DIEP 2013

Catie2013

Nihahi, when consulting with a Dermatologist re the MOHS surgery, I was told that it is the BEST way to avoid a huge scar if any! And, actually was the case. So hoping for you that your experience is the same!

nihahi

I've had other Moh's surgery on my face, so I do understand how the technique preserves as much tissue as possible, and my moh's surgeon is also a plastic surgeon (defo not incredibly wonderful one who did my flap, whom I love...this guy....not so much in the patient/emotional skill department).......I'm just fed up with him carving away on my face, especially while I'm awake and over a long, drawn out day of cut and wait. If it was anywhere else....hmpf...no problem. Qué sera!

thanks though, I "heard" your encouraging words.

MartyJ

Kuka - I, too, am a non-veggie eater.  My mom could only open cans and they were yucky.  I can, however, eat many of them raw - like carrots.  So I make carrot salad.  I can also eat sugar snaps that have been quickly blanched.  I try with others, but never make it too far.

Bailey - you are so fortunate you didn't lose that flap.  I had a hematoma that showed up the morning after surgery.  By the next morning there was no sound on the doppler and I was off to surgery again.  Dr M got me all fixed up, but there was a large hard spot.  She told me to massage it gently and it would soften with time.  About half of it softened and went away.  She powerwashed it during Stage 2A (poked tiny holes in the hardness and washed fluid through) and it is much much better.

I had my meeting with the Pilates PT yesterday.  I am really looking forward to this.  We will get together 3x per week for a couple of weeks and then move to 2x.  I have homework that I need to do on ROM for my shoulders and some minor core work.  We'll see what she does to me tomorrow.  I wasn't sore, but she did mention that because of the plication I am probably numb and won't feel anything for several months.

About laying on the stomach - a lot of PS don't want you to lay on your flaps for at least 6 - 12 weeks.  The pressure can cause problems.

goldie4040

Thanks, Ninahi.  I hope your right.  It really bother's me when I see the delayed diep surgeries, and the breasts are different colors, and the scars!  I am trying to be brave, and not angry at  by BS for steering me in the wrong direction in the first place.

I have been reading the posts about the drains in the pelvic area.  Does everybody have them there?  I will just wear a nighty, and my velcro drain belt, I guess.  Sounds like loads of fun!!!!!

Catie2013

Marty and Kuka - funny that you mention veggies! I was thinking today that I need to boost my veggie intake. Before I read the posts about them! I used to eat them but have an aversion lately - not sure where that comes from. Goitrogens maybe and fear of thyroid issues flaring again (weight gain😣).



Bailey - I lost a flap b/c of a hematoma but it was sort of like Marty's only 3 days after the bmx and recon. So glad yours is getting gone even if its slow but sure!

liefie

Kuka, have you ever tried oven roasted veggies? Sweet potato, peppers, butternut, onion, garlic, beets, carrots, parships etc. etc. - sooooo good, sweet, aromatic, , crispy, carmelized - LOL - guess it's lost on you, eh?

Nihahi, so sorry to hear about the squamus cell diagnosis, and the excising to come. Who needs more cutting? Not us! Hope it works out well for you! Steri strips still firmly attached, but I'm softening them up now with polysporin, and will see what happens tomorrow. 

Movie, I got your pm earlier today. Thanks!

MartyJ

Goldie - if any diep uses the skin from the abdomin, there will be a difference in color - even if not delayed.  Some BS do a skin sparing (or skin and nipple sparing) if it is right for the patient.  Not all BS can or will do this type of surgery as they believe that all must be removed to ensure that there will be no recurrence.  All I am saying is that the BS may not have steered you in the wrong direction, but one that is best for you long term.

Because of the amount of skin and tissue taken from the abdomin, drains are almost always a requirement.  Some PS place the drains in or near the pubic mound.  Others place them at either end of the hip incision.  Mine were at the ends of the hip incision.  Thanksgiving was 11 days after my surgery and my BFF had us come over.  I used gauze pads cut with slits and wrapped around the drain where it exited the skin to pad it.  I had compression to keep it in place.  Then I threaded the drains up out of a pair of very loose, floaty pants and dropped them into a 6"x9" crossbody bag.  Drains are very doable, but I think we all let our minds get the best of us.  They are yucky, but necessary!

lilyun

goldie4040 I had the DIEP surgery on 12/12/12. The left breast was delayed-I had mx 9 years ago. The right one had the mx and the DIEP together. I actually think that the delayed one looks better. It's slightly rounder and fills out my bra a little better. This is after my Stage2 also which was on 4/15/13.

Pattysmiles

Kuka,

I am not a veggie fan either...parents were terrible cooks. MADE me eat them as a kid, I think I harbored a fear and anger! Lol



I CAN do leafy salad. I don't care for chunks of things in my salad (like grape tomatoes or carrots).

Recently I have started trying veggies again.

One of my favorites is asparagus (who would have thought! Lol)...baste with olive oil, sprinkle on kosher salt and throw on the BBQ for just a minute or so...color turns darker green, fork will go into it fairly easily. If it gets too soft I won't eat it though.



