DIEP 2013
Comments
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Hi Carmen - I've never had a Cesarean so I can't comment on those issues from personal experience. However, I have heard from DIEP women who have had cesareans who said that the PS is somehow able to incorporate the existing scar. I have no idea what that entails, and if they need to cut any muscle.
But I do know that a DIEP is possible on irradiated breast skin, and that your tissue would have healed enough for the PS to assess what they have to work with. I'm in Canada as well (Toronto) and I had a CT scan months before the surgery to check on blood vessels. I had so many questions for my surgeon, and his answer was often 'we'll make it work'. He's very experienced, and I agree with Goldie when she says to find someone who has a lot of surgeries under his/her belt.
I actually think that implants were an option for me, regardless of rads on my right side, but I can't remember. Perhaps I wasn't really paying attention, becuase I never even entertianed the idea of a foreign object in my body - not even for a second.
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Hi Ladies,
Haven't been in this thread is quite a long time! Although I had DIEP this past May and all went well, I'm going through chemo (just finished 5 of 8 rounds) and am having a hard time. I am getting through it!!
To all the ladies going to surgery this week, hugs and prayers, you won't regret it! So thankful that my surgeon told me about it early on.
Tracy, I was driving in 2 weeks and my drains were removed within a week. We are all different, but if you listen to the docs, and have great care while in the hospital and after with the home nurse, it's not that bad.
Katy, what a gorgeous little Granddaughter!! Her name is adorable as well. Glad to hear you are on the mend and stage 2 will be here before you know it.
My PS wants to see me for stage 2 once chemo is over, in mid Sept, so that's my eye on the prize.
Read about the Tshirt ideas and I like what I've read!
When I started on this thread there were about 75 pages or so. Now over 218! Active and very supportive group and I'm thankful for that! Great bunch of women!
I'm sorry that I don't comment much, but please know that I think about and pray for all of you!!
Love and hugs,
Lauren -
goldie...not only did I have stitches poke out of my incision, I had this one stitch hanging from my left breast, just in the middle of nowhere. I didn't say anything until my 6 wk post op visit. I finally asked. My PS giggled....it was the stitch that held the monitor on the flap during transplant and was supposed to come off with the monitor during sugery. He popped it right off.
Whoa....a good DIEP surgeon doing minimum 20 a month? It's a very long surgery, mine was 12 1/2 hrs. To do 20 a month he would never see patients in the office for pre/post and all the other stuff he/she does. Maybe 20 a year minimum.
bailey: good to be back. I don't know about every day, but when I can. I'm doing okay. I went camping with the family last weekend Fri-Mon, then rested much needed this weekend and finally unpacked the camping stuff into it's places. Now it's all about back to school for the kids (teenagers). My incision is about 90% healed, just having the surface scabs and one 1/4" deep wound. However, in the last few days I've had this pregnant looking swelling, fluid pouch like, all around the belly, above the incision, seriously looks like I'm 3 mo's pg. I'm NOT. I'm fitting into my regular clothes, even a little loose around the lowest part of my belly, but snug above. I've been off the pain meds for a few weeks, finally. My next f/u appt is Thursday. I'm so close to swimming I can't stand it. I love my pool and MUST be able to swim by labor day or I will have lost the whole season.
I bought some HOT MAMA dresses for my Las Vegas vacations coming up and determined to wear them. Still can't walk my full 5 miles a day in one stretch, but I'm getting there. Still breaking it up into 3-4 separate walks. 3 at work every day, then one more at home if I'm up to it.
Hope and prayers for this week's surgeries.
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Haven't posted in a while, but still lurk pretty much daily.
My Phase 2 is scheduled for Sept 23rd. Thought it might be done in August, but PS office said thay had a large influx of women come in just diagnosed with BC who needed their surgeries scheduled first. Phase 2 takes a backseat when women need Phase 1 as quickly as possible.
PS says he's not happy with my abdominal incision and will revise it, also will take care of my dog ears. I had a re-excision for an unclean margin above the left breast one month after my DIEP, so now I have an area that's not quite as full as the other side. To tell you the truth, I really haven't noticed it until he pointed it out. I've always thought the new breasts looked great!
