DIEP 2013

Thanks Ladies - Feeling better now - was reading how it was so much better to do at same time (because of anesthesia) but now understanding why wait may be OK.  PS said he would hate to radiate a FLAP if he did not have too so would much rather put it off a bit to be sure.  WOW - so much to learn.  Did you all struggle with what to do for reconstruction also.  I felt that it was first how much surgery was needed and once that is finally decided it isn't over yet.

Hi Ladies, I would like to say hello and thank you all for sharing your experiences and information.



I live in NJ and am scheduled for surgery on March 6, 2013. Can't wait to get these expanders out!



Nervous about the length of the surgery and wanted to ask whether anyone has had bilateral mastectomy with lymph nodes removed on both sides. I have and my concern is what to do about the frequent blood pressures and IV placement. I kept my port in thinking it could be used but was told it would not be possible, and will be removed same day.



Thank you and continued healing for those of you who have recently had your surgery!

MartyJ thanks so much for the info on good compression wear I have one in my amazon cart now.



43 Days! Just wondering if any of you lovely ladies had som advice on what to wear home from the hosp ? With the drains still in I wasn't sure how sweatpants or yoga pants would work out.

On BDavis's recommendation, I went to Target to the sleepwear section.  They have some sleep pants made of very soft cotton with a wide elastic waist band. Look for Gilligan O'Malley Women's Fluid Knit Sleep Pants. Very floaty and comfy.  I ordered online and then found them on sale at the store.  I bought a size larger than normal.  I also went to Walmart and purchased a pair of jeans with an elastic waist, again in a size larger.  Sweatpants and yoga pants will be fine.  Button front shirts - roomy not form fitting.  I visited the outlet mall - Chico's, and purchased a couple of boxy style big shirts.  Also a couple of comfy sleep shirts.  Also check out JJill's online outlet/sale section.  But, don't over buy now!  Believe it or not, you will want to leave your house after.  And, you can not tell how things will fit in the waist.  

Hi all, thanks to everyone for the well wishes! Sorry I haven't been on in awhile to reply, I have been unbelievably busy. I am now 13 days stage 1 DIEP, and am doing terrific! I had my first post-op appointment with my PS last Thursday and he was able to remove the breast drain, but the abdominal drains won't come out till this Thursday. The swelling has went down considerably, and my incisions look great! I am feeling quite well and getting around good, each day gets better and better. I am now able to stand straight up and last night was my first night sleeping without my bed wedge. I hope everyone else that has had recent surgery is recovering well!

New to the board-I had my bi-lateral mastectomy and diep reconstruction on Jan. 18, 2013.

Nihahi, you're lucky to have those connections at the hospital - good for you! My PS is a beautiful young woman, and she's treated me with such kindness and compassion, and did such excellent work with the TE placement during mastectomy that I have only good things to say about her too. Her specialty is DIEP flap surgery, and from what I hear in the medical community around here, she is the best.

Sonyalee, so jealous of you to have this behind you already. Glad that you're doing so well - it inspires the rest of us to hang in there.

A while ago I was really not very enthusiastic about the fact that I have to have this long DIEP surgery after two major surgeries last year. Then a friend of mine got bc, and had this operation done by my PS. When she showed me the results 8 weeks later, I was totally blown away. Could not believe that soft, natural looking and feeling boob, and the flat tummy - whoot whoot!!! Now I'm actually looking forward to get it over and done with, and get on with my life. Don't know who keeps score here, but my surgery is scheduled for May 21. Yayyy!!!

Wintersocks It seems far away but it flies by trust me I set my date in November and thought wow April ...I have tons of time. Now I can't believe how much time has passed in fact when I saw my PS last month he reminded me that we last met in Nov

Im also curious if we go down a size in jeans? That would certainly be nice perk wouldn't it!

Wintersocks and Faith - I am 3 months post stage 1 and my waist is a bit larger than before. Actually you will have intermittent swelling for a while after. The waist sizing will change after stage 2 when we lipo for fat grafting. I think you have to give yourself plenty (6 mos to a year) of time to heal after before assessing or anticipating waist size changes. I am very hopeful there will be a big difference in 6 months.



Movie- great attitude! You have a very wise and dedicated surgeon. My Doppler sound got lost 2 days after my initial surgery. My surgeon went back in and reestablished a connection. I have hardness where the hematoma was, but we will fix at Stage 2. Glad to hear you are healing so well.

Hey all, I had my diep January 12, 2013. I'm on a few other threads as well but I've been looking for other dieppers to chat with and ask questions, compare notes so to speak. I'm going to start at the beginning of these posts but I just wanted to say hi :-)

Shianne,

Welcome to this thread.  I'm actually an SGAPer!  (butt boobs instead of belly boobs )  DIEP is performed many times over SGAP, so I read for the wealth of tips here that still apply.

