DIEP 2013

Thank you everyone for your insight, it helps a lot knowing I'm not alone. Just chugged my last bit of water for a while, need to check into the hospital by 8am tomorrow. I'll post after surgery when I'm in my own room after ICU. Bye for now, I'll be back soon!

Good night sweet diep sisters. I have a 530 am appointment with Dr. Baron and Dr. Kline. Thanks for your wisdom. The new girls and I will see you on the flip side:)

Lmo45- good luck and positive thoughts to you for tomorrow. ((( hugs )))

Crs319- u will do great tomorrow, good luck! (((hugs)))

Sbelizabeth- cant believe u r on a bike 2 weeks out! Congrats!

All of you that r posting post op are an inspiration to me, can only hope I do as well in July!

I can totally relate to the idea of reconnecting with your body. I was a uni boober for 2 years, then I had a prophylactic mx in 2010 on other side.

I was originally scheduled for bilateral DIEP in 2009 but a month before surgery I had a recurrence. So, after radiation I was told I wasn't a candidate for reconstruction. A year and a half ago my original oncologist retired and I got a new, younger, female oncologist who referred me to a plastic surgeon for TE and implants. Turns out I wasn't a candidate for that so that PS referred me to her partner for DIEP. I cried when she said she would do the surgery that I wasn't sure I wanted. I know now that I can't wait for the new girls! I can't wait to not look at my chest and be reminded everyday of what I've been through! I can't wait to shop for clothes that I've been avoiding for so long!

Sorry for rambling but you all excite me!

Cheers,

Sherry

CRS & LMO - you've got this - we are in your pockets and eagerly awaiting your first "post-DIEP" update. Enjoy your nap and the drugs.... heehee



Thank you, Heavenschild. I think everyone in my house including me needed reminding that though I am back at work, I am not ready for my usual schedule yet! I definitely am trying to cut back a bit now and rest when I can. My DH (yes - they are living up to their vows!) told me to go back to sleep Monday morning and he got up, sent the girls off to school, emptied the dishwasher and cleaned up the kitchen before getting ready to leave for work himself.



Marty - thank you for the all that compression info! So this may be a stupid question - if you use a crotchless or split crotch compression garment - Would you wear underwear under it? Or would do you need several of them so you can keep washing them....? TMI???



Sherry - so excited for you that after all of that you can get some new "natural" girls!



Post it notes are hysterical! What a very fun idea! Maybe I'll give that a go at my Stage 2 in June.



Hugs ladies!

Jeannie

Lmo and CRS-best wishes for an uneventful surgery and a rapid recovery! You are both in my thoughts......when we hear from you again it will be from the "other side" Stay strong! You both can do this!



To all my DIEP sisters: "TOWANDA!"



Will check in tomorrow.....happy sleeping!



Namaste and God bless - Jackie

Gini - as Betsy said, just wear a pair of underwear over the garment.  I wore my own underwear and they fit perfectly - no need for larger panties.  I actually purchased some one size larger on the suggestion of others, but they were too big.  Because I wear compression 24 hours a day, I have several garments in 3 sizes.  Today I get to order a new one without the zippers used immediately post surgery.

She chirple - this is one surgery where you reallly, really need to give yourself time to heal.  That involves rest.  While we all heal differently, I can say that at 11 days post DIEP I still had 4 drains, showers and dressing were tiring, I was still taking pain killers (thus no driving).  I had trouble focusing on the conversations with friends, I would definitely not been able to concentrate on a conference.  I do think returning to light duty at work will be possible - half days then expand.  Your summer won't be ruined.  You will be walking.  Probably jogging at 6 weeks (gotta protect the new girls without compressing them in a sprots bra).  Maybe biking before.  My inclination would be to pass on the conferences and give yourself the 4 weeks to heal and get ready to go back to work.

Goodie so happy to hear that, I am walking everyday and get frustrated that I get tired so quickly, I am able to walk more each day but need to rest between morning and afternoon walk.

Even showering is a long production that could last about 1 to 1 1/2 hours to accomplish! Nice to hear others are back to exercise ))

Well crap...was doing so good yesterday. This morning, must have just tweaked something, now having back spasms all across my upper back. Not pleasant, I will admit! Waiting for the muscle relaxant, and Tylenol, and ice to kick in.

Sending positive thoughts to those having their sx today.

Movie...hope your appt goes well and you can make plans for stage 2 that work for you.

Two sillly things . . .

Calf Muscles - did/does anyone have really tight calf muscles after this surgery?  Mine are killing me.  Both sides and in the same spot on both legs.  Just weird.

Belly Button - I just put a call into my PS's office.  Yesterday, I took the bandage off my bellybutton that the kind nurse who came the day before put on.  It was stained green.  I know these belly buttons take time to heal.  So I decided I would just gently flush it out with the water they included in my drain kit to take home.  This is what the nurse did.  So now no more green thank goodness and discharge is at a minimum but the belly button is really red (although it looks nice) - especially on one edge.  I emphasized in my message to the PS office that I didn't really consider this an ER type of situation (they love to send you to the ER in Canada).  

