DIEP 2014

debiann

Anyone use either mederma or vitamin E for the scars? How did it work? Any other suggestions for scars?

Kb33

debiann

I am using palmers oil and lotion interchangeably 3x a day.  Appears to be working very well

Janet_M

Debiann - I used Bio Oil on my scars. I got a boatload of it at Costco and love it. My PS also recommended daily massages to break up the scar tissue. BUT - you have to wait about three months till your properly healed. (At least in my case). He told me 'not to be shy' and just dig in with my thumbs and breaks the suckers up. 

ChrisInPA

Laurie, I talked with my ST disability benefit administrator yesterday.  They told me that my surgeon originally filed for 8 weeks for me and if I need more time, I just need to call them to call him to confirm and they will review/extend.  Each company may be different (mine is through work) so you may want to call and ask their policies on how to handle this in case you need to extend.  I am not quite at 3 weeks yet and can't even walk down the block right now - we are all different.  Take care.

ChrisInPA

Debiann - your PS is already allowing you to use scar ointment?  You must be doing great!!

debiann

His PA said I could use it on anything that is not scabbed, but your right, it does seem early. I only have two small areas of scab on one breast, everything else healed. I'm waiting till I talk to the PS tomorrow before I use anything.

Anyone still have a port after DIEP? Mine us really sore now, hoping this improves cause I'll have it till June.

MEG2

Sky78 ~ Thanks for the rundown on your DIEP experience.  I'm just about 2 weeks away from surgery and am hoping for a similar experience in the hospital, easy breezy and out....I had nausea with the MX surgery too and am hoping with a similar conversation I can have the same outcome you had.   

Not looking forward to drains, they were by far the worst part of the mastectomy I am prepared but hopeful they will be out sooner than later.  

Shaving: was told to be very careful due to possibility of cutting myself that could lead to infection but was not given specific direction with electric or manual shave.

Sounds like on balance everyone is hanging in there and recovery is going well.  Best to you all 

iowagirl1

I need some help.  I had phase 2 lipo 14 days ago.  My flank is increasingly swollen and hard, warm and somewhat hot, sore, and itchy.  It has horizontal ridges in the hard part.  Is this normal?  Is massage recomended?

MartyJ

Iowa - call your PS.  After 14 days the swelling should be receding.  Hot, sore & itchy - have you taken your temperature?  If elevated, it could be cellulitus.  Best to ask your doc today!

sky78

jmb - did you talk to your PS? 

JerseyMomOf3

Iowa, I agree call your PS. It could be infection. I came down with an infection 2 weeks after my stage 2 - evidently it can happen! I did not have a fever when I noticed the redness.

goldie4040

Hi all,

Just stopping in for a quick "hello."  Hope everybody is doing okay.  

Two things I wanted to share.  If you are like me and can't get a flu shot in either arm, CVS (female pharmacist) gave it to me in my hip for free with my insurance. So, if you have been paying to go to you doc to have your flu shot, ask your pharmacist. 

The other thing is now that I have nipples that never go down, but I hate wearing a bra, it's been a challenge getting dressed. But, I found these great silicone nipple covers, that really stay on, on Amazon.  They are called Boob-eez.  LOL.  But, girls...you can't even tell you have them on, and the edges thin out in such a way that they do not show through anything.  So, if you have the same issue, give them a try.   So far, they have stayed on without an issue.  I am hoping after I wash them a few times they continue to stick.

sollertia

Update on my DIEP of the 13th.  Two drains out Tuesday and the third on Thursday. Walking well enough that I may not even request a wheelchair at the airport.  Plan to wear TED hose and the lymphedema sleeve for the two short flights home tomorrow.   Body still wants a nap once or twice a day.  No problems with nausea since I figured out to have something in my stomach before consuming a pain pill.  With tightened stomach smaller portions feel better and avoid too much rich or spicy foods.  The one time I felt nauseous was a bagel with a little too much cream cheese.  

