DIEP 2013

Kuka.. I second the give it time. I was a DD on a small frame and did the same thing with the hiding of my boobs. When I had my implant in a year ago, I also had a reduction and lift of the other side. I always wanted smaller boobs so I was very surprised when I got home and was a little depressed. I felt like I had gone through a mastectomy again. When I looked in the mirror, I felt like a different person. One day I started crying when talking to a friend and she said, " you miss that big boob hanging down, are you crazy". I had to laugh and agree with her.



I can tell you now that I love being smaller and perky. It doesn't seem as small as it did and I look much better in clothing. Even with all my implant problems, it is still better.



Hang in there. It's an adjustment both physically and emotionally.

It will get better Kuka, you just lost your real breasts. it takes time to adjust. time, hugs and xanax if you have it.

strangley I was a D before all this mess happened. a big droopy D. I went to VS and was measured and I am still a D. they look like C to me. I can wear a C cup. They fill up a D bra. I like them better than the old ones. Its taken me a long time to say that. Remember the old ones tried to kill us.

I am new to this thread and I'm learning a lot. I will have DIEP July 18th. I can't believe I will have had TE's for 14+ months! My biggest concern, really, is the risk of adding to my lymphedema by the trauma I will be going through in my arms and trunk. Not a whole lot to be done about it, though. IV in my foot, blood pressure on my leg, fun times! I am looking forward to having soft " chesticles" again. I will be having surgery at the U. Of Washington Medical Center by a surgeon who only does DIEP and has a good reputation.

HHCats -congrats on the eyebrows. Kids are so observant!



I've been reading all of your posts, will be starting chemo soon and in the fall doing DIEP. I want to thank all of you for sharing your stories...the good, the bad and the ugly. I've learned so much.



Pat

Marty-I am going to pm you......I may need the plication surgery myself.......my abdomen doesn't seem to be losing it's swelling.....PS mentioned it......exhausted now-just had 15 women here for book club....will message you tomorrow.



Namaste and God bless - Jackie

Curious about bras ladies my PS said no bras until week 6 so I was wondering if any of you girls had preferences between regular bras or sports bras. Since I am a bit funny shaped I wasn't sure if the new girls would fit in a regular bra.



Also at the top of one of the newbies I have a hard area that sticks out a bit ..thoughts ?



Sbelizabeth I hope your far away from those wildfires !



Take care ladies

I am scheduling my UMX and Free Flap recon this week. The plan is to do the MX on my right side, wait for the pathology (PRAYING for no radiation!) and then the free flap recon within 2 weeks. I'm really nervous about it - mostly from an aesthetic perspective. I know I'll be devastated seeing my right side just lopped off and having to wait for recon. Does anyone have any experience with the free flap procedure and how did it turn out for you?

Marsha, you can file your own claim to blue cross with your receipt and the form that nordstroms gives you. Blue cross pays a percentage of the claim. Good luck

It's smokey and ash is in the air here, but the fires are on the other side of the county.  It's too early in the year for all these brush fires!  Our firefighters are all working around the clock, and we'll have control of them before long.  

My sister from Colorado Springs is here to take care of me for a week.  It's just turning into a chance for us to paint the town together.  Haircuts, pedicures, shopping, movies, going to the beach.  What a blast.

Feeling stronger and straighter every day.  The suture lines are healing beautifully.  Bicycled a beautiful trail this morning (Go, Nihahi!).  Life is good.  Katy

HHCats, what your daughter said was adorable. And I love your positive attitude, you truly are an inspiration for those of us still on the waiting list.



Ann

DYVGRL... I also have the same question... I have heard it both ways, but never really understand why a surgeon would separate the surgeries. Aesthetically, it can't be as good as one surgery.

Just joining here! I haven't read back on all the messages yet. I see some people wondering why mx surgery and reconstruction are separate. My rads onc did not want a tissue expander "in the way" for rads treatment. And they recommended I wait for reconstruction so they didn't radiate my "new" good breast. Now I get to get rid of some of the nasty radiated skin and have soft belly skin for new breast. 19 days to surgery.....been waiting almost two years!!!

sbelizabeth - I have friends in Camarillo, Simi Valley, and Glendale is where I work, all of which have fires.  A friend's sister in Camarillo had to evacuate.  That is such a pretty area up there.  No wonder you bike!  We like to hike in Mount Wilson, and I got to hike (actually, it was a walk) when it was snowing up there once.  It was heaven for a girl from Florida.  Who was your surgeon (if you don't mind me asking?) 

Faith - my right side was pretty much rock hard after surgery.  Now 3 1/2 months later it is soft. 

Bailey6760 - they will still use your irradiated skin, but mine looks as normal as the other side, they just couldn't *stuff* as much in.  My PS left *dog ears*, which are eye-shaped pieces of belly skin left in the new breasts, to see if the flap *took*.  The more advanced PS's don't do this, but it works.  At Stage 2 they take the dog ears out.  Other doctors just use sonogram to make sure that there is good blood flow.

Cherrie - thanks!  My PS didn't say anything about scar revision, except for the dog ears on the outside of the tummy scar.  Unfortunately, I am losing confidence in him.  Seems like he doesn't want to do that much Stage 2. 

Marsha - thanks for the Nordstrom site - when the girls settle down after Stage 2, I'll go!

MartyJ - my dad was a Marine.  I remember the health care in the service being, well, not the best.  They misdiagnosed a spot on my mom's face that turned out to be cancer...  the upside to being in the military is that we got to move a lot. 

Hugs to all, welcome newbies!  You'll love it on this site. 

Kate

So about stage 2. I didn't know there were so many things you could get done. I need to get it schedule depending on the recovery. My PS said it would just be a week and a half to recover, but if they do the lowering of the incision on my tummy I can't see it only taking that time. We're also talking about lipo on the stomach, fact injections on the breasts, nipple reconstructions and bringing the girls a little closer together.

How long has it taken you ladies to recover from stage 2? My PS said he can do it all in one surgery, which I think it's great. And I wouldn't do it until August to give my body time to heal. As of right now I don't know that I will be able to cover my scar if I use a bikini. I believe the scar is too high to hide. And I wouldn't want to expose it to the sun at all.

Help?

Hi everyone, just got home a couple of hours ago, so great to see my kids and DH. He's being very protective, but keeping the kids from jumping on me. My right breast is more swollen than left and I was able to get a great look when the nurse gave me a shower before I left. I have virtually no pain, but am definitely tired from all the movement today. My ps doesn't want me in a bra or anything before my follow up appt this Tuesday and a nurse is coming tomorrow to deal with my drains. My Sister is coming tomorrow to take care of me, so I can't wait for that. The Percocet upset my stomach so I have vikadan instead and Valium to rotate . Still haven't moved my bowels but really just started eating when I got home. I had such a headache from caffeine withdrawal and was so happy when the doctor gave me the green light for coffee today. I think my headache was gone in 30 minutes. Before that I was miserable from the headache , I thought I wanted to die.



I'm off to take a nap while my kids play outside , just wanted to update all of you lovely ladies! Any word from CRS? I've read a bit but haven't seen anything yet.



Take care, love, Lauren