Diep 2012
Comments
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The brand I have at the moment is Banaban Organic Coconut Oil (harvested in Fiji). I think so long as you have a cooking grade organic oil you should be fine. Just dont want to use it on open wounds.
I could actually lie on my side to sleep last night with no discomfort or pain! That's 2 weeks and 2 days after my revision.
Jenn -
Jenn, did you have abdominal scar revision in stage 2? Were your breasts completely soft at 5 and half months?
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No abdo scar revision as there is no problem with it :-)
Yes, my breasts were all healed and soft by the time of this revision. I did have a scan a couple of months ago that showed a 1cm "lesion" that they judged as fat necrosis. I never felt it though.
Jenn -
Jenn were you scared when you heard the word lesion? I have some lumps and bumps and I don't know how I would ever feel the difference. Kinda worries me that I won't notice a difference. I keep thinking I gotta make sure I familiarize myself and time just goes by and I really don't know my toobs too well. I'm still ignoring them. Emotionally detached.
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YES Beckers! I got the CT report and there was the word "lesion" which was really worrisome. It did then say "indicative of fat necrosis" - but my BS still had to talk me down from my panic :-/
Prior to this surgery the spot where that "lesion" was (9 oclock) was a bit sensitive. Since this recent surgery it now seems to be not sensitive. It was in the region where my lollipop incision was reopened so I'm hoping its gone. Must ask the PS when I see him for follow-up in 5 weeks...
Jenn -
Jenn, glad your healing and feeling better. Are you happier with size or are they still big? I go Thursday for stage 2 but I'm still debating about reduction in my head. Everyone else seems to think they're fine, but I don't feel quite like me this big. It's minor given how happy I am with the general outcome. Still way better than the implant option to me!
Rebecca, I was hoping nipple recon would help make them seem more normal. Did that make any difference for you? I don't really think about it during the day...just when changing clothes or with dh. Is it the numbness, looks, or just the reminder of all you've been through?
I was so lumpy with fibrocystic changes before, but I haven't run into fat necrosis or anything since Diep. I do wonder how I'd ever feel anything on the chest wall with so much tissue in between now. I guess it takes some time and practice.
Hope everyone stateside is having a good holiday weekend. It's chilly in Ohio with frost advisories...a crazy start to summer! Will let you know how things go after Thursday! -
Cg, I actually had my own nipples put back on. Go figure!
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Just a quickie note...Beckers...I also have a weird pain (more like a dull ache) in the upper inside area of the delayed breast. It's just up from my cleavage. I asked about it last month and the PA said it's very common due to taking the bone from that area. It's odd because I really can't tell what triggers it, if anything! Hope it goes away....soon!!!
I have my appt w/onc tomorrow & I'm a little bit concerned. The last 3 months all my readings were dropping like flies, as you know! Well, just saw my results from last week and everything's starting to inch up a little. It's still well within the normal range, which DH says is still a good thing, but why are they inching up. UGH. So...if it's part of your game plan...say a little prayer for me
Will let you know what's up....but in the meantime...2 days til I go see Josie & I'm hoping you all have a great week! XOXO
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No problem on abdominal incision! Lucky you, Jenn
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Ronniekay, lots of prayers for you! Let us know and have a wonderful time with Josie!
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Got through stage 2 fine yesterday, but sore and some stinging pain around incisions. Lower half looks great...no more dog ears and he did a little lipo for fat transfer. Both breast incisions were completely opened to do reshaping, which is bummer to have to heal all over again. Ps said I had the thickest scars and densest fat he's ever seen. Is that a compliment? Haha! Hope everyone else is doing well!
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Said a prayer for you Ronnie. I hope it's just a fluke or the wrong patient chart! Hang in there! ((hugs))
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hi youll, been away for a while. just didnt have anything to add.
i developed a teeny tiny abscess where I couldnt get a stitch out. just opened up a little. I drained it myself & putsaline wet to dry dressings on it. it is healed up well. I was able to get stitch out:-)
pursued fixing that horrible pain in head. hurt like knives when bending or coughing. finally found great ENT only hr away. he did Septoplasty and removedbone spur on deviatedseptum. got packings out yest. I was so miserable. can breathe througn my nose -
Fran, that surgery sounds horrible. Hope you are over the worst of it. I smile when I read about you RNs treating yourselves. What a great resource! Ha! So your are all healed from stage 2? Hope the latest one helps the headaches. (hugs)
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I have a question for you veteran DIEP girls. Does there ever come a time again when the DIEP breast(s) feels like your own again? When you are not aware 24/7 of the surgery you have had, when you can move, or roll over in bed without being reminded? I'm 19 days out from DIEP surgery, and have had a remarkably quick recovery with zero complications. No pain at all, I am up straight, walking for exercise, beginnning to do lots more around the house. Sleeping on the DIEP side no problem, which is how I normally sleep. So I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I would like to forget about this breast drama now, and just be my normal self again without my breast featuring so largely in my life. Am I asking too much too soon?
