the time, I didn't care. After I went through chemo and clinical trials, I was tired of being a patient and decided I didn't want to do any recon. Now, three years later, I am tired of being lopsided and wearing that awful prosthesis. 

Tomorrow is going to be a long day.   

goldlining

Have a good sleep TexasRose, both surgery eve and S-day!

TexasRose

Thanks goldlining, I actually did sleep pretty well last night. Took care of some last minute things today. The house is clean. My bag is packed. I've taken my sleepy meds and I'm heading to bed soon. I'm a little nervous, but oddly more calm than I have been in days. I'm sure I will be a nervous wreck in the morning, but I am taking my little friend Vitamin X before I head up to the hospital. My husband, sister, mom and at least one of my brothers will be there so I have a lot of help.

I'll check in when I can.

dressager, I've been thinking of you and hoping your BMX went well!

Healing hugs to all!

Mary

kim40

Hello ladies, is there room for me on this board?  I will be having a diep done sometime in the near future but here is a little history on me. 

You can read the jist of in on my signature line.  I had my left breast removed January 2009.  I had my right breast removed in November 2011 with reconstruction at the same time.  I had TE's placed, but was told a couple of weeks ago that it has failed on my left side due to heavy doses of radiation.  PS gave me some options and I have opted for the diep.  he tells me that I won't have to wait too long as he feels bad for me that the TE's failed so I'm hoping that I will get my date by the end of the week.

Has anyone else been down this road?

Nice to meet you all!

bdavis

Welcome Kim... A lot of women have been down that path.. A woman Michelle on the NOLA in September thread has also posted pictures on the photo gallery.

Likeachickadee

hi everyone,
'm a week out of BMX w DIEPand was on the table 11 hrs. So hard to believe its been a week already. I'm hoping to get at least a couple drains out tomorrow as well as the Q pump that kept my tummy numb for most of the week but is now causing pain at the entry points.



Post surgery nausea was bad for the first 36 hrs and I was discharged on the 3rd postoperative day. The first day out of bed I couldn't imagine going home 2 days later but each day shows improvement and renewed strength.



My flat tummy is fantastic and my noobs look to be about the same D that they were. Everyone is astonished at how great they look. The most pain Im feeling has been under my arms and the swollen sides of the noobs.

Cherrie

I am scheduled for a diep/hip flap in NOLA in mid August. I look at all of these posts and take notes. I am at the thousand questions phase. Thanks for sharing everyone.

Mom2JJ

All, I am joining this forum for the first time. I was scheduled for a BMX and a DIEP on 12/27/12 but a node came back positive and the DIEP came to a crashing halt. The PS inserted TEs and put everything else on hold. I have just finished my first round of chemo with three more to go (taxotere/cytoxin) and then 6-8 weeks of radiation, then recovery, and then, finally, a DIEP. I can't wait to get rid of these TEs!



Dr. Stephen Davison in D.C. is my PS. Has anyone else used him? Stephanie Akbari is my BS. I will say they have done a fantastic job thus far. They spared my skin and my nipples and I have just a single vertical scar under each nipple. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a final favorable result. Dr. Davison has assured me he can return my C cup (just a 34C) by using my ab fat and a follow-up surgery taking some other fat as well. (I apparently have enough ab fat for one perfect breast but not for two.)



I will be following this thread for the next few months. In the meantime, I wish you all well with your DIEPs!

bdavis

Mom2JJ... Your diagnosis sounds very similar to mine... I did not have radiation though as all 4 of my doctors agreed it was not necessary with a BMX and chemo. I did 6 rounds of TC. I was also told I did not have enough belly fat, so I got Hip flaps instead... and then had a problem and then had DIEP to redo the right side.

Mom2JJ

Betsy, unfortunately, there was a dispute over my margins and when all was said and done, multiple RO concluded that radiation is necessary. Even worse, they will radiate my entire right breast instead of just part of it. I guess the good news is that I should not have a local recurrence with this plan. I only have to do four rounds of TC.



