Diep 2012

cg1234 · June 2013

Hi gals, hope you're all having a great summer so far! I'm a couple weeks post-revision and feeling pretty good. Still sore if I get bumped in the side but swelling is down a lot. Had a weird experience while rubbing my neck and have to ask though...anyone else hear a squishy sound from your boob with movement? This is new for me, but I'm wondering if I have some fluid in there after the lift or the fat grafting is just mushing around. kinda grossed me out at first! Still waiting to see how all looks later but I'm still flatter in the center.

Ronniekay, any news? I'm thinking good thoughts for you and hope the visit with you grand daughter was wonderful.

fredntan · June 2013

no squishy sounds here. when I drink cold water I can feel it in my boobs though. weird.

I had my diep in oct. and havn't really worked on getting my abs back in shape. I did a lot of housework. and a gym class or two last week. now I have back pain. lower. its gone in mornings, so I think its related to my crummy abs. anyone else experienced this. My abs are so weak I can't pull myself up with them yet. have to pull on my legs with arms to get myself up from bed etc.

went bra shopping at VS semi annual sale. such fun. love it. but I sometimes go without bra. they seem to stay up pretty good without.

fredntan · June 2013

how is everyones scars fading? do you thnk they will ever get so light as to not notice them?. wonder if on the abd scar you could just get tattoe over it if it never fades. wonder if they can tattoe it flesh color to make it match skin?

Beckers · June 2013

Hi there,

Cg, glad to hear you are recovering well. I haven't had that sound before.

Fran, I too feel cold drinks in my left one! Ha, so weird. And....I get out of bed by holding on behind my knee. Did you also have free TRAM?

Beckers · June 2013

Ronnie,

How did the doctor appt go? Please update us when you can. XOXO

Jennt28 · June 2013

fredntan - my abdo scar is now skin coloured and not so glaringly obvious. I used coconut oil to massage it for months after surgery - and still do it a few days a week.

Jenn

cg1234 · June 2013

Fran, my scars are far from disappearing but the ab scar is totally soft and flat. I think by a year or so it will blend in like my c-section. Ps said some people just make darker scars or take longer to lighten too.

I am looking forward to more ab work too. I have the same problem but PT helped a ton with back pain. I still need to stretch the right abs in the morn, but much less swelling and not as tight as I used to be. PT gave me mild ab work to start but I'm hoping to get more strength back so I don't have to roll out of bed so much.

No cold sensations here but I need to try some new bras. I still have the Balis but need something prettier that doesn't pucker in center. Any suggestions?

Anonymous · June 2013

Fran, I'm having my revision in October....weird about hearing squishing sounds...thanks for the head's up.

I wonder about the scar fading too.....I have one round and one football shaped scar on my toobs, and wondering if in the nipple origami they will look really weird. My PS acknowledged that they would likely still be visibly different.....but with time and healing, and after tattooing, hopefully not so much. I was encouraged by the ladies who shared their new boobs during the class Kaiser offered on choosing the type of reconstruction. The ladies there had VERY little scarring, although it was 5+ years out for each of them. I told myDH on my headstone I want "she had nice boobs". LOL!!

fredntan · June 2013

hi Jill, I too have the same scars as you. wonder why some docs are doing the football scar

Jennt28 · June 2013

My PS told me that the abdominal skin that they put in (football shaped) is usually thicker than breast skin. This makes it better for creating a more successful nipple, particularly if a breast area had prior radiotherapy.

Anyway thats the reason I was given...

Jenn

Anonymous · June 2013

Hmm...my PS told me that my round scar was because as the prophylactic MX done at the same time as the DIEP allowed her to do a skin sparing procedure....but the other that was done last April did not have a skin sparing MX, and she had to "work with what there is". Jenn....maybe your description is right....then one boob has breast skin and the other has tummy skin. They feel the same to touch.

bdavis · June 2013

Both of mine do not have a round scar... mine were skin sparing so no skin was brought in... After the fact, I needed a fix on teh prophy side, and he used a sliver of abdominal skin which through revisions has been whittled away... not all doctors put a circle of skin where the nipple used to be.

RonnieKay · June 2013

I need to read and catch up on how you're all doing...think of you always!!! Beckers...my liver scan is tomorrow. On my stage 4 post I said scanxiety is alive and well in my being. I so pray for NED...weekly chemo is wiping me out...hopefully also killing those pesky tumors!

Just wanted to say that I'm getting feeling back in my toobs..maybe I've missed that others have too. I know one sister had feeling right away and I was so surprised. I'm a little overwhelmed..happily! I just noticed it last weekend. I didn't think it would ever happen so I was really shocked. The funny thing is that I noticed it not being numb...as opposed to noticing actually having feeling! It's mostly on the inside and underside of my breasts. It's still numb on the upper and outer side. Wondering if others have the same thing happening..although I think I'm a little farther into the journey. One year on June 28th. Still bummed about the tummy...otherwise life is good (oh, there's that little liver thing too!). Thinking of you!!! XOXO

fredntan · June 2013

prayng for good scan results for you Kay.

Anonymous · June 2013

Praying for NED RonnieKay!

