Diep 2012

Ysa - me too - drawing the morning of surgery. DH said the PS looked like a tailor with his tape measure around his neck and stuff. I'll have to get copies of the pics that he took that morning too, along with all the others.

It seems that all PS have different protocols.  I don't get marked until Monday either.  I was told that for me, it's easy, but that my family should go to the mall (attached to the hosptial) for part of the day b/c it will be long for them.  I won't be allowed to move for 2-3 days while in ICU, but as soon as I get put in a room, I will shower with my drains.  And I get sent home on Friday.  First set of drains come out the following Tuesday and the rest come out Friday.  No bras, no compression, no bandags.

 Can't wait until it's over!  Trying to wrap things up at work . . .

Thanks, goldlining!  I have considered that the drugs may help dull any potential caffeine withdrawal headache which I suspect will pale in comparison to the immediate pain of the surgery!  I can probably handle the chocolate ban...lol.  And I can pass on the coffee if I must.  But right now I need one can of diet coke by noon.  So I'll definitely work on it over the summer. 

Dressinger, I know I am pages behind, but I say Yes, go to Paris.  Unlike some of the others, I am a slow recoverer and I am about 3 1/2 months out now and could definately go (could not do a marathon or 1/2 or anything over 5 miles...).  I am tired this week from not getting enough sleep, so perhaps just a word of caution to not try to do too much before you go.  It is easy to get lulled into doing too much.

Cookie,

I think you should go with what you "Really Want".  When I had my stage II was when my PS got rid of my dog ears and did lippo and that was not that painful, but I always have to say that I used the meds cus I do not do pain very well.  When my nipples got made, my PS had me come in and he numbed me locally in the Out Patient Surgical Center.  I was awake for the whole procedure.  I also had the both my breasts reduced, previous to the nipples being made,  but that was all that was done at that time and the procedure was not that long either.  Are you really tired of all the surgeries?  Because I was, but I also wanted things finished the way I wanted and asked for it.  When all is said and done that final decision is yours and if you are happiest being closest to the size you were then go with the option you really want and figure you are almost at the finish but you want it your way... so maybe one more surgery is not that bad for you.

12 hrs!!! omg this is going to be long sx.arrrghhh mine will be later this year. damn this better be worth it.

Sarah: I woke up after a terrible night ready to get on here and ask the exact same question. I am 3 weeks out as well and I can not sleep comfortably on my back. My stomach also feels strange and I avoid touching it. I used to be a big hugged and now I really try to avoid them. I just generally still feel tight and achy.

Dutchy: Thanks for the encouragement because I have questioned whether I wanted to go back for more surgeries but know I will never be satisfied with my breasts as they are now.

Yesterday was 3 months out exactly for me. My stomach still feels weird. I just stopped wearing abdominal support, so I guess I'm getting used to that too. You do get used to the strange feeling. I am still amused in the shower when I look down and can see the water hitting my belly but can't feel it at all. I have a big dead spot where the flap is on my breast but I don't seem to notice it nearly as much as my belly.

-Judy

Oh my gosh, I completely overlooked the 3-month DIEP-iversary, Cookie! I was mauled by my physio really good in the morning. She stretched out both shoulders and hips and made me do core exercises. There I was thinking I was coming along and maybe didn't need more, and I can see I need a lot more. The ligaments at the front of the shoulder are very tight, and although the hip ligaments are improving, still a ways to go. I do have feeling in both abdominal area and flaps, but not everything feels like what it is. Some places in the flap I feel underneath in the muscle but not the tissue on top. Other places I feel the skin, but not underneath etc. I think some sensation comes back but in other cases you get used to the new normal. The ab incision really hurts when she stretches the scar and the hip ligaments. I could enjoy that more if it was numb!

@bdavis - I was a DD before the surgery, I only had enough to make me a B so I will be getting implants to get back up or close to my original size.  Im sure it will change as time goes on as its only been 2 weeks but the bulk of my size is in my lower breast, the center is kind of concave where the patch of stomach skin is stitched in. My PS said he would be lifting it back up in stageII.

@TexasRose - great idea with sleeping with a pillow on top of you.  I love when my dog sleeps on my belly and chest or my side near my shoulder but she hasnt been able to since the surgery.  Ill still wait awhile before I let her, right now shes been sleeping by my side or on my legs.

For the most part I feel ok, just after Ive walked for a long time I get pain in my sides, like the wound is trying to pull open. Even though I know it wont I hate that feeling.  

I bought a bra yesterday too that I can start wearing next week.  Thankfully, I cant wait. I am tired of looking so flat and having all my clothes fit me like I am a hanger. At least it can provide a little bit of shape until stage II.

I'm sitting here with two GIGANTIC holes in my chest so the thought of hamburger bun shaped breasts doesn't freak me out so much. My odd bird-breasted anatomy, combined with the fact that my frame is very wide and my BS left a little additional skin in consideration of the upcoming DIEP, has left me with a horrifying landscape. I just hope there's enough flap tissue to fill in these caverns...

dressager, an equestrien are you?  i think we're in the same boat...wide frame although BS left quite a bit of additional skin for recon.

LOL...you just did.  Posting bumps the message.  = )

im almost 11 weeks post op. my stomach is numb some of it still burns. definitely feels weird if someone brushes up against me,but it use to be much worse.my first week post-op every time i ate i could feel everything moving inside,anyone have that?  my ps told me to stop caffeine 2 weeks before surgery and not to have any until 6 weeks post-op. now i cant tolerate the caffeine,makes me too anxious.i had to sleep on my back for 6 weeks and wear my spanks for 4 weeks after the drains came out. next week i see my ps to plan the next stage of reconstruction,remove hip flaps,lift right side. my clothes fit me differently because of these "ears" so im glad i can have them off.

It has been almost a year and a half for me since my DIEP Stage I and am just starting to have good feelings in my stomach. I still do not regret any of the pain or numbness.  It has all been well worth it for me.  My tatoos looked great at first but now they are fading because that is the base coat for the more permanent color which will come in 30 days after the initial tattoo.  Can not wait for the final touch up as they looked wonderful the first 5 days and now the color is not so perfect because it is the base coat.  I spoke with my tattoo artist and she said that the full color stays after the final touch up.  Anyone else have tattoos lately and what was your experience?

Evelyn