Green beams, same thing, throw them into boiling water, for just a minute. (Longer means softer and I won't eat them). To make them even better (and fattening)...heat some butter in a pan and throw in some slivered almonds, brown those almonds slightly...throw over those lightly cooked greenbeans...green bean almandine!



And my personal favorite, that if anyone had ever told me a few years ago that i would eat this I would have just laughed. Raw broccoli and raw cauliflower, cut up the little heads into small bite size pieces. Separately prepare one cup mayonaaise, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar...stir together and throw over the raw veggies. For added flavor add in a cup or even more, of craisans, and if you want, some almonds or sunflower seeds or other seeds, even some croutons....it is delicious. (Croutons will get soggy, so add before serving)



There are still plenty of veggies I don't like, but I will keep trying....at least now no one is forcing me! Lol. (I'm 47 and embarrassed to not like veggies, but I am still trying)

All the best,

Pat

Anonymous

My diep was delayed because 1) chemo could not wait 2) by the time we did mx I wasn't healing well because of chemo 3) radiation would have ruined the new breast skin anyway. So even though it took me two years to get here.....I got to get to here. And because of radiation I have the two colored breast and big scar....but I have what will be a soft, natural looking breast in clothes that won't have to be replaced. And a big chunk of the taut, painful radiated skin was removed and replaced with that belly skin. I am very hopeful that once I heal I end up with less pain (no pain???) Where I was radiated. And by the end of chemo, mx, rads, Herceptin and hysterectomy I needed to wait for DIEP so I could get stronger! Delaying makes the most sense sometimes.

I had drains on each hip, no pelvic or pubic drains.

Catie2013

Pat - I do LOVE the broccoli salad you spoke about - cant do too much because it interferes with my Synthroid - but a little now and then is yummy!



And the roasted veggies are yummy too! Maybe I'm just stuck on a rut! Like trying to think of what to make for dinner and winding up making the same things over and over!



Even the asparagus sounds yummy!

kuka21174923

Goldie, my tummy drains were on the side of my hips just under my incision. They really didn't bother me as much as the ones from my chest, which were right next to my armpits!

And no, I don't care how they're cooked, I will NOT eat veggies. My DH always says I'm a picky eater just because I don't eat veggies. But really I'll eat everything else. I love fish and seafood, meat, pasta, rice, lentils, etc... I'm sorry, but veggies are for bunnies, horses and cows!

No run tonight. My legs are pretty sore, so taking a break. Tomorrow is my kid's last day if school and after they get home I might go swimming with them. Ps said that I could, and who knows, the salt water in the pool could even do some good on my blister. Tonight when I took my band aid off to clean the blister my skin started bleeding. Not the blister, but where the glue from the band aid is on my skin. So great! Another spot I have to worry about now:(

Good night ladies!

Dyvgrl

Just had my last drain tube and sutures removed from my UMX and I have to say the existing mound looks great! I had a TE installed during surgery and because my BS did skin sparing he was able to fill 3/4 or so full already. The sutures look amazing so I'm really praying that rads don't Totally destroy the beautiful work he's done so far. I have to do chemo first so I can fill the TE all the way before rads. Go in for my port in 2 weeks, kinda freaked about that for some reason. Who was it that was talking about veggies as thyroid? I'm really curious as I have Hashimotos. I need all the help I can get cuz I need to drop some weight quick.

goldie4040

Kuku, my current PS and his nurse have a running arguement about wound care.  He wants it covered and something moist on it like neosporin, etc.  She believes in letting nature take it's course and leaving it open to the air.  Now I am sure there are all different circumstances, and I am certainly not telling you to leave your blister open to the elements, but you might try keeping the dressing in place with a compression bra, and no tape, just to give your skin a break.  It really sounds like you have an adhesive problem with your skin, which is not unusual.  They even asked me that in the hospital before my surgery.  "Do you have an adhesive tape allergy?" 

My neighbor went swimming with her drains.  They were up by her breast, and she waded in up to her waist, or so.  She would through the drains over her shoulders.  LOL.  The things we do for our kids. 

goldie4040

dvygirl, that is awesome news.  You go girl.  

goldie4040

catie, I have never heard of broccoli being bad for synthroid.  I wonder why?  

We have been roasted veggies a lot lately too.  Last night we did an eggplant, and it was yummy.  Asparagus is the easiest, and the yummiest, and of course, zucchini it the bomb too.  The list is endless.  

liefie

Dvygirl, I had a TE installed during UMX, and it was filled to its full capacity during chemo. Then I had 25 rads, and waited 10 months before DIEP. My skin held up well during rads, and there was no problem with the TE either except some contracture around the TE which was to be expected after rads. My PS was really pleased with what she found during DIEP. There was not much damage at all. Hope this helps to set you mind at ease a bit.

Anonymous

Marty and Catie -thanks and I am fortunate to have not lost it. I had great Doppler sounds for 5 days in hospital but was putting out bright red blood in flap drain. It changed to the old blood look on day 6 at home so we figured bleed had stopped. It's still disturbing but flap appears and sounds healthy still, despite it's size! The PS told me no massage.....I think they are afraid of starting the bleed anew. I have said a million prayers....I am calm about it though. I would be so bummed if it failed, but I have seen the end of the world and flap failure is not it

sweetpickle

How often does the flap fail? My PS told me 3% of the time but reading here it seems higher.

