DIEP 2013

besa · February 2013

I am a "NOLA girl" with absolutely no fat necrosis and a beautiful result. Before going to NOLA I had the other side done locally by a much less experienced ps and did have fat necrosis and other serious issues. There are no guarantees with all of this but I do believe that we can stack the cards in our favor by using VERY experienced microvascular surgeons -at least that was my experience. My experience at NOLA and cosmetic outcome (in addition to doing a new reconstruction they fixed the other side that was done locally) was 1000 times better than with a local, less experienced ps.

seagan · February 2013

KiwiMum - thanks so much for all that info. I'm on Evista rather than tamoxifen (lasted about 2.5 years on tam and then had to stop) and paused the Evista about 3 weeks ago in prep for the surgery, too, though my PS didn't say anything about stopping it and I kept forgetting to ask (uncharacteristic of me -- I had like 75 other, probably less important questions for him!). I'm delighted to hear your PS supports acupressure and massage, and it was really helpful to hear exactly how he recommends their use. I hope it helped you. I've found acupuncture tremendously helpful in the past, mostly as a relaxation thing but also to deal with pain and sleeplessness.

Also helpful to hear about the vitamin C. I've heard it's great to focus on that as well as protein, esp. right after surgery. I like the idea of having protein shakes in the days after, as it sounds like you don't necessarily want to eat much. I also saw miso soup recommended, and I love that.

Nihahi, you made me laugh when you mentioned squeezing your tummy fat 10 times a day to imagine a boob. I do exactly the same thing, and it makes my husband crack up every time. If I'm sitting, I feel OK when I do it. When I'm lying down, I panic. It's a fun cycle.

So grateful to all of you.

Nordy · February 2013

Faith - i have a few more questions to add to your fabulous list:

1. (If going to a teaching hospital or any hospital where there are interns/residents)-- Do you perform every aspect of the surgery yourself or is a resident/intern taking over for any part of it. AND if a resident/intern is performing any part of the surgery, where will you be when this happens? Will you be directly supervising and assisting the entire time?

2. What is your protocol if there is a complication post surgery? Are you immediately available if I should need a second surgery?

3. Who will see me postoperatively in the hospital? Is it you, one of your collegues, or will it be a resident/intern?

4. What is your protocol if my flap should fail? Do you have a back up plan in place?

5. How experienced with this procedure are the nurses that will be caring for me post op in the hospital?

These are really important questions specifically in a University hospital setting, or anywhere that there are residents/teaching nvolved. You need to make sure that your surgeon is involved in every aspect of your surgery. I am not against students-- we all have to start/learn somewhere, but having worked in healthcare/hospital well over a decade and having a husband who's profession is in the OR-- well, it is just important that your attending is engaged and present for every aspect of your surgery! And having knowledgeable nurses who can spot a complication and act quickly can make a huge difference in your outcome.

Good luck to all of you ladies starting this journey. Mine started with tissue expanders which failed after 18 months, followed by being flat and concave for over a year, to having bilateral hip flap reconstruction in 2009. And let me just preface this by saying I did have my surgery in NOLA. And I did have some early post op areas of fat necrosos. They are now long gone (resolved on its own) but just so you know, when I had an US locally to follow up, the radiologist said it is a frequent occurance with ANY type of autologous reconstruction. As for people from NOLA thinking there is no place else that people should go, that is simply untrue. I think many of us that had failed reconstruction elsewhere have gone to them as our last hope... And being restored makes us a bit more vocal. But there are good and bad in every field - medicine and surgeons are no different. The key is to research, research, research. Ask questions and ask to speak to other patients that have had a similar diagnosis and the same surgery that you are looking to have. A good surgeon will have nothing to hide and his/her patients will be happy to talk to you. Be leary of someone who cannot provide this for you. Ask to see pictures. LOTS of pictures of THEIR patients and really, if you can, try to find some operating room nurses or even go up to the unit in the hospital where the reconstructive post op patients stay. Often nurses cannot and will not bash a doctor, but their silence speaks volumes. If they love a surgeon and see good outcomes, they will not stop talking about them. Good luck! I love my "girls"! It has been the best thing I have done for myself (second to giving birth) post cancer. ((((((Hugs!))))))

