DIEP 2013

Lmo45

Welcome FireDragon!!



Nerves are normal, we were all nervous. You'll find so much support on this thread, so ask away! I had Diep May1 and am so happy with everything! Stage 2 will take place when I finish chemo in the fall, so I'm living one treatment at a time these days.



Thinking of Gotcha today as well as Mary and hoping they slept well during surgery!



Mammalou, congrats on being drain free, what a feeling!!!



Good night ladies, Lauren

ssla01

Mammalou, I am jealous! You had surgery a week after me and I still have both hip drains? You lucky, lucky girl!



As night approaches, I'm also reminded of how much I miss sleeping on my side. Sigh....

damiana9

Sharon- Oh man I am missing laying on my sides as well!

Mammalou- Yeah on the drains coming out!

Kuka- I was seeing Dr. Chow today- in the same building as your PS! Maybe next time we should coordinate better LOL!



My incisions are all looking really good, but the top boob incision randomly bleeds. It is weird and frustrating. Also my little necrotic spot is annoying to deal with.

I went to the pool today and it was really nice! I was able to stand up straight in the pool and my abs probably got a tiny workout. Something really freaked me out in the water though- it wasn't cold but noticably cooler than the air temp. Well, a good deal of my body is competely numb from surgery- it was wild to be in the water and not be able to feel it. For awhile I couldn't even tell how deep of water I was in without looking.

Anonymous

Welcome FireDragon! Great name! Do you have a Plastic Surgeon? You found the right place....lots of great support and experience here.



Kuka - awesome work! Good news from PS! Happy for you!



Thinking of this week's newbie flappers! Healing thoughts for you and for Robin.



Sharon- is that pesky thing still putting out fluid? Couple more days and I will be passing the "everlasting drain" medal on to you. Get that thing gone....not a medal I want to pass. (Seriously, I am sorry for your drain pain....drains are our friends, drains are our friends...say it with me....)

goldie4040

Marty, my doc has done a bunch of the PAP flaps with his partner in crime, Dr. Haddock of UTSW.  After a lot of emails back, and forth with my doc he feels I could do stacked tummy and PAP, but he feels tummy would be enough, and the PAP not quite enough. So either I want big ole boobies, of just the B's I had before, and then, if anything goes wrong I still have the PAP to fall back on. Also, I know this is going to sound funny, by my DH loves my butt, and would rather I have a scar on my tummy then mess with the shape of my butt...lmaoooooooo!!!!!!  He said he married me for my butt.  I guess I should be grateful he wasn't a boob man...right? 

I guess nobody heard from Robin today?  How about our other gals who had surgery today?

I spend the night out with a few friends.  Treated myself to my last glass of wine for a long time. 

goldie4040

Sherry, you are right. There are a bunch of us all clumped together at the end of July.  I wish we could all be together. How cool with that be?  Well, like you said, we can cheer each other on, and all our good buddies will be rooting for us too. 

Kuka, you did it!!!  Yeah.  That is great.  Keep up the good work.  Stage 2 will be a piece of cake when you are in that good of shape.

nihahi

Oh My LORD.....you ladies are the worlds BEST MEDICINE!!!! By the time I caught up reading today's posts, I was snorting with laughs...helped along by a "wee bit of an adult bevvie"....Love ya all.

First of all.....Robin.....we love you.....hugs going out. Lots of things I'd like to say to you, no words can express it enough. Hope the tummy healing and the gloob goes well. There are other options for the other, but now is not the time...just heal.

Thinking also of this weeks ladies. Heal well and safely.

sbelizabeth....thank you, my friend, for everything. Hopefully no platform incidents, today????

I'm sure I'm gonna miss someone, but here goes....

cherrie....wonderful news, and, wonderful news!!!....so happy for you and your family. Enough with the crisis, eh!!!

sherry....I have a sneaking suspicion your "fakers" have been sneaking a look at the message board and have caught on to what's coming! Sayonara Silicone boobs!!!!!! Trust me, I'm old enough to be "mothering" all of you....and loving it.

mammalou...wedding memories and now drain free....that is wonderful news.

kuka...so great that you got the news you've really, really wanted to hear. Still wish you'd eat some veggies (nag!).

ssla...."as night approaches"....I feel the same....but my shoulders are the hold out for me....I really, really miss that side sleeping. It'll happen for you, hang in there.

bailey....you have got to get the positivity award I think....!!!! fyi, it comes with a bottle of tequila! FYI, for anyone sending their surgeon's info to the diepsisters website, they also want the docs contact phone number.

goldie.....WHATEVER version of gloob flap you end up with, I'm sure it'll be awesome, and so much better than the TE's.

damiana....you take the prize tonight.....your post is the one that had me gasp in shock and then collapse in snorts of laughter when I realized what you meant. (ahem, and I quote) "something freaked me out in the water"...........HOLY CRAP, (I think to myself) SHE'S GOT SOME SPOTS THAT DON'T STAY HEALED AND THERE'S A "FLOATER" IN THE WATER!!!!!......no, I wasn't thinking alligator....something else....need I say more???? Thank goodness I pulled myself together enough to keep reading!!!!!

