DIEP 2014

iowagirl1

Thanks to all for your concern, hugs, and good wishes.  I am getting stronger slowly.  

Ann BR. I wish you the best.  What happened to me was a fluke and I was told by my sis that PS that she had only had 2 cases like mine out of 400 and I was by far the most challenging.  Yours will be a breeze!.

Hard to stay coherent so will say goodbye.

.

Teacher64

Goldie, central neck line is not an issue. Don't worry about it. I woke up with that one and one in my left forearm. The arm line caused a bruise from my wrist to elbow and hurt like crazy. Every med person comments on my tiny veins but I'd already had my "go juice" when those lines were put in. Told my doc I wanted a good sticker because last time I'd been stuck 5 times unsuccessfully. I'm not taking that ever again! I don't even remember going to the OR but I must have because I got boobs!! I'm a lightweight when it comes to the knockout meds and I've decided that's a good thing.

Janet_M

Goldie - If someone were to write a book about DIEP, it should be called, 'I Don't Care What I Bring to the Hospital, as Long as I Leave with Boobs'. That's a great attitude and a very funny quote. I know it diminishes the experience, but so what? It's the result we're all after, with a long and healthy life thrown in for good measure. 

Teacher - I wouldn't want me on a jury at the best of times.  I'm moody and indecisive and would probably send innocent people to jail because I didn't like the colour of their sweater. 

Iowagirl - Good Morning. Such an amazing story about your surgery - it took my breath away. I'm so glad to hear you're getting stronger, and three cheers for your skilled and caring medical team.  I'm sending you strength, and calm healing. 

Wilbur sure is going to be busy next week. I know it's a scary time for all the ladies who are heading in for surgery, but it's also really exciting. (Easy for me to say).  I had my surgery last summer, and in my experience it was really nice time to heal. Lots of soft cotton fabrics, and the opportunity to let your incisions breath, and welcome your new shape. 

melissa2013

jerseymom- I had diastasis from my large  9 and 10 lb babies that was repaired in Stage 1. Before my surgery, my PS told me fixing it in stage 1 vs stage 2 would depend on how surgery went  and what things looked liked once they opened me up ( he thought  there might be a hernia which there wasn't ). I am only. 7 weeks out, but my stretch marks are gone and even though I am still swollen, my stomach is flatter than it was before surgery and I can fit in my pre-surgery pants.  The only real discomfort has been sneezing/coughing and it feels like it does if your stomach muscles are really sore after a hard workout.  But my stomach is still really tight!  

Jmb5 -  my stomach feels really weak too and my chest is super tight.  I found a PT who specializes in mastectomy patients, and she is designing a stretching /strengthening program for me. It has been awesome !  Highly recommend PT after this surgery.  My PS does not prescribe it, but I asked him and he had no issue writing a script for me. 

Hard to believe it will be 8 weeks on Friday and I have to go back to work next Monday- just as the weather is finally getting warm!   I am taking a surgery break for the summer and will do stage 2 in the fall.  

iowagirl1

Wilbur was awful in the hospital when he was with me.  They had to put an ankle line in when I was conscious because l was losing so much blood.  He yelled the F Bomb and blamed it on me.

Teacher64

Janet, being an avid reader, I'd buy " I Don't Care What I Bring to the Hospital, As Long as I Leave With Boobs" and write a review! 

I've felt when some people have tried to shake my hand or hug me that I need a shirt or sign that says "New Boobs on Board" so they would be gentle and I wouldn't have to divert them.

Tomorrow I have a follow up appointment to see the breast surgeon. Since she's the one who cut off the bad, old girls, I hope she likes my new babes. Doesn't really matter because I like them.

Donna2012

jmb5  - I have been going to PT for the last 4 weeks and it has helped tremendously!  I had the same surgery date as you.  I too, reached my out of pocket max, so PT does not cost me anything.  I go 3x per week, but am now off for 2 weeks due to having surgery for stage 2 last week.  I requested a script from my PS for PT (she never offered it).  I will start again, hopefully next week.  I have seen a lot of improvement in my ROM and arm strength.  I would say it is back to normal now.  I am also now doing  planks & stomach crunches - to strengthen the abs.  My insurance is great and I have 60 sessions to use at no cost, so I plan on staying as long as I can.  I also have some neck stiffness which we will be working on when I resume.   

** I also had a very small amount of muscle taken.

fujiimama

Made it through. Just very tired still. Hate sleeping on my back. Oh well. "Girls" look good. After not having any for two years I do find it shocking to run into them. Thought I'd check in.

jmb5

iowagirl, That made me lol! Dang Wilbur and the bad language.

