DIEP 2013

Goldie....I think Marty takes the crown, but yes, we are both mega-delayed recons, after years of implant issues. I often credit the experience of living with implant failure, replacement, capsular contracture, and pain, with giving me the perspective that lets me be so truly, deeply, and gratefully happy with this recon. Time is a great teacher! Just caught the "connection" between the picture forum and Movie's addiction!!!! Movie's gonna howl at that one!!!!!!

kuka...I am chuckling a bit....I think working with a trainer is a good path for you, I just wonder if they know what their in for!!!! Knee still feeling good, I hope??? Try massaging the sensitive tummy scar, it helps with desensitization..firmer pressure will likely be more comfortable than a light touch.

ssla.....you're likely being well cared for in NOLA's pre-op setup. 

cgabby.....sleeping away, while the surgeons work their magic. Safe journey, easy healing. 

kad22....thinking of you.

Damiana....have you had those first steps yet.....it gets better each time!

yowza, my abdomen is so sore! I was only allowed ice chips all day yesterday until this morning. Not eating for so long ended up giving me a migraine, but this morning I had real food and feel much better. I have not been allowed out of bed yet which is making my body more stiff and sore. there is a dark corner on my flap- not sure if it is bruising or tissue that is dying. something really funny happened- I had a really ugly little flower tattoo on my abdomen- it got uglier with each of my 3 kids.....It is now where my nipple should be. It is pretty hilarious.

Obviously, I haven't stirred myself much this morning!

sweetpickle....thanks for sharing your "timeline"!!! Great to hear you've turned that corner! I distinctly remember telling my PS on day2...."just put everything back where it was "....so not how I feel now !

damiana....if you're eating, I bet you'll be getting out of bed soon. Just a couple steps to a chair...but a big journey!!! I've crossed everything re: bruising vs. failure. Many of us get quite the technicolour show on the gloob. 

I really have to get busy...thinking of everyone today. ((((((X))))))

Morning ladies! Damiana, glad to hear you are on your way! Hope your recovery goes well without bumps and you are home moving in no time. My surgery went fairly well yesterday, they ended up with a bad port and had to install another. Seriously bugs me but its in now. Hoping and praying this one doesn't fail. Had to get my TE deflated for the BS to widen the margins so now my breast looks like a wrinkled up donut! Fortunately it gets refilled Friday. Anyone have any port issues?

Damiana, glad to hear you're doing good.

Nihahi, the personal trainer has no clue! He told me if I was ready to work hard. I told him we could make a bet. I'm very competitive, and I'll do whatever it takes to win and show people I can do it! But thus time I'm doing it right and without hurting myself. Since I don't start until Monday I can have icecream over the weekend, right? Lol

Lilyun

So glad you found the answer to your anxiety over your son in your heart.  That is where it was all the time.  It was just a matter of figuring it out, and you did.  You are blessed to have such a wonderful husband  to talk things over with, and you are right, blessed to have your son too.

Nihani, when you had your recon did you get a flap, or were they able to just remove the implant and fill you envelope with tummy fat? 

goldie...I had a flap. I went in hoping for a diep, but ended up a tram free muscle sparing version. My "hope" for a diep, was mainly due to fears of QOL related to muscle involvement based on "opinions" of other ladies....hasn't been an issue AT ALL for me. Boob appearance wise, imho, my tram free is identical to a diep. Because I had an implant, I had some degree of "stretched" chest skin, and some of that was utilized, but a good portion of the tummy skin was also used. The previous mx scar, implant scars and surrounding skin, had gotten caught up in the capsular contracture, so much of the stretched skin I had, was removed to release the skin/muscle issues. The flap fat, was kind of tucked around into the chest "skin", once the implant was removed. I guess I'm a "hybrid" flap appearance.....probably a cross between a skin sparing and a pure flap. Hope that answers your questions, if it doesn't....keep asking...!

Sharon /ssla01 is up tomorrow! Thinking of you! No worries, you got this!

Thinking of those who just had surgery. I hope things are going well. I hope spirits of others are lifted up today, too. It's hard to be patient with all we have to go through.



At first I didn't want nipples, either. I don't need permanent headlights. My husband says he doesn't care but I think he would really like them. I probably will get them just to feel a little more "normal" after all this. I've been nipple-less for fifteen months. The thought of big flower tattoos is exciting, though! My daughters would be so impressed! Maybe I'll get nipples and flower tattoos, both! I have time to decide.



sbel, thanks for the assurance about no muffin top. I hope my ps laughs when I ask him, too.



Hugs to everyone, some gentler than others!

ssla01, best wishes for tomorrow! I hope that bikini line tattoo ends up in an appropriate spot. Maybe you'll be sporting a rare FUPA tattoo afterwards - lol.

Sherry, good for you on treating yourself. You sound all ready to go too.

Ssla good luck tomorrow! I'm sure your tattoo will be just fine where ever it ends up!

I have a tattoo on my growing area and my ps left it intact. He said he didn't want to mess it up. I told him it would have been fine if he did, but I guess he wasn't going to wake me up in the middle of surgery and ask me, huh?

I did have my belly bottom pierced and with the new one the piercing it's all gone! But I do know of somebody who pierced it after she had DIEP done. So very possible.

Ssla, good luck tomorrow and sweet dreams.....when you awaken you will be on the "other side".........in your pockets, and best wishes for an event-less recovery. Keep us posted as soon as you can.....we will be anxious to hear from you.



Nihahi, I already made the connection over the T-T's.....she must be an addict like I am.....so angry that I can't them in the US at a grocery store......but I CAN order them by the case.....LOL



Damiana, you sound good, and the shark bite analogy is what I thought, too, the first time I got a good look at myself post-surgery! Just remember, this too, shall pass....



Liefie, I waited until 8 weeks before I started back to the gym.....I wanted to make darn good and sure those flaps weren't going to go south on me before subjecting them to the gym! . I was lifting 12-15 lbs per arm b/4 DIEP.....won't be doing that ever again.....5-6 lbs is my limit now.



Marty, you are right.....can't hurry the healing, even when we want to!



Well, off to take an evening walk with DH......to get a frozen yogurt to go with my TimTam!



Love to all.....



Namaste and God bless - Jackie

Thanks for all of the well wishes. Glad and thankful to have this amazing group in my pockets. I can't wait to be a veteran. Love to you all.

Sharon

Nihani, can I ask why you couldn't have the regular diep and ended up with a hybrid of the tram flap?  I think the way my PS was explaining, I too will have a combo reconstructed breast like yours.  I am picturing some of the pics I have seen where there is a large eye shaped flap in the middle for the breast.  At this point, I just want breast...lol.