DIEP 2013

I'm so glad to hear about healing! I am thrilled for you! I had a large area of necrosis at the very top of one boob soon after DIEP. It was somewhat painful. PS said he couldn't get rid of all of it in stage II but he did break it up and it is much better. We'll see what happens when my swelling goes down. I didn't have that area US'd beforehand.

10,000 posts coming up! That is a lot of support, shared experiences and heartaches, laughter, tears. I am so grateful to be a part of this group! Love you ladies, oldies and newbies!

hey ladies.. I remember reading on here benefits of massaging your belly after surgery. Was that right after? Should I be massaging my stomach? Are there any things you did to help w mobility of your arms? Or is time it?

Today my help went back home and I really felt emotional about it. You need sooo much intimate help these first few weeks that you really get closer than u already are. My aunt comes today to take over but I really long for the days of doing for myself

Hi flapper gals.....jumping on to say "Hello" to the "oldies, but goodies" and you "Newbies"...... This is such a phenomenal thread! So much help, love and support here.....not to mention dear friends....just waiting to be found!

So very happy to hear about all the healing that has taken place among us lately......a milestone! It has been a long, long year for some of us, for sure!

To you newbies.....stay tuned...you can find lots of help and information from the veterans on here.....one thing is for sure.....they know how it feels!

Butter....it is too soon to start massaging your incisions.....I didn't start until the PS told me to start putting Mederma on the scars.......and I use several different products (alternating) on my scars. Done at the right time, I believe that massage in conjunction with a scar-reducing product can really help the overall appearance of the scar in the end......but you are flat-out too early in the healing process right now. Patience, grasshopper!

I have my pre-op for stage 2b on November 4th.......surgery tentatively scheduled for December 4th.....we shall see.....will be a fun Christmas..... "Walking in Compression Wonderland"......

Here's to all of you sisters going for surgery this week.....May Wilbur keep you safe in his arms.......

TOWANDA!!!!!!

XO. Jackie

butterflyeyez, cancer free, what happy news!!!

mommalou - sorry your date got bumped back. Argh that is frustrating!

Just got back from a weekend trip with DH, stepson and dtr-in-law, and their two kiddos...I feel so relaxed and wonderfully reconnected with family. It was W-A-Y overdue.

I'm sure this question has been asked a million times before so please if anyone knows previous posts feel free to link them. I have no one to talk to about this because most people I know have had implants.

I gained 40 lbs (125 to 165lbs) during chemo, and I had a single mx with no recon yet. I'm top heavy: so weight goes to arms/tummy, and I have "no hips". My goal was to do bilateral DIEP in 2013, but insurance/job issues got in the way. I've been carrying this weight around for a year now, and I'm tired of being fat!! But I'm scared that if I lose weight, then I would lose surgical options. I don't want the TRAM or LAT because from my understanding those remove a portion of muscle tissue. I'm skeptical about that because I'm still not fully recovered from the lack in ROM and nerve pain after the sentinel node biopsy. I have a couple of friends who chose the LAT flap and pain has been an issue. My PS is a man of few words, so the only thing he says is "do what I feel is healthy", and over the summer he did give me the go ahead to schedule a TRAM/DIEP. I feel like losing 20lbs will be ok since I had a muffin top when I weighed 145 lbs.

I guess it all comes down to: Do I really want to carry excess weight until I'm financially ready to have surgery, who knows how long that can take??

Movie,

I have my exchange surgery on Dec 3. We can commiserate together when the time comes.

Welcome new people. You have found the best place on the planet for info on DIEP.

Lahela, you win the prize!!!! What is it? Let's think of a prize girls!!

Christina, glad you had a nice weekend.

Shericola - I put on 40 during chemo, too. I lost 30 before DIEP. I had plenty to give (I've had two kids by c-section, too, so carried a belly. I am unilateral recon so I had plenty to give. Actually, will have to have the noob reduced in stage II. 

I'm also beginning to wonder what happened to Sweetpickle. She's way too quiet.

Gwenny..hope the drains are ready to come out...it is wonderful when that happens. Don't judge the "size" of your new breasts yet.....you have a whole lot of swelling yet to resolve. Hoping for good path report news for you.

christina....likely the error was mine....I'll message the mods asap. Hope no one minds that I asked them to "bold" the tattoo mention for sharon1942....thought it would be nice to celebrate the FINAL STEP IN THE JOURNEY!!!!!!!

Hrf....saying prayers for fat necrosis! Hugs!

I have a large hard place on the inner area - sternum side of my left breast and a smaller area same place on my right breast. Have been worried a little about it....but am thinking after readying these posts maybe it is fat necrosis. Seems like it would leave quite a dent if my PS removed it all in stage 2? Not due to see him again until March for stage 2. Should I be concerned about having anyone look at it? No discoloration.

Thanks ladies....always so grateful you all are there!

I have been thinking about Sweetpickle too. The last we heard she was feeling a lot better. I hope that is still the case.

I don't know that I deserve a prize for posting, but can I have one for the slowest healing abscess?! The drainage incision closed on Friday, no more oozing, then started to get painful again yesterday. Saw the PS who said it was healing and was fine. Then in the middle of the night I woke up and it was really sore so I lifted it to look and *gloop*! More ooze! Back to dressings and will call the PS nurses today to see if they want to do more.



So frustrating! I thought I had turned another corner just in time for a big weekend away (DH and I are flying to Madrid on Friday to see my dad and stepmum who are flying in from Australia and we're having a three day weekend celebrating my birthday before they travel to other places) but now I'm back on the worry-wagon.

And my PS is not at all happy about the salpingo-oopherectomy just yet. She's going to speak to the gyno-onc about postponing it a couple of months, until my tummy is softer.



hrf and mammalou - my fingers and toes are all crossed for your lumps!



Sweetpickle, it would be great to hear from you.



Jeannie - how are you holding up?



Love and hugs to all.

Good morning all, today is the day, I am going in for stage 2 I am nervous and excited all at the same time.