DIEP 2011

Susan,

I'm happy to hear yup are feeling better and everything is set for your surgery in Charleston. Enjoy the city before you go in for surgery. I am 11 days out of a Bi Diep. I had a uni mast last June and an immediate mast 2 weeks ago days prior to the DIEP. My boobs are not symmetrical because one is radiated and the other is pretty swollen. The dr. Says that the swelling will go down and they will even out and then he may need to do some 'contouring". I only take about one pain pill a day and that is after sitting all day my stomach gets very tight and sore. I am walking around a lot and about the only thing I am doing for myself is showering. I am trying not to do any laundry, reaching , lifting, or anything that will delay my healing. I do notice that my stamina is severely diminished. I will have to work on that befor going back to work in a few weeks.

I'm amazed at how nice and flat my stomach is. It feels very tight and still swollen. All my drains have been removed and are healing nicely. Dr. Klein does not want me wearing anything tight on the belly so I wear loose sundresses around the house.

I know you are nervous/excited about this surgery. You will do great and you will have two new boobs and a flat tummy. Recovery will be tough but you will get better EVERY day. It is amazing what our bodies can endure.

Good luck and God bless!

shellyann: so true . . .you really have to take this whole journey one day at a time and be patient and kind to yourself.



mspradley: my pokey stitch drove me a bit crazy! I keep touching them all the time and I just had one main one to bug me! I do have small little lumpy things along my belly scar . . . I think it is scar tissue. I heal weird . . sometimes great and smooth, sometimes red and lumpy . . I have a bit of both going on. My breast scars are great, my belly scar varies along the stretch.



It is challenging to manage my expectations. It feels like I should look like a victoria's secret model after all I've been through. I was fine with my body before all this (well, mostly fine!) so why do I expect so much after? It just seems like that would be the fair thing!



So glad to hear all the good results on this forum! I feel a bit like a trail blazer. Although this surgery is becoming more and more common most people I talk to have never heard of it and can barely imagine it. I think it is great to get the word out!

Nanorama - well said.  I am one month out from unilateral delayed DIEP, and although it is not perfect, I love having something there that is really me.  I did have a TE put in in March because I had previously had radiation on that side in 2002 (first time I had a lumpectomy).  I am hopeful that in Stage 2 I will regain some symmetry bc right now I have a 13 yr old breast (not very big and very firm) and a saggy 55 yr old breast (it doesn't help things that I gained 75 lbs from 2002 to 2009 and have lost most of it over the last year and a half).  I see my PS next Tuesday and hope to find out what is next for me.

I got a camisole with a built in bra that I can step into.  It is certainly not perfect, but if I wear loose fitting tops, my breast look somewhat symmetrical.  Thank goodness I am not very big, because I'm sure it would be much worse.

One thing I have realized from reading this board is that every situation is a little different and the masterful PSs do the best they can for each one of our unique situations.  I appreciate Sue posting pictures last week, but I don't look anything like that.

 For those of you that have had surgery most recently - do take it easy and let your body heal.  Last week for a couple of days I felt like I went backwards; Monday it was 4 wks and it was like I was a new woman.  No pain and I could get around so much easier.  Hope everyone has a good weekend - I am going to help my daughter move (nice to have an excuse to not lift a thing).

Hi Mamaoftwo,

I talked to my PS yesterday, and she said that there will be changes to the DIEP breast due to radiation.  Some of the tissue will get hard, and likely the flap will shrink by up to 20%.  Not the best news, but not horrible.  The flap will not die, and she said that possibly, with massage, the fibrous hardness may be reduced over time.

I still haven't heard if I will need radiation, but my research indicates yes.  I have an appointment with a radiation oncologist next week.

Suz 

@Betsy ~ I had the same thing in one spot on the underside of my right breast. I'm 5-1/2 wks post op and it is just now healing to the point that it has stopped oozing. I've had dressings and antibiotic ointment on it this whole time. Luckily it doesn't hurt but it does look awful. Ugly, red and scarred. I hope my PS can make it look better somehow in Stage 2.

