DIEP 2013

Goldie, I said good riddance to iron bra forever after DIEP. That was a long 15 months with those things. Not even. Trace now.

Thank you, Jeannie. 

Goldie... after my MX/GAP flap, I felt like I had two bowling balls stitched to my chest for about a week or so. But that isn't really the iron bra feeling. So, no, for me starting with a flap, there was no iron bra feeling. Another question for you, if you are light on fat, why not get a GAP flap?

I'm DIEP only, no iron bra.  Also a fairly "easy" recovery in regards to arm movement but that might be because I had no nodes done during DIEP (had nodes done during lumpectomy and had some limitations in arm movements)

Pat

Thank you all for the answer I was hoping to hear.  You know what might be an interesting study for some doc to do....Post Masrtectomy Pain Syndrome in women with no recon, with implants and with diep. From listening to all of you for the past months I do believe that diep might actually be beneficial in ways that haven't been counted yet.  There are several parts to the syndrome, and some of them we all still might have, like frozen shoulder, or nerve pain in our skin (burning feeling), etc.  All manageable and expected, but Iron Bra....they should use it instead of Water Boarding for torture. I can live with the other little annoying stuff that comes and goes like so many of us, but not this.  No more. For some reason I think mine is exceptionally bad, and I don't know why.  Maybe muscle memory from when I use to work out, who knows.  Thank you all for being there tonight.  We needed to hear those positive answers. 

Patty, if you are like me, the first thing I use to do when I walked in the house was undo my bra.  Sometime I even did it on the way home in the car.  This really stinks.  I have started to get in the shower when I am still sleepy, and jump back out thinking I forgot to take my bra off.  

Goldie, didn't you recently have your exchange earlier this month? I know nothing about implants, but that seems really fast to decide you hate them. But maybe it is something you can instinctively tell.

I have the iron bra feeling but thought it was from having nodes out.(3) personally, I'm pretty unhappy about how my flap looks and feels. I have extreme tightness across my chest but it could be from radiation too. Women in implant forums love their implants. I think each person is different and only you can say what feels or doesn't feel right.

I'm pretty sick of surgery and all the complications. Not so sure I trust a surgeons recommendation. But sending you strength and wisdom to make the decision that's right for you. 

goldie.....You sound like you are in a whirlpool of emotions tonight...and understandably so. We're all thinking of you, and hoping that tomorrow's appointment starts to give you some comfort and hope for the future.

Dyvgrl - I had a bone scan.  For mine, they injected me with a radioactive substance, then I had to wait for three hours or so (I could leave and come back,  but they told me to avoid close contact with small children/babies and pregnant women), When I had the scan, I was on my back on a narrow table. I think they had a band around my feet and my legs to keep them in place.  The machine moved over my body, very close,  but I was not enclosed in anything.  They scanned feet to head and then additional views of my ribs and maybe my hips.   The scanning process took about 30 minutes or so.  No pain that I recall.  It was done when I was initially diagnosed, part of initial staging.

Good luck.

Goldie - good luck today.  I don't think I have iron bra.  I do have some sensation of pulling  close to both armpits, but no pain.  I'm only 2.5 weeks out, and did have sentinel nodes removed on one side, so that might account for some of the sensation on one side.  No regrets.

Goldie - I wish you well in your appointment today, and I hope you soon find and end to your discomfort. 

(Oh - and I'm sure that when your husband goes to heaven he'll get you a guest pass). 

Christina- I hope you are home and eating steak and eggs for breakfast!

Sharon- hope they can fix the nipple for you. 

Goldie- I have a tightness where the bra band is but it is getting less and less as time goes on. It is not bothersome to me and I don't really notice it unless I thing about it. Your DH is a sweetie!

Janet- lol on the guest pass

sharon.....I often go through the list and think of those who have "moved away" from active posting. I always hope they have healed, and have just chosen to put things "in their past". 

RHG.....thinking of you today.....you can do this.....Hoping for minimal se's......put on those "gifts" from hubby and start kicking the **** out of bc. Remember, the chemo drugs are fighting this in ways you cannot begin to match, 24/7. {{{{{X}}}}}

Having a quick sandwich, and then I leave for my 1:30 appt. Sharon, if you go back one page there is a post from Bluebird from last night.  

RHG....you got this!!!!  Where those shoes and stomp your feet, click your heels, whatever it takes to kick cancer's butt!!!!!

I do believe people move on, and that is a good thing, but I know what you mean.  You wish you knew they are doing great!!!!

I will tell you all how Kuka is first hand when I get back from my appt.

Goldie-no iron bra here, either........good luck on your appt.!

LOL, Besty...brain fart.  I mixed the two names up.  

I am back from my appt.  Met Kuka.  She is as cute as can be.  Love the doc.  He feels since I have had the tightness since the moment I woke up from my bmx with expanders, and now had the implants put in with no relief of tightness that another implant surgery won't be the answer for me as far as getting comfortable.  They will not touch  me again (surgery wise) till three months have passed. He said it wouldn't be good for me, or the outcome.  So, I will suffer through till I can have diep in early March.  He feels with the weight I have gained and that I am not asking for big boobs it will all be fine.  The upper body recovery will be minor once the flaps take, and the tummy tuck part will be what it is, but he doesn't foresee any problems. But, of course, that is all to be seen...lol. 

Like Nihani said, I am not looking at this as a failure, or a waste of time.  I now have pockets for the tummy fat to be put into, and due to less activity and weight gain I have the belly I need now.  I also know that these implants are not what I want, which I had to find out the hard way.