Even with no nipples. PS says he will lipo an area around my waist in the back and fat graft the area over the left breast to make it a little fuller to match the right. The lipo will add an extra week off work, but I'm OK with that. Katy, I would sure be bummed if I got bumped from Phase 2. But then, I bumped someone to have my DIEP on Mar 4th. I've often thought of her with gratefulness since then.
Hoping to finish this whole thing before the end of the year. I've met my max out of pocket so sure don't want to go over!!
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I talked to my PS's office staff this morning about the pain/bulge- but the dr was out of the office all day today doing surgery so they said they would have him call me tomorrow. Said I would probably have to come in for another office visit before surgery on friday too! Ack!
Then, much to my surprise, this evening my PS called me from home. He had me explain everything in detail that is going on with my abdomen. He said he has only had a hernia happen twice before so it would surprise him if that was happening, but that it did sound like that is what happened. He said he wanted me to get a CT scan to see what is going on, and regardless- he will fix whatever it is on friday! I am immensely relieved. And worried- I don't have time for another abdominal surgery recovery
This time though I will make sure I am NOTdoing anyting that I shouldn't- like lifting heavier things, etc....I will be a good girl. -
Carmen, I'm in Canada, had 25 radiations to my left breast after mastectomy, and had DIEP surgery eleven months after last rads. My PS refused to put in an implant because of the rads, and recommended DIEP. It went like clockwork, no issues because of the rads, I recovered in record time, and I can really recommend it. It would be best to discuss this with a DIEP surgeon. I believe a good surgeon will be able to do DIEP regardless of rads damage.
Damiana, happy your surgeon is going to fix you on Friday. Then please behave, okay? Lol.
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Well, I finished a very busy 10 hr day back at work. I did well except that my wound leaked all over the front of my pants by noon. Yuck. No one could tell so it was ok. I am quite pooped now. My husband told me to get in bed and he would bring me dinner. Of course, I'm going to do some school work in bed!
He also came home a little pissed because he says my PS should have known that I didn't have enough fat and should have told me what I was going to have to deal with. He does have a point, but I'm not one that expects my doctors to be perfect. So, I don't get mad. I just deal with it and move forward.
Hang In there girls and thanks for being so supportive! -
Shechirple,
My ps is in his office one morning a week, and one afternoon. The rest is all on his PA and nurse. They pull drains, do fills, take care of wounds. He just does his consults, etc. He will see me if I have something serious going on, but he is in surgery everyday, all day. He did say he is burned out. The article I read might have a little over zealous in how many surgeries a good surgeon should have done to be acceptable. My PS has done over a thousand just at this hospital. What I do like is that is he always available to me through email and text. We have our best conversations that way.
Damiana, sorry about your tummy. If it's a hernia there might be some minor surgery involved, but don't get ahead of yourself. It might be something really simple.
Okay, you guys who had expanders in before your surgeries, did you find that they got very heated up when you exercised? I was doing some stairstepper before, and now that these expanders are a good size now I notice they felt very warm, like they had a fever. I took my shirt off and stood under the ceiling fan, and they cooled off fairly quickly. I think because they have no blood flow they can't cool off. It was a weird feeling. I want them out so badly.
My CAT scan has been approved, and I have it tomorrow at 1 pm. Ugh!!!!!
Mammalou, i give you so much credit. Please rest whenever you get a chance. If you have to take medical leave is it available to you?
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Mamalou- Oh geez that is a long day! I hope you got some good rest when you got home.
Damiana- I hope that all goes well for you on Friday and that it is a simple fix for your tummy. -
Well ladies, Ive been living without hot water since Saturday and all I can say is, thank God for those hospital bath wipes!!!! Gas meter is due to be installed today so I can finally do laundry and we can all take showers.
My house is a wreck and life is crazy trying to get kids registered for school, unpack, and run dh's business but its all my kind of crazy. Im grateful for this because its like normal life is starting to return. Im still sore as hades at the end of the day but managing well.
