DIEP 2014

Zenful

AnnBR, wonderful news!  I am happy to hear you can get the needed treatment AND protect your new chest. You have such a great attitude. Keeping you in my prayers and sending ((hugs )). 

lemon68

Jerseymom- No, I don't have twins I have my sons GF here with us. I only have 2 sons and her that I think of as my own. I work at home and have been working a few hours each day, I tend to wander off and not get anything done. I am loading the washer and dryer but not carrying the basket. I wanted to weed and tried but I couldn't do it . I did drive a couple times now just short distances and have gone to Target etc.. short trips. I am really not doing anything strenuous  I cant even shut off the ceiling fan as I cant raise my arms that high yet. I just kind of wander around all day long..lol I cooked today and that felt good. My tummy feels ok, sharp pains on right that come and go nothing that lasts or isn't manageable. My breasts burn and hurt mostly at night. I talked to PA my PSs assistant today and she said he put in my chart excessive swelling. She told me to take 4 Advil 2 times a day that taking only 2 wouldn't help with inflammation. I will try but not sure my stomach will like that much at once. I have a 3 story house so stairs are a big part of my day since the day I got home. What a chore they have been but they are fine now. I stay up late and have been sleeping till about 10 am, only getting up because I set an alarm. I haven't napped in the day for quite awhile but it sounds good. So, overall I am so much better. If I wasn't so swollen and these big girls weren't so huge like hard boulders I would be good. They are just so sore and burn. Oddly my radiated side looks better than the other. Wondering if it is because they had to do so much more during the MX due to what they found in there? It scares me that mine are hard and lumpy and others are soft. I hope its not necrosis and just swelling. My nipples look like my nipples and have healed almost completely, poor things I didn't know if they would make it.

Most importantly congrats on a great pathology report!! I know how good it feels to know you did the right thing!! Hurray for YOU!

Polly- I don't know how to describe how much they take but that was a question I had too. I can only say I had a nice roll under my belly button and it is gone. I have a cute new BB and below it a big scar then my public line. I needed to lose about 20 pounds. Although I have lost 0 lbs since my diep. I had a BMX and diep at the same time thought I might lose a little but not yet. My weight is fluctuating about 3-6 lbs each time I weigh myself probably due to swelling. I can tell you that when you awaken and feel down there your going to be happy, I promise

Sweetpeak best of everything to you for your upcoming surgery! Please let us know how you are doing.

optimi

Aff - my thoughts and prayers are with you for tomorrow! I hope everything goes very well and you recover quickly! I am jealous that you will be reaching the other side before me The waiting is driving me and my family crazy

Jerseymom...wohoo, what fantastic news!

AnnBr I am so happy for you for having such great doctors! After my DIEP, I will have to pick your brain regarding the type of rads you are receiving.

Trinity0723

Goldie you mentioned having someone other than drs office doing tattooing. Is there an issue with dying dr office. Also did you have lipo or stage 2 with dr. Are there questions I should ask him about DIEP surgery?

Trinity0723

Could someone please tell me where pics are posted? Thsnks

goldie4040

Trinity,

A lot of people go to a guy named Vinnie for their nipple tattoos.  Somebody posted a video about him recently, I believe.  I will try to find it and repost it.  There is also a woman who is doing it now, and she is down in Florida.  They do 3D tattoo's, so it looks like  a real nipple, not just a brown circle. It's amazing what they do. 

Stage 2 is for tweaking and lipo.  Some people need very little at stage 2, like just nipples, but other's might need some lipo to dog ears, etc. Hang in there.  It all sounds scarier that it is.  What is your date again?

Trinity, when you have your pre op bring a list questions.  Lipo is hardly ever done stage 1.  Keep reading the threads.  If something pertains to you put it on your list.  I know how scary this is, believe me. I think when you are all done you will be happy. 

LOOK AT YOUR PRIVATE MESSAGES.  I SENT VINNIE VIDEO THERE. Also, google Vinnie the nipple tattoo artist.  It will come right up.

goldie4040

Lets see if this works.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/02/a-tattoo-that-completes-a-new-breast/

goldie4040

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/02/a-tattoo-that-completes-a-new-breast/

goldie4040

I don't know why I can't get the link to work.  I am sending it directly to you.

AnnBR

Tanks Zenful and yes, Optimi, you may pick my brain any time!

Trinity0723

The link to Vinny is on pg 118. That link works fine. 

