DIEP 2014

sunone....I had just the ends of my ab incision "tapered off" on each end, and "shaping" of my breast flap in my stage 2. My shaping was a slight reduction and lift. It was done at the same incisions along the bottom, side and top of my flap, kind of the outer 2/3 incisions. The "work" was done internally, then incisions were closed again. That's all I needed or wanted done, pre-nipple. Others may need/want more extensive changes, and their "shaping" may take different approaches.

jenjen....many of us who went into flap recon with current or prior shoulder issues found we had some "steps backwards" at first. Keep at the stretching and movement (within careful awareness of what your body is telling you), it can take more time than you want it too, but likely you'll be happy with your end result. Once you've had a "wonky joint" especially a shoulder, you can expect to forever need to keep it limber and mobile, or suffer setbacks. Be careful with that housework!!! 3 weeks is still in the "take it easier than usual" zone. 

bella....hoping you keep on track...sounds like you're doing well. Everybody has the belly button they started with....it's just the skin around it that's been "relocated", so it has to be "poked through" and resewn to the new surrounding skin. Your "button" isn't ever fully detached or removed. It just looks very different!

hello all,

I am here after extensive DCIS turned up in my right breast at my first ever screening mammo at 41.  Scheduled for a right uni mix with DIEP for 3/1.  I can't tell you how reassuring it is to read your stories and think this might not be as bad as I think.

Jmb, I hope you are wearing low rise jeans, otherwise they really pulled your pubic hair way up! Just kidding.  Your tummy skin is going to feel irritated for a while. I have heard quite a few of the gals say they found it hard to wear jeans for a while. 

Bella, glad you are going home. Rest and heal.  

I want Nihani's belly button and belly when I am done.

jmb- My incision is very high, about an inch below the belly button.   I noticed the same thing about the hair.  Although I have only been wearing loose yoga and pajama pants, no jeans yet.

jmb.....I had a lot of irritation and sensitivity in that area for the first few weeks, too. Everyone has that skin pulled "up" at time of initial closure to some extent, eventually, I found that area relaxed enough to not be an issue for me. I still find the skin/hair is more sensitive than before, but it's improving. I hope you find it resolves for you soon. You also likely still have more ab swelling than you realize.....I bet the belly button continues to migrate somewhat over time. 

Clothing such as underwear was almost intolerable for me at first. I resolved that issue with the off the rack compression garment I bought, as they had soft, very comfortable "boyshorts" as part of the garment design. Compression/support on the back and tummy areas, no compression on the pubic area, soft fabric, no seam in the "wrong places". That garment was my best friend for a number of weeks. 

Wear what's comfortable for you now, and if continues to bother you...talk to your PS about it. 

Bellamomma.....glad to hear you are out of hospital.....respect the reality that "life on the outside" often takes more unrecognized energy to get through the same activities. Keep hydrating, walking and resting as your body continues to heal. You are waaaaayyyyy early in the healing process....there will be a lot of "shape shifting" in your future.

annajo....these wonderful ladies will be a true source of strength  and companionship for you. You've come to a good place. 

marty!!!!! Hadn't "seen" you for awhile...hope all is well?

goldie....we're all shaped and made differently....I'm sure you'll end up happy with YOUR result.

hugs to all.

I completely agree. First I bought higher underwear because it felt better, then that started to irritate me so I went with lower. I tend to wear long camisoles, tucked into my pants, then I am not too irritated with the rubbing. For a while I thought I would be in stretchy pants forever, but It has been two months and I can wear most of my pre-surgery pants. They are not always comfortable but I can do it. The crazy things we didn't realize we would have to think about.

JMB - I think you are my DIEP twin.  My pubs are the same REAL high very close to the bottom of my incision which is only an inch lower than my belly button.  My DH said I so hope your bush isn't going to hang out...LOL!  Interestingly my pubs are not growing back at a normal rate...crazy slow with a few wild ones.  I would have figured at 4 weeks out they would be back.  The body is such an odd thing.

Thanks  for your post, Sunone. Sounds like you've gone through so much already. I feel pretty good about the decision to have this DIEP done at Beth Israel since the surgeon there has the most experience. I have to say that the Dana Farber is much more polished and fancy looking though. I am still worried about having just one side done. They gave me a clean bill of health for the right breast but I'm up nights worrying that I'll be diagnosed in a year with DCIS on the other side after going through all this. Wish they could freeze away this belly tissue for future use. Best of luck to you with your DIEP, hope all goes smoothly.

Okay, need some help. Using Senna, Miralax, Prune juice and no results since surgery on Tue. Starting to vomit. Next step suppository or enema? I'm in hotel. Lot's of food in, but nothing out. Thanks, Bella

Nihani, thanks for the info on stage 2

Comet08, good luck with your decision on where to have your surgery, and the surgery itself. Keep us informed on how you are doing.

I met with the BS this past week, she suggested bilateral mx, they have found 2 areas of DCIS this time, she said that if I want she can remove both those areas, but since I have already had one lumpectomy in that breast if she removes 2 more areas there may not be much left. Now I just have to find a plastic surgeon in the San Diego area that does Diep. I am in the Kasier system, I was told that Dr. Poh in the West Los Angeles Kaiser is very good at this surgery. Anyone else know of her or anyone in the Southern Cal. area that does Diep?

I'm reading all the information here and hoping you all are doing well with your surgeries and recoveries.

February 18... jazlaumir... BMX with immediate DIEP reconstruction - University of Michigan Hospital

Best wishes to you jazlaumir for a safe surgery and gentle healing.

tlbrady....There is a huge "pool" of info from the ladies here and on the 2013 thread, from women who have gotten through their surgeries. There is also a thread specific to NOLA, that would give you lots of support and info, specific to that location/surgeons, if you haven't already found it. 

There are some great rads veterans here, that may have some info/help for you.....likely they will chime in. Rads skin does have a different personality when it comes to surgeries and healing issues.

Everyone has different experiences, feels pain differently, reacts to meds differently and heals differently. Even for those of us who have personally gone through both types of surgeries, I think it can be misleading to advise you as to which one is "easier"....it's such an individual thing. But, given the surgeries and complications that you have already been through....you should have confidence that you will get through flap surgery well.

tlbrady -  I had a delayed DIEP (not the gap so I can't speak to that) and found it easier in the fact that I had full range of motion in my arms, unlike after the BMX.   There was never any breast pain and the tummy pain was manageable.    My recovery would have been much easier had I not developed anemia and a terrible virus that has kept me down for 5 weeks.  At 2 weeks I was doing really well.  As