DIEP 2013

Yeah, Ruth!

So wish I had been up for some type of exercise today.  I felt tired and a little nauseaus (4 days post stage 2).  I just woke from a 2 hour nap.  I probably overdid it yesterday.  I am going to commit to myself to join you virtually on Monday, even if all I get in is a good brisk walk!

 Jeannie

Bailey- That is pretty much where I am right now. Once I am done healing from the last surgery, I plan to throw myself into our business that DH just started up.

Goldie - my BMX was back in July 2012 and I was left with the TEs and a horizontal scar across each breast.  He filled them partially in surgery, and then I think two more times in the office a couple of months later.  Had to wait because my right - and healthy - side had healing issues and I had a gaping hole for awhile, had to use the silverdine cream and bandages...  For awhile that left an icky scar on the right.  For the DIEP in March, I was left with a football paddle in the middle of each breast (icky scar gone), with just a little of the horizontal scar showing on each side, on each breast.  Part of the reason I decided to do the nipples in Stage 2 is because he said the paddles would be pulled together like a purse string when he formed the "origami" nipples, and I'd be left with just a smaller horizontal scar on each side of my nipples.  I can't tell you if that is exactly the case because they are still hidden by a bandage and Tegaderm, but I will see them for myself on Tuesday!

I think my anestheia was similar for both the BMX and DIEP.  I was out for I think 8 hours with the BMX and then 12 with DIEP.  Definitely took several days after both to really wake up and feel like myself.  For BMX I was in the hospital for 2 nights, 5 for DIEP.

I am at that point of "now what?"  I am pretty certain I will still go back for a Stage 2b because my ab scar is so high and he could not move it enough to make it worth it now.  I'm starting to realize that some of you with the "crotch eyes" must have much lower scars, and that is a huge difference in the placement of the drains.  Mine were at my waist. That being said, I'm in no rush to go back under and, like Kuka, want to lose some weight first so that it can get as low as possible.  I am still fairly swollen in my upper abs and my pelvis... no clue if it's skin stretched over fat or fluids or what!   I also think that my complicated right side is going to need a little more shaping because the blob under my arm is not completely gone, though PS said it could be a little swollen for a bit so not to panic if they didn't look exactly as I hoped right away.  He hoped to get rid of it without excising the skin at all - but we'll see how it all turns out.  It's somewhat uncomforatble under there, but I'm just going to wait for now and let my body settle in....

So with the summer off (I'm a teacher) I am going to focus on projects around the house, getting back in shape, and beginning to organize my classroom and curriculum for next year.  With my in and out medical leaves the past two years, I have left things in quite disarray both on the home front and school.  No time for boredom....especially with my teen & tween around!

Jeannie

Thanks, Gini.  All good info. Have a great summer. Glad you are feeling so well.

So lots going on here! Decided to lighten up the mood with a funny thing that happened to me this am. So waking up to the sound of my cat chewing on something next to me. Looked down to find him chewing on my drain tubing! Ahhhgggg! So after lying there thinking I will have to call someone and how embarrassed I will be to explain this I looked at the tubing and decided to do my own surgery on it! Thank goodness it worked! Hope that this gives everyone a chuckle after initial shock I laughed boy the experiences I having!

Hugs to everyone who needs them. .good night.

Liefie, thanks for all the info.  I guess I am nervous about everything lately.  I blame part of it on these expander fills, and some of it on giving up pain meds completely, and going strictly Advil, or Tylenol.  I think I am detoxing...lol.

Mammalou...I am definitely asking for that. I get so nauseous.

mammalou~ Congrats on your recovery, how are you feeling? 

Kad22- LOL, how on earth did you fix it?

I’ve been away from here for a week, to avoid being “Debbie downer”, as I was feeling really depressed. So, these comments go back to June 22.  OMG 10 pages of comments! Bear with me.

I was given access to the photo site, but have not yet signed on or uploaded my photos.  I will try to do that this weekend.

Nihahi:  Thank you for your comments. I now know that going back at 4 wks was probably a little soon. My commute is only 10 minutes. But, I’m okay.  My abdominal incision is more than just a scar.  It is truly an open wound.  I am going to ask my PS to re-stitch or staple parts of it that are open. Sorry to hear about the skin cancer.  I’m sure you will handle that as well as you have your BC. 

