Diep 2012

What a lousy couple of days...okay week. I posted earlier about my migraine last weekend. Apparently it wasn't a migraine. Best guess is that it's a viral meningitis-like infection. Short of doing a spinal tap, they can't know for sure. Of course the possibility of a brain tumor has been discussed also, but nobody thinks it is that. We just can't rule it out because of my BC. Even though I don't think it's that at all, that adds a level of stress only we BC'ers can understand. My onc is out of town. I saw my PCP yesterday and she gave me a shot of Toradol and a steroid injection. I felt so much better yesterday afternoon, but it wore off last night and the headache is back. Not nearly as severe as before, but definitely there. I thought the shot would last longer than that. They did labs but didn't have the results back late yesterday. It just has to be some viral infection. Symptoms were sudden onset, stiff neck, lower back pain, nausea and vomiting, chills, light sensitivity, and a pulsating throbbing headache from hell. The nausea and vomiting only lasted 24 hours so gone since last Sunday. Now it's just the stiff neck, back pain and the headache that will not go away except for a few blessed hours after the Toradol injection.

Blah, blah, blah...whine, whine, whine. Sorry girls, I just needed to vent.

Oh, and in the middle of it all, they called to schedule my Stage 2. May 7th. If this doesn't resolve soon, I might have to cancel that.

Tammy- so good to hear from you! How did the scans go? 

I need more information about the DIEP.  Waiting on date for double mastectomy. Radiation to follow so they do NOT want to do implants right now. They want to do DIEP at the time of surgery. Though they say the fat put into the breasts can't become cancerous, I am still bothered by the thought. Can anyone give me any info on this?  My husband is frightened of me being under anesthesia for up to 7 hours (7 hours is what they are saying).   I am considering no reconstruction at this time but at the same time I'm wondering if I should just go with it all.

Diagnosis, Friday the 13th of April.  IDC, 3.4cm, Stage IIA, Grade 2, ER- PR- Her2-  Infiltration present.  

Had Diep 3 weeks ago and still creating lots of fluid in stomach. anyone knows what to do to reduce fluid.

Other than that, love the results!

Clowngirl wrote, "...can't become cancerous."

Delaying your reconstruction is certainly an option but, if you can do it all in one surgery, why delay? I had to delay and hate it. Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide.

Three days till I have my Bilateral DIEP  - off coffee and ...sob... chocolate....this is going to be a long caffeine free 3 months ! I have been told to expect 7-10 days in hospital so I hope that it will be the shorter end! I will welcome any suggestions for beating pre -op nerves!

I'm up May 1 (DH's birthday!) for UMX and DIEP. Stopped everything but the Arimidex and calcium/D. No alcohol or coffee? Wasn't advised about this.....Really, no Margarita or wine to get me through the weekend? 

at my pre-op the day before surgery my surgeon suggested I go out for a nice meal and a glass of wine   And I had coffee while I was still in the hospital.

All my pre-op instructions (from PS and hospital) said no alcohol for at least a week before surgery.  PS's instructions were no caffeine (or green tea) post-op, but they kept serving me iced tea in the hosptial (I didn't have any--I didn't want it).  HOWEVER, I did have chocolate when I was discharged.  I think it has to do with circulation and possible interference with meds.

Bottle Shock......   good movie!

atv or something similar?

Dr. Loren Schecter is my PS. Along with my left ss ns mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy, and axillary excision by my BS, Heidi Memmel, I had immediate DIEP reconstruction. Have nothing but praise for Dr. Schecter. And LOVE that another micro surgeon from the practice and his PA were all involved with the DIEP so as to minimize number of hours in surgery.



Trust him. Trust what he has you do after surgery. I am certain that what he has you do is based on you personally and what he knows is tried and true for his patients. There are different directives depending on the surgeon. For instance I was instructed to NOT wear a bra for 6 weeks post-op. I did not have any type of binder, camisole, or any other like garment to wear post-op immediately or during the 6 weeks. Also no special girdle or garment for my DIEP either.



There are multitudes of reasons for complications, so there is no one thing to point to as to why.y experience did not involve any complications - no open wounds, no drain sites not healing, no drain incision leakage, etc.



Startedy third chemo drug today : taxol 12 xs over 12 weeks. I will have rads for 6 weeks after a 4 week break. And THEN after a break I will meet with Dr. S to discuss surgical date to remove the round patch of stomach skin that was placed to the left of my nipple and was where the Doppler was placed to monitor the tissue transplant. When that is removed I will have a horizontal scar in its place. If there is need for tweaking reconstructired breast with fat grafting then that will be done and if there needs to be anything to achieve symmetry.



Hope this helps.

Hi all. I was just searching for a discussion on the diep and found this one. I'm in eastern Canada and just waiting for a call with my surgery date. I don't know all the lingo or abbreviations...I'm having a double mastectomy with immediate diep reconstruction. They will do a sentinol node biopsy. I have high grade multi focal extensive dcis....yup it started off as a 3.5mm spot on my mammogram in nov and everyone was 97% sure it was nothing...just keep getting surprise results...now I am nervous about the lymph node results. Looking to pick up some tips to prepare and recover from surgery and maybe some bravery? Kinda scared today.

Welcome lavendarlady. You will find lots of useful accounts in this thread and the previous years.It is a very helpful place to hang out! Also check out the Canadian thread. :-)

Hi BethFL,  Glad you are through with your radiation.  I had lumpectomy, chemo, and radiation followed by a double mastectomy.  I had reconstruction with implants.  After three surgeries and a serious capsular contraction on the radiatied side I decided it was past time to do something else.  I was not told the high failure rate of implants and radiated tissue.  I am now 8 weeks out from S-gap surgery.  Didn't have enough belly for two breasts.  It does feel much better to have the implants out.  You are smart to do your research for choice of Doctors. Find the very best.  I used Dr. Massey because she came so highly recommended.  I know the travel for surgery can be a bit daunting but it can be done.  I wish you well on the rest of your journey.