DIEP 2013
Comments
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Thank you ladies! Good luck to you Goldie on your upcoming surgery. I am one of those who don't think the foreign object in my body will sit well. I think if I had opted for the implants initially, I would end up doing the DIEP in the end as well. I am going to have my surgery in August. A little scared but it seems so far away at this point. I have to say that making the final decision to do the DIEP and not get the implants calmed me so much. I was a wreck when I was considering implants. I just was not comfortable with the idea.
Bailey, I have to say I am a little surprised and sorry to hear that the DIEP is so much more painful than the c-sections. My last one was going on 17 years ago (YIKES!). I remember it being so much better than the first, which was 2 years prior. I expect not to be able to do much for at least the first week or two. I have to say the flat tummy part is a welcomed perk! Why did you wait two years? By choice?
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Hi Ladies!
You are keeping me company as I sit at the Brazilian Consulate to get my Visa... Hubby and DDs are dual-citizens and we are going to visit family in a few weeks. Can't believe I waited this long to get it renewed. (Oh wait, yes I can!) I am number 124... They are on 054.... :P
Sbe - holy crp the hyperbaric tx sounds incredible! Can't wait to hear more about it. You do crack me up! Thanks for the giggle as I sit hear practicing my translation skills listening to the chatter around me.
GreenGirl - you have found a home here amongst sisters who all feel the same way! Implants was not high on my list, either. My BMX (July last year - placed tissue expanders) came with minimal complications and I feel like I breezed thru my DIEP in March. Recovery was 6 weeks but I was up & about, even driving long before that. Best advice I can give is to be in the best physical shape you can be prior to surgery. Afterwards, give yourself time to heal & rest. Whatever your life/work situation, take all the help that is offered and let this tiny fraction of time be all about you as much as possible. You will find that all the docs have different protocols both before and after.
I did not have c-sects, but I know my scar is much longer than my friends' c-scars.
Ask whatever questions are on your mind - the ladies here are warm, inviting, and eager to pay it forward!
So wishing I was swimming instead of sitting in this waiting room. They have not called up anyone else in the time I pecked this out on my phone.... I think 1/2 the agents went to lunch....
Hugs,
Jeannie -
Thanks Gini! I feel like I am in good shape and take great care of myself. So, I hope healing is fairly uneventful. But, I am turning 50 this month so I am not as spry as I used to be (but who is
!) How are your breasts after surgery ladies? Do you find they feel natural? Look natural, etc. My PS showed my pictures of before and afters from surgeries she performed and it was incredible how you could hardly tell a difference in the breasts at all. I told her she could reduce me (I am a C cup now) but she said there was no need to do that. I would be about the same size that I am now.Does anyone know about the skin flap they have to put on to the breast from the tummy, which is removed later? And, did anyone have to be resized or adjusted on the other side after all was said and done?
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I forgot to ask, what should I wear home from the hospital? I am thinking something loose that zips up the middle because I don't expect it will be easy to pull something over my head or wear something on my belly. I don't typically wear nightgowns, but I was going to get a couple for the first couple of weeks home after surgery.
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I elected for a double. There was some slightly suspicious tissue on my "healthy" side, which on biopsy appeared normal, but since there is only 1 shot at a DIEP I wasn't taking chances. (I did not know at the time about TUG and other flap potential - still I am very happy with my decision to do both, it was right for me).
I love my new girls. They are an improvement over my 43 year old nursed-2-babies ones. They are warm, soft, healthy and all mine! They are a little smaller than I was, even after Stage 2 revisions, but I may try for a little more fat grafting with a 2b because I want to lower my ab scar anyway if possible. -
Greengirl- I was told to wear something loose and comfy home from the hospital- I brought some really stretchy loose shorts. But, I had drains placed in my pubic area and there is no way I could put shorts on- my hubby had to bring me a skirt from home- so I suggest a loose dress or a skirt and button up top
And yes, button up nightgowns were very very helpful for awhile!
Goldie- Yes, you will be trading iron bra for iron belt, BUT it really isn't painful like the iron bra feeling- just odd. Whenever it starts bothering me I just remember that it means my tummy is pulled tight and it looks really good- that always makes me feel much better -
Get zip-up/button up loose tops & jammies. I liked the drain-pocket camis my hospital provided, but also often just pinned the drains to my shirts. (Has anyone explained drains to you yet?). Some women see pockets into zip-up sweatshirts and shirts.
Loose pants- elastic waist is best/easiest.
OMG still only on #058 here.... -
Gini- waiting stinks....especially in any government office! I hope you have something to read or more texting to do!
Greengirl- what Gini said. And my tummy tuck scar is much longer than c-section scars were too....however....in the course of the DIEP I lost both of my c-section scars and a couple of my lapro surgery scars, too! My lift on the right healthy breast got rid of my very low chemo port scar as well!