Yes, Betsy I had raw blistered skin.  I am 7 weeks out and have finally stopped constantly oozing.  The best thing I found was Curad non stick pads "comparable to Telfa".  I could only find 3" x 4" pads so I have to use two each time.  I thought I would end up scarred and pitted but my PS and my oncologist both said they think it will heal and smooth over eventually.

hi ladies, im having bmx immediate diep flap recon this wed 8/3. when i was 27 a jealous boyfriend told me he would not ever let me get breast implants. i broke up with him and got what a refer to as "spite" boobs. i went from a 34b to 38c. i waited 17 years before i replaced the implants. i sold my motorcycle because it was too dangerous. i bought new boobies with the $8000. i went from 400cc to 800cc. now i was a 34g or 34 dddd. crazy i know but what the hell. now here it is 3 years later and i find out that my boobs are too dangerous. the opportunity to have insurance give me a sort of breast reduction/tummy tuck is the way i have to think about what is about to happen to me. having had capsular contraction with both sets of implants im kind of a been there done that with the whole implant thing. the thought that i wont have to pay $100 for bras anymore is great, i keep telling my friends that im going to look like i dont have the weight of the world on my chest anymore. i just hope i dont fall over backwards from the weight of my ass. my surgeon told me my implants helped me detect my tumor early. who knew breast implants could help with early detection. so i guess i got my $8000 worth. yesterday i met a girl on the airplane who just had a heart transplant and a leg amputated, she is 19. today my cup is half full instead of half empty. p.s. i believe in donating organs and am signed up for organ donation. the 800cc implants; however, are going to be released back into the wild, they could not be tamed.

dontworrybehappy: I hope you much success with your DIEP. I am 2 months out and could not be happier with my decision.

Sue: I am glad that you have finished your treatments.

betsy:The areas on my tummy incision has finally closed. My breast is almost there.

Good vibes to those next in line.

Nanorama said: "The other thing I just wanted to mention is: it's apparently normal to experience some letdown following recon. The reconstructed foobs are reasonable facsimiles;  they aren't your breasts. Before surgery, I kept telling myself not to expect too much - and yet I still experienced some inner disappointment. My therapist says that the phase where we see our new selves in the mirror can be the first time we really confront having had breast cancer and having lost precious body part(s). Though the DIEP foobs will be warm and soft to the touch, there's little or no sensation, they may not be shaped like your own breasts, and of course they have surgical scars."

This bears repeating.  This is a process.  A LONG process.  I'm post stage II and pre Stage IIB and, even after that, there will be tatoos, more swelling, changes and then the exercise, toning and weight loss that will have to come after I'm done with all of the surgeries.  Sometime around January 2012 I expect I'll have the body I'm probably going to have for life.  I will have to learn what I can wear and "What Not To Wear" (can I just go on that show?).  I will have to work around scars when buying baithing suits.  I willl have to get to know and love a whole new physical me and also address the emotional me (who has somewhat been put in the background by the positive, strong me).  But, I will survive it all.  (And, yes, I sing that song ALL of the time.)

Suz39:  Thanks for the information.  A little shrinkage doesn't sound too bad, provided it can be repaired at Stage 2 with some added volume.  I have finished 8 out of 28 treatments, and so far, there is no discernable difference in size.  Good luck with your appointment; I hope you won't need radiation but at least you are mentally prepared for it.

Well, today is 13 days post uni-lateral DIEP, and I'm feeling great!  I agree with the ladies above, the key is letting yourself REST!!  Stock up on some good books, tape some trash TV you normally feel guilty watching, and lay back.

I've been off the pain meds for 3 days, am walking pretty much straight, tummy flat and tight!  I actually feel better with the binder on.  Breast not quite as swollen today.  One issue I'm having is lack of mobility in my arm.  Need to ask the PS what I can do!

