DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016

Mom4four

Thanks Christianna, I was going great, following the Dr plan for recovery, my anxiety was low. But yesterday my son who has mental health issues and his girlfriend broke up with him a month ago, yelled at me said F,....you and told me I would be better off dead, well that really sent me for a loop. I am a mess again.

My counselor is on vacation I am living one minute at a time

Dlia

morning all I agree that if you have to stay in the hospital or stay longer it is the best place to be. when I had my mastectomy and had to be readmitted because of infection it helped not just me but my husband it gave us peace that I was being taken care of when he went back to work. I ended up being in there for 11 days but I didnt want to rush myself or pressure the doctors into letting me come home. So relax your mind and let them take care of you. It also keeps you from doing things at home you shouldnt lol.

Dlia

mom4 sorry you are having to deal with all this. No time is a good time but especially when you are trying to recover. Sending peaceful thoughts to you.

Mom4four

thanks Dlia, I am just praying lots

slv58

Teacher4, I'm just getting ready to go visit my daughter in Vancouver- first time there for me. I will try to give brief account- 4 weeks out yesterday and doing very well! Walk 2.5 miles daily and been doing that starting day 6 post op. I am wearing my normal bra again but it doesn't have underwire and is a bit big since reduction. Still use a light binder but that's for the bulge/hernia repair. I'm very pleased with my nipple but is still rather large- my PS said it will flatten a bit...still waiting lol! Dog ears are greatly reduced but I still see a little bit. I havnt used pain killers in 3 weeks, just found it an easy surgery- nothing like the first. I still have a slight abdominal bulge but it is greatly reduced and I think I'll just live with it. The fat grafting seems to have taken but there is an area, upper pole near cleavage that could use a bit more- but may live with that also.

Sorry this is rushed- been a busy week. Sending healing thoughts to those who are having issues. I'm sorry I'm not replying individually but I have read and your all in my thoughts.

Got to finish packing....😀

omickijo

Nancy- I hope you feel better soon. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this!!

Penycoed

Hello

Has anyone gone through bi lateral explant followed by DIEP flap surgery and can you tell me your experience of how your breast feel now compared to before the explant?

Lemint

Nancy and Simplicity I hope you are feeling better soon. My sister cellulitis and it took over a month to heal up. Mom4four, I have similar problems with my son. I feel like I worry about him more than anything else. Christianna I work is a very busy fast-paced Pharmacy. I'm on my feet all day long and running around. I'm looking to take off at least two months if not three depending on how I feel. I'm getting ready now to go to work and I've had some pain in the area above the expander. It seems to always be something. Losing a toe nail also. I hope your recovering from surgery is fast and uneventful. 😶

Simplicity

Morning ladies.

SLV58, your tum looks awesome!

NancyHB, how are you doing?

Grateful, haven't seen you post in a while. Doing ok?

docandsam

I've been an avid reader of these boards for more than two years (since my diagnosis in March, 2014), but have finally decided to join and post. My apologies if this is not the right forum for this post--My reconstruction with implant that I had two years ago became infected in January of this year (2016) and was removed. So I'm debating whether to do a DIEP Flap-- I've been told that is really my only option (given that I do not want to lose the muscle I would lose from the LAT flap). I love my plastic surgeon Dr. Joanne Lenert (in DC), although am curious about whether others have any experience with Dr. Lenert and DIEP Flap surgery. My main goal is not to be worse off than I am now--so I'm also interested in the impacts of a failed flap-- different doctors have told me different things (if it fails, I'm just back to where I am now (which I'm fine with), versus, if it fails, they would have to immediately do a LAT surgery which I'm trying to avoid). Thanks!

Christianna

Pencoed--

Do you mean you had bilateral with expanders?? I am 8 days out and my breast feel amazingly normal. They are swollen and will be a bit smaller but they are round and warm and soft I am just thrilled with my result. I had my post op appt today and my dr is happy. I just need to to continue to res and add a bit more movement to my day each day. My surgery was 12 hours so he said it will take all of 6 weeks to recover my strenth.

Love and Hugs,

Christianna

Mom4four

Yeah Christianna!

Today was my 14 day post op, got one more drain out so only 1 left, and that is scheduled for Monday removal as long as the output continues the same. I still cannot drive or exercise for two more weeks. That's okay....but waiting is hard.

