DIEP pain? Were you scared?

Geo

I had my my mastectomy and diep on Nov. 18. I remember waking up very alert, no nausea, not pain... Just discomfort. Like going to the gym for some hours and lifting some weights. I remember asking for my mother (I'm 30 btw) and she had to deal with the same. After almost 12 hours I felt thirsty and not hungry. All I could think abiut was water and ice chips.

I stayed for five day at the hospital because of an abdominal infection. They took the carheter after day 3, I slept a lot during day 2 (spasms and elt pressure in the middle of my breast) oxycodone and something for the spasms together were my best friends. Pain? No, I don't ember feeling that pain because of the surgery, but when the therapist helped me to move from the bed to the coach, I cried. I was scare to fall on my back and didn't feel stronng.after that, I felt tired and back pain for 2 more days. After 5 day I was walking, preparing something light to eat, walking a little more.

The recovery takes time because you will feel tired, pressure/tight on your abdomen and numb. After 3 months I feel more like myself. I pushed me really hard to walk at least 3 miles daily and the max. 6 miles. It helps a lot.

hartrish

Hi Trvler. I am also considering a DIEP. I hope to have my surgery by the end of March or first of April. I finally decided this weekend to have the DIEP instead of Implants. I am nervous about the procedure as well but probably more nervous about the BC still in my breast. Time to get it out. Keep in touch. Sounds like we are on the same timeline with BC journey.

Trvler

Hartrish: Where are you going? Have you had any surgery yet? What is your DX? Are you going to have rads?

hartrish

Hi Trvler. My surgery (BMX with DIEP) will be performed in Atlanta by Dr Theresa Wang. We are just now going through all the insurance approvals. Dr Wang is out of my insurance network plan but she assures me that she gets 100% approval. I have invasive lobular cancer. It is out of one of the breast lobes but they think it is still contained within the breast. I have an MRI this morning to determine the area of the cancer and also to check out the other breast. I have not been referred to a MO yet. That is coming I am sure.

I decided to have the BMX with DIEP. My mom had 3 lumpectomies and ended up with BMX. I decide to get the BMX with reconstruction first time around since my mom had to go through so much. I hope that I will only have one round of this journey but you never really know.

Keep in touch and let me know what you decide about your surgery.