DIEP 2013

Hello, I'm new here. I had implant put in last June, almost a year after RADS. I am having implant issues and I just came from PS where I signed up for a single Diep. I already had reduction/lift on good side. I really think this Diep is the way to go but I am scared! Is it worth the surgery and scars? I've read where lots of women are happy with their choice, but I think I need some reassurance. I'm starting to question myself and tell myself I can just live with this implant.

Judy, glad you're up and around!  You go, girl!  When you're up to it, give us all the haps.  

Nihahi, sorry your daughter is dealing with this.  When I was donating blood every eight weeks I discovered my iron levels were bottomed out and my levels came up when I stopped my donations and took drugstore iron for a while.  For someone to have chronically low iron, there must be a cause.  Is she having very heavy menstrual bleeding?  Has anyone checked for blood in her stool?  Does she get any iron in her diet?

My package arrived from Soma with the softest, prettiest pajamas I've ever owned.  They're from the "Cool Nights" collection, button up the front for easy access, and I plan to jump out of a hospital gown and into my jammies first chance I get.  They're not cheap, but I figured I could splurge right now!

Faith - Thinking of you this weekend and hoping that an excited calm has come over you as you celebrate Easter with your family and get ready to move forward. You can buy the meditation cd/book by Peggy Huddleston at the Dana Farber gift shop. "Friends' Place" or something like that...? That is also where I picked up my camis with drain pockets (insurance covered mine!) They do suggest prepping a couple weeks prior with it, but I got mine very close to my BMX and used it anyway. It certainly cannot hurt!



Mammalou - you came to the right place! Scroll through the pages and you'll find lots of reassurance. Several of these amazing ladies experienced implants first and seem very happy with their decision to go DIEP. I am certain they will chime in for you.



sbelizabeth - funny 3 dear friends of mine sent me a pair of Soma jammies in the hospital. I had never heard of them before. They are uber-soft and comfy! And very pretty - purple lace around the edges, and of course button-up!



So here is something I have not seen mentioned yet... "no sexual activity for 6 weeks" ... just curious if that was heard by anyone else....



Nice to hear you are doing well, Judy!



Jeannie

Hi Mammalou,  I am one that did the implant route first and after three surgeries and looking at a fourth due to capsulation I pulled the plug.  I wish I would have know the full facts about implants after radiation.  Skip to now....I can certainly tell you that the comfort level is so improved with the flaps.  The pec muscle is back where it should be and I have soft, jiggly, and warm breasts.  It is a journey that I am very happy I've taken.  I'm not quite done but getting close.  It's a very individual decision.  Hope this helps.  Jamie

Sbelizabeth,



When your BC story airs on news, can u please post a link to it. Thanks for doing this to help raise public awareness . Have fun doing your segment!

Downey...thanks for the info. I agree they don't tell you everything. I told them yesterday that I kept waiting for the drop and fluff and they said, " oh, you don't get that with radiation". That would have been nice to know. I wanted perky, but it is like the TE on my chest and doesn't match my other breast at all. The ps said he could maybe get 20% improvement with fat grafting but couldn't fix pain. Thought a new implant would just get scar tissue again. I agree with that.

When was your diep?

Geralyn, you will lose those rolls at Stage 2.  Although some of it will go away as the bloating leaves (takes several months). I am 5 months from Stage 1 (Stage 2 is next Friday) and I don't look thinner, but having that roll relocated from abdomin to chest has made me feel smaller.  It did take time.  I have a fav pair of slacks that I couldn't wear until 2 weeks ago.  Don't worry, you will keep changing.

Mommalou, although I didn't have rads I did have implants for many years before I had DIEP.  Yes, DIEP is worth the surgery and scars.  I have warm, soft, natural breasts.  Lovin' it.  The scars will fade with time.  

Hi all!  Happy Weekend!

Faith, I will be in your back pocket as you roll into the operating room on Monday.....you will be fine!  I'm telling you, the anticipation is much worse than the surgery!  I had crying jags too....it's perfectly natural-after all, you are losing a part of yourself!  I finally solved this by standing in the shower the night before my DIEP and talking to my boobs.  I know it sounds crazy, but I needed to have parting last words with them.  I thanked them for nursing 4 children, and for being my constant companions for the past 58 years.  Then I said that because of changes that had happened to them, I needed to let them go, but that I was grateful for the time we spent together.  Nutty? Yes.  But it DID help settle me down, and I felt less horrible about the "defacement" about to take place.  Now, over 2 months out, I am so grateful I chose this route!  Give yourself some time, and you will, too.  

Judy!  So glad to hear from you on the "other side"!  Hang in there-it will get better (and better)! 

Geralyn, you and I have followed the same path after our BMX.....no further treatment needed.  My Onc said I had done "more than enough".....coming to grips with that, and trying not to second guess the Docs...but I admit, I am still a little nervous that I should be doing more.  Hope that subsides in time. 

Mammalou-deciding to do DIEP is a very personal decision, and for every woman here who has had one, I bet you would get as many reasons.....having said that, I am personally thrilled with my results, and the fact that I have two "adopted" girls that are warm, and bounce just like the old girls did!  I would do it again in a heartbeat, even though I experienced some setbacks during my initial recovery.  I also agree that you should seek out a surgeon that has done more than just a few....and there are qualified surgeons all over the country-take your time, and find one close to you.  Good luck, and this board is filled with lovely women who have been through it, and can answer lots of your questions!  