debb · February 2013

I am scheduled for a bil DIEP reconstruction Feb 18th. I had BMX 6/2011 with TE placed but then went thru chemo and radiation, when I finally had my silicone implant exchange surgery 7/2012, I was very pleased with the results and was putting cancer in my rearview mirror.... 6 weeks later I became septic with a staph cellulitis on the lt radiated breast and during the 9 day hosp stay I had 2 surgeries to remove the implants. Now my only option is DIEP flat, way more surgery than I ever wanted to have but I really can't stand to look at the scars on my concave chest. I must admit I'm a basket of nerves over the surgery and recovery. I'm able to borrow a electric recliner/lift chair from Women Supporting Women, it was recommended from a previous DIEP pt. that a toilet seat riser would make things much more comfortable? Can anyone say whether it's worth buying, also how hard is it to do stairs and when does it get easier? My hospital stay is Surgery Monday D/C Thurs. I'm having my surgery at Mercy Hosp, Baltimore with Dr Chang a 2 1/2 hr drive from my home, better get those pain meds before I'm discharged!!!

KiwiMum · February 2013

Debb, I haven't had a recliner and have been fine with just lots of pillows. I've got pillows supporting my head, shoulders and torso and also pillows under my knees.

I had a 7 night hospital stay. When I got home I've been fine with the toilet seat and stairs. I'm hunched over but haven't found stairs or going to the toilet a problem at all.

The one thing I needed, which I didn't have, is a plastic chair in the shower. I'm ok to shower myself but find it much easier to be seated for most of the shower. It saves my energy and also saves me from back ache. I sent DH off to buy a plastic chair on my first day home.

Remember when you get home that they do want you mobile. The more you can walk and move around the better. It aids recovery and also reduces the risk of blot clots in your legs. I also have to wear my surgical compression tights for a further 2 weeks at home.

bdavis · February 2013

Debb... I have heard great things about Dr. Chang.

I also didn't have any issues with stairs or toilet post surgery. Although it was a while after surgery that I needed to do stairs. Are you going home after three nights in the hospital? That seems quick. I would leave the option open for more nights if you need it.

I was totally hunched for a few days. Walking looking at the floor. So back pain was my biggest issue and took flexerall.

Since you live 2.5 hours from Baltimore, I suggest staying locally til your post op. Most docs want you within 30 minutes until they see you for post op about a week after surgery. Just in case there's a problem. For me, I passed out on the shower the day I was discharged, so was glad I could get back to the doctor quickly. Another reason for the shower chair.

Kiwi. Glad things are moving along for you. You sound great!

heavenschild · February 2013

Debb - Maybe I am creampuff - but stairs the first week were not an option for me. I highly recommend a shower chair. I still sleep in my recliner 18 days post-op. Please get help doing household stuff and cooking. You may be one of the wunderkids that does exceptionally well after SX with energy level and pain, but I was not. This is the one chance that we get to take care of ourseves, and not others, and I found that I really needed it.

Gentle cyber hugs to all!

SheChirple · February 2013

nans: I had a surgery at West LA Kaiser, not plastics, but at that hospital. They have a wonderful staff. Good luck to you. wishing you the best.

I'm worried about the comments regarding stairs. I have a two story home, with no bath/shower on the first floor. I have a 1/2 bath, so that's not an issue, but, how long before I'll be able to get up there to shower? Oh no.....

Oh, and I, too, stare at my belly wondering how it will look at breasts, squeezing and manipulating. When I had emergency appendectomy in November, I told the surgeon to please not scar my breasts (pointing to my belly) and I had to explain!! LOL

I'm wondering, ladies who are post surgery: Do you have a clothing size change? Pants? Other than directly on the surgical site at the belly, did you get a bit of a strange shape above that area, like it looks like they just cut away belly, or is it nicely sculpted?

SheChirple · February 2013

I'm worried about the comments regarding stairs. I have a two story home, with no bath/shower on the first floor. I have a 1/2 bath, so that's not an issue, but, how long before I'll be able to get up there to shower? Oh no.....

