Diep 2012

goldlining

fredntan my PS said "don't lose any weight", so I definitely had the chocolate shake if I wanted it!

:-)

My BMI is somewhat above yours but I fit C now, and was pulled super tight in the belly to do it.  I did not ask what cup size I would be. I said I would like B because it would look better in running clothes, and he raised no red flags about the feasibility, other than saying don't lose weight. I think they can tell by the handfulls of belly roughly what size it would end up. 

Janetanned

Chris - My RO suggested I see a PT at Radnor to get evaluated for range of motion issues and LE.  The PT suggested I participate in the 'Strength After Breast Cancer' program offered at HUP.  There are a few locations where it is offered.  I went to Radnor for the first 4, but will need to complete the program downtown due to a scheduling conflict.  You might have seen some of the brochures in the BS or PS waiting room.  Once I was signed up for that program, I was asked to participate in a study.  They are evaluating the long term benefits to this type of program.  As a participant in the study I will receive a small (very small) financial compensation and a set of weights.  I need to meet with the main researcher 4 times (I think) over 12 months.  I've completed 4 out of the 5 PT sessions.  I love it!  They work you! But keep it at a pace that reduces the potential for developing LE.  My insurance covers the cost of these meetings.

I understand Dr. Serletti is one of the best for reconstruction.  He was not available when my BS (Dr Czerniecki)was, so I went with one of his associates (Dr. Kovach).  I've heard good things about the entire department. I would not change a thing!  My MO and RO are also at Penn and both are terrific.

Beckers

Janetanned,



The study sounds very interesting. What core exercises, how many reps do you do? What about lifting and risk of hernia? (sometimes my job requires heavy lifting)

Janetanned

Beckers- The program was developed with the idea that, if done carefully and gradually, a person who is at risk for developing LE could regain and build upper body strength by using weights.  The first session was all about LE and how to avoid it.  The second session covered the proper warm-up and  stretching techniques to prepare for weight lifting.  A few core strengthening exercises were introduced (modified sit-ups, bridge, superman, chair squats, etc ).  Typically, a person would start with 10 reps and then slowly increase the reps as they became stronger.  The third and fourth  sessions reviewed the previously covered material and then added weight baring exercises to build upper body strength, beginning with 1lb.  Again, the weights are increased gradually as the person becomes stronger.  The fifth session will review all that was covered and the PT corrects form issues, etc.  It is stressed that a person not overdo any of the program. Ideally, I should go through the program 3 times a week (not more).  Weights should be increased very slowly as well. 

A previous study found that the participants in this program developed LE far less frequently and with much less involvement than those of the control group.  The study I am participating in will look at the long term benefit and whether participants continue using the program beyond the initial sessions.  The hope is to eventually share the program with other cancer centers.

BirdyRobin

Hello, first posting since diep on the 20th of Aug. I am surprised by the pain... it is exhausting. Everything from my chest to my toes were swollen. I. Could feel things swelling after surgery and I was very uncomfortable. I am home, left hospital on Friday, and its been a week at home. I had a couple oddities happen that seems dif from other poeples experiences. I had only two drains instead of 4 for a bi lat diep. That came out before leaving the hosp. Belly is swollen and firm. Did anyone have there bellybutton rearanged? ^ guess they detatched it from undernieth and then reattatched it....hmmm. I am still on pain meds and moving slow. I also have leaking ander my breasts and along belly insision does anyone else have this problem? It soils my clothes even though I change dressings often. Does anyone remember how long the surgical tape is supposed to sstay on?

I wish you all well and good healing.

Robin

cmbear

Just thinking that not having the drains would make you hold on to extra fluid. That said, the overall swelling takes a few weeks to go away. Are you walking much yet? As for the BB, I got a whole new one. The nurses all joke that the PS likes making hearts. . . it is the one incision that seems to be taking forever to fade and I am almost 3 months out.

positivenergy

Hello Ladies:  Scheduled to have a MX with DIEP on 9/17/12 at Beth Isreal Hospital with PS Dr. Lin.  Right now, I'm just trying hard to not make stupid mistakes at work because I'm a bit distracted.  I think it will all be worth it in the end, but what a whirlwind this past 3 months has been.  I have not read this thread yet, but I intend to read it to get some information and thoughts and results stories.  I find this site so helpful.  Thank you all for being here and God Bless.  Brenda

stacyk

Rochester/Mayo Clinic - Dr. LeMaine. She is wonderful.

