DIEP 2014

dixie60

milkyway,I hope you are okay--that seems like quite an ordeal! A picture says a thousand words...

HeidiToo, my fingers are crossed for you!

milkyway2

hi ladies

Yes i m doing well had big shock  i took summer courses next week s exams its hard for me to sleep .now my surgeon calls me everyday one of my well wisher guide me.its hard to sue in canada.any suggestions ?

Anonymous

This is helping to keep my mind off of things for the moment.....

Trinity0723

Somebody posted a link to a list of tattoo artists but I can seem to find it. Can someone repost? Thanks

Milkyway - I can't believe that happened to you. How did they discover it? So glad they found it and got them out. Many many many (((((((((hugs))))))))))

Zenful

milkyway,   Canada does have medical malpractice laws because I read that doctors purchase medical liability insurance and the government reimburses them for a portion of their premiums.  In the states, you can find a medical malpractice attorney who will forward any fees necessary to investigate your case, then you pay them back a percentage of your judgment if you should win the case.  It's worth asking around.   Although Canada hasn't been recognizing res ipsa loquitur "the thing speaks for itself" like US law does, I found this:

"In the case of Fontaine v. British Columbia (Official Administrator) the Court rejected the use of res ipsa loquitur
and instead proposed the rule that once the plaintiff has[you and your lawyers have]  proven that
the harm was under exclusive control of the defendant [the Doctor] and that they [you, the patient] were
not contributorily negligent, a tactical burden
is placed on the defendant [Doctor] in which the judge has the discretion to
infer negligence unless the defendant [Doctor] can produce evidence to the
contrary." [I edited and added the bracketed text]

How did you discover it?  Were you experiencing pain?  Did you have to undergo a separate surgery just to remove the forceps, or were they discovered in your already scheduled Stage 2 surgery?

TinaHoff

Hello Ladies!

I feel so out of the loop, you've all been so busy!

I've been home from the hospital for less than a week, and today I had my second shower since being home.

My stage I surgery was May 27th with Dr. Neligan at the University of Washington Center for Reconstructive Surgery.  I took everyone's advice about speaking to the anesthesia team prior to the surgery, and had a much better time in the recovery room.  No nausea!  When I awoke in recovery, I had a Doppler wire, a lidocine pump, and a catheter.  No binder!  My surgeon did something called a quilting stitch, and so I had only one drain for my breast, and no drain in my belly.  Really surprising, but it seems to have worked.  I had very little drainage, and was able to have the drain removed two days after I was released.

I was in the hospital longer than I had expected - 6 days, including the first couple of days in the ICU, in what the hospital refers to as "the beach chair" position.  The first couple of days I wasn't sure I'd made the right decision about the surgery, I was so afraid of the pain.  I don't remember it actually  hurting that much - I was just terrified that it would!

By now my pain in well managed, and I have been sleeping in my own bed for three nights - and I've been able to get in and out of bed by myself for the past two nights, which for me is a huge win.  I can get to the bathroom without an escort!  Whoo, hoo!

Now if I could only bend enough to unload the dishwasher...

Tina

naiviv

Guys you have all become like family to me and have helped me so much with my DIEP adventure and detour, I need a big favor of prayers. My SO has been by my side  from the moment I was diagnosed, doctor appts,tests through my last surgery and failure.  I have only been able to help him via phone as I have not been able to make the trip to hospital yet. His son is ill.

I am asking for all of your prayers please. My SO's son who is 15 has been hospitalized all week. Went in with a high fever and very bad sinus infection that had turned into Ocular Celulitis complicated by Meningitis. Had Surgery to drain sinus and eye, had begun to look and feel better except for headache.Original Ct SCAN showed an area of concern behind frontal sinus and it was hoped that antib's would resolve. Follow up MRI revealed that area is infection that spread behind the frontal sinus and has created a brain abscess, still same size as CT scan showed. It is encapsulated, but he may now requires brain surgery. They are adding a 4th antibiotic in the hope that it may still resolve. Surgery is going to be Sunday or Monday if no signs of resolution.