We are truly on the other side now with BS in the rear view mirror and my middle finger saying...buh bye. LOL
Hugs to all and happy Tuesday! -
Sweetpickle, I'm so glad for you. I like your visual of bc in the rear view mirror, etc.!
Mammalou, you are a rock star! I hope all your days aren't that long so you can have some balance in your life for the best health and healing. I understand a teachers life, though, because I come from a family of teachers. Please, God, no leaks today!
Tracy, I'm sorry about your toe and the insurance snafu! Geez.....
Damiana, it's good to hear you sound relieved. I hope it's all an easy fix on Friday.
Goldie, we're all pulling for you today!
Welcome, new people and for all those going under this week, have good sleeps and say hi to Wilbur for me. Keep your eyes on the Prize! Boobs! -
Good morning Ladies:
Goldie4040, thanks for the welcome and thank you ladies for your quick responses. I was just wondering - are TE's the norm before DIEP surgery or does it depend on how much skin the surgeon left, in my case, after a mastectomy? Liefie, I'm glad that your surgery went so well. I have my concerns because I am a slow healer. Janet_M, Bailey6760 and hrf thanks for your comments. On another note, has anyone had DIEP surgery done in Montreal at the Jewish General Hospital? If so, I'd love to hear how the reconstructive process went for you.
Have a great day everyone and once again thanks!
Carmen
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Hi Ladies!
mammalou....is an INSANE amount of work hours, sorry....I can't agree that it's a good way to help you heal and recover....and you are still definitely in that mode. Teaching is hard work, it's important work, but, there is only one YOU...please take care!
sweetpickle...congrats on the new home, you sound absolutely like you are getting back into normal life! Again, though, take care of yourself!
movie...buying the timtams today, sorting out the hiking gear....Ade and I can't wait!!!!! What time are we rendezvousing on Saturday....are we meeting at the trailhead behind the Swiftcurrent motel???? Can you tell I'm excited!!!!!
goldie...hope your cat scan brings you good news. Fingers crossed for you.
Have good days ladies...off to have a massage!
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Nihahi, a massage and a planned hike with a gloobster. I'm so envious I'm turning green.
Goldie, we'll be having a pocket party with you during your CT scan.
Carmen, my rad onc was insistent that no tissue expanders be placed during the mx. He wanted the targeting to be spot-on, and wanted no plastic in the way, although many other women have had rads with expanders. For my DIEP, the PS opened the mx incision and cleaned out a lot of the radiation adhesions, and created a beautiful new breast. The skin tones between the radiated skin and the abdominal skin don't match, but I'm sure they'll gradually fade into OK-ness.
Sweetpickle, don't you hate moving? When we moved to California from Colorado (I was kicking and screaming all the way), I opened a moving box to find they'd carefully packed one of my houseplants.
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
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Thinking of you Goldie ! Praying for good news. Your gonna be OK I know it !
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Thanks everybody. Getting ready to drink the awful "shake" they gave me.
Nihani and Movie, happy hiking
Mammalou...take it easy today
Sweetpickle...Hooraay for hot water
Faith, where are you at now? What is your next step. Thinking about you all the time.
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Carmen, you have the same name as my mother and daughter. Love the name.
Just know that you've come to the right place to answer a lot of your questions. One thing you need to do is write a list of question to ask your ps. This is very important! I agree with Goldie that you want a doctor that does DIEP on regular basis. I think the norm is doing at least 3 a week. Ask him what his failure rate is. For teaching hospitals is at 3%, and you want your ps to be at less than 1%. It happens, but it's not the norm. You should know what his protocol is for DIEP. Ps usually uses an assistant since the surgery takes so many hours. You need to know who would be assisting him. It would be good if you can go back on this thread and read from the beginning. There's so much information! Good luck!
Goldie, I want to wish you good luck today. I'll be praying for you that everything turns out ok.
Damiana I'm so glad you got to talk to your ps and he's confident he can fix whatever us going on with you.
