DIEP 2011

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  • scubacat
    scubacat Member Posts: 113
    edited February 2011

    Friday 4th Feb and Dallas is snowed and iced in so no PS visit and no 3rd drain out until Monday at the earliest. I do seem to have developed a urinary tract infection but PS called in meds for me and DH trudged through 5" of snow to the pharmacy this morning to pick it up for me. I am now off all pains meds and have been for 2 days. Just a couple of ibuprofen if my back is sore. Walking around is easier and have even done a few simple tasks, picking stuff up, putting it away etc. I am getting a little stir crazy though!

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  • afield
    afield Member Posts: 22
    edited February 2011

    I'm scheduled for my mastectomy and DIEP on March 4.  Trying not to be freaked out and just get as prepared as possible.  I am working my way through the postings here to pick up useful tips to help plan.  I am having my surgery at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC - BS is Dr. Elizabeth Feldman and PS is Dr. Nahabedian.  Any experiences with Georgetown or the docs would be helpful.   Also trying to guess whether to allow my kids (6 and 9) to come visit or just have them wait until I get home.  How scary will it look to them?  They have been told about the operation and about me being in the hospital for a while.  The big news turns out to be that we are bringing in an extra grandmother so they are over the moon about being spoiled :-) 

    Sasha

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  • dee7493
    dee7493 Member Posts: 155
    edited February 2011

    good news no problem with adrenal nodule

    good pre-op visit with PS answered so many questions (that I got from reading these boards) :)

    moving onward to count-down to foobies

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  • kelben
    kelben Member Posts: 269
    edited February 2011

    yay dee whew now you can look forward to your surgery with excitment and dream of those foobies.... it'll be great

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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited February 2011

    Finally got a surgery date of February 28 after waiting almost 2 years, only 2 weeks and 5 days away and boy am I going to start getting nervous soon!

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  • kelben
    kelben Member Posts: 269
    edited February 2011

    yahoo blondie.... the countdown begins.  Good for you, you can start packing.

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  • Iamstronger
    Iamstronger Member Posts: 378
    edited February 2011

    Dee-so glad that there wasn't any problem with your adrenal glands.  We all know how scary that can be.  So, we only have 3 more weeks until surgery 03/2.  My hubby is giving me shakes and sweets to try and make my breasts a larger size!!  I am also exercising daily so that I am in good health.  I am nervous, but really looking forward to this part of the journey!!!

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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited February 2011

    kelben - thanks so much.

    vmarie- looks like we are about 2 or 3 days apart so we can recover at the same time.

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  • scubacat
    scubacat Member Posts: 113
    edited February 2011

    16days after surgery today and I feel good. 3rd drain came out on day14, but at least 4-5 days late due to weather! No issues there. UTI cleared up and now I am sleeping in the bed (not the recliner) but still propped up, still not on back or side. No pain, but moving around very carefully. I can put on my own clothes and socks!!!! Surgery seems a long time ago but I have to keep reminding myself that it is only 16 days. I have to remind myself I am only stuck together with glue and tape! Things look OK and better every day, but I'm not running any marathons anytime soon!

    I have consult on Feb 24th to discuss what's next and when!

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  • dee7493
    dee7493 Member Posts: 155
    edited February 2011

     Kelben thank you for your encouragement:)

    VMaire    I am excercising most days and hubby is feeding me with fattening flap deserts too!

     Blondie45  we too will be same healing timeline 

    Scubacat:   So glad you are feeling better,  Cant you sleep on your back propped up?

    Do you have a ab binder?  Are you very swollen?

    I have meeting with Microsurgeon tomorrow  - so  nervous and excited

    still need a few pre-op tests, ekg, blood typing, and to ensure insurance is all set

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  • scubacat
    scubacat Member Posts: 113
    edited February 2011

    dee... yes, sleeping propped up in bed with my boomerang pillow is the most comfortable, I've been able to do that for about 4-5 days now. I do have an ab-binder that I left the hospital with but I chatted to ps nurse and she suggested getting the more confortable spanx-type underwear. I am not very swollen at boobs or abdomen. So I wear my "moving comfort" bras during the day for extra support, my old bmx bras (bought when I was having my TE's filled) during the night because they are softer, and I have some spanx-type underwear (firm) bought from Macys and I have just bought some more in their sale: 2 pairs for $16! So now I wear knickers (underwear) and then these firm-wear over the top. If I was going walking or something I'd probably put the binder back on for additional support, but I'm not there yet.

    Good luck with your pre-op stuff, mine turned into a small nightmare but it was all sorted out in the end!