Two year wait was due to my dx and tx.....bad ass, aggressive cancer, so 6 rounds chemo first, a year of Herceptin, mx without recon due to planned rads tx, then rads....Then complications, blah, blah, blah. When I had finished my year of Herceptin last summer I was in no shape for DIEP. So I took a year and got healthier before DIEP.
Sbel....day is half over....how do those heels feel now? Crazy girl! -
SBE - Too funny!! I love it! I have a question - has anyone here taken Garcinia Cambogia? I need to drop some weight before my flap procedure - I'm not as tiny as some of you! Anyway - my doc says most chemo patients gain weight not lose - doesn't help me. So that doesn't give me much time to lose weight during rads or after so I'm thinking this might be an option - if it's safe. I have a phone consult with my normal family doc so I'll ask her what she thinks and drop a line to my oncologist. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with it or has heard good or bad about it. Thanks Ladies!
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Welcome GreenGirl. My diep was changed to a gap flap because the blood vessels were better there. Plus, if I'm honest, I had way more backside than belly. The recover has not been bad. I can stand up straight. I feel good.
So, my other news is that the CTA before surgery showed bilateral cysts in my ovaries. Wonderful. So, I have to make an appointment to get those checked out soon.
Katy, I was trying to calculate how tall I would be in your shoes. Way too tall! Plus, I'd probably break my neck! Lol -
Damiana and Gini - thanks for the post-surgery fashion advice! That will help a lot. The PS did tell me about the drains and said they would be in for about a week. That sounds like the most uncomfortable part of this and nasty too.
Bailey - sorry you have had such a rough time. Sounds like you are feeling better. I hope that you are. I was hoping they could go in at my c-section scar, but the PS said it was too low on my abdomen and she would need to go higher up on my belly. But it sounds like you got some great scar removing benefit out of all this. In addition to the flat belly, not a bad deal, right?
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Thanks SSLA! Did you know that you were going to have to do the GAP instead beforehand? Or did you wake up and it was done?
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Bailey - It's a miracle - they skipped to 101! Still only a couple windows open.... *sigh* .... Phone is running low!
Dyvgrl - never heard of it. I used a shake meal replacement called RVL + exercise to lose 18 pounds prior to my diagnosis. Then gained 20+ back during chemo/surgeries. Wouldn't you think chopping off breasts would mean losing a few pounds? Not so much when you add back in the fluids I guess. Any way, back on the plan now so the scale will start to move in the right direction again! -
Gee Dvygirl,
I don't think I would put anything unknown into my body right now. You have been through enough. Only put really healthy good things in your body, and you will lose weight. Protein, veggie, fruit, etc. You can lose the weight without some gimmic. I just saw a segment this morning on the Today Show about dropping calories from your diet. If you are a soda drinker, have a glass of flavored sparkling water instead and infuse it with a tablespoon, or two of fruit juice. Only 30 calories, and good for you. I do it all the time with cranberry juice because it has a strong flavor.
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Jeannie - I'm going to be joining you. The PS's office called yesterday and they had a cancellation on July 18, 2013. I jumped at the chance. I won't be getting much use out of the new soobs (silicon boobs) that arrived last Friday. Hopefully someone will get good use out of them.
Bailey - I couldn't agree more with your post about having reconstruction. I applaud women that can go without them, but I am not one of them. They certainly weren't my greatest asset, but they were part of me. I miss them and look forward to having them back. Do we need to wear a bra with DIEP reconstruction? I never thought to ask about that.
The hospital lists are helpful. I took WAY TOO much stuff the first time, but was only there 2 nights. Chap stick and reading glasses were the things I couldn't do without. I had neither. I will this time! Thank goodness one of my daughters left chapstick on the bedside table. It was impossible to order my meals without readers. I also learned that anything NOT prepared at the hospital is my best bet. It may be Cheerios for every meal.
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Yeah jlbloom! I also had soobs on order that I never needed. I am sure they are in somebody else by now!
I was no bra for 6 weeks. But again, each doc is different on that one. -
jlbloom - I will be sending you healing thoughts and thinking of you on July 18! Please keep us posted on your surgery and recovery. I wish I was getting mine over with but probably will have to wait another few weeks (we have a family vacation planned in a couple of weeks that I do not want to change!)
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Damaina, did you find your tissue expander painful, or just uncomfortable? And, I am guessing Iron Bra went away with you DIEP too, right? Everybodies symtoms become a blurr after a while, if I have asked you this before, I am sorry.
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jlbloom...you go girl!!! I am happy for you. I am only a week after you. We can heal together afterwards.
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Green girl....they did a ct of the abdomen the day before. She gave me the options to think about overnight. It really wasn't a hard choice. That was my best chance of success.
