Anyone seen Dr. Toni Zhong re: Diep?

thx HRF, Will let you all know how the LD procedure goes......

Hi All

I will be having a bilateral mastectomy in January, and had kind of hoped that I could do reconstruction at the same time, but this is seeming to be impossible.  The surgical oncologist that I am seeing is at Sunnybrook who will do the bilateral, but I think if I were to try to coordinate reconstruction at the same time, I wouldn't be able to get a surgeon for months.  I think I would like to have DIEP with Dr Zhong, but I finally just got an appointment for consult, and that is not until March.  So it would appear that Dr Zhong is getting quite a good reputation and therefore getting more difficult to get into see her.

It just worries me that I won't even be able to speak to Dr Zhong until after the bilateral.  Is there anything special that needs to be done during a mastectomy, in preparation for DIEP.  I was told by Dr Beber, that I would have to wait 6 months after mastectomy before I could do DIEP.

Thanks for any advice

Cathy

Thanks hrf.  I had appointment with Dr Beber Dec 21 and he explained that I should wait 6 months after having a mastectomy, both in case you had to have rads or chemo as well as just to allow some healing time between surgeries.  Both he and the referring bs surgeon from Sunnybrook seem to be cautiously optimistic that I won't need rads or chemo, because of the small size of the 2 areas of PILC, but there are no guarantees.

I am going to try to get an earlier appointment with Dr Zhong, prior to have bilateral.  She is away until January 4. 

Hi hrf

I agree it sounds like Dr Beber and Dr Zhong will be Toronto's dynamic duo for reconstruction. Not sure if you have ever met him, but I had looked up Dr Beber on RateMD.com prior to my appointment.  All of the comments were very positive, but interestingly enough, everyone commented on how gorgeous he was and on how difficult it was to focus because of his great looks. His picture on the Women's college website doesn't do him justice.  Boy were they right!  He is gorgeous!  My partner who came with me for the appointment said I was beat red for the whole appointment.  He was very thorough, answering all of my questions.  So not only a good doctor but also good looking.

Hi ladies - home recovering from my lat dorsi recon. Spent 3 rough nights in hospital as I had a reaction to the narcotics but @ home now & doing quite well. Just as everyone else has commented, the drains are the cumbersome but little to no pain with incision sites. Should have drains out within the next few days & will then be much more mobile. It's great to have this behind me! Dr. Zhong was fantastic!!

I just got another referral to Dr. Zhong.  April 30th will be my two year anniversary of my bilat which is when my surgeon said I could do reconstruction.  I'm having the latissimus dorsi as I've had radiation to my abdomen and can't have a tram flap.  I can't wait to start the whole process.

Hi this is me - the nursing staff @ the hospital were wonderful - very kind & attentive. As you know, the thing about staying in the hospital is that once you're feeling well you go home & while you are there it is very difficult to get much rest as they are checking your vitals, administering drugs, etc. every few hours. Also, its not easy to move around with drains & IV but once that is removed you're in pretty good shape!

I am now 2 weeks post-surgery & other than a small dressing on my breast, I am doing great! You'll be the same!!

Hi thisisme, love your picture!  I got the referral last Thurs and don't even have an appointment.  The reason the surgeon wanted me to wait was because of the chance of recurrence...not a very pleasant thought but I defer to his expertise.  So far so good.

Thanks Joli for the info.  I've had many surgeries over the years and always seem to do well.  One surgery Dr. Zhong also offered me involved using tissue from the butt (hey, a free butt lift!) but it was a 9 hour surgery with no guarantee of success.  It sounded brutal so I decided the dorsi would be much more user friendly for me.

thisisme my referral went in December approx. 23 and my appointment for initial consult is March 11 now (it was March 4 they called to reschedule).  I had also heard that she is getting married in February, so I'm sure she will be away for part of February.

Dr. Zhong is getting married on Sunday, Valentine's Day. I didn't ask her about her honeymoon plans but I assume she'll be away for a couple of weeks. She is marrying Dr. Brett Beber who does recon at Women's College.

I asked her about the nursing staff and she said they are well trained and specialize in patients following reconstruction so they know what they are doing. They do several a week so they are experienced.

I can't believe it is almost finally here! I see Dr Zhong for consult on reconstruction on Thursday March 11.  The nurse called today to confirm and I was so worried she was calling to cancel.

I am hoping to be able to have DIEP, and hopefully ASAP.  I had been told I would have to wait 6 months from after bilateral.  Has anyone else who had bilateral been able to do reconstruction sooner than that?  Does anyone know how far away she is now booking for surgeries?

Thanks Cathy

Hi

I thought I was up early, hrf you are up especially early or perhaps stayed up late?