Marty and Betsy, thank you for all of the great advice you have given on this thread.....you have both been extremely helpful to me (and I am sure others) as we navigate the post-DIEP world.  

Nihahi, Janet, and SBElizabeth......you will be joining us soon!  Looking forward to hearing about your journeys along the DIEP highway.  You have all been so insightful-wish I had found this board BEFORE my surgery! Lucky you!   And, SBElizabeth, I got a pair of Soma Cool NIghts PJs at my "No Pity for the Titties" party my girlfriends (all 70 of them, no less!) threw for me.  I loved them so much I went online and bought 3 more pair that were on sale!  I STILL wear them all the time-even to see my PS! ( Okay, I'm lazy and I dont like to dress...)

Heavens, TammyT, Cuetang, and the rest of you wonderful ladies- hope you ALL have a great weekend....we have sun up here in Portland, Oregon, and it's going to hit the low 70's for the first time this year!  Hooray!  Funny what a little sunshine will do for the soul!

Namaste & God Bless - Jackie

Katy-I agree with Marty- those articles are powerful! I was crying as I read them. Thank you for being willing to share your journey with the world. Someday, I am hopeful we won't need boards like this, because breast cancer will cease to exist (for long, anyway).



Namaste & God Bless - Jackie

Judy - you sound wonderful!  Yes, you do get lots of supplies.  But you do use most of them and if you run out of things, just ask for more.  Glad you are doing well.  Keep walking!

Judy... After leaving the hospital, my husband did get a duffel bag (he hadn't left home yet), so he packed an extra bag so we could get all my supplies home.

I was diagnosed BRCA positive a few years ago. My mom had been fighting bc for over 10 years now. Her sister died of bc just 5 days before my mom was diagnosed. My great grandfather also died of breast cancer and my grandfather died of lung cancer. I'm 35 and already have the 3 kids I wanted to bring to life. So last year I removed the ovaries and this year I'm moving to my breasts. I already talked to the bs and she recommended a plastic surgeon that does the DIEP. I'm so nervous about it. I don't even know how much fat tissue he will need to reconstruct my breast. Dies anybody know if this type of surgery can be done in one step? The thought of having to spend 8 weeks recovering only to go back for another surgery just blows my mind! I was also thinking about maybe leaving my nipples and aureola. Does anyone have any intake on this? I'm extremely nervous about the whole thing. I go get my MRI on Tuesday and I hope the don't find anything.

Any of you that had the DIEP done, are you happy with the results? How are the scars? I have so many questions about it. I can't even sleep because my brain never stops. I wish I had more information. My idea is to have it done in April so that hopefully ill be recover when summer hits and kids are about of school. Mama cannot be sick during summer vacation!!!!

I would really appreciate if somebody can tell more about their experience with DIEM and reconstruction

Thank, ruth

Faith.....I hear ya, girl, re: unexpected things when you're just trying to stay calm and organized. Oh well, gets the mind off the "future" for a bit, doesn't it! Like others have said, things will turn out ok, just hang in there. 

I've got the day to myself, so am going to try to get some stuff moved around in preparation for bringing all of our daughter's things over. It will take some "creative" stuffing, as we are just a month short of our one year anniversary of moving from a 4 bedroom full basement and garage house, to a 2 bedroom condo with 1 storage locker!!!!!! Before the events of last week, we were still fulled to the rafters, will a few boxes still left-over, but everything at least had it's place. Now....I think it's going to be like living like those poor souls you see on tv that are hoarders, and have to create tunnels through the house to get around!!!!!! OMG, so not my style, I like things "open and simple". 

Oh well, gonna pour that second cup of coffee and get to it.

No more word from the mods about updating the thread, I sure wish they'd figure it out, as we seem to keep having "new faces" join us, and I wonder how many may stay away, because the dates are so limited....they may think there are too few of us, and that we are almost done. I'll keep trying.

Grrr.  I had onco appt this week.  I mentioned that I had put on a few pounds (3) since my last visit and he about lost it!  Not quite yelling, but very firmly warning me about gaining any weight.  OK, ok, I get it.

I figured a few lbs is okay, more belly fat, right? 

I had planned to lose 20 lbs before the summer, but it's not happening.  I think I have this mental block that I want to have plenty of fat for the DIEP in May. But, at the same time, I don't want to be gaining weight. 

Who knows, for real?

Keep on moving, stay healthy, eat right and all will be well.  Most importantly, keep moving,  Keep the body in good daily exercise for best recovery.  right?

Ironmag and Marty -- thanks for the tips! I'm not in my bed yet, but I'm indeed tired of arranging the pillows, so I might try it tonight. My only concern is my three-year-old next to me. Tylenol PM has been great.



I'm writing from the treadmill at the gym, so pardon my lack of attribution:



I have to say, the first week was hard, and then finding out I have to wear this binder for 3 months was a bit of a shock. But I'm going with it all -- I have been driving since 2 weeks out, and walking as well. The PA wanted me to walk outdoors instead of risking falling off the treadmill, but I just couldn't hack the cold on top of it all, so I switched to the gym and am going slowly.



I was also scheduled to have Dr. Caterson at the Brigham, but was switched to Carty because of a family issue for Caterson, and he did a great job. (I will need a necrosis touch-up along w the dog-ears and sizing, but overall ok.)



I'm interested in the protein etc. tips, so I think I'm going to get behind the power-healing before I go back to work in a week (!) at 4.5 weeks post-op!



Best to you, Faith! It's a long journey, but it gets better every day!