She did mine in May and did a great job. My home-nurse couldn't believe what a great job she did.

I would strongly recommend her.

Beckers

BirdyRobin,



Glad you made it through surgery. I did have some swelling in hospital but it resolved. I had a leak from my tummy incision and they kept that particular drain in on that side until it stopped. I would call your plastic surgeon for sure and tell him/her you're springing leaks! Better out than in though. Just don't want infection.



I do have a new belly button. Haven't really looked at it. My tummy is swollen and hard. I do put some antibiotic ointment on some soft gauze twice a day on the new BB.



Hope your recovery is smooth and you are feeling great soon.

Beckers

Brenda,



It is hard to concentrate since BC diagnosis for sure. I have gotten good info from this thread and a lot of support from the August surgery thread. I've seen there's a thread for those having surgery in September. You may already know but thought I'd mention it. Good luck with the preparations.

sammistar509

I had the DIEP in May and some micro fat graphting to fluff my reconstructed breast on Monday.  So far so good- I love my doctor and have had no issues with either surgery.  The hardest part has been taking it easy when I feel pretty good.  I go back to school this week, I put off clothes shopping but now that might be a priority.  I'm not significantly different but I need to wear a compression girdle so I need comfort clothes 

Galsal

A Diep in May and still need the compression girdle?  Yikes!

sandpiper1

Sammi let me know what kind of compression garment you find or have found. Although I am no longer required to wear my binder I still have a little lingering fluid @ the incision and honestly wasn't comfy without my binder until last week. I'm pretty active though and find I like the support for now. It also reminds not to move certain ways

I go back to work next week & its a job I sm on my feet a lot so I could use the support for a while longer. Otherwise PS said didn't have to wear it but could if i wished. I still have a10# weight lift/push/pull limit & have to wait another 3 weeks to start basic moves like twisting & bending at the waist & doing more exercise than my current walking. Going back in Oct to discuss & schedule nip recon. Said he'll be able to minimize the appearance of the incisions & my jp site did not heal flat so he'll fix that too.

florafarm

Sammistar- I will need some fat grafting too...did PS say when you'll know if it all took?Worried about reabsorption...

Galsal

Questions of curiousity -

Once you were out of the abdominal binder, what shaper did you wear for a while? How long before the abdominal swelling goes down?

Thanks!

Sally

Beckers

No bending or twisting? Ah oh.....

Galsal

That's what I say Beckers...heck, doing that in OT for the LE.

florafarm

It's amazing how different the post op instructions can be from Dr. To Dr....my Ps said I had no bending restrictions , I could try to straighten up right away, no binder ( I wore a "panty girdle " from Wal Mart a few weeks). I had a lifting restriction of no more than 5 lbs first six weeks, no lifting arm where lymph nodes remove aboved 90 degrees for 2 weeks., sex 1 wk after last drain out ( 5 wks).

Jshuda

What's the compression girdle? When I left hospital (June 10) I didn't have any support. They didnt even tell me I should have something for support and I am a D size. Which I didn't want that big so I will have to have some lypo done.

I still have lots of fluid building up. :-( I can't seem to get rid of it. I have no drains but the dr has to take a syringe and take fluid out every 2 weeks.

sandpiper1

I guess I should clarify that I am not to do an over exaggeration of bending. We all bend. Twisting is uncomfortable. I am still a bit tight @ the upper abdominal/belly button area. Told the swelling could take time. Maybe a few months. It gets worse in the evenings. I do what is within my comfort zone. For my arm and my tummy. Walking 4-5 miles a day & have added 3# weights for my arm exercises. I do respect the limitations set by my Ps. Him & the Fellow have reinforced the precautions due to what they have told me is a very tight/snug abdominal closing as they harvested all of the lower abd fat for the recon. Though we have had the same type of recon on this board, our surgeries can have some variances. Even my stage 2 will be slightly different as I will not have any surgery on my opposite. "Good" breast because Ps created symmetry and contour almost identical to the original breast. I was cleared to go in the pool to wade around. Don't ya know it rained all day. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. Stay dry!

J-Bug

My DIEP flap was on 8-22. I was six months out of radiation and nine months out of bmx. I had an epidural, catheter and oxgen for five days. I received 6 drains. I ended up with blisters on my back, chest and neck from the adhesives. I still am having shoulder and arm pain on my right side, but that is an area that I had problems with before surgery and did PT for for quite awhile. I also came out with a level 10 yeast infection and weeping red sores all across my bottom. My bottom finally went to feeling extremely bruised. It is getting better, the more I walk. My skin is just extremely sensitive.

