Diep 2012

Lavendarlady

I have one drain. It was ready to come out when I left Sunday but when they started to remove it, it seemed to start draining faster, but it hasn't drained much more. Going to my family dr in the am to have it removed. Maybe the baby sensation is just gas lol. I'll ask my dr's office when they call.

bdavis

Mags... I paid $1800 in all. And I flew in and back for (2) stage I and (1) stage II... As Jacee said you fly in two days before surgery, have pre-op the next day, then surgery and can fly home 8 days later (post op is one week after surgery,)

Florafarm... I was doing all my own stuff, even in the hosiptal, so you will be fine.  I had to stay in the hospital for 7 nights after my DIEP because I had returned for a do-over and had no companion with me... so they kept me... and  Irene hit NJ and my companion couldn't fly in blah blah... anyway, I was doing my garment and drains at about day 5... and when I went to the hotel and home, I was still doing my own stuff... and alone at home.

Silia

This will be short because I'm crazily trying to clean my house in prep for tomorrow.  Thanks to each one of you who has weighed in with what you were able to do when post-surgery.  It's extremely helpful...  Yes, I had the BMX mid-September so this is stage 2 (have TEs in and was trying to go the implant route but the right side (rads) isn't expanding well and the "good" side has a leak so it's not expanding well -- sigh!  I welcome more comments since I have a week or so before I have to decide re: my work gig.  Hugs all around!  Will send an update post surg.  Lavender, I'm thinking what you're feeling is the nerve regeneration that some have mentioned here.  That wasn't even on my radar -- gosh, it's hard to get fully prepared for this @#$%!!!!

mags20487

sounds like a great "vacation".  I have my list of questions ready for my Sunday consult.  I know Dr Massey has an office in Charleston too but NOLA just seems like the way to go since it is all they do there.  My heart is telling me that I should do the lymph node transfer even if I am not a candidate for DIEP.  I just want this LE to get better too.  Clean away SILLIA.  I am doing that today too. 

Maggie

florafarm

Thanks bdavis...very helpful.

Hoya03mom

BDavis and Monday's Child...thanks...guess I will know more when I meet with Dr #2 on July 2nd.  I did find a podcast online  (http://yalecancercenter.org/podcasts/471-114005.html) that describes the various methods of reconstruction, and you are correct, what they were referring to was a muscle sparing TRAM flap.  Anyone have any experience with this?  Maybe there is a TRAM discussion somewhere?

BTW, not sure if you can post web links, but if it doesn't come through or is removed, I just googled Yale Dr. Au DIEP.  Is was an NPR broadcast #471-114005.

bdavis

My local PS who doesn't do DIEP, said he would not do a TRAM on me because ANY muscle removed can compromise your core strength. So I knew I didn't want TRAM.

shinypop

Hey all. I had a DMX in May of last year and just had my DIEP in May of this year. I'm so happy with the results. A bit of a Frankenboob sitch, but no worries. They look great. I'm going to have some pretty funky tattoos in place of nipple recon or nipple tats. I guess my only complaint which really isn't a complaint is that the belly skin is a different color from the breast skin. But I can totally live with that since it isn't CANCER. lol. Hope everyone is healthy and happy. 

Beckers

I'm coming up on DIEP surgery. I definitely have belly fat but wondering ....... will I have enough for 2 foobs. Wish they could use the muffin top!

goldlining

Hoya03mom there are some threads on BCO that discuss TRAM. One has a title something along the lines of "stop stigmatizing TRAM". I guess the TRAM gals feel put down by those who consider DIEP preferable, as though TRAM is an obsolete procedure. (And in all honesty, some people have pretty much posted opinions to the effect that they believe it is, since with the right surgeon, it's not necessary for most patients.) To each her own, I figure, and far be it for me to tell someone not to get a TRAM if they don't care about core strength, but I just started running, and although I am not good at it, it's been good to me. So my choice hierarchy was (1) DIEP, (2) flat, and that's it. No implants, no TRAM. Fortunately the PS in my first breast centre referred me to a DIEP surgeon who is a flap expert, not just breast recon but faces as well, just microsurgeries all day long, day in and day out. He was confident that no muscle would need to be compromised and he considered that a "failed" surgery. The healing went very well and my core is afflicted only by my laziness. [edited for spelling]

Chris13

Beckers, They certainly used my muffin top....at least in the front. Stomach a bit puffy, but flat compared with the way it used to look. I gained some weight after a few weeks of recovery (that I had lost), so have to work on my muffiny sides. Since my incision goes far to the sides, they must have taken some fat from there, too, so I better get on the stick with reducing it.

bdavis

Chris... After my stage II I had NO love handles at all, and now I have little ones, so I agree that lack of activity while I recovered didn't help... BuT I have been super active since December, and am not gainin, but not losing either.

