DIEP 2013

BleuGirl

nihahi wrote: Welcome to the Diep 2013 thread. Started as a "home-base" for women considering or undergoing DIEP surgery in 2013, this has become a place of questions, answers, support, courage, tears and smiles. We are from various countries, and are having our consults and surgeries in different locations, and are at different time lines in our breast cancer journeys. We plan to be here in years to come, for women who may find themselves on the same road.

If you want to be included on the surgery list in 2013 only please send a Private Message to nihahi. If someone is interested in recording the 2014 DIEP surgeries, we welcome a NEW Thread, and person to keep track of the updates

1/12/13 shianne29 (unilateral MX with unilateral DIEP)

1/16/13 Joellelee (BMX and DIEP)

1/16/13 Hockeymom1 (bilateral DIEP, delayed reconstruction)

1/17/13 BleuGirl and 4my4babies (BMX with DIEP)

1/18/13 Moviemanic - (BMX with Diep Stage 1) St. Vincent Medical Center, Portland, OR

1/21/13 gotoell (unilateral DIEP)

1/23/13 heavenschild

1/24/13 jjl (bilateral DIEP)

1/28/13 TammyT (Bilateral NSM immediate Diep) Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA

1/30/13 bdavis (Diep Stage 2b)

2/1/13 KiwiMum (unilateral free flap TRAM, delayed reconstruction)

2/4/13 Sonyalee (unilateral DIEP, delayed reconstruction)

2/7/13 keznick

2/8/13 cher214

2/13/13 Karen_67 (delayed UniDiep)

2/14/13 ketch

2/18/13 debb (bilateral DIEP, delayed reconstruction)

2/19/13 seagan (bilateral DIEP, delayed reconstruction)

2/28/13 Geralyn (bilateral MX with immediate DIEP reconstruction) Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON

2/26/13 nans (unilateral DIEP, delayed reconstruction)

3/4/13 ironmagnolia (BMX with immediate DIEP reconstruction)

3/6/13 seacretgardn

3/6/13 emilyj67 (unilateral DIEP)

3/8/13 cuetang (BMX with immediate DIEP reconstruction) Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA

3/11/13 Itmguy

3/11/13 Gini23 (Bilateral Diep post TE) Brigham Women's Hospital, Boston MA

3/11/13 jtbsmom (DIEP)

3/18/13 Lorikay

3/19/13 jamforme27 (BMX with DIEP reconstruction)

3/26/13 Judy_63

4/1/13 faith729

4/1/13 pjw61 (Diep, Stage 1) PRMA, Methodist Hospital

4/3/13 llr010200

4/3/13 fredntan (Stage 2) PRMA

4/5/13 Sharon1942 (Stage 2)

4/8/13 Robin67

4/12/13 nihahi (Stage 1, delayed uni muscle sparing Tram free. Foothills Hospital, Calgary AB)

4/12/13 MartyJ (Stage 2, rescheduled from 4/5) Charleston

4/15/13 KMCrap (bmx with diep recon)

4/15/13 lilyun (Stage 2)

4/15/13 sbelizabeth (delayed DIEP reconstruction)

4/19/13 robinlee76 (bilateral DIEP)

4/22/13 HHcats (Bilateral immediate Diep)Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, ON

4/23/13 kuka21 (Prophylactic BMX with Diep Stage 1) Baylor's All Saints Hospital

4/24/13 klanders (BMX with immediate Diep) NOLA

4/24/13 oropallo (Stage 2, Bilateral Diep)

5/1/13 LMO45 (Immediate Bilateral Diep) Smilow Cancer Center, Yale

5/8/13 marsha1970 (BMX with Diep Stage 1)

5/10/13 Cherrie (Stage 2) Dr. Masssey, Chicago

5/14/13 peacelovedogs (bilateral DIEP, delayed reconstruction)

5/14/13 Weerah (Delayed uni Diep) Sunnybrook, Toronto, ON

5/15/13 Sullyvin (uniMX with immediate Diep)

5/16/13 liefie (unilateral delayed Diep, Stage 1) Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, BC

5/20/13 BeezusComplex (Delayaed bilateral Diep) Nashville, TN

5/21/13 LyndaMarie (delayed bilateral Diep)

5/23/13 bailey6760 (Uni-Delayed Diep) Grand Rapids, MI

5/24/13 SheChirple (bilateral DIEP)