Marty, Movie and liefie.....you guys rock....couldn't do and wouldn't want to do any of this without you and don't intend to lose you, when all this is just a great conversation someday over a bottle (or two) of wine at a reunion!!!!! Of course, we may have to nail Movie's shoes to the floor, to keep her with us!

Debwarrior and FireDragon....this is BAR NONE, THE BEST GROUP OF LADIES EVER EVOLVED ON THE PLANET!!!!

Have wonderful evenings, everyone.

Anonymous

LMAO....Thanks Nihahi, call me whatever you like long as you're passing the tequila!

goldie4040

Nihahi, even my PS promised me today how great I am going to feel when the expanders are out.  Even they know they suck, and are torture devices. That thing they are doing down in Florida where you wear that skin sucking stretching device sounds like the new way to go, but I think something just happpend where the FDA put a stop to it because they did not go through the proper channels to have it approved for breast reconstruction. The thing has been around for a while, I think it is called BRAVA. At one time it was supposed to help women enlarge their breasts.

nihahi

ooooooh goldie.....you need to "land" on whatever type of recon your ps recommends (you trust him, right???), and find some peace in that decision. PLEASE don't take this the wrong way, but I have the feeling that if recons were available on the shopping channel, you'd have as many versions as sbelizabeth has sexy new shoes!!!!!!! GO TO BED!

nihahi

omg.....I AM a mother hen!!!!!!

ssla01

Ok Bailey. Drains are my friends. Drains are my friends. Nope, still sick of them. I got the breast drains out pretty fast. Both hip drains are still putting out between 65 &. 85 everyday. I think I'll get the medal for a while yet.

Jeannie57

jlbloom! Yeah! Surgery buddies! It will be here before we know it! I have just scheduled an anesthesia appt. to get everything sorted out beforehand---small throat tube, pain meds, the dreaded IV. Hopefully that will calm me. I just returned from a fabulous r&r on Lopez Island with my friend. Great food, friendship, fresh air, exercise, wildlife, beautiful water. Just what I needed! I'm already gearing up for company on Friday-Tuesday. That doesn't leave me much time to fret.



I'm so grateful for you funny fighters!

Jeannie57

Gosh, I wrote that post before I read all the pages of the last two days. I feel so badly for Robyn, I can't even express it. Katie, I know you'll keep us up-to-date and pass on our healing thoughts to her. Bailey, I don't often mention you in my posts but I love your attitude and positive, honest spirit. You make me laugh! Nihahi, I always calm down--or laugh ( your pre-surgery/post surgery hiking story was so funny) when I read your words. You are way too young to be my mom, but there's nothing wrong with gentle encouragement! "Mother hen" is a compliment!



My brain is going a mile a minute with everything I have to do. Please, sleep, come to me!

MartyJ

Judy - Dr. M told me that she feels the best location for ab incision is 1/2" above pubic mound.  I know you don't want to do a Stage 2, but there are really lots of improvements that come with further refinement.  And, the surgeries are not as painful - pain, but in a different way.

Having a senior moment - not sure who asked, but lowering the ab incision doesn't hurt like Stage 1.  In stage 1 they removed fat, skin and vessels.  Lowering is not as intensive.

Goldie - sounds like your doc is really thinking ahead.  He must be wonderful and very skilled.  If you do end up stacking or adding a pap later, your husband might be relieved to know that the scar is hidden for the most part.  He is a wise man to have married you for your butt.

Greengirl - looks like you and I will share a surgical date.  Yes, Nihahi, I am doing Stage 2b or 3 or whatever the heck it is called on August 6th.  Going for bloodwork today.  My trainer knows that she only has me for 4 weeks and is doing everything she can to whip me into shape.  Thankfully I have Arnica gel to rub into my sore muscles.  I am not sure exactly what Dr. M plans for Stage 2b/3, but I believe she will be fat grafting for more projection, maybe shifting the leftie as there is too much side boobage, and filling in hollows on the top.  I won't see her for pre-op til the night before.  I am pretty chill with the mystery as I totally trust her.

GreenGirl1

You ladies are so active! Keeping up with this thread is so difficult. But you ladies share so much wisdom, warmth and humor every last word is a gem.