I am already on prophylactic antibiotics for the drains - so I'm not sure what much more they can do.  I've heard about "and infected suture" being a potential cause but I just wondered what experience you all have had with such a thing - if any.  

Goodie - I'm proud of you, girl!  You'll be jogging in no time.  

@HHCats, I had a leg massaging thingy wrapped on my legs right before the surgery started. After surgery, they pluged it in and started the massage. I had them with me for a couple of days while in the hospital (you can take them off anytime you need to). I think they were exepecting tightness and were trying to counter it with massage.

When my navel was acting up and when my ab-incision opened up, I sent pictures to my ps and he would email back with instruction for the home care nurse. Hope you can do the same.

Just came back from PS. I got a couple of blisters on my breasts from the tape that he's concerned about. He gave me some antibiotics on cream to put on twice a day. He'll see me again next week and see how it's healing. He's concerned that it might affect the shape, but if it does he can probably fix it with fat injections.

Has anyone done a lowering of the scar on stage 2? My PS was talking about it, but I don't think I want to go there if its going to take me another 6-8 weeks to recover. I don't mind about lipo, but having to cut my stomach open again doesn't seem like a very good idea.

The incision on my belly bottom opened up a little, but it will end up closing by itself. And...... I got my last drain out!!! I feel like a human being again without having to carry anything extra from my body. I might even go get the kids from school today since nobody will ask me what the drains are for. I miss being a mom and my kids miss me too. Last night my eldest was so happy that I went up the stairs to kiss them goodnight. It's made my night!

For those of you who have not yet had your DIEP recon, I just want to say it was not nearly as rough as I thought it would be, but I owe that to my wonderful PS who has pain control down to a fine art.

Don't get me wrong, it is HUGE surgery, but I considered it a big initial investment in time, discomfort, and recovery for a HUGE payoff in the end: soft, warm, natural looking and feeling breasts. My new girls look great, even after going back in for a re-excision on the left side for a dirty margin. PS was in on that surgery as well as my BS.

I'm very happy I had this surgery! Can't wait to see the end result after Stage 2 and 2b!

I am now 8 weeks out and just went back to work on partial hours this week, 5 hours per day for 2 weeks, then full time. I am a nurse in a busy clinic, PS says all his nurse pts are off work 8 weeks due to the nature of the job. I also have lifting restrictions as well. My PS is very conservative and I am glad. I was very tired after the first day back, even after only 5 hours, so am very glad he insisted that I transiiton back to work on partial hours. On the other hand, I feel I probably could have gone back at 6 weeks if I had a desk job.

For the lady considering going to a work conference at 11 days post op, just let me say that I barely remember the first 10 days after my surgery. Between the long anesthesia and the pain meds, I was very foggy. I thought I was very aware and alert at the time, but looking back I was not at all. It was exhausting just to get a shower and dress myself at that point. No way I could have driven, and it would have been dangerous to do so. I required a lot of help at home for the first few days and was lucky to have my sister-in-law, mother, and two grown daughters to pitch in until I was two weeks post op so DH could go back to work. Couldn't have done it without them. 

I feel it is very important to follow your Dr's instructions to the letter and not take any unnecessary chances so that no harm comes to the integrity of the new flaps during the initial post op period. I was cautioned that if I fainted or otherwise fell, I could lose one or both. That's not to say I did not exercise after I got home by walking a bit daily in my neighborhood, but I had someone with me at all times to make sure I was steady on my feet. 

Kuka - I had my ab incision lowered at Stage 2.  Not a problem at all.  My surgery was 18 days ago and I went for a 2 mile walk this morning.  Actually the lipo was more painful. Those bruises are slowly going away, but I think it will take another week.  Stage 2 is a totally different kind of surgery and recovery is different.

Heavenschild, good advice.  We are all different.  We heal at different rates, our doctors have very different approaches to post-op care, and I believe the one common piece of advice we can all share is "be gentle with yourself, both physiclally and emotionally."

Of course we need to push ourselves a bit with moving and being up and around.  We need to think of ourselves as being on the road to recovery, not helpless patients.  But this is a big surgery, and listening to our bodies is important.  

Right now, though, my body is saying, "if you would just take off these tight, uncomfortable bra and panties, you would feel so much better!"  And of course, I wearing nothing of the kind, it's just the incisions barking at me.  

My PS has said nothing of compression garments.  Do they help with the post-op zinginess, or are they to prevent swelling?

Ironmagnolia, is for those little ones that I had this surgery. Everyday I try to do a little more, while listening to my body, so that I can be there for them. They have been amazing through out all of this, including my 2 year old. She comes to me everyday and asks me if I still have boo boos and if they hurt. After I tell her yes she tells me they'll be better in a little bit. Believe me, I'm not a hero at all, but my kids are!!!

MartyJ, you're such a strong woman. I can't even contemplate the idea of te opening my tummy incision, and you went for a 2 mile walk?! Wow!!!!!