DIEP 2013

Gini...tell that carpool that you are not available at this time, and stick with it. Especially when you are driving other people's kids around, you have got to be 100%!

Kiwimum...36 hours pre-op no solid food....yikes! Never heard that one before!!! I was stunned to be told I could have 8 oz of water, up to 4 hours pre-op....yikes++++, not going to try that one!!!! I have enough problems with PONV!!!!

I'm not absolutely restricted from caffeine, but PS "advised it strongly". I know the effect it has on blood vessels, so I am not having my usual morning cup...WAH....tres mal, tres, tres mal!!!!!!

Geralyn...wait until your incisions are completely healed before starting the silicone strips.

HHCats....it's certainly your decision, but ....from my own experience, implants are sooooo not the way to go! One of the great things about this thread, is finding ladies with similar journeys who will share with you, like bdavis has.

Faith, hope all is well and that you are being well cared for.

Movie...went out for another 10k today, but nothing too "mucky", just longish. Such a nice day here today, tomorrow, not so much, so I took advantage of it!

sbelizabeth....have you received your "Jacki" yet? I got an email that mine is in the mail....hope it gets here in time!!!

Thanks to the ladies who have sent me PM's with updated info. I think the "where" info will be very helpful to new ladies looking into Diep.

nihani thanks for advice about silicone strips will follow. Should I send you any info?. I didn't eat or drink 12 hours before and no coffee until left hospital. Of course I promptly went to starbucks to get my latte. Also didn't take any vitamins for week before surgery , was allowed my heartburn medicine right through including day of. I did take arnica , of my own accord , before and after surgery and apply the cream for swelling. Today got weird sharp pain on left side of tummy. Did I say that already? is this normal?

Kiwimum...nothing solid to eat 36 hours before surgery?  Why is that?  Does it cut down on the post-op constipation issues, or is it something else?  

I walked into pre-op for my mastectomy chewing gum.  You would have thought they had caught me in the act of self-immolation.  What a hoo-ha over a tiny piece of gum!  So here's a question...if I have surgery scheduled at 0700, I'm NPO from midnight, right?  That's 7 hours without oral intake, which seems to be just fine with anesthesia.  BUT!...if I have surgery scheduled at 1300, they still insist on NPO after midnight.  That's 13 hours.  If 7 hours is OK, why do they make me suffer for 13?

Which is why my practice is to pour myself a big old cup of black coffee at least 4-5 hours before showtime, and then lie like a rug.  Don't tell me that 8 oz of clear liquid won't be long past my stomach in 5 hours.  Who needs the caffeine headache? 

Mammalou-- each PS will vary in their instructions. I read so much about compression garments and some ladies being asked to wear it 24/7 for weeks, but when I asked my PS, he doesn't tell his patients to use one. Not sure about the other gals, but I don't think I'm bigger in the abdomen... But defer to the other ladies on their experiences....



Sbelizabeth-- I love your reasoning there! Never thought to put these doctors on the spot with these questions, always seemed to be able to grab the early morning surgery times...

Sbelizabeth...I like the coffee idea too. At my MX surgery, they were running a few hours behind and the anesthesiologist actually sent the nurse out and had me drink a cup of apple juice. I think they just overdo their recommendations assuming half of us lie.



As far as the dress for my sisters wedding, I ACTUALLy have to wear a bridesmaid dress. Apparently it's a strapless yellow dress. I told her that I really couldn't do strapless and she told me she ordered jackets to go with them. Darn! The whole thing is frightening. I am too old for this! My husband says I should just say I can't do it. That may be the case if my tummy is swollen.



One more question, what's this "Jackie" thing?.

Nihahi.....so,so jealous! I am almost to 3.5 miles w/some uphill....nothing too strenuous, but with DD visiting from Japan.....may have to ramp that up to @ 7 miles.....yikes! Hope I'm up for it! :-)



Cuetang, re the caffeine thingy......I was bummed at first, and kept thinking I would disregard the advice, and get back to my habit....but.....I kept coming back to the fact that I spent 18 hours in the OR, b/c my surgeon was trying to save my boob b/c I had such a tiny vascular system......I just could NOT go there! Now, I don't miss it, and I love the Tazo Zen tea, so it was a win/win for me. I know you "sailed" through surgery.....so you can drink Pepsi to your heart's content! :-)



Robin, I was told no more mammos - what would be the point, if you have a BMX. Good luck with your decision. I can only say that I would do it again, and I had some crazy stuff happen with my surgery and recovery. Love my adopted "girls"! :-)

Hi Ladies ! Just a quick update. I'm doing well dh said surgery was a full 10 hrs but to me it was just a nice nap. Thank you ladies for thinking of me.

Happy to hear all is good with you Faith! Rest up and heal!