Anyway, I saw Dr Zhong on Thursday and I have to say I am sooooooo impressed. My appointment couldn't have gone better and for the first time in a very long time I am feeling excited, yet nervous. She said I have healed very well from bilateral and could have DIEP much sooner than I thought I could. I thought I would have to wait 6 months and then depending on how busy she was, I might have to wait even longer.  I was dreading the thought of going through the summer with no breast and/or wearing prothesis which I find very hot, heavy and just a nuissance. I also have a wedding to go to in Ottawa, and really would like to go.  I can definetly have DIEP which I wasn't sure if I could, due to having had 3 previous c-sections.  She said the incision is low enough that it is not a problem. She is very kind and patient, answering all of my questions and she doesn't make you feel rushed at all. The other added bonus, my appointment was at 1:45, and I was called in at 1:45.  Unbelievable, I have had to wait 2-3 hours for other doctors on a regular basis.

Dr Zhong said she would have her secretary call me with a date, and she thought it would be in May, as there was a cancellation.  Her secretary (she is new and very nice) called me the next morning and gave me a couple of dates, which I just need to confirm on Monday. 

Now I will just have to read up on the DIEP threads.

Would love to hear from anyone who has had DIEP with Dr Zhong and could share how things went, recovery time etc.

Cathy

Thanks for the information Rosemary.  Glad to hear you are pleased with the surgery and results.

I had not heard about the information session on April 29, but unfortunately I am coming to Toronto from approx. 1000 miles away, so won't likely be able to make it.  I do have to go back for a CT scan though sometime in April.  Did you have this done prior to surgery as well?  if so how was it?  Also, do they provide the abdominal binder for you?  Dr Zhong mentioned that I would have to wear it for a full two months.  So I am wondering if you can get a couple to keep changing off to wash?  I am also guessing that it is fairly warm to wear.  Hopefully not too warm as it would seem as though amongst all else, now it would appear that I am going through menapause and having lots of hot flashes.

Thanks, hope you don't mind all of the questions and probably will be more to come.

Cathy

Thanks Rosemary.  I will keep the questions coming and hope you don't mind. I thought I would ask them here rather than send you PM, just in case there is someone else who might benefit from some of your answers.  Sometimes we don't even know what the questions are, until it is asked.  I have certainly learned so much on these boards that way.

Do they actually sell the binders at Toronto General Hospital?  Is there are pharmacy or something that they sell them at?

Did you have someone stay at the hospital with you? and/or is it necessary?  My partner Mike will be with me, and would stay at the hospital if it is necessary, although I think he would be much more comfortable at a hotel.

What did you do to get in shape for the surgery prior to?  I had been cross country skiing every day and walking the dog 1-2 hours per day. Now that there is no snow, I thought I would try to start riding my bike.  Any suggestions?  I also asked Dr Zhong, and she said the better shape you are in before surgery, the better recovery you will have.

I have also tried to change my eating habits, more to prevent a reoccurence, but healthier eating nonetheless. More fruits, vegetables, less fat, less sugar etc.

I have also started a list of things to bring with me to hospital.  Is there anything that you wish you had?

Thanks again

Take Care

Cathy

Hi Cathy,

Sorry for not writting sooner.  When I got out of surgery I was already wearing a binder.  It was a little small so they sent to the pharmacy to have a larger one sent up.  I think that they have them available at the Toronto General Pharmacy.  I know that they don't have them available at Princess Margaret...I looked there and was unsuccessful...and I was too tired to walk back over to Toronto General to try to find one there.  There are a couple of stores around here that carry them and shoppers said they would order one in for me if I needed.  So they are around...you just have to look for them.

I didn't bring too much to the hospital .. no one stayed with me, but my sister came by everyday for a visit and my husband and kids came a couple of times.  I was really tired after the surgery.  The one thing that I wish that I had brought was decaf tea that I liked.  You are encouraged not to have caffine for a bit after the surgery...it has something to do with the blood flow to your new breasts.  I don't understand exactly what the reasoning was ... but anything that would help me was worth the try.  I was in the hospital until Sunday (my surgery was Tuesday)...Don't remember that day at all...most of it I was out for.  I was in a step-down room for the first day.  The nurses are one on one and they are excellent.  I was on oxygen and very sore and I slept a lot.  I was moved into a chair so that I wasn't lying down in a bed and still had a cathetar that day and a morphine pump (which made me feel particularly nauseus)  Wednesday night I was moved into a private room with a view of the cn tower...and that's when I got my first food...it was still liquid ...but it was food.  I had a machine on my legs pumping all the time so that I wouldn't get blood clots.  Thursday I was on a microdiet and up and walking...very very slowly.  Each day I would try to top the last day on laps of the unit.

As far as getting physically ready.  Sounds like you are doing great...walking,. biking, cross country skiing.  Your muscles have a memory and even though you won't be using many while you recover...you will recover much more quickly if you are physically, mentally and emotionally ready to go through with this. 

I tried a vegan cleanse to prepare myself. ...www.feelgoodguru.com  I wanted to get all of the unnecessary stuff out of my system before heading in.

I hope I answered most of your questions...I'm seeing Dr. Zhong tomorrow and having a bit of touch up stuff done in her office...I'll check back soon

Rosemary...ps what date is your surgery scheduled again?