I am sticking to the DIEP because I don't want to lose any muscle if I can prevent it -- although I know that the DIEP might not work as well. I gather that your DIEP is ok now?

RetiredLibby

Mom2JJ - Stephanie Akbari was my BS as well!  I had a skin-sparing, nipple-sparing BMX last August (on earthquake day) with immediate DIEP recon using Dr. Mazen Bedri.  I have single horizontal scars on the sides of my noobs and circling half around under my nipples.  I am going for my Stage II on Friday.  Dr. Bedri is great -- the reaction of people who have seen my noobs, even though I haven't even had Stage II yet, is "Wow!"

Will you have your rads in Arlington or DC?

L 

bdavis

Mom2JJ... My breasts are both great... Today I went to get a seroma aspirated and all the doctors and nurses were loving my breasts... the nurse told me she had never seen such great reconstruction.

dressager

Thanks for the good wishes, Texas. My BMx was no problem. I couldn't wait to get out of the hospital yesterday and spent two hours at the barn today (no riding--just coaching). I can tell I'll be bored out of my mind until my DIEP surgery.

 Thinking of you and sending all good wishes for a great reconstruction! Check in when you can.

Mom2JJ

HappyLibby, I will have rads in Arlington with Dr. Hong (spelling may be incorrect), What about you?

RetiredLibby

Oh, Bobby Hong!  Yep!  I didn't have rads with him -- I had rads with his predecessor, the doctor who established the radiation oncology department at Arlington Hospital about a zillion years ago -- Dr. Lundeen.  My first dx was in 2007, and I had 28 regulars and 8 boosts then.  I had my first lumpectomy there with Dr. Ken Mason.  I recurred last year, and had my bmx with Dr. Akbari.  I love Arlington Hospital -- I live about 6 blocks away, so I walked to the hospital, got zapped, and walked over to Glebe Road to catch the bus to work.  Arlington Hospital does very good work!

L

Mom2JJ

dressager, I ride too, but haven't been on a horse since my BMX/TE in late December. I'm afraid to go to the barn to ride while I am having chemo and the weather is cold, but I can't wait to get back in the saddle. I ride dressage too. I don't have any real show experience, but ride fairly solid Prix St. George and can do all Grand Prix movements except 2-tempis and 1-tempis on a push-button horse. I can't manage everything on a less trained horse, but am working on it. I can't move my legs fast enough yet for 1 and 2 tempis on any horse, though, even a push-button one. What about you?

Mom2JJ

That's good to hear. My surgery was there and my DIEP will be there as well. I'm also doing chemo there along with rads. Do you work in Arlington or D.C.? I work in D.C. and live in Great Falls, although we just bought a house in Leesburg and are moving there soon.

RetiredLibby

I work in Arlington, too (in Rosslyn).  I used to work in the District but got a great opportunity in Rosslyn about 8 years ago, so QOL has been fabulous ... I can even walk to work when I'm energetic enough (it is 5 miles downhill -- I'm not walking 5 miles back UP that hill!).  I have lived here in DC metro for 33 years and have been going to Arlington just about that long.  They are highly recommended -- my PCP practices at Fairfax, but his nurse recommends Arlington every time because Fairfax is such a mill.

Great Falls/Leesburg to DC -- what a commute for you!

L

AnnAlive

HappyLibby & Mom2JJ - How interesting to hear Arlington Hospital mentioned (especially since it isn't named that any more). I was an RN there during the 80s -- Labor & Delivery + Newborn Nursery, and then IT dept. I don't know the doctors you mention -- they were probably in high school or even younger then - ha. I also lived close to the hospital, on Inglewood. More recently...DH & I also lived in northern VA and owned a house in Leesburg (in Potomac Station) 6 years ago, just before moving to FL where we are now.

