DIEP 2013

Mammalou, thank for the description of the lipo. The fat grafting they did under you arm may really help that skin. I think I told you how they figured out the skin rejuvenating qualities fat grafting has. By the time they get that stem cell/fat grafting thing perfected they will be able to help so many people with burns, etc. Very exciting things to come with that. I am not looking forward to lipo, but if it's necessary I might as well get it over with before next summer.

I would guess you would need an orthopedic doc for your tailbone. I bet your GP could order an xray and if they found something, then you could go to a Ortho, but like I said, I don't think there is anything they can do for it if it's just a fracture, or a deep bruise. Have you tried icing it?

Deb,, nanny nanny boo boo, you were right...lmaooooo. Anyway, I know for sure Christina had the hair problem,, so did Damiana, I am not sure about Mammalou. Christina was told her's was too light to laser, if I remember correctly. Damiana has gone on to the great world out there,and I don't know what she did about hers.

I just got back from the first trip to the grocery store for Thanksgving. I am soooo tired. And, as soon as I walked in the door and the phone rang. My son wanted to know if I got the pancetta for the green bean casserole. UGH!!!! Uh, no...I am not a mind reader. Put it on my list, and it will get purchased.

Oh, sorry....happy bday, Deb. Mine falls on Thanksgiving this year...lol.

yes girls, I had a few blonde hairs. I plucked em! So far, they are still gone. Is there such a thing as post anesthesia depression? I was doing so well before this surgery and I have just crashed.

Mammalou- You are only 9 days out surgery. Please be patient with yourself. Pamper yourself and protein up. It makes a difference. If you are tired nap, this is not the time to push yourself. You can do this. We are all here for you.

has anyone had an infection on their TE? If so, what were your symptoms? Something just doesn't feel right on that side. I had a red spot on the front of my scar so I put micro pore tape on it and when I pulled it off, it took the top layer of skin with it. Underneath the TE like against my chest wall it feels like a burning sensation almost like heartburn. I feel like I'm being paranoid...

((((((Mammalou))))))

mammalou.....you DEFINITELY are too hard on yourself, because WE think you are AMAZING!!!!!

dvygrl....YES, TE's can definitely be infection sites. Not the TE itself, but the pocket around it. If these symptoms of burning and redness are new for you, I hope you get to your doc ASAP. If you just had a fill, it might be the result of a new degree of pressure from the increase in size. Either way.....you should get checked out, in my opinion.

I think we often dismiss how much physical and emotional energy it takes to get ourselves "ready" for surgery, then there is the surgery itself (there is always some amount of blood loss, and that affects each person differently) and the meds our bodies have to metabolize to clear our systems, then the increased physical demand on our bodies to heal, after surgery. None of these "things" are what you should expect to boost your energy or mood.....they all are taxing, energy depleting things. IT TAKES TIME TO RECOVER!!!!! Physically AND emotionally.

Goldie,

I've had them in for about 5 months so not sure what's going on. The skin seems so thin right at the incision. They've always been uncomfortable, and it's not red and I don't have a fever, it just hurts. I hate it! Will give a call to the PS in the morning and see what he says...

Birthdays???....whoever I missed....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Hey ladies I wanted to post a link here for you all to read. I use a PS group out of San Antonio, TX PRMA. Dr. Ledoux is my PS. They are one of the top in their field in the United States. This year they have published a couple of studies that have to do with DIEP flap that I thought you all would be interested in. The most recent is they they are using a superficial vein along with the main vein to increase success rate of the transfer. The study has a 99% success rate. The other two studies are using the Vascular Lymph node transfer for those suffer with Lymphodema and also a study for obese patients using DIEP successfully. The group does over 500 DIEP flaps a year. Here is a link to their news media and articles you can check out. Hope this is helpful to someone. http://prma-enhance.com/useful-resources/media

Sherryc.....as you can tell by reading our "header"....this thread is for women all across the USA and Canada, and a few special ladies from Europe, as well. There have been many successful outcomes from both NOLA and PRMA, as well as from many other locations too. We have tried on this thread to spread the word of happy outcomes and compassionate experiences, without labelling specific places as "the best". Everyone's personal circumstances and opportunities are different, and there is nothing helpful in implying without "knowledge", that their location or surgeon or care or outcomes will be "inferior".

Knowledge IS important to share.

Lucyv....that is wonderful news about the healing!!!! Another "kudo" to goldie for her Bali bra!!!!

Yeah, Lucy. Glad you like it. I got a form letter (email. actually) response from Bali. I responded telling the person in customer care, who answered me, that the response wasn't enough. That Bali, which is owned by Hanes, needs to respond in a way that makes me know that the "powers that be" get the importance of such a little thing, and address it as such.

Lucy, I am so glad you are starting to heal. I hope you have a great holiday season feeling healthy and whole.

nihahi, I never said anyone else was inferior or receiving inferior care, sorry if anyone took it that way. I am very happy with my PS and happen to think they do awesome work. I know many women who have had DIEP flap from PRMA and are very very happy with their results. I have given out the link to their website to women all over the country because I happen to think it is one of the best websites for information even if you are not using them. I have had many tell me how helpful it was and gave them questions to ask their own PS regarding types of reconstruction available. I did not have DIEP flap because I was too thin and not a good candidate. I did want to have it and was disappointed but I also know my PS recommended what he thought was best for me. With that being said I think the studies they have done are amazing and I believe Knowledge is Power and just wanted to share the studies in case it might help someone else out. I have to say that when I was first gathering info for my reconstruction and hoping that DIEP was an option for me even though I new I was very thin (just hoping they could use what little belly fat I had) and I had heard negative things about implants. When I posted it on the NOLA in Sept thread I was very pressured by several women into going to NOLA for another opinion because in their opinion NOLA was the best as they put it. I had already had three PS opinions and all said the same thing, you are too thin and will need to gain 40 plus pounds to have enough to build some breast. Working out is great when you want to be healthy and stay in shape during treatment. Not so good for reconstruction, it limits your options.