For all that recommended them..thanks for the "wife-beater" t-shirt tip!!  Can't imagine wearing this binder without them!

It is so good that you recent diep'ers are sharing your experience! It helps so much to be prepared and not feel surprised.

Keeping warm helps reduce risk of infection. Nothing by mouth in case they need to whisk you back into the OR for repair, very low risk - my PS said about 4% require repair.

The tummy incision is a bit surprising no matter how prepared you think you are! I think that taking it around the hips helps reduce the 'dog ear' effect. 

While you are in ICU, take advantage of the one on one (or maybe one per two) ratio while you have it, but even on the regular floor, I used my call button liberally.

My IPOD and headphones were what really got me through! I used a 'hemi-sync' cd called Deep Journeys (there are lots of different hemi-sync cds); it weaves several tracks of music and sythesizer together which works for me when everything else fails. Having this cd on repeat allowed me to doze in and out throughout my hospital stay regardless of lights or noise or people coming and going. I was aware enough that i knew what was going on but able to sleep as much as possible.

My biggest complaint was how sore my butt bones got from sitting in the modified deck chair position for hours and hours the first few days! I should have asked for some kind of padding or brought my husbands memory foam pillow! I did ask the nurses to scoot me up 'cause I kept sliding down. I know some of the hospitals do a better job keeping you padded than others -- my hospital didn't do such a good job.

Kathy

I guess we are all different and have varied hospital experiences... I actually had hip flaps... Went in thinking i was getting abs and hips, but hips supplied enough fat... And have had little or no real pain.... I never pushed the pain button, and only took percocet after day 2, for 3-4 days to stay ahead of the curve, but now at day 11 i feel great, have done a ton of walking etc... I wonder if the difference is the abs v hips?



And my hospital was an awesome experience... There were only about 5 patients there at any given time, so i got plenty of attention...and never had to be in an ICU... Went straight to my room. And my friend who was with me had a murphy bed, so she was comfortable too...

Hi everyone,

I haven't checked in for a while and I miss the support.  I had BMX w/DIEP on June 1.  Officially 2 months ago today!  The good news is that I am back to my normal crazy work schedule (60 or so hours a week) and have been since July 5th.  The bad news is that I am still shocked by my own naked body.  I know that I will get past it and I am SOOO grateful that the surgery was such a success...but wow.  My hubby is incredible and tells me how great I look all of the time but I am still having ahard time.  

I am still wearing Spanx everyday.  I don't have to, but I feel more comfortable with them on.  I think that as some of the feeling starts to come back in my belly....it is aggravated with clothes rubbing against it.  Has anyone else had this issue?  It is like a sunburn....I wish I could describe it better!

I am still having the issue with my jaw as well....it was dislocated during surgery by the anesthesiologist.  HUGH BUMMER!  I am still unable to eat solid food without extreme pain.  I drink Ensure everyday, all day, then try solid food at night.  I am very frustrated with the lack of progress on my jaw.  I have now been referred to a maxil facial surgeon for a possible surgery.  I am really upset about that.  I have Stage ll scheduled for September 15th and am petrified about anesthesia.  The hospital has been awesome and I will be meeting with the head of anesthesia prior to the surgery.

Even after all of this I can tell you that DIEP was the best thing I have ever done.  I just want Stage ll to be over with.  I am looking forward to moving on.  My breasts look amazing and my flat belly is pretty cool.  I should stop complaining!

Thanks for everything ladies.  Good luck and loads of happy thoughts to all!!

Did anyone have neck pain weeks after surgery?  Stiff neck started about 2 weeks ago, l iced my neck and it felt better for a short time but now l have pain that shoots up to my ear and the back of my head. I went for my 6 week post op last week and the PS said it's due to sleeping on my back for so long and l need to do stretching excercise to help. I got IcyHot but that stuff is so short term.  No fun at all