Marty - so glad to have a surgery buddy! We are both on the east coast so we can send each other healing energy right down the coastline.



I see so many of you talking about different stages to the surgery. My PS said the only other surgery I will need is to remove a skin flap that she takes from the abdominal area to the breast area temporarily. Nothing about having to do further grafting. Did you know prior you would need more surgery or did it come up after the initial?



Bailey - i laughed at your story about the surgeon's comment and how you and your hubby joked about it for days after. Sometimes doctors are so insensitive! They forget we are people. Keeping a sense of humor through this is so important and you have mastered this skill! You are such a positive energy. Thanks for sharing your funny stories!

MartyJ

Greengirl - my doc told me going in to all of this that she liked to stage things.  I knew to expect several procedures following the initial biggie.  Because I had my initial BMX many years ago and implants for quite some time, there was significant scar tissue from capsular constriction.  It is challenging working with and around what can't be removed.  At 61, I am so happy she is giving me back what I lost at 33.

GreenGirl1

Oh, ok. I am not dealing with some of those issues. Although she did say that we will evaluate what needs to be done with the unaffected boob once we see the outcome. that girl may need a little bit of a lift. I am about to turn 50 so I am no spring chicken either. I suppose the benefit of all this is perky boobs and a flatter tummy. Perks sometimes come in strange packages!

damiana9

Nihahi- Hahahahaha! I was in a pool, not the swamp



Greengirl- I had a unilateral MX/ delayed diep- but I still have 'old floppy' on the other side. It will get a lift during stage 2 surgery so that it will match the diep side.

GreenGirl1

Lol. Old Floppy! What an endearing name for your little girl!

Janet_M

Greengirl - I think in the land of DIEP, fifty is a spring chicken! I'm the same age as you and my surgeons keep referring to me as 'young and healthy'.  However, some of the younger docs seem a little less certain. 

Regarding a stretchy tube skirt, I got it either at Target or Winner's. I did all my pre-op shopping at stores that had a good return policy. Today I'm wearing a gown I stole from the hospital during radiation. It's the only one I've ever liked - it's the Diane Von Furstenburg of hospital gowns. I've been saving it for a year. 

Goldie -If you were to take fat rom from your bum amd tummy - how do you sleep? I know it sounds like a silly question, but I really am curious. Also, I think it's adorable that your husband is an ass-man. You may not be able to fully appreciate one of your best features, but it's so sweet that he does.

GreenGirl1

My surgeon's keep telling me I am young and healthy too. I keep thinking, "did you look at my chart?" because I think they don't realize that I have officially reached middle age. Anyway, I will take it. I am not going to get away with being called "young" for much longer!

I wound up finding a couple of tube skirts on Amazon. Thanks for that tip! It seems like they will work out well. I also bought a button down night shirt from Kohl's. THey were having a close out on certain Vera Wang pajamas (which I love) and this button down nightgown was marked down from $50 to $20, plus I had a couple of coupons so it was really a great buy. My mom told me she bought me a couple of "dusters" to wear. I am not ready to look like I am 80 just yet, but I appreciate the thought and will probably wear them around the house those first couple of weeks home!

kuka21174923

Damiana, dr. Chow is also my BS. I love her and she's one of the bests!!

Thank you everyone for your encouraging words about my work outs. It really helps when I'm so tired a d don't want to do it😜.

I was very surprised that for stage 2 they don't required you to stay at the hospital over night. This will be about a 6 hour surgery. They're doing lipo of the tummy and chin, fat grafting, lift, nipple and scar revision. Seems like a lot, but I'm really hoping this will be my last surgery. I cannot wait to start feeling normal again!

Do we know any more about Robyn? I can't even imagine what she's going through. I feel so terrible for her and wish I could help her somehow. Still praying for her!

Anonymous

Ooooh, yes, Greengirl, the height of flapper girl fashion.....THE DUSTER!!! We need photos of our best getups posted!



I was actually fretting the night before about having enough to wear (like I was going anywhere) and thought about how perfect dusters would be. Bless your mother for thinking of them and you!



My team of PS lifted my healthy "old floppy" breast at stage I....will refine it at Stage II. They also said to expect 3-4 stages of surgery, but later stages not nearly as extensive as stage I. The way it was explained to me that was the purpose of stage I is to move the tummy tissue to the breast and make it live. They don't waste time trying to make it beautiful at stage I.

Dyvgrl

I think we should all get together and drink it up! Anyone going to the TA TA sisterhood in Vegas?

damiana9

Kuka- your stage 2 will be a doozie! Yikes! Yes, I absolutely LOVE Dr. Chow- she doesn't have that typical surgeon bedside manner (or lack there of).

