DIEP 2013

I defo am going for the nipple. Many years of being "uni-nippled" has left me with memories of either having it obvious through clothing, that I only had one, or having to wear padded bras to conceal the one I had. I consider it the final step I need, to making the new gloob truly "mine". But, I salute those ladies who choose another route.

Today's ladies...getting close to "halftime" for you!

Facial sutures now out, but incision partially re-opened. Some of them were stuck, and he pulled so hard at them I thought he was gonna turn my cheek inside out! Back to steristrips again.....seriously, why don't we all buy stock in medical supply companies .

Liefie....did you get the ok to get busy with exercising???? That scar massage is important, chickie....don't you be sluffing that off!.

Kuka....wonderful news re: knee pain....remember though, he told you to take it easy still, too soon to be the energizer bunny!

Good afternoon! It is a beautiful summer day here in Michigan and Thing 2 and I went on a great bike ride! I did just about 3 miles and turned around and hung out at the trail head while he rode for another hour. Happy happy happy! And very tired! No stamina...but it's a start. Told him to leave the bikes on the carrier....we will go again tomorrow. I was shocked at how much smaller I had to make the waist strap of my camelbak!



On nipple reconstruction..maybe y'all know this already but if you don't want actual nipple reconstruction but you want the look of a nipple you can get a tattoo of a nipple. Some artists do a 3D nipple tattoo even! The "gold standard" is probably Vinniemyers.com....he goes to NOLA to do tattooing there, but you can go to him, too (Maryland). I have seen other tattoos as well....hearts, shamrock, etc....if you can think of it they can probably tattoo it!



Here is my question on tattooing...if you have a dark scar can it be tattooed to match your skin color so it blends in better? Maybe I will email Vinnie Myers!

FUPA is fat upper pubic area.  Hope thats not TMI, but ....

Nihahi, sorry you had to endure that, and hope for complete healing. You deserve a nipple after all those years- I totally agree. Will be good with masage, I promise. Exercise - forgot to ask, can you believe it? DH was in there with me, and they talked doc gibberish. That's why I prefer to go in alone, but did not have the heart to lock him out - lol. Will just use my common sense, and gradually get back into exercise. Going to try yoga in about 3 weeks time when my arm is stronger, and can move higher. Forgot to ask her about that too - dang! That's why you should write down those questions . . .

Also did not know what a FUPA was. Speaking of which, I think I have a bit of a FUPA, but seeing that I hardly ever study that area intensely, I'm not sure if it is bigger or smaller after DIEP - LOLOLOL. Nobody's going to touch my FUPA, that's for frickin sure. It won't bother anyone, me least of all. Hahaha.

The flap that was taken from my tummy was an ellipse, and I have a perfect elliptical-shape scar on my DIEP boob where it was put in. Now try to imagine a nipple on top of that . . . I just don't know. Seems better to leave it as it is. Oh well, as time goes by, wisdom will come to me - lol.

Thought I might be the only one here that wasn't too thrilled about a nipple. DIL says YES get one - she thinks I won't be happy w/o one, DD says NO - too many surgeries I don't want you hurting again, DH says "whatever you want to do", DS says YES (husband to DIL) (LOL), (guess he's a headlights on type a guy!?), SIL says NO, ... and on and on. Oh, ya, and I can't forget #1 DS - "Mom, don't get the nipples unless DH plays with them (COME ON!!! TMI! for DS to talk about) and then, mom, if you want, you can go outside in the summer topless!!!! (GOOD GRIEF!!!!)



I have mounds, one PAP, perfectly coned, one SGAP, looks like the hamburger bun, but a full C and fits in a bra nicely with some cleavage - and football 'eyes' on both of them. Would not look good going shirtless in the summer! AT all!



So, my thoughts are to not get the nipples, I like being able to go braless (my Dr. orders now until my next stage on 7/11 for more fat grafting and tweaking) and not worry about headlights. I'm thinking about tattoos and might go to Vinnie - a pretty known tattoo artist that does 3d nipples and aureolas. But, I have a friend who had a saying tattooed on her DIEP flaps with a circular design with the center of the circle being in the middle. The saying escapes me, but something to the effect of how strong and courageous she is. Very pretty writing and it's written so when she looks in the mirror she can read it.



Dyvgrl you got it, best wishes, prayers and hopes it went well.

