DIEP 2013

Hi, everyone! I am feeling more human today, except I smell like rotten meat! This garment is stinky and it's time for a shower, a big production. The red spot looks the same, so that's a relief! Thanks for your concern. Christina, I still have my cellulite thighs to deal with so I won't exactly look like a bathing suit model.....but it's not my goal. I am so done with this process. My boobs look a little bigger but still not the same size. I don't think I care anymore. Everything is swollen, of course, and we'll see how it all settles down. Update: just finished my monumental shower routine and feel good! I think I've turned a corner. DH may have to change my c. garment for me tonight, though, because this one still stinks.

Goldie - I have basic insurance so am stuck in Switzerland with whatever doctor the hospital assigns. I was just really taken aback yesterday by how aggressive she was and she seems to be pretty uninterested in outcomes other than nipples (which she seems to be obsessed with!). The old PS was talking about not just lipo but also scar revision and lifts, which is why I was getting surgery-shy. This one doesn't even want to go as far as lipo, but I suppose I'm not her work of art to worry about. I won't see her again until January because they need to let the abscess heal completely, so I'll do some research about options and make my decision over the next few months. Thanks for the support, as always.

Jeannie - I hope you do okay with your garment change! You are one brave lady!!!

Butterfleyez & Gwenny - gentle healing hugs to you!

Carmelle - have a wonderful vacation!

Jeannie I am glad to hear you are doing better. Lehela I am so sorry to hear your PS appt didnt go well. I just hate to hear when a Dr. Doesn't listen to what the patient wants and needs, maybe at your next appt in Jan a new PS might be assigned. Carmella, it sounds like you are doing great with your recovery, I find the sports bras waaaay more comfortable than anything else at this time. GwennyMD and others welcome to the other side, rest, drink, walk, and more rest.

I am gearing up for my stage 2 next week, exercising, eating right, and hydrating. I am no longer scared, thanks to all of you, now I am just excited to get it done.

Robin!!!!! So happy to hear from you and that you have a plan. Your doctor is pretty special, I think. We seem to be rolling along here in flapperland. We've missed you, for sure. I have stage II scheduled for December 19.....So I am planning on everything for Christmas being done early, too!

Hi Ladies,

Can I ask a question on here?  I posted in Reconstruction but only had 1 response.  I had a bi-lateral mastectomy in November 2011 with tissue expanders.  I then had my implants put in in May 2012.  I had radiation for 6 weeks in the summer of 2012.  I saw my PS on Friday to discuss some issues and my next step.  My left(cancer) breast is encapsulated and I have some pain and discomfort.  He gave me a few options of what I could do.  One of the options, which I am leaning toward but scared, is having the implants removed and DIEP flap reconstruction.  Anyone else here have that done after 2 years of implants?  How are you who have had the DIEP liking the results?  How is the recovery?

dlm - I had implants for 28 years. My DIEP girls will celebrate their first birthday on November 9. I love them. No more iron bra. No more wonky looking boobs from capsular constriction. Warm, soft and a part of me!

Ha! Debdylan we are crossing posts! I am here. I am definitely doing stage ii. I can't attach the word excited to it yet lol. I will be glad to have the big lumps and logs of scar tissue and fat necrosis removed. I will be happy to get a chance to make my scars look better. I would prefer the "fairy-godmother-BING-you're-done-no -surgery-needed" method, though. Is there a thread for that???

Thanks for the welcome.  My PS didn't mention a stage 2.  What is stage 2?  Is that the nipples?

Hi to all brave ladies!

I be 8 weeks post op (BMX and immediate DIEP) on Thursday and it's happened to be my first day back to work. I know everybody is different but can someone tell me how much time it took you to go back to work.

Also want to share about join the BRA ( breast reconstruction awareness) day my PS organized few days ago. It wasn't anything new I learned, since I knew all the options before my surgery. But what was really interesting in the end they did Show-and -Tell where you can see other ladies recon and show yours as well. I never forget this beautiful Young girl there standing and proudly showing her body. I came to her and said "you so young, what are you doing here?" . Yes, I'm 24, she said and I was diagnosed at 22, went for BMX and recon and now I'm pregnant! She is due in April,2014. We were all so happy for her. In my opinion after I went to this event, a lot of women afraid to get DIEP .

Smooth recovery to all ladies here.

dlm - stage 1 is when they do the microsurgery - to get the flap in place with great blood flow. Stage 2 is about aesthetics - cleaning and beautifying. Some people have just one aesthetic procedure, others (like me) need several. When I say aesthetic, I don't mean "cosmetic". I had 6 months between Stage 1 and 2a (she lifted one side and rearranged it, revised ab incision, eliminated dog ears, lipo to flanks to get fat to graft into the upper pole of right over the boney chest). 4 months later Stage 2 b was a bit more minor (my DH had surgery the next day and she was good to me) - she worked on some divots, scar revision, lipo to inner thigh to get fat needed on left side. In December we will be wrapping this up (I hope) using fat from my thighs to fill in areas where grafts may not have completely taken before, continuing to revise shape and incisions, adding nipples. Whew, makes me tired to read it.

Bailey - I want to meet that fairy godmother! I need her to use that wand now so I can drop 10 lbs along with the next surgery.

Hi I am scheduled for DIEP in New Orleans in January, 2014. How are you doing? I will have to have the stacked DIEP. Very nervous just want

to hear it is worth it. Lori

Baily, sign me up for the "fairy-godmother-BING-you're-done-no -surgery-needed"!

Don't we wish!

And probably run out of pixie dust just when it was my turn. lol..

Robin, wow you have been through so much. Sounds like December 4th is all planned out! Crossing my fingers that the outcome is much better this time around.

Jeannie, glad you are feeling better after your shower!

lahela, The thought of going through all this and not getting the ideal outcome is scary. I hope you and your PS can work out a good plan - and it should be about more than nipples.

mrtw - I'm right with you in being excited about stage 2 next week! Just think, in a week and a half we'll be on here complaining about how sore we are. LOL

katita - congrats on being eight weeks out. You are through the worst, that's for sure. I went back to work at four weeks. Definitely a little earlier than most though, but I had age (34) and good health (I finished chemo a year prior) on my side.

lol @ bailey - I'm picturing the fairy godmother from Cinderella bopping herself in the head with her wand... lol

Tomorrow is my stage 2 pre-op consult...I'm so excited! And a trip to the shoe store just south of the hospital is a must... LOL

Actually, I think the fix it fairy should have a "blind date" with Wilbur....now THAT would be a pairing!!!!! defo...moving bluebird and Robin to the front of the line.

dlm...I had a unimx then a long series of implant problems (first one ruptured, second one developed a painful and deforming capsular contracture. I had a Tram free flap in April of this year.........no complications connected to surgery or recovery, flat tummy, lovely new boob that needs very little tweaking, and am happier with my body than I have been since I started this whole breast cancer journey. Like liefie, I am in Canada, and my PS did enough refinement in the initial surgery, that what is left to do is extremely minimal. Having had an implant for so long, I think the "prestretched skin envelope" may have made that job easier for him. It is almost like having a partial skin sparing mx I bet.

christina....I cannot imagine going back to work at 4 weeks....you are amazing!!!!

gotta dash....didn't accomplish much else today than a get together with 3 other bco/Alberta ladies......(truly the highlight of the day)...then some financial talk stuff with hubby and a financial advisor...I feel like a deer in the headlights with that stuff...but it's important for us as women to know what the plans are for that stuff.

Have good night's......hugs to all.

editted to add......jeannie....how are things coming along??? Hope today has been much better, and the red spot is fading away.