Diep 2012

Ralsper

Leisenbard - My DIEP will be done by Dr. Hakim Said and Dr Shannon Colohan at UW Medical on July 18. I haven't met Dr. Colohan because my primary PS is Dr Said, but they can
give you a list of patients that you can contact if you want to hear their experience.

Jeannie - I finished radiation on Feb 27 (I had horrible burns) and Dr. Said is going to do my DIEP 4 ½ months after rads. I thought that he was going to tell me to wait longer, but he didn't. I think PS protect themselves and advice 6 months as a general rule. My skin is fully expanded (it shrank a bit after rads, but he over expanded my TE before rads because he knew that was going to happen), healthy, and smooth. Nevertheless, I will ask him if it is better if I wait longer (I think I am getting a little nervous and I am looking for an excuse to delay my surgery )

 

Jeannie57

LEisenbarth, my PS at the U is Dr. Said. He told me he was hired to do the DIEP. I don't know your doc. I have been pleased with my experiences at UW.



Fredntan, I don't know where I read the article but I would check bco's page on the latest studies. I don't really venture too far from here but I've recently been on Komen's site, too. Hope you find it and I hope we don't have to wait a year!

Jeannie57

Leisenbard, sorry I misspelled your name before.



Ralston, Said sisters! Thanks for the info. I guess it'll all happen when it's supposed to. I have one or two more fills. They've been fine up until the last one. They keep me awake. But I do want the right amount to account for shrinkage!

Starfyre

I have heeded your advice and I think that the small bit

Of muscle they wanted to take with my DIEP was too much. I am signed up for NOLA for June 29th. That is coming up so fast! Dr Tseng seemed great but he wouldn't do a stacked DIEP and said he couldn't get me symmetrical unless he reduced the other side.

I am trying to study up on the recovery process as my 17 yo daughter will be helping. I want to prepare as much as possible to reduce the impact on her

bdavis

Jannelle... You will love NOLA...

sadie5254

Thanks for all the good words on thyroid nodules.  Haven't even seen anyone yet - still healing from the reduction.  All the glue is coming off now, but the PS said he has had women who'd "T" incisions have opened at four weeks, so I'm still being careful.  I'm at three weeks now.  These last six months have been a whirlwind, but I'm so very glad I did the research and found out about DIEP before my surgery.  I simply love that breast.  And once the glue is gone and I'm past the opening stage, I know I'll be happy with the reduction.  Loved my PS - have such a crush on him.  When he told me he'd see me in September, I was crushed.  lol.  Hang in there because there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I feel that light every day.

CookieMonster

Sadie,

Did you have a reduction on the non DIEP breast? That's what I'm scheduled for in early July. Just curious about how it went and what you think of the results so far.

ReadingMama

wrsmithx2 - I have not had any sharp pains, so can't comment on that, sorry.

As for the ribs, in some (most?) DIEP, they take a small part of the rib out also, I don't remember why, but I think to reconnect the blood vessels better in the breast.  I know part of my rib was taken.  However, I have never had any pain from this at all, but maybe your pain is from this?  Do you have your operation report, that would tell you if part of your rib was taken.  Sounds like might be good to call PS though and run through your problems.

RetiredLibby

I had no muscle taken at all ... The PS was able to simply tease apart the muscle fibers to get the blood vessel out. He didn't have to take any rib, either -- I asked specifically. I do have pain in my ribs on my cancer side just below the breast ... I call it "rads rib" because I have had it for a couple years. It is like a cramp when I move the wrong way to the left. I just write it off as a rads se.



L

Ralsper

I finished my chemo November 29 and rads February 29th (I had really bad burns), but I'm a little concern because  my wbc are still really low (2.6) My DIEP is schedule for July 18th. How long after chemo and/or radiation do low white and red blood cell counts rise? Wonder if my PS will postpone my surgery?

rtnyc

so my 52nd birthday was Saturday and although my family wanted to celebrate I didn't. crazy right.But I felt that although I am breast cancer free and am still very uncomfortable and just not myself. I wanted to wait til next year when I'll be me and then celebrate.

