DIEP 2013

ebelizabeth - My PS said that they would do any touch up work that I wanted on my second surgery.  I am making a list! 

Good luck to you tomorrow, heavenschild! I hope everything goes smoothly for you and see your post-op posting soon. Tammy

Thank you guys!  Honestly, I am so tired I just want to sit on the floor and cry.  I am looking forward to a week long nap. 

Gentle cyber hugs to all!

Good luck tomorrow Heavenschild! looking forward to updates. Wishing you a speedy recovery



Honestly this board has been so great for me it really makes a difference being able to read all the posts and not feel so lonely waiting for surgery. Thank you everyone!

Hi everyone .... I'm new to the reconstruction section of this wonderful site. I've been at the newly diagnosed section but after biopsies finding DCIS and LCIS in both breasts , 5 lumpectomies and path report with excessive LCIS found, I've decided to have BMX. I am very interested in having the DIEP procedure but I'm having a difficult time knowing who and where to go to. I live in CT closer to Hartford area. Does anyone know a good PS in CT or neighboring states? Is there a big advantage to New Orleans? I hear it mentioned so much.... Sorry still new to all this. I'm anxious to start planning . Does it take a long time to get the procedure scheduled? Thank u for any answers you all can offer;)

Best of luck heavenschild! Lots of prayers for a fast recovery!



I am two days home from my PBMX w/ DIEP in Nola. I'm achy, sore, swollen, and tire easily but I am doing great! It truly has not been as bad as I feared it might be. My husband thinks I'm doing great too. I had a shower today and was able to do it all myself. I had a shower chair in with me but was steady enough not to need it. My DH still has to help me get it altogether to dress but we made it. The swabbing of the drain tube holes and holding cotton pads in place while I get my panties up and the bra on around my hugely swollen breasts is definitely a 4 handed job. I am blessed to have his help and as hard as it's been for him (he has a queasy stomach), he's been a trooper. I HATE having to stand naked in front of him looking like this. Heck, I rarely did that BEFORE this and I sure don't look better than that right now! But we've had to just suck it up and get in with it.



We will drive back down to Nola for my post op appointment with Dr. D. We're only 3 hours away but that will make for a long day in the car. I've had pads over my breasts since the surgery so I am looking forward to seeing how my nipples look. I'm pretty sure I will have my two breast drains removed because they aren't putting out much.



All in all, I don't think all of this has gone any better than it has. I recommend the doctors at Nola and their facilities 100 times over. They are top notch. And for anyone trying to decide where to go for their DIEP, this is the place. I think everyone should want to go to a doctor who does this two or three times a week and has "seen it all" over someone who does this two or three times a month. I can't even remember the tweaks I make to a recipe I make two to three times a month!



Nancy

Joellelee, I haven't had my surgery yet, but from what everyone's saying, you have to give it some time.  All the weird swelling and shifting around of fluids could be giving you the deflated muffin top look.  If it still looks that way on down the line...well, there's stage II!

For your pain meds, you don't have to drive to pick up a written prescription.  Your doctor's office can easily fax or call in a prescription to your local pharmacy.  Shame on them for sending you all the way home with inadequate pain meds.  I'm a nurse, and this stuff really bugs me.  I know our physicians are all hammered with the message to be careful about over-prescribing prescription pain meds due to its nationwide abuse, but for heaven's sake let's use some sense.  A post-op patient with four feet of fresh incisions is NOT the same as a chronic drug-seeking patient, so let's stop humiliating surgical patients when they ask for adequate pain relief.

Sorry, that was a soapbox.  Blessings for your recovery!

Joellelee -  both percocet and vicodin contain the same ingredients (acetaminophen and oxycodone), but percocet is stronger. Maybe ask for the vicodin or ask you local doctor (internist or bs), explaining the problem, and ask the PS to call the local to confirm.  

Hockeymom, you sound more upbeat than me...just feeling sorry for myself. Hoping the vicodin will help me as did the percocet, although, the percocet does give me horrific nightmares! Flat hamburger buns is the perfect description for mine as well. I hate the numbness everywhere as well. I have 6 drains and hope to lose a couple next week!

Just got my surgery date. Was first told no openings until sometime in 2014, got home, someone just cancelled, so I now have my diep date for April 12.

Glad to hear those who have had thier ops are (mostly?!) doing fine.

My diep is planned for August/Sept. Anyone else then? It seems too long away and I just want it done.

Faith.....I don't know your history, but will happily share some info I was given today by my doc, that certainly helped to ease the fear of anesthesia. Even though it is a long surgery, it doesn't mean you will have a huge dose of anesthesia. You will certainly be asleep, unaware and comfortable, but they don't spend all that surgical time routing around in your internal organs. Much of the time is actually spent doing the microsurgery connections, not cutting and pulling, so your anesthesia needs aren't horrific. It is not like the operations they pretend to do on tv shows. Breast size isn't important to me,  but symmetry is, so I can't relate to your feelings, but I'm not dismissing them as important to you. I guess how you look now, will be what you are going to compare yourself to post surgery. I had a single mastectomy 20 years ago with delayed reconstruction and have had problems with implants ever since. Nothing could be more emotional than that first post mastectomy without reconstruction look, and I cannot wait to have the alien blob gone, and my own body back. Not looking for perfect, just wanting to be the real me.