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Goldie- my TE was terribly painful until about 2 fills. Then it really seemed to stop bothering me, until toward the end when he overfilled me for RADS, then it was in my armpit and bothering some nerves in that area (and I think it was a huge contributor to truncal LE I was dealing with) All that pain and discomfort is gone now. I have some minor pains in my new boob that are just healing pains, but nothing bad at all.
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Greengirl- definitely recommend vacation first! (Of course I always recommend vacation!!!) And I am feeling fine.....it was (is???) a long road but I am here and NED and kicking....no worries!
jbloom My PS put me in abdominal binder for 4 weeks and then as I see fit. She was a no compression on flap doc....they all differ. However I had huge swelling in flap so she had me in loose sports bra for some support. All docs differ in protocol so ask yours what they want you to be in. And CONGRATS on your surgery date! Awesome!
Dvygrl- I lost about 40 lbs right before dx.....put it all back on during following year of tx and several sx...took 35 off after tx ended and before DIEP. Many women do gain during tx. lots of protein will help you to try to maintain weight, helps prevent nausea, and helps retain muscle mass. If you are not exercising, try walking each day. Get outside if you can and enjoy some nature....always helps to ease my mind. Yoga is also a great way to build strength, flexibility and learn proper breathing that truly helps with healing and coping.
Last summer, after my last herceptin tx the end of June, I set a goal to be able to ride a certain bike trail within six weeks....and I did it. I also started running for the first time in 30 years. My first 5k was a Warrior Dash in September (with obstacles....I did 8 of 10....two were in muddy water and required a lot of upper body strength so with one open wound and no arm strength I skipped those). Then set a goal to run a 5k every month until surgery....which I did! At first i often came in last in my age group. Once I came in dead last of everyone!!! But my running group friends came back and finished with me so I wasn't alone! But I finished them all. I hope to walk a 5k this month....and be running again by end of August. Back on my bike already. Being more active always makes me more motivated to eat better.
I also saw a nutritionist who specializes in cancer patients (unfortunately not until I was done with tx) if you have access to one use him or her for help.
The key to all is being motivated and maintaining that motivation. I cannot tell you how deep I have to dig sometimes.....but I am worth it. -
ssla - good that they let you know. my BS told me that he is not sure if he will have to remove my nipple or not because the area is close to it. He doesn't suspect that he will but won't know until he is in there. So, I may or may not wake up with a nipple. A scary thought that has me a bit freaked out!
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Bailey - you are so worth it! Kick ass, girl!
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Greengirl- I have been very surprised that losing my nipple did not upset me as much as I though it would. Either way, you will be okay! And if you get really overwhelmed just remember that this is only temporary!
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Bailey- Holy cow! You are one determined girl. That is so awesome!
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Greengirl, as you can see, everybody's experiences are different. Here's my two cents. The DIEP incision was the very first one I ever had on my tummy. It is actually a superficial incision, because they don't cut through muscles as for a C-section. They harvest the fat under the skin to use for your new breast(s). So it is not a major healing process for most women. The crotch drains are the peskiest part, but totally doable. For me Tylenol extra strength was enough to take care of the discomfort, that's what I had, not really pain. Only when I moved, or wanted to get out of bed the first few days, there was a pulling sensation. I took the Tylenol only for about a week post-op, and had used nothing since.
Goldie, I had a TE for 15 months. Yes, the iron bra feeling is gone after DIEP, and it is GREAT!
Bailey, you are a true inspiration! Thanks! This morning I signed up for aquasizes and yoga. Will add gym biking in there, and I do walk every day. That's enough to begin my return to fitness.
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Damiana, it is so cool that the lymphedema went away after they took those expanders out. I think they were cutting off your circulation, or something in your body. I am no expert, but I don't think lymphedema goes away over night. But, remember what I heard about the lymph nodes from the tummy helping lymphedema after diep? But, I really doubt that those are working yet. You are not even close to completely healed.
I believe the expanders are making my hands ever so slightly swollen. I have no pitting, or extreme swelling that any body would notice if they looked at me, but my wedding ring, which I wore for 33 years till the day of surgery will not go back on.
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Damiana - the thought of not knowing about whether or not I will lose my nipple may be the worst part. Whatever comes, I will take it. Glad to hear you were not as upset as you thought.
Liefie - I thought the c-section incision is worse because it did go all the way through. Glad to hear the pain was tolerable. The first couple of weeks with the c-section for me was the worst. But I remember I was driving sooner than the 2 weeks they recommended. Plus, the second C was a breeze after the first. This incision is longer but hopefully not as painful - and if what you are saying is true for me too, it won't be! Thanks!
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Yoga is incredible. I have been doing it for a couple of years now and I am so much stronger than I was before I started and so much more flexible.
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