Teacher, just lean with the shoulders. Haha! That's what I do.

Donna, glad the PT is helping. I have a call in and am waiting to hear back. There was some miscommunication when I asked about it 6 weeks ago, then we were on vacation, and I just didn't pursue it again. Hoping to get started soon.

GowanusGal

Hi ladies,

I just had my double mast/DIEP reconstruction surgery on April 19th and haven't had the guts to look at everything yet.  I wrote about my experience on this forum:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/...

and it was and has been a great one.  I worked with Dr. Christina Ahn and Robert Allen and they were amazing.  I did have questions for those of you who already had the surgery.

Since I am a big baby and refuse to really look at myself until it is more healed, I want to know what the additional tissue is on your breast.  I asked my husband if he just sees one line under my nipples and he kept saying he sees an "oval".  When I asked my PS, she explained it is something they keep to make sure the tissue is alive on/in the breast and that it will be removed later and I will have just one line under each nipple. 

Do you know what she is talking about?  Did you have a little skin flap/tag thing on your boobs that is removed later?  

Also, I have some sensation, but the foobs do feel strange.  Will that change with time?

Thanks so much!

Teacher64

GowanusGal, I have the extra skin. My PS has said he will remove it in Stage 2. I've had it since bmx in December and through my DIEP in March. Getting rid of it whenever will be wonderful because it is hard and uncomfortable. I have the bmx incision line across my chest from armpit to armpit (minus one inch that was spared in the center) and the crop circles from the DIEP.

It is hard to look. My first look after the bmx I was in the bathroom with the nurse to look and learn to clean the drains. Next thing I knew I was in the bed surrounded by a bunch of nurses like they were having a party. I'd never fainted in my long life but it seems my bp dropped like a rock. It was hard to look because all I had was the tissue expanders.

Look when you are ready and be joyful that your new breasts are brand, spankin new and cancer free. 

I looked right away at my new girls after DIEP. My immediate concern was that I was huge; they seemed like double ZZ huge! He just smiled and said it was swelling and I would be a nice B. He was so right because now (6weeks ago today!)they are just about perfect. The right is more full than the left and there's the extra skin and no nipples, but my amazing PS says he will take care of me. So far, he has, so I trust him. 

Since you accept the wonderful skills and talents of your doctors, accept that they will take care of you.

Heal well.

lemon68

OH I have so much catching up to do but I couldn't wait to ask this..

WHAT is up with the NECK and Foot lines??? Nobody told me that?? Is this for everyone? I have a perfectly decent left arm which they can stick all they want. Please please tell me this is standard.

TinaHoff

Donna2012, thank you for your post of April 24th about the behind the ear patch - I am going in from my Stage I DIEP at the end of May, and will be asking for that patch myself.  I was SO miserable after my mastectomy last March, and it seemed like anything they gave me after I came out of anesthesia made things worse for the nausea. 

Teacher64

Lemon, only my left arm was "usable" for IV and veins are small. Also, your arms may be in their way, so the neck vein may used. I can say that it was NOT a post surgery issue for me. Hey put it in in the OR so I didn't feel the stick. After the surgery tape pulled a bit and the nurse loosened it. Not an issue, don't worry about it. They used the line for my meds and, again, it was not a problem.

lemon68

Thanks Teacher but this scares me out of my mind! In the neck is really scary, I hope I am out of drugged before this happens. Did they take it out after surgery or did you have it the whole time? I am glad you are liking your "new girls" hope I feel the same.

Gowanus- did you do nipple sparing? My PS said he will keep a flap of skin there in case the nipples die so he can fill in with it. If not needed he will remove it later. He said he will know in the first couple days if they will survive. If he feels 100% sure during surgery they will live he wont bother. I am really hoping they live!

Fujimama- Congrats! Glad you are pleased.

Iowagirl- Happy to hear you are getting stronger, you have been though a lot. Keep resting. I hope Wilbur behaves himself during my surgery. He is going to be really busy with Georgiegirl and Goldie having their surgeries the same day.

Goldie, Georgiegirl- Holy holy macaroni!! I am calm on the outside and freaking out inside. This neck this really shocked me in a bad way. Georgie what day do you leave to travel?

Zenful

Lemon, the neck or feet are used for those that can't be stuck in either arm, usually as a result of having lymph nodes removed on both sides and/or struggling with lymphedema. No worries. They will use your arm. 

Teacher64

Lemon, my neck line stayed in til Friday, the day I left after the Tuesday surgery. IF you have one, no worries. Like Zenful stated, you will most likely have an arm line. No matter where, it's for meds, you know, the good stuff.