BleuGirl · February 2013

In the hospital on post op day 5 I walked up 6 steps and back down with OT. It really wasn't that bad. Post op day 6 I walked up and back 12 steps and was released that night. My room is on the 2nd floor of my house and I was told to only do the stairs once a day at first. When I came home that first day I had no problem getting upstairs to my room. I don't think I did it very fast but just slow and steady.

I had no problem standing up from the toilet without a seat extender. I would recommend trying to strengthen your quads before surgery by leaning your back up against a wall and squatting. Hold that position and you will feel it in your quads. This will help For whenever you Need to stand up from a sitting position without using your arms to push off.

I too don't think I could have gotten by without a seat in the shower. I happen to have one built into my shower stall so all I did was put a bath mat on it so I wouldn't slip off. I have been able to shower alone since post op day 4 (even washing my hair alone) but don't think I could have done it without sitting down. I still use the seat to shower and I am 3.5 weeks out.

For those of you that get nauseous from anesthesia or pain meds I too have that problem. I was able to request the anesthesiologist I had a few years ago who was the first one to listen to me and try to figure out a way to prevent me from vomiting for 4 hours in the recovery room. He said the key is to not use laughing gas. He also pre medicated me with anti-nausea meds too. I did have some nausea after the surgery but nothing like I have has in the past but I also have never had a 13 hour surgery before. I also get nauseous with pain meds but this time have eaten 2 saltine crackers before every dose and have not once felt sick. I'm not sure if the crackers are the reason but I am too afraid to take a chance so I still do it even now.

seagan · February 2013

I'm worried about the stair issue too. We live in a small old house and our bedroom is on the 2nd floor, without any bathroom action up there at all. We have a bedroom-like room (also doubles as the kids' playroom and many other functions) on the 1st floor, but my mother-in-law will be staying in there for 10 days to help out. I think I may need to sleep on the couch with wedges and other pillows for the first week or so. Or maybe go really slowly up and down those stairs? At least that aren't that many. The advantages of living on a "1 and 1/2" story bungalow? Not sure the "once a day" approach to the stairs will work, though, as I inevitably have to get up for the bathroom at least once a night. Oh the complications.

I read so many conflicting accounts on the stair issue -- even different PS and hospital websites have different recommendations/guidelines about it -- so it's really helpful to read actual first-hand experiences. Thanks so much to BleuGirl and others for sharing on that.

Once the snow storm ebbs, I'm heading out for the shower chair. That sounds totally worth the money. Thanks for all the info on that, too!

gotoell · February 2013

I was able to get up and a half flight of stairs 3 days after surgery in the hospital as I too have my master on the 2nd floor. I was able to get to the bathroom and back without a problem on day 2. The first time is the hardest but it really was doable and I felt better after every milestone.

nihahi · February 2013

Bleugirl....GREAT advice re: quad strengthening! I think it might also help with the lower back pain to from walking bent over post-surgery! Thanks so much for that tip!

For people thinking of buying shower seats, recliners, etc. In Calgary you can rent them quite reasonably from medical supply stores. Most of them will also deliver and pickup (for a small fee, of course). If you don't know of resource places in your areas, I'm sure if you contact the Occupational Therapy dept of your hospital, they would have information on where to source these things in your city. It's usually standard discharge planning for them for lots of categories of patients.

Shechirple...I'm thinking there would HAVE to be some "dimension" changes, but it might not be obvious until post surgical swelling goes away? Anyone else know about this?

Does anyone have experience with problems of waist belts on backpacks being an issue post-diep? I do lots of hiking, and typically adjust my packs so my hips carry the weight more than my shoulders.

ElizabethInPA · February 2013

Tammy and KiwiMom...So glad you both are doing well, and the recovery is coming along. Keep updating with your progress.

Faith...Thanks for the list! I had come up with some obscure questions, but yours are nicely thought out.

Nihahi...I'm laughing...I have been doing the same thing, bending over and grabbing my belly, trying to see if I have enough for two!

