DIEP 2013

Morningsun1 · January 2014

nihahi, it depends on how much you have done. My stage II was a less 1.5 hour quickie, so the recovery was a piece of cake compared to the initial DIEP surgery.

Anonymous · January 2014

Nihahi I think you are going to be fine. Deep breaths.

The most painful thing for me was the lipo. And it has been downright painful. The rest of me is healing beautifully this time. And I had every single inch of incisions redone, including my belly button. Other than the lipo the only thing that really hurts is the tail end of the lift incision, because it is just in a tender spot ....out on the outside edge of my rib cage (where, I have heard, is one of the most painful places to get tattoo is...so.makes sense an incision would hurt there, too).

What are they planning to do for your stage II?

I think a vacation 19 days out is going to be just right.

Anonymous · January 2014

Nihahi I think you are going to be fine. Deep breaths.

The most painful thing for me was the lipo. And it has been downright painful. The rest of me is healing beautifully this time. And I had every single inch of incisions redone, including my belly button. Other than the lipo the only thing that really hurts is the tail end of the lift incision, because it is just in a tender spot ....out on the outside edge of my rib cage (where, I have heard, is one of the most painful places to get tattoo is...so.makes sense an incision would hurt there, too). And in was under for six hours and anesthesia is my friend during surgery, obviously, but not after.

What are they planning to do for your stage II?

OceanWarrior · January 2014

Drain Tip: I had a
lot of scarves left over from chemo days.
I used a really long one and wore it like a sarong across my hips. Over the binder, under my shirt. The excess fabric in the middle was used to
make a ‘pouch’ for the drains. No pins
or anything, I just wrapped it. It
worked great, was actually quite stylish and kept drains in place, out of the
way and safe from any pulling. If anyone
wants me to post a picture I can try and do that.

My thoughts on what to take to the hospital: Very little.
I didn’t end up doing any outfit changes or needing anything to
entertain me. Must haves for me were lip
balm, eyebrow pencil (I still don’t have my brows back yet) a loose,
comfortable, not too heavy robe and flip flops.
I liked those for my hallway walks.
Felt more secure on my feet than any slippers and also give you a chance
to show off your painted toes (if you do that, lol).

I had my 2 week follow up appt with my plastic surgeon on
New Years Eve. Everything going
well. Went for my first big walk outside
yesterday. Felt great. Still waiting for my foob to not be so tight
and heavy. PS says should be all ‘settled’
by now but I’m hoping you ladies are right and it will still do some more ‘relaxing’
as time goes on. It’s a bit too big for
my liking although I’m super happy with the shape and all that. Anyway, that’s where I’m at. I see him again in 2 months and we will talk
about the balancing lift to my right breast.
Is that what you all refer to as stage two or is stage two something
else?

All the best to everyone.

Morningsun1 · January 2014

Ridley, my fitbit keeps me moving...

Sharon1942 · January 2014

I posted pics of my shrunken nipple on the pic forum. Let me know what you think.

Anonymous · January 2014

Hmmm...I always say that my children's teachers and doctors are experts in education and medicine, respectively, but that I am the expert in MY CHILD. So my opinion, thoughts and experience count in any decisions that are made about them.

I think the same thing here. Our doctors are the experts in doing flap surgeries....but we are the experts in recovering from them and living with them! My opinion and thought is that two weeks is most definitely not long enough to know what your flap is going to look or feel like long-term.

So. Here is my story. I will back track a bit for those who are new. I was dx June, 2011. Had a year of treatment ( and have been NED for two years....which is, by far, the most important part of my story). Then took a year off to recover. Then had my uni flap and right breast lift in May, 2013. As my PS loves to remind me, I had a lot of tummy to give to my flap. I think they used it all!!! I swelled up to an enormous size as well. I remember waking up from sx and checking them out and loving them and showing them to my mother (that's funny, if you knew my mother lol) and the next time I woke up the swelling and bruising had set in and I never felt love for that thing again until now.

I don't want to be a fear monger.....a lot of what I experienced is likely due to the treatments I had for cancer and my body's reaction to them and who I "am", genetically speaking. Every one of us is different.

My noob (new boob) was too large, too far under my arm pit, had a large area of stretch marks from my baby belly, not the same color as my radiated skin, blistered underneath after surgery and didn't want to heal, had three large and very hard areas of fat necrosis and caused me pain (shoulder and chest) for the entire seven months. Nope.....didn't love it. I spent the seven months between surgeries looking forward to stage II.... a lot. I covered the left side of my chest with scarves, sweaters, etc, for 18 months when I was a uniboober. My prosthetic never matched the right side well. Or I went without it. I was so excited to stop wearing scarves. And then I had to do it again after my flap sx because I still didn't "match"....not even close.

I hit rock bottom a few times during that six months....mostly due to the pain it caused me....which wasn't terrible, just constant, but partly because of the aesthetics.

I just kept reminding myself, and you all have heard me say, that the whole point of stage I surgery is to move the tissue from belly to breast and to make it live. It wasn't about aesthetics. And in that light, the surgery was very successful, and I was and am grateful for that.

