DIEP 2013

nihahi

just an fyi..yes, ice packs are definite pain reducers, because they "numb" the nerves, but cold also constricts blood vessels, so I would be reluctant to recommend it in the early days of healing. There is a reason why many docs have a protocol of warm blankets or warm rooms.

I'm on the thin side of average (bodyfat wise), and my surgeon said I was pulled very tight, I am a tram free, so some of my ab muscle was taken and I didn't stayed bent over very long. I'm not sure what the "deciding factor" is for the length of time it takes. My doc has said, that the fitter you are going in, the quicker you get upright, because your torso muscles are better at compensating for the sudden "change in demand". I definitely felt like the compression garment I used (store bought, not medical grade) helped me be more comfortable, thus helped me get upright also, as it was almost an instantaneous "relief". 

mammalou....I don't want to be negative, but really, really do some research into another implant. My surgeons believe that complications such as capsular contracture are not just related to placement or technique, but are often a sign that for whatever reason, your body just doesn't like foreign "things" in it. I was not recommended for yet another implant, because statistics lean towards if you've had a previous cap contracture, your odds of another are much higher. I know my body doesn't even tolerate dissolving sutures well...my surgeon used a different kind than normally usedfor the deep internal sutures, because the usual kind don't dissolve in me, they fester and eventually "spit out" to the surface. 

mammalou

I was pretty fit going into DEIP, but I still have pain in my abdomen at about the belly button line. I was pulled way too tight.



Is there any thing else that can be done to enlarge a DEIP besides an implant? I asked about doing it all with fat grafting and he said it is not a good idea. I feel really stuck here and annoyed. Maybe I shouldn't have had a DEIP, but prior to surgery they thought I would have enough fat to make one breast,

damiana9

Mammalou- if you don't want an implant, they could take a gap or pap flap to add to your diep- but I am not sure how you feel about having another donor site at this point



Does anyone else have flat, almost squarish areas on their boobs post diep after stage 1?

nihahi

mammalou...could you get a second opinion? I'm not saying absolutely no implant, I'm just advising caution and research. Maybe that's a good reason to ask a few more docs what they would advise, given your history of cap contracture already.

I feel so sorry for all those with pain, healing, acceptance issues....it's like "survivors guilt" is settling over me, for not having significant hurdles myself. 

sweetpickle

Bluebird- I have a long string of cuss words in mind for those horrible hospital folks! I am so sorry that you have had such a hard road! You are in my thoughts and prayers!



Goldie- I am seeing an emotional therapist for anxiety, they wont give me drugs....lol Shes cool.

goldie4040

mamma, the research I have done, and what I have been told by my surgeon, fat won't contract like regular tissue, or skin.  It kind of makes sense to me. I have a article about it.  I will PM it to you.

goldie4040

sweet,

I wish they would do that for me instead of giving me drugs.  I got so sick from that cymbalta.  I still felt bad today. I hope the therapist is helpful to you.  You know it's pretty easy to tell, just from reading your posts, you are a wonderful, kind, intelligent person. Anxiety gets the best of us. 

sweetpickle

Aw thanks Goldie :-) I really do think it will help, I just need to stope waiting for the next piano to drop on my head. I hope you find what works for you without the icky.

goldie4040

Christina, my biggest fear is the tummy thing.  I don't know if I have enough.  I am afraid of my boobs being too small for all that trouble, but I can't stand the thought of these expanders much longer, or implants.  It also seems that a lot of the thinner women tend to lose the curve of their waist from the surgery.  Somebody explained it really well, I don't know if it was on this forum, but she said that it seemed like when the pulled her tummy back together it pulled the curve straight at her waist, and it pulled the curve out of her hips too, and now she looks like a teenage boy.  I have seen lots of pics, and the women who look the best after surgery have an hour glass figure before their surgery, but with a little extra to spare. Sounds like you had the perfect figure for it.

goldie4040

Mammalou

Here is one of the websites I found about the diep with implant.  There are some very technical abstracts you can read too, if you are so inclined. 

http://www.5thavesurgery.com/procedures/breast-reconstruction/diep-flap/hybrid-diep-flap-surgery-with-implants/

goldie4040

Nihani, that is silly.  It''s about as silly as Movie not feeling like she is as much of a survivor because she didn't need chemo, or rads.  Everybody has a different way of dealing, and you just do a little better than most.  I read an article today about positive people vs negative people.  They are born like that.  You can have two kids, and have one of each.  And, then there are some that are in between.  I think how we deal with our lives in general is how we will deal with BC.  But, for you to feel quilt for getting through everything with no complications is silly.  That's what we wish for everybody, and if it doesn't happen then we are here to boost them up.  You have always been there for everybody in need, and nobody begrudges you your awesome recovery.

mary625

I don't know if this is the right place to ask a pre-DIEP question, but here goes. After DIEP, are the flaps considered breasts and are you supposed to have a mammogram? Because I am not getting into that worthless machine again! Also, are you having any sort of feeling in the flaps/breasts?



As you can see from my stats below, I've been hesitant to have any kind of recon thus far.

goldie4040

Mary, This is the best place to come if you are considering diep.  I have not had mine yet, but I can answer a few of your questions.  The other's will chime in soon enough.

Yes, the flaps are your breasts.

No, you will not have a mammogram ever again.  Mri's, or sonogram

I assuming you called the mammogram worthless because it failed you before.  Mine cancer was missed on my mammo, and found on a cat scan, and then again on sonogram.

