Diep 2012

Jeskachi... The doctor told me to stop using the non-stick pads because they keep things too moist...

and I agree that a compression garment would help keep things in place, and preferably one that is crotchless so you don't pull it up and down all day.

I think so?? The ones I had and was given by the doctor were thin and slick... and the purpose was to avoid sticking... but I was using these when my incision opened up and so they told me to stop using them because "they keep the skin too moist." And yet was was to continue using a very small piece on my nipple because it was having trouble healing, but did not have an incision on it, just raw skin.

Hi,

I think I will be having a deip sometime this fall. I'm just finishing up chemo this week.then rads start in april. I've gotten all my range if motion back in my arms. I had thought I was just having saline exchange. After the deip I wouldnt lose the range off motion in my arms? I was a little shocked when he said I'd be in hosp three days. Ill also have breast reduction on the left side at same time.

You still have to wait 6 months out from rads for sx? I saw my ps today for last fill today.

He said seen him two weeks after rads. I'll have to email him. I thought they had to fill mem for my upcoming rads. idk about the tissue thing.

kasey:  I actually bought one of those Ahh bras from WalMart.  It does have support around the cup but there are no seams anywhere.   There is even a pocket for pads which come out if you don't want or need them.  The only discomfort for me is the drain sites under the breast are still sore and every single bra hits them.  However, this is the most comfortable bra - and I've tried the hospital ones and my pre-surgery back closure - that I've had on and it does have the cup support. 

redinrah.  I hope you've taken care of your infection.  I had the same thing, but we caught it early.  I still had to spend an extra 5 days in the hospital and am home on 14 days of IV.  Don't put anything on it yourself!  If you're not in horrible pain, keep a clean white towel at the site and see if you can get any of the discharge out. I actally went back to the hospital in an ambulance.  With all else you've had going on I COMPLETELY understand this setback.  But getting the correct medicine is absolutely essential.   My PS originally wanted to call in an Rx for Keflex, which turned out would have been completely ineffective to the kind of infection I picked up.  Don't let this go!

Sadie- thanks for the advice, m appt is tomorrow am, the smell seems to. Have gone with the antibiotics, discharge is still there.



For all those, how long does it take for your belly button to heal....mine is all stabbed over inside...

It's very tender on the stomach just directly over the belly button, any one else experience this?



It's always hard to know what's normal and whats not.....

redninrah - my stomach skin was sensitive above the belly button. I don't remember how long it took to get better but it's better now and has been for a few weeks at least. I'm also 10.5 weeks out from surgery now.

rthrift1 -  It was not very painful. The breast one hurt just a little bit when he pulled it out, but the abdominal didn't hurt at all for me. It felt weird and ripply, but no pain and what a relief it was to get them out. For me as long as they were below 30 mL a day, they took them, but other doctors have other numbers. I got one (breast) out at 1 week past surgery and the others (abdominal) out 2 weeks after surgery.

bdavis 1 & 2  - I also wondered about the cloning.  

-Judy

my belly button, would scab, then fall off and then scab again, but i think the baths i was having was not good, anyways, havent had a bath now (only showers) ands it scabbed up pretty good, so im hoping it will fall off when its ready! 

yes my stomach above the belly button is tender to touch and just feels tense like stiff muscle.

Anyways i am happy that my incision discharge doesnt smell, its still green but it doesnt look too gross inside like it did before, ewwwwwww yellow tissue gross..........

Drains i didnt feel a thing in the breast one.............and i did for the abdomin one,,,,a little painful. 

Hi folks,

I'm 5 weeks post bilateral DIEP.  I seem to be having difficulties with heartburn for last couple of weeks. I don't think it is the pain meds because I really haven't taken any recently.  I'm now wondering if it is related to the surgery on the abs.  Have you ever heard of heartburn related to this surgery?

Thanks for all your great info on this thread.

Sharon

Ladies - could your problem with heartburn be related to eating too soon before going to bed?  I can see how sleeping on your back would encourage reflux.   Just a random thought. 

I'll be having my next PS consult on March 15th.  I'm already tired of wearing prostheses, can't imagine doing that forever.  I've got a long time to wait for my surgery  -  probably will be August as I finished rads on 1/12/2012 and I would like to enjoy most of my summer.

Hugs and healing to everyone who's in recovery.

(Sorry- I'm not good at replying on this website. Can't remember things from one page to the next with these pain meds messing me up and honestly, probably couldn't remember even without the pain meds! So I'm splitting my replies from pages 20 and 21 since you can't go back and forth without losing what you've written so far.)

bdavis 1 & 2- I also did a double take. I read the first post from bdavis2 and wondered why Betsy had deleted her pretty picture. Then I saw her picture again. I was confused. lol

Fran- Welcome! I haven't lost any ROM in my arms after DIEP, but I did after my MX and lymph node removal in 2009. I honestly think this recovery is easier.

I also woke up in the middle of the night with acid reflux. I've NEVER had that before. It wasn't very pleasant. I'm still on pain meds and sleeping on my stomach. I don't know what caused it, but I hope it doesn't happen again.

Michelle- Once I decided to have reconstruction, I had a really hard time putting that prosthesis on every day. I hated the thing! Well, I hated it before I decided to have the surgery too, but it really intensified after I had a surgery date. One reason why I chose to have surgery now was to avoid summer because we spend so much time in the pool. I don't blame you for wanting to wait.

I'm doing pretty good here. I woke up yesterday morning with a fever- 101.7. I was so afraid that something was going on. I took a pain pill because the ones I'm taking contain Tylenol and it went away and hasn't come back. I had decided that if the pill didn't help or the fever came back, I would call my PS office. Luckily, it went away. I have my two-week followup on Thursday morning, so I'll mention it then but seems to be an isolated incident. I think maybe I just overdid it. I spent all day yesterday on the couch. I need to remember that I'm still recovering and take it easy.

My breasts look really good as does my abdomen. Most of the steri-strips are gone and it's beginning to heal. My mom came yesterday to bring us dinner and I showed her and had her touch my breasts. We are so amazed by this surgery! I just want to show them to everybody! 

Dr Guay's office just upped my PreOp day for March 28th. Surgery still Apr 30th.

TexasRose: just realized from your post I won't be living in the pool!      however, I am hoping I heal quick with no problems. Then by July maybe it will be good.

Anyone NOT get the nipples and tattoos. I am thinking I don't want them. Have spent most of my life hiding the darn 'nip-ons' , and honestly....I figure if I am not joining a nudist colony, do I really need them. Any opinions??

Let us know how the appt goes Red.

hello im back,

Dr Guay looked at my incision and sed he wants to stitch me back up, one stitch or so. Im going back in tomorrow to his clinic and he will do it then. He said you shouldnt have to walk around with an open wound. He said, sometimes, the body does not absorb internal stitches and the body rejects them. This is exactly what had happened, there was this stringy gooey stuff came out, (the stitch). The smell has gone , but he told me to continue to take antibiotics.

 Another fill, and wow this time the breast really protruded out more than before......so exciting watching a breast develop.

YAY

That's AWESOME red! : )