DIEP 2013
Comments
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Hi everyone...I'm pretty new here...got diagnosed on July 8 but joined the forum after my biopsy on July 1...I just had a bad feeling. Things have moved really quickly...Im having a double mastectomy Aug 5 and am scheduled for an immediate reconstruction DIEP procedure. However at my first visit with the PS surgeon he told me that if the nodes are affected he won't do the procedure then because I might have to have radiation? I'm pretty freaked out about all of it. I don't know anyone who's had breast cancer first hand and I just never thought I'd have to think about it...no family history, reasonably healthy...stupid I guess. I will see the PS one more time next week before the surgery and I guess I get all of the horrible details then but I'm reading about lots of drains? How long do those stay in? Do I have to do anything with them myself or do I go to the dr to have that done? I'm really freaky about medical stuff (I know, I'm going to be miserable). I'm also a triple negative...so I understand that I have some nasty chemotherapy to look forward to as well...but right now I'm so anxious about the surgery that I haven't had time to get myself worked up about that...silver lining I guess.
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Tarheel - welcome to this crazy thread. Thanks for joining. It takes courage to even make that step. You are not stupid to think bc wouldn't happen to you. Anything can happen...you can't spend your life thinking about each ugly possibility....you'd never enjoy a single moment. You are going to be ok. Seriously take some deep breaths. You don't have to figure it all out right now.
please know that many things come into play...we are each I individuals who heal differently, come into this with varying other medical conditions, attitudes and doctors. What is true for one might not be for the other. That being said, We are full of ideas and support for one another!
Drains vary in number, placement and "length of service". The fewest I have heard is 4, the most 8. I think most of us have four. There will likely be one in each breast (underarm side) and two in belly incision - either at each hip or right in the middle above pubic area.
Most of us empty them ourselves at home. The nurses will teach you. It's sort of gross but necessary. You will somehow find the strength to do it...you find strength you thought you didn't have because there is no other (good) choice but strength.
Drains stay in for about 2-4 weeks usually, I would say. Some get pulled sooner some later. It depend a on how much fluid they are collecting. You don't want that fluid to build up in your body if it can be helped.
We have some other triple negative ladies here. They will chime in throughout the day.
You are not alone. Throw your questions out there.
Everyone else - good morning...gotta get my a## to work! -
Movie, praying for your DD. Hope it all goes well today.
Welcome relocatedtarheel..sorry you had to join our club, but the ladies on this thread are truly the best.
I am four and a half weeks out from double mastectomy and gap reconstruction. I had 4 drains to start and I still have both hip drains. They are totally doable. You can do this!
Sharon -
Welcome Relocated. You found the right place. The waiting is the hardest part. Are they testing your nodes before surgery? That stinks about the chemo, but we have gals here who can help you with that too. You are blessed to have found a BS and PS who are willing to work together to give you the best possible outcome for your health, and your breasts.
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Relocatedtharheel - Hi there. There is definitely an advantage to moving quickly on this surgery - less time to think. Every single one of us was anxious going into this surgery, and many of us look back and wondered why we spent so much time worrying and preparing. Human nature, I guess. Also there 's an awful lot to learn when you're first diagnosed so it's like trying to cram for an exam for a subject you've never taken, while still making big desicions.
Nothing you will think or do is stupid. This is a pretty fantastic group of non-judgemental ladies who have your best interest at heart. There is no such thing as s stupid question, and every concern is important. Plus, there's a healthy contingent of insomniacs, so you'll have people to chat with around the clock.
The drains are a pain in the ass, but manageable, and in my experience, annoying rather than painful. The staff at your hospital will tell you the ins and outs of drain management - don't worry - you won't be on your own.
So, welcome. You'll be okay -
Well I got a PS fro 9/6 but no BS for that day. They are emailing another doctor to see if they are avaliable. I am strating to freak out. BS said I should not wait till 10/2 to do the mastecomy. My gut tells me not to do TE or implants. I so many allergies incuding gold. So some are odd.