Betsie: well now I'm confused! LOL! Why else would you think the same surgeon would do one round and one football during the same surgery?......just a sick sense of humor??? It will be interesting to see how each will be after the origami nipples

fredntan · June 2013

mine were two different surgeons and surgeries . wonder what the pro and cons of each are. I like the circle one better. they didn't know when they did my mastectomy how many LN were involved. wondering why the different shapes? is it just how they are taught in school

Anonymous · June 2013

It's got to be more than just how they were taught.....otherwise both mine would be the same, whether round or football. I like the round one better too....

Fran- Are they less obviously different after the nipple construction? Have you had your tattooing yet?

fredntan · June 2013

they look good in bra, but they just look different. one is perfect and hangs good. the bad boob-the radiated side is kinda flat and have annoying side boob slightly. I get my tats in august. Vinnie Myers is recommending we wait 6months to heal. I do still have some red areas on nipples. phase 2 did make them look more similar

Beckers · June 2013

Ronnie, hope scan went okay and doesnt bring too much anxiety. Whaen i went through CT for spot on lung I was the most nervous ever so I cant imagine what its like to go through what you are going through. Please keep us posted. I have a small area of feeling on top of one breast and one area on tummy. It creaps me out though because I feel something shift in there and I definitely protrude more on that side. :-/ tummy is a source of discouragement for me too. Prayers just went up for ya! Xoxo

fredntan · June 2013

Its always something! Now my lower back is hurting some. anyone else? I did pilates class and a water aerobics class last week. they both had some ab work in them. maybe I am overdoing it in this area. my sx was in oct. abs still feel weak I think that making my lower back have issues. I know its not cancer cause it doesn't hurt al the time. just when I am more active.

and whats for dinner. I am horrible vegan. just cheated and had chocolate dipped icecream bar at costco.

MartyJ · June 2013

Fred - did you do pilates on the matt or on the machines? There are several of the mat exercises (rolling like a ball for one) that really did a number on my back. The machines are not really a problem. Maybe you should ask your doctor for a PT perscription for starters. I am doing that along with a really good personal trainer. Back is good so far. The only problem I had was when I stand for hours - then it was flexerill time.

fredntan · June 2013

I didn't know there was Pilates machines. I think I have to tone it back some.

Beckers · June 2013

Fran, weak stomach muscles can cause lower back instability. Are you a new vegan? I tried but was not successful. :-/

MartyJ · June 2013

Actually, pilates began with equipment - the reformer, cadillac, magic chair, etc. My physical therapist is also trained in pilates therapy and uses it in her practice. Really, really helpful. I did mat pilates for about a year and couldn't figure out why my lower back got worse and worse. Then I was told about some of the exercises that strain rather than strengthen the lower back. The equipment is great for building the core.

Anonymous · June 2013

Fran.....no such thing as a " bad vegan ".........just a vegan with "flexitarian" days!

I've been vegan for 1 1/2 years ...and for the most part it's easy (most restaurants even will accommodate)....but there are times when I choose to eat flexitarian due to limited options.

Beckers, I think the key to success is to go 100% for 2 weeks (some say 28 days to change your habits). Your appetite really does change! I didn't think I could give up cheese, but now I don't even miss it!

cg1234 · June 2013

Fran, omg those ice cream bars at Costco would make anyone cheat! They are huge though! I definitely have back pain and my surgery was in oct too. PT gave me tons of stretches for abs, which help a lot. I stretch in the doorway and do lunges against the wall to stretch each side among other things. Just laying completely flat on the floor on my back is still hard but helps.

So I've been watching swelling go down since stage 2 and I think one side is noticeably smaller than the other now. I'm not sure much of the fat grafting stayed but will try to be patient and see how things are in a month or 2.

Beckers · June 2013

Chachamom, I know you helped me try but I just can't do it! I still haven't lost any weight. I don't know what it will take.

fredntan · June 2013

chachamom-is there a good book for beginner vegans? or webste you recommend? I made tempeh last night. steamed t 20 min in steamer with some veggies, then added a thai sauce i made. tempeh didn't seam as good as in rest. what do you eat for breakfast?

I think I am making appt with orthopedic. pain gets really bad as day goes on. none now.

Keep trying Beckers. you can do it

Anonymous · June 2013

I would recommend "Forks Over Knives" (DVD) and the China Study (dry reading but very informative), and Web resource are too numerous to list....just search what you are interested in (ie Vegan recipes, vegan lifestyle etc). I've really enjoyed the recipes of the "Happy Herbavore"....Lindsey Nixon. She has recipes on her website and I have all three of her cookbooks and they are all good.

Beckers, I lost 12 pounds without trying going Vegan.....but you can also gain weight if you eat too many of the foods like nuts, avocados, and breads. I LOVE bread!!!!!

I started having Nutri-blast smoothies (1/2 greens and 1/2 fruit). They are yummy and a good way to get your greens....but can also be calorie packed

LeesaAnn · July 2013

Hi Ladies, I had a skin sparing UMX, with a free tram/DIEP reconstruction in 2011. My surgeon told me that he didn't have to take any muscle when excising. Here I am, almost two years out and the last couple of months I'm experiencing occassional pain/burning/stinging when I contract my abodominal muscles. I can pin point the exact spot along the muscle, and there seems to be a slight indentation there.

I haven't been back to my surgeon in some time. I'm not sure if this warrants a visit. Its not painful, per se, but annoying. I was not sure if this could be an indication of something more serious is at play. Has anyone heard of this happening as a side effect from surgery? Seems odd that its popped up two years out.

Thanks so much!

Diep 2012

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