DIEP 2013

Oropallo, I sent you a PM, would live to hear more of your experience at NWH.

Pat

Thanks Jackie, Gini23 and to everyone else who responded to my post. My MRI showed 2 suspicious areas on my remaining breast but nothing was seen on an ultra sound or mammo. After thinking about this, I know the best decision for me is to have it removed.

Ann

Janet, of course everything happens for reason, right? Good that you will at least now have that time to feel ready.



Ann, I know it is a decision not made easily. Rest assured that you will be content with your decision.



Have a fantastic day everyone! Off to my second day back to work. It is going to be a long one… Evening event tonight....



Hugs,

Jeannie

where do I get that T-shirt?

Thinking of HHcats and Kuka.....

Spent the whole night in my own bed with the help of a few pillows and Flexeril. Had some wakeful moments, but feel like I got a better sleep than in the chair. Defo need help getting in and out, either by someone or pulling (with the non flap arm) on the recliner. It helps (I think at this moment) to have spent the night less flexed than I have been. Seem to be able to start the day not staring at the floor!). 

re: drugs....I was off the morphine after 3 days....couldn't handle the nausea/vomit cycle and wasn't in that much actual pain. Took regular tylenol after that, and didn't need it all the time. I've been taking it on and off at home, but always have taken it just before bed to help the dang back. The "tightness" isn't painful, just a weird, pulling sensation. Hmmmm...Movie, still feeling the tightness after 3 months....not what I'd hoped for, but it doesn't seem to hold you back at the gym!

Liefie..I think you asked about the other boob? Yes, I am a uniDiep, but had a "balancing" implant removed from the real boob, as well as a mastopexy, (breast lift). I knew I would be smaller on the Diep side, and wanted symmetry as much as possible. The swelling/changes on both sides seems to vary from day to day, which I guess is normal at this stage. Not lots of symmetry at this point yet, but I have faith in time and my surgeon, so I refuse to freak out at this point.

Movie.....why do you feel your next stage is coming sooner than expected???

Hope all those in the "decision" stage, find our stories helpful. I just soooo appreciate everyone who contributes to this thread, as I think we get help for ourselves, while helping others. That is a win-win from my point of view!

One thing I'd like to pass on...words from my PS that I found very reassuring.......This especially applies I think, to post implant ladies. He said that obviously the sensation on the Diep breast will never be normal, but as time goes on...the brain will start to register things like pressure, pinching, etc., and because of the "location" of the sensations are coming from our "chest" the brain will start to identify the flap as a breast. That usually doesn't happen with implants.....sure didn't with me....because the flap breast is our own tissue. From my experience, hearing that was huge, because the implant breast never felt like part of me. 

Have a good day ladies....off to start my arm exercises for the day! ((((x)))) to all.

Hi ladies ! I'm back to sleeping in my own bed finally the last two nights have been more restful than when I was on the couch. Before the surgery and for most of my life I struggled with body image issues and some insecurity problems. Now post surgery I have gained a level of self confidence that I never thought possible despite the current state of my body..while it's unfamiliar I'm loving it and really believe that it has a lot to do with surviving these last 7 years and coming out on top having kicked cancers A$$ !



Ann The difficult decisions that we are faced with ultimately make us stronger and in the end rest assured that you will make the right choice for you if you have the time and the option available meet with more PS until you find one that your comfortable with. (((Hugs))) your strong you'll be ok



Nihahi sounds like you are doing great !



Sbelizabeth thinking about you and sending healing thoughts your way ((hugs))



Hhcats and Kuka hope your both doing well there are brighter days on the horizon

Faith and Nihahi, I will try to remember not to post, e-mail or text in my tadpole-brain state - LOL. Never know what tricks your brain can play on you in that condition, and what you may send out into the world!

Nihahi, in a few weeks' time you will be admiring you beautiful new assets, I'm sure. After all the pain you had endured for so long it will be well deserved! So excited for you, and for having the joy of the final product. My PS wants to wait and see how and where the new boob settles after DIEP before she does some tweaking to the other breast. This is because I had rads, and there's capsular contracture around the TE which she will tidy up during DIEP. So she is proceeding with caution, and I like that.

Also good to hear you were off pain medication so quick. After both my surgeries last year (hysterectomy and UMX/SNB) I was off the pain stuff pretty quick. Hope it will be like that again. Very interesting what your PS said about the brain eventually registering the flap as a breast - pretty amazing!

HHCats and Kuka, hope you are okay, and doing well.

