Diep 2012

kimdy

Thanks for the info:)!  Congratulations on your progress!

CookieMonster

I don't think they take bone, the take cartailage so that they can get to the blood vessels that they need. Some people have told me that some doctors save some of that cartailage to use when doing nipple reconstruction. My PS did not.

curveball

re: removal of rib during DIEP reconstruction
Am I understanding this correctly? During DIEP a small piece of rib is removed and not put back after the blood vessels are joined? What happens afterwards? Are the ends of the rib floating around loose in there for the rest of your life, does cartilege form between to join them together, or what?

Jennt28

curveball - I have no idea. I will ask at my follow-up on the 22nd...



Jenn

Beckers

Good question curveball. The one report read "resection" doesn't that mean they joined it again?

goldlining

To add my 2c to the accounts from the other side for the sisters still waiting, I had a perfectly appropriate amount of pain with bilateral DIEP Dec 2011 and the flap healed perfectly. I will probably do a touch-up when I catch up with work, maybe in the Spring, but it's presentable certainly with clothes on. I wasn't upright for six weeks, thanks to a really large tummy flap to get the size he wanted (which is C-ish, more than I find is necessary), which of course makes the front shorter than the back. At this point, I do still find myself leaning forward still, but man, the flat tummy is spectacular. I see the lymphedema clinic for a bit of LE on my trunk - no arm issues, so far as I can tell, but in the shoulder/underarm area on front and back on the side with just two nodes out at the time of my original mx. I did have some low back pain due to the stooping. It's because of the reallocation of work among the muscle groups, i.e., between the core, the hip flexors, etc. I have been doing physio every two weeks, sometimes on the shoulder tightness and arm range of motion, and other times to stretch out the hips. It's covered by my employee benefit extended health plan so I am making the most of it, and it helps a LOT. Not only does it stretch the muscles more than I can on my own, but it's "me time" that I find difficult to set aside otherwise, because I've been working so hard to make up for lost time and catch up with my work accomplishments.

Nobody can guarantee anyone a perfect outcome, but I think more people have a satisfactory outcome than an unsatisfactory one, and depending on one's perspective, a lot of the dissatisfactions are manageable and small in the big picture. 

RonnieKay

Same here...the pain was in the sternum area, but it was not a serious pain for me...more just a bit of an achy feeling...and not always.  I didn't notice it until the 4th or 5th week, probably when all other areas were feeling pretty good!  It also seemed to subside after a few weeks. 

Cg...my ps had a YouTube video about diep..he's a surgeon at U of WA and the surgery was with one of the nursing supervisors at the hospital so I watched it and had a little OMG moment...but also a bit of relief that I knew what was coming.  I think hearing from bc.org sisters is really helpful. For me, when I experienced something while both in the hospital and healing, I felt comfort because I'd read of others having the same thing.  We all know each person is different, but knowing this is a surgery that so many have gone through is helpful. It's good you're taking in the info that's important to you, and I know you have those who love you around you to help you through this!

Just to say...I'm excited for all of you getting ready for this surgery!  I can say that because at 3 1/2 months out (and 2 weeks from stage 2), I'm feeling almost normal  

fredntan

I am back to my motel in san antonio. Dr Arishta and Dr C did my diep. I am thourouly inmpressed with everyone there.

Got to methodist hosp about 630am nurse in preop started my iv, put on my thigh high scds. Took some urine and blood. Then went to preop area. Aneshia- i still loopy, cant spell, Dr A came by. They gave me some versed, thats all i remember until i got to recovery. I woke up gradually, my morphine pca was up. I had fluids and scds and foley during sx. They also put on anti nausea patch behind my ear. After while they took me to my room. They had put me in my bed, so didnt have to transfer from stretcher to bed

They let me have ice chips that night. My nurses were great. They have gps on them and phone. They came whenever i called. Any ivdrugs make me itch hirribly. So i got a lot of benadryl. There was a boobie monitor that measures oxygen to breasts. It is stitched in during sx. I had that until thursday. Breast checks were hourly that first night. They used doppler to check pulse. They monitored color and temp and softness of breast. I also had the lidocaine Q ball to abdomin.

The nurses advanced my diet slowly. Think i had clear liquids first day, when i started passing gas i advanced to full liquids. My boobs never really hurt so far. My butt/back hurt most from laying in bed so much. Dr Arishta came every morning to see how i was doing. He really has great bedside manner. I had the bilateral diep, with removal of rt TE, left breast was removed. We couldntsave the nipple,since that boob was too droopy. I wanted matching set anyway.

They have back scratchers for sale in gift shop. I was itching like crazy. Think i started walking on wed. They

had heparin running during sx, think they switched me to lovenox on second day. I was pretty loopy though

The nurse manager stopped by today before i went home. And last night the hosp ceo stopped by to see how things went. I was really impressed with the staff. Everyone said the right things.

Was so much different than my horrible encounter with sloan kettering last sept during initial mast. My pain was well controlled. Everyone said and did the right things. I am so glad i picked PRMA and dr Arishta.