Donna2012

Tina,

The anti-nausea patch for me was wonderful!   I have always felt sick to my stomach after general anesthesia - what a horrible, horrible feeling!   I did research and learned about the patch.  It is small and looks like a bandaid.  I asked the anesthesiologist about it before my diep surgery.  He said "sure" that I could have it.  It costs the hospital $1.50 & they only give it to people who ask for it.  I was under general for about 5-6 hours & had no nausea!  I had the patch again for stage 2 last week, about 1 hour under general & once again no nausea!  It does give you an extremely dry mouth, but I can deal with that.  It can be left behind your ear for 3 days & you need to wash your hands thoroughly after removing it.  If you don't wash your hands after removing it, and touch your eye - it will cause your pupil to dilate.  

lemon68

Big 'sigh' of relief. Zen and Teacher you saved me evening. I am not sure why that got me but it did. I have lympho in my right but not my left. Whew! I will be taking my Xanax more often!

lemon68

Big 'sigh' of relief. Zen and Teacher you saved my evening. I am not sure why that got me but it did. I have lympho in my right but not my left. Whew! I will be taking my Xanax more often!

k79miller

I had the anti-nausea patch too because I got sick after my BMX.  The patch made my head feel kind of swimmy, not really light headed.  It was just a different feeling & it took a few wks to wear off.  My left arm is the only arm they can use for sticks & blood pressure.  Thankfully they were able to get the IV's into my left arm.

Katski-I'm so glad that you're doing better.  Hopefully things will continue to get better for you.

Iowagirl-Glad to hear you're feeling better & I'm so sorry for what you had to go thru.  Just relax & let your body heal now.  The healing process is a fairly long process but it will happen.  Tell Wilbur if it made him feel better then just keep on doing it.

Ridley

lemon, I had both an arterial line and an iv in my arm before surgery started.  They inserted another iv after i was out because the vein for the first iv was tiny and they wanted a bigger line in.  They used my other arm for that. I didn't know as much about lymphedema as I do now, or maybe I would have insisted that they not use any arms,   If you have a good arm with good veins, I suspect that is where the lines will be.

GowanusGal

Hi Lemon & Teacher64 - I am seeing my PS tomorrow and will ask her more about the skin flaps then.  My nipples were spared and restuffed so now I kind of look like Farrah Fawcett -- the PS says they will shrink and we can taken them down a notch if I dislike them. For now, it looks like I'm VERY excited to see everyone. Or that it is very cold. 

I'm just wondering about the extra flaps since I am doing a second procedure most likely in the fall for some fat grafting and any adjustments.  I am not sure I want to go through a whole summer with an extra piece of skin. Hmmm...well, I'll keep you posted (if I can remember anything with 2 percocets in me for the drain removal!)

-GG

AnnBR

Super excited as tomorrow is the big day. Best wishes to everyone else who has an upcoming surgery. I will post when I feel up to it. You ladies are THE BEST!!!

Ann

Dyvgrl

I think the extra skin tags you are referring to are called dog ears and my PS said this is what happens when you take a round incision and sew a straight line. You end up with extra tissue on the ends. He said he'd remove those at Stage 2. I don't think they remove them right away because of swelling, etc. 

Dyvgrl

you're in my prayers Ann and I will be close behind on the 8th. Getting excited!

iowagirl1

Thoughts and prayers to you for tomorrow.

Now, go get'em!

Rosebud14

I second the use of the anti-nausea patch..after my first lumpectomy I had dry heaves during the night. The patch works great.

Melissa , Lahela, and Donna, thanks for the advice on PT. My  left arm is a little swollen still and I can't yet sit up without a struggle. Can you give me the name of your PT, Melissa?

Fujimama and Iowagirl, glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. 

Goldie, so sorry for you troubles...not what you need  right now. Hope your son can settle things soon and move on with his life.

Ashira, haven't heard from you lately. I hope all has gone well for you.

Janet, love the book title...you should definitely write it.

Zenful,Jeanie, Moviemaniac,jmb,and Nihani, I just want to thank you for your kind, thoughtful and insightful posts. You helped me and so many others through some rough times during recovery, but I am now (9weeks out)feeling almost normal and am glad you assured me that I would not regret Diep surgery. I am so glad I chose this route..thanks to all of you!

Ladyoh

AnnBR

I am sending prayers your way. I know you will do great and I look forward to hearing from you on the flap side!!

Teacher64

AnnBR, thoughts for you tomorrow.