Went for the follow-up appt to my Stage 2 today. Turns out that I was so black and blue because the PS did do some lipo on my hip. He gave me a hip binder to wear for the first time for the side incision and to help the belly button heal. It's hard to believe but despite my scars my DH eyes were popping out of his head with delight at the breast unveiling. I was fairly small breasted early on and have been a uni breaster for 9 years. The PS called the GI doctor himself to get me in for an appt to take care of my "butt problem". He also had me go for a blood test to make sure that I am not anemic from that loss of blood and the side incision that has been oozIng some blood. Hoping that the hip lipo-alot on one side where he left extra tissue and some on the other side will make my pants fit better. The PS can be stoic at times but he was very concerned and helpful. I should mention that I went into the office weepy for the first time because I found out last night that I did not get the job that I interviewed for. I work there part time and interviewed for a full time position. I have worked there since college so I was naturally upset when I found out it went to someone else-who will make almost half the money that I would. It's hard because my husband has been out of work for 9 months and I have a mortgage and 2 kids in college. Just getting a little kindness and empathy helped alot.

Lilyun....it's their loss....something better will come along for you. It's nice when your doc treats you as a person, isn't it. Hope all the health stuff gets sorted out quickly. 

Liefie...not at the final stage yet, still have the nip and tweak to go. But my plan is to wait until after summer. We'll just have to see how that goes with my PS.

Mammalou....we've all had those thoughts. Keep your mind looking forward. I admit Day 2 post surgery, I was ready to tell my surgeon to put everything back where he found it, and let me go home. But now, I know, not yet 2 full weeks post, that this was the right thing for me.

Did as much walking as I could today, and helped with some laundry and meal prep. I admit I'm pretty pooped, long before bedtime, even with a nap after lunch. ROM of shoulder sucks, big time, but this was the first day I was allowed to start with specific exercises, so I guess I shouldn't be discouraged...even though I am:(

Faith....great news to hear you're back in bed. Hope it continues for you.

Nihahi your doing great already getting around as much as you can..I was surprised at how much walking around the house etc was possible so quickly after surgery. I know its hard (think I posted similar feelings week 2) but try not to get discouraged rest when your body tells you to because all that rest can lead to a better week three when I read your post I started to think of the difference between my personal week two vs. three and boy what a difference even a few days makes in this type of recovery. Hang in there ((hugs))



Sherry so glad to hear your looking forward to reconnecting with your body via DIEP. I was not given exercises to do prior to surgery but I personally chose to strengthen my legs based of some posts from the ladies here on this thread. The best exercise I found for that was to use my exercise ball I would place it between the wall and my back and keeping my feet a little more than hip width apart I would move into a chair seated position and hold for as long as I could and repeat until I was jello legs. Not sure if there is a name for this but boy was that a tough but great exercise. I think it helped with picking up things that I dropped etc I can be a bit clumsy.



I will quit rambling on lol the benadryl seems to be kicking in finally nurse said it was harmless to take as a sleep aid while waiting to see my ps on Thursday.



Thinking of sbelizabeth, hhcats and kuka hope you ladies are resting comfortably

P.S. Warrior Sisters....I got my "Hell Yes They're Fake-the real ones tried to kill me!" dri-fit shirt from cafepress. (For those that wanted to know....)

Hi, all! Lilyun - I'm so sorry about the job. That must hurt on multiple levels, esp when you've been there so long. Sounds like they went with what was cheapest for them - again, so disappointing. I echo others in hoping something great emerges for you soon.



For those wondering about stage 2 timing: according to my PS, it's actually a good thing to wait a bit, sometimes beyond the 3 months that seems so common. He's willing to do revisions at 3 months, but said waiting 4-6 would be even better, to let things settle and for the flap to get nice and integrated. That might be b/c of the nature of what I'll likely do (fat grafts from hips etc), but I got the impression that if you're willing to wait, it's a good thing. There's not a rush unless you're itching to have things finished. Though again, that may be different in particular situations, where sooner may indeed be better. Not sure.

Nihahi, I had itching just above my ab incision, I am just hoping its a sign of healing. I was putting coconut oil on the skin underneath and some above, didn't seem to help any.

Can any of you share how the insurance costs work with this procedure? I am going to see Dr. Kline in Charleston and am wondering if he does balance billing.  Will he expect me to pay the difference in the charged amount and the insurance reimbursement amount?

Nihahi I have had a ton of itching just below my ab incision and a little bit of itching above as well my ps recommended using uncented lotion on my skin only nothing directly on the incisions yet we will talk about that (scar massage) when I see him tomorrow

I have also had that sunburn feeling quite severe over and around the noobs the visiting nurse and the nurse at my ps office said that it is nerve regeneration. Also loving the sunshine but having trouble keeping warm and getting a chill hurts ! Both my boys play baseball so we are at the fields for hoursat a time. I'm always prepared with blankets, hats and sweaters. In the beginning I would go just to get out for a bit and I'd stay and watch as long as I could then would retreat to the car to escape the cold wind.



Hoping to see if my ps will adjust this darn binder because clearly it was not made for someone as short as I at 5' 1/4" stinking thing keeps bunching up!



Sbelizabeth, kuka & hhcats congrats on crossing over the largest bridge ever welcome to the other side you did it ! Sending healing thoughts your way looking forward to hearing from you ladies when your ready.