DIEP 2013

I have posted in the 2012 thread, but now have my surgery date, 5/24/2013.  The late date is to accommodate many things, including my own schedule.

I am also borderline on enough good belly fat.  Although I am still heavy, at 169 lbs, 5'7", my PS originally said no to DIEP/TRAM.  With failed implants we are now recommending DIEP.  So, I'll likley be more of a C cup than a D, but....

I also authorized TRAM if ther ei snot enough fat tissue with good blood supply, but that's unlikely.

PS specifically said 'do nothing special, just stay healthy'. 

My surgeon also had me go for a CTA the day before surgery. They took two passes, one without and one with contrast. Unfortunately when she reviewed the images she didn't see much in the way of supportive vessels. On the morning of surgery, she pulled out her handy portable ultrasound and marked at least 6 acceptable vessels.

I'm scheduled for a DIEP July 30th. Boy that sounds far away, I guess it is. I wanted to wait until spring but as it turned out, that is my surgeon's first available surgical appointment! She is very busy giving us midwestern gals new, natural breasts!

I'm getting a new right breast and she is going to lift my left breast too. I'm really not sure what the lift will involve but I figured, it'll be small potatoes compared to the right side, so why not be a little perkier on my "good" side? lol

nihahi:  I have a left implant, which will be removed when they do a bilateral DIEP in May.

Just today I had a consult with my PS. He indicated that they will hvae more skin remaining on the left, meaning less transplant of actual skin, than on the right. The difference is minor, however, and he indicates not noticeable.   The right implant was removed in August and has remained absent since.  The left remains stretched.

The DIEP is a recommended therapy for repeated capsular contraction issues and usually resolves the issue.  This was my research based on various articles.  But, ask your PS.

Nihahi - I had bi-lat diep and bi-lat removal of implants.   I had capsular contraction on both sides, with one much worse than the other.  The surgeons told me that they spent considerable time breaking up scar tissue.  They were able to use the scars from prior surgeries and the flap was placed under the existing skin.

Please keep asking questions.  We are all happy to pay it forward.  This forum has been so very helpful to me as I move through this process.

Thanks ladies....things are getting clearer! I think I can feel my heart rate drop closer to normal with every message I read from you all. Love the "once you're done, you're done. Forever" That's the goal for sure!!!!!!

@SheChirple - yikes!  I am 5'6" and 160 lbs, I hope that is enough.  The PS seemed to think he had enough to work with.  He kept playing with my belly fat with my hubby watching, it was kind of embarrasing.  I've been on a diet and will stop. 

Just a thought, as physio (physical therapy to some of you) is being talked about  on another thread. Diep is a surgery that has a long "wait for it" type of scenario - has anyone been advised to do any kind of pre-surgery fitness program? I assume that most of the women having surgery done at the NOLA center are given similar instructions, so I am wondering what is the norm at other places, as not all of us are NOLA people.

@ shechirple...thanks. Probably for me the best way to keep stress somewhat undercontrol too! When I can't get outside and move, I'm a basketcase even in the best of times.

Well, my DIEP surgery date is 1/14/2013 and as it approaches I get a little more anxious.  Have a telephone consult on 1/02/12 with the PS nurse.  Also have been tyring to get preop lab, EKG, chest xray scheduled locally as requested before traveling to San Antonio.

I know this is what I want to do....just getting a little overwhelmed with the idea now and with all the preparations for kids back at home, car rental lodging......

@shells43:  I had cancer on the right hand side, 2 lumpectomies.  One year+ later they discovered DCIS on the left hand side.  I was an easy decision for me as the right hand side after radiation just plain 'ole hurts all the time, even hugging someone is uncomfortable.  So I welcome the chance to be able to hug someone without wincing.  The thing that I like is that with the foobs, I won't have to worry about cancer reocurrence.  BTW, I don't see your SX date up top. 

@Kimdy:  praying for you!  I hated the long wait for my SX, but there is so much planning, and I am not traveling and my kids are all grown! 

I am soooo glad the NOLA ladies have dropped by our thread here!  I had no idea that the additonal lipo was for recontouring of dimples, etc., I thought that they could make my foobs bigger is they had too small a graft. 

Almost at "the year" for many of us. Hope everyone has a Happy New Year to kick off the start of putting all the tough stuff behind us, once and for all! Just wondering how the ladies who had their diep's most recently are doing with their recovery journey. My "new years wish" is for an early appointment with the surgeon!

@calm, I sure hope to be like you and leave the hospital with no drains!!!!!! Does not seem to be the norm for most people, though.

Does anyone have experience with post-op mobility at home getting out of a tempurepedic mattress? I love ours, as you can feel the mattress slightly molding around you when you lay down, but am starting to think it could be a real problem getting out of it! Not sure we can get a recliner into our condo living area.

Hi Nihahi--I don't have tempurpedic mattress--but i think it would be a nice thing to have--as you'd be very cushioned in bed--my bed is quite firm and so I had one pillow under my bum, two under my knees (some people have wedges which would be even better) and about three or four behind my back--so it was like a reclined position in bed--This system of pillows worked for me (I had this in place for the first three weeks post-op). They had a physiotherapist come and see me twice in the hospital before I was discharged--once to show me how to get out of bed wihout straining my abdomen area and again on the day of discharge when she wanted to make sure I could go up and down stairs--and she gave me the brochure of exercises to do at home. The exercises were split into those to do the first three weeks post-op, the next three weeks and then finally at 6 weeks--the ones during the first six weeks are for arm mobility (very similar to the post mastectomy ones) and after 6 weeks they are geared towards the abdominal muscles. I have stuck to the regiman religously and everything has worked out so far--I can get I think 6 or 7 paid PT sessions if i feel i need them, but I don't see any need. I am about 6 weeks now--and I am very mobile (not hunched over any more, can walk lond distancesfine), arm mobility is fully back and I will start on my abdominal muscles now--I must say, however, that i still lie on my back when sleeping and I am just starting to lie on my side for a bit--I think most others do this sooner than i have. When I get out of bed I still do it carefully as I can still feel my abdominal area/incision--still a bit tender--but I only feel it when i get out of bed. I did go in for a two week post discharge visit to the PS--where everything looked fine. It is not uncommon for there to be a bit of oozing but my sites were healing up fine--they tore off the steri strips (which I was glad for, becasue it would have taken me forever to get the nerve to take them off).

so 14 years later I have been diagnosed again , same breast, same spot . masectomy is recommended and if I do it I want reconstruction right away. thinking of the diep , ab tuck method. The time off is scary to me as I freelance and have no way of supporting myself and son. I hope to be able to work as quickly as possible. All of the comments above are so helpful. Feeling scared,and  a little depressed.

thank you , when I have more info I will post but for now here is hoping our new year will be a good one!!