I am on a (slow) downward slope with my weight, and have converted to eating just fruits and veggies and lean meat. My body is loath to give up fat, and my belly fat was the last fat I gained...it seemed to come on around 42, and now I am 46. I have always had quite a rump and ample legs (heavy thighs), and am wondering if a TUG or SGAP might be an option for me. I've read that the downside of a TUG is that there isn't much fat to harvest and one ends up with smaller results, but they have not seen MY legs! I am really concerned that if I have the DIEP surgery and continue to lose weight, the new girls will disappear!

wintersocks · February 2013

elizabethin,

thanks so much for the film you posted about the diep procedure- it explains a lot and is not too gruesome.

I now realise why we will be in surgery so long (it is a big big op).

My diep is not until Aug, I keep grabbing the fat too and can happily say I have enough for 1 boob, plus extra for a buttock too, (tee hee)

faith729 · February 2013

ElizabethInPA funny you mention that your afraid the new girls might disappear

I am a runner and had the same concern. I asked my PS that very question and he said that after DIEP the new breasts will act similar to the old ones with fluctuations in weight there will be fluctuations in breast size. He said the belly fat and skin transferred will still act as belly fat which for me is great lol easy to gain but tough to get rid of.

He said even if they shrink down significantly you will still have something and they would increase in size again with any weight gain.

sbelizabeth · February 2013

I have a question for those with reconstructed nipples. I've read that a large percentage of women who have reconstructed breasts opt out of nipple recon for one reason or another. I can't imagine going through all this and then not crowning the new cupcakes with their cherries, but I've also read that the origami-type nipple recon results in permanant "high beam" headlights.

Anyone have any experience to shed some light on this?

My breasts have been a pain in my keister all my life. Too big, too wide, too weirdly shaped to be comfortable in any bra. One of them just tried to kill me. With the recon, I want small ones that don't necessarily need much support, and I DON'T want to have to wear a padded bra just to tone down the nipplage.

ElizabethInPA · February 2013

Faith...thanks for the info on the weight fluctuation!

Wintersocks...glad someone else got to see it. I thought it was fantastic to see exactly what is going to happen to me in the OR, and the surgeons narrating helped were incredibly informative.

Nordy...you questions were really important...thank you!!! I am going to Johns Hopkins, and the issue of resident/intern involvement has concerned me, and your questions were well thought out (something my post-chemo brain has a hard time...amazing how stupid I feel when I can't get the words out in an intellegent manner).

sbelizabeth...from what I have seen on the photo forum, and what my first PS told me, the new nipples flatten out considerably and aren't your typical pre-surgery cold-induced high beams. They are much more like M&M nubs than gumdrops once they have completely healed. But hopefully more people will chime in on this subject. I am very much on the fence about nipple reconstruction as I don't want to have to wear well-padded bras to eliminate high-beams as I did pre-MX.

My appointment is tomorrow afternoon in Baltimore with Dr. Michele Manahan. I have seen some positive comments here on other threads for her, and I am encouraged.

I am posting my list of questions that incorporate the great questions that Nordy and Faith shared, plus some others that I came up with. To better organize my thoughts, I have divided it into subsections. Some won't apply to most because I am dealing with painful implants, am considering SGAP and TUG as well as DIEP, and going to a surgeon who is 4 hours away from home. But I hope it helps someone!

Pain management is a big one for me...I did not have a pain pump after my DMX with TE, and my pain medication was not administered regularly, I had to ask for it. My pain wasn’t managed, it was reacted to, which I now know isn’t the way to do it.

In the middle of the first night after my DMX, it was about 45 minutes after I asked for the pain medication, the nurse was off trying to find someone to sign the order, and I was already in incredible pain. A resident came to visit and we told him that I needed the pain medication and it was already taking a long time. He was uninterested in helping with that saying that the nurses took care of it, and insisted on looking at my incisions, which involved opening up the mastectomy bra for the first time since the surgery. The pain was horrid and I ended up screaming and telling him to back off, and that he couldn't touch me until I had the pain medication. He was more interested in checking off the box of “I looked at her incisions” rather than actually hearing what I had to say. Hopefully this idiot goes into research and doesn’t work with patients.

