DIEP 2013

LucyV

I am on the other side! Went in last Wednesday. Not brave at all....just showed up. Had a hard time getting an IV in. Took two tries. Heparin shots started and blood sugar sticks. Finally got an Ativan and relaxed a bit. I was under for about 12 hours. Was in recovery for four hours. I think Wilbur was in recover with me as my only concern was why someone was on a ladder changing a curtain? Then had hourly checks for 24 hours. On Thursday I was convinced I was never getting out of the bed ever! Took advantage of having the catheter in and drank a ton of fluids in addition to the IV. Just to add to my fun had a nosebleed tried to get the every eight hour heparin stopped but it wasn't. Walked to the bathroom on Friday. Walked down the hall on Saturday. Someone managed a shower on Sunday and back home! Came home with six drains. Too many. Feeling tight ...dirty...hot....nauseous...but the most important thing is I pooped on Sunday night and this morning! Yay. Started colace on Thursday and miralax on Sunday . Have my sister here for a few days to help. Had visiting nurse yesterday. Going for follow up tomorrow and keeping fingers crossed that some of the drains will be gone. Could not have made it through without all of you ladies. My doctors are beyond wonderful. The nurses and staff were top notch. Now I try to just take it day by day.

butterfleyez

congrats Lucy! Sounds just like me. I was so happy for the catheter.. Lol never thought if be saying that. Now the recovery begins. Today is my two week anniversary and I'm going to celebrate by going to the store :-)

GwennyMD I hope your drains come out as well. I got the last of mine out on Friday and it makes a world of difference from a comfort and getting dressed perspective.

I think it's so cool that the Canadian ladies were able to get together and hang out. Hopefully the Texas crew will be able to do that too one of these days

FierceBluebird

I also have tender hard lumpyness on each side of sternum. I thought it had to do with area they break ribs to gain access to blood vessel cluster and the suture line. It has gotten softer with massage, but dang! The left side hurts so much I can hardly touch it. 

Anonymous

I have the sternum tenderness, too....it is also very hard there. And I have a long curved ridge of  hardness under the noob as well. It's kind of a painful mess, actually. C'mon stage II!!!

Lucy....you did it! Welcome to this side, honey! You are doing well, it sounds, hugs!

Jeannie57

mrtw43, going with you in your "pocket." Best wishes!

Lucy, welcome to Flapperland! I was THRILLED to hear you pooped! I never would have cared before.....I hope you get some drains out!

Lahela, I slept okay, thanks. Tomorrow night I can sleep without this c. garment because it will be two weeks since surgery. Yay!

Today is my firstborn's birthday. 37???? How can it be...

goldie4040

Yeah Lucy! Sounds like you are doing great!!! So glad.

Mrtw, good luck today. This day brings you closer to being finished!!!

Lahela, say it ain't so!!!! No more abcesses!!!!! I hope they figure something out and you get to go on your trip.

Sharon1942

Nihahi, thanks for putting bold letters for my TATTOO DATE!

Sharon1942

Sometimes the hard area one feels is scar tissue. Especially along the edges of the foob. And more likely if you had radiated skin. I have a hard tender ridge my PS says is scar tissue. I can live with it. Removing it not only takes away part of your flap, but scar tissue is likely to develop again. Of course we want to look into any new lump or hardness. Point it out to your BS & PS.

jlbloom

It's good to hear everyone talking about necrosis. I have a spot that is getting larger above my right foob. They do want an US, but it just feels like it could go along the top of the flap. I will be having stage II on November 25, 2013. Lifting and rounding and some lipo under my left arm where it feels like there is too much skin. Also some fat grafting above each foob where they sort of sink in. I'm anxious to get it done, too.

It is great to read the experiences everyone has had. hrf, I'm hoping for as painless as possible as I'm sure we all are. I will be back at work the following Monday. It's great to hear how everyone is coming along!

To any of you new ladies, there is life after DIEP. I'm also interested in the deep massage techniques as that is what my PS recommended for the incision across my abdomen. It feels like it is several layers of lumpiness.

Take care everyone. ...Julie

lahela

Lucy - congratulations! Despite it all, you sound great! Rest, rest, rest - we are all here for you any time you needs us.



But, wow, they move you fast in North America!!! I was in recovery for 48 hours and in hospital for 12 days! They don't let you go home with drains here. Absolutely never, ever. My release was even delayed by a day because the elevator in my apartment building was broken and they wouldn't let me walk up 7 flights! It scares me how much you all have to do on your own.



