DIEP 2014

Dyvgrl

cammie,

I had mine on the 8th. My drains were removed at my 2 week post op. Have you not met with your docs yet? I'm pretty mobile now so I can walk around and do some shopping, hanging out, going out to eat, etc. I don't carry anything nor do I lift my arms up over my head. It took me about 2 weeks to stand up almost straight but I'm still only about 98% there. Standing bothers me but walking is not so bad. Both of my breasts are very swollen, but not under my armpit. Did you have any lymph nodes removed? My incisions aren't pretty since I can't use steri strips, he used glue instead but they will eventually heal quite nicely. I have a few hard spots but no open wounds or anything. As far as getting out of bed, I lift my knees and hold onto my thighs with my arms and kind of roll out. That way I don't use my abs or arms too much. It's pretty impossible to get out without using either at all. Just get the legs over and use your elbow to balance to get your feet under you. Hope that helps lol

BlueFox

I haven't posted for a while because I've been in hospital for the last fortnight.  I had my DIEP surgery at the start of April but after a few days developed bruising which then developed blisters.  A few weeks ago I went into hospital for a debridement and was discharged with antibiotics after a few days.

After a few days my infection had turned major and I was readmitted and taken to theatre that evening for a major debridement.  This time I was in hospital for 15 days on IV antibiotics with more washouts and debridements.

At last I'm back home but the result of the infection is a partial loss of my reconstruction. So I will need more surgery later this year - probably fat injections or a TDAP flap.

Teacher64

Dyvgrl, I still have to do the knee/thigh hold and roll out of bed.

Cammie, swelling is to be expected. We all walked bent over like lowland gorillas. I did for weeks. I used a heating pad on my back, only back, which helped the back pain. Yes, drains are a pain, but necessary. They will soon be a thing of the past for you. Keep healing.

goldie4040

I roll to my side and with knees bent, and then sit up on the side of the bed. 

Bluefox, so sorry for your problems.  I hope everything works out for the best.  I am glad they got the infection under control.

I am still no where near standing up. 

rose111

Naiviv and Bblue fox, it am so sorry to hear about your complications.  Sending best wishes to you both.  Please stay in touch.  

iowagirl1

Naiviv.  I am so sorry about the flap.  They will figure something out.  Keeping you in my prayers.

melissa2013

Naiviv and Bluefox-  so sorry to hear about your complications.  Hang in there and know we are all here for you. 

lahela

BlueFox, rest and heal for now. This road is a lot rougher for some and I truly feel for those of you who don't have good results first time round. Know that we are here for you {{{{{hugs}}}}}

BlueFox

Thanks for the good wishes. 

I'm very sorry to hear about Naiviv's flap loss.  It is a big operation to go through and although it doesn't fail often, it really sucks when it does.

I think partial loss may be easier to bear although it was a shock for it to happen over a month after the DIEP surgery - I thought I was out of the woods by then.  But at least I still have part of a reconstruction.  It also allows different options for future surgery.  I wasn't keen on having an LD flap due to the loss of a large back muscle - I love swimming and want to keep all my muscles.   Fat on the other hand is surplus to requirements.  If I get a TDAP flap as a salvage procedure, I can keep my LD muscle and just take skin and fat.

Zoemom

Naivav and Bluefox - I am very very sorry to hear about your complications.  Sending positive thoughts and gentle (((hugs))) your way.  

sibrhusky127

Cammie, I had surgery on 4/28 and still have swelling under both arms, but I also have incisions there where the PS made incisions.   The swelling Is improving though.

I have good days, and challenging days.   Yesterday,   I had so much tightness and pain in the abdomen that I was exhausted by the end of the evening.   I had thought that 4 weeks out of surgery, I'd be doing great.  Still hunched over at times.   Hurts to walk much.  

BlueFox, so sorry to hear about your infection.   Sounds like a horrible experience.  Glad you are back home and recovering.

Naiviv, sorry to hear your news.    You are in my thoughts and prayers. 

bdavis

BlueFox... I have had fat injections and TDAP flap so if you have any questions, let me know. Fat injections are best for small dents and imperfections, not to fill a large void. The TDAP flap is great for that. Plus you get rid of any side boob. I never had side boobs pre-BC, but after DIEP, I did. So teh TDAP was great. Plus my PS excised the contralateral fat so its a nice look.

BlueFox

BDavies I am very interested in your positive experiences with the TDAP flap.  My plastic surgeon said previously that his experience with fat injections was mainly to fill small dents, but he had heard of others using them successfully for much larger volumes.