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Sbelizabeth- 4 inch wedge heel, open-toed, slingback, salmon-pink leather and suede shoes today but I only made it four hours....damned neoropathy!
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Honestly, Goldie, I haven't had a great look at my boobs yet. Looking down, they look great. No indentations or bumps. The nurses and docs say they are the best-looking ones they've seen. I am definitely not shy about talking about them or showing them. I am at a teaching hospital so I get groups of docs looking at me all the time. Ok, just took a good look. I look pretty beat up. My belly button is off center. The boobs are big and round--pretty nice. I know they are very swollen. I am so thankful to have them!! I am going home today no matter how the lungs sound or my oxygen #s. They've done what they can for me. I guess I was loving the pain pump---it's gone and I'm hurting.
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Haha Nihahi im a true red head Irish meat and potatoes kinda gal
oh and I'm big on pasta also I couldn't live without carbs.
Tarheel welcome I know your worried and stressed now but believe me when I tell you that somehow we find the strength to move forward one step at a time. I think most of us would agree that there are plenty of tears along the way but rest assured there is great support and advice to be had on this thread. These ladies are very helpful. You'll get through this and we'll be with you every step of the way if you'll have us -
Hi ladies -
Feeling a bit better today. As long as I can stay ahead of the debilitating headaches, I'm ok. Actually lost 4 lbs this week which I'm excited about. I need to lose at least 40 prior to DIEP so chemo has actually forced me to eat CLEAN. Veggies, some fruit, some lean meat. That's about it. I've cut out the flour, sugar, and processed garbage that probably caused my cancer in the first place and I feel good. Since chemo has altered my taste buds, it's actually easier to just eat what I should and not what I'm craving. I don't crave anything but avocados at this point so I think I'm doing good. If I eat sugar (had a chemo cake at my head shaving) I felt like crap. Got another headache. No more junk for me, it just isn't worth it. I've been looking into eating more alkaline but have come up with mixed results. Some say it's a good idea, some say it doesn't matter because your kidneys will balance your Ph back. I figure if I stick to clean organic veggies as my primary source of food I can't go wrong. Having said that, beef roast is on the agenda tonight since my iron stores are low, but I bought the leanest one I can find, and there will be no gravies or sauces - just veggies to go with so I think I'll be ok. Did anyone else change their diet while going through tx?
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Welcome relocated. You will love this thread! And if you ever have any questions just ask away!
Movie, best wishes for your DD today.
I guess I'm skipping my diet today. I made chocolate chip cookies for the kids and I had to make sure they were eatable, so I had a couple😄, I'm going to be paying for it later at the gym.
Tammy, happy belated birthday! -
LOL, Jeannie...I am glad they are spectacular!!!! I think the belly button thingy is from swelling. I have heard other people say it rights itself. If you are in pain make sure they take care of that, don't let it go. Your lungs will be fine. Once you get home and move around a little more your oxygen levels will go up. I remember after I got home from my bmx and I finally wan't too scared to cough, and all of a sudden a big wad of stuff came up, and I was breathing easy from then on. Keep us posted when you get home!
Glad you are doing better, Dvygirl. Eating clean isn't easy, but if you feel that much better doing it then it should make it a little easier for you.
Kuka, shame on you!!!!! LMAOOOOOO. That's okay, I just had a peanut butter sandwich, but at least it was on whole wheat bread.
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Oh, cookies sound great. I'll be back....later :-)
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Ladies, there is something so terrifying about watching your child being rolled off to surgery (even if said daughter IS 24 years old).........trying to stay calm.
Would rather go through DIEP twice than have DD going through this.........
Namaste - jackie -
Welcome, RELOCATED TARHEEL!
I am in your same situation. My surgery isn't until August 15th, but that is only due to my father not being able to be here until that date due to travel and work issues. I was told by my surgeon that in my case, waiting one month wouldn't hurt anything physically. Mentally it has been tough though, but I really want him to be here.