Grandma just came and took the kiddos to the park so that I get some peace and quiet. I'm going to take this opportunity to watch devious maids. Has anyone seen this show? It's on lifetime on Sundays and its good!!! -
Thanks, Kuka. I am still sitting drinking this stuff. I have 3 hours to drink it all. That's why appt is at 1pm. I tried to watch Devious Maids, especially because Susan Lucci is on it, but I didn't like it that much. I really miss All My Children. I had watched it all my life, but I guess I can't see Susan Lucci play anything else but Erica Kane.
Well, back to drinking. I have two huge things to drink.
Damiana, you are right, it really is awful, and the straw trick is the only way to get it down. BTW...keep us posted on your tummy issue.
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Goldie, drink up, and I hope you get good news today. All the best to you!
Sweetpickle, it seems you have turned the corner - yayyyy! Hot water is good, yes. Don't do too much now, eh?
Carmen, I do not think TE's is the norm necessarily. Every case is treated individually, and what form of reconstruction will be best suited for a person in her specific situation. Like Kuka said, make sure you get a very good and cautious DIEP surgeon with an excellent record. I was so lucky to get one with a 0% failure record. They are out there.
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SB- yes I absolutely hate moving! So I spoke to soon, gas is on but hot water heater is not working....ugh! I still have my bath wipes.....lol
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(((Sweet)))Here's to hotwater!!!
Got insurance worked out;) happy I had fears of waking up from surgery with one boob done!!!
Had my pre-admin at hospital today. Was long and now I need a nap!!! -
Goldie, thinking of you today! Positive healing vibes your way!
Good luck to this weeks girls going forward!
I'm now 2 weeks out and some days are great, good or not so good. I don't have pain which is great!
Today I got dressed and had to change my shirt 4 times before I got one to fit! My boobs are so big! I really hope the swelling goes down a lot! What have you all experienced with this? I'm also saying I'm extra juicy today in terms of my abdominal incision. My nurse said the fluids are just finding their way to the surface and out where they can. In my case via the blisters. Anyone else have this?
I come from a long line of worriers! My nurse says everything looks good. See my PS tomorrow afternoon.
Mammalou, I'm a teacher too and there is NO WAY I'd be doing what you are right now. There are no gold stars for you for doing extra when you need to heal. What are your short term disability options like?
Cheers,
Sherry -
Thank you Goldie
next step is to choose a surgeon. I meet with the first one this Thursday. Since I know that I will likely have a stage 2b... if I choose a surgeon at the same Hosp as my PS there is a small chance they could do both surgeries at once which would be great for me. Less time out of work and less anesthesia.
How does that stuff taste ? Doesn't sound like much fun ! -
Sherry - Yay for no pain! There are so many little glitches on the road to recovery. When the Drs and Nurses say that it looks great - trust them. Also, remember that their idea of 'great' and our idea of 'great' may not be the same.
My idea of 'great' is no leakage, no pain, no pokey stiches , a curvey waist, a flat belly, and no ferocious looking incisions, and looking great in a bathing suit. (HA!) Their idea of 'great' is a work in progress and a body that is healing itself efficiently, in it's own way, fluid and all, and there's no reason to be concerned.
My fluids seeped out in little openings on the ab incision. And a little on my right breast. I was told not to worry - but I worried. And I have also gone through a ton of cammisoles, and pj's with my leakages. But nine weeks post surgery everything is really good.
I'm not saying our cases are the same - I'm just suggesting that a lot of the small things work themselves out in time, or with a minimum amount of management. Hopefully your PS will put your mind at ease.
Sweetpickle - You made it through DIEP, and a move in the same summer! You deserve a medal, and I hope it's all uphill from here.
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Sweet pickle, I don't know how you managed a move and the DIEP. You are like Wonder Woman
Carmen, I think you asked about the TEs with DIEP. I had never heard of TEs with a DiEP until I read it on this thread recently. I am a delayed DIEP. Had bmx followed by rads (had had rads on other side 4 years earlier). So I am going on Thursday but no TEs.
Just a question for the others. Why did you need TE with DIEP? I thought that was only for implants. In any case, radiated skin does not expand well so no point in even trying.