Your fears and feelings are certainly valid ones for you, and I'm sure others may have different answers. Hope you find peace in what ever you chose.

Faith - It is late and I am tired from just driving home from my Stage 1 post-op appointment in Nola but I wanted to respond to your concerns. Not to your questions specifically, but your general concerns.



I am a married, 51 year old mother to 4 young children (ages 10,10,4 and 4). I had a prophylactic (preventive) double mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction 6 days ago. No cancer diagnosis, no BRCA mutations, but high risk due to family history. My surgery lasted 8 hours. This was two hours longer than originally projected but my breasts were larger (and longer!) than average and the mastectomy portion took a little longer than expected. The following is the note I just posted on Facebook to my friends and family. Reading it may not address all of your concerns but I believe it will address many of them...and at least let you look at some of them from a different perspective. God bless.



Family and Friends -



I had a great post op report and we are almost home from New Orleans! I had two of my four drain tubes removed today and I should be able to remove the two from my abdomen within a few more days. (They are no big deal but they are certainly a nuisance.) My "new" breasts look good! (especially considering what they just went through!) I have 4 more weeks of being restricted from lifting anything greater than 10 pounds, bending or reaching but other than those things I can do whatever I feel I am up to doing within reason. My doctor said I should expect to be sore for a few more weeks but I should be able to drive sometime next week if I feel up to it and am off pain meds (which I'm pretty sure I will be). The doctor also said I should still expect to tire easily the next few weeks and I am to take lots of naps to encourage the internal healing processes. I said, "Well, if I have to, I have to." No doubt about it, I've never met a nap I didn't like.



As an added bonus, we learned the results of my path report today. These were on the breast tissue the doctors routinely check for suspicious cells just to be on the safe side. We didn't expect them to find anything in mine but were thrilled to have official "all clear" results nonetheless.



So for now, I'm to continue to take it easy and heal as I wrap up this first (and most involved) stage of the reconstruction process. I will return to the Center for Breast Restoration in New Orleans in approx 3 months for Stage 2 of the process.  That is, the revision/sculpting of my "new girls." This second surgery will be much less invasive procedure than the first. It will also be a much shorter procedure (1 or 2 hours instead if 6-8) and will only require an overnight stay and a couple of weeks recovery time.  Then I'll done!  



It's amazing really. Less than a week ago, I went from a 40% chance of developing breast cancer in my lifetime down to a less than 1% chance in one fell swoop. (Okay, technically 2 fell, but they were both quickly put back together again and, after Stage 2, they will be better (and perkier!) than ever.) 



My breasts and my belly are still quite tender but, honestly, my recovery has been far easier than the one for which I had prepared myself. And that, of course, was nowhere near the same realm as a battle against breast cancer. As Bob and I have said many times, that's what made all of this a no brainer in the first place. I'm certain it may not be right for everyone, but I wish all women in my former position had the knowledge and resources to consider making the same choice I made. I've known for a long time now that no matter what bad things happen in my life, God will be here for me and ultimately it will all be okay. That's how I get through each day. But adding to that the peace of mind in knowing the odds are that my family, friends and I will never suffer the wide-ranging consequences of me developing breast cancer, is life changing. Truly life changing.



Thank you again for all of your prayers. They have clearly been answered and we are beyond blessed. Thank you God!

hi ladies, Im currently going through the process of finding a plastic surgeon for DIEP. I live in CT and have heard of Dr. Tobias in Boston (Beth Israel), and Dr. Caterson from BWH. Has anyone heard about these docs and the outcomes. I'm finding this search very anxiety producing. I think I will feel relieved when I finally pick a doc and feel confident that I found a competent surgeon. I'd appreciate any help!!!!!!

Robin67

I have Dr Matthew J Carty and after my initial visit with him I left feeling very confident in his ability to take great care of me. My first visit was 2 hours long and he was extremely thorough. He was approachable and took the time to answer each one of my questions. I had plenty of questions written down and had my husband with me to help me with remembering all the info that I learned.

Dr. Carty suggested that some women also bring a tape recorder. His office staff is also great it is a very organized operation over there. He has an office at Faulkner Hospital which is affiliated with BWH and they all communicate with each other making my life much easier. Faulkner is also where I had both of my

Other surgeries and where I have gone (saggoff breast center) for over 6 years.



Honestly I feel very safe with my choice and can't say enough about Dr.Carty . Whoever you choose at BWH Im sure you will be in good hands it is a great hospital. If you want his info I would be glad to give that to you.