Yes, I can see your stats.  You have been through a lot, but the fact that you're asking about recon means you are good to go!!!  Yeah!!!!

klanders

Goldie, I am thin. Before surgery I was 5'6" and 121 pounds. I had to go to NOLA to find a PS willing to do my bilateral mx and reconstruction - my local PS would only do implants for me. He said I was too thin. Dr Sullivan did what he called an extended DIEP. I have about a 23 inch smiley that wraps around to my backside. I was stretched extremely tight. My stomach feels like a rock. I am now 116 lbs going into stage 2 next week. I've been keeping track of my measurements. Since my surgery my waist is 3 inches smaller than it was before and my hips are 2 inches smaller. My breasts were 34" going in. Coming out I was swollen to 35 1/2". I think I've lost some due to my weight loss and now my breasts are about 33" (with waist at 26" and hips 36"). At stage 2 I'm expecting they will do Lipo and fat grafting to fill me out a bit but I'm pretty happy with my size. I definitely don't have a boy shape even though I'm thin. Everyone is different though!

LindaG47

Kristen,  Thinking of you as you head to NOLA soon.  Best wishes for a successful surgery and easy recovery.  I am looking forward to getting together with you and Cherrie next month. Message me when you are home and feeling up to it. 

Linda  

jacee

Mary....my PS recommends bilateral breast MRI annually after my bilateral DIEP, for monitoring . Your flaps are considered "breasts" , but are not breast tissue of course.

goldie4040

klanders,

thanks for the detailed reply. do you think your hips got smaller from the surgery, or your weight loss.  you are thin.  i am hoping for a least b cup.  do you think you got that much out of your surgery?

BTW...good luck on stage 2.  keep us posted

sbelizabeth

Hi, Mary, welcome!  My PS wanted me to wait for recon until at least six months after the completion of rads.  It takes that long for the radiated tissue to settle down.  My rads finished in July 2012 and my DIEP was in April, and was successful.  I love my new "breasts" but they have no sensation, at least not yet.

Jeannie57

Sbel, glad you are doing so well! Gives me hope.



How long does swelly belly last?

sbelizabeth

Thanks, Jeannie!  I had a slight bulgy tummy just above my DIEP smile until yesterday's surgery.  My PS said he'd do some lipo there, but some of it was probably just lymphatic fluid build-up that would receed when it found a new route to lymph nodes in my groin.  Apparently lymph fluid can't move across scars.  I'm still encased in dressings.  Are you wearing compression?  

sbelizabeth

OK, I have two complaints from yesterday's surgery.  First, I woke up with a bandaid on my left shoulder, and the nurse said the anesthesiologist gave me a shot of toradol while I was asleep.  Despite wearing my G-sleeve and orders reading "NO BP/NO NEEDLESTICKS IN LEFT ARM" I got stuck.  I probably won't get lymphedema from one sterile injection, but dang, that makes me mad.

And I have the worst sore throat I've ever had after surgery.  He used a laryngeal mask airway, not an endotracheal tube, but he must have used a hammer to insert it.  

Rant over!  Thanks for listening.  

Nihahi, when we see male survivors of prostate cancer dancing around with wild-colored boxer shorts worn on the outside of their pants, wearing tee-shirts that say "I (heart) my cojones," then I'll be OK with the nutty stuff that goes on for breast cancer fund raising.  Pink tutus, pink wigs, pink striped socks...let's have a party for breast cancer.  No thanks.

Debwarrior

Hi fellow DIEPers,



I'm a newbie and I've read several pages here but it's hard to catch up quickly on everyone's news, but I will keep reading. It's nice to know that I'm not alone and that you are all out there. I have my double mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction scheduled for October 1 at UCSF with Dr. Hani Sbitany. Anyone here have DIEP at UCSF willing to tell me about their experience here or via PM? Is there a list anyone can refer me to of things that I need after I return home after the surgery. I've seen pillows and recliners mentioned and drain holders, but it would be nice to see all the things altogether. I'm kind of scared but moving forward. Figure that's all that I can do.



Sending my sympathy to all having recovery problems and best wishes for a speedy recovery for those still recovering.



Deb



Deb

Jeannie57

Sbel, yes, I've been wearing compression but the left side has been more swollen since the beginning and hasn't changed. Did you have the lymph fluid removed during surgery?

Jeannie57

Also, I am so traumatized from foot and neck IVs I just may have an IV in my arm (LE in both) next time. My left neck AJ already has scarring from just a few pokes!

Jubby

Has anyone else taken Ativan to help sleep after DIEP?  I know there are so many things we're not supposed to take - coffee, Tamoxifen, too much chocolate, supplements etc.  I am down to only paracetamol now in terms of my drug regime but last night I was kinda wigging myself out lying so still in the same spot listening to hubby snore and I thought an Ativan would've been gold.  

You ladies are serious guns on the Board.  I can’t keep up with you all.  Sorry for your failed op Bluebird.  That is a bum deal.

lahela

{{{{{bluebird}}}}} my heart goes out to you.

Jubby - I have never heard that Tamoxifen is a no-no after DIEP. I'm supposed to start on it in a week.

I'm about to have my first cup of coffee in 3 1/2 weeks. So excited!!!

Jeannie57

Lahela, I had to stop Tamoxifen one month before DIEP and couldn't resume until 2 weeks after. I think it is because of possible blood clots in and around surgery.

Jeannie57

Welcome DebWarrior! You are at the right place. I think there is a list of things somewhere on this thread. What I have noticed is we all over prepare! You should have alcohol wipes for your drains. Paper tape. I used a plastic seat in the shower to conserve energy. Soft tank tops or camisoles. A power recliner was helpful to me.

The best prep I did was squats and crunches! The anticipation gets to be a bit much. The actual surgery seems like a really quick nap. We will be cheering you on.

nihahi

jeannie...you should be asleep girl.

lahela

Thanks Jeannie - that certainly makes sense