I got in to see a counselor for my anxiety today, I am really trying hard to work on it

omickijo

Six week post unilateral diep yesterday and I rode my horse and I played softball with my girlfriends on Wednesday (very low level of play)! I'm so happy. I'm a bit worried they will tell me to take it easy and not do anything for a few weeks after they do the ultrasound guided draining of my seroma next Monday so I'm trying to do things now. I don't have any pain associated with riding or running, bending or whatever. The seroma makes my abdomen feel weird, but it isn't what I would say is painful. I start my last semester of college on the 23rd (I'm 47 years old) so I will be taking it easy sitting around studying and being in lectures and labs for the next sixteen weeks. Stage 2 is scheduled for November 21st (during my Thanksgiving break). I cannot wait to be through this stage and moving on. I thought I was going to be done with cancer and anything to do with it by last Thanksgiving break, but life doesn't always happen theway you plan for it. Looking forward to 2017. No more college and no more cancer!

stellamaris

omickijo: Glad to hear you are 'back in the swing of things' - I also went back to college in my 40's - got an undergraduate degree at 48 years old. Wishing you all the best!

Dlia

docandsa I had the double mx and implants. On 9/14 they will take the implants out and do the diep. I have new lumps that is not cancer but because they are so close to the implants it could cause infection. My neutrophils were low and my lymphocytes are high they believe the implants could be causing the problem. They have tested me for lupus, luekemia and lymphoma still dont know whats causing my numbers to be like this. So the sooner I get the implants out the better.

omickijo

---

Stellamaris- That is awesome! I'm also getting my undergraduate degree. It's in biology focusing on plants and restoration after fire. We have a lot of fires here in Idaho. Thank you for sharing that you did the same thing in your 40's because sometimes I feel like I nuts for doing it!

Katjadvm

Dlia: glad you are getting the implants out. Better to use your own tissue. Hoping your numbers go back to normal!!

Mom4four

I am just wondering what everyone is doing to pass the time. I am 17 days past double DIEP and I have been reading, watching TV or shows, watering plants, talking on the phone but time is going by so slowly. Any ideas? I am usually hiking, doing heavy yard work, cleaning and with the arm restrictions it seems to be so slow.

stellamaris

i started knitting lol

Katjadvm

Journal, take up finger painting. set up a household planner. Plan next years garden. Organize pinterest boards. plan your wonderful life. These are my plans for post surgery.

Teacher4

Hi JWOO. I had the same issues with BM in the hospital. Eat fruits with the skin on, particularly apples. It worked well for me. An apple each morning is a good routine.

Hope that helps.

Penycoed

Christianna

In 2010 I had immediate reconstruction with expander a after a bmx. A month later I had a lattissima dorsi flap resection due to tissue necrosis on my left side. Couple of months later I had my silicone implants placed. Due to some painI have decided now to have the implants removed (explant) and replace them with the DIEP flap. I am looking forward to having the implants removed and have real, soft tissue again!

I am glad you are doing well! Good luck with your recovery!

jlstacey

Anybody heard from Myajames?

stellamaris

No, I don't think we have. I have been thinking of her also. I hope she gets in touch.

Dlia

Munlyn thinking of you for your surgery tomorrow. Wishing you good results and little pain...

DL3

Hello ladies, I had my DIEP flap done 8/3/16 . I am thrilled with my PS. I did TCHP chemo, mastectomy, radiation and herceptin last year 2015 I am a Her2+ gal. zero nodes removed , stage 3 (herceptin ended 4/16 this year)

Today I went for follow up with PS down to one more drain... yay me...however my PS sat with me today to tell me...... while PS was performing DIEP he found a nodule in mastectomy breast during breast reconstruction and informed me today pathology came back... it is cancer. I believe plan will be because it is a small nodule (PS didnt give me size I didnt ask as I was STUNNED with the news) I will have either a PET or CT scan, then PS will perform another surgery within couple weeks to go in and remove all tissue around area where he removed the nodule. I am so down about this news yet.... I am so very very grateful that my PS found this nodule and removed it and sounds as tho got it very early. I am wondering if any other of you ladies have been in similar where your surgeon found more cancer during surgery/DIEP flap as happend to me?

Thank you

Mom4four

I just found my incision bleeding, I am scared. It's on my radiated breast

omickijo

Mom4four- Our radiated tissue is very fragile even months after radiation is over. I am hoping that your incision bleeding is just a temporary healing issue and resolve quickly. Let us know how you're doing. As for what to do to keep busy....I'm an active outdoor person too, but I also love unique jewelry so I started making jewelry right before my mastectomy in December. Winter months are easier for crafts here in Idaho, but I bought some supplies to make summer bracelets and necklaces to keep me busy. Do you have a hobby or have wanted to learn one that might keep your arms within a safe height level and lifting restrictions? Also, walking outside in nature kept me sane as well. Hope you are doing well.

DL3- My thoughts are with you during this challenging time. I am thankful your PS found and took care of the suspicious nodule and I will pray that they got it all already!

Simplicity

Morning ladies,

MomofFour, omickijo is right. That said, I would call your PS. Blood isn't bad as long as it isnt a lot. They do need to be aware of it, just in case. Any redness or swelling?

DL3

Thank you so very much