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Liefie,
Oh yes, it will feel more normal again, they will feel like they are yours, and the breast drama will subside. I think you are doing incredible this soon! I was one that it took more time for sure. Everyone is different of course, but I think you may be rushing it a bit. In the beginning I had no trouble showing people my surgery if they were curious to see, but eventually, I became self conscious again and then I knew they were "mine" :-) -
Thanks, Beckers! I will just be patient, and give it more time.
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It takes awhile but I think you are doing fabulous!
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Oh Fran, I sure hope this surgery does the trick and the headaches go away. I had sinus polyps removed twice when I was 16, and I vividly remember getting all that packing removed. I cringe now just thinking of it, so I feel for you! Hope you're healing!
Liefie, it's great you're doing so well! I agree with Rebecca...they'll feel pretty natural with time. I was just getting used to feeling pretty good before I had stage 2 last week. I dont think I appreciated how much was planned and have been frustrated to take a few steps back. Darn nausea and tenderness from lipo! I hope tomorrow is better. I'm happy they seem a little smaller and the fat grafting seems to have made a difference. Thanks to all of you for the advice on pushing for that. Despite feeling crummy this week, it's a thousand times better than first procedure! -
cg1234, thanks for your reponse too. I am counting my blessings every day, and one day I will probably just realize that my new breast has become another part of me like my hands or my feet. Looking forward to that!
Sorry to hear you're feeling a little nauseous and sore after stage 2. Hope that goes away soon for you. I will be seeing my PS in two weeks, and I guess we'll be discussing the next stage then. One thing at a time,right? She's having a baby in July, so stage 2 won't be soon for me. I'm okay with that.
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Liefie, I waited over 6 months and was so glad I did. Like Rebecca, I healed more slowly (especially abs) and the boobs really changed a bit in the last couple of months. Had I done it at 3 months, which is when ps usually does stage 2, he wouldn't have noticed the divots and need for a lift on one side. And thanks for the good wishes...same to you and hope you continue to do well!
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cg1234, I have one concern. My son is getting married on November 30, and I was kind of hoping to be done by then. However, it will be better to just wait till afterwards, and get the outcome I desire. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Good things come to those who wait.
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Hello soon to be Diep flap sisters. I am in search of a surgeon in the Chicago area and need to start getting educated on this procedure. I would love some recommendations, and to find out if anyone has ever regretted having this procedure or walked out with complications or new side effects. I am being very cautious this time. After a botched bilateral mastectomy and botched failed (3 times) tissue expanders, I am a mess and ready for a redo. I had to stop because I had renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) and thyroid in between, so been a little busy!
I would love to have one surgery for me, and not to remove cancer. My 3 cancers were all primary and not secondary, and I'm young.
Thanks for any insights you can share on Diep flap.. -
Bogie - You might call Dr. Marga Massey. Her main office is in Chicago and she is one of the best. A wonderful, warm, kind, compassionate and highly skilled surgeon. All she does are free flap procedures and lymph node transfers. Her website is drmarga.com.
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I was thinking of Dr Marga too. have heard she is wonderful
packings removed from nose monday. had driver and drugs on board. he pulled out tampon like thing from each nostril, then hard plastic thing. ouch! nose just stuffy now.
my abs still feel weak. I havnt worked on them much. my radiated boob feels kind of sore since last sx. maybe it needs more stretching. have been lying around a lot -
Liefie, how fun to look forward to the wedding! It is a long process, but since you're healing so great maybe you can get stage 2 out of the way in early fall. We are all so different, so you just might be a fast healer!
Fran, be gentle with yourself. You've been through a lot in recent weeks! I'm trying to get my range of motion back too. Everything tightened right back up, but I think it will come back faster this time. -
Fran - I had a septoplasty and turbinate reduction several years ago. They used the tampon things, but not the plastic. It actually gets lots better after everything is out. I had a problem with the little stitches that held everything in place and my ENT told me to swab my nose every day with hydrogen peroxid. Really helped clear things up.
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thats funny Marty I just reread the dc instructions, I was supposed to be swabbing with hydrogen peroxide!
i have problem reading instructions -
Me too! Glad he told me what to do - that I could process!
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Bogie, no regrets here. It is not an easy recovery. Also a lot of anesthesia. Good luck on finding a great surgeon. So sorry about your cancers. My Mom survived kidney cancer. 20 years and cancer free. Best wishes.
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