Still have open wounds from the mastectomy which have not totally healed yet; the dam skin willn ot regenerate fast enough for me so I still hve to change bandages 2 times a day and hve to wear either a surgerical bra or cami to hold the bandages in place.  I see progress but not enough for me to have a normal life...ugg. I am increasing my walking everyday, walking the resorvior in Central park or the city streets window shopping but getting out longer everyday.

jenlee

Ralston, Hope you will check with both your surgeon and MO about this ASAP!  I always had Neulasta after chemo, so my wbc never went down much.  My red blood cell count (hemoglobin) was borderline low at the time of my lumpectomy, but I took vitains with iron and raised it up enough for my BMX/Diep. (Vitamins with iron for the weeks prior to surgery were part of the protocol of my surgeons.) Your doctors might have some ideas so that your sugery won't need to be postponed.  Good luck!

rtnyc, I know what you mean about not feeling like celebrating now. But by later in the summer, you should be feeling well and might be ready to celebrate the end of your treatments and your belated birthday...  Sending you healing thoughts! 

Ralsper

Thank you Jenlee! Last week my MO said my WBC will get back to normal eventually, but then she began to show some concern because it has taken more time than she expected. She consulted with another MO and she told her that she has had some patients whose WBC has been slow getting back to normal. Because average woman don't have mastectomy and radiation it's hard to compare.

Two weeks after chemo, my WBC was already 3.7, but after rads was 2.4 (I had terrible wounds during rads, but who knows if I didn't heal because my WBC where already too low). Three months later is 2.6. Now, she said that could be a prolong recovery or a SE of Tamoxifen, but she asked me if I wanted a bone marrow biopsy  for my peace of mind and also she can also refer me with a hematologist.

I have also had to confess that I have not eaten as much protein as I should and I stopped all my multivitamins during and after rads (I was having a really bad acid reflux). I visited my naturopath last week and he gave me Vitamin A, C, D, zinc, calcium and others to prepare my body for my breast reconstruction. I am also taking astragalus and noni capsules as advice from other woman with low WBC on other forums.

I will see my PS on June 26th and have another blood test on July 9th. If my WBC are still low they will give Neulasta to prepare my body for surgery and not delay my recovery. Now the big question is when I will have my bone marrow biopsy. I hate being worried about this when I should be prepare for surgery. Thank you!

cmbear

Tomorrow will be two weeks out from surgery. Last week they took out the top drains but are waiting for the 2 week mark to remove the abdominal drains(less than 20 output for days). My worst SE of the surgery was dealing with my bowels. Between the anesthesia and painkillers,I was one tied up piece of work. Couldn't sleep or get comfortable. Painkillers(damned if you do, damned if you don't) didn't even take away the pain. PA thought I had overdosed on Colace. So two days after stopping that, I finally had some relief, and it has been much more comfortable since. 

Another weird SE is that sense of smell and taste has heightened. Food just tastes weird and its hard for me to find something that tastes good. Although, a nice big cup of coffee and a big fat brownie sounds good about now!

I have glue on all my sutures and I am just praying that once my drains are out on Tuesday, they will give me the all clear for a full shower. If I don't have another sponge bath again, it will be too soon!

Oh and as far as pain meds, I only take one to sleep at night. None during the day. Not needed. 

Anonymous

Good to hear you are doing well Claire! I have my appt with the PS tomorrow, and am hoping to get a surgery date set.



Happy Fathers Day to all the DHs out there and to all single mothers who have been both mom and dad. I still miss my dad so much (died in 1969 at the age of 69 of lung cancer)

Galsal

Recommendations for a drain belt or what did you find the best way to deal with your multiple drains after this procedure?

Thanks!

Sally

CookieMonster

I had an abdominal binder and we just pinned them to it.

gale1525

After looking again at the pictures from NOLA, I think that the reason they can make bigger flaps and are able to make two breast instead of one in some of the slimmer gals it is because when they take the flap they cut it around to almost the back.  In my case the cut is in the front only to the hips. I think that it does make a big difference. On my right side the cut is slightly longer than the left and it is a noticeable difference. I had him lipo the right side to make it more even with the left.  Even though my PS to a very nice job on the DIEP side, it still would have been nice to have two DIEP flaps instead of one DIEP and one implant. He did do a great job of matching size and shape with the implant in compare with the flap. Well maybe in my next life I can have both DIEP.

bdavis

Gale.. some of the NOLA pictures may have had GAP flaps which are on the buttocks, or stacked, which is both GAP and DIEP... My incision runs about 340 degrees around my body (all under the bikini). Slimmaer ladies, will get both.

rtnyc

galsal:  I just pined the drains to the surgerical bra or I bought at Target a zipper up which had pockets inside. it is in the excersie apparel department under $30 mid 20's. worked out perfect.