Deb, appreciate the recommendation to start the Colace befoe entering the hospital.  I actually had a bowel movement  the morning of leaving the hospital, so didn't need to use a laxative at all.  Found fesh fruit (grapes and melon) hit the spot for something sweet and provided both liquid and fiber too. Also cherry or grape tomatoes. And husband found some pistachios that are not too salty and hit the spot for some added protein at odd times of the day.

debiann

Had my 4 week checkup with the PS today. Hard to believe its been a month already. Got his approval to begin mederma, go to the gym as long as I don't work on the core area and I'm going back to work on Monday! Getting really bored at home, lol. I need to wear the tummy compression at least 12 hours a day for 3 more weeks, but I'm sure I'll be wearing it more, doesn't feel right without it. Nurse suggested a Spanks garment instead of the bulky surgical binder. Stopped and bought one today, so much more comfortable. I don't have to go back to see the PS till I'm ready for stage 2. I want to finish herceptin first, so next surgery will be in July. Feels good to be moving forward. Next hurdle,  Arimidex starts next week.

Kb33

I have a question for those of you who have had stage 2 already.   I have been pretty upset ( and trying to ignore it) that my diep side is a whole cup size if not more less than my other side.   What once overflowed in a c cup now barely fits inside of it.   I am wondering just how much can happen in stage 2?   This seems like a lot of size to make up with just lypo.  What also seems strange to me is that my breast seems to be wider and pushing into my armpit instead of having mass on the top or bottom.  Also, the bottom of my breast is wrinkled and saggy... Almost like an old lady... The skin is pulled together and all bunchy.   

Since I am states away from my PS... I am nervous about all these things and fear I will go for stage 2 and at my pre-op be told... It will be major again or it's not fixable.  I'm not having any medical issues so I really don't want to call and bug the nurse... But I find that every day, I am feeling worse about this.  The funny thing is we had a huge issues prior to my diep because someone wrote on my chart they were going to reduce my non diep side.   I flipped out and the PS promised we would not have to do that.  But looking at size and shape difference today... I feel like I am bound for a reduction.  And honestly the c+ I had was more from sag and age.... But at least I liked how it filled out the bra when all pushed in there.  Ha!   I also remember the PS telling me if the size was too far off I could get a small implant to correct it. This confused me... As I chose the diep to avoid an implant.   Sigh

vballmom

I had both done in August and I think they are about a cup size apart. I am the opposite, though. I wanted small so I will ask for the larger one to be reduced. I am shocked at how big and heavy they are. I can't even imagine being larger than a C.

I am still healing.  The wound is finally closing after nearly ten weeks. I can't wait to buy new bras and clothes, since I've been living in the same outfits since the summer. Not sure I ever want to get out of yoga pants again, though!

I still don't know how to sleep. I am still afraid to put pressure on the new breasts, yet if I lie on my back I have some pain. When do you stop worrying and trust that they are your own breasts and here to stay?

laurie2025

A quick update on my diep, from 10/3.  I am down to 1 drain.  Had what looked like an infection in my left breast; swollen and red on the outside near my underarm.  Got some antibiotics from the PS and after taking for 1 day, I can see the redness is now almost gone.  Whew.  When I stretch my chest area, it feels kind of hard/stiff not the actual breasts, but almost like there's a picture frame around the edges of each breast that is pushing down on me.  Am also retaining fluids; no more ankles, I've graduated to kankles.  PS told me to keep my feet elevated when I can.

naiviv

KB

It takes time for them to settle and swelling to go down.  The wrinkles I had smoothed out on their own. I have 1 Diep that is 5 months old and 1 lat flap that is 2.5 months old and I just had fat grafting to add volume and to correct symmetry to lat flap. It is currently fuller and rounder than Diep, but it still need to not be swollen which will take a few weeks and to see how much fat may be absorbed before we will know. But it is rounder and firmer than my diep, but he could not add fat to top of diep because of port, so I will probably have one more procedure to add some more fullness to right to match left and to lefty if it has any areas that need it. And if left settles smaller and looking good symmetry wise I may just leave them alone for awhile they are both same projection wise.  I am happier with my smaller C size. I use to be dd/f.  I actually like going braless and just wearing tanks. I was never able to do that before.  I have weight to lose, so that may effect them, not sure if fat is lost from them with weight lost, another question to ask.