Jeannie - happy birthday to your eldest! It feels weird, doesn't it, that they are so grown up? And happy birthday to you too - you did all the work



Sharon - I'm so happy for you. There is a light at the end of the tunnel



I decided to wait until tomorrow to call the nurses - I think I'm actually better at judging this than they are, so I'll look at the dressing and check for redness and pain and if it seems okay to me, I'll let it go another day. They did say this could take several weeks or more to heal properly, so I'm being patient. Which is not like me at all! DIEP has changed me! LOL!

hrf

SheriCola, you are the one who has to feel comfortable with your weight. Don't let outside pressures influence you. If you feel well and can do the things you want to do, then you are fine in my opinion.

Bailey & mammalou, funny story. I saw PS this morning and everything is going well following my stage 2. I asked about the round hard lump.....it's actually a little bit of cartilage that the doctor harvested and will use it to make a nipple. She just "planted" it there for now. She had meant to tell me but forgot. So for now, my nipple is near my armpit. I do have other areas of fat necrosis and she said to keep massaging them. Hope yours turn out to be as b9 as mine.

Carmelle_in_CT

Hi all,

Having a relaxing week in sunny FL before heading back to work next week - today is 5 weeks. Don't think I'll make full days - still get pretty tired. While driving around near Daytona I saw a little township named 'Wilbur By the Sea' - how appropriate was that??

Jeannie57

jlbloom, you will do great in Stage II! It will be two weeks tomorrow for me and I feel pretty good! I'm just trying to get my energy back.

Carmelle, that is funny about Wilbur! I'm glad you were able to get away.

christina0001

mrtw - so excited for you! Good luck tomorrow!

lahela, your trip sounds amazing. I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing, fun time... less stress could help with healing, who knows? That's so interesting that different countries do things differently... on one hand I would have loved to not have gone home with drains, but on the other hand, it was so nice to be at home.

Jeannie, sounds like you are doing great.

Lucy - congrats and welcome to the other side! Holy cow, six drains! Yikes!

butterflyeyez, happy two week anniversary! Did you have a good time at the store?

bluebird, good to see you! Sorry you are hurting though!

jlbloom... life after DIEP... I am so looking forward to getting past all this.

carmelle, I got a chuckle thinking about "Wilbur by the Sea." I'd like to join him there, a seaside vacation sounds lovely!

mammalou

hrf... That is kind of funny that they are harvesting things without us knowing. We just have no idea of all the stuff they do to us. Mine does kind of feel like the perfect size for a nipple. Lol.

2timer

I had my bmx/diep on 8/28. The breast part seems to be ok but the incision in my stomach is giving me fits. It just won't heal. It's close to the pantline and it keeps getting irritated. Plus for some reason parts of that area sting badly. Most of the incision is closed but it just won't scab up and there are bloody spots where the skin has rubbed against clothing because I can't seem to get the gauze to stay in place. In addition to that there is some kind of fluid underneath the skin that showed up on a ct scan. My PS says I'm doing well and this is a small thing but I felt like I would be done with seepage and gauze by now. My PS is moving to Texas next month so I get to see him one more time and hopefully he can figure something out. I asked him about "dog ears" and stage II surgeries and he feels the dog ears are from me being fat and they only do one surgery unless there is a problem. Just checking in.

jenjenl

I had my consultation today and it went well. Looking to schedule it in January - too bad I will have to do OOP max again in 2014 too but I do not want to do this anywhere near the holidays since last years sucked.

peacelovedogs

I'm sorry for being missing in action for awhile. I ended up with a hernia following my DIEP surgery. I had four dead areas as well and apparently I needed some building on my left side.

I am 11 days post Stage 2+ large hernia repair. I changed PS. This was only due to the need to use the general surgeon that I wanted. I'm extremly pleased with how I look, with the exception of a very large blister turned into dead, rotting tissue. Yuck. I'm not sure how much more clear I can be about my severe allergy to adhesive of ALL kinds. Even paper tape. So I told them that as well as showed them scars from my last procedure. They still use tape!! Why?!

I have at least one more procedure but that is mostly lipo and shaping. I love my new PS. Although I loved my old one, I don't think Mayo allowed him any leeway with the lipo and stuff. Now I match on each side! I'm so excited!!!

I know a ways back people asked about drains and Stage 2. I woke up with 2. They were on the sides but were actually all the way up in the bra strap area in the front. Does that make sense? It HURT when they removed them this time. I'm more uncomfortable this time I think but mostly from the hernia. Although they didn't have to cut me all the way open I still have like 12 incisions on my abdomen. Not exaggerating at all. Lol

I was trying to catch all the way up and well...I can't. It's too much reading right now. It's so good to see everyone!

nihahi

well my goodness, peacelovedogs...you have certainly been through it!!!! It's good to hear from you, and to hear that you are getting happy with the results too! "12 is enough"! No more tummy incisions for you girl!!!