However, it does get old lugging a big ol' ugly belly/breast around. I just did my best to let myself quietly feel the disappointment and made myself look forward. I did have times when I let myself seriously consider the possibility of just having it removed, though. If the way it was after stage I was the best I could get I think I would have had to go that direction.

But stage I results are not stage II results. It is actually, right now, a bit smaller than my native (ps thinks native is swollen still). It faces forward, like a real boob should lol! She was able, in the reduction of the noob, to remove the area with bad stretch marks. She was able to take more radiated tissue out from the underside and left me more belly tissue to make up the bottom part of my flap, so the color match is good underneath. Almost all of my incisions are closed and looking beautiful. Last time they were red and angry and open in lots of places. The scar around my nipple on my native was red and sort of radiated out from the nipple in a starburst pattern but that side is looking almost normal this time. We think I reacted to the stitch she used last time, but not this time.

I am sitting here in a form fitting MSU Spartans t-shirt with no sweater or scarf and keep looking at myself in the mirror because it's been over two years since I "matched" side to side and it's just so darned exciting to finally be here.

And as soon as I get this drain out I won't have to cover anything up (except maybe my back side, if I don't quit eating like I'm up for execution).

So. If you are not loving your flap(s) take heart, sistas. Give it time. Give it a chance. For most of us it's a multi-stage process.

And through it all y'all have been right in my pockets.....or floating me on a raft in a sea of love and friendship and prayer. I am so sorry we all had to get cancer, or have a positive family history, in order to "meet", but I am so grateful for the friendships born of it.

God is good. Life is good. ( And, I do believe, Victoria's Secret gonna be good in a few more months lol!!!)

(Wordy girl just made up for lost time ) Thanks for listening.

Kat-ski · January 2014

Hi Ladies!! I have sent jmb5 a message on this. My surgery has a date!! Feb. 24 at PRMA in SA!! Finally. My daughter in SA is quite happier with the date being later in the month. Seems like Air Force is sending him on a two week tripTDY the first two weeks. One question for yall: Since the ACS doesn't have a hope lodge, they actually will try to put you up in a hotel for a few days free. Does anyone know how this works? I am probably jumping the gun but I like to get things all organized so I don't worry.(worry as my mother-in-law said that I was the best at worry!) Anyways, Let the show begin!!

Kat

Cherrie · January 2014

Bailey- I am so happy that everything is positive for you. Yay!! (Go Green)

Nihahi- You will do great with stage 2. My pain was from lipo and even that was very tolerable. You can go n vacation and do anything you want. Have a great time.

MartyJ · January 2014

bailey - beautiful post. So on target. This is a process that requires time and lots of patience!

nihahi · January 2014

bailey...{{{{{{{X}}}}}}} You've certainly been carrying quite a burden around...in every sense. I'm so, so happy for you that things have turned around for you so well. The lack of symmetry is both a physical and emotional issue, isn't it. For every whisper of support that you have gotten from others, you have returned in buckets full. Hope that drain comes out soon, and Victoria's Secret has one heck of sale going on, when you're ready for "her"!

Ocean....I'm thinking your PS maybe meant "all settled in" as far as the vascular connections go?? The settling and swelling issues of the flap itself take a whole lot longer than 2 weeks!!! At 6 months out, I still had some swelling, which has finally stabilized.

kat....I'm sorry...I have nothing to offer as far as advice. I thought you were staying WITH your daughter post surgery???

Thanks for the encouragement gals....just cannot shake the heebee jeebies this time around and I'm getting pretty ticked off at myself about it. I keep thinking it should be a piece of cake..no lipo....minor revision of one small hip dogear. The biggest plan is to reduce the flap a bit in weight, width, and do a bit of a lift. PS is going to do this by using both ends of the "football" scar, he said. Like you, Tammy, it is supposed to be somewhere around an hour surgery. I feel like quite the nutcase, getting hyper about this, compared to what some of you have done at stage 2.

goldie4040 · January 2014

Hey Sharon, I looked at your pic. First, he did an awesome job matching your boobs. Second, the laser is working on the scar. That being said, I can see that your natural nipple (which is very pretty, btw) might be a bit more pronounced than the one he made you, but not terrible by any means. If he could plump up your man made with a bit with filler, etc that would be great. I would ask him, if he wants to do another surgery, if it would mess up your tattoo. BTW, anybody that goes to Timtam's site to find Sharon, do search as shar42. At first I couldn't find it.

Anonymous · January 2014

Nihahi - our feelings defy logic at times, don't they? They are still feelings. I commiserate. It's hard when you are a thoughtful, logical person, such as you seem to be, yet you have worries that you can't stop. I am praying for peace for your heart and mind. Only a few more days and you will be at the point of just showing up. In your pocket.

Dyvgrl · January 2014

hi ladies. Where are you posting your pics? Curious what the flaps look like after Stage 1...

goldie4040 · January 2014

Nihani, it's okay to worry. If you didn't you wouldn't be normal. It's all good, and you will definitely be hiking in Arizona soon. No doubt!!!!!

Dvygirl, there is a website separate from this one for photos and you need to PM the women that runs it and ask for access. You can search her under the name of timtam.