6/3/13 Ihw (Bilateral delayed DIEP) North Florida Regional Medical Center, Gainesville, FL

6/7/13 heavenschild (Stage 2)

6/7/13 sherbab

6/7/13 sweetpickle (delayed Diep)

6/10/13 jakig (delayed Diep)

6/10/13 Lashea (delayed Diep)

6/13/13 JanetM (BMX with immediate Diep) Toronto General Hospital

6/19/13 kad22 (Diep)

6/19/13 damiana9 (Uni Diep, Stage 1) Dallas, TX

6/20/13 cgabbyj (Diep)

6/21/13 ssla01 (BMX with immediate Diep)

6/24/13 Cuetang (Diep, Stage 2)

6/24/13 sfin (bilat mx w/free flap TRAM reconstruction)

6/25/13 dbarkow (Stage 1, Diep) NOLA

6/25/13 Gini23 (stage 2)|

6/26/13 mammalou (uniDiep, Stage 1)

6/28/13 38tooyoung (Diep) UPenn

7/2/13 RobinY (Bilateral MX with Diep)

7/9/13 Gotcha13 (BMX with immediate Diep)

7/10/13 MaryM54 (Bilateral Diep)

7/12/13 DebraR (Bilateral Diep) NOLA

7/16/13 faith729 (Stage 2)

7/18/13 jlbloom (bilateral delayed Diep)

7/18/13 jeannie57 (Diep) University of Washington Medical Center

7/8/13 KCandJsMom (Delayed left DIEP, right mastectomy and TE placement)

7/19/13 Bluebird144 (bmx with immediate flap reconstruction)

?/??/13 goldie4040 (Delayed Double Diep) UTSW Hospital, Dallas, TX

7/23/13 NRM (BMX with immediate Diep) Toronto General Hospital, Dr. Mcready/Dr. Hofer

7/24/13 pkeiles (uni Diep with lymphnode transfer surgery) Torrance, CA

7/29/13 sherry35 (Delayed bilateral Diep)

7/30/13 christina0001 (delayed unilateral DIEP) University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS

7/30/13 TammyT (Stage 2)

8/2/13 Lashea (Stage 2)

8/5/13 relocatedtarheel (BMX with immediate DIEP)

8/5/13 kuka21 (Stage 2)

8/5/13 mrtw43 (BMX with Immediate Diep) Annapolis, MD

8/6/13 Blessed85 (Diep) University of Washington

8/6/13 GreenGirl1 (Diep)

8/6/13 MartyJ (Stage 2B)

8/7/13 DebDylan (unimx, immediate Diep)

8/8/13 Lahela (BMX with immediate Diep)

8/14/13 Barbmal5 (Diep Stage 2)

8/15/13 Typewriterjenny (uniDiep)

8/15/13 hrf (delayed double Diep) Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, ON

8/15/13 Tracy516 (BMX with Diep)

8/23/13 Jubby (DIEP/SIEP, bilateral recon)

8/26/13 Islandgirl8 (BMX with immediate Diep) UC Medical Center, Cincinnati,OH

8/28/13 sheri47

8/28/13 2timer

8/29/13 Katita (Bilateral Diep) Vancouver General, Vancouver, BC

8/29/13 selizabeth (Stage 2)

9/?/13 tina66

9/3/13 moviemaniac (Stage 2, double Diep)

9/4/13 FireDragon11 (BMX with Diep)

9/4/13 klanders (Stage 2a) NOLA

9/4/13 MAPBB (bmx with Diep) NOLA

9/4/13 goodie (Stage 2) Johns Hopkins

9/5/13 annm1020 (Delayed double Diep) NYU

9/9/13 ssla01 (Stage 2) Dr. Massey

9/10/13 Cstrong (BMX with immediate Diep)

9/10/13 Zoemom (Diep)

9/10/13 mtpeteacher (unimx and implant removal, Bilateral Diep) NOLA

9/13/13 jakig (Stage 2 and nipple recon)

9/13/13 Sharon1942 (Stage 2B) UTSW

9/19/13 Cherrie (Stage 2C) Dr. Massey, Chicago

9/23/13 ironmagnolia (Stage 2, Diep)

9/24/13 Carmelle_in_CT (unimx with Diep)

9/24/13 littlesara11 (Stage 2) Boston
9/24/13 Mom1-2-1 Diep
9/25/13 kimdy (Diep)

