Diep 2012

After my Diep, I preferred the bed. I actually didn't like the recliner, but I did use a wedge under my knees in bed, so that I didn't over stretch my belly.

I loved sleeping in the recliner!! I don't think I could have slept on the bed at all.  Mine has a handle as well, I had trouble the first night or two, but then it was fine.  I used an airline pillow behind my head at night, a pillow under my legs and pillows under each arm b/c one needed heat from a leaked IV on my last day.  I slept on the recliner for quite a long time, I would have to look back to see how long, but more than two weeks. Plus I had a comfy heated blanket and the TV, it was great actually.

I had no need to use a recliner. Preferred pillows. I didn't like sitting in one at the hospital either.

I think I recovered quicker because I needed to use my muscles lightly and I enjoyed stretching out flat on my bed for a few minutes before I got comfy with the pillows and in the AM I would throw them on the floor and stretch flat again before I would roll over on to my side and put my feet on the floor and get up. At week 2 or so I started laying on my yoga mat on the floor for 10 to 15 minutes every night and morning

Julianna51,

I rented an electric hospital bed for $140/month and only used it that long.  We put it in the living room and it worked well for me.  Good luck to you!

Yes, I keep telling my parents (and anyone else) to NOT wait around all day...that it will be a very long day.  However, they are being stubborn and think they have to wait there.  They are 83 years old so I hope they will listen at the time of surgery and go to my sister's house (which is much closer to the hospital than their home) and just be comfortable for the day.

After they took me in for surgery, DH went back and got DS ready for school and then took him to school. Then, I think, he went back to his parents (our base of operations) and took a nap. He also picked DS up from school etc... I don't think he came back to the hospital until they told him I was out and heading to recovery. Since my surgery was 14 hours, he didn't get to see me until 10:35 pm. Apparently around 9 pm they gave up and put DS to bed again at the in-laws' house and my parents went home - I suspect they were all hanging out at the in-laws' house. Sitting around a hospital is no fun, discourage it as much as possible. With my shorter surgeries, DH did stick around the hospital but he had his laptop along and books to read.

I just had my 2 month followup appointment, and I must admit I am extremely discouraged. I just knew we would talk about phase II and get the ball rollling on touching things up. Well, I was wrong. He says the dog ears, that I think are horrible, will go down on their own. The doctor tends to think it is fluid and swelling that just needs a little more time. There is a large scar on my breast that he said he will fix during phase II, but I left with no new surgery date and the same dissapointments. Please dont get me wrong. I am very grateful and blessed to be cancer free and to have the reconstruction process started. I do realize that I have alot to be thankful for. I guess I just set my expectations too high. I cant fit into any of my clothes, and things just cant get better fast enough. Anyone else not have weight loss or have problems with dog ears?? Is there any special exercises or diets that helped?? Please someone.....give me hope! This diep surgery hasnt been nearly as great as I thought!

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences about DIEP reconstruction!

I live in the Chicago area and I am planning to schedule my bilateral DIEP reconstruction with Dr. Loren Schechter, his practice is University Plastic Surgery located at 9000 Waukegan Rd., Morton Grove, IL. Does anyone have any experience with Dr. Loren Schechter for DIEP reconstruction?

Also, I have a question for those of you that are post-surgery: I know the development of keloids is very unpredictable but I am wonder if anyone has developing keloid after DIEP?

Had a reply typed out and I lost it. Hate it when that happens.

rthrift1- I must be a week ahead of you. I'm 9 weeks out and had my followup with the PS last Thursday. We discussed my Stage 2 surgery and they will call this week to schedule it. Where did you leave things with your PS? Do you have another appt scheduled?

atv- I can't help you, but good luck!!

Cookie- Yes! I have the same thing. I have been feeling so flat. Today, I am so bloated. It could be for two reasons for me and I haven't decided which one yet. It could be because I have been moving my body a lot today. I rearranged some furniture and did some heavy duty cleaning. It seems to swell a lot with activity. Or it could be because I had a migraine over the weekend and I spent two solid days basically laying flat without moving. So mine is either over-activity...or under.

I don't take Tamoxifen and I don't have periods anymore, but I do understand the brain going down the C road. That darned migraine. Or at least I hope it was a migraine. You know where my mind immediately goes. By the time I talked myself back to sanity, my sister and brother were both texting me and DH and saying I should get it checked out just to be sure. I do enough worrying on my own although I appreciate their concern. I had already emailed the onc's office and let them know. I haven't heard from them. So, it's been a bit of a whiny day here too.  

I am 4 months post stage II and I get bloated still... and it seems to be worse after exercise.

Next fall, one year after stage II I am having a consult with my PS to discuss what next.. and it may include a plication (stitch stomach muscles together) but I am trying to tighten it up with exercis in the meantime.

I bought a recliner but after trying for a couple of nights, I made the spouse sleep in it and I took the whole bed. My bed is high-ish, and I stacked up pillows for the time I needed to be more upright. The recliner I bought felt really nice in the store, but with a big incision I found it was harder to get the same recline factor. The bed worked okay but the chair was good for watching TV.

excellent question dressager, was wondering about the mild LE in arm and moderate in trunk and then going through another sugery.  as in how does that affect it all.

@julianna - Yep, I kinda hurried to get everything done during this insurance year since I knew I'd hit my out-of-pocket max!

Figured it was time for another update. It has now been 12 weeks since my surgery and I had an appointment with my PS today. I still have a 9cm. tunnel that  still has to be packed. Has not changed at all in the last 2 weeks.

I now have a buldge below my ab incision on the left side that he said is not a hernia just weakened tissue/muscle and he is sending me to therapy.I dont really understand how the right side is suppossed to heal if I am working those muscles to help the left side?

The wound care nurse came on wednesday and suggested I get a ct scan of my abdomen just to see if there is a problem. Just so happenes I am already scheduled for a chest ct tommorrow so my regular Dr included the ab too.

The PS did say that after I am all healed we will discuss about stage 2. So at least I will be getting some of the cosmetic issues dealt with so at least thats a plus.