Yesterday and today I've been going back and forth with my surgeon and ps re: Mastectomy with immediate DIEP, and sentinel lymph node dissection at time of surgery. My surgeons are hopeful that there is no lymph involvement, however we won't know definitively until I'm under. So, I had asked if we should be setting up a contingency plan. Apparently they will know right away with frozen dissection if the cancer has spread to the nodes. I suggested an option of just doing the mastectomy and delaying the DIEP if the nodes are involved, like your PS said. Of course I just want it all done right away. But I do NOT want to do this if the result would be seriously impacted by radiation.
My plastic surgeon told me this. He has done immediate DIEP after finding out there is lymph involvement. He has a bit of a different procedure in place for this situation. He makes that breast a bit larger and firmer, as the effect of radiation is normally shrinkage. He said there may be radiation scarring as well, but there is always a stage 2 to a DIEP surgery, and he would do that after radiation, and "clean up" the breast. He said he is ok with however I choose to proceed, but did advise me that mastectomy with immediate DIEP produces a better result to begin with, as we aren't dealing with additional scar tissue. He said that he wouldn't put HIMSELF through the DIEP surgery only to let his work be ruined. It is a very intense surgery. Certainly doable, but very intense for the surgeon as well. It requires a special level of patient concentration that not every surgeon has. This is why not all PS perform the surgery. A lot of them stick to simpler procedures. Quicker surgery, less risk, less stress and pressure on the surgeon. But mine said he does it because he believes it produces the best result, and his goal is to give women going through what we have something positive. And I'm told he has a true gift. now I am having just the left side done, so I am thinking maybe the difference is that with having both breasts done, there isn't enough tissue there for your PS to make them bigger to allow for the shrinkage.
Talk to your PS. Ask a lot of questions. Never let doctors rush you. Don't worry about bothering them or sounding silly or any of that. It is their job to tell you everything you want to know, and several times if you need it! We are here for you too. Keep us posted!
ROBIN- so glad to hear from you.
JEANNE- glad you are hanging in there after they took away the drip!
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to everyone!!!
Janet- I was watching you tube clips of bellaruth last night. I think I'm going to order the cd! -
Movie, DD#4 is in good hands and she will be alright.
Thanks kuka.
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Tammy - Happy Birthday.
Movie - you and your daughter are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kuka - cookies, really? And you had to be a taste tester to be sure they weren't tainted. That's okay, I am indulging my guilty pleasure - Ginger Chews. And yes, I can eat the whole package in a day, though I shared 2 with my DH.
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Movie ((hugs)) and prayers your way for dd and you ..
TammyT happy belated birthday
Kuka I am anxiously waiting to get back to running after stage 2 so I'm living vicariously thru your gym talk Lol for now I eat the cookies and they go straight to the hips.
Went to have my bandages removed today exactly one week from stage 2 and had a great visit with the PS. The girls look a little rugged but I can see the end result being great. On the way home I couldn't help but be a little frustrated that I've finally put the worry behind me with BC only to move into new worries with the thyroid. I'm meeting with the endocrinologist tomorrow afternoon so I'm a little nervous. -
Hi Ladies,
Still waiting to hear from bs for consult appointment...the waiting sucks! Good Ole Canada where the medical system sometimes seems to move at a snail's pace!
Thinking of all you ladies just recovering from surgery, doing chemo and dealing with life's personal challenges in general. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day for you.
Michele
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Faith -
Not sure what issues you are running into with your thyroid. I have Hashimotos so basically my immune system continually attacks my thyroid. I take 2 pills a day, Synthroid and NatureThroid - keeps my labs up but nothing more I can do really. At some point, my thyroid will quit but the treatment will be the same. Most thyroid issues can be dealt with in some way (usually meds) and don't have a huge effect on how you feel on a daily basis. Keep us posted!
