DIEP 2011

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  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited January 2012

    At stage II I had my abdominal scar revised (reopened) and lipo at flanks (muffin top) and legs... I actually think he lipo'd first and then once the skin was looser he revised my scar and removed some skin.. cause it is not loose and yet the fat is gone. And my outer thighs looks great too. I had big bruises after lipo especially at the outer thigh and love handle areas, so I think that is where most of my fat came from. I was "resting" for 1.5 weeks and then back to work... the bruised feeling lasted for about 2-3 weeks though, but recovery improves faster at stage II... at first though I felt like I was hit by a truck...as long as I didn't move I was ok though.

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2012

    Hey ladies, I'm like 2 weeks out of the abdominal surgery. And even the bandages are all out, I'm wearing gauze, I noticed some blood on one side, is this normal? And I think the blood has stopped. I'm guessing some part of the incision must have got stressed/pulled and bled a little

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited January 2012
    redninrah - I had little bits of red on the gauze here and there occasionally. If it bleeds more than a little bit I'd worry, but a little bit is probably OK.
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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2012

    Oh ok, it was a little more than a drop, but it seems to have dried up. Ill check later on tonight when I change my gauze .

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited January 2012

    I am enjoying my last cup of coffee for a few weeks...Heaven help my family. I wonder if I can just put it in my mouth and swoosh, but not swallow...

    Red, Doc says no mint....does that mean not to use mint toothpase on surgery day.  It's not like I'll swallow.

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2012

    U can use ur toothpaste - no swelling. My friend came in to the hospital and gave me gum. I was chewing on it and the nurse said no no. I completely forgot lol.



    I am excited for you Michelle. You will be so happy :) do u have lots of belly fat. I did. Lots of loose skin. I feel though my belly is not as flat as I wanted it though, bit of a muffin top going on....we shall see what happens, right now, my main concern is my boob

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2012

    Ladies two weeks out, and I'm driving my car

    ,,,,,

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited January 2012

    I don't have a lot of fat...I hope there is enough...I thinkI lost weight this past few weeks.  I tend to stop eating when in stress mode..

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2012

    Gd luck for tomorrow, what time is it

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited January 2012

    8:00am.  I am worried about the freezing rain..why tonight of all nights

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2012

    Mine was 8 too I had to be there for 6.15

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  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 3,345
    edited January 2012

    Good luck micheleboots!



    Red, glad to hear you're driving! With all the complications you had, that's amazing. I'm sure it feels great to be getting back to normal.

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2012

    Kay- yes, I go back to work in two weeks, but I might go back sooner, chest is fine, abdomen diep incision is great, just sharp pains here and there in armpit

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited January 2012

    So it turns out that when someone has a hand amputated it takes prioriity over breast being attached...Yup, I got there and was waiting to go, then they cancelled on me.  Some my place in the OR.  Dr. Guey was so nice.  He said he even offered to help them with the amputation so he could get me in...He knows that my husband is only here for a few days, so he has me rebooked for Monday..not sure what time.

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  • puce
    puce Member Posts: 159
    edited January 2012

    micheleboots-I hope you get in soon, the agony of waiting was worse than the actual surgery for me! 

    Red-You sounds so positive, good for you for driving!  It's nice to have something to distract you a little bit I hope.

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2012

    michele- ohhhhhhhhhh, the waiting game. And you must have been so nervous. Dr Guay is the best!

    well on the bright side, you have a few more days of coffee. My incisions are healing nicely. 

    Im wearing my yoga pants slightly higher so they offer some compression on my stomach. I wear my binder when i go to sleep. Ive ordered my spanx so cant wait for that.

    Puce- in this day and age, one has to be positive.One can knock me down as many times, but ill always get up and get over it and come out stronger. Life is full of challenges, andim ready to take them on. Im not going to lie and say its not easy, its been a rollercoaster ride for me. Dont know which is worse, the cancer or the reconstruction. 

    Im sure in a few months, ill be bragging about me boob to everyone :)

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited January 2012

    Well at least now I know what to expect..It was easy and the nurses were nice..I was relieved to find that they would insert mu catheter after I am asleep...If I am wrong, Red...don't tell me.  It would stress me out to much.

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2012

    Hahaha yes yes the catheter goes in when ur asleep!!!!!!

    Just so you know, I've had a catheter installed twice when was awake.........I told u my experience at the hospital wasn't all that ..... :)

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited January 2012

    Good recovery story: I am 6 weeks + 1 day post bilateral DIEP and just ran a 5K last night, and actually ran most of it. Just alternated 3 mins run and 30-60 sec walk. I expected to walk more so I am very happy even though my time was not great, and I felt great after. Now for the 13.1 mile half marathon tomorrow!

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  • Del11
    Del11 Member Posts: 944
    edited January 2012

    You really got clearance from your ps to run a half marathon?? That seems risky to me. All that bouncing can't be good for the flaps.

