DIEP 2013

Morning girls,

Dvygirl, glad you are beginning to feel better. Good on moving lots, and balance it wih rest. Missing the wine, eh? It must be the best stress reliever there is. Soon, Dvygirl, soon!

Movie, yes, flying is a necessary evil, and long-distance flights can be sooooo boring . . . hope you don't have too long of a wait in Narita. Next time you land, DD will be waiting for you there - must be so exciting for her that you're coming to visit! 

Nihahi, guess I will probably join the nipple club one of these days. At the moment I honestly couldn't care less if I get a nipple or not, and just want to be done with 'cutting on me', as somebody put it on another thread. DH is strongly advocating for a nipple - wonder what's in it for him? It's not like we're newly-weds? Say no more - lol.

peacelovedogs, LyndaMarie, SheChirpie, just hang in there. For you the worst is over. Sleep and rest lots!

It is so interesting that the protocols are so different from PS to PS. Mine has not made any mention of binders, girdles or bras at all. Saw her yesterday, and I'm now drain-free - yayyy! It is like I was immediately elevated to another level of 'betterness' and mobility. I refused the pain pump on the OR table when anaesthetist wanted to give me one, and came off all pain meds two days ago. Pain is so debilitating, but I was lucky this time. Had way more pain after hysterectomy and mastectomy last year.

I don't seem to have much swelling. New boob is now a lovely shade of yellow on the outer side, and my right arm which took the full brunt of all needles, IV's, injections etc. looks like I've been in a bar fight - it's covered in bruises from hand to shoulder, but all getting much better now. She gave me permission for one cup of coffee a day, no strenuous gym exercise for 12 weeks, just walking, and I have to start massage on the incisions in two weeks' time. What I'm looking forward to most is that I can take a real shower this morning - gonna be so nice! Now if I can only sleep on my left side, everything would be perfect, but I won't be greedy. Lol.

Vballmom,



I'm also in Connecticut and found a terrific plastic surgeon in Guilford. Stefano Fusi is his name. Very sought after and works with Yale New Haven Hospital. I was and am so pleased with him. I could probably get more recommendations if you want? Goggle him and you'll find his number. His website is very well done too.



Good luck, Lauren

Vballmom,

You might want to try the reconstruction websites.

Do you know e type of reconstruction you want?

Implants?

Tram flap -uses abdominal fat and a piece of muscle

DIEP flap_uses only abdominal fat (along with capillaries -it is a microsurgery-



I am sure you will find a board to give you good info.



Yes, there is NOLA (there is a board for them), there is Charlotte (they have a board as well), I think I've read of some going to Boston. There is always NYC (a hike though)



I have a surgeon from Stamford, dr. Julie Vasile, she does the DIEP, don't know what else she might do...she comes into Westchester, NY (where I am) to work with my breast surgeon at the Breast Institute in Northern .Westchester Hospital...



Good luck with your search.

Pat

Oops, thought I was on a different board when I responded!

Thank you Catie for mentioning the other types of reconstruction. I knew there were more but couldn't think of what they were!

Pat

Just as an fyi.... Any free flap, not just diep...regardless of the donor location involves microvascular surgery, to reestablish blood flow via artery and vein. Capillaries are not part of the procedure. So it's important to find a ps with established microvascular skills. IMHO....compassion, accessibility, willingness to discuss and LISTEN to your individual concerns are important too. Hopefully the wealth of experiences here will help you find the right match for you.

Thanks, everyone!  I am looking to do either DIEP or TUG or SGAP. I prefer to use my legs or butt, but I am open for discussion on what is best for me.   I have plenty of donor sites to work from!  I am halfway between Boston and NY.   I appreciate all the input. I have visited so many sites my head is spinning - it's such a hard decision. 

Hi there - I've got a question for you veterans. When does all the marking happen? My only point of reference is 'Sex and the City' when Samantha almost has cosmetic surgery. I called my PS's office, and she said it happens at 6 am the day of the surgery (In 2 1/2 weeks!) But what happens - and how long does it take?  I presume I'll be standing naked in front of the surgeon and he'll draw on me - is that right?

I'm anticipating a full on anxiety attack when it's time to say 'so long' to my nipples and tummy. I really like my breasts - even the funny looking one. I'm trying to steel myself for the inevitable - but there's nothing like being in a hospital cap and gown to make yourself feel vulnerable. Bring on the atavin!

Lmo45 - We're ALL worried about the 'supercifical' stuff. We're women. If that sort of thing didn't matter, they wouldn't be selling fancy wigs and pretty scarves. And I think it's more than just vanity - it's part of our identity. 

My hospital offered a 'look good feel good' program that dealt with wigs, and eyelashes, and scarves,  - and it was great for self esteem. The thought of being bald is pretty traumatic, so don't brush your feelings away as being not important. By the way - it was only the thought of being bald that was traumatic for me. I hated the thought of losing my hair - but once I shaved my head, it was easy.

Janet

Peacelovedogs, I have no cleavage either and my breasts are far apart too. My ps is also going to fix that during stage 2. He's doing fat injections and another lift to bring them closer together. When you have nipple reconstruction, does it mean that you're going to have headlights 24/7? I've heard it wouldn't be like normal nipples and are much softer so they don't poke through? I want it to look as natural as possible, but don't want to worry about the poking through all the time either!