Anyway, here's my list of questions for the PS...

Implant Pain

Have you seen this type of pain before?
What do you think is causing the pain I am having?
Do you think that the pain that I have now would be alleviated completely by removing the implants?
What are the chances the pain will remain after?

Flap Options

How many DIEP/TUG/SGAP flaps do you personally do monthly? What is your failure rate? What is the “average” failure rate? What is the failure rate of the hospital?
Do you perform every aspect of the surgery yourself or is a resident/intern taking over for any part of it?
If a resident/intern is performing any part of the surgery, where will you be when this happens?
Will you be directly supervising and assisting the entire time I am in the OR?
Will I be monitored in ICU, and for how long?
What is your protocol if there is a complication post-surgery?
Are you immediately available if I should need a second surgery?
If you are not available immediately, who would be? Are they a doctor that has performed DIEP reconstructions or a general surgeon?
What is your protocol if my flap should fail? What is the backup plan?
Who will see me postoperatively in the hospital? Is it you, one of your colleagues, or will it be a resident/intern?
Are all your colleagues equally prepared to do the same surgeries or post op emergencies such as vessel failure?
How experienced with this procedure are the nurses that will be caring for me post op in the hospital? Are there nurses that are specifically trained to monitor for vessel/tissue failure?

Candidate for DIEP/SGAP/TUG

What medical conditions would preclude me as a candidate?
My previous C-section and laparoscopies…are they issues?
Do I have enough belly fat, or would my thighs or rump be better donor sites?
Does my belly have enough to approximate the size of the implants I have now?
If my weight fluctuates, will my new breast as well?
Is there any potential that there are not adequate vessels in the chest area to connect the flap to? (Would you use thorcal dorsal-armpit vessels instead?)
Can a stacked DIEP be done with abdomen plus either thigh or rump fat? If so, what are the extra complications/requirements of two donor sites?
If TUG or SGAP is an option, can you sculpt the rest of the thigh/rump with lipo so there is not divots and the legs have a proper proportion and taper?

Questions about Procedure Itself

What potential complications are there with surgery?
I have read about 2 stages of DIEP reconstruction…can you tell me what each stage entail and if your patients typically do both? Do some patients come back for further revisions to Stage 2?
What is the time frame between Stage 1 and Stage 2?
Will you remove the old Alloderm and scarring?
Will you stitch in an interframmary fold (as I had previous implant that dropped before)?
What happens to the stretched/displaced pectoral muscle? Will there be any abdominal skin used since I have stretched skin to use? What shape will this be...the football or a small circle like the areola?
Will my stretched pectoral muscle eventually return to its pre-expanded state? Will I have strength there again?
Will you transplant skin from my abdomen or just use the vessels and fat since I already have a pocket created?
If the DIEP flap fails, what options would I have for other reconstruction?

My Goals

Eliminate constant pain
Symmetry
Projection

Pre surgery

Do you perform a pre-surgery CT scan/ultrasound/MRI to determine if vessels are adequate?
What tests are done before surgery, and how far out time-wise? Can I have any of them done in Central PA?
Will your office be coordinating all appointments necessary for me to complete prior to surgery?
Will I be able to meet with my anesthesiologist before the surgery?
Do I need to discontinue medications, vitamins, Tamoxifen? How long before surgery?
What can I do to prepare for the surgery…diet, exercise, etc?

Post surgery

How long will the surgery likely be?
How long will I be in ICU after?
How do you manage post-surgery pain in the hospital?
How do you manage pain after I return home?
How long will I be in the hospital?
How is the determination made that I can go home?
What complications would require me to come back to the hospital?
What warning signs should I look for?
How long before I can drive?
When are post op visits typically scheduled?
Are drains placed, and how long do they typically remain in?
What post op care, like drain and wound care, will I need? Would I need a visiting nurse?
Will the pain and recovery be worse than my DMX with TE?

nihahi · February 2013

Elizabethin PA...good list of questions! I think you will find that many of them are automatically answered during the surgeons conversation with you, without you having to ask them. I am VERY interested in hearing what you are told about the stretched pec muscle. I too am having a painful, encapsulated implant removed, and replaced with a diep.