Back hurts most of all now.

Jennt28

Glad to see you back fredntan. At some point you will have to go back and enjoy the spelling in the update messages you sent us on here while under the influence :-)



Jenn

fredntan

I know i should have brought my glasses, couldnt see shit. I am sure my spelling mistakes will continue for some time..i hate this abdominal binder they put me in. Is there a better solution?. My mouth tastes funy too. Throat still sore from being intubated. Kept running low grade temps. They said it was probably resp. Got me some breathing treatments. Was really hard to cough up a few luggies from being intubated.

Time for nap

cg1234

I tried posting this morning but the darn site was acting up.  Wanted to respond about the rib being reconnected.  I had the same Q and asked the ps.  He said it doesn't heal back together, but you have so much muscle and other tissue around your ribs that it doesn't affect anything and all stays in place.  I actually looked back at my notes and he said about 1 inch of cartilage would go for each breast.  Still weird though!

Thanks for the encouragement Goldlining and RonnieKay!! Maybe I'll get brave enough to watch a video later, but I doubt it!  LOL!

So glad you're doing better Fran and appreciate the detail about monitoring the flap. 

I'm headed for pre-op Monday, and the whole thing is still so surreal.  Even with all the pink ribbons, etc everywhere this month, it still hasn't completely sunk in that I am part of this club (of incredible women mind you!).  I dropped off my FMLA paperwork to the nurse today and she said I'd be going stir crazy and ready to get back to work by 4-6 weeks.  I wanted to hope, but somehow I think she's being optimistic!!Celebrating hubby's bday this weekend, then it's down to business wrapping things up at work and getting mentally prepared next week. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  Hugs to all!

fredntan

Hehe those are funny. Nap time for real now

Jennt28

Sweet dreams :-)



cg1234 - I am just over 2 weeks past my surgery. Still quite happy to lounge around per my PS' orders. I have another week to lounge and then am supposed to be back working, from home for the first week and then back in the office from the week after that.



I am also enrolled in a university subject that I am now 2 weeks behind in. My lecturer knows my situation and has said to not worry about deadlines, but it is beginning to nag at me. I am going to try and plan time this coming week to catch up on listening to the recorded lectures and doing the readings and weekly assessments. Really not feeling like my brain is ready for it though...



As of yesterday I am now supposed to wear a bra 24hrs a day for the next 6 weeks. Only supposed to take it off for showers. Since I have come out of this surgery with D/DDs (after preordering B/Cs...) I had to get hubby to take me bra shopping yesterday.



We did OK, with a trip into Target for two plain soft bras to sleep in and then a trip into the specialty bra shop where I bought two beautiful bras for daytime wearing. Ended up with those two pretty ones being maternity bras as the woman rightly said they were the softest wireless options available. My youngest son is 17yrs and I was impressed at how pretty/sexy maternity bras are these days. Sad thing is that hubby now knows how much bras cost although I think I did OK getting 4 bras and a pair of sexy matching undies for $200.



Was just walking from the car into the shops and hubby says to me "you are walking stooped". So NOT helpful at that point... Told him he had to deal with it because it could be weeks until I'm upright - guess they are allowed an occassional idiot moment... On the whole though he has done such a wonderful job looking after me and putting up with my moodiness these past 2 weeks.



Jenn

cg1234

Jenn, that's great you've been out and about! Wow, d/dd?! Maybe you'll get back to b/c once all swelling resolves. I hear they like to make u bigger in case you need revisions, right? Of course then you might need bras again!



I bet it is hard to think about class this soon but glad you're feeling well enough to work from home. Hope you get plenty of time to recover.

fredntan

I got the thrush in my mouth. They are calling me in some diflucan and nystatin. My mouth has bee

n hurting every since i started solids. I have big strip on tongue that is raw and cracked. Hurts to eat. We are staying in hotel until i go go home next week. My mom and DH snores

fredntan

Does everyone else have to wear abdominal binder. I find it very uncormfortable.. It rides up. Is there a better solution? And what about waker. My doc said the boob drains will probably br taken out tusday.

My lower back hurts the worst

CookieMonster

Hi fredntan. I was also in a binder. It did tend to want to ride up, maybe try having it not so tight and that might help with the riding up.

After a little while I was told I could use a girdle type thing instead of the big bulky one. I went to Fredrick's of Hollywood for one and Maidenform for the other, they were more comfortable.

Sorry to hear about thrush, that sounds like no fun at all. Hang in there.

RonnieKay

I didn't have a binder...and I wish I had.  They told me to get spanx (I got flexees at Nordstrom rack & Target...lots cheaper), to wear when my drains came out of sides (mine were at the ends of the tummy surgery, but I know some people have them in the pubic area).  It was still a pain to pull on and off with the tummy scar healing, as they were so tight, but it's necessary to keep fluid, swelling down.  So the funny part is that as swelling was gone & scar healed, I still wore them until probably week 10...just because they fit really well and it felt good to have the support. 