Sharon1942 · January 2014

Thanks, Goldie, for the feedback.

MartyJ · January 2014

kat - I think that Hope Lodge and ACS make some distinctions between active cancer and reconstruction. Although we have a Hope Lodge where I live, they often can not accommodate the breast recon patients because they have so many requests from those with active cancer. I do understand that our recon is an extension of our cancer, but thankfully when we move to this stage we are no longer in the active treatment phase. You should check with PRMA as they will know what assistance may be available and they will have to certify with ACS if there is assistance that might be forthcoming.

MartyJ · January 2014

Nihahi - you should be fine in Arizona, especially if drains aren't part of this Stage 2. I have bounced back much quicker when I didn't have drains.

bdavis · January 2014

dvygirl... Timtam changed her name... its now nowheregirl. You can also PM lilah.

Morningsun1 · January 2014

Hi Sharon, saw your pics and left you a reply on the picture site.

Sharon1942 · January 2014

Thanks for the pic forum feedback. I could live with this, but getting them just right should be an easy, painless fix. I'll let you know what the PS says.

mammalou · January 2014

don't worry nahahi... Looking back, stage 2 was a breeze. Trust me, I don't say that about stage 1!!! I have no qualms about going back for more lipo. You will do great!

Jmb5... I would buy very little. Maybe a pair of Gillian o'mally pants from target at the most. You will be able to manage many different shirts. My hospital gave me one of those Velcro drain belts and it was all I needed. It worked great.

Baily,.,, you sound great and I'm so glad you are happy. The symmetry thing is no fun. I went a full year of teaching with a very perky size B-C tissue expander and and floppy size DD natural breast. Not fun and actually almost impossible to disguise. Sag and an iron tight TE just don't work together, after my stage 2, I am finally symmetrical and I love it. As I told you guys, I still stand with my arms folded in front of my class and think to myself how great this new foob feels.

Bdavis.. I agree that maybe some massage would help my tight scar tissue in tummy, but there is nothing like that in my town. I have been doing the LE massage that someone on here told us about. I do think it helps.

bdavis · January 2014

Mamma... I have to travel about 45 minutes to get the massage... but its only 20 minutes from work, so I plan to go right after work. It works out. So if self massage doesn't do it, try traveling for at least one session to get lymphatic drainage as well.

Anonymous · January 2014

Thanks, everybody, as always, you guys get it.

Mammalou - I spent a lot of days double sports bra'd or in a lymphedema compression bra (if you've never seen one, I assure you, they aren't pretty) to keep it supported and went to occupational therapy every week for months to deal with the pain.....and I am so thankful for my OT.....she kept me physically and mentally sane. Can you do the tummy massage yourself or can DH do it? I had scar tissue and adhesions from my mx and my OT did massage at first and then she taught my DH to do it. OT and docs were very impressed with his work lol! I

Zenful · January 2014

Bailey, so good to hear the pleasure in your "voice". It gives hope to those of us who have yet to go through Stage 2. Not looking forward to the lipo pain, though. Did they move your navel or just redo the scar? Mine, like others have commented, is a little higher than before.

mammalou · January 2014

so, I've had elevated liver enzymes for the last 3 tests, all 3 months apart. They are only mildly elevated. I haven't heard from MO yet, but he doesn't seem to worry much. My GYN told me I should check it out. I get it that a lot of things can influence the number but I just don't like abnormal numbers. Anyone else experience this?

Moviemaniac · January 2014

Found out today I have pneumonia........great.........

Bailey....loved, loved, LOVED your post........and am so very happy that YOU are happy!

I have a question for you lipo ladies......PS wants me in compression 24/7 until next appt.....(2.5 weeks) I have been in Mirena Stage 1 for 4 weeks.....the pneumonia coughing with the heavy duty compression is exhausting me......would I be crazy to switch to a spanx fornighttime wear only....to give myself a break? or should I call PS.......?????

Nihahi......hang in there, girlfriend......Stage 2 will be a piece of cake, if there is no lipo involved....I STILL hurt-4 weeks out!

XO

bdavis · January 2014

Movie... I would wear the compression for the 2.5 weeks. You get one shot at good results, smooth and flat. You can do it!!!!!

mammalou · January 2014

movie... I wore spanx the entire time per my PS.

Jeannie57 · January 2014

Bailey, I am so thrilled for you! It gives others hope. You have a great year in front of you with matching noobs and a kid going to college! And MSU won!

Mamalou, there are YouTube videos on manual lymph drainage massage if you can't get to a person. I'm sorry about the liver enzymes. I don't have any info for you but I would think your MO would be the one to know. My checkup is the 15th and I am already dreading just going to the cancer center.

Nihahi, you will be fine! Lipo causes so much of the pain and you're not having that. You will have a great vacation! Where in AZ are you going?

Oh, Movie, so sorry about the pneumonia. I had it right after I finished chemo this year--no fun. You will need to rest, rest, rest! I would sleep with spanx tonight and call the PS tomorrow. My PS didn't have me wearing it at night at four weeks, just FYI, but I didn't have anything done to my legs. You will be in my prayers.

DIEP 2013

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