Thank you,

Vivian

Dyvgrl

wow Viv. Praying for all of you. Time for you to catch a break... Hugs

optimi

Milkway, that is horrible! I am glad you are doing well after this! The scissors were inside of you for 6 months? How did you find out?

Naiviv, my prayers are with your SO's son! I hope the 4th antibiotic is able to resolve the brain abscess! Please keep us posted on his well being.

TinaHoff, it sounds like you sailed right through the DIEP surgery. I am so happy for you (and hope my experience next week will be as good as yours )

Jerseymom, praying for a pathology report not indicating any type of invasive cancer! Please let us know when you get the report back!

lemon68

niaviv, prays for the family and him are coming your way. I am sorry to hear this news. Hope the antibiotic will do the job and he can avoid surgery.

Tina glad to hear things have gone so good for you. Wow, getting in and out of bed so fast is amazing. Take it easy and don't do too much but it sounds like you are in great shape!

milkyway, absolutely horrible! I am also curious to know how they found them? did you know something was wrong?

lemon68

nahahi I was so glad to see you posting and helping. I am going to try your advice. My swelling is horrible so I am not sure what the burning feeling is, I keep thinking the weight of them pulling on everything else is causing it. I am now on 800 mg advil every 8 hours for inflammation, hoping it will help. PS said I could use lotion on breasts as the skin is dry from the silverdene cream we had been using on incisions. Looks like they are mostly healed. I really think having the 2nd surgery a week later got me.

Melissa thank you also I will ask about the PT on my next visit or when they call. I am so amazed I was seeing them weekly, this week no appt. and they called to check on me. I coudnt ask for better care.

Teacher64

Vivian, prayers for your family

Milky Way, what a horror. Hope you are feeling better

Tina, keep healing and let someone else empty the dishwasher

JerseyMom, let us know your results

Today, after three weeks, I made some headway to resolve cording issue. Feels better.

The1toC

Vivian it makes me sad to hear your SO sons experience, that you all have to be going through that. How heartwrenching! Strong urgent prayers to reverse this infection and quickly. Please let us know how he and you are doing.

Tina you are doing incredibly well - sleeping n a bed so soon?! Let someone else take care of those dishes or use disposable temporarily. Take care of you. Don't be in too much of a hurry-healing can't be hurried up.

Jersey hoping for a good path report for you. Easier said than done but try to not worry about what you can't do anything about yet. Try to choose something healthier for you? Keep us posted. Know that most of us have been there and we got your back.

The1toC

Vivian it makes me sad to hear your SO sons experience, that you all have to be going through that. How heartwrenching! Strong urgent prayers to reverse this infection and quickly. Please let us know how he and you are doing.

Tina you are doing incredibly well - sleeping n a bed so soon?! Let someone else take care of those dishes or use disposable temporarily. Take care of you. Don't be in too much of a hurry-healing can't be hurried up.

Jersey do what will give you peace. Know that if you ask 2 physicians for opinion you will get at least 3opinions and trying to get physicians to agree on something is, well, like trying to heard cats (unlikely to happen).

The1toC

I have 2 topics to please share your experience:

1. Did anyone use Medihoney on  incisions? I know it is good stuff and want to but my understanding is not to use it on surgical wounds early on( I am 4.5 wks out)

2. If you had arm lymphedema prior to DIEP, what has been your experience with it after? I had them put my compression sleeve on in postop and wore it for 4 days straight. For the first 3 weeks I had 95% improvement from my usual but it is starting to come back a bit and I think with some cording.

Teacher how did you deal with your cording? Any self care tips?

DiveCat

I am not a DIEPer, but I can say it is difficult to sue for medical malpractice (negligence) here just because the Canadian Medical Protective Association that most doctors will belong to and be defended by tend to not settle, etc (you can read a bit more about their strategy to defend at all costs here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Medical_Protective_Association) 

I can also say that you (or they) will be adding others to the suit, like the hospital/nurses, as it was not just the PS in that room who need to make sure bandages and tools are accounted for. So, that further complicates the suit. And awards are NOT like you see in the US even if you are successful.....we have damages caps, etc. Your legal costs and the years you spend on litigation may not make it worth it.