9/26/13 cpopmusic (Diep) NYU Langone Medical Center, NYC

9/27/13 krissy42 (unimx with Diep) University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH

10/1/13 Debwarrior (BMX with immediate Diep) UCSF

10/2/13 Pattysmiles (BMX with Diep) NOLA

10/8/13 Krissie42 (BMX with Diep)

10/15/13 butterfleyez (Diep)

10/16/13 Jeannie57 (Stage 2)

10/17/13 pmat001 (BMX with immediate Diep) Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto

10/18/13 kdoole01 (Diep)

10/21/13 digrzdtr (bmx with Diep)

10/21/13 pooka1978 (uniMX with immediate Diep)

10/23/13 LucyV

10/24/13 Linn65 (Delayed Uni Diep)

10/29/13 mrtw43 (stage 2 nipple recon) Annapolis, MD

10/31/13 Mabel62 (Diep)

11/1/13 christina0001 (Stage 2)

11/5/13 Atown (BMX with immediate Diep)

11/7/13 brooklynne (uniMX with immediate Diep)

11/12/13 mammalou (Stage 2)

11/13/13 mstinpv (Diep) Des Moines, IA

11/20/13 RHGSR (BMX with Diep)

11/22/13 bdavis (Diep Stage 2c)

11/25/13 jbloom (Stage 2)

11/26/13 milkyway2 (Diep)

12/3/13 moviemaniac (Stage 2b)

12/4/13 marieann1020 (Stage 2)

12/5/13 kkmich (DIEP)

12/5/13 toronto-girl (uniMX with immediate Diep-rt, and delayed Diep=lt) Toronto General Hospital

12/6/13 sbelizabeth (Stage 2b)

12/6/13 sheri47 (Stage 2)

12/11/13 OceanWarrior (Diep)

12/12/13 Ridley (Diep)

12/13/13 damiana9 (Stage 2)

12/16/13 MartyJ (Stage 2c)

12/16/13 Curlylocks (Bilateral prophy mx and immediate Diep) Hamilton General Hospital

12/19/13 bailey6760 (Stage 2)

12/19/13 Sharon1942 (TATTOO DATE!!!!)
12/23/13 lahela (Stage "just fix this already!")

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1/24/14 Donna2012 (uni Diep) University of PA (Philly)

4/19/14 AnnBR (Diep)

BleuGirl's original post: I am scheduled for my DIEP reconstruction on 1/9/13. I am hoping to find some others who are also scheduled in 2013. I have read through most of the 2012 thread and have gotten some valuable info there. I feel like I am in a holding pattern right now, not much is going on in November for me. December will be quite busy with lots of appointments and the holidays. I am trying really hard to not be freaking out over all of this. I find myself tired, not physically tired as I am definitely getting enough sleep, just mentally drained which I guess is making me tired. I am not sure anyone but you ladies on here understands what I mean.

Edited to change my surgery date to January 17, 2013 and to add list of 2013 Surgery Dates.

darnette

Hi Bleugirl, Take these few weeks to relax and look forward to the DIEP. I had the DIEP done in August and I am feeling great. Atlease you have enough time to wrap your mind around all this? Try not to worry to much.. it's not a walk in the park but you will get through it everything takes time... I was told I need 8 weeks to recover. I was walking around blocks 3 days after i was home from the hospital. walking is good you will be leaned over but walk, walk, walk as much as you can and eberyday it gets better and you will feel better. Stay on top of your pain medication and it won't be so bad.. It's going to feel like it will never end but it does.. I was just out of work for 8 weeks but believe me in about a good 3 to 4 weeks you will be feeling good and enough todo more.... Yes you rmentally drained because it seems that this is all you can think about.. just think about getting the Cancer out your body. HUGS TO YOU...

keznick

Hi Bleugirl, I'm also having reconstruction next year (Feb 7, yikes!). I was diagnosed Oct 2/09 so had my mastectomy then, along with all the treatment (chemo/rads). I had inquired about reconstruction at the time but they were more concerned about getting the cancer taken care of (although now I hear of a lot of people doing it at the same time, would have been much preferrable!).

Anyways, I'm worried about the surgery but looking forward to completing this final phase (and sooooooo tired of the stick-on boob!!!). I am counting down the days when I can toss or maybe burn it .

Thanks for the info darnette. I've been trying to read up on the surgery as well to see what's involved.

BleuGirl

Sorry...I didn't see the DIEP surgery End 2012-2013 before I posted this. It's ok to combine them if that is better.