I had no idea what a fupa was either, and I'm 35!!

When I visited my ps for the first time he told me in a nice way that I had two muffin tops. He was going to use the bottom part for my new boobs and the top would become my bottom and only muffin top. He's going to lipo the remaining on stage 2.

I decided I'm going to join a gym and try to loose as much weight as possible before my stage 2. But I'll do it being safe and not pushing it too hard.

Dark Scars - the scar on my initial right MX side never faded very well.  They were somewhat raised and red.  The scar on my second left MX side faded away.  About 4 years ago I stumbled on an article about using pulse dye laser on scars.  My dermatologist was happy to give me a reduced price to test it out.  We did 3 treatments several weeks apart.  Within 6 months the scars had flattened and faded.  

My DIEP scars are red now.  I think that the left will probably fade within a year.  The right again promises to be slightly raised.  I plan to give the scars at least a year after my final surgery, then look into laser if needed.  

I do plan to do the nipple thing and tatoos.  Like Nihahi, after all these years it will be nice to have something that I need to dim the lights on than have nothing. 

shechirple...that is all wonderful news about the healing and return to activity. Enjoy the "break" time that is coming your way, you have more than earned the return to "life as you want it to be". Hope to hear from you now and then, there will always be "newbies" who will benefit from your experiences and thoughts. 

Hope the new veterans are sliding into recovery now. 

WOWZER.....Great to hear from you so early damaina9! Have a gentle, easy rest tonight. Welcome to the "other side"!

Damiana- HOORAY! Great job getting through it! I was watching for a new post from you and hoping for the best. Keep updating when you feel up to it!



Shechirple- your posts have been helpful to me and I am glad that everything is looking good for you.



Jenny

goldie.....((((((X))))) Hang in there. The painful tightness, iron bra DOES go away. It likely won't be immediate, but it will, sooner than you think. I had it bigtime, I no longer have it at all. No need to stress yourself getting "caught up"...the previous messages won't go anywhere and you can always go back later to read them if you want to. For now, focus on the future, care for yourself and know that even if you're not "here", we're all close by in your pockets! Thanks for catching the next dates goldie!!!!!

6/20/13            cgabbyj (Diep)
6/21/13            ssla01   (BMX with immediate Diep)

Thinking of these ladies....cgabby....have a peaceful sleep, we'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

movie.....((((((X))))))). My Waterton girlfriend has quite the sweet tooth. I'm sure she'll take care of the T..T..consumption! 

fyi...at 5 months out...scars are still fairly young...not at all unusual for them to still be dark/red. Plus, some of yours took more than one "go round" to heal! Hang in there. Now....tuck yourself into bed, sleep well, and for pete's sake....CALL OFF THE RAIN!!! We're drowning here!

Damiana - Congratulations! You're done! So nice to hear from you

Good morning everybody!

Question for anyone who's done a stage 2. Were you able to lower the scar on your tummy and how much? I got a gym membership yesterday with a personal trainer so that I can learn a routine. I told them about the surgery and my knee so that they work around that.

I forgot to mention yesterday that my ps said the discomfort I'm having on the tummy scar is from the nerves reattaching and it's normal.

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who wrote to support me. You have no idea how much it helped to hear others say that my son's news is not the end of the world. I spent the last two days crying but I would go back and read your words of encouragement and that is what helped me. Also, my husband is taking it much better than I expected. In the business world over the years he has met many gay people so it is not an unfamiliar thing to him. We were married 30 years last month. I was not up to going out then so we went out to dinner last night to celebrate. We talked about the many struggles and obstacles that we have encountered in three decades. I don't know if everyone gets their share or how that really works. I pretty much reacted to this news the way that I did when I was first diagnosed with BC 9 years ago. I wanted to run away and hide but there was no where to go. When I came home from dinner last night I realized that I have to be happy that my son is still here, he hasn't gone anywhere, he has not been severely injured, he is the same that he has always been. This is not the trip that I signed up for-he is a big burly guy who has always had a penchant for style and decorating but no outward signs of femininity. I still don't know if I am God's punching bag or that this is how life is for most people. I know that my son is relieved and life will go on despite the scars that are on my body and those that are right now on my heart.

Love and prayers to all all of you. Thank you for your words of wisdom and experience.