DIEP 2013

Sea laurel, all of these plastic surgeons partner with breast surgeons. No corners will be cut with taking out your cancer and doing a full pathology. The cancer is the first priority. In fact in some places the cancer will be the only priority. You are right to be researching your options because some women aren't offered them. I am doing my surgery and bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP on May 8 in New Orleans with Dr. Stollier and Dr. Sullivan. They offered me a surgery date that was only 2 weeks from when I initiated. I pushed it out a little later because I could not be ready that soon. At that practice they reserve dates for women with active cancer. If you think this is the procedure you want you can get a better cosmetic result if you do it immediately. The only thing I worried about was if there was cancer in my nodes that was not found until the full pathology, so I got my nodes tested first.



I understand if immediate recon is not feasible for you but you should know its an option. If you have cancer and wait to do the recon you could be waiting a year until you finish all your treatments. I want to be healing all that time. I also chose DIEP because I don't want implants that will need to be replaced at some point. This decision is very personal so what you choose will be right for you.

Movie - you have such great words of wisdom and strength for us all!  Thanks for sharing your "secret" about blue days.  I think we all do and they hit us hard sometimes because we have to be strong for so long for ourselves and everyone else.  It's been a long year and half for me since diagnosis, chemo, BMX w/ TEs, radiation, and DIEP surgery.  Plus we have to recover from all of these treatments we are receiving.  I've definitely had my blue days just sitting here being tired after this surgery.  I'm so tired of being tired and so ready to be my energetic self.  I know if I do too much one day I will pay for it the next.  Plus how to put this - people aren't surrounding you as much as the weeks go out.  They check in but are back to their busy lives and we are still recovering and it can be lonely.  I had so many people stop by the first few weeks after my surgery.   It's all good but probably gives us too much time to think about all that has happened to us.  I do feel very blessed with the awesome support of my family, friends and neighbors!  I'm trying to enjoy my down time too because I know I won't have it forever!  LOL  Have a great Friday ladies!

Sea laurel. About the breast surgeon. In New Orleans I also had dr Stolier (like Marsha will). This is what he does. Only. He used to work in his own office for many plastic surgeons but last year he moved into the Center for restorative breast surgery. He understands that his job is all about the cancer. I went and had a consult with him prior to my surgery as I wanted to be assured he would strip me clean of all breast tissue and meet all the standards I needed and had locally. He exceeded my expectations. I am not trying to be long winded but you know that great plastic surgeons DO work with great oncology breast surgeons. You don't need to separate your surgeries and will get best results when it's one surgery. After each of my plastic surgery apps I would talk with my local doctor and I am confident with my decision to travel for both my MX and recon. I would have regretted a local MX and delayed recon.

crs319 - I brought my comfy cotton button up the front PJs.  Lots of ladies prefer not to bring their own stuff into the hospital - but I hate the hospital gowns and felt more comfortable.  You'll be flashing the new girls often, so you definitely have to have button up!  Keep swimming, girl.  You can do it!

Ann thanks for reminding me of your story!  Glad you have made your decision - go forth with confidence!

I'm kind of laughing at the "Dr McCarty" thing - it's actually Carty (I think a drugged Robin started that...)  I'm laughing because I am a HUGE Grey's Anatomy fan, and the first time we met Carty my husband made a "McDreamy" comment.    

SeaLaurel - what BS are you working with?  They usually only work with one or 2 PS - which I think might be based on how their surgical days match up, or perhaps they match them up out of preference.  In Boston, mine was the director of the surgical oncology dept, so when his asst said he only works with Carty, I thought that was a pretty amazing recommendation.

Marsha - good advice on testing the nodes!  Many surgeons seem to wait until the MX.  I had gone for a 2nd opinion at the Dubin Breast Center in NYC, and the really amazing BS there felt a little something under my arm that my MO in CT had not noticed (and she really is amazing, too).  So they sent me on the spot to do an ultrasound and on biopsy found 1 node.  For me, this helped me make the decision to do chemo first, before surgery.  I didn't want to wait while my cancer jumped on the super-highway of my body to do as it wanted while I was healing from surgery.  For others, it may determine whether or not the docs recommend rads.

Goodie we have been living parallel lives...  I did the same exact pattern except for the rads.  You are right, my bluest days were realizing everyone else had gone back to their own schedule I was left on my own.  Even my mom stopped coming by every day - hahaha...  (I'm sure she started to feel like she was bugging me, because that's just my mom.)  It is a long time, but then I look at my survivor friends who are many years out, and I know that this will soon be a distant memory.

So question - some of you had the DIEP first and then did rads?  I was told that it could ruin the results.  That's why I did TEs. 

Definitely enjoy the downtime, ladies!  This week was back to business for me - already looking at the clock and panicking cuz I want to walk before showering and heading to work!

Happy Friday!

xo

Jeannie

Goodie - hang in there, it does get better, honest!  I am three months post-op and have had pain issues, but now I am walking, going out with girlfriends and working.  It does get better!  As MartyJ kept having to tell me, give it time.   

Congrats to all who have made it to the other side! 

Question re: tummy and exercises.  My original PS did not order me to wear a girdle until two months post-op when I was still complaining of pain.  Now I am only walking, but getting sharp pains sometimes in my tummy.  Is this normal?  I stopped wearing a girdle, but maybe I should go back to it?

Loving my new figure.  Even with all the scars I and my husband admire what the PS did.  There is going to be an upside to all of this!