BleuGirl

Darnette- thanks for the hugs and I hope to walking around the block as quick as you were.  I have started training various people at work to handle some of my tasks while I am gone from work. I am hoping to be able to return after 6-8 weeks

keznick - I'm glad you are able to get the reconstruction done now.  We are in the waiting room together so to speak! You might need to have a party to burn the stick on .

SheChirple

Bleugirl:  I have my appt on 11/29 to scheduled my DIEP.  I imagine it will be Jan or Feb.  I'm learning as much as I can right now.  I have read through the 2011 and 2012 threads. 

I'll be here, as well.

darnette

Keznick, your welcome now you can tell me about the tamoxifen? I will be starting that in about 2 weeks or so after I am done with Rads.. i would have been done with rads this weeks but they gave me a weeks off so i would burn so much? but i thinking once I start back i need about 10 more won't it be the same outcome..?? Bleugirl you will because being hunched over will make your back hurt so your going to tell yourself over and over i gotta get better. LOLOL and make sure you you ladies have a recliner... you won't be able to sleep in a bed laying flat will be the hardest. so if you don't already have one in you home invest in one before the operation!! xoxoxoxo 

llr010200

Hi bleugirl,

My surgery is scheduled for April 3 and I've been reading the Diep 2011, Diep 2012, and Nola in Sept. threads and have gotten some great info so far. I've also looked at the Diep Stage II thread to know what to expect and/or ask for. I will stay on this thread to encourage those who are taking the big step soon. Hugs and prayers for us all!

SheChirple

darnette, I am looking to get a recliner / lift chair for after my DIEP.  Probably wont be until Feb/Mar but......

kimdy

Hi Bleugirl!

I am scheduled for DIEP just a few days after you 1/14/13.  Will you be traveling for DIEP?  I will be.  I to have been reading the other boards...I have been waiting about 9 months or so ....so now I'm excited to have a date, but also a little intimidated/scared by it all!

I will be keeping tabs on you & praying all goes well

SheChirple

My DIEP has been delayed.  I had emergency appendectomy on 11/25.  They did it arthroscopically and used old scars for entry, so no new damage to my "future breasts". LOL.  But, because of yet another general anesthetic surgery, they are delaying my DIEP.  It probably wont be until March.

BleuGirl

Only 31 more days until my surgery. (I would insert a nervous emoticon here if I could find one!) Friday I had my appointment to have the abdominal CT angiogram, not a big deal, just drank a lot of water and had an IV for the contrast material. This coming week my husband and I will go to what my Breast Center calls the Gear-Up Workshop.  They have them twice a month with the intention that patients will go to one in the month before their surgery.  This is what they say the purpose of the workshop is: "To prepare breast cancer patients for surgery and treatment with information and strategies for maintaining health after diagnosis of cancer.  The workshop will primarily focus on Lymphedema and Stress Reduction with patients being given the opportunity to learn hands-on techniques to reduce risk and improve wellness."  I also have an appointment this week at the Pre-Anesthesia Testing Center to get my medical clearance for the surgery. 

llr010200 - Thanks for pointing out the Stage II thread, I need to check that one out.

kimdy - I am not traveling for my surgery, I fortunately live in the Washington Metropolitan Area where there is high quality healthcare and surgeons.  My breast center is only 20 minutes from my house and my plastic surgeon is from Johns Hopkins.

Shechirple - Oh No!! I hope you are recovering nicely and can get back on the schedule soon for the DIEP.

I have 4 more weeks at work to get things wrapped up and reassigned as normally no one does my job when I am not there.

heavenschild

Hello all!  I am scheduled for 1/23/13.  It seems like such a long ways away, but that was the quickest that they could get three doctor's schedules to coincide.  I had a lumpectomy previously on the right hand side with radiation.  They then discovered DCIS on the left hand side two years later.  That prompted my decision for the DIEP.  The tummy tuck is a bonus, I guess.  Wish I could fly to NOLA, but the cost is prohibitive.  My surgeon said that it would take 8-10 hours with eight weeks of recovery time.  Lots of good info on the NOLA thread, those ladies are amazing.

Blessings to all!