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  • mamaoftwo
    mamaoftwo Member Posts: 267
    edited February 2011

    4 weeks out for me as of yesterday and feel that I'm over the hard part.  Yay! 

    I had lower back aches when waking up in the morning, but those are now gone.  Scars seem to be healing.  Still have achiness on underarm side of right breast, like a black and blue kind of achiness but there's no visible bruise and it's not that bad.  No other major aches or pains.  I am counting down the days until I see the PS on Feb 24 and hopefully get the go-ahead to work out. 

    I hope everyone else who had DIEP in January is recovering well too.

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  • dee7493
    dee7493 Member Posts: 155
    edited February 2011

    Scubacat Thank you for answering my questions... I have a recliner and a memory foam wedge pillow that was comfy sleeping on my back after my BMX surgery.

     I guess wearing panties that are cut low with the large incision & drains? never mind spanx  ?  I  will check Macy's and sales, I bought one online and it cost me $68 and too small - can't get in on past my thighs

     Still trying to get authorizations and Pre-op  tests scheduled - it's amazing how much I have to follow-up - and only two weeks to clarify everything and am so busy with work.

    Mamaoftwo You sound as though you feel pretty darn good and I can imagine that I will be anxious to get back to working out too.

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  • scubacat
    scubacat Member Posts: 113
    edited February 2011

    Today I have managed 3 outings! I feel free again! I have been out twice to the park with our dog (both times in the car) but short walks at the park before sitting again, but I also managed a store visit and a short drive myself. So I really feel that after this weekend I will turn the corner and start to be much more mobile with more energy to do stuff myself. (3 weeks on Monday.) I feel I am on-track.

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  • nowords
    nowords Member Posts: 423
    edited February 2011

    I had a consult with Dr. Massey in New Orleans this week. 3.5 hours...amazing and impressive woman on every level...I am scheduled for May 6th for first stage (stacked DIEP) with Dr. Massey at a NOLA Hospital, not at the Center for Reconstructive Surgery because of my insurance. I can do the following stages in Charleston. She is especially interested in the lymphatic system and I have stage 1 lymphedema....I will have some MLD and bandage wrap etc. for 6 weeks to get the swelling under control prior to surgery. I will keep you posted as I progress through it all. I am in MN, but feel that this is the best fit for me.

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  • kelben
    kelben Member Posts: 269
    edited February 2011

    I was going to ask how lymphedema affected DIEP surgery.  I am very lucky, and only have minimal swelling, but I don't want to compromise anything..

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  • scubacat
    scubacat Member Posts: 113
    edited February 2011

    kelben, I tried to find out a lot about diep and lymphedema prior to my surgery (01/24). There are some posts you can search back to here.  I had mild lymphedema in my right hand/arm after bmx. I was having massage and wrapping for some 6 weeks prior to diep surgery and it worked very well (I used a specialist lymphedema therapist). After diep the lymphedema in my arm is MUCH better, in fact minimal. I dont know why this should be but I will ask the therapist when I see her again as I initially thought this surgery might compromise me further - it appears for me it did not. I can still see some swelling, but it is very minor now, but I am still careful. I only had 3 nodes removed. You should consult with your PS and any lympedema therapist you are seeing, but be aware they may have different opinions!  Mine did.

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  • kelben
    kelben Member Posts: 269
    edited February 2011

    I will ask the PS when I see her later this week.  I only had 3 nodes removed also, so not expecting too big a deal, but you never know with this stuff.

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  • nowords
    nowords Member Posts: 423
    edited February 2011

    It is my understanding that the DIEP surgery may improve lymphedema because often scar tissue that impedes fluid flow is removed.

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  • snowflower
    snowflower Member Posts: 68
    edited February 2011

    Hi Scubacat,

    At about 3 weeks I turned a corner and was feeling noticebly better. I began to drive and could go to the gym to walk on the treadmill. I'm glad you are feeling better and able to get around more. Each day and each step forward is a big plus. 

    Kim

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  • kelben
    kelben Member Posts: 269
    edited February 2011

    that would be excellent.  Could it be possible to have something good happen out of all this????

