Diep 2012

Painter.. I am 49, but if you go to the NOLA in September thread, there is a woman Celtic-Antique who is 64, and there are others who have had DIEP also. Why would they do the MX and DIEP 3 months apart? Why have the extra surgery?? And how can they use your skin that way? I would get a second opinion IMO.

Due to my age (68). He said to heal first for 2 - 3 months. Also on my last lumpectomy, I think some fluid must have got into my lungs as I was struggling to breath on my own after I was taken off oxygen. I have had tests and everything is in excellent condition, so this is why I and the pulmonary doc. think that maybe some fluid got into my lungs. At the time I met the PS I hadn't received the results of the testing, so my age plus my breathing difficulty made him reluctant to potentially put me at risk with a 12 hour operation.

I was disappointed and said I was hoping to wake up with a washboard tummy. He laughed and told me I should be more concerned with waking up to a 99% reduction in recurrence. I replied that I had focussed on the washboard tummy to make a major surgery seem more like cosmetic surgery and not one dealing with the scary ****** like cancer.

It feels so good to have a normal looking chest and less pain.

Painterly - I don't think you are too old for DIEP!  I am 60 and will be having the procedure next week.  Good health, physically active and fit - sounds like your gonna be around for a while.  DIEP is a multi-stage procedure (Stage 1 for initial tissue transplant, Stage II for revising scars, breasts, etc.).  I want to go out with a natural pair like I came in with!

Painterly. I am 54. There is a thread called "anyone else mature and considering recon??" that you may be interested in. It is under breast reconstruction and if you just scroll down it should be on the first or second page.  Good Luck

Thanks. I will check out the mature recon gals.

I'm 46.

I just turned 50.  I am with you Fredntan, I get very achy at the end of the day especially and I am suffering from a great deal of restlessness. I too, don't feel like it justifies pain meds, so I am sticking with the Tylenol. I still have all six drains so I can't even really go outside and walk! I am on Long Island in New York and everything has pretty much come to a standstill here.  I finally heard from the surgeon's NP last night by cell phone.  Hoping the surgeon's office is open today.  I will go NUTS if I have to keep all these drains in over the weekend.  I know I would feel so much better and be so much more mobile without at least a couple of them!

Omg 6 drains! Will they let you take them out yourself if its time. I took mine out. Very easy.

Brenda, I am having phase II Dec 27th. (Needed to get it in 2013 for insurance.) Glad he got me on calendar. I am hoping recovery is easy and I can drive because my brother and I are staggering surgeries so he is now non wt bearing and then my 80 year old Mom is having heart issues so I had to be better real quick after phase I (which was not the case but I learned to fake it. Ha.) Hoping after that, this next one will be a breeze!! I'm still wearing nylon sports bra. Had so much soreness with bilateral SNB's and where drains were under arms that I haven't tried bras yet. I admit I tried one on but it came off quick! I hate them on a good day. I don't even know what size I am. Guessing a C-ish. Looking forward to hearing your stage II plans after meeting next week. Hugs.....Rebecca

I find it odd that you US ladies spend so long with drains, and go home with them. I was told drains would be removed before discharge and indeed all 4 had been taken out before I left a week later. I've also heard people say how they tuck them in their clothing. Mine were huge and could not have been hidden anywhere! The bottles held about a litre each.

Yeppers. Mine were like clear plastic grenades. Definitely not bottles!

I am considering diep next June or July. I met with a surgeon already. They said I need to take 12 weeks off for stage I. This effectively eliminates any possiblility of me having reconstruction. I own my own business and my overhead is substantial. At most I can manage 6 weeks off. I worked through mast. Chemo and rads with only short periods of time off. I really would like feedback from you. Surgeons point was I need to be feel well in order to do my job properly. My point is I already did something very difficult. And I can do it again if I have to financially. I welcome all points of view and experiences.

Elizabeth

There are as many philosophies as there are MDs. That said you are no stranger to openly discussing your wishes and needs. I realize you are looking for each person's opinion. I suffered greatly from general anesthesia brain fuzz. Lacked concentration & stamina for 5 weeks. Through it all I walked managing 2-4 miles a day at 2 1/2-3 weeks out from surgery. Went back to work at 8 weeks on light duty. I work a very physically demanding job. First day back was 8 hours. Felt great then came home and slept 6 hours. Lol. But built right back up to 85-90% of physical.............the stamina comes and goes. It does take a while for that to kick back in because of the lengthy time under anesthesia. I think 7-8 weeks to fully think react and mentally function is adequate. I could gave gone back at 6 as per Md. Soonest he would have let me go back on light duty.

Hello ladies.  I need some advice.  I will try to make this story short.  I met with a PS a few months ago and talked about reconstruction options.  I was considering either an LD flap or a DIEP flap.  This PS did not perform DIEP flaps, and after speaking with her about he LD flap I decided that was not the option I wanted to pursue.  This PS told me if I wanted to have a DIEP flap I had to go to Cleveland (I live in Cincinnati).  I assumed by saying that she meant that there were no surgeons in Cinci who did DIEP.  So I started researching going to the Cleveland Clinic.  Something told me to google DIEP surgery Cincinnati, however.  I did and found out there IS a PS who does DIEP in Cincinnati.  Her name is Dr. Nguyen.  I asked the first PS why she did not tell me about Dr. Nguyen, and she replied "Why would I recommend someone to you that I don't think does a good job?".  I was VERY upset because I felt like she lied to me by acting like Dr. Nguyen didn't even exist.  I was also very upset because her opinion of Dr. Nguyen put doubt in my mind about Dr. Nguyen's abilities.  And Dr. Nguyen is my only option if I want to have the surgery done locally, which I do.  So I met with Dr. Nguyen.  Seems very capable.  Her before and after pictures were a little scary, but overall I was confident in her abilities.  I heard from one person who had a bad experience with Dr. Nguyen a few years ago.  The flap didn't take.  I don't know what to do.  I am scheduled to have a DIEP by her on Dec. 17.  My gut instincts say she's not the best choice.  But I can't afford to go to NOLO.  I could possibly travel to Cleveland.  It's hard because my Dad, who is 70, is terrified about this surgery and will want to come with me wherever I have it.  I'm divorced and he is my biggest support person, along with a network of girlfriends.  I am worried that he won't be able to handle being in a different city, waiting 12 hours by himself.  I don't know what to do.  Can anyone weigh in on your experiences traveling to Cleveland to have a DIEP?  How long did you stay in the hospital?  Where did your support person stay?  How was the staff?  Who was your PS?  Thanks in advance and prayers and strength to you all.