The TDAP flap sounds good to me.  I can't have another free flap as I don't have any spare blood vessels to plumb it into.  The ones under my armpit were too small to use for the original DIEP (due to Radiotherapy I think) so he used the ones in the middle (internal mammary vessels), so there are no more available.  The TDAP flap is a pedicled flap so it stays attached it its original blood supply.  My PS said I would need scans first to check that a TDAP would be suitable.

Even though it is pedicled, I  think the TDAP flap is supplied by the thoracodorsal vessels and I think these might be the same vessels that were found to be small in me.   Hopefully this matters less with a pedicled flap?

naiviv

thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. 

DIEP yields beautiful results and I wouldst still  be attempting if I could. I have a beautiful right breast. Looks perfect to me.

My left is totally flat against my chest except for new scars. Plastic told me it was a combination of chemo and all the infections I had in that breast that just ruined the veins. They tried to save it for hours, but I couldn't be under any longer.

He did clean it out and removed all old scar tissues. Not sure what comes next. I know we have to wait till end of summer.

As for downstairs .. I need to take a good look no mirrors in ICU .

I am pulled tight it feels from my lower ribs to my pubic line. I have a huge incision a big smile side to side. Hard to take a deep breath or eat. Plus I feel spasms or gassy maybe both.

The hysterectomy pain is blended in can't tell what is inside or out.

Plus the belly bottom. Most of my pain is lower abdomen.

Instructions to sleep on back , walk at least 3 times a day.

My hardest today are in and out of bed, plus moving. It is painful and very tiring . I was just switched from dilaudid pump to hydro condone .I'm tall 5'10. It is hard to sit on toilet, too low. Should have definitely  done more squats in preparation .

Thanks 

Vivian

lbrewer

dr Kline in South Carolina is awesome and he is in network for Blue Cross.  There is a thread here for Charleston bound.  He worked with Dr. Allen on developing the DIEP and still does some surgeries with him. 

Trinity0723

On the side boob issue - I have small side boob issue but it had increased with lymphodema. Any chance to correct it with DIEP surgery. 

After my MX I bought a bar to help me get out of bed. Never really used it. Anyone with use of the bar? Comments?

(((((Hugs)))))) and prayers to all!

nihahi

naiviv and bluefox, sending hugs, I'm so sorry things took a wrong turn for you. There are some amazing docs out there who have more ways to reconstruct for you. For now, hope the healing of "all kinds" goes more smoothly for you.

naiviv....are you still in hospital? If so, ask the nurses to get a raised toilet seat or better yet, a commode chair for you. The chair fits right over the toilet, but gives you a raised seat with bars on the side to assist you in sitting and standing. If you are home....you might be able to rent one...you can here in Canada, at a very reasonable cost. The commode chair and shower seat were the two aids I used the longest at home. They made the bathroom stuff so much less difficult and tiring, and certainly safer too.

goldie4040

trinity, never saw that bar.  Is it something you can pull up on?  That is how my DH helps me up if I ask him to.. He puts his hands out and I hold on and pull myself up.  Sometimes I wish there was something there to do that from so I don't have to rely on him.  Right now I am using the lie on my side first, then push myself up so my legs are hanging off the side of the bed, then I get up.  My back doc showed me that to protect my injured back over 25 years ago.  So far, the most important thing for me has been the recliner, although I am in the bed tonight, Yeah!!!!  My shower chair has been a must for this surgery.  The last thing any of us need is a fall in the shower, and the walker has been a Godsend. So far, I have not traded a diep for putting my back out thanks to that walker.  I forget to use it most of the time, but if we go somewhere (as embarrassing as it is) I use it.  I don't know why, but sitting on the toilet has not been an issue for me.  I have been using my thighs, and glad for the exercise.

I really hate being down for the count on a holiday weekend.  First, I feel left out.  Second, nobody is around to talk to, the internet is even quiet. I graduated from the recliner to the sofa today.  I am lying almost flat.  So, tonight I am sleeping in the bed with only one pillow under my knees. Standing up straight is coming this week if I can help it.

Navviv, you sound pretty good considering your circumstance.  I admire you attitude, and I know you will come out of this whole.  It's a fixable setback. 

Bdavis, I saw your beautiful family pic on Facebook today.  You look awesome, and your kids are adorable.

Dyvgrl

Goldie,

I know how you feel being down for the count for Holiday weekend. I just got home from Seattle and haven't seen the kids in 3 weeks so they were so happy I was home. They quickly realized how boring I was tho and went back to their dads so I could nap. So lame! I just don't feel up to doing anything else but laying around today. Sigh...

goldie4040

dvygirl, we are supposed to rest, but it's a drag.  I slept more than I was awake today, but I think it's because I found a very comfortable new position...lol.