Anonymous

Hi, ladies......I was hoping to get a surgery date set at my PS appt today...but Al's...no. :-(

I guess I need a consult with the lead micro surgeon...which couldn't be scheduled until July 27th, then I need another appt with the PS.... And the third surgeon in the team is in charge of scheduling. Since they only schedule one of these types of surgeries per week due to the scheduling of three surgeons...I'll be lucky to get a date by the end of the summer.

Oh, we'll....I AM grateful that my ins will cover the surgery, so I can wait.

Galsal

Thanks.  I just know it was hard enough dealing with the mere two from the bmx, pinning them to the shirt or onto the binder.

cmbear

For the drains, my mom bought me four hideous house coats that snap or button up the front and have front pockets. My DH cut a little slit above the pockets on either side, so I just slid my drainsin to the hole and into the pocket. Not pretty but very comfortable for puttering around the house and sleeping at night. Plus no pins to worry about. I'm going in in an hour for my 2 week post check up and please, please, please to take out my last two drains. Cannot be more excited!!

TexasRose

I was lucky to only have my drains for 8 days, but I had bought one of those drain belts from the American Cancer Society. It was only about $20 and worked perfectly. I really liked it. It has four pockets that velcro to the belt so you can move the drains around however you want them. I looked like a possum, but it worked great for me!

goldlining

galsal, I only left hospital with one drain and just for 48 hours. In the hospital, the 4 drains were just pinned to the gown, but for the first several days, I wasn't moving around very far. At home I carried the one bulb in the PJ pocket. It was MUCH less bothersome than the mx and the long wait to get those drains out. 

Anonymous

Wahhhhhh! :-(

I just got called for my DIEP date.....not until SEPTEMBER 14th! That's just 3 days before my 58th birthday........so I guess I know where I'll be "celebrating!"

bdavis

Jill... let them PAMPER you...

CookieMonster

Jill,

Where are you having your surgery? Mine was at UCLA.

Anonymous

I'll be having surgery at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana.



Ha, ha BD! I hope I can consider it being pampered!!!....just occurred to me that when I turn 58, my boobs will only be three days old.....do I get to prorate my age??....oh, I guess my boobs will be just as old....just relocated! Lol!

Chris13

UMX/DIEP May 1. Yay, just back from the plastic surgeon and have the all clear for normal activities, including swimming (but not in lakes). That's good because it will be 100 degrees here in the Philly area next two days! Both sides look good; lift on non cancer side has them matching.

To recap: ILC cancer found via mammo, guided MRI--2nd MRI verified more ILC. UMX with immediate DIEP May 1. Four days in hospital, home on a Sat. Nausea from antibiotics, finally convinced PS nurse to prescribe anti-nausea meds. Out and about a couple days after coming home. Three drains out the next Wednesday, remaining drain the next week. 

Four SNs removed; everyone surprised one was involved with 3mm. Two is the cut off for micromets, but BS calls the mets borderline micro. It being lobular cancer, there actually were four tumors. ILC is such a little tumor factory!

Super careful about lifting arm in first two weeks; kept it below shoulder level. Although I can now lift any weight according to PS, I will always be careful with right arm, especially repetitive movements like washing windows for long periods of time. Arm mobility good.

Have some soft lumps in breast that PS is not concerned about and doesn't think are necrosis. Also have a large scab on the MX incision which he said will eventually fall off.  Four months till next PS visit to see about stage 2.

Will see onco next week. Was on AI for two months during delay of surgery (a major anniversary trip planned) and haven't taken since May 1. One week into AI I developed tendonitis in my ankle. Probably too soon for an AI SE. Tendonitis annoying to say the least as I'm trying to increase physical activity. Actually have a "boot" for it right now, but can't wear it all the time.

 Good news on Oncotype: it's an 8. Hopefully no surprises from onco re need for chemo. 

 Given the fact I had a cancer (even if a nonagressive one), I feel blessed to have had two such talented surgeons (Dr. Barrio/Bryn Mawr Hospital and Dr. Serletti/head of plastic surgery at Penn), to have healed well, and to have had the opportunity to learn so much from everyone on this site. I'll be haunting the AI threads again, as soon as I re-start the meds, hopefully after my darn tendonitis has healed.

Blessings and thanks to everyone here....and best wishes for you ladies-in-waiting. It is totally worth it....the first few weeks are difficult but pass quickly and you have a replacement noncancerous breast and a tummy tuck!