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Went to PS today! Got referred for therapy and start that on Thursday! Yay! She didn't like my methods but agreed my wounds are closed (hee hee hee.....mwa- ha- ha!!) FINALLY. She said I can swim!!!!! Yipee! I go back in 2 months and we will talk stage II. Since I was a single they had lots of tissue to work with and the breast is too large so they will do some "debulking". The large hard spots are either scarring or fat necrosis....either way they will take them out at stage two. She will "fix" my dog ears on tummy scar, revise the scar on the lift side. She wouldn't give me more....said she doesn't want to start planning now...it's going to change in the next two months so we'll see what it looks like then. She said because of the amount of work she has to do on left she will probably wait until later to do the nipple reconstruction....wants to be able to provide as much symmetry as possible. Works for me.
Happy belated birthday Nihahi and TammyT!
Oh, Movie, I know what you mean....My kids have each had a surgery.....So hard. When I was dx my DH and I went to my parent's house to tell them. I was TRYING to make everybody feel better (as if) and foolishly said, "Mom and Dad, this isn't the worst thing that could happen to me! The worst thing would be if it was one of the kids!"........(crickets)......they just looked at me....finally my dad said, "We know....". DUH! I may have been 45 but I was still their KID! It never goes away. Prayers for your DD. -
Saw my wonderful MO for my three-month check. Pre-op labs are all drawn and cooking. Even though I really like my MO, visits and tumor marker draws just make me nervous. "What if..." DELETE! DELETE! DELETE!
Bone density scan tomorrow. I bet my bones are thick, hard, and unyielding. It's a personality thing.
Movie, praying for you and your DD. You know she'll be OK...it's just the helplessness of waiting. I think about our husbands, kids, parents, and friends, as they waited for us to be finished with chemo--port placements--biopsies--mastectomies--DIEPs--and I'm very grateful for the loving presence that surrounds me though this whole fandango.
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Hello and welcome to the new members! I'm now 6 weeks post-op DIEP left side only.The fear and anxiety before surgery was the worst for me.
I remember loving that pain pump after surgery (someone shared) and it only took a day or two to grieve its loss. I'm totally off pain meds now, and there's been a couple of days that I didn't even need a Tylenol. My "boobette" is gorgeous, and my 53-year old natural boob is saggy and jealous.
We see the PS July 31 to get a final look-see and a preliminary plan for the final revision - nipple, lifting the natural one, making them symmetrical. I'm going the whole route-looking forward to nipple tattooing-maybe all before Santa arrives-yippee!
I have no depression, no anxiety about the final surgery, just joy, joy, joy that I am healing. I am back at the office 1-2 hrs in the mornings, nap in the afternoons, active in the evenings. I am fortunate to have those options.
I am wearing Spanx abdominal briefs and an underwired bra (per Dr order) I feel totally supported, and the boobette is shaping rounder and rounder as all the swelling has gone.
The drains were the worst part of the post-op, and yet they were necessary. I trusted my doc even though I wanted to scream when he left the last one in an extra week. They are a bitch. But we are fighters, and this was part of the battle, and it's SO SWEET when that last drain is removed. And it was not painful -just uncomfortable to have them removed. I'm so grateful I'm beyond that. There's all sorts of creative ways to wear the drains under clothing. If anyone needs info on that, just ask.
Gratitude is the word of the day for me. My belly is FLAT for the first time in 30 years, and I'm loving in. I'm wearing my tops INSIDE my pants, and I suck in my breath when hubbie walks by just to look as teenage as possible. So, there ARE fringe benefits from all the battle scars; I just had to experience some pain and misery before my recovery - 6 weeks - whew, and the mastectomy was 10 days prior to that. So, it was all a whirlwind for me too - dx, options, decisions, surgeries...bam bam bam I agree it helps to keep the anxiety at a minimum if you just make your decisions and go for it...
Promise I'm not writing a novel, so I will stop. I'm going to try to update here more often so I can see the miracles happening in others' lives that I am experiencing. There IS life after breast cancer many times, and we survivors are the ones to tell our stories and share and inspire and live and love and thrive, yes, thrive................
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jakig I love your post. It fills me with hope. Thank you for sharing!
welcome relocatedtarheel!
One week from this moment exactly, I should be waking up from DIEP surgery...I am so excited. Can't wait to be past it.
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Christina, I'm just one day ahead of you for surgery and I'm bilateral delayed diep. Good luck to you! I'm super excited!