BleuGirl

My surgery date has been changed!  My plastic surgeon is being sent to a conference the day after my surgery and he doesn't want to leave me so soon so I have been rescheduled.  My new surgery date is January 17th, only 8 days later.  The day they told me about the date change I felt so deflated.  I think I had really been getting my head wrapped around that date and when they changed it it kind of caught me off guard.  I'm ok now and trying to think of the positives for the delay....now I will be able to travel out of state with my youngest daughter for a field hockey tournament that I wouldn't have been able to go to before.

heavenschild

BlueGirl - sorry!  I know how that feels, I have had to wait over two months for SX.  I can only clean the house so much! 

SheChirple - how is the recliner hunt going?  I have a recliner at home, but the lift sounds great.  I wonder if you can rent one?

SheChirple

You can rent.  The one I found is $90 a month.  For $400 I can buy a nice one.  So....I'll probably just buy one.  But, not until I have a surgery date. Appt. is 12/26 to schedule (I hope)

seagan

Greetings! I'm scheduled for a Feb 19 reconstruction on both sides, after waiting nearly two years since my bilateral mast following a recurrence in 2011 (I originally was diagnosed in 2009 with IDC and had lumpectomy/rads at that time). We're hoping it can be a DIEP, but it may need to be a muscle-sparing TRAM since I don't have much abdominal fat to work from (plenty to offer in other regions, just not there!). 

Question for you all: any ideas on alternatives to a recliner? We have a small, old house and I don't think a recliner could fit even if we could somehow obtain one temporarily. After my mast, I slept/rested on a big wedge pillow on a bed on the first floor, and that worked fairly well. But this whole issue of a weakened abdominal strength, at least at the beginning, has me worried about that set-up.

Glad to have a group to experience this with! I was part of a similar group on these boards in 2009 when we were all going through radiation treatment, and it was so helpful and wonderful.

MartyJ

Seagan - using pillows and wedges in your bed will work perfectly.  I had DIEP 6 weeks ago.  Although I traveled to New Orleans for surgery, I was able to climb the stairs in my house 10 days after surgery.  If they can't do DIEP, can your PS do one of the GAP procedures?  Might be worth asking.

nihahi

Just wondering if anyone here is waiting for or has had DIEP surgery in Calgary, Alberta? I am waiting for a consult appointment. It has been a crazy road to get to this point. Had a mastectomy in Nov. 1991. Did chemo, no radiation. Then Tamoxifen for 5 years. Tried the fake boob thing.....didn't work for me. Too hard emotionally every time I changed my clothes, and was always aware of the "alien" in my bra. Chose to go the implant/augmentation route, as I had young kids, and no real support team to help with childcare, so (back then) felt the downtime and muscle involvement of a lat flap or pedicled tram flap was not realistic. Had tissue expander put in the mx side. Not fun, but got through it. Real boob augmented as the surgeon said he could match things better that way. Implant on mx side failed after about 2 years. Back to the OR, another implant put in. That now has a capsular contraction. When I went to a surgeon to get that sorted out, they dx me with skin cancer on my nose, and priorized that before fixing the implant. Had to wait 10 months to get the nose sorted out, and used that time to decide I want to get rid of the implants once and for all. The last doc said he would try to expedite the path to get a DIEP done, but who knows how much influence he may have. It could be next month, it could be 6 months....the waiting is consuming me!!!!! I've been researching as much as I can find, this forum looks like the go to place for real life info. Lots of members comments on their experiences, but haven't found anyone from my area. Is anyone out there?

seagan

Whew, glad to hear it -- thank you, MartyJ! My PS doesn't do the GAP or TUG procedures. I don't think those are widely done here in the Twin Cities generally, and we can't afford to go to NOLA. I was pretty small (A cup) before, so even if we can grab some from my tummy, I'll be OK with that.

I've read conflicting things on the muscle-sparing TRAM, though I know it's not as ideal as the DIEP because they do take some of the muscle. But this PS is known for doing really careful, excellent work, and knows I want as little muscle taken as possible, so I'm trying to stay hopeful.

Wish there were some exercises or something I could do to build up the key blood vessels in that area -- my PS says that will be the determining factor. If they go in and find sufficient blood vessels to work with, they can do a DIEP. As I (tenuously) understand it, fat doesn't have offer as much of that as muscle does, so you need a good amount of fat tissue to have sufficient blood vessels to work with. With less fat, they may not be sufficient, so they may need to take a bit of muscle (and it can be really small), as muscle offers really good blood supply. I have probably mangled that some, but I think it's the general idea.