Anonymous

Sweetpickle -I was quoted 3% failure rate by my my PS as well.

Catie2013

Probably higher sounding because we are more vocal? Dunno, but its truly not the end of the world -



Goitrogens act like anti-thyroid agents, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, kale, etc are considered goitrogens. Look up whatever thyroid meds you are on and look for food or drug interaction (I prefer to look at manufacturer's website) to see what they say. I'm on Synthroid, Endocrin Dr gave mr Rx and info too. No soy! Again, maybe other Drs differ? We can sure see that with showers, compression, drains - etc. I have SOME raw spinach or broccoli on occasion and cooked more often but not much since reading about what to avoid if possible. Doesn't seem to lend to healthy eating though - but thyroid has been fine!

Catie2013

First part re vocal was about flap failure.



Thyroid has been fine since avoiding goitrogens and taking my Synthroid!



I have to edit BEFORE I hit send!!!

liefie

Kuka, thanks to you who don't eat veggies at all, I have now been given quite a few neat ideas here as to preparing them. How ironic - LOL! Thank you!

Bailey, will be praying for your flap. Seriously.

Anonymous

Thanks Liefie, I appreciate the prayers, seriously.



But it does remind me of a funny story.....when I was first dx I was talking to friend/bc survivor who was told me she had been given some advice before her double mx to take a picture of her breasts and then have a funeral for them and bury the picture. I recognize there are many ways people find to comfort themselves during grief and that could be helpful to some, but it just struck me as really funny. Mostly because I figured every boy I went to 7th grade with would come to the funeral! Being one of the first girls to develop I earned the nickname BBB....big boobs Bailey. We figured they would all come to the funeral for a chance to see the picture! Nice.



Gotta laugh or we'd just sit and cry!

Dyvgrl

Thx Liefie, it does help. All we can do is plan for the worst and hope for the best!

nihahi

My lord this thread is a busy one!!!!!! Too many really interesting topics to comment on all of them....

Goldie....I wonder if the examples you've seen of distinct skin colour differences are from women who "tanned their tummies"???? It has been many, many, many milenium since my tummy skin had seen the sun,....maybe that has something to do with the good colour match I have????

Dyvgrl....so good to hear how things are going for you. That "first look" can often be so much better than our imagination prepares us for.

Marty...interesting comment your PT had about not feeling the core "work".....makes good sense!!! I wonder if it applies to a lesser degree to anyone who has had a tummy flap??? I hope your "homework" for the shoulder finally gets things heading down the right road for you!!!!

sweetpickle.......focus on the positive!!!!!

Anonymous

You are right Nihahi....that is a 97% success rate !!!

goldie4040

Nihani, I have seen them lighter, darker, and sometimes just weird.  I have also seen some that look great.  My tummy has been tanned on and off, but it's pretty close to no tan right now. And, I am assuming it will change to it's no tan color after a period of time. I notice in a lot of the after pics women are very tan. I think they feel the tan lines from a bikini top makes their naked boobs look better, and they might be right.   My DH said if there is nothing to worry about, I will find something get myself upset...lol. 

sbelizabeth

Nihahi, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this cancer on your face.  It must make your load just that much heavier.  When is your MOHS scheduled?

Right after rads finished, I started noticing swelling in my feet, legs, and face.  I thought I was eating too much sodium, but I mentioned it to my onc, and she tested my thyroid.  Dead as a doornail.  She put me on levothyroxine and my levels have been fine ever since.  AND I've been eating veggies, including all kinds of cabbage and greens, almost every day.  Cabbage especially, because it's low on the pesticide-contaminated list! No one ever told me to not eat any particular type of veggie, so I'm going to pretend I don't know what I just learned.

Goldie, my favorite is roasted brussel sprouts.  Tossed with onions, yams, garlic, and mushrooms, with a little olive oil and salt, and baked in the oven until it's really dark.  Yum. 

I start PT for the shoulder mobility issues tomorrow.  Pass the ibuprofen. 

SheChirple

Bailey: Sounds great.  My first f/u is tomorrow. I'll post update. Dont' expect any drains to come out, as still draining quite  a bit.  Not going to be happy about the appearance, but will repeat "this is not final, this is not final".  There are a few spots I'm a little worried about, but I'm sure they will be fine. Mostly I want the bandages and binder off.

Goldie: I wouldn't worry about the weight gain/loss comments.  So many people 'think' this is a tummy tuck and boob job, and expect you to come back all slim and built.  LOL.  I just want my clothes to fit.

Would love to go commando, but can't due to incontinence issues.  Yeah, another 'thing'.

It's amazaing how apathetic I am about work right now.  I am a hard driven, type A, passionate about my work type person.  Right now...........bleh. So many things happened in the last few months that I just don't give a crap about work.  The people I really miss.  I might have to schedule a lunch soon.