DIEP 2013

Hhcats, good luck tomorrow. Hope everything goes well and I'll be thinking about you a lot tomorrow since I'll be the following day.

I just packed my bag for the hospital. Pjs, undies and socks. On Tuesday I'll add my cell and iPad and I'll be set!

I talked to both surgeons about nipple sparing. They both agreed that it wouldn't be a good idea. Even though there would only be a small chance of having cancer around the nipple, I would rather not take any chances. Ps would have to move the nipples anyways since he's going to lift the new girls, and I think I've gotten used to the idea of loosing them, so I'm just going with it! My DH is more upset than me about it, even though he told me is my decision.

I hope to check in here again tomorrow before I set off for my surgery!

Hi all,

Glad everyone doing wellfrom sx.

Just got back from bc retreat with little pink houses of hope. It was for our whole family. It was wonderful. Think my family is healing from this experience.



Am having constant headache over my left eye now. Went to ER while in nc. Ct of head neg. I thought i had brain cancer. Whew had myself really worked up. My mom thinks it might be from going through the menopause. Idk it just feels like pressure.



I stopped wearing that damned comoression garment a few daysago. Everything looks fine. I just couldnt take it anymore.what with this headache pressure. Nurses make the worst patients-thats what my nurse at sloan kettering toldme.



Going back to work tuesday. Yeah! & gym. Goung to do some yogaor pilates. Will just takebreak in class if i get tired. I still get tired. Am liking the new girls more. Def no more sxfor me!

kuka and hhcats good luck tomorrow (opps today) looking forward to your posts on the other side. Nihahi nice too hear from u again. Boredom , yes i understand. I was great the first few weeks , now that I can do more but I can't do enough I feel at a loss. Just cooking and eating and gaining weight! Not allowed exercise yet , do a little arm exercise with small weights. who was talking about not liking vegetables. Me too , I wish I liked them more and could just eat more veges and less of the bad stuff. Cant sleep feeling low again.

HHCats - sleep well today!

Kuka - although I had my original mx years ago followed by implant recon, my nipples were removed.  Just to warn you, during the time that you won't have nipples it will look a bit bizzaar.  I used to refer to it as looking like the nosecone of an old airplane (b-52).  When my PS asked me if I was going to get 3d nipple tatoos or go all the way and add nipples with projection, I quickly said all the way.  After so many years, I want to worry about headlights and now they have so many ways to dim the lights.  You will sleep well tomorrow.  Enjoy your parents!

Fran - you may be reacting to the pollen in NC.  The levels in northern VA are nowhere near as high as they are in SC and NC now.  You might want to consider a netty pot just to clear thing your sinuses to get ahead of this.

Nihahi - I know you have a history of back issues, as do I.  It was very helpful in the long run to have an rx for flexerill.  I took it every night and it did help with sleep.

Ladies,

I am glad that so many of you are doing well and I continue to pray for those of you who are experiencing post op problems.

I've decided on the DIEP flap for my reconstruction and within the past 2 months I met with 2 PS's. I thought I knew for sure which surgeon I wanted to perform my surgery but all of a sudden I am rethinking this decision. I like both surgeons and have heard nothing but great things about each of them so I've been going back and forth on who do I choose. Here are the differences between the surgeons.

Surgeon One - No tissue expanders and doesn't think I have enough tissue for 2 breasts. (I have a UMX and am thinking of having my other breast removed.) He has not done as many surgeries as Surgeon Two, but he is a perfectionist and I've spoken to a few of his patients who are extremely pleased with their results. His photo gallery is amazing and even the ones who've had UMX are matched almost perfectly (I am now questioning my decision to remove my remaining breast). The nurses sing his praises.

Surgeon Two - Will insert tissue expanders on both sides, done at the time of my second mastectomy. Says I have enough tissue. He has done twice as many DIEP's as #One and has written many white papers on the procedure. He can actually find nerves and reconnect those (he was recruited by Mayo Clinic). His nurses say he is an amazing surgeon. I wasn't as impressed with his photo gallery though.

This is a life changing decision and all of a sudden I am so confused. Can any of you give me some advice as to what else should I consider when making this decision? Are tissue expanders a must?!?!

Thank you! Ann

Hi AnnBR, I would say if you can go without the TE's, then do so, unless they are absolutely necessary. Why can't they just do a DIEP flap for you right away, and why would you need expanders? I'm sure I don't understand this correctly - chemo brain - lol.

As far as only enough tissue for one breast: I really agonized for months about removing my healthy breast during DIEP, and ultimately decided to keep my breast. The latest research shows that if you have early stage bc, have no family history of bc, and don't have the BRAC I or 2 genes, your chance of getting ca in the healthy breast is less than 1% per year. That helped me hugely to make up my mind. The estimate is that upwards of 75% of women who get BMX, do so unnecessarily out of fear, and not based on the facts at all. One has to respect people's decisions though, because some just cannot live with the fact that it may recur, and choose to remove both breasts. Everybody has to do what is right for her.

Maybe this can help a little with your decision. If you keep the healthy breast, you will probaby have enough fat for the other breast. Both surgeons seem fine - tough decision. I would probably choose the one with the better photos. Good luck on this decision. It is not easy. My DIEP surgery is in 4 weeks' time, and I'm perfectly at peace with what I've decided.

Nihahi, did you have something done to the other breast to? Just curious - you don't have to answer if you don't want to.