I did a bad thing at work...  A lady came up and admired my figure and I told her that I would rather have my original boobs back that didn't hurt, and hey, she had some extra, could I have hers?  Oy vey!

New SX date for Phase 2 - 6/7/13, 4 1/2 months post-op original DIEP.  Breast lift, fat grafting, dog ear revisions.  She said that some patients can go back to work after three days (I am not that hairy-chested), but asked that I take a week off from work.

Question:  If you have a nipple lift, is there a chance that you will lose your nips?  Anyone know?

Blessings to all, I'm not able to keep up with the boards working...but please know that I value each and every one of your journeys.

TOWANDA!!!!

Re: bras... heavy flaps do need support, but they don't need heavy support. Just a little something to take some of the weight off of the delicate connections.  Immediately after surgery I was DDD and had a hard time finding a wirefree bra in my size. I ended up layering 2 surgical bras until I found something that would work better. "Leisure bras" or "sleep bras" are a good choice, they aren't as compressive as sports bras and they're easy to sleep in.

Heavenschild - if the compression girdle helps with the pain, put it back on.  I did not have pain, but wore compression for 8 weeks after Stage 1.  Also, re Stage 2 - i think the PS is being overly optimistic on getting back to work in 3 days.  Two weeks ago today, I had a lift, dog ear revisions, ab incision lowering, lipo to flanks for fat grafting.  I know I am old (tee hee), but no way I could have gone to a job at 3 days.  I do work from home.  My surgery was on Friday and I was working on Monday, but could work from bed or a chair.  The lipo was challenging - ouch!  Still bruised.  Also, I had 4 drains.  Be sure to ask if she will need to put drains in as that does effect the recovery time.  Thanks for the article on the new drug for chronic narcotic induced constipation.  While it won't really help all of us, since we just use the narcotics for a short time, people like my DH will benefit.  As a service disabled veteran, he has been on narcotics for years so that he could have a life.  Maybe this will replace his daily Miralax habit (endorsed by the gastroenterologist).

Fredntan - you can at least graduate to a stage 2 Marena (no zippers).  I will be heading for that soon - waiting for sizing to stabilize a bit.  The compression after lipo will help ensure a good outcome - just keep that in mind.  It is only a few weeks for a lifetime of better thighs.

Rough day over this way woke up at 5 am with a fever,chills and some stomach pain. Called the PS on call and he didn't seem to think that it was related to surgery. I just saw my PS two days ago and everything looked great so I doubt it has anything to do with surgery either. Seems I'm not the only on on here with sharp abdomen pains. I think the fever is just me getting sick but boy having the chills and a fever with fresh scars is awful !

Hope everyone is doing well



Ann so glad to see you were able to make peace with your decision !

Faith-I was thinking the very same thing as Betsy.....those infections are sneaky and can jump on you before you realize it...take care!

Goodie-thanks for the vote of confidence....I appreciate being "appreciated"....:-)  the thing is, we all learn so much from each other here......couldn't make it without my sisters here.....

Liefie....time is marching on, and soon you will be posting from the "other side".....one thing I tried to do, with varying levels of success, was to gloss over the actual operation/hospital recovery, and focus on the healing process, and what I imagined it would be like.   (Probably a cowardly cop-out.....but I needed sanity more than I need brutal honesty) I see you breezing through this...

Everyone:  here's to a wonderful healing, preparing,and restful weekend....."TOWANDA!"

Namaste and God bless - Jackie

Bdavis I remember you mentioning you had unfortunately gotten cellulitis are there any signs that stand out as tell tale for cellulitis ?

Jackie - great advice IMO to be in denial!!! Hahaha - I go the same route. I did not focus on the surgery, but on the "other side." That is what the Peggy Huddleston meditation does.

Well, I'm finally scheduled on 6/24 for my DIEP. It's 2 weeks later than I hoped, but I'm just happy I got it in June. My sister gets married on July 6th. Do you think I will be able to move well enough to go to this wedding. I'm actually in the wedding, so I need to break it to her what is going on. If I don't do this surgery in June, I have to wait another year. I'm a teacher and have to do it in the summer.



I am very nervous about this and feeling like my summer is going to pretty much laying around recovering. I guess I'm lucky to have the time to do this. I do have a trip to Hawaii booked on aug. 3rd:)

Faith-- I hope you'll be able to find out what it is soon and feel better!



Mammalou-- right on with what MartyJ said. Within the first two weeks I was functional, but pretty out of it at times and only had my last hip drain removed then. It was only between weeks 3 and 4 that I started feeling more like me. You might be very tired just moving around at the wedding -- being part of a wedding party is tiring enough without having had major surgery right beforehand. I can imagine how it feels because its your sister. I had to pull out of my best friend's wedding (I've known since i was 11) because of my DIEP. It was a tough decision but I had to do what was best for me. Perhaps the goal would be to attend the wedding instead of being in the wedding party? Hawaii sounds marvelous, it'll be a great reward for you!

Mamma - now the challenge will be what to wear to the wedding.  Sorry to throw another wrench into the system, but . . .  mid-section will be swolen and you will have to work to conceal the drains.  One thing I did was use a small (6x9) open pouch on a crossbody strap to hold 2 drains.  I guess what I am saying is do not buy a fitted dress.  Relaxed is the key!  Soft Palazzo pants, with a soft tank and longish jacket?  Just thoughts.