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  • jp3
    jp3 Member Posts: 18
    edited February 2011

    Hello all, Just found this forum.  I had DIEP and Rt MX in San Antonio Texas at PRMA, on Jan 19th 2011.  My 3 drains were removed on day 12 (how do you spell R-E-L-I-E-F).  I was told to wear binder or equivalent and support bra (not a sports bra) 24/7.  The abdominal incision has been fine with exception of tightness and a little back pain since drains were removed.  Most of my discomfort is with the flap.  My original breast was a 'B', after the surgery is an engorged "D".  I think my PS tried to stuff all the material in there; reminds me of postpartum breast engorgement.  In addition, the nerves in the skin are irritated creating the sensation of sandpaper inside my bra.  My PS assures me that the breast looks good and he can even out the breasts at stage 2.  Looking back I can say that my research on this site helped me immensely to make an informed decision which enabled me to go forward fearlessly.  Perhaps this enabled a relatively easy post surgical period (no complications with anesthesia and very manageable pain).  I can remember thinking, is this all the pain I'm going to feel?  Could be that the PRMA group really have their act together with pain management.  I was very satisfied with the close monitoring of the flap for the 4 days in the hosp and excellant support staff. 

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  • scubacat
    scubacat Member Posts: 113
    edited February 2011

    hey snowflower, thanks! I walked 2 miles today in the sunshine. Feel so much better and may sleep better at night due to actually doing something!

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited February 2011

    Hi there Ray, fancy meeting you here!  And thank you scubacat for letting me know about this link.

    I'm about 3 weeks out and feeling pretty good other than being tired a lot.  Just wondering how long till I can start some working out.  I know heavy lifting is a no no for a while, but what about cardio and light weights?  I had mine done by Dr. Michelle Manahan at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and she was fantastic!

    Take care,

    Sharon

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  • rayofsun
    rayofsun Member Posts: 204
    edited February 2011

    hi pup, i started walking on the treadmill 3 weeks after my DIEP. i started light weights 5 lbs 4 weeks after, i am slowly incorporating ab exercises but nothing too strenuous. i did do spin on saturday and today for the first time in several months and it felt amazing, i just went at my own pace but got quite a workout.

    ray

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  • dee7493
    dee7493 Member Posts: 155
    edited February 2011

    No treatment just waiting for surgery.

    I would really appreciate any and all getting ready for surgery tips

    I plan to take excercise classes and prepare home

    what kind of bra should I get?  front closure soft sport bra or will I need compression? 

    Thanks much:)

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  • patientq
    patientq Member Posts: 11
    edited February 2011

    i did georgetown dr nahbedian as well on 3 february this year...just coming out of the cloud.  i think he is good and treatment at georgetown is good, esp in ICU or recovery but iwas doing so well they put me is a regular room and then the "service" is a little slower.  I cannot tolerate and pan meds or narcorics so that was the only real problem i had, but honstly tyleno and motrim were fine, much of my post op problem was getting over the drugs i tried.  drains came out one at a time, the last one this week.  ths only thing i would say is ask lots of questions,even write them down because that office is crazy busy

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  • RachelKa
    RachelKa Member Posts: 174
    edited February 2011

    Hi Rayofsun,

    I noticed you were seeing a doc in Baltimore. Where do you live? I'm in Mt Airy (Frederick Co) Used to work in Baltimore. So are you happy with how the surgery is going so far? I didnt go through reconstruction but have been hearing so many of you ladies talk about it and hadn't realized it can be a long haul. But I hear so many women are delighted with the new girls once they're through it.

    I'm a writer of 25  years, mainly health so since BC I started a blog I hope you ladies will take a few to check out. Lots of resources  like - freebies and discounts for us c warriors - stories on cool programs and survivors doing great things and other stuff. Just did a story (posted on Breast cancer tab) on expansions and implants. Will do flaps next. You might want to check out the links in the story to what I thought was pretty understandable, upfront info about reconstruction options. Well, Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend ladies.

    Best,

    Rachel

    My site's www.1UpOnCancer.com.

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  • RachelKa
    RachelKa Member Posts: 174
    edited February 2011

    Dee7493 and anyone else looking for surgery tips. I noticed some good websites out there. Here's one I thought pretty good info on preparing for the mastectomy http://www.noreenfraserfoundation.org/resources/prepare-for-mastectomy. Lots of details within. Some highlights:

    Front closure shirts and pajamas that button up or zip.

    Buy yourself 2-3 sports bras with front closures (either a zip front or hook front).  Following surgery, you will be put in a surgical bra,  probably through your  hospital stay. But will be able to switch to a tight fitting sports bra when you return home.

    Slip on shoes so you dont have to bend.

    Pillows once you get home to keep you propped up cause you wont want to sleep on your back for a while.

    Lots of luck to you.

    Rachel

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  • Iamstronger
    Iamstronger Member Posts: 378
    edited February 2011

    Dee-this is the bra my PS told me to buy. http://breakoutbras.stores.yahoo.net/colyfrclnusl.html

    Also, for those who are on tamoxifen, did your PS have to stop taking for 2 weeks before and 1 after?  Just curious if this is the norm.

    V

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