I agree with Betsy...I've never heard of tissue expanders used in a diep surgery only if you were going to get implants. I oped to have my healthy left breast removed and have diep surgery done on both. I had had a previous mx on the right already. I don't regret my decision at all. But everyone is different and you have to do what your comfortable with.

Ann,



In my opinion, the breast reconstruction plastic surgeons do not live up to the Mayo name. I had horrible experience with PS at Mayo, MN. I ended up with failed implants, long story.



They would not allow viewing pictures of other patient results. Also with residents doing surgery I believe adds to their surgeries being notorious long. Their numbers and expertise are no where near those of the surgeon I ended up going to for my SGAP, Dr Richard Kline, Charleston, SC. Of course years ago he was a resident, then trained residents and other PS in free flap recon. Now he has a private center and does not allow residents to touch his patients. Sometimes he does invite them in to observe. He also does free phone consult and answers all my questions I email him frequently. My PS at Mayo would not even speak to me when having a major problem.



Lots of echos about the expanders. That would be a good question for him.



Good luck with your very personal decision. It took me awhile to finally find a microsurgeon I can trust.

Hhcats - thinking of you and can't wait to hear from you when you are ready to check in.

Kuka-- hope you're relaxing and you know we are all with you tomorrow.

Sbelizabeth and nihahi-- welcome to the other side! You've probably got to be feeling the first week of blahs, but be sure to take it easy and find something to keep you occupied. I did the tv stuff and lots of iPad games. .

MartyJ and lilyun-- I hope you gals are feeling better now and are well on the way of healing from your surgeries!

Thinking of HHCats today and Kuka tomorrow. We are all here for you. Can't wait to hear how you are doing.



Nihahi and Sbelizabeth- sending healing thoughts. Like Marty said the rx Flexiril really took the edge off my back pain. I puffed up like Marty on my 6-7 day. I took Lasik and it took 4 days to calm down.



Sorry to hear about sleep problems. That stinks. It is short term however.



Ann- take time to make your decision. I think I talked to 4 PS before choosing a doctor. It came down to a micro surgeon who has done hundreds of DIEP'S. All my first interviews said they wouldn't be able to give me b cups. Well I now have c cups and am almost too big. Ha ha. Experience, pictures, and comfort level speaking with them is vital. For me, I needed good bedside manners and someone who is connected to their patients. For example, being able to call him/her at anytime and actually get to speak to them. I had many Sunday conversations with my doctor.

My doctor even delivered my anti nausea medicine to me on Easter Sunday. So I would say I have a very, very good doctor. He even discussed with me about choosing the right doctor and he quoted everything that everyone on here has said is find a doctor that does lots and lots of this type of surgery.

Hi ladies...,its been awhile since I've checked in. 2 weeks ago tonight I was wheeled into ICU. Still having some breast discomfort . 2 drains out , 2 to go ill be so happy when they are out!!! The doc has been letting me shower as long as I cover drain sites....it's a long sore process but it is amazing what a shower can do to your mind and body!

I think I wrote during my stay in the hospital... I'm laughing now because I have no recollection of what I said. Apparently I had been writing and texting all my friends while on meds which blurred my memory. I apologize

I'm tired of my binder which is still on for 4 more weeks:( I'd love to find another item instead of this one I have from the doc ...heard many of you speak of Spanx and others. I need to check them out!

I'm curious as to how long some of you continued to take meds like oxy with or without Tylenol at home and for how long. I'm not ready to get off it completely but I think the PA wants me to wean off more than I'd like. I did a lot of walking today and really felt uncomfortable.



Faith so glad your Boston family /friends are ok. We left Boston that weekend before the bombing... And I just missed all the craziness this past week when they shut everything down by 1 day when I went in for a check up ... Are you feeling the way you think you should be at 3 weeks out? Your doc came to see me on d/c day , nice man!

Prayers and hugs to all you wonderful women. Support and knowledge provides incredible power to all of us. God bless

Robin67

Robin... I was off oxy/pain meds one week post surgery and switched to 800mg of Tylenol for 2-3 days.

Ann... I share doctors with some of these women, and I agree... The doctors who go above and beyond, understand your concerns, have tons of experience and are willing to share their photo gallery, and share phone numbers of past patients - its all key. Does your doctor have a Plan B if Plan A fails? You need 100% faith in their ability and approach. So don't settle. You don't want the lesser of two evils - not the way to choose a doctor.

About bilateral v uni... I chose bilateral because I didn't want to worry about something they were watching on the good side... and you can only harvest a donor site once. So I wanted to make sure I had the fat for two breasts.... And I didn't want to do one, recover and then decide to do the other one (double the recovery time?? ) Nope, not for me.

My left breast is a GAP breast, my right breast is a DIEP breast and my left breast had a revision in January using a Tdap flap. All muscle-free. There are many options out there... Just choose the right doctor.

Ann - I think we PM'd each other earlier too, but I'll just put in another plug for the great PS I had up here in Minneapolis (David Ruebeck), in case you'd like to try a 3rd opinion. Very experienced with DIEPs (and also managed a SIEA on one side with me). I didn't have much tummy fat to work with either, but he was able to fashion two very nice albeit small ones. I'm amazed at his handiwork and like him as a person too.

Thanks for posting about your diep experiences and things that are helpful for recovery, questions to ask, etc.

I interview my first surgeon tommorow in Indy. Success rate is 95 percent. Sounds low to me.

Glad to see so many of you doing well and pleased w procedure!