Janet and Sherry, my Ontario sisters, sounds like you are both doing well. Will either of you require a revision or is it too early to tell.
My PS specializes in breast recon so she does a lot of DIEP. I didn't ask how many she does in any week or month but it is my understanding that she was the first PS to do DIEP in Toronto. When UCLA recruited her, there was no one but now we have quite a few very capable PS who do DIEP. She said her failure rate is .3%. I figure that is a great statistic.....much less than 1% . I had MRA today so I'm now all set to go. Just have last minute things .... Laundry, some food, not even sure what else. My sister will stay a few days with me when I come home so I should be fine.
To anyone I missed mentioning....sorry. I do try to read all the posts but this thread goes so fast. Happy healing to all of you. -
Hi Ladies!
Sorry I've been MIA. Just nesting before the big day! Cleaning tonight, pre-admission tomorrow, then Thursday I go! very nervous. Taking xanax later. Drinking a lot of water and trying to stay on a very mild diet tomorrow. I can't wait to come through on the other side and write to you all
LOVE and HUGS!!!! -
hrf, it sounds as you are well-prepared. You will do well, and it seems you have a very competent surgeon.
Re the TE's: It is used to preserve the breast skin pocket after mastectomy, whether the person will get implants or flap surgery. I've explained this before on this thread, but in my case I got a TE with UMX because my node status was not known, so my PS did not want to do immediate DIEP or implant until that was known. As it turned out, I had one positive node, and had to get rads. My TE was fully expanded before rads started, not afterwards. We waited 11 months after rads ended before DIEP. PS cleaned up rads damage during DIEP, and was surprised, because there was way less damage than she expected. I had no healing issues, no incisions opening up, and very little pain.
Saw my trainer this morning. The boy who tried to commit suicide is still in ICU, but awake with no brain damage - so grateful for that! Apparently he has no recollection of what he had done, and alcohol was involved. Pshychiatrists are now working with him to resolve his issues. His mom has not been back home yet, because she cannot bear to look at the porch where she found him. She will probably need counselling too - what a trauma to go through!
Typewriter, just saw your post. Best wishes to you too - you will be fine!
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Hi Flappers.......don't have much time....running around like a chicken with its head cut off......trying to get ready for big meet-up with Nihahi......I hope she doesn't end up having to carry me on her back part of the 9 miles we will hike the first day......if any of you are looking for a diversion, look up Glacier Park Montana hikes......we are doing the Iceberg Lake trail.....and you can get an idea of what we will be seeing on our way......(truly hoping the grizzlies are NOT on our way, but that's why we carry bear spray......
. )
Katy ....please post picture of green self......
. Wish you could join us, but they don't allow bikes on the trail...you'd have to walk!
To all you brave soon-to-be-flappers......keep calm(use Ativan if necessary!) and carry on.......you will all do fine.....I will be thinking of each of you, and in your pockets as you are wheeled into surgery.....sleep well, and heal easy!
I am thinking of you both, Goldie and Faith, as you face these new challenges...sending peaceful, healing thoughts......XO
Marty, how goes everything with your DH? Hope all is well with you!
Mammalou, as others have already stated.....TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!.......take an extra week off if you need to......you get lots of chances to teach, but one chance for a DIEP.......in my case, after I was re-sutured.....I healed very quickly......I pray the same for you.....XO
Nihahi......let's PM later tonight, and get some contact info., then we can plan, okay? Getting excited too!. (And not just for the TimTams......although they ARE delicious! We will share on the trail....)
Sweet pickle, glad you are moved in and feeling a bit better......
Damiana-hope your stuff isn't too complicated so it's easy for you afterwards.....
Sherry...glad you are doing a bit better.....remember, sometimes it's two steps forwards and one back.....
Shechirple....glad you checked in.....
Love to all you fabulous, fabulous women! You are my rock(s) that helps me get through this c**p........XO
Namaste and God Bless - Jackie -
Awwww thanks so much Liefie, and Jackie!!!
Tracy- How are your nerves? What time do you head in on Thursday?
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Good luck Tracy and HRF! Speedy recovery and we will be here for you on the other side!
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