You really need to talk to a lawyer to get an estimate of your damages, legal costs/contingency fee schedules & chances of success. As the fact the scissors were left is not enough, you need to also show there was a negligent act, you did suffer damages, etc.

pollyanna5

I had my pre-admin appt today.  No problems, all is good.  Just hitting me that this is REALLY happening, and soon.  I mean I knew that, but emotions are kicking in a bit.  Trying to inish the last minute organization of the kids at home for the sitter, and plans for afterwards for them, is stressing me out!  They are at their dad's for 2 days, but after that my mom will take them for a week.    I tend to underplay things, but I'm getting the point that the recovery from this, at least for the first few weeks will be rough, and I will really need to obey the rules ( I didn't following my reduction in March, which started all this). 

I'm really worried, more about my kids, with me being in the hospital for 5-6 days.  I hope it's not that much!  I'm two hours away, so they can't come up and see me.  They are still young (5-11).  I'm sure Im not the only mom who has gone through more worry about my kids whille I'm in the hospital.

Just feel my brain running all over the place, unable to focus, and still feel like there is so much to do!  

There seem to be so many 'horror" stories, that I'm just stressing with all that.   

Long day.

GwennyMD

Vivian - my prayers are with you and your SO's son.  

The1toC

Pollyanna I hear you. I have a 7&8 yo. Had my DIEP +8hr drive away. I was so worried before leaving but they did fine. I had let their teachers know in case there was any out of character behaviour they could support my kids and also could get in touch with DH who was with me. We briefly talked on the phone. Once discharged I stayed with a friend near to hosp for a week while DH came home. I skyped with kids which was interesting b/c they were interested to see the belly and drains. Now home they have really stepped up and are helpful often without being asked. Kids arme pretty resilient and stronger than we think. What a good mama you are to be worried.

The1toC

pollyanna one more thing: let your kids know (in an age appropriate way) what to expect sincd they may also be scared of the unknown just like us. I have tried to do this all along my journey and I think it has helped them feel free to ask questions and be concerned even scared and know its ok to be, that's real life. Mama doesnt know all the answers. We just have to trust and do our best for good outcomes. Hope that helps

goldie4040

Lemon, if I missed it, then I am sorry, but are you wearing a good supportive sports bra?  After my bmx it took at least 2 months for all the swelling to go down.  I guess we all have to find huge amounts of patience somewhere.  It's so hard.  I did some light housework today. Dusting with a Swiffer, wiping down counter tops, folding some laundry, went out in backyard to water plants,  and I noticed everything swelled a little by end of day, tummy and under arms, but I refuse to become a couch potato.  It would be so easy, but it's not my nature.  I think in the long run moving is better than sitting still.

naiviv, I am praying for your young man in the hospital.  He has youth on his side.  I pray he comes through this with my lasting after effects. 

Tina, sounds like you are doing awesome.  I like your PS technique and the less drains. I wish we could take all the really cool tricks from each PS and but them into one perfect surgeon.  I guess I am in the beach chair position in my recliner.  It is the most comfortable.

Zen, either you did some research, or you're a lawyer.  Great info for poor Milkyway.

Georgie, glad you have a Costco near you. You will really like those panties.  Go up one size than you usually wear. 

We don't eat red meat often.  Maybe once a week.  We were shocked at the prices of beef since the last time we bought some.  So, we got a really cheap cut called Flat Iron Steak.  Anybody every make one?  I think I am going to marinate it, and then grill it?  Any ideas? I guess I will be sticking with chicken and fish, because even if I wanted a nice steak it's become out of sight. My new favorite snack is plain greek yogart with a sliced banana and a little bit of kasha sprinkled on it.  I let is sit about 5 minutes before I eat it, and it's so naturally sweet.

milkyway2

after my Diep recon surgery i was feeling severe pain i asked my plastic surgeon during my post op she said its normal to have pain n abdomen i showed her a hard pointy thing coming out in the middle of abdomen i could wear jean or trouser wid button i felt discomfort .so she said sometimes body develop scar tissue n its hard i said fine.she said i will remove that when u come for nipple tatooo.

