DIEP 2014

jenjenl

Jmb - its so they have a bigger opening to reconnect the vessels.   The mesh does the same as a binder but inside and dissolves in 6 months.   I have the mesh too.  

Zenful

Bailey, I am doing great.  Stage 2 is a much easier recovery.  I cried tears of joy today. It was one year ago today that I was diagnosed, and after my shower, I stood and admired the beautiful work of my surgeons.  I never even considered nipple sparing surgery, but I went along with their suggestion.   Who knew nipples were so important, but although my breasts changed shape a bit along the journey, they were always mine on the outside. Honestly, I don't feel as if I had a mastectomy or have lost anything to BC. I have been through a lot, but not lost anything. Conversely, I feel as if I have gained so much from having gone through this journey.  Yesterday was my birthday, so I like to think I got new boobs for my birthday!  Very emotional day, but in a good way.

goldie4040

Curly, so glad your scan is clear, and this chemo should be the end of this journey for you. 

Nihani, you and Donna are running neck and neck as to the best tummies so far (that I have seen ).  I pray for one just like them.

Comet08

I have just been scheduled for left mastectomy/ DIEP on March 12 th after agonizing for 2 months when diagnosed with DCIS. I'm having this surgery at Beth Israel in Boston. So good to read posts from zenful and others here that have felt good about the results after this ordeal. I was told my DCIS has a 25% chance of becoming an invasive cancer. Such a drastic operation but I can't live with those odds and neither can my family. Wondering about the abdominal scars, does that line fade with time? Also wondering if anyone else has had DIEP at Beth Israel recently?

GeorgieGirlKC

Bailey thank you for the kind welcome! I have been a bit nervous about having the DIEP surgery even though mine is not scheduled until Aug 5th. It is so reassuring to be on this forum and hear all the success stories. Zenful, I can appreciate what you've said about the journey.  In retrospect, I have gained some blessings from my journey through the love of friends and family. Also a new perspective on what is and is not important in the scheme of things…Wish I would have connected in these forums before now. Hope everyone has a good day! 

Cherrie

I have been scanning the 20 or so pages I've missed in the last month. I had to pop on and say YES to Curly. What great news and a huge relief for you. You've got this girl. 

brendarj

To Torontogirl and JanetM 

Good Morning It was suggested that I message you I understand that Dr. Hofer did your reconstruction I was wonder what the wait time between consultation and surgery date was. I understand from others that m wait time will be longer because I don't have active cancer and it is bilateral reconstruction.

Hope you have a great day and thanks for any info

Janet_M

Curlylocks - Such great news! I'm SO happy for you! 

Donna - You are the poster girl for DIEP. No dog ears, and a super cute bellybutton. You look fabulous.

Anonymous

Ok I have my new compounded drugs. Idk if they'll work for me but worth a shot. For the nonhealing areas I am applying a compound containing Spira-Wash gel. Put it on twice a day. It was spendy.....but worth it (will only have to buy it one time...I HOPE) and keep it covered with gauze.

I also received the scar cream/gel stuff. It contains PracaSil. I won't start using that until I get the little unhealed areas healed up. That goes on all scars twice a day....no need to cover (yay! No tape!)

And he also gave me a compound for my rads tissue neuropathic pain. That goes on four times a day...I can't recall all the ingredients, but I know one is Gabapentin. Will start that tomorrow.

I'm going to have to start getting up earlier to rub all my jams and jellies in before work!

Results as they come in!

Have a great day, friends!

goldie4040

Zen, I am so happy for you.  It has been a long year, and you have been through a lot. I am glad you are pleased with your results and can move on not thinking about bc anymore.  You were lucky to find the right doctors.  So many of us don't.  You have been an inspiration, and a great help to all of us.  Thank you.  Oh, and Happy Birthday!!!!!! 

goldie4040

Bailey, keep us posted on how all the potions and creams work.  Hoping they help you. 

sbelizabeth

Bailey, don't you just hate being so high maintenance?  It takes me an hour every week to figure out all the pills and supplements and plop them into their little dosettes.  The only way I can remember if I took my thyroid pill every morning is to look in the bathroom water glass to see if it's wet. 