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  • Del11
    Del11 Member Posts: 944
    edited January 2012

    P.S. to the post above... remember ladies, this is a good rule of thumb during DIEP recovery:  just because you *can* do it, it doesn't mean you *should*.  Talk to your doctors first!

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  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited January 2012

    Goldlining... I agree with Jeskachi... 6 weeks is right at the time they allow you to lift more than 10 pounds.. Your body is still recovering and you need to baby it. I walked a marathon and a half 7 weeks post DIEP and would never have considered running it. You don't want to dislodge the vessels.

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited February 2012

    I have a quick question to all those ladies who have done the diep, I'm like 3.5 weeks out and I noticed along my abdominal scar there is a area under the scar that is hard. I'm guessing it's either scar tissue or hernia......did anyone else have this? Does it go away or will it be removed in stage 2 ???

    I appreciate the feedback.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited February 2012

    I discussed the run with him in the first consult. I asked if I was crazy to do it and he said yes -- because my time would suck, but if I did not care about the time, it was okay. At the follow up at the 3 week point, he cleared me not only to run but also to ride roller coasters at 6 weeks. (In fact, I decided not to ride any because some moderately demanding non-coaster rides did not feel comfortable.)

    My PS has almost none of the restrictions other people are given by theirs. I got an 8 week limit on ab exercise and lifting > 10 lb and other than that, eat anything, wear anything, do anything that was comfortable. He is an experienced surgeon that holds an endowed chair at a university hospital in the field of flap reconstruction, so I trust his judgement. I was advised to wear a firm sports bra (and I would have anyway) and there was no bouncing. Afterwards I did have swelling on the delayed flap side where the two nodes were previously taken, but it went down in a compression shirt. I had milder swelling even with walking around, so I think it was generic exertion, not specifically running. (I have swelling again now after physio and massage.)

    I think it's important to get on the same page between patient and surgeon about activities and values. It's really easy to just ban everything but not the best for recovery of the whole person. I was happy the surgeon understood from the first consult that being active was important to my mental health. I am a crappy runner, not good at it at all, but it is good to me, and I was very glad he understood that. That said, I wouldn't advocate other people just haul off and do a big run, but to discuss what they want to do with their surgeons.

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  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited February 2012

    Red.. I had that but it was just above the incision.. When I went for stage II I asked my PS what it was and could he get rid of it, and he said it was the remnants of my belly button, and he did get rid of it... BUT I have less feeling in the abdominal area now that the lump is gone.

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited February 2012

    Ohhhhh thanks for clarification

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  • pamdo
    pamdo Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2012

    Red, 

    I have the same thing - small pea sized hard lump under my abdo scar to right of belly button.  My doctor said its an undissolved stitch...and not to worry about it.  I just had stage 2..and she left it there.  Her opinion said better not to disturb it - I had hard time healing abdo incision, so she is reluctant to open up again.

    P 

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited February 2012

    I have a question for those of you who were given an abdominal binder after your surgery. I know that not everyone was given one, but for those of you who were, can you answer the following questions for me? (I know we may not all remember everything 100%, I'm just looking for people who are further along then me and have had a similar experience.

    1. How long did you wear the binder 24 hours a day?

    2. Did you change to a girdle, Spanx, something other than what they put you in after surgery? (if so when)

    3. If you wore the binder part time but not 24 hours a day, when did you wear it and when did you not wear it.

    4. How long post surgery did you stop wearing the binder? 

    5. When you stopped wearing the binder, did you notice anything change in your recovery/physical appearance/physical feeling.

     Feel free to PM me if you'd prefer.

    Here's why I'm asking:

    I'm about 7.5 weeks post op (Dec. 15) and I noticed that the binder was making my abdominal skin somewhat sensitive when I took it off in the evening (I've not been sleeping with it). So yesterday I decided that maybe I should try going without. Yesterday was fine. This evening, though, and I even noticed it this afternoon, I'm somewhat bloated in the abdominal area. I'm wondering if it's because I've not been wearing the binder and also if it would have happened whenever I stopped wearing it.

    Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

    -Judy

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  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited February 2012

    Judy... I did not wear a binder, but did wear a girdle. And after stage II in particular, I have the bloat. There are a few women I email with comparing photos and symptons.. I had some bloat after stage I also, but not like after stage II... My doctor's office says its swelling that can take months to go away. When I feel particularly bloated I put the girdle back on... I was also told it helps for exercising and activity.. But for me, I'd rather bloat after exercise than feel restricted and I don't think it matters long term.

    I can't answer your binder questions though.

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited February 2012

    I wore the binder for 2 weeks and then switched to spanx for another 2 . And typically wore these 24 hrs a day.

    My ab scar is healing really well. I am definitely still swollen or I'm beginning to think he shifted all my fat to my belly lol. I'm going to ask today cuz my belly looks like I'm pregnant. And I. Was not. Like this before, I had a loose belly fat in the. Lower part .

    M appt is today with ps so I'll be asking.

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