In canada its always long waiting time for appointment .i went to my family dr she sent me to altrasound n ultrasound showed normal but a little calcification around scar.

When i went for nipple tatoo after 6 month of surgery she showed me how much she gonna cut to take out sutures fat .under local aneasthesia she made small cut .she asked me if i ever had body piercing i said no it took hour to find out .she told me lets close this n go for xray n we will do it in general aneasthesia i said no i dont want to wait after digging atleast 5 pricks of local anesthesia she look at her assisstance n said now we know what was that .she showed me.if i were in general anesthesia she would never showed me that she was sorry i was in shocked my mind was frozen .

milkyway2

milkyway2

lahela

Trinity, here’s the site with the list of tattooists:

http://www.pinkinkproject.com/Links.html

milkyway, I am stunned. You see stuff like that on TV but never you’ll actually come across someone it happened to! I do hope you are doing okay {{{hugs}}}

Vivian, sending all my best to your family at this scary time {{{hugs}}}

The1toC, several women on the DIEP2013 thread use Manuka honey on incisions and wounds and got great results. Might be worth asking on that thread or the Moving On thread.

Teacher64

The1toC - I've worked with a trainer who has experience working with bc ladies. He's had me doing gentle stretches and massages my arm. The cord is no longer visible and sore all the way down my arm but is, and probably always will be, visible in my armpit. Yesterday I felt like a gold medal winner when I raised my arm and gradually moved it back just past my ear. That was a first since DIEP in March.

jmb5

lemon, trying to catch up on the board and saw your post about massaging. Not sure what others have said, but I had some hard spots on my radiated breast the PS said was scar tissue. She said I could massage it, which helped, but then during stage 2, she was able to break up what was left. It's a lot better now. She did caution me to not massage in the middle cleavage area where the blood vessels were attached.

Tina, only one drain, and it was already pulled? Good for you! That was the worst part for me. Happy healing.

Pollyanna, Hugs to you! It's hard not to let your mind wander, but try to focus on all of us who didn't have any setbacks and recovered well. You're going to do great!

And one word of advice to everyone. Don't go to the mall one week after stage 2 liposuction in your legs. I really overdid it yesterday with my teenage daughters. We had fun, but wow! I could barely walk when I got home. I shuffled to the couch, propped up my legs, and asked my hubby to bring me a Percocet. Lol! What a dummy!

The1toC

Milkyway what an experience! Having spent the first 36 years of my life in Canada I am familiar that the health sytem is with more waiting than usually in the US. However, I think if you could feel something poking out and it interfered with what you were able to wear then it would warrant more urgent imaging in my opinion. I know there is not the same malpractice activity as the US (I bet here you would have a line up of lawyers begging to take your case!) Not sure if it's something you are considering pursuing and I am certain there are many lawyers to choose from. I will offer that almost 20years ago in Toronto I had several opportunties to see Richard Shekter in action with this type of thing and he was impressively good. I have not had any interaction with him since last century and I have no personal interest or gain by offering this information; and of course my intent is to help and not offend.

More importantly I hope you are doing well and quickly findingnpeace with your experience.

AnnBR

Viv, prayers are being sent! I am a big believer in the power of prayers. Keep us posted.

Milkyway,  I gasped when I saw your pic. Oh my goodness, I cannot believe it!

Jmb5, glad you could get out with your daughters. Are you doing better?

JerseyMomOf3

Pollyanna, of course you are worried about your kids but I bet they will surprise you with how well they handle this. I was in the hospital for 4 days, about an hour away but my kids did not come see me. They are older than yours and honestly they were a bit scared to see me in the hospital hooked up to IVs, etc. I did not really want them to see me like that either. So I talked to them on the phone and they got regular updates to reassure them I was OK. It sounds like th will be in great hands with their dad and your mom. Knowing my kids would be in good hands with my parents took a load of stress off my mind. Do what you need to to prepare and then take a deep breath knowing they will be safe and in good hands. The first few weeks you will not be able to cook meals, do laundry, bathe the kids, etc. so any and all help you can get with those tasks take it!