Oh, for the days when I saw a doctor once a year for a T&A exam, and swallowed a multivitamin every morning, feeling virtuous.

Beebop

bailey -  keep me posted on the cream for the neuropathy.  I hope it works for you.  I am looking for some relief for my nerve pain.  

Zen -  so glad you are so happy with your results.  What a great birthday gift!

Donna2012

now I am on to - "scar reduction"!!  I am considering buying Oleeva silicone strips.  I can buy them in the shape and size of my abdominal scar, a lollipop shaped one for my lifted breast & straight strips that I will cut for the breast scars & belly button scar.  Has anyone ever used them?  They are expensive - abdominal strip alone is $95.00!  But, my ps says that these work the best and not to waste my $ on other things.  I am worth the money!!  I cannot put them on until I am 100% healed - no scabbing or anything.  This will probably not be for another few weeks - but I like to be prepared!  I need to use them for 12 weeks - so, I figure by spring/summer I will be looking good!  (Hopefully). 

Donna2012

one more thing I forgot to mention....  I have heard that your belly button can "close up" and take on a weird appearance as it heals.  I have researched & found out that if you put a foam ear plug in your naval, it will heal into the perfect shape.  I started this yesterday  - it is easy to do & seems to work.  

BellaMomma

Hello Sisters,

One day post op, doing well. 

My breast surgeon, Dr. Degnim prayed with me and held my hand in the surgical suite. I then drifted off to sleep feeling loved and peaceful. 

Dr. Saint-Cyr, did the reconstruction. So far so good with the flap. I also woke up with a nipple formed from cartilage from my rib. He infused the abdominal tissues with a medication to block the pain for a couple days. The port was also removed, yay . New belly button and hopefully a flatter stomach. 

Everything is swollen now. Did you wear your abdominal binders day and night? I don't have any binder on my breasts, did you? The breast with the flap has started swelling and brusing and the drains are hardly putting out any discharge now? Does this sound normal?

When I got up to bathroom this morning had a rush of burning pain on flap side many times. Nerve pain? The swelling and bruising and decrease in drain output started after this, Do you think it's related?

Just trying to think positive. They say the flap is warm and normal, although no one can hear any blood flow on Doppler. One day at a time. :-)

Beebop

Bella, glad it went well.   I had a binder on my abdomen only, no breast compression.   They had it on 24/7 in the hospital, but it really bothered me so PS gave me the okay to take it off at night and at 4 weeks he said I didn't have to wear it, although I noticed my swelling increased after I stopped wearing it, so now at 5 weeks I have it on again,

As far as the flaps, just make sure you are telling them all of the symptoms you are having.   Is the decreased drain output just in one drain?   It could be a clot in the tube so make sure they are stripping them.   Wishing you all the best for a smooth recovery!

Jeannie57

Bailey, hope the jams and jellies do the trick! I guess you'll have to use some at work? I am getting tired of the lotions, creams, scar treatments, etc. every morning. I just want to shower and put my clothes on! But I will baby my nips, at least, for as long as it takes.

Zenful, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! What a gift, to be alive and have some righteous boobs again that feel like yours. 

BellaMomma, welcome to Flapperland! You had some interesting things done eg. nipple from rib cartilage. Every doctor's post-op instructions seem to be different. I had no binder on my boobs at all, ever, but I did wear an abdominal binder during the day once I got home, not in the hospital.  As for your other questions, I have no answers. Just keeping asking the docs and nurses. You are in the right place, being taken care of, if any problems arise. Being positive and taking one day rapt a time is the way to go. Patience is your friend for a few weeks, at least.

SouthernGirl1974

follow up with MO today I will start rads in March she said 51/2weeks m-f I also advised if numbness in leg and foot and pain in left arm where the nodes were taken she prescribed me Gabapentin. Anyone else taking Gabapentin 

SouthernGirl1974

Oh speaking on binders I did not have one in the hospital and when I went for follow up was told to wear spanx I tried wearing them today and I will go purchase another pair cause these roll Oh BTW purchased the Bali 3484 and love them!!!!!