I am doing some core exercises between now and the surgery anyway, but mostly just to be as strong as possible going into the surgery and maybe to build up the strength of the muscles that will need to compensate for any loss. I've seen conflicting things on whether that makes a difference, but I figure it can't hurt. I just don't want to lose the fat I do have down there now (I need at least an A cup!) -- a very weird-feeling health goal!

nihahi

I can identify with the "reverse thinking healthwise"! I've never been a heavy person. 5'6", heaviest weight ever was 145. Currently at about 137. Never dieted, am usually quite active and try to eat healthy. As I wait for the next round of surgery, my stomach seems to be melting away which worries me, since that's my next boob! After eating "right" for my entire life, I find it hard to try to gain weight by eating high calorie, high fat etc. foods. If I am told I don't have enough fat for a DIEP, I WILL BE DEVASTATED. 

curveball

@nihahi, if you are told you don't have enough donor tissue for a DIEP, don't be devastated, get a second opinion! I got a nasty stomach bug right before I was diagnosed in March, and ate hardly anything for three days. I lost about five pounds and (what with worry during/immediately after diagnosis) still haven't gained it all back. I'm 5'7" tall, and when I had my first consult with a PS I weighed about 123 lbs and was told I was too thin for any kind of flap reconstruction. I didn't realize until then how little I wanted to have an implant reconstruction. I then went and got a second opinion from a surgeon who actually has experience in doing microsurgical reconstruction. (The first PS is a very new doctor, not yet board certified, at least not last spring when I spoke with him. I say this not to cast any doubt on his competence, I think he simply hasn't been out of school and residency long enough to complete the prerequisites for certification.) Anyway, although I was still down around 123 lbs, the second PS said it would be possible for me to have DIEP reconstruction. I went back for a followup a few weeks ago, my weight was by then up to about 126. I'm now scheduled for a CT scan in January to see if the blood vessels will work, and will schedule an appointment after I finish chemo to investigate a possible blood-clotting issue. If nothing turns up to rule out DIEP, I'll be having my surgery the end of next April.

nihahi

There doesn't seem to be a big "pool" of diep surgeons in this area to go to, and the one I am waiting to see is appparently one of the top 2 in Calgary. After 20+ years of trying to "get on with life" after the dx and mx, I seem to keep falling into potholes of reconstruction failure. I just can't deal with "no breast" emotionally. My friends don't seem to understand why trying to have a fake breast is so important to me, and I don't seem to be able to explain it to them so that they "get it". Every glitch in the reconstruction journey feels like cancer is grabbing hold of me again, even though it "isn't cancer" that I"m dealing with at this point.

heavenschild

Hello girls! 

@martyJ:   I saw you posts on the NOLA thread. Thanks for jumping on the site and helping us out!

@nihahi:  I was told by my PS that if I felt that the tissue that they took for the DIEP was not *big enough* that they could do lipo on the second stage and insert it into my breasts.  I am wondering why the other PS's out there don't do that? 

Cyber hugs to ALL!

seagan

I asked about the lipo option, too. My PS said that tends to be used more for spot "contouring" than for making a breast larger -- so, for example, if there's a spot where a new boob still looks a bit indented. He did say they could supplement with implants later (post-DIEP) if I wanted to go bigger. I'm hoping to avoid implants altogether, but I guess I like having that option in case I end up with mini-boobs that just feel way too small even by my standards. (My guess is I'll be so tired of surgery by that point that I won't go that route, though.)

I've also heard the lipo option/fat grafting is quite painful. Not sure in which way, though, or relative to what!

Nihahi, I know exactly what you mean about cancer grabbing hold of you again through this process, even if it's not directly cancer that's the issue. There's so many ways cancer (and its aftermath) affects us indirectly. I find I resent it even in the way it's made me more fearful of my body generally, and in many other ways too. Even if your friends there don't seem to "get" it, please know that we do -- and we're here for you.

nihahi

Thanks for the understanding words. Yes, even this many years out, I overwhelmingly "resent" having been a cancer victim, even though I know others have not been as lucky as me, and have lost their battles. It seems like such a mountain to climb, just to find a way to feel "normal" again. 

calm

Nihahi, I had DIEP in Calgary. My surgeon said he would have to wait until he opened my abdomen to see whether he would have to take any muscle or not--so going in i wasn't certain whether i would have TRAM or DIEP. I had surgery  almost 3 years after my diagnosis--and waited almost  two years after I got referred--but I wanted a particular surgeon. It was worth the wait.