Goldie thanks for all your help. 

goldie4040

Lemon, when you have the mx at the same time as the diep there is more pain and swelling involved.  I don't have nearly as much pain as with my bmx breast wise, it's the tummy that is putting me over the edge this time.  I can't imagine doing both at one time, but I wish I did.  I would have been done a long time ago.  Hang in there sweetie. You are doing great!!!  Working from home.  Doing a little laundry.  Making dinner.  Giant steps!!!!!!   As far as your breasts burning, there is a "tapping" remedy that I have heard Nihahi speak of.  Maybe she will chime in and help you out.  I don't have any burning.  I have a heaviness and tightness that I am dealing with.  Today I did more ROM exercises after getting the go ahead from my PS yesterday.  Are you allowed to do anything like that yet.  One week after my bmx I was doing them and got full range back.  I lost some with this surgery.  I am pretty sure I will get it back again.  I am so glad your nipples made it....Yeah!!!  That is also a giant improvement.  Us Chino girls are going to be fine eventually.  You will see. 

lemon68

Quick question can someone tell me about the breast massaging after diep?  How long after before you could do it? Is it something your PS went over with you? Mine said he was going to explain, show me when it is time. I'm just anxious. Also did it help loosen them up? 

Thanks so much

goldie4040

Lemon, I haven't been massaging them, but I have been gently rubbing bio oil into them.  They skin is so dry.  I would think waiting till six weeks would be the thing to do, but I am going to ask my surgeon.  I have no hard spots in the breasts, but I have one over the breast that they believe has something to do with shaving my rib.  It was bruised there, but never hurt.  Now a hard lump, but still doesn't hurt, or move.  Who knows.   But, I have heard of women massaging necrotic tissue away, or making it better. Just get permission. 

nihahi

Lemon....is the "burning" sensation similar to a bad sunburn, can't stand to have things brush against your skin type of thing???

If that is what you're feeling, you can help to minimize it by doing some desensitizing things. Start in areas that feel more normal, and just start tapping your skin. Tap firmly....often more firm touch feels better than light touch. Move towards the areas that are causing you discomfort. Just keep doing it over and over. You don't tap hard enough to cause bruises, but firm enough to get the "attention" of the nerves. The nerves have been overstimulated, stretched, cut, rearranged, pressured from swelling, etc. There are other things you can do, like brushing your skin with different textures, or just pressing firmly with your hand in one area at a time, instead of tapping. Most of the time, these techniques will help to settle things down fairly quickly. Massaging in a neutral based, moisturizing cream will also be helpful, but, you should check with your PS first to get the OK to massage things. 

Hope you feel better soon.

milkyway2

my plastic surgeon left surgical scissor in my abdomen she took out after 6 month of Diep surgery in toronto general hospital.i m in shock

milkyway2

jbdayton

Jeannie57 and aff my thoughts and prayers are with each of you

Jeannie it must be very exciting to be still the finish line.  Hope I can get there by tear end.

Aff hang in there and the surgeons will do their things.

Check in on the other side.

goldie4040

milkyway, I heard about you situation from somebody I know on a different thread.  I can't believe that happened to you.  You are in Canada, right?  Do they have malpractice law suits in Canada, because if  they do, you win!!!

I hope you are doing okay now, and you begin to recuperate.

melissa2013

lemon68 - I started PT 6 weeks post op and the first thing she had me doing was scar massage on both my breasts and ab scar.   It helped tremendously!   It has loosened up several hard spots on my breasts. 

aff

I'm on my way. Talk to you on the other side.

JerseyMomOf3

Thanks lemon and Optimi for the cheers! I could use some advice though.....

Can I ask folks if you had a second opinion on your final MX pathology?

While I was being diagnosed, my first hospital dx multiple sites of DCIS so as a next step I made decisions about what I wanted to do for treatment. My BS there said bilateral mx was a very good choice given my personal situation which I agreed with 100%. When I decided on DIEP I had to leave that hospital to go to the hospital and BS that my DIEP PS recommended using. At the second hospital, which is a large well respected facility with an excellent cancer center, the pathologists reviewed my slides and disagreed with the DCIS diagnosis, saying they thought the cells were still "just" atypia. It is not that they "missed" it but rather a disagreement with the interpretation. Evidently there is no universal DCIS criteria but is subject to some individual interpretation. So I needed a third opinion and we sent the slides to Memorial Sloan Kettering where they were reviewed by their head of breast pathology. They not only agreed with the first diagnosis but they also found an additional site of DCIS.

So now on these final pathology results from the MX, the hospital (that disagreed with the DCIS) now did in fact identify even more DCIS but otherwise found no invasive component. 

Initially I told the BS there I wanted the slides sent to MEmorial Sloan again for a second opinion, but then told her I would think about it after hearing the good news. If they had found an invasive component, I thought I would want a second opinion so I would have confirmation of exactly what I was dealing with, as i would need tomake decisions on further treatment. Since the hospital did not find invasive components I was thinking that I don't need a second opinion because I don't need to make any decisions about further treatment.  I felt pretty confident that I didn't need a second opinion, and my family agreed all was good and we should move on.

Now I am second guessing myself. Am I foolish not to have the second opinion? Am I  just scared that the second opinion would actually find an invasive component? Or am I now being a little too paranoid and over thinking this?

Any thoughts? 

trish01254

JerseyMom, if you need that second opinion for additional peace of mind, go for it. 