Jeannie57

SouthernGirl, I take Gabapentin for pain and hot flashes. It works well for me. I am concerned about the pain in your arm where the nodes were taken. I think you should be evaluated by a lymphedema specialist. It's good to know about lymphedema before rads since rads increase your risk for lymphedema (LE). Even if you just see an LE specialist for education, it is worthwhile. LE sometimes presents as pain or tingling well before you notice any swelling. It's best to catch it early. Not saying you have it, but you might want to check it out. Some doctors aren't as concerned or educated about it as they should be.

SouthernGirl1974

jeannie57: Thanks I will call back to my MO and suggest a referral.  MO said because my range of motion was good and it is not constant pain only when I raise arm to high she did not seem to concern I am 13 days post BMX. 

Jeannie57

Southern, that makes sense.  I had physical therapy after bmx from a physical therapist certified for lymphedema which is where my education started. She really helped me regain range of motion. After rads, I asked to see someone else because the first therapist didn't teach me lymph drainage massage and didn't measure my arms. I'm so glad I did as we eventually discovered LE in both arms solely through taking measurements. We caught it early.

goldie4040

I am fascinated by this nipple made from rib cartilage.  Bellamomma, first of all, I am so glad you doing okay. I am sure you know you have one of the best PS's around.  Dr. Saint Cyr has an awesome reputation.  He use to be here in Dallas, but left before I had my chance.  I heard he had a car accident last summer, and there were some very upset ladies who either put off their surgeries and waited for him, or had to find another surgeon. I am assuming you are at Mayo? 

I have been told that they can save the cartilage till stage 2 and make a nipple, but the stage 1 is interesting.  Did you have an immediate recon, and do you have the round crop circle scar?

I hope you continue to improve. 

jmb5

I'm curious about liposuction in stage 2. Haven't talked with my PS about it much, but she makes it sound like I can choose where I want to lipo. I'm thinking that the love handles near the ends of my hip incision are the most logical place to smooth things out more. My second choice would be my inner thighs (which sounds painful). I am a size 8, but noticed over the last few years that my tummy and love handle area have gotten bigger. It's kind of nice to get rid of them. Anyhow, where have you had liposuction or where are you planning on having it? 

MartyJ

Julie - I had the flanks (love handles), inner thighs and a bit of outer thigh.  No matter what, lipo is painful though worthwhile.  Generally compression is required - I wore a girdle from knees to under-boobs for several weeks.  The compression is very very helpful and comforting - holds all that bruised skin in place.

jmb5

Thanks, Marty. Did the doctor give you the compression or did you just buy spanx or something similar? And did you have all those areas liposuctioned at the same time?

-Jana

goldie4040

JMB, I had very little lipo done for some fat grafting.  He really didn't take enough to make a difference in how I look in clothes. But, I originally had implants, that might change when I have my diep. That being said, I had a little taken from inner thighs and some from flank area.  It hurt most on the inner thigh.  The worst of it passed in a week, and then it was just annoying for another few weeks.  Compression definitely helped. I was told to buy some spanx, or equivalent. I went a size bigger than I needed. Every doc is different, but mine wanted me to have it help the pain and swelling. Other docs are really strict, like Jeannie's doc.  She wasn't allowed to take her compression off at all, if I remember, there was some grossness with showers, etc.  She will pipe in with her experience soon, I hope.

Jeannie57

My PS gave me the compression garment and wanted me to wear it around the clock for two weeks, then just during the day for two weeks, then when I exercised. Personally, I found compression anything but comforting. I hated every minute. I just had lipo on my love handles area, though, if I remember correctly. I think my brain is trying to block it out....

MartyJ

I woke up in the compression (it had zippers on each side to make it easier).  After 2 weeks I went to a version without zippers.  Both had open crotches.  Spanx are not as strong a form of compression (neither are my under armor compression gear).  It is also very good to help with swelling and drainage.  That is why doctors often use it after surgery.  It can do a lot to reduce instances of seroma.  I do agree with Jeannie - I hated the compression, but thankfully my doc allowed me to take mine off to shower each day.