Damiani: glad to see you on this side and doing well. I couldn’t wait to go places either, but did wait a couple of weeks.  WOW, you are brave. Uh oh, just saw about the infection, take care and be careful.

Bailye:  I still have spots of swelling at 5 wks.  Like yours, my PS said don’t worry about the swelling for about 8 wks, and then only if tremendous. “Board sewn into my abdomen” what a great way to describe this.  Yes, with a few nails at the incision line.

Heavenschild:  Thank you for understanding the feeling that this will never end.  It’s just my BMS=X with TE implants was November, 2011, and I’ve been having nothing but surgeries ever since.

Goldie:  I had BMX with TE back in 2011, and I h ve to say the ROM was easier after DIEP, but you add in the abdomen and stretching of any sort is out.  Overall, however, I have found the DIEP recovery a little tougher. Probably just because I’m so tired of the whole thing, though.

Ihw:  My hospital supplies a very weak surgical compression bra for post op, but my PS said to remove it and use a sports bra after the first week, which we did. I got mine at Walmart.  They provide some support, I think, as when I do wear them I get less pain. My incisions are still partially open after 5 wks and I am worried.  I wear spanx and / or shapewear that seems to help keep the swelling down in my belly and provide support that is comfortable.

KAD: re: medication.  I am 5 wks post op and sad to say I am still taking 10 mg Norco every 4 hrs. (sweetpickle, I saw your post, and I’m sad to say it made me feel like I’m not weird)  I am worried about this.  I see many many women who are on advil just a few days post op.  I am not addicted, this I know.  But, I do worry about why I have so much pain so long after surgery.  It has to do with incisions not healing and doing too much, I’m sure. Kitties are fun…….chewing on the drain tube…OMG

SBElizabeth: be sure to dry that belly button every time it gets wet with shower, etc… just hit it with a Q tip.

DO NOT PULL DRAINS TOO EARLY!! Nightmare.  I hate drains as much as the next guy, but pulling drains too early made me lose my implant, which brought me to DIEP land.

Sweetpickel:  I had balck spots that looked like blisters at one 1”-2” area along my incision, I did nothing special and in about a week, it slowly got smaller and disappeared. Then the incision opened in that area.  My PS said it was high circulation and weak skin.

Liefie:  I am 5 wks post op and I have two very hard spots about 2-3” in diameter near the center of the breastbone, one on each breast. They are, in fact, the source of most of my pain.  My PS has said this is internal tissue getting less circulation than other areas and he suggested soft self massage.  It seems to be working to soften up the left, but not the right.

Typewriter: What do you do for the scar the first few weeks while it begins to heal? This is highly dependent on your PS instruction.  I was told not to remove my surgical bandages until my first post op appointment.  Others have daily bandage changes.

How long is it supposed to be covered? See aboe.

How long until you can eat and then what is the diet like? No special diet for me, except I learned from nutrition in the hospital that I was not to have caffiene.

Did you drop a pants size?  Ha…I still can’t get my pants on for all the swelling, but I’m 5 wks post op. I’ll give it time.

Gini:  Yes, apparently part of the tissue came from the fatty upper pubic mound.  And, they pulled the tissue from the pubic area up so that it feels like my pubic area is squished.

Crewzer: The binder helps hold in the fluids and organs from jostling around.  I’m wearing spanx for that and I agree it feels better. The 1,000 pins, I still have, 5 wks.  I think it’s a circulation and nerve ending thing.

Mammalou: welcome to the other side.

Dyvgrl:  I had my implant removed last summer following infection.  Once exposed, my PS said it had to come out.  He did it in OR under general.  He was unable to replace it in the same surgery because the pocket was not healthy.  This led to my DIEP.

MY COMMENTS:

I had minimal post arm arm stiffness, but cleared up quickly.  12.5 hrs of surgery.

I’ll wait the full 12 weeks recommended, and until all incisions are completely healed, and I have my full energy back, all before I start to go exercise whacko again.  These are things that can wait.  I was signed up to run the Disney ½ marathon Labor Day weekend, but that is not going to happen for me.