Greengirl- I would have not been able to wear a tube skirt after surgery because of the way the drains poked out- it would have pressed against them too much- I had to wear stuff that was poofy and loose.

nihahi

Rolling the eyes here.....damiana.....what came to my mind likely wouldn't have been spotted in a swamp....ok....more hints.....not an animal......can be found in pools frequented by small children or untrained older humans.........hehehehe!

Jeannie.....remember Liefie's example.....how much REALLY do you need to do!!!! So happy that Lopez Island was a great time for you. It's so pretty in your part of the world. My sister lives in Seattle, so I've rambled around that area a bit. 

GreenGirl...my ps did a small lift and reduction on my "old floppy" at my Stage 1. I had an augmentation implant put in there, (for better symmetry, supposedly) when my first implant was placed on my unimx side. I had totally reached the end of the line of wanting anything to do with implants, so he took out the augment one too, and at my request, did the lift. I'm very happy with the result.

marty....you've made my day (per usual)!!!! My ab incision is at least the same if not a wee bit closer to your docs "optimum" placement!!!! whoohooo!!!! Let me know what you want the next round to be called (your call, not mine) and I'll get it on our list. How are your workouts going???? Are you noticing any improvements to your shoulders and tummy?????

Time for action, here...have good days, everyone!

damiana9

Nihahi- LOL! No, there were no surprises in the pool! Hahahaha!

Dyvgirl- not going to the TaTa thing in Vegas, but a bunch of ladies that started chemo last September when I did are renting a villa in Vegas this coming September for a long weekend. We are very excited to have that time together.

liefie

Wow! You girls are really hopping along on this thread. Such a social bunch, and I love it!

First off, Robin, if you read here, I hope you are healing well. When the dust settles, you may eventually have the courage for another procedure. Big hugs to you!

Nihahi aka Mother Hen, you can be my mother any time even though I am only about 5 years younger than you. Thanks for your kind words! I feel the same about this board. Without it I would have been so lost and alone in this whole saga. We will meet for sure one day. I have strong ties in Calgary . . . won't take much to get me there. Westjet just started up a new direct service between Nanaimo and Calgary which is still reasonably cheap. Won't stay like that  - lol.

Janet and Greengirl, when I was diagnosed in Dec. 2011 the oncs kept telling me that I was still young at 57(then), and that's why they were going to throw the book at my bc. It seems in cancer land we are really deemed younger than in the normal world - one small 'perk' - I'll take it!

Goldie, you poor girl! You have been going back and forth on all these decisions, but it seems DH helped you make up your mind at last. Hopefully you can relax now, and look forward to getting this over and done with. My DH was also instrumental in my decision to keep my healthy breast . I think the fact that I had only one boob done during DIEP had a lot to do with my quick recovery. The full use of my 'healthy' arm was really helpful. You double DIEP flappers with the T-Rex arms have my full respect and admiration. Reading about all these other procedures that are available, it gives me great reassurance should I ever lose the other breast.

Kuka, I'm glad that you are seeing the fruits of your hard labour! Good for you!

Jeannie57, don't worry so much about getting everything done before DIEP. My surgery was unexpectedtly moved up 6 days. Got a phone call on a Wednesday asking if I could to be there (Victoria, BC) for surgery on Thursday morning at 6. Was flabbergasted because of everything that I still needed do, but decided to just go for it. You know what? Those things did not matter at all, and the world did not come to an end. Just roll with it, and take it in your stride. We worry way too much!

ssla, you do win the long suffering award with those drains of yours. My wish for you is that they will just dry up within the next few days - enough already!

Damiana, I will be testing the waters so to speak next week when I go to the pool for the first time post DIEP. It is going to be interesting!

Re the ab incision - mine is so low down . . . don't really know how to say this . . .  let's just say that immediately bordering the incision there is growth - lol. It is also not a straight incision - it dips down 'there' from both sides. My PS certainly made sure that lowering of the scar won't be necessary. That's why I always have to do the scar massage in privacy, or people will look at me funny . . . LOL.

GreenGirl1

Bailey - I know! I don't know why I am so worried about what I am going to wear. I am absolutely not going anywhere! I guess I am more concerned that I won't have anything to put on initially because of drains and such. I will look like a science experiment until everything comes out.

Damiana - I'm sure you are right about the tube skirt. I think I will be stuck in the duster until the drains are out. Then I will upgrade my fashion to the tube skirt for comfort's sake. Nice that you guys are going away together. That sounds awesome!

I suppose I will have to wait and see in terms of how many times I will need to go under the knife. UGH. WIll this ever be over??