Diep 2012

Jenn... Here in the US we pay separately for surgeries also... For me, I had surgery July/August 2011 and a stage II surgery in November... and I still have some swelling. You may not think you are swollen, but I am sure you are still quite swollen. When I went into my stage II surgery, my breasts were much different than they are today. have faith.

This is all good to hear. I may have freaked out if I came out of surgery much bigger. I really want to stay an A cup.



Aaahhh, it's 4 am and I can't sleep again. I have so much left to do at work and diep is getting here so fast! I didn't want to be stressed beforehand. At least things at home are about set. I feel like I've been nesting like I'm expecting a baby (or two!). Lol!



Fran you sound so good now that you're home, and texmingo so glad it went well. Rest up you two!



Jenn will ooph be laproscopic? You've done so well with diep... The next one should be a breeze!



I agree, we are all "tough as nails" and on those days when we're just not so much, we get strength from each other!

cg1234,  my Radiologist did not use lidocaine with the SNB either.  I really wish he would have.  The person my girfriend went to did and she had a much easier time.  Beg a little.

I guess my bs (who is also the surg onc chief here) likes to do the injection himself, and he thinks it interferes (old school).  In my early career, I was lucky enough to work with Dr. Krag, the bs who pioneered the first clinical trials of snb. He is just a lovely man and sent me info about the recent clinical trial using lidocaine. However, I forwarded all this info to my current bs to no avail.   Just don't know if I should I be more vocal? Seems silly not to address the pain for women if you can do something about it. There's enough we have to go through already.     

I had axillary and i think 4 seperate breast biopsies before original mast last year. Good dose of valium or xanax does wonders

Is your energy back?

Anyone else have any skin necrosis? I have a black scabby-looking patch that the nurse said is necrosis. She went to pull it off but it didn't seem ready so she left it so as it wouldn't leave a dent on my boob. My scars have healed beautifully apart from this. It's on the edge of what was my areola. Yuk.

The skin necrosis has to come off like a baby's cord I was told and it seemed to take forever. Some report their PS debrided it. It seems to be rather common with the girls on this thread.

Oh my energy def coming back. My MIL made mecountry fried steak, mash potatoes and wilted lettuce. Shes leaving with my mom tomorrow. Pretty much off pain pils. My stomach is tight though. I am 38cbtw

I lost ten pounds after sx. Had no appetite, my hubby wanted his 38 Ds back

Cg1234...logged on to say..YOU GO GIRL!!!  Will be sending you strength & healing vibes from the rainy Northwest!!!  Yep...stage 2 11/1..so we'll be nursing the tummy & toobs at the same time

Fran...I'm glad you were closely monitoring yourself and knew to seek help with the fever!!!  Seriously, I think the only exploring I did for the first 2 weeks after surgery was walking around the neighborhood & down to the pool to watch grandkids swim!!!  By now you're back home & hopefully resting well!!  Nothing like being home!!

Beckers...I will definitely let you know how Stage 2 goes...so happy there are no drains involved!!!!

Linda...When I was diagnosed I was so happy to be able to get rid of bc with a lumpectomy, brachytherapy (internal radiation), chemo, herceptin and femara and am BRCA negative.  I never thought about cancer coming back cause I did everything to make sure of that.  Call me stupid...but I lived life fully and happily...and was surprised and saddened that friends who went through the journey expressed to me that they worried every day about it coming back.  When it did come back (I lost 4 aunts to bc and a 5th is a survivor) to the same breast, my team said both breasts needed to go...no erasing, no erasing.  The genetic counselors said to bank my blood because there are many bc genes being identified at this time and it would be good to know if I have one for future generations (which my team thinks is a pretty good bet).  Anyhoo...I'm at peace w/out my breasts and happy with my diep shape.  My surgeon said I won't get breast cancer again...but if I want him to tell me I won't ever get cancer again, he said he can't tell any of his patients that.  Once again, I am happily stupid, choosing to live life fully and happily....except for the times that I'm depressed and pissed off about all of it    

uh-oh! I am strongly leaning toward DIEP reconstruction once I finish my chemotherapy, but the comment above about weight loss is scaring me a bit. I am on the borderline of not having enough donor tissue for DIEP, and don't have ten pounds to lose in any case, that would be underweight for my height. Plus, won't the reconstructed breast shrink with weight loss?

So now I am asking those who had DIEP longer ago than a few weeks--did you have unintended/unwanted weight loss? Were you able to gain the weight back? How did the loss & regain affect your DIEP results?

curveball - I did not have the weight loss that others did. I think it is another of those things that varies from person to person.

You will probably need to eat smaller meals, but just more of them.

kimdy, I didn't make any arrangements to have anyone help me with care.   However, my breast surgeon was furious that I was pursuing a DIEP against her advice and we "broke up."   The plastic surgeon who I was going to use had I gotten implants was much nicer and said everyone should make their own choices... he agreed to see me if I needed help, but ONLY if I "lived" in New Orleans for 3 to 4 weeks before coming home.  My sister is a nurse and works with a doctor who was very negative about my not having aftercare in this travel kind of situation.  One of the doctors who operates at the hospital in New Orleans, Dr. Massey, does require a helper doctor at home -- maybe a general practitioner or Ob/gyn?  Also aren't most MO's board certified in internal medicine?  Just a thought.  Oh, and my husband pulled my drains.  Some of the ladies in the NOLA forum pulled their own and had no issues with it.  In any event, I'm now past stage 1 & stage 2 in New Orleans, doing well and looking great.  When I had questions, I took photos with my iphone and emailed them to my surgeon's staff.   For most people, it really does work out just fine!!!

Cindy, I am glad you got to have fun this weekend. Wishing you all the best for your surgery.