nihahi

I'm guessing you had the surgery at Foothills? How long were you actually in the hospital? I'm waiting to get a consult with Dr. McKenzie, who does the surgery together with Dr. deHaas. Both of them come highly recommended. What kind of prep or information did you have before the actual surgery? Not knowing what kind of flap I might end up with scares me, as I am the kind of person who needs details, details, details.

calm

Nihahi--yes I was at Foothills--had two pre-op visits with surgeon. He wanted to understand what type of reconstruction I was interested in and then see if i was a candidate for that. I did ask whether my muscle would be taken as I had met a woman who had had surgery many years ago and although she loved the result, she said she could no longer sit up without doing a roll--in other words, her abdominal muscles were gone--I didn't want to sacrifice my muscles--he reassured me that the surgery had come a long way since then and that wouldn't happen--however, he could not guarantee he could spare all muscle until he saw what he was dealing with at the time of the surgery--in the end he didn't need to take any muscle. The surgery went well. I was in the hospital for 7 days--norm for his patients is 5-7 days (and a few as long as 9 days). The surgeon came by every day in the hospital to check on things and talked to me at thetime of discharge. I had a post-op visit two weeks after discharge and another will happen after about 8 weeks. I had deHaas.

nihahi

@calm.....Thanks for your messages. I have heard wonderful things about dehaas, and he is supposed to be doing the surgery for me alongside the other surgeon. It sounds like things have gone well for you, which is great news. Could I ask a couple more questions please? Did you have a scan prior to surgery to find arteries for the flap? How was your post-op pain managed? Were you in icu after surgery or did you go straight to a regular nursing floor? Did you have to go home with drains? I keep reading about people being unhappy with "dog ears" on their abdominal incisions - do you have that too? How long do you have to wait to have the nipple reconstruction done?

Sorry for asking so much, I"m sure once I actually get to see the surgeon, I'll settle down, but the waiting in limbo is so hard for me. I appreciated anything I can learn about what to expect from people who "have been there".

calm

 Nihahi--I don't mind the questions at all. I had no scan. After the surgery I was in recovery--I was there for sometime (my surgery started at 7:30am and remember seeing the clock reading 5:00pm when I was in recovery). My blood pressure was low so they didn't want to release me to my unit--but low blood pressure is normal for me and all signs were good--so they took me to my unit--I had a room to myself for the first 6 days--they tend to do this to minimize risk of infection--plus they check on you every single hour for the first 48 hours (so very little sleep)-- for the next 48 hours it is every two hours--then every four. Contrary to what I have read from others on the DIEP topics on this site--I actually had very little pain--and I am not one to just suck it up. Yes, i felt like a train wreck after the surgery and as the anesthetic was wearing off--but if i was resting in bed, really i didn't have pain. They give you a PCA--button you can press for a dose of morphine. I pushed it when I was getting out of bed for the frist few times. and I pushed it once when I had a bad reaction to some hopital food. Other than that, I didn't use it and didn't take any pain pills. Definitely there was discomfort at the abdomen incision site--I was very hunched over and over time you eventually straighten up (sometime between 4-6 weeks)--but I have to say I didn't encounter unmanageable pain (I think I said I was a 5 out of 10 for pain at its worst and then a 1 or 2 out of 10 for the first few days and by day 3 or 4 i told the nurse I was 0 because I honestly felt no pain when I was resting.). After I left the hospital--I was mostly sore becasue I couldn't stand upright--so the act of walking put quite a strain on my hips and back--I used a heating pad to help that. I had no drains when I left the hospital--they had all been taken out around day 4-5. Catheter came out around day 3--of course they are always monitoring your urine output and then they want to see a bowel movement as well. When you are in the hospital you are lying on your back--the bed behind your back is slightly elevated/angled and they have pillows under your knees--you are told to keep in that position once you go home for several weeks--so i know some ladies have recliners--I simply set my bed up with lots of pillows. As for next steps--it takes time for everything to 'settle' (3-6 months)and so I will see what else I need done (for example--aligning the breasts--my own/other one sags a bit from age/being a Mom--, and creating a nipple)--but I was blown away with the result of what he was able to do--it is quite amazing and feels and looks very natural. I have no dog ears or anything  else i want done--but again, I imagine as things settle following surgery there are things they can do to fine tune the result. Hope this helps--everyone's experience is different.