I hadn't commented on this thread yet because my reconstruction plans are uncertain (I'm reading a lot, though). I'm in rads now, planning on DIEP flap recon, hopefully in July. I was on my way to implants, but lost a TE to infection. Now that this side is getting rads, it's not a good candidate for a TE/implant again, thus the change in plans. I hope to go to NOLA, but I'm stalled for another month in setting a date, until I can upgrade my insurance and determine coverage.

Betsy - I've been following your progress, particularly because of all your NOLA experience. So glad you're doing well and have medical staff raving about your results!

bdavis

Ann.. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about NOLA.. have you checked out the NOLA in September thread?

RetiredLibby

AnnAlive -- I am one of those old fuddy-duddies who continues to call old things by old names ... Arlington Hospital was a lovely name until they changed it to Virginia Hospital Center, which I can never remember. When I woke up in ICU after my DIEP, they asked me what day it was and I said, "It is supposed to be Tuesday, but I can't actually vouch for that since it is dark" (it was actually Wednesday because my surgery was 20 hours long). Then they asked me if I knew where I was, and I said, "In the ICU at Arlington Hospital." There was a silence and I said, "Oh, OK, Virginia Hospital Center, dammit! I have lived here more than 30 years so it will always be Arlington Hospital to me! And Barack Obama is the president -- I am oriented to place and time!" Everyone laughed. The new wing of the hospital is lovely, although each time I walk through, I remember where things used to be. The former ER (with which I was well acquainted, having broken several bones over the years) is now the chemo infusion suite. It is a nice place.



L

Edited for iPad typos

AnnAlive

Betsy - yes, I've been following NOLA in September thread for a while, and the picture site too. I've talked to Liz Markey, the patient educator at NOLA, and sent in my medical history form and received their packet. My husband's current insurance that I am on doesn't have out-of-network coverage, so we'll be changing that when it's up for renewal soon--then I'll have it checked out again. The out-of-pocket max should be $5,000, and I hope what I owe won't exceed that, say, for charges the insurance refuses to cover.

One thing I have wondered...doesn't anyone drive to/from NOLA for surgery? From central FL, we calculated 10+ hours drive, and could potentially break it into 2 days if it feels like too much post-op. DH would do all the driving on the way home, of course. Is it something the center advises against -- car ride home? DH thinks we'll want the car for getting groceries and such if we stay at Hope Lodge.

HappyLibby - I'm sure I'd hardly recognize our renewed Arlington Hospital any more. Lots of good/bad memories as an employee there - ha. I looked at the VHC website a couple years ago and recognized only a few names.

BelaT

Hey can some one helo me? what is NOLA?

Thanks

Bela 

AnnAlive

NOLA = New Orleans, Louisiana, and it's used on these boards to refer to the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery there.  breastcenter.com

dressager

Hi Mom2JJ! Hooray--another rider, and dressage at that! Amazing!  When I was dxed in November, I was shopping for my next horse so I haven't ridden regularly for a few months. I'm going crazy without it but jumping on a bunch of crazy, unknown sales horses is not a great idea right before or after surgery. My mare is retired and living the good life at my friend's farm. I had a Dutch gelding who was an FEI horse but we didn't get along. I sold him to a professional rider and they're like two peas in a pod!

 I'm looking forward to the day when I can pick my horse search back up and get on with my new life. I wonder if I'll need all those Enell sports bras?

LuvRVing

I made this banana bread recipe..it's OMG good although I just realized I accidentally doubled the butter called for...not sure what I was thinking     Oh well, there will be no need to spread anything on it!  No wonder it's so good!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/banana-walnut-bread-recipe/index.html

rthrift1

Diep Surgery is Monday and Im scared to death! My double mastectomy was no big deal and the recovery was fairly smooth. However, in my mind I have convinced myself that this will be so much worse.Im trying my best to think positive, but the thought of being put to sleep for 8 hours terrifies me. I know the recovery will be rougher but I gotta find the strength to make it to Monday. Prayers please.....and any suggestions on to make this a little smoother are greatly appreciated.