DIEP 2013

Thanks for the input, nihahi, sbe, and goldie, I have made up my mind to start the injection when ps does the scar revision tomorrow.

blue and lahela, the essential oil blend I use is called Panaway from Young Living. The main ingredient that is suppose to help nerve regeneration is Helichrysum. It seemed to have worked for me.

Nihani, sorry about your cancelled appt. You look great.  Stage 2 is done?  Right?  I would be so happy to give it all a rest.

Tammy, hope the steroids shots work for you.  There are lasers that work on scars too.

Mammalou, glad you are home.  Rest and then rest some more...hehehehe. Good luck with the liver doc tomorrow.  I hope your enzymes return to normal soon.

SBE, do you think the DIEP surgery reversed your truncal lymphedema? I remember Damiana saying her arm was better after her DIEP. 

hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Had a few questions for you PRMA ladies out there. Has anyone had the sensory nerve reconstruction or lymph node transfer done there? I was checking their website out to send info on DIEP flap to a friend who just had a horrendous implant experience (FYI don't get recon done in AK!!) what has your experience been and who was your surgeon?? Are they blue cross shield preferred providers? I am scheduled to do a consult in Seattle but was wondering if this might not also be an option...

Nihani...lmaooo...I just watched that movie.  I am sorry.  I thought you had your nipple down.  Your boobs look so good I guess I thought I saw two nipples.  Well, the Red Cross will have to live without you for a day.  You are a volunteer, and a good one.  I a sure they will understand.  You Canadian girls get some great recons, but the waiting is crazy.

dvygirl, I would be nice of al those new surgical techniques work.  I don't know of anybody on these pages that has had one.  I have only watched the propaganda video's put out by the docs that do the surgery.  I don't mean that in an ugly way.  Just didn't know any other way to put it.  I guess "informational videos."   They have to take the nodes from somewhere else, so that could leave you open to lymphedema in your groin, or leg, and it still might not cure your original problem.  I have heard good things about PRMA.

Gotcha, it sounds you have a muscle spasm you can't walk off, like if it were in your foot, or calf.  OUch.  I assume you have tried rubbing it out?

Way too many posts to read and catch up.  WOW!

I have apt 2/12 with PS to schedule Stage 2, DIEP.  Hopefully my LAST surgery!! HOPE HOPE HOPE.  No nipples for me.  Going for the scar covering tattoos in a couple of years.

Wishing the best for everyone.

nihahi, so sorry to see you 'pending' full recovery.

Lahela, that all makes perfect sense now.  Of course, that is why you are spotting.  I bet it stops soon.

Dvygirl. that is very interesting.  Glad there is not more node removal involved in the process.

Shechirple, glad you stopped by. Hope your stage 2 is perfect!!!!!

Dyvgirl - the Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer procedure was initially developed in France by Dr. Corrine Becker. She traveled to the US to train several doctors (Massey, Kline/Craigie, Sullivan/DellaCroce).  My doc, Massey, has been doing them for at least 7 years and getting really amazing results providing considerable relief for people suffering from Lymphedema.  Perhaps if you check her website (drmarga.com) there is a lot of information about the procedure and potential complications.  There are many more doctors preforming this procedure in the US with way more positive outcomes than problems.

http://www.eonline.com/news/269770/e-s-giuliana-rancic-reveals-battle-with-breast-cancerSrh, Guiliana did.  Google her story.

Dvygirl, you would think there would be more.  I think there might be a few.  Scan the list of dates of surgeries.  Some put down where they are having their surgery.  Are you thinking of going there?  If you are going that far, you should come to Fort Worth (Baylor) to my surgeon. He also does surgery in Austin.  If you like I will PM you his website.

Dvygirl, Alaska to Houston?  The heat will kill you...lmaoooo.  But, if you are in Houston that is the place to go for follow up care, for sure.  People travel from all over the world to go there.  My son lived in Houston for about a year, and liked the area okay.  The cost of living is good, and housing is affordable. But, it's wring your shirt out humid 90 percent of the year.

Shechirple, of course you can say that here, along with lots of other bad words, if you like.  I am really sorry. You have been going through this a long time. Are you eating tons of protein to get yourself healed up?  I hope healing moves along a bit more quickly from here on out for you.

Dang it.  The top of the incision where the PS excised the big radiation scar is infected.  I'm not very surprised, though, that was the area where the burn was the most extensive and I knew the healing would take a long time.  It's not really bad, just inflamed and leaking a little pus.  I'm on Bactrim and that should clear it up.

SheChirple, nice to see you again!  I hope things get settled and you're at the finish line soon!

Sbe - ugh, sorry to hear about your infection. I can certainly relate.  ((((Hugs))))

SBE, you got this.  That Bactrim will clear it up.  Interesting, Bactrim seems to be my PS's antibiotic of choice too.  I wonder why?

Yeah, Tammy.  Good news.  Sounds like you are doing great.