One point that doesn't seem to be discussed on the threads re: surgeons skill is one that is very relevant to a successful outcome on any type of flap recon, is how much microvascular surgery experience they have. Breast recon is something pretty normal for any plastic surgeon, but the amount of training and experience they have in working microvascular repair is more relevant to the success of the flap.

I have had implant recon (just unilateral mx) for 20 years without nipple recon. There is absolutely NO WAY I would not go all the way this time and not get a nipple too. It makes a huge difference in appearance and in pscyological acceptance in the recon as a breast, not just an alien on your chest. As I am having the remaining natural breast "tweaked" to remove an augmentation implant and do a bit of a breast lift, I am thinking of having them remove that nipple and getting two new ones, to help in symmetry.

Good luck in your appointment, bet you get lots of answers, and then a few days later, start to think of more questions. It's a journey and a process, for sure.

nihahi · February 2013

Kesnick....hoping the toughest part is now behind you and you are starting to feel better.

seagan · February 2013

I lay awake for two hours in the middle of the night last night consumed by sudden worries about my upcoming surgery, now exactly a week away. Things I hadn't worried about at all before and unfortunately nothing I can really control for (unlike all the nice, tidy logistical details I've been focusing on for the past couple of months). A big theme was worrying whether the nurses I get at the hospital will be expert in post-DIEP/TRAM care. I've had mostly excellent experience at this hospital, so not sure where that was coming from, but then again nothing was particularly logical about this anxiety. I kept imagining having uncontrollable pain or nausea, or not being helped out bed the right way the critical first time. I even worried that my brother, who is an RN and is kindly coming across the country to stay with me at the hospital, would be too tired and would sleep through the whole thing! Nothing like middle-of-the-night worries.

The good news is I know from my prior lumpectomy and BMX surgeries that this is a weird sort of processing I need to do as I near the event. Before my BMX, I had a horribly vivid, sad dream about a little girl who had her arms amputated and had been left alone on a postapocalyptic beach! I was up for hours after that one. But it was oddly cathartic. May last night's anguish do the same.

I hope all the post-surgery gals are healing OK and the pre-surgery gals feeling OK too. I'm glad we have each other for this strange ride.

faith729 · February 2013

Seagan your gonna do just fine Im sure your in good hands and we have all been through so much its just another milestone or notch on the belt so to speak right? Your strong and knowing that last nights restlessness is part of "your" way of processing is a true sign that your in control. Hang in there Im sure I will get a little more nervous also as my date gets closer .

On another note I just started filing my taxes and we usually get a decent return however this year it looks like it might be less than half of what we were expecting. Because I will be out of work for so long the return would have served as my income during recovery. I have now sunk back into a bit of a funk. The financial security was keeping me positive and I need to know my family will be ok during my time out of work. I don't make a lot my husband earns the bulk of our income but his pay alone wouldn't be enough really. No idea right now what I can do.

I applied for social security but I'm not confident based of the application that it will be approved. Crossing my fingers and any advice will be greatly appreciated!

nihahi · February 2013

Faith..hope things get sorted out in a positive way for you. So hard when the realities of everyday life get tossed into the cancer journey.

Seagan..night time can definitely do a number on our minds. As you said, it would be so much harder to be going through all this stress and wait and healing, without the support of ladies who understand exactly what we are going through too. It is so important to be able to put our thoughts, worries, questions, "out there" in a safe place, where we are not challenged to just "fall in line and get on with it". Sometimes, just feeling that it's ok to voice a question or opinion is a way to sort through our thoughts and fears. It is good to acknowledge that we are all different, but also we are the same. Women, wanting to find our way back to "a new normal". Your RN brother I'm sure will be such a help to you, and will undoubtedly, rise to the task!

ElizabethInPA · February 2013

I had a very frustrating and disappointing appointment yesterday.

