DIEP 2013

It's count down time! I had my day of pre-op appointments. CT scan of my abdomen to see where the best veins for harvesting are, met with the PT to talk about post surgical care but most didn't apply to me as I am prophylactic. (No lymph nodes taken so no lymphadema risk.) and then marked up for my DIEP by Dr. D.



We're in hotel now getting ready to go to bed. We report to the hospital at 6:30 in the morning and surgery will get started around 7:30. Bi-lateral MX with DIEP estimated to take 5-6 hrs. I feel like I should be nervous, but I honestly am not. I'm fairly certain that's because I know God's got this! Too many things have fallen into place for Him not to be. I'll post from "the other side"! Thank you for all of the prayers and well wishes!

You'll do wonderfully. Lots of people will be sending healing thoughts.

4my4babies,  Thinking of you right now during your peaceful rest.  Wishing you a speedy recovery on "the other side".

4mybabies

thinking of you and  hoping all has gone well and that recovery is straightforward for you.

ws

4mybabies

Congratulations! i've been following your threads and I'm so thrilled for you that your surgery went well. I hope you are happy, peaceful, and comfortable.

I'm due for my DIEP this spring - and your spirit and success gives me strength. 

Here's to a speedy recovery - 

Janet

Yay 4my4babies! I'm pleased everything went well! Rest and recover!



My surgery is now only 2 weeks away on Feb 1. I've been trying to organize little details like pre surgery waxing, clothes I'll need etc. It's funny how the little things keep my mind occupied and not focussed on the actual surgery! It's a good thing!



What date are you Tammy?

Hi ladies I am finally joining you since I now have a surgery date.  I am scheduled to go in April 19th.  Can not wait to get this behind me a be done with this!!

4my4babies

Im so happy to hear that everything went well for you!

You might have to remove 1 or 2 so that the pulse ox will fit and read properly.  Check with the nurse to be sure this will work and ask which fingers on which hand.

Hi kiwimum ... Glad u are here... We are on FB together and 40 something thread.

Two nights in the hospital and just this one more to go!  The nurse said they will probably cut us loose around 1:00 or 2:00 tomorrow (Sunday). I had another good day today. And I had a shower! That was wonderful and I was able to wash and fix my own hair. I had been under the impression I would have limited range of motion in my arms but that wasn't the case. Apparently, since I didn't have any nodes removed (because I had no cancer diagnosis), my arm strength and range of motion were not impacted. 



I'm still quite sore and it's tough figuring out the best way to sit and stand without feeling like I'm pulling something that shouldn't be pulled. The nurses assure me that won't happen though so I'm just wincing through the short-term pain brought on by the sitting or standing movement. Once I'm up, I'm good to go and managed to make several laps around the hospital floor today. Besides getting the hang of babying my incisions (particularly the large one across my abdomen since it is really the only one that hurts when I put any strain on it), the only other thing I'm having to get used to is the fact that right now my breasts (my newly refilled breasts) are HUGE from swelling. And I mean HUGE...at least twice the size they were before the transplants. The doctors and nurses tell us this is completely normal and one of the reasons for me having temporary drains in place to pull off the excess fluid. They don't really hurt, it's just a VERY full and very LARGE feeling. All I know is, I have a whole new respect and sympathy for those women with massive-sized breasts and I'm sure glad mine won't be staying this way! 



All in all, things are going great so far and we think I'm doing very well all things considered - certainly better than we thought I might. I get winded easily (it was a long surgery after all) and I have to baby my incisions, but the pain seems to be very manageable with pain medicine (thank God for pain medicine!) And I've got absolutely no regrets. In one day I was able to reduce my chances of ever getting breast cancer from 40% to less than 1%. Plus, once everything has healed and I have my Stage 2 revision/sculpting surgery in 3 or 4 months, I will have healthy "new" breasts and a flatter tummy. That surgery is not nearly so involved and is only a one-night hospital stay. What's to regret? We know it might not be the right decision for everyone in my position (of being high-risk), but we've no doubt it was the right one for me. As My DH and I have said several times, it was a no brainer. The hospital here is wonderful and the doctors are the best and most experienced in the country at the state of the art breast reconstruction methods. Women come from all over the country (and the world) to be taken care of by these physicians. It is all they do and the what they do is amazing. I will now have an extremely low risk for developing cancer, "new and improved" perky boobs and a flatter tummy by the time this process is over. Even with a couple of weeks of bearable pain, what's not to like?!



Thank you all for your prayers and well-wishes.

4mybabies,

All sounding good and you will be home soon. Sounds like they have taken real good care of you. 

Well done!

4my4babies

I cant even begin to tell you how encouraging that is to hear! April 1st for me. Good for you Im so glad that all has gone well.

4my4babies - Thanks so much for the update!  Please keep us posted on your progress, it REALLY helps.  I have having SX this Wednesday.

Question:  My Oncology surgeon said that 50% have the abdominal incision open up and *don't worry about it* - any way NOT to have this happen?  50% is lousy odds.

Gentle cyber hugs to all, this trip certainly has increased my prayer life. 

I'm no expert, but I doubt they'll want to tackle anymore than the the diep. The reason surgery is so long, is because they have a lot of work to do. But, I suppose you could ask.