IMPORTANT NOTE!!!  When I was going to have my first mx, my surgeon's office gave me a prescription for bras and said to go to Nordstrom or some other shop for mx bras. They said there was legislature that mandated women with breast cancer should have free bras. When I called my insurance they said sure thing, that I get 4 free bras a year...for life (I can't remember ever buying 4 new bras in 1 year!). I got 2 free then. I posted that on bc.org site and others asked their insurance and most had the same result.  One of our former presidents (can't remember which, Bush1?) had a mother w/bc so he pushed for the bill. Anyhoo, do ask your surgeon's office's for the info. I got 2 new ones (very pretty) with my diep, but they were definitely surgical recovery bras..which I wore for about 6 weeks (started after most swelling was gone, about 2 weeks, as my ps only let me wear tank top type tops (w/shelf) for the first 2 weeks with most swelling).  My ps said they went a bit bigger than my usual B-that I was more of a C after surgery, but at this time, I'm definitely a full B after swelling's subsided.  I was somewhat looking forward to a bit larger bustline but this is very normal for me.  Most good friends (that know my body shape) say they look very much in proportion.   So Jenn...you may go down a bit but I think it's so awesome that you look & feel sexy so soon after surgery  

Frentan...so sorry your mouth is sore   Made me think about how my mouth hurt during chemo...ugh!!!  Hope the meds kick in fast!!!  Zowie..great review of surgery...I'd forgotten the nausea patch...loved that thing!  I also itch like crazy with pain meds so told them no codeine at all in ICU, only extra strength Tylenol...big mistake.  They ended up giving me a wonderful shot of dilauded the next day. 

Take care diep sisters

goldlining

Now I envy you guys! No free bras here in the Great White North. I got partial reimbursement from two separate funds (one govt, one employee benefit) for the same prosthesis totalling >100% of what I paid for it, but if I recall correctly, they wouldn't even cover the bra with the prosthesis pocket, let alone regular bras or the beanie sport prosthesis. They will also cover LE sleeve but not LE vest, and I have mild truncal LE, not arm. Oh well. I'd have to be buying bras anyway, I guess.

bdavis

I did not wear a binder but wore a girdle instead... and after the drains came out bought a Marena brand girdle... much more comfy than flexees IMO... www.marenagroup.com

Beckers

Hi there, I do wear a binder for full 3 months. So tired of it though. Do the flexes come high up on tummy. I like high cuts undies because briefs are uncomfortable on thighs. I'm kind of on a budget and Marena seems expensive. Are Flexees comparable in terms of level of support? what style do I need?



They took my walker away before I left hospital. PT didn't want me putting weight into my arms. About 8 weeks I could stand up tall and back pain eased up.

Beckers

Fredntan, how about some Cloraseptic spray for mouth pain? ( I love that stuff for mouth and throat pain.). Hope healing is coming along!

fredntan

The nystatin swish and swallow is helping. They called something in for me. I have been such a bitch today. Back and lower abdomin really hurt. Feels like my insides are going to fall out. Sx was monday no bm yet. Will take my third dose of milk of mag. Tummy is very tight. Boobies look great

bdavis

Fran.. Try Biotene

Rebecca... no, the flexees are like supportive underpants. The Marena is  very supportive. Mine went from breast to below the knee... I much preferred the Marena.

Galsal

Woke up in and wore a Caromed two-flap binder 24/7 for the first eight weeks, now at least 8 hrs daily.  Time of day is my choice so I wear it when sleeping.  During the day I wear supportive underpant types.

Downey30

Beckers,  I bought the Flexees for after stage 1 and didn't find them very supportive.  They also did not hold up well. Hope this helps.

kimdy

So is this something you need to purchase and take to surgery.  Or have on hand for after surgery?

Beckers

Kimdy, they gave me an abdominal binder in the hospital that I've used for over 2 months. For me it will be a comfort measure. PS may tell me to use one. I'm going to ask at my next appt because I will be done with this in a few weeks. Also I still have quite a bit of abdominal swelling by bedtime.

Beckers

Bdavis the Marena ones look so comfy. Did you use the one without the bra? Are they real hot? ( I have hot flashes)

mommaof4

Hi ladies.  So glad to hear that most everyone is doing really well.  I am 2 1/2 weeks out of my DIEP and feeling about 80%.  I hope I'm not overdoing it as I've been out almost every day last week (lunches w/ friends, shopping etc...).  I feel good, my flaps are healing nicely (even on the radiated side) and my abdominal incision is as well (Although I do have a new area of tenderness where our Great Dane accidentally jumped back onto my side/abdomin), I am being extra careful around him now!  I have had a lot of itching but I guess that's normal with healing.  I was never told by Dr Kline to wear a bra or binder/girdle...  Kind of weird as I feel somewhat unsupported.  Were most of you specifically told to wear a special binder or girdle?  I was given 2 very soft camisoles with pockets for the drains.  I stopped wearing them over a week ago as I only came home with three of the drains and pulled them myself within a few days of being home.  I was really prepared for a much tougher road and have been pleasantly surprised so far.