DIEP 2011

Well, met with both PS, one Wed. and one Thurs. and now have to decide.  I will end up being smaller than I am now (and I'm only a B cup now), but I am okay with that as I have decided a BMX is the right decision for me and if that means I'm smaller, then so be it.  I will think long and hard about it this weekend and then decide.  I am happy to have two qualified PS to choose between, I just read "First you cry" and can't believe how far the field has come in the past 30 years (and truly even is the past 5!).

hello again,

the misery index just went up over here- my dad is now in the hospital (88 yrs old) from chemo-related problems, looks like the last lap for him, maybe a few more months..don't know when he'll be released so we might be in the hospital at the same time...

all of which has preoccupied my thoughts, but I do need to finish prepping for my Nov 8 surg. 

should I get some sterile gauze and tape? What size?

thx, as always for helping us newbies out!

I took care of myself... but bear in mind, i was out of town for surgery, so coming home was like 10 days post op... but once home i was alone... and did have dinners brought in.. and also I do have a son and husband who in the after hours did carry groceries, laundry etc...

Sandi... no TRAM, I had DIEP which is a  different recovery as DIEP does not take muscle... but outcome is the same... I went back to work at 5 weeks, but could have gone back at 3...

I also have a question... I am two weeks away from my stage 2 and worry that my left breast has issues... The inside half is soft, but the outside half is still quite firm... bear in mind that my left breast was a hip flap, not an ab flap...How does fat necrosis feel? Can you have half of the breast fine and the other half not?? And what can they do if it is necrosis? Try to break it up and see what takes? I did faint in the shower a week after surgery... My friend caught me,but I wonder if I damaged something... I saw my PS a month after surgery and expressed concern that it was so firm, but he wasn't worried... 

Mary,

Yes! 

I started traveling for work at week eight-and-a-half, which involved lots of air travel. I wish it had been something fun, like a cruise! 

You'll want to consider whether you'll have someone to help you carry luggage (and shopping bags???) . Even if you check luggage, it has to be lifted into car/out of car; onto airline scale/off luggage carousel. When I travel for work, I can get my bag with clothing to less than 15 pounds, which was my PS's weight restriction then, but ...work clothing is boring. On a cruise you may want to bring more than the minimalist Barbie doll mix'n'match that lets me pack four items of clothing for five days.  If you have luggage help; go for it! 

A cruise sounds like the perfect way to get back into normal life but still have some very attractive ways to get rest when you need it (lounge chair...). 

All this assumes no complications, and I will tell you that some of my skin died, and by eight weeks it was not yet fully healed, so swimming was nixed. Something like that could put a damper on fun stuff like snorkeling.  Some women have had more difficult complications that might have made travel more challenging. Can you get trip insurance in case the unexpected happens?  (And read the fine print to make sure that unexpected complications from previously scheduled surgery are a reimbursable event.)

You'll get lots more perspectives here, so stay tuned for more opinions.

Carol

I seem to be the one that has to be "special."  My incision opened up a couple weeks after surgery, (I think because my drain fell out.)  BUT while it has been slow to heal, because it's my rads side, I am happy that it is almost healed.

I had a small area on my abdominal incision open up, I was all healed in & then the top layer of skin opened up.  Hoping that heals in again.

I finally get to go to Stage II surgery.  Get to do lift & some reduction on the non rads side as it is quite a bit larger than the other.  At least one cup size. So then I won't be a C+ & a B- anymore.  We will probably schedule the surgery closer to my Christmas vacation. I can't afford to be off work.

To those having DIEP soon.  It took me about 2 1/2 weeks to be able to sleep in bed instead of the recliner. Then a had a nest of pillows, one was a memory foam pillow which I am still using.  It makes side sleeping easier.  

I putzed around the house from the first day at home.  I used those Gripper things to pick up stuff off the floor, do laundery or get dishes out of the dishwasher.  DH did the cooking.  Hoping all your surgeries go well. NJ

NJ, you have had more than your share of set backs, hope all is healed soon.  I am all healed, hoping nothing changes that with rads.

Eek - Got surgery date of Nov. 30th for BMX with DIEP recon.  Scared and excited.  Will post more later.  Am trying to read whole thread, but it's slow going, finally got up to page 57 yesterday...

Hi Texas Rose. I have had a consultation for DIEP but have not had surgery yet. If I decide to it would probably be about 6 months or so out. I was wondering since your cruise is all planned why dont you book the surgery date for when you come back? I think from what people have said the recovery time can vary. Some people get back to their activity level quicker than others. Whatever you do have a great vacation when you go. sounds amazing.

Goldlining... I had surgery Aug 23 and Oct 15 weekend had my Avon Walk (39 miles).. I managed 23 of those miles but not because I was tired, but because I have a foot problem... You can do it!!!

Has anyone had pain control post-op in hospital via transverse abdominal plane nerve block? 

It is a tiny tube inserted inside the abdominal incision that gets IV something-caine from the pain control department, in addition to the patient-clicker magic juice. The tiny tube or tubes that are inside the abdominal incision are pulled out before leaving the hospital (unlike one or more of the charming JP drain tubes.)

I get how the nerve block could benefit pain relief at the time, but I am most interested in knowing from anyone who's had it whether the insertion of the nerve block something-caine supply tube leaves any hurting in the muscle in any way afterwards. I don't care about the hole in my skin/incision, just whether there is any hole in the muscle that might slow down rebuilding ab strength. There seems to be confusion between the consent form that describes a cut to insert it and the descriptive comments of the anaesthesiologist who doesn't recall seeing any cutting beyond what they do to take the ab flap off.

Did you get a tissue expander?

What considerations did you have before deciding to delay the diep. I'm facing something similar-would rather go with immediate diep.

I'm just catching up to everything that's been going on.  It sounds like things are going smoothly for most everyone!  Good to hear!  I'm 7 months out from DIEP but about to have my 3rd round of liop/fat grafting.  Life is 90% back to normal and, other than refusing to buy new bras and cool new clothes until I'm completely done, I'm feeling good.  

A couple of things that I didn't need and am sorry I bought: 1) a reclider (even though it was used and very pretty).  I simply found it more comfortable to sleep in my own bed. 2)special pillows.  I used a lot of regular pillows to sleep.  I had one on each side, one below my knees one under my head and 2 on top of me to protect me from my cats and dogs.  3) spanx/compression garmets.  I had a velcro support band I wore for a month but I honestly didn't need much else.

My key items: yoga pants, tank tops, zip up jackets and a few men's shirts.  I looked like a slob, but it was temporary.  I then didn't feel any guilt when I threw all of those ugly clothes away.

I was back to dog walking at 4 weeks and walking 6 miles a day at 6 weeks.  But, I was pretty hearty when I first had surgery.  Each progressive surgery has takem me longer to recovery from even though they are easier surgeries.  If you plan on traveling soon after, just allow yourself to rest and do what your body tells you to do.   Pushing it a bit is good.  Pushing it a lot is not.

As for taking care of yourself, it's possible IF you can get away without lifting and driving.  I took advantage of my husband for a week after I got home but then he went back to work.  

I will say this to those who are just starting their journey.....it will be over before you know it.  It's not half as bad as it is when we're worrying about it in anticipation. 

Thanks for those posting about the nerve block. I think I will consent to it. I have had all the pre-admission stuff and now just that demon "anticipation" to wrestle. I'm bilat DIEP Dec 15 (one side immediate, the other delayed from last year). Not looking forward to covering over the holidays (have some ill family members I'm trying not to distress).