V

Teacher64

Kbps - Before stage 2, I was two different sizes. Now both are similar. I was wrinkled and smaller on the left and had big divots in both. All was fixed with 2. Hopefully, you will be amazed about a little bit of fat going a long way!

Danadane

Hi,

I'm having my implants removed and a bilateral DIEP on Tuesday...eek!!  Totally anxious. I was wondering if anyone had advice on what to bring to the hospital or for recovery at home that you had wished you had known beforehand? I remember some really helpful tips after my Bmx so hoping you wouldn't mind sharing for DIEP.

Thanks!!

Dana

Ridley

Dana - I packed way more for the hospital than I actually used.  I really needed Chapstick, my iPod/iPad for days 3 and 4, my slippers, and toiletries. I brought a light robe, but I would have been as happy in a second hospital gown, and was for most of the time I was there when I was up walking.

For home, an electronic recliner was my best friend for weeks,  I also had a wedge pillow, but I couldn't  get comfortable with it.  I know some love it, so all a matter of preference.  I was ok without a shower chair, but I know some like those, and I had a lanyard to pin my drains to when I was having a shower (otherwise, I just pinned them to my clothes.).  I lived in soft button-up-the-front pjs and yoga pants for weeks.  I think there is a universal love for yoga pants on this board - they are easy on the tummy scar.

Best of luck on Tuesday!

Ridley

Luvbug96

diep surgery 10/17/14. How long did everyone wear their surgical bra before returning to a regular supportive bra? I feel so squooshed,  but still have alot of underarm swelling

debiann

About 11 days after surgery I complained of being squished too and PS said I could wear a soft bra without underwire. Feel soooo much better.

vballmom

My surgeon never had me in any bra or compression. In fact, he didn't want me in one, even weeks later. I tried wearing one yesterday and I took it off. I am ten weeks out. Everyone told me to get button downs, but what I really needed was a soft, snug cami.  I still want to live in my yoga pants. Also, if you are going to buy shirts, buy dark colors and patterns.

debiann

I was told I could wear a spanks type garment for my tummy instead of the surgical binder. So much more comfortable. I bought one that is a body suit so it gives the top some support to.

pzercher

vballmom: I had my surgery just before you, in late July. My PS told me my breasts were good to go--just like normal, in terms of activity and position during sleep. I started running again at 8 weeks, and I have some discomfort from my pectoral muscle tightening, I think. Still some soreness around my breastbone, where they removed rib bone. My general surgeon told me she likes to have patients continue to get mammograms on the DIEP side (a recurrence close to the chest wall would be impossible to feel with self-exam); the thought of compressing the DIEP breast makes my hair stand on end, but I have to trust the docs that it's safe.

I definitely will get some lasering done at some point for some, ahem, unwanted hairs on the flap.

I still wear my surgical bra, because my breasts are uneven sizes and my old bras don't fit. 

Stage 2 scheduled for Nov. 20! Hoping to be done at that point.

Teacher64

No surgical bra or any bra after DIEP for me. I couldn't have made it through the hospital stay without my lip balm. Camis were essential between me and the belly binder. I still love my yoga pants!

ChrisInPA

All,

I am going to attempt to search, but I seem to remember someone on this topic talking about being put on a wound pump.  My visiting nurse just left and apparently over the weekend, my abdominal incision went from 1 seeping wound to 3 and now I have an emergency appt with my PS at 3pm.  She will not diagnose or recommend, but did give me a list of a few options she has seen on this in the past - and one of them is a wound pump.  I guess I will find out in a few hours, but would really like to read through posts of someone(s) who have been there so that I know what it is all about, assuming I am going to have to go that route.

Thanks in advance for any pointers or sending me in the right direction.

Chris

Ridley

Chris -- I haven't had to use one and can't remember who did, but I've heard it called a wound vac as well, so you may want to search using that term.

Good luck this afternoon

mefromcc

They are called wound V.A.C.s. You might ask for a referral to a wound specialist. My close friend is an RN who specializes in wound healing.