I think my PS insists on no solid food for 36 hours so that the bowel is empty during surgery and it also helps with bowel motion post surgery. I was admitted to hospital the night prior to surgery and given an enema to make sure it was empty. Sorry if TMI!



I didn't have to wear a compression garment. I did have an abdominal binder but never really wore it. I opted for gentle compression support from shapewear underwear. It made my stomach feel supported and my hips too where they had done some lipo for symmetry.



Kuka - I hope things go well with your PS.



Cuetang - you are 33? Wow, I was told I was young at 40 to get BC.

Marty is right. Doctors vary on their requirements with compression. I wore a "Dom" for 6 weeks 24/7 after stage 1. I am 5 1/2 weeks out of my 2A and wear a Marena LGS-2 full time. I am jealous of those that don't have to wear it long. I have lost inches and am down 2 pant sizes. If the compression has helped this then yahoo! I have no idea.



I was never told no alcohol or caffeine. I was told no food or drink 12 hours before and that was it. Wow 36 hours has to be hard. I was served coffee in the hospital if I wanted it. Probably it is good to cut back. Marty's comment about shaving makes sense. I will do that next time.



These conversations are invaluable. I have learned so much just by listening to the people who have gone before me. We are incredibly strong women. It is amazing what we have been through. No one in my circle of friends have been through a breast cancer scare. We are sisters for sure!

Hi Betsy and Geralyn - thanks so much for the responses.   I had a great night's sleep which for me says I'm on the right track thinking DIEP.  My plastic surgeon told me that his DIEP patients are thrilled with their results and experiences.  However, his implant patients require some "tweaking" and that gets frustrating.  I was starting to hate the whole idea of implants, too.  I kept thinking about having something foreign in me that I couldn't get out on my own and it weirded me out a lot.  How would I get used to them?  How would they feel? I have to admit that I am still surprised at how easily I've taken to the idea of DIEP.  One thing is that I've already had two c-sections and one was quite dramatic (my identical twins were 3 months premature) - so I got roughed up pretty good in that one.  Even after that, I walked down the hall albiet slowly to the NICU not 6 hours later.  My husband told me yesterday that he thought if I could do that - I could handle the recovery from DIEP surgery.  Not much keeps me down but I'm smart about it, too.  With chemo, I had a pretty easy time but I took the meds and rested even when I felt good.  I've spent a lot of time in bed watching HGTV with my cat!

I spoke to my sister-in-law who had breast cancer, too.  When she heard about the implants - the tissue expanders, the fills, the second surgery, the months and months - she told me to forget it and with the DIEP it was "short term pain for long term gain - you'll be done quicker and with better results".   When she mentioned this - I thought she's a smart cookie.  She also said I was a good healer and strong and healthy - which is true.  

My husband says it's my decision - all of it.  He'll do what needs to be done.  Chemo was a good training ground for all of us.  My husband got more involved in the day-to-day life around here (I stay home with our kids) and learned that it's not easy with three kids; my kids got more independent; and I learned it is OK that all the cheese in the fridge goes moldy - because you can always buy more and no one is harmed!!!  I've learned to accept help a lot more readily.  It has been a growing experience for all of us.  

I do like the idea of nothing foreign in my body and waking up and having breasts.  My doctor sort of told us that most people are back to their "regular routine" with restrictions within a week or so but he tells them all to go home and take it easy.  He said it is about 10 weeks before you are 100% again.  Did you find this as well?  I don't intend to run any marathons but I would like to spend the summer swimming with my kids and enjoying the weather.  If I have this surgery in April (it will be within the next three weeks) - I assume by the end of the school year and early July - I will be feeling much better.  Is this a good assumption?

I know I ramble and again I apologize.  I appreciate the stories and advice a lot.

Thanks again so much.

Robin

P.S.  Geralyn - where did you have your surgery?  Princess Margaret?  I started out there but ended up having my lumpectomy at Womens College which was an excellent hospital.  But I live in Burlington so I went to Juravinski for chemo and decided it was so good there - I was going to stay.  

Wow, tons to catch up on here!  Faith -- yaaay, good to see your posting and we have all been thinking about you!!

Geralyn -- is that sharp pain in your stomach area better?  I know about a week ago, I reached too far to grab something off my nightstand at night and I paid for it as I felt a nice pain for a few days.  Hopefully it's better now!

Moviemaniac-- like everyone else, getting cancer has been a rude awakening to me, so I'm trying to clean up my eating habits a bit, and the Diet Pepsi thing seems to be the hardest!  You're right about using the phrase "drug of choice".    Hopefully I'll get to where you are and not really miss it anymore!