I first met with Dr. Manahan's PA. Although she was quite nice, I wasn't impressed. I felt I was being talked at rather than talked with. She twice referred to the breasts that I have, only catching herself the second time and apologizing. If I have come to you for bilateral implant pain, I do not have those breasts. She seemed to be on complete auto-pilot with her speech on flap reconstruction. Her "it's late in the day" doesn't sit well with me after I drove 4 hours to be there and waited almost 2 hours after my scheduled appointment time to be seen.

Dr. Manahan was better to talk to; attentive, focused. Since there is no obvious cause of my implant pain (no contracture or cording), she does not want to do a surgery of 8+ hours that may or may not relieve the pain. She's sending me to a pain specialist.

I appreciate her conservatism. I was, however, really hoping for a silver bullet, and that a DIEP surgery could fix this pain. Dr. Manahan said that she didn't know if even just removing the implants all together without any reconstruction would alleviate the pain. So I feel like I have gone backwards in terms of answers, not forwards.

She also said that if she did the DIEP surgery on me, the results would not be as nice as my implants. Yes, my implants look pretty good but they feel awful. I am fully willing to give up pretty to get rid of this pain.

Ultimately, I am glad I went, because my first PS didn't even mention a pain specialist. So I guess I will see what the pain specialists can do.

Sorry for the rambling, still trying to process.

KiwiMum · February 2013

Seegan - all will be fine. It's natural to have anxiety so close to surgery. Gentle hugs!

Elizabeth - I hope you get some answers.

I thought I'd check in and give you an update on my progress. Tomorrow marks 2 weeks since my surgery. I am doing really well. On doctors orders I've been taking it really easy and resting a lot. I have a check up with my surgeon this afternoon, so hopefully he gives me the thumbs up!

I'm still not 100% upright and still walk hunched over. Day by day this becomes less. I find I really need to tell myself to stretch upright, otherwise I find myself hunching more than I should. I hope to be upright in the next week.

My pain is manageable, and I'm off the heavy stuff. I still need to take Tylenol 4-6 hourly, but am ok with that.

Showering is tiring and my shower seat helps reduce tiredness. I could not shower myself without it.

Ok, that's all from me. I will check in again after surgeons check up.

BleuGirl · February 2013

ElizabethinPA I'm sorry you still don't have the answers you need. I am hopeful that the pain specialist will be able to help.

Kiwimum you sound like you are progressing well. Keep up the good work, it does get a little easier each day.

I am heading to see my PS right now. He is fitting me in since I called this morning with abdominal pain from what might be a seroma. I know there is definitely fluid in there because when I push on one side I can see the waves go across my abdomen. It has been causing discomfort since Monday but I wanted to wait and see if it went away a little on its own but it didn't and I think it is getting worse.

sbelizabeth · February 2013

Just back from the plastic surgeon's. DIEP on April 15. Holy cow. I'm so happy and excited that this surgery is happening.

With all the damage from the mastectomy and enough radiation to melt a small city, I was half afraid he'd say, "I'm sorry, you're too broken for me to try to fix." But no! He's optimistic and upbeat, so here we go!

BleuGirl · February 2013

Sbelizabeth I'm glad you found a PS who is confident and you now have a date!!

So my PS just aspirated 200mLs of fluid from my abdomen. Relief is all I can say. He said it wouldn't be unusual if he has to do this again. The good news is that since I am not feeling much down there yet I didn't even feel the needle go in.

sbelizabeth · February 2013

Thanks, BleuGirl. I so can't wait.

After my mastectomy I developed a fairly large seroma, and it sloshed around during rads. My rad onc wanted it drained and dry so the targeting wouldn't be off. I had a honking needle stuck in my chest 8 or 9 times to drain off the fluid, but since the area was completely numb, I felt nothing either. It was just a pain making time for it.

MartyJ · February 2013

Bleugirl - you might want to borrow a play from some of the other DIEP surgeons and wear compression for a while. My doc had me in compression for 6 weeks (veronique and marena). It isn't foolproof, but can be very helpful in warding off seromas. I followed the 6 weeks with a Wacoal panty with lots of support in the front.

DIEP 2013

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