Diep 2012

Hello everyone! Day 4 and down to one drain so might get to go home sooner than anticipated! Standing and walking around - the back is so achy- worse than the stitched side- so keep on walking! I have a twin room and the other occupant is a moaner so really need to get home to rest ! Still getting my mind around the frankenboob thing! Lucky I took before photos and it is much better. I had enough for C cups both sides , the right cancer side has a big flap the other had an expander do less skin needed. Not symmetrical scars then and I have stretch marks on my boobs- never a big fan of those when they were on my stomach . But the infection and skin losses left no other options. Lost my appendix scar- it is like I have to get used to a whole new body! Love reading others stories here too!

Take care (( Robyn))

I had one immediate and one delayed DIEP. The immediate was skin sparing prophylactic mx but the immediate used the ab skin. My scars are fading pretty well, but I do have two toned skin somewhat. What I think is hysterical is the peach fuzz on the delayed side with the larger flap. But ditto on the limited audience for seeing them. I figure the door has closed on any potential future career as a naked model.

Did anyone use a Marsupial Pouch for your drains?  I just got my DIEP pre- and post- op instruction package, and there is mention of this specific holder for drains.  It looks like it's made of bulky terrycloth and is worn around the waist.  Once I get home from the hospital, I'll use the zippered cotton hoodies that I bought to hold the drains after my BMX - they have inside pockets and worked perfectly.  And I have a lanyard with two pockets that I can use for showering.  Will I need anything else?

Betsy, don't the drains go on the inside of your clothes? I like the over the shoulder idea, but how does that work?

When I had my BMX, I was actually able to put the drains in my jeans pocket when I went out, and then any top worked as most of them are long on me anyways.  But I guess I won't be wearing jeans for a while after surgery!

Betsy - I thought that the kangaroo pouch looked bulky, too.  I don't think I'm going to buy it.

Jeans at 3 weeks?? Wow.

Betsy, my breast is a bit misshapen. The seroma was at the surface and almost the size of my hand. So while there's not a divot, things aren't settling down because of the resulting firmness. I seem to have some breast lymphedema as well. I'm curious to see if there are changes over the next 3-4 months. I won't know how it will be dealt with until I go down again. I'm lopsided in my stretchy bras, but I found a wonderful wireless molded bra at Soma Intimates that evens me out.



I used the kangaroo pouches my Dr gave me. I had hip drains for maybe 3 weeks. If I had them in longer I may have wanted a more attractive solution. I had trouble keeping the onQ ball bag on my shoulder. Plus those first 3 weeks I wasn't going out and was still on pain meds. I didn't care if my little pouch peeked out from under my shirt on my walks, dr visits or with visitors. I was all about comfort. I also felt like the bulbs were cleaner staying in the pouch.

Paula.. the Q Ball bag I would sling over my head, so left shoulder, right hip across my chest. Since I had lots of drains and it lasted 8.5 weeks I had to be comfortable and have it work... For me, this was the best solution.

The only thing I bought were yoga lounge pants and shorts... super comfy.

You can always blame it on chemo brain!

I had a scrub top with patch pockets in the front on each side for the drains. I looked for one that snapped down the front. I couldn't find one, so I bought a cotton scrub at Wal-Mart and DH cut it down the front, hemmed the edges and put snaps on it. (Yes, he is a pretty dang perfect DH ... He emptied all the drains every day too!) I had 6 drains (3 on each side) and kept them in the pockets. I used the On-Que pouch to hold the drains in the shower. When I went out, I just wore an extra-huge shirt over the scrub top. We lent the scrub to the wife of a colleague of DH who had a bi-mast.... And then she lent it to a friend of hers who also had a bi-mast. The traveling scrub did eventually make it back home.



L

Janelle - Try docs at UCLA, my PS (Charles Tseng) was great, and others I've heard are also great (Festjekian - I think I mispelled that - was the assistant on my DIEP). Feel free to PM if you want more info.

I was in the hospital Thursday (surgery day) through Monday. Went home Monday afternoon. Could probably have pushed for Sunday, but didn't want to push it. I was off work for 6 weeks and for me that was probably just about right. I could have gone back earlier but would have been uncomfortable, any more time off wasn't necessary though.

I'm having follow up surgeries too - DIEP was in Dec., 1st follow up April, next follow up surgery in July. The timing was my choice as I'm a teacher and wanted them during breaks.

As for being too thin, I was definitely not, so can't speak from personal experience, but others have said that they can get more than you might think. They can also take from areas other than the belly (hips, butt, and back). Good luck.

Thanks Robyn.  I think I will have immediate reconstruction.  I am looking at PSs now.  I have gotten some good recommendations.

 Good luck on your recovery!

I had surgery on a Thursday, I was back on a Monday so six weeks from the Monday after surgery. I could probably have gone back those two work days earlier, but Monday was cleaner.

Mary... For me, no way.. I spent 2 nights in the hospitla, but I had a lot more done... It kind of depends how much lipo you have to harvest the fat.

Julianna... I would say that it is TOTAL time off... I am not the best one to ask as I had a complication that required more surgery (DIEP one month after BMX and Hip flaps), but I was back at work one month after my second surgery.. so one month post DIEP. 

Mary - I had 2 dog ears removed and a little bit of lipo/reduction to the DIEP breast for Stage II and I was pretty OK the next day - no pain meds or anything needed (then again, I haven't taken any pain meds for anything after leaving the hospital). Hopefully you'll have a similar experience.