Peacelovedogs,



I knew you would love Dr P. I posted about him a while back. He should be experienced enough to do all the things on your wish list. Be sure to ask. And he will listen. Nice man.



JanetM,



My surgeon does markings the day before at pre op. I'm more relaxed then to discuss everything that will be done. My surgeon was so easy to talk to that I didnt need my xanax while I was being marked up at his office with him and surgery nurse. I was told to take a shower that day and next morning with Dial soap and not to worry if markings fade. He did a little touch up next morning of surgery.



The morning of surgery the doc approved something when I first arrived to help me chill out while I was being prepped for OR in a private room.



He also had me start Rx of miralax a few days before surgery, and also promotes extra high protein diet month before and after surgery to promote healing.



Every PS has so many different recommendations.

JanetM . . . I cannot wait for my tamoxifen break!

Janet M, my PS did the marking about 20 min. before I was due in the OR. She first sat on the bed, and made me stand in front of her, holding the gown covering nether regions so she could draw on the boob and on the tummy. Then she grabbed my fat roll a.k.a. tummy between her hands, pushed and moved it, assessing it, I presume. Felt a bit like a piece of meat on sale in a butchery, and almost died of embarrasment - lol. Next I had to lie on the bed while she and the other surgeon took turns with the Doppler, listening for where the best veins and arteries were in my tummy, which they then also marked. Then she proceeded to wheel me all the way to the OR herself, which was a nice touch. Hope this helps! Don't be shy. These docs see half-naked women all the time, and for them it's just their job. They do not think about our bodies like we do. To them you're just another piece of meat - LOL!

Ssla, my Tamo break is almost over - have to start again tomorrow. Hoping for the best, but did not really notice much difference while I was off it. Apparently it has a half life of 14 days.

Crs,



Pity party definitely allowed. We all have them. Sorry to hear you aren't able to drive yet. Do you still have drains?



Have you had appointments yet with PT who work mostly with mastectomy /BC patients?



They can do miracles. Dr Kline called my PT-CLT and talked with her about my most recent surgery and what areas to work on. She said he was the most polite and very informative (describing my surgery) surgeon she ever talked to. Most docs have staff call or fax order. His RN did after my first surgery, but this last surgery he did a unique situation that he wanted to explain to my PT.



How soon to hit the beach after stage 2? It all depends on what you have done. I took a very slow, short beachwalk four days post op.



My stage 3 was more like two weeks to do the same. Had minor complications that set me back.



I would ask doc to confirm how soon you can swim in ocean or pool. It depends on how incisions are healing and drains. I still had two hip drains six weeks after SGAP so def no body surfing for me for awhile.

Also, I had a question. When everyone talks about compression, how tight does the compression need to be ? I bought a pair of spanx that go from under the breasts to the thighs. I must have bought them too big as they don't really hold anything in. They seemed to be the right size according to the package. Also, how do the marena garments feel? Can you comfortably wear them all day? My dr has been in the "no compression" and "optional bra" group. He gave me a binder after Stage 2 because of the swelling and leaking that I was having from my lipo incision. The nurse told me that I can stop wearing it after I finish leaking but that I should get something like the spanx I described. She said that it keeps the fluid from settling down in the pubic region.They did give me a sports-like bra to wear after Stage 1 but it was too irritating to my skin where the drains had been so he said that I didn't have to wear it. Once I went back to work I wore the bras that he gave me. Yesterday I started wearing my mx bras. I didn't know how that would work without the prosthesis but then I remembered that I never had a prosthesis on one side and that worked fine. They feel much lighter and more comfortable than the sport bra. Since they were pretty new I figured that I might as well wear them and look forward to treating myself to something sexy in the future.

JanetM my ps did the marking on the morning of my surgery as well. Thanks to Gini23 I knew what to expect since we had the same PS. He first had me sit on the edge of the bed and then stand in front of him. I had taken my last ativan on the morning of surgery as they told me I could so I was pretty calm and barely remembered till you asked lol there is actually a lot that I don't really remember from the whole experience. I compare it to having our first baby we worry so much then after deliery we are relieved and pleased that everything went ok and we forget much of the worry and pain so we have more kids



Vballmom I personally loved my PS in Boston Dr Matthew J Carty ! He was great through the whole process he was kind, considerate and willing to answer every question and explained everything very clearly to both my husband and I. His staff was great also. He specializes in microvascular surgery. I had DIEP recon but we discussed all other options as well before deciding on DIEP. Hope your able to sort through all the info without too much of a headache !



Lilyun not sure about anyone else but my ps said that it doesn't need to be too tight just a medium compression. What I gather is that it should be comfortable not pinching or too restricting. I feel like my binder doesn't do much either but I notice more swelling and discomfort if I go without for even an hour (yes I've cheated the system 24 hr compression bugs me )

Dyvgrl..... We all are sending you hugs and calming thoughts. Gosh, I wish there was a magic wand to help everyone through the "getting the diagnosis, waiting pre-treatment" stage!!!!!! 

Peacelovedogs......ATTA GIRL! Isn't it amazing what 24 hours can do!!!! Enjoy the moonrise on the beach. 

Somehow, I managed to turn off the email notification button, so have just caught up with this thread. So many posts since this afternoon....all I want to say is....."not enough wine"......LOVE IT!