I am glad you are home.  Settle in, and the kids will come around. LOL..you probably will be wishing they would go somewhere pretty soon.

Morwenna

A couple of people have mentioned trouble with tummy muscles. Something my PS mentioned was that DIEP, although muscle sparing, did sometimes cause damage to the nerves supplying the abdom muscles. I found the following article on this: 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/20084669/

Just wondered if this could be what is bothering you, the nerves could be cut, or just stretched or bruised. 

Janet_M

Naviv & Bluefox -  I'm sorry for all your complications, and that your road to perfect breasts will take longer than you'd planned. 

Bluefox - You summed things up perfectly. 'It's a big operation and it doesn't fail often, but when it does, it sucks' . I laughed when I read that - not because it's funny, but because it's so true - and I wish that's the way doctors would speak. I appreciate medical language and words like 'complicated' and' journery' but sometimes things just plain suck. 

Goldie - Congratulations on graduating to the sofa! The fact that you're lying almost flat at three weeks is absolutely fantastic, especially considering how tight your tummy is. 

Naviv - I second Nihahi's recommendation of the raised toilet seat. It's a handy little thing. It makes a ton of difference, (especially since you're tall) and the one I used had side handles for extra security. 

bdavis

Thanks Goldie.

goldie4040

Janet, do you think that is a good sign?  I feel like I am so behind in my recuperation.  I appreciate the encouragement. 

Morwenna, thanks for the article.  Interesting. Three levels of diep? Hmmm.  I wonder where I stand?

Blossom40

Thank you so much! I have a consult with a Dr in Charlotte in July. There is only 1 Dr in Charlotte that does the DIEP and I am going to schedule a consult with him also. I will check out Dr. Robinson. 

Teacher64

I've found something that really pulls on the belly. My DH has been doing his best to keep the hardwoods relatively clean. I decided they needed a good cleaning. I thought the push and pull would affect my arms but I was wrong. My belly is protesting but the floors are clean. I've always thought a bit of dust was a good protection for furniture, except the piano, and now I'm adding the floors!

lemon68

Goldie- I keep thinking about how I felt before the surgery and am dreaming of being pain free! My abdomen right side I am sure is where the muscle was taken as it is just hurting so much. I am also having spasms that take my breath away. My breasts seem to be burning and so swollen, I keep hoping it will go down but it hasn't. I cannot lay flat yet it is just too tight and painful but I did sleep in my bed Friday night. Last night back to recliner, unsure where I will go tonight. I am seeking comfort and not finding it. I hate to complain so I am going to say I am telling it like it is!

Are you still taking pain meds? I keep trying not to take them and I have cut back but as soon as I am done with this post I going to drug up! How is your tummy doing? I do have a couple positive's to go with my negatives, my BB is healing nicely, my tummy incisions are also healing up nicely. Its not all negative.  I keep reminding myself of the pre cancer cells and that they are GONE when it gets bad, biggest WIN ever!

Much love to you all~

Teacher64

Lemon, I slept with pillows under my knees for five weeks. Then I moved to one pillow for two more weeks. It's a slow process. Sweeping and mopping floors gave me muscle spasms and it's going to be a relaxer for me in about five minutes. Glad your BB and belly incisions are healing nicely. I get burning sensations in belly and breasts and PS said it is either nerves regenerating or scarring breaking up. I think it's nerves in my boobs and scarring in belly but I don't have the med degree.

Dyvgrl

lemon,

I'm almost 3 weeks out and still have to take 1 Dilaudid every 6 hrs or so. Can't make it without it... Want to wean off but just can't seem to get there quite yet. It keeps me functional more or less. Am out grocery shopping with the hubs and realize I'm not very useful at this point. All I can do is point and say get that! Lol

goldie4040

dvygirl, don't feel alone.  Although, today I went all day without a hydrocodone, but I still took a muscle relaxer and I probably will take at least a 1/2 of a pain pill tonight.  It would horrible to go through all this only to have our liver's fall out...lol. 

Teacher, since two days ago now I get a burning sensation in the left upper quadrant of my abdomen.  It really really burns, and then it passes.  It's not continuous.  It happens if I sneeze, cough, or reach to far.  At first I was sure I tore something, and I waited for internal bleeding, etc.  But, nothing happened. I can handle it unless it starts lasting longer.  I told my husband that it is probably what a gun shot wound feels like if it lasted longer.