Jeannie57

2timer, I hope your new PS gives you better answers to your questions! I'm sure somebody would be happy to remove your dog ears....

jenjenl, you're starting the new year off right!

Peacelovedogs, I admire your chipper post considering all you've been through! There has to be an answer for adhesive-of-any-kind-allergy people. I am sensitive but not like you. Prayers for complete healing!

MiniMeandMiniHim

Hello, I am very new to the board. I am seeking any information about doctors who do DIEP in Alabama. Is NOLA the closest state for a DIEP?

Thank you and I pray that you all are doing well.

Moviemaniac

peacelove........good to hear from you! and that the ship has been "righted".....

Love the " Wilbur by the Sea"......maybe we should schedule aDIEP getaway there!

Mini.....I do believe that NOLA is closest, unless there is someone in Alabama......good luck!

Welcome to you newbies!

2timer...there are several of us on here that have had complications with non-healing tummy incisions, as well as completely blown-open incisions......keep an eye on it, and perhaps switch to looser-fitting clothing.....to give it time to heal......

Love to all.....heading to bed.....

XO

lahela

Carmelle - great to hear you're having a nice time! Wilbur by the Sea sounds a perfect place for a get-together! LOL!



2timer - sorry that your incision is still causing problems. They can be so slow to heal, but it will get there. I obviously can't speak to your experience, but my incision is still so sensitive that I have to wear big cotton undies and yoga pants (I wear t-shirt dresses over them) because anything else feels like it's rubbing too much. Not sure what clothes you need to wear for work etc, but maybe you can minimise the time spent in them and switch to softer things? I wish I could be more help!



jen - great that you'll be able to enjoy the holidays this year before the big day. Lots of time to prepare, too.



peace - such a rocky road for you! But you sound positive and that's the most important thing. I hope all heals well and quickly.



Love and hugs to all.

mrtw43

Good morning, stage 2 went as planned. I now have nipples but they are covered in bandages so I won't be able to see for a week. They took tissue from the ends of my smile incision. The only pain I have is on my right side where they took tissue, the left doesn't hurt but the right side burns a little. I am hoping that subsides soon.

Janet_M

jbloom - In regards to the scar massage - my PS told me 'not to be shy'. Run your thumb up and down the scar and apply lots of pressure, in order to break up all the tissue. I'm four months post surgery, and healing well, so I dug in with gusto. At first I started tentatively - then realized that I wasn't going to break - and dug right in. The difference has been amazing, and I feel like my stomach is one piece, instead of two

My PS recommended vaseline. I'm using some holistic cream that I can neither pronounce nor afford, so I'll be using Vaseline when it runs out.

lahela

mrtw - gentle hugs for healing.

Got my salpingo-ooph surgery date - 12 December - it was mailed yesterday so I don't even know if the PS had a chance to speak with the gyno-onc. Guess I'll wait and see if I get a revised date. I hope not (despite the tummy ouch that it's going to be) because I'm supposed to be having my stage 2 in January/February and I don't want to put that off. I'm going to push the PS to do everything I want, and it want it done a.s.a.p. I'm ready for this all to be done with.

nihahi

lahela....stick to your guns girl!!!!! fyi....have a great holiday with your family, you certainly have earned some R&R!!!

mrt....gosh, you are so close to DONE!!!! That is a huge thing....hope you have some celebrations planned! Are you doing tattoos too? Hope the discomfort eases quickly.

Have good days ladies!!!!!

sbelizabeth

Janet, I loved your blog entry about your PS.  Laughed my socks off.  I looked for a way to subscribe, so I could receive your posts hot off the press in my email, but I didn't see a way to do that.  Thanks for the massage advice!  I've just been gently rubbing lotion into the scars, so now I'll use a little more enthusiasm with the massage. 

My Stage IIb is December 6, and I'm not sure how much work my PS wants to do at one time.  The left side needs to be shaped and reduced a little, the right side needs the under-arm boobage removed and the whole thing lifted.  There's also a few hard lumps of necrosis that should be removed.  So I guess we'll see!

Lahela, I know what you mean about getting the whole deal over with.  When I was on a wound vac, with a visiting nurse every couple of days, she said, "Why don't you just give your body a rest?  You've been through so much in such a short period of time--take some time to live your life and heal."  This sounds like such good advice, but it doesn't factor in the "I want to be finished with this!"

Jeannie57

Oh, Sbel, it's hard to wrap my head around you having a IIB after everything you've been through. I see my PS next week to discuss. Do I want to accept one girl being bigger than the other vs. the OR again??? It's so tempting....We all just want to be DONE!

Anonymous