My grad school classes start back on Thursday. Yeah! <sarcasm> At least my program is online. My design clients are chomping at the bit with work for me to do. They offered me a project six days out of surgery.

I was a little dumbfounded by how extensive this surgery was when I first came out.

I didn't see anyone writing about drainage in a stitched area - especially a radiated side. Has anyone experienced that and how long did it last? My PS said it was more common on the radiated side.

RonnieKay

Nine weeks out of diep and I'm back at work...school district employee...and so glad I had the time to heal over summer.  Also excited for NEXT summer, as it'll be the first summer w/out bc hanging over my head. 

My surgery was also 12 hours long and I had no problem "waking up"...felt fine and pretty clear headed.  My only sign of being under for that long (other than filling up the catheter bag!!!), was having a bit of nerve stinging for a few weeks after surgery.  I had numbness and stinging in my arm (from elbow to wrist), and my leg (knee to above ankle).  It was really not a problem other than annoyance and the ps confirmed it's from lying in a particular position for so long.

Questions about stage 2...if they do lipo and fat grafting, do you have drains?  What IS scar revision?  I'm going to call my ps office to see if I can just come in for questioning   I'm just a person that wants to know what's happening and not seeing the ps from week 6 to Stage 2 three months later seems ridiculous to me.  Is it common for most to visit the ps in between surgeries? 

Hoya...I am logging on after posting to see your sister's story....don't know what she is facing/faced...but I'm sending my love and thoughts for your family!!!

Hoya03mom

I was fortunate in that I didn't have chemo or radiation prior to my surgery so I think it made it much easier. Still dealing with belly button issues. Still bleeding and not healing and left breast incision is still icky but rest healing ok. Boobs still feel heavier which may be due to swelling still?

Thanks for all kind words for sister Dianne who despite her best efforts to pass is still hanging on. Nothing but plain water for 5 weeks! She just wants to be at peace. So hard for her girls.

sandpiper1

Hoya. Hugs girl

Ronnie my Ps will be doing scar revision to minimize the appearance of them & "blend" them in a bit more. Not sure what the actual technique is that they use. I was only too happy to hear him say it won't look like it does now. Going to pull it all together for you.

And the recon breast turned out so well. No touch ups for either side.

I didn't do quite so well with anesthesia......made me agitated and nauseated. Asked if we could do these revisions and nip under conscious sedation if it cant be done under local.

positivenergy

Wow!  I think it is good that I joined this thread, since my surgery is 2 weeks away.  However, reading all the struggles with healing is a bit scary.  I guess it is what it is and I will get through it.  Trying to get as healthy as I can now, that is the only positive thing about this wait!!!  I am also feeling that I MUST give myself the time to heal.  I have a tendancy to push it when I am sick - getting back to work and life - but this might be different, from what I'm reading.  I am sure I will be reaching  out for support through that phase of this.  And, might even be more supportive of people when I'm past this wait.  Too much anxiety!!!  I hope you all are enjoying your Labor Day as best as you can.  God Bless!  Brenda:)

howhm02l

I had my Bilateral deep last Thursday, 8/30. Everyone at hospitals say they look and sound great. About the time to take a Percocet though,I have LOTs of pressure from the foobies all across my chest.



They are not as soft as they as I thought they would be. Seem very swollen and hard. Any thoughts on this?



Thanks so much!

cmbear

I imagine you still have a lot of fluid built up after surgery. That is natural, it'll go down eventually.

Downey30

how,  Not to worry.  It takes a long time for the swelling to go down and for the breasts to soften up.  It takes a lot of patience.  I still feel bloated in my ab area.  I think the breasts are what they are.....until stage 2.  Rest and take care.  It gets better with each day.

Beckers

Downey, when was your DIEP surgery?

LeannaClem

I am considering the DIEP procedure ( I am almost 4 months post BMX) and really nervous.  My main concern is not being happy with the results.  I am asking my PS on our next consult to see some before/after pics and hope he isn't offended... I just want to make sure it will be worth it in the end. I'm having some major body image issues and I'm not expecting perfect boobs at the end of this.. but I also don't want to look like a patchwork quilt either.  Its such a big decision and one I'm torn on.  Part of me wants to just be satisfied that I'm still alive and feeling good,  and shouldn't push my luck- and the other part wants to feel whole again. 

 Leanna

www.facebook.com/leannaclemmons   

lmiller943@aol.com