2018 DIEP Surgery

MCOlivia

Thank you ladies. I found a lot of information in this thread, as well as answers to the question I had. I'm glad to have found this group

Very resourceful!

Shellybeans

Had my pre-op appt today. I guess it's really real! I see the physical therapist this afternoon. If I hadn't had others' stories to read up to this point, I would have definitely backed out today!

Shades5blue

Good luck!

TWills

Shellybeans, were we there at the same time?? I had my post op at 10:30.

Shellybeans

Oh wow! I was at my pre-op testing on Gore St. at 10:30! Dang! We have to plan better next time and meet LOL. I saw Jen-jen at 9:00 for my pre-op appt. I have to tell you, they were so thorough in going over everything I got really nervous. I think the meeting with the physical therapist freaked me out the most - just so much that I won't be able to do for myself and I'm so afraid of messing things up after surgery.

The wound vac - staying bent over for two weeks - pain management - it all had me pretty nervous. I was doing better before than after - it's just so surreal that I'm putting my body through so much. Never in a million years would I have ever had this much surgery "electively" but I have so much damage from rads I really don't have much of a choice.

I went back and read your (and others) post-op write ups on here as that has been really helpful - just knowing others got through it. I'm a little worried about how thin my skin is on my rads side but they seem to think it looks healthy enough.

It's all so overwhelming - getting through this will be certainly be my personal marathon!

CallieGirl

I'm about two weeks out from BMX and Immediate PAP flaps. Dr. Mayo from UF Health Orlando is my PS. I know there are some differences from DIEP, but I will tell you that after chemo, surgery was a piece of cake! The ERAS protocol and Exparel (long acting local anesthesia) were super effective. I have had zero pain. NSAIDs were all I needed (in addition to the prescribed Gabpentin prophylactically), and that was more for anti-inflammatory reasons. I think the worst part was the Lovenox injections for DVT prevention!

Stay as active as you can before and after surgery. I started shuffling slowly and now am walking 2-3 miles a day. It is good for my mind as well as body.

Shellybeans

CallieGirl - so glad to hear you are doing well. I am with the same group - different dr. I feel very good about them

Teacher01

so my doctor ordered a pet scan head to toe due to suspicious finidings on the ct scan. Scheduled for sept 20th. Anxiety is high and will be happy when he scan is don

Mucki1991

I have implants with one that failed so I'm having bilateral diep done in a week. Mine are over the muscle and are not very comfortable. For those that have had implants previously and had them with the diep also, are they uncomfortable? Did they feel better with the diep? I want them for the projection but worried I would still feel them against the chest wall.

Casun19

teacher- sending good luck on your upcoming pet scan. I am surprised they don't want to biopsy the suspect spot in your ct. but every doctor seems to have their own plan

Mucki1991 - i don't meet all the criteria you are looking for but I had expanders under the muscle once, that had to come out due to an infection. I found the expanders very uncomfortable. Did a bilateral Diep in February and Last week I had implants put in under / behind the flap. And to be honest I cannot feel them (I don’t even know the implants are in there).. PS said the size of implant is limited by the flap because you don't want to harm this newly formed blood supply on your chest. And typically you wait to get an implant stage 2 or later.

mustlovepoodles

Soooo, I had my DIEP surgery 8/17/18 at NOLA and healing hasn't gone well. I developed a small lung collapse and a little pneumonia post-op. Started Augmentin. Then I lost a ton of blood through my drain and ended up with a blood transfusion. Then last week my abdominal wound opened up some and my belly button looked infected. Started more Augmentin. Been in almost daily contact with the Center since last week.

Cut to yesterday: I had an appt with my local NP to follow up on the blood count. So I drop my bandages and I swear, she wet her pants a little bit. My incision is daunting. She sent me straight to a wound specialist this morning, who probed around and measured. Ugh. This thing is 3.5cm deep in places and 11cm in length UNDER the healed incision. Gak! No question, this has to be opened surgically, cleaned out, and re-closed in the OR. And I'll need 3 days of IV antibiotics, at least. Sooo, now I'm making preparations to fly back to NOLA so they can fix this.

On the bright side, my breasts look FABULOUS!

Shades5blue

mustlovepoo,

That sounds very painful for you. NOLA seems like a great choice so your results worry me.

OCDAmy

mustlovepoodles, I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope they can fix these problems. Do they pay for your travel to go back? I hope so! Wishing you healing.

mustlovepoodles

They are paying half, so I'm satisfied. I'd much rather they do the repair than some random surgeon here. NOLA really has been great, and I don't want to scare anyone away. I'm almost 62 and at my age, sometimes there are problems. I have had pneumonia and lung collapse 2 other times, in my younger years, which is why I recognized it quickly. I had all kinds of unholy complications with my BMX in 2016, but my hysterectomy and knee replacement done a year later were smooth sailing. It seems to be the luck of the draw.

Shellybeans

mustlovepoodles - wow! What an ordeal! I hope they are able to take care of everything.

My surgery is exactly one week away - 9/14 - and my hubby told me to stop reading posts and stories. I've made my decision and I just keep scaring myself. For ever person who has a seemingly seamless recovery, I read about complicated ones.

I think I'm most scared of the drains. I had an incredibly terrible experience with mine when I had my BMX. The left non-cancer side felt like it was literally sucking on a nerve. I was screaming in excruciating pain and I think it gave me a bit of PTSD. I can't remember the pain - just how bad it was. I keep thinking of how ok I feel now and am knowingly putting myself through something that could hurt that bad again. I feel a bit like a baby typing that because obviously - I got through it - and that's what I keep focusing on.