LiLi-RI

Aff - Thinking of you....I will be on the other side next Tuesday!

nihahi

JerseyMom......Ask yourself if you can "let it go" if you don't have a second opinion. If the answer is "No", you should get the opinion for your own peace of mind. There is no benefit to leaving yourself worried and wondering, if another opinion would help settle your mind. Keep in mind, that it is not unusual for more or different pathology to be found with surgery. Especially with a prophy mx. You need to do whatever YOU need, to be able to move forward, after surgery, and you are the only one who knows how much "info" you personally need.

Anonymous

I am just over one week from having stage one. Still can't bring myself to do anything more than skim the posts in here. I do have a friend who underwent the same surgery I am having at the same hospital. Since I did not choose to have a core biopsy after my BIRADS 3 mammo, I don't know what they may or may not find in my breast. My breast MRI showed some suspicious areas but PET/CT were clean. May or may not be dealing with a second primary, if so, praying it is not TNBC again. All said, the only thing I fear more than this surgery is not having this surgery. Those that know me know I do not scare easily and am an athletic Type A personality, so it's quite odd for them seeing my stress level mount. Better living through chemistry I think, at least until I am on the other side of stage 1. FWIW

goldie4040

Jersey mom, you need a second opinion.  I watched a very informative video that was taken from 60 minutes episode and it said all when should get their path report read by a least two different sources, especially if it boarder line like your path.  It is very possible you pathologist jumped the gun.  My orig pat was dcis with possibility of invasion.  My second opinion was there was no invasion.  You definitely need to get the second opinion.  I will try to find that video in the meantime.

JerseyMomOf3

Thanks guys for helping me make this decision. I just called and asked for the slides to be sent over to MSKCC! I do feel much better having done so! It was weighing on me and I think a lot of it is fear. But if there is one thing I've learned going through this is that it is always better to make decisions from a place of knowledge rather than fear.

Just to clarify, there is no question now that I had DCIS and at least 5 areas of it, so that is not the issue at this point ( with all the path opinions I have had already, this we know to be the case). I need assurance that there was no invasive cancer or micro invasion found. I just need that second opinion to put my mind at ease. While I am afraid about that, as my mom says it is better to know now rather than later! Thank you for understanding how I feel and reassuring me I am not just over thinking this. 

Teacher64

JerseyMom, doing what it takes to achieve peace of mind is essential for our well-being. Most of us have done our own research and unless we have M.D. after our name want that educated opinion or opinions. I've consulted "Dr. Google" and been able to learn enough to make my list of questions and then seek answers from medical professionals to guide me so that I can make the best choices for and about me. 

GeorgieGirlKC

jbdayton, thinkpink, Jeannie, and aft thinking about you gals this week and sending healing prayers.

Goldie I am so glad to hear you are standing more upright a little more every day. Also happy to hear you are a “free agent” with the car. That and drain removal were awesome things in my book! I agree with the shhhh. re-bathroom. We need to conserve our energy as there is only so much a day right? Thanks for the tip about the flexes from Costco. I am going to check those out!

JMB5 hope things are feeling better!

Lemon I’m not on prescription pain medication anymore but did take the occasional tylenol last week, none this week. I get uncomfortable sometimes changing positions or a tweak of nerve or incision pain here and there but nothing lasting. I hear ya about the fog lifting. Being under for that long has lingering effects for sure. I still don’t feel like I am firing on all cognitive power, haven’t since chemo.

Vivan glad your drains are out and your are doing better. You are a very strong woman and it is so good to see your updates.

Jerseymom sounds like you are making forward progress too! Week three was hard for me also. Hoping you find this week better and time with friends help. Outings can be good medicine! I agree with others who posted, another opinion never hurts on the pathology. You will have to keep us posted on what you find out.

Kim great link! Thanks for sharing!

Jenjeni prayers coming your way.

AnnBR great news on the hybrid radiation. It is amazing what they can do! I am glad they had a solution to get the rouge cells and it is not going to impact your end result of the reconstruction. How long will you have to do radiation? I love your attitude! Will be sending you prayers too!

Nihahi, thanks for all of your positive and helpful posts. Your experience and input are great.

Welcome new friends! You are in the right place and will find plenty of good advice and support here. I echo what some of the others have said about things to wear at the hospital. I wore the hospital gown mostly and the slipper socks they gave me. You will have drains so maneuvering clothes around that business isn’t worth the effort (or it wasn’t for me). Plus you have less to take off when you need to use the restroom! I found two button up shirts at the thrift store and a pair of maternity denim capris and yoga pants for post op that I wore a lot! Was reaching with arm after the breast drain was removed. Still tight with shoulder flexion and abduction and have some cording under the arm but working that out! Had it with the mastectomy too...

Teacher64 I love your way of celebrating! Especially the wine and chocolate!

Milyway2 Oh my goodness. Are you going to be ok? That is soooo wrong. I hope you are on your way to healing now. I know they are supposed to count those scissors.

HeidiToo, please let us know what you find out about your path results. Waiting is so hard, know that we are all there for you.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. And as always, so appreciate this group!

Georgie