Do you have your Stage 2 DIEP scheduled?  I noticed that you are starting radiation soon, and wondered how long the PS waits after rads to do Stage 2 for DIEP.

Lots of new "voices" today. Always good to hear from other ladies, who bring their stories of concerns and courage. We all learn from each other.

@TammyT, I second MartyJ's suggestion of checking with your PS or primary care physician, but if you can't get in to see your doctor right away, rinsing with warm salt water is a home remedy that may soothe the mouth sores. Hope that helps. Even minor mouth sores are miserable!

PinkHeart.... I haven't had stage II yet, I wasn't even thinking about it until later in the fall as summer time is busy for my family. We are all avid golfers and my oldest is actually in university in Tennessee on a golf scholarship so we travel a bit for his tournaments as well. Stage II is just not important. Having a breast mound was that's why I opted for immediate recon

I'm not sure if its just my cancer Center or not but I'm shocked at the number of you that spent so long in the hospital!! I was out in 3 days!!! Surgery on 12, sitting up on 13, walking on 14 home on 15. I was getting in and out bed, shower chair ok since the day after surgery. Full range of motion in arm and standing straight by day 10. I was starting to use elliptical and doing strengthening exercises for my arm by second week when I had a stitch fester in my abdominal scar. I had to eliminate walking and core exercises for two weeks but now just over the 5 week mark I'm back to "normal" activities. I actually just rearranged the furniture in my rec room downstairs!! I never needed a recliner, I used lots of pillows behind my back and arms ( kind of like a mini cocoon) and one under my knees. I was sleeping flat by day 5-6 on my side by day 7-8 and on my tummy by two weeks.

Anyone who is waiting for this procedure, my advice is to do as much as you can IMMEDIATELY following surgery!! As soon as you can, start sitting up and walking. Drink LOTS of water to flush all the anaesthetic out to get rid if the grogginess plus it will help get kidneys, bowels and bladder working normal. Stay on top of your pain with the LOWEST dosage possible. I used tramacet a couple times a day but was off all pain pills by the end of the second week. It is not constipating either so that was great.



For anyone going thru this whatever stage you are in, humour really is the best advice I can give!!! Don't dwell on the negative, it only makes everything worse. There is good in everything and somewhere someone is worse off. Believe me, my "journey" has not been a walk in the park but it could have been worse. I get tired of this monster inside me too, I have cried, yelled, screamed, lashed out at family and friends. I have been (still am) angry depressed and stressed to the point where I think I'm going to totally lose it. But at the end of the day nothing has changed. I have a loving DH. Two amazing DS's and a support network of friends and neighbours that has completely overwhelmed me. I thank God for what I have and what IS, NOT WHAT WAS.

I didn't mean to get on my soapbox. And before anyone thinks I'm one of those people who "push" thru everything to succeed. That is not me lol I'm actually a wimp!!! I hate pain and I hate feeling unwell, I complain and whine about little things. But this just did not seem all that bad. Uncomfortable, weird, strange sensations like itches beneath the numb skin of my abs that scratching won't help, or the phantom boob pain, an erect nipple that isn't there, or the crawling bug feeling when the stitches start to dissolve!! Lol.
Fatigue is an issue at times but I had my surgery a month after I finished chemo and its been just over a month since surgery so I guess that's to be expected. I rest when I can, take extra iron and calcium and basically listen to my body.
Good luck to everyone :-)

I hate being in this holding pattern.  Hubby and I took a nice Valentine's Day weekend vacation. This was the first true vacation since diagnosis and probably the last for the year.  $ and health getting in the way.  Now that the vacatin is over, I'm focusing on work and surgery.  Surgery will interfere with work, and I'm a planner, so I'm trying to set things up at work before I go out.  May seems so far away, but we have constant changes at work and we are in a most busy time right now.

I don't want my treatments to interfere with career.  My health comes first, I know this.  My former supervisor, at the time of diagnosis, was a wonderful man who's wife is a BC survivor.  My current supervisor, well, let's just say I hope to God she never has to experience this and deal with a boss like herself. That is a whole 'other discussion.

I'm ready to do this now and get it behind me.  May seems so far away.

Today I secured a shower chair.  I have checked out recliners purchase vs. rental and will probably purchase one and hand it down to my sister for her home when I'm done with it.  My bed is fine. Stairs still on my mind, but I'm encouraged.

Someone asked about exercises.  I'm working with a personal trainer (co-worker, just giving me tips, not actually working with me) who has me doing core strengthening exercises and specific back strengenthing exercises.  You can google and find plenty of these.  They will help with the standing upright and laying flat without putting too much pressure or stretch on your unfit abs.