Hoya03mom

I see some postings about Stage II for the DIEP and I am a bit confused.  Is that just for adding nipples etc? or is it more extensive?

bdavis

My stage II was 3 months post DIEP and I had scar revisions, shaping of breasts, lipo of thighs, love handles, inner knees, abs and that fat was used in fat grafting, nipple recon, butt lift (I had hip flaps also).

jacee

My PS won't do nipple recon until you are totally finished with all revisions and everything is settled. So, usually that means a Stage 2B for nipples. Some ladies have several stage 2 surgeries to get everything right. You want to make sure everything has settled before adding nipples.

bdavis

I think the nipple depends on what is left from the MX... My PS took the nipple, but left the aereola... so he could rebuild the nipple as he knew where it should be.... I am waiting on tattoos though because I need a stage IIb.

mags20487

Hey bdavis...just noticed in your signature that the day mine were taken you were given your newbies!

Maggie

bdavis

Oh.... Aug 23 was my DIEP do-over. I had my BMX and Hip flaps on July 21... so we were both in a deep sleep on Aug 23...You only had a week between diagnosis and MX?? That is quick.

CookieMonster

bdavis & Mags - Aug. 23 was my 1st LX too - popular date, it seems. That was back in my naive days when I thought it would be one surgery and I'd be done. That BS follow up the week later was TOUGH - unclear margins and IDC found in the DCIS.

What a journey we've all had.

RetiredLibby

August 23 was my 20-hour BMX & DIEP - East Coast Earthquake Day, epicentered 50 miles from the OR where I was asleep.  And I missed it!

mags20487

who knew August 23 was the day that changed the world--haha..

Yes Bdavis I moved very quickly.  I have metaplastic type as well so really wanted to get the factory out of the body asap.  As it went I found the lump the 1st...gyn on 2nd mammo and us on 3rd.  At US only one lymph node involved.  At biopsy on the 11th -2 lymph nodes and on the 23-surgery day 3 lymph nodes...quick moving little sucker.  Had a family trip for me and hubby's 25th planned for the 30th but we postponed it and just went in April.  So happy that I made the decision to not do immediate recon as that would have been an additional 4 weeks added with that nasty mess inside me.

Maggie

Kd6blk

My BMI is 37 and a few local docs have warned me about DIEP. PRMA says they do DIEP for patients up to BMI of 40. What is the experience of you ladies? What should I expect if I pursue DIEP? Does it put my success at risk? How many of you who had DIEP are full figured ladies?

Beckers

Kd6- I am bmi of 31 but I am tall. PS said 30 is when the risk increases for complications. He said it would be worse if I were shorter because he would have to go deeper in the tissues which makes microsurgery harder.

basketnut3

I am day 2 post op. biggest complaints so far is not being able to stand up straight and my headache. I had dr Neumister in Springfield il. I'm not looking forward to the 3 hour drive home. My sister-in-law is a great help as well as a friend. Not sure what I'd do without them. They had me up and walking 4 times yesterday.



This is a teaching hospital and I am appreciating everyone looking over me. I think I've seen 6 residences in the 48 hours since surgery. Several of them 3 or 4 times They are wiening me off the pain pump today. But so far the pains not bad. I'll try to post updates as I go.

BarbaraJo50

You are "on the other side" basketnut3. Good for you. Healing thoughts for all moving forward.

goldlining

Hi basketnut3. I had massive headache in hospital too. The pain pump did not even touch it. I am sensitized to formaldehyde and that is in the virox disinfectant they use on pillows, mattresses, chairs, etc. Once I hurled all the pillows out into the hall and obtained extra sheets to cover the mattress, it was much less. I used rolled-up blankets in place of pillows where I needed soft cushioning. Just in case that helps you, I thought I would mention it. 

Congratulations for getting to the point where you're even tapering off the pump. Glad your comfort level from the neck down sounds similar to mine: not nothing, but not as bad as I feared. Good luck! 

basketnut3

Thanks goldlinging. It was the pain pump meds. Since I haven't had it my headache is gone. They said it is a normal reaction to morfine. Now just wondering when I'll get to go home.

basketnut3

Just an interesting fact I learned today. They took a piece of my ribs out up at the top. I assume to get to the blood supply. I'll have to ask and find out.

CookieMonster

basketnut3 - they probably took cartailage not bone from your ribs. I noticed that on the path report too so asked the PS and he said it was to get to blood supply.  Sometimes they use it for nipple recon too, I guess, but mine wasn't saved for that.

bdavis

it is called rib resection.