No real questions or anything - just wanted to put out the crazy anxiety going through my head as my date looms so near.

Teacher01

he said we will do this scan and if it lights up anything they will biopsy or if it comes back inconclusive then we would biopsy. It’s an enlarged lymph node on my pelvis that wasn’t there on the last scan and an enlarged ovarian cyst. I have had a hysterectomy but he left my ovarie

bella2013

Shellybeans, my drains were painful too. Now that I have experienced it if I ever needed them again I think I would talk to my PS and explain the pain level that I previously experienced. I think mine were painful because they had so much tubing stuffed in near my breasts.

I just noticed that you have already had your mastectomy...it’s possible that you won’t experience that pain. I had my BMX with DIEP Flap Reconstruction at the same time.

This surgery is so worth it. It’s a big surgery but not as traumatizing as having your breasts removed. When you wake up from this surgery you will have breasts again!

Relax, get as much done around the house as you can. Go have lunch or a glass of wine with your friends.

Blessings for a miraculous result

Shellybeans

Thank you bella2013 - hopefully since I had that BMX it won't be quite as bad. That would be a nice payoff for putting myself through that surgery and having these TE's filled to the max!

I'm going to Ruth's Chris with friends tomorrow - when I made the res they asked if we were celebrating - I said yes, I'm celebrating that I'm finally getting my life back! (Also trying to increase protein intake!)

Thanks again!

SoniaL

Teacher01...so sorry you are going through this...sending wishes and prayers for a good scan.

Mustlovepoodles, wow, sorry your healing has been so difficult. I hope the trip back to NOLA goes well and they get you all taken care of.

Mucki1991, yay, so happy to hear that you are going to be able to have the DIEP surgery. Who did you decide on for a surgeon?

Shellybeans, wishing you all the best for your surgery!

I'm two weeks and two days post-DIEP and doing pretty well but still so very tight in the stomach. I'm standing almost straight but still get uncomfortable if I walk or stand too long. My one remaining drain is also continuing to put out 50 or more cc's a day, so I feel like I'm going to have this drain forever! Can't wait to get it out.

Mucki1991

thank you all for the replies. I'm going with Dr. Marga Massey in charleston. Chest X-Ray wasn't clear so now I need a chest ct.. But it's top of lung on affected side so probably just scarring from rads.. The gift that keeps on giving. Surgery date is September 17th!

Lanne2389

SoniaL - if it's any consolation, I had the same stubborn last drain. After 4 weeks, the NP said it had to come out no matter what. Didn't have any problems after it came out and it was such a relief to be done with drains!

Runrcrb

Mustlovepoodles - so sorry to read of your complications but I'm so impressed that you've retained your sense of humor. "On the bright side my breasts look fabulous" made me laugh out loud this morning.

Shellybeans - I found recovery (time and pain) from DIEP was far easier than from my mastectomy. Hoping the same for you.

mustlovepoodles

LOL, I keep looking at my breasts in awe. I can't take my eyes off them. They're so pretty. No wonder guys like breasts so much. My DH keeps yelling, "Pull your shirt down for heavens sakes!" I guess I should keep my staring to private places, like home, LOL.

TWills

So sorry mustlovepoodles, I know that we’ve all heard that these things can happen but it sure stinks when it does. Hope all goes well when you travel back:)

MCOlivia

Hello ladies. I’m back home from my 9/5 surgery. I had a DIEP flap of my right breast with removal of TE. The only thing I can honestly say is it’s very challenging. The first day you can’t imagine the pain would ever go away. Well, it does. As well as the tightness sensation on the abdomen. I’m still recovering, just wanted to send some news. Good luck 🍀 to those who are going soon.

gnoz8

mucki1991- I'm also in Charlotte! Just had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate implants. Super early (11 days), but am hating the implants and, like you, I would have liked to do the hybrid initially. Hopefully I will adjust, but may follow your path if not. Would you let us know how your surgery goes? I would love to know your experience. Also, I saw on one of your posts about feeling the implant on the chest wall. I am feeling that, too....and it makes me feel terrible. Did that ever subside for you?

OCDAmy

Not sure if anyone with an upcoming surgery has the option to have a thoracic para vertebral block but if so, do it! I had this done prior to my DIEP and woke up in no pain and took very few opioids. I did not have this with my BMX and woke up in horrible pain. My PS uses ERAS protocol and it was unbelievable how much better I felt from this surgery compared to BMX.

SoniaL

Lanne...thank you. You know I was wondering at what point they would just pull it no matter what, so thanks for that info! I may text my surgeon's office this week and ask about it. I'll be 3 weeks on Wednesday. Headed to the beach on my 4-week date so I definitely want it gone by then!

Finn21

Hi all! So glad to hear so many of you doing well! I’m curious as to some of the other threads you are on. Specifically looking for some discussions on moving past treatment and surgery and getting back into your life. I’m finding myself stuck between cancer patient and moving forward. I think since this whole surgery recovery time has been SO long for me, and even though I feel better with each passing week, I’m still SO far from feeling any way like I did prior to surgery or treatment. I’d really like to move forward both mentally and physically. Thanks in advance for your suggestions! Nanc

OCDAmy

Finn, I'm in a private FB group with a group of women from BCO. Most are done with active treatment. Let me know if you'd like to join.