DIEP 2011

Maybe I will wake up looking like Rachel Welch.

Good luck mscal02....I can't wait to hear how you make out. Sending you positive healing energy.

Good luck....3 and half weeks for me....eeek

LadyM - Im 3 weeks away....no feeling so anxious anymore. We can do this!!

OMG grdnslve you have the same surgery date as me!  Good luck to us!! 

Good morning all: The Lord and I are off to see the wizard!

Have any of you taken your MP3 player in to surgery with you?  Bellaruth Naparstek suggests it in her Guided Meditation for Surgery and said most surgeons are good with it.  She said that studies have shown it is helpful to listen to it even when you are sleeping.

BTW-mscal02 sent me a number to check up on her.  I will try that this evening.

yeah-not toob...makes me think of my waist.  or what once was.  now it just looks like a semi-inflated tire lounging about the top of my jeans. 

just got a call from the ps office--changed my date to june 24.       i grilled her about the recovery, as that is 2 weeks closer to the wedding!!!  she assured me i should be able to get into the dress.   so think we may take a little trip during those 2 weeks to distract me.  hope that is a lucky day too.  btw--congrats on the anniversary kathy & much happy happy to you & the dh.

Re: IPods during surgery. When I spoke to a pre-op RN the other day, she mentioned that I could listen to my MP3 player during surgery if I wanted to OR I could just request specific music to be played in the OR suite. Imagine that - I could rock out to Elton John or Fleetwood Mack while I am DIEPing, HA HA. Funny thing is - I probably wouldn't even remember the music even if it was played. I was in an orthopedic OR case today at work and while the surgeon was repairing a shattered ankle ~  his IPod was playing some really funky tunes from a group called Chumbawumba, or something like that. I didn't care for it, but I'm not the surgeon so I def. don't make the OR rules. I have also been in urology cases where a certain surgeon favors Beatles tunes. That was pretty cool. I may bring my IPod for some after surgery tunes, but have no intention of using it during the surgery. I told my DH and the children that I plan on getting a 10 to 14 hour snooze while I'm being re-built. No music needed - just peace and quiet would be nice.

I refer to my new DIEP boobs-to-be as NOOBS also. They will not be FOOBS since there will nothing "fake" about them, and definitely not TOOBS. I think there is a condition where natural breasts can grow tubular - Google it. They are not too pretty, IMO. They will not be DOOBS either = Diep Boobs 'cause that sounds ridiculous. So NOOBS they shall be,  

alexanjb-- my pre-op appt is 6/3, and the wedding is 7/23.  so i will have 4 weeks to get in that dress. omg!

foobs, toobs, noobs.....think i may go with TA DA!!!!!  hopefully.  i'm so use to 'ta ta'  being 'good bye' - now there are 'save the ta tas's' shirts, so is a 'ta' one boob, or  just 'bye'....... not working sadly leaves me with far too much time to ponder such things.

any news from the newly dieped?????

I am cracking up at the noobs, toobs, foobs conversation...lol...I dont care what it's called I just want one...lol

Got my pre-op appointment and CT scan booked- June 10th and then Surgery on the 14th.

I can't remember the name of that healing CD, I want to start listening in preparation for surgery.

YES!!!!  I finally heard from Julie, Sue's sister.  She went up to the hospital today.  It's about an hour and a half from her house.  She said Sue is looking and feeling great.  She is going home tomorrow.  Go Sue!!  You did it.  We can't wait to hear from you when you get home!

Mscal, I have been thinking about you all day today.  I hope you are feeling no pain.

Ladym, I want two!!!!!

Susan

So glad to get word that Sue is doing well and going home. Want to hear all when she gets back on the computer. Waiting to get news on how mscal02 is faring. Healing thoughts going her way too.

Saturday marks one month until my surgery. I'm on the waiting list for any cancellations but doubtful that will happen. Pre-op appt for check-up with my primary physician is in two weeks.

Got a Victoria's Secret catalog in the mail today. I'm large breasted going small with this BMX recon surgery and I can't wait to chuck my industrial-strength, underwired, padded-strapped Mrs. Doubtfire minimizer bras for some cute little frilly things from VS.

well darn it Suz39 that is an added layer of discomfort to think about for you.  I am postmenapausal so I don't have that to think about, but I think you should definately call the nurse at your PS and maybe the GS nurse too, just to ease your mind.  Are you having a uni or Bi, probably bi if your surgery will be 10 hrs?   I would think that the surgical nurse would take care of you during the surgery, they probably have an industrial size napkin or something, it probably happens all the time.  But self care might be a different issue for the first couple of days.  Hopefully, someone that has been through this can give you a better idea. Who knows maybe the stress of the surgery will make it stop?  Definately worth asking the nurses I think.  I hope they have a good answer for you that will ease your mind.

Getting ready for Phase 2 DIEP finishing work -  have so many questions on how contouring is achieved.

Does PS open up incisions on top and manipulate /shape  then inject fat and lipo where needed?

What is the recovery and pain level?

Are there advanced lipo techniques?  Various options?

3 D tatoos versus nipple construction

 How do they take care of Dog Ears?

Any input and informaton would be so appreciated

dee7493, I had my Phase2 done last Monday. I'm still pretty swollen and nurse yesterday said all swelling will take up to 6 weeks to go down, but I can get back in the gym this week and help things along. But there is no way I could lie on my side on the floor! Recovery time depends on what you have done. I took 1.5 days off work and worked from home the rest of the week, no issues. But I did not drive for 4 days, but walked day2 after. My surgery was about 2hrs and PS went in through the ab scar edges, then tidied those up. I have massive bruises on both hips/love handle area and it looks and feels as if I have been kicked by a horse (or 2!). He then moved the lipo'd fat on top of my boob area both sides, to "fill them out". Now nipple recon is something else! 2 small incisions vertical, then he pulls the skin together, twists it into a lilttle button shape and stiches it back in place. These stitches will desolve in a few weeks. I now have to wear nipple shields for 6 weeks, which I can tell you is a little bit of a clothes challenge as they show throw EVERYTHING!!!!!!! Loose jackets and cardigans for work for me now! It's difficult to know if I will need anything else done as this needs to settle down first. Pain was OK, nips were fine, but the hip/lipo area was/is still very painful. I didn't take too much though, just worked through it. I didn't really have any bad "dog ear" areas, but at your consult you should ask the PS what will happen in that area. I had a small dip one side, and that seems to have been filled in. I'm pretty happy with the results so far. Need to buy new bras! Padded to hide the nipple shields - man I have bought so many different bras throughout this whole process. Oh, yes and you MUST HAVE spanx, PS wanted mine on before I left the OR! Have to wear them for 2-3 weeks. Still wearing mine. Next PS visit is in 6 weeks time.