Perhaps we can compare notes on our recovery!
Cheers,
Sherry -
Tarheal- I am also triple neg but I did my chemo before surgery. In my case the tumor shrank away to nothing and my nodes were clear when they went in. I had bmx with immediate diep and had four drains when I woke up. They are more inconvienent than anything but very necessary. Mine were in for three weeks total counting my first five days in hospital. I know thngs seem really scary right now and the best advice I can give you is to just focus on whats in front of you, dont try to think about all the treatments at once. You can make it and tnis board is a wonderful support.
Jackie- Thinking of you and your daughter.
Happy birthday to all the birthday girls this week! Hugs to all our newbies and those eagerly waiting. Im starting to lose track of everyone, sorry if I missed anyone.
This friday will be seven weeks for me and Im still having random stabby pains and tigtness in chest and tummy. It feels like the pain is letting up some, more just soreness now with occasional itchiness at scar on my tummy and the drain site scars. I measured my waist today and Im 42inches. Holy sweet coconuts, I used to be a 29 until I was thirty....lol Im doing my walking so that is something. Just keeping on, keeping on. -
Ok people, had my appointment today, and I guess nothing 'bad' happened???? but I am very traumatized anyway and I do not have a weak stomach. The boob hole I had was from tunneling. He ended up numbing me up and cut away a bunch of stuff- this made my hole HUGE. Then he packed it with gauze. As if this weren't bad enough, he wants me to do this twice a day! And he said to use the shower head and squirt it into the hole every day. I do not think I can do any of that stuff. Then, instead of just stitching it up, he said the wound is too bad to do that to now so it has to heal up for 2 weeks, and then I have to go in for day surgery so he can clean it out even better and then stitch it up.
Seriously not great news. He said it looked good though, other than the spot and he didn't seem at all concerned with the spot. Said it was a minor issue. One good thing though- he did tell me that I don't need any other work done ever because I am perfect. I am not at all but wow, it felt nice to have a plastic surgeon tell me that!
Here is something kind of funny- I was so traumatized by my appointment I couldn't even tell my hubby what happened. I couldn't even write it. I am only writing it now because I came home and took a vicodin- not because of pain, just so that I can be high enough to tell my hubby about this when he gets home in a few minutes! LOL!
I did treat myself to some retail therapy today- that was fun! -
Damiana9...yes, you can. You can do it. Think of the shower head as just a big hose and you're just rinsing dirt down the driveway. You don't even have to look if you don't want to. Let your thoughts be about how healing and clean the wound is, with all that warm, wonderful, cleansing water. Do you have help to pack the gauze into the wound after the shower? Can your DH give you a hand? Wish I was next door and could run over!
DIL says she's 2 cm, 80% effaced, and they stripped her membranes today. ANYTIME NOW...
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Damiana - you can do it! I am a real wuss when I have to do this stuff. I always have to sit down so I don't have so far to fall if I pass out.
SBE - Yippee! The baby will be here by the time I wake up Eastern time. Cool beanz.
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Oh sweet lord.....This thread has exploded today!!!! Welcome to the new ladies...these are HANDS DOWN, THE BEST LADIES ON THE BCO SITE!!!!!! Granted, we have our share of insanity, but it just balances the serious stuff in life! Too tired from the volunteer work today to mention everyone, but just want to do a couple shout-outs....
dyvgrl.....so good to hear from you....you can do this.
damiana....You likely didn't go into this expecting to become an expert in wound management, but.....YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
jeannie...hope you got home today, keep those lungs clear!!!!
Movie....thinking of you and daughter all day....hope to hear good things...
sbe.....sounds like that baby is coming!!!! We are all now on baby watch....and all still wondering why you are shredding paper?
????kuka....one cookie isn't gonna ruin your hard work....now if it was an entire box of timtams...a whole other story!
Have good nights ladies...I REALLY HOPE TO NOT BE JOINING THE INSOMNIA SESSION TONIGHT!
LOVE TO ALL.
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