I am having my regular open house July 4^th Independence Day pool party and BBQ. Unfortunately, due to my wounds, I wont actually be able to get into the pool.  It is supposed to be over 110* here!  Ugh

My attitude has been good for the week.  I’ve accepted my fate, my pain, my lengthened recovery and all that.  I have never been too concerned about the scars, as I plan to tattoo over everything in a couple of years.  However, I still get concern and frustration over the healing process.  I always have been, am and always will be a slow healer.  I have been tested for diabetes a hundred times in my life as I just don’t heal well.  I know that all this will eventually heal up, but I worry about infection.

Anyway, I guess staying away a week is too long. Too much to catch up on. Nice to see all the positives in here.

Happy weekend, all.

It was 110 yesterday here in Santa Clarita.  Going to be hotter today and heatwave until Wednesday at least they say.  Today I'm driving my daughter to the mountains for her first summer camp experience.  She is totally excited,and completely distracted by all the friends and tons of fun she'll be having for the next two weeks and that is perfect by me. 

I've not had to start the xanax yet, but I am starting to get really nervous. Its not helping that my mom picked this weekend to get mad at me about something -she won't tell me what (I'm supposed to know I guess)  and I refuse to suck up to her and play that game when I'm trying to keep my head together right now.

I have a really busy last day of work tomorrow (training the boss' wife among other things) and he's in for a surprise- He's told me that he'll give me a couple of days before he starts calling me with questions.  I have NO plans to take any work calls whiile in icu or the hospital (guys can be so lame).  I've done just about all I can to prepare them for my absense and if they didn't take the time to learn that isn't my problem.  It's a landscape company and if somethings don't get done for a bit that isn't the end of my world.  (please remind me of this outlook once I start getting hounded! lol)

I did find out I can take my iphone with me to preop early tuesday and that is when I'll be begging you guys for prayers and trying not to run from the building. 

Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful support, execellent information and caring ways. It's awesome to be one of such a wonderful sisterhood, dealing with this together, and lifting each other up through the challenges and cheering each other on through the sucesses. 

RobinY, oh how I remember that feeling of 'now why is it I'm doing this? I don't need breasts. I don't have to do this.' What if this, that and the other thing...

I was in a hurry for them to knock me out.

Fast forward 4 weeks: recovery isn't easy, there are many ups and downs; the results at this point are not stellar due to odd swellings (that will apparently diminish), scabs, and my pregnancy stretch marks that are now located in the center of my boobs. Weird! But, I have breasts. They are my own flesh. They look great under clothes. I feel whole for the first time in over a year.

I don't know your story, if you are having all your surgeries at once or DIEP delayed. I wish you smooth sailing through surgery and recovery, and I think that those of us who are on the other side would agree that this is the way to go if you can.

-Laurel

Laurel- Well said! I agree that any discomfort is worth looking down and seeing me there.



Liefie- Holy cow tha sounds crazy! I needed six units of blood when they did my diep. Four during surgery and two more units two days later. They never said why I needed them though, is it always because of internql bleeding? Wow, so glad you are ok and that your diep recovery has been easy. I have to say, mine has been pretty easy since getting out of the hospital.

Sweetpickle, DIEP is a superficial surgery, and most of the work is done on the outside of your body whereas hysterectomy is all on the inside, removing uterus, ovaries, and everything feminine as in my case. One of the pericles (blood vessels leading to removed organs) was not tied off properly during surgery and that's why I bled internally. With DIEP I imagine that people can lose blood too. The tummy incision is a very long one, and that can very well bleed to the point where the patient may need  blood transfusions. Fortunately it does not happen often.

Robin, you are going to do great.  Your daughter is at camp. you boss will realize how much he needs you, and your surgery is going to turn out awesome.  Keep us posted.

Liefie, that is scary about your hysterectomy.  Very scary.  Is is common to need blood transfusion during DIEP.  
Gosh, I hope not.  I saw somebody else mention they needed blood during, and after their surgery.  Hmmm.

So for drain surgery all you have to do is take the yube off the drain, cut a piece off and reattach! Simple really.



Good luck to those having surgery this week - you are in my thoughts.