Kiwimum -- always love your updates!  Yep, I'm 33, and getting BC sucks at any age.  It's a big sting to me and the hubby since we haven't had a chance to have kids yet.  Hopefully I can be like you and others here that already kicked cancer in the rear end soon! 

MartyJ-- how bummy that your surgery has been postponed, hopefully they can get you back on the schedule soon and that things don't have to be rearranged too much!

Cherrie -- 5 1/2 weeks out from 2A, how is the recovery going? 

Nihahi -- my ROM is mostly in my arm to the sides of my ribs (don't feel any shoulder issues).  I'm thinking it probably is due to me having the BMX at the same time as the DIEP, so I'm working on those exercises provided to me by the PT (well, sort of).  I'm guessing that as additional time passes, it'll get better...hopefully!

MartyJ, I've started trying to let my kids help out more for the last two weeks. I don't know about them doing laundry, but after I fold their clothes I have them go put it up. They complain about how horrible it is, but they do it! I remember when I was a child I had to clean my parents house. Bathroom, mopping floors, dusting and ironing. I even had to cook dinner sometimes!! Now days kids have it so easy and they don't even know it! I've already talked to my son about me having surgery and him having to help out since he's the oldest, but he thinks that means he gets to tell his sisters what to do!

Last weekend I started teaching my hubby how to do laundry. I think sometimes they play stupid so that they don't have to do it. I mean, really, is not that hard!

I'm glad you got your surgery date all sort out and you only have to wait a week! It'll be here before you know it!

I'm just over 4 weeks out from my BMX and DIEP and for anyone trying to make a decision, I say go for it! It's true that is a big surgery and there is some discomfort at first for a few days, but I'm thoroughly convinced it is the best recon procedure.

My new breasts are beautiful, even without nipples! (my nips could not be saved, but I'm OK with that too) The shape is very nice already, and I haven't even had the revision surgery yet where the PS will tweak everything to make my breasts and tummy look even better. The shape and size are actually better now than before. I never felt the loss of my breasts, because I went to sleep with breasts, and woke up with breasts.

I know I am fortunate, and every situation is different and that some women are not able to have immediate recon after mastectomy, but for those trying to make this decision I'm fully convinced it was the way to go and I am so glad I did.

I did need a lot of physical help the first week I was home, but was able to bathe/dress myself in a few days and was up and about on my own. I did need help in and out of the recliner for 5-6 days, but that was mainly because my recliner is somewhat stiff. I hope to go back to work as a nurse in about 3 weeks, would have been 2 more weeks, but  I'm having to have a re-excision surgery this Fri due to one unclean margin on the left side, so that will throw me off about one week.

I actually had less discomfort than I had expected, and the overall experience was not as bad as anticipated. 

Just got back from another long walk (9 more days of cardio!!!!). Can't believe how active the thread is today. Love it!!!!

HHCAts..sure sounds like hubby and family are in your corner big time. Makes such a difference. You are so right too about finding the "positive growth" out of such a crappy thing like bc. Ramble on, gal, you have good insight and a great way with words.

Kuka....seriously!!!!! You're kids let you chose what they wear???? When mine were even as young as your 2 year old, they certainly had their own opinions about what they liked! My daughter wore the same dress for days (laundered while she slept at night), because it was her favourite!!!!! I figured, what the heck, she's happy.

Cuetang...I'm going into this with a "testy" back, and two bad shoulders. I have literally JUST gotten the shoulders 99% painfree, and almost full ROM, not full strength. I'm more than a bit concerned about what all that "immobilized time" is going to do to the shoulders, and what the "bent over" posture is going to do to the back. 

MartyJ....April 12, same as me!!! We will be "napping" together!!!! I am seriously jealous of everyone who has what apparently are the "to die for" Target pants!!! There are some stores about to open here, but not until after my surgery. hmpf.

Ironmag....You are sounding wonderful. Sorry to hear of the "mucky margin" issue....hope it doesn't affect the flaps??

So interesting to read about the different protocols, none of which is better than the other, just different. Forgot to mention, my PS also "advised" cutting way back on refined sugars, as he feels it can slow down healing. Anyone else have this advice???? The hospitals here are really adamant about cutting back on "global antibiotics", so 2 weeks of hibitane and nose "goo" is so not what they want here. Thank goodness. If I did two weeks of hibitane, my skin would fall off!!!!!

Got to get busy....I'm doing some "precooking" today, to put in the freezer for post-op. 

"Housekeeping issue"....When I see that someone has mentioned the name/location of their hospital within one of their messages, would it be ok if I got that info added to "the list"? I think it is helpful info to have easily available for ladies maybe wondering where to go? I have pm'd some of you and I could pm everytime it happens, but that seems a bit much. I figure if you're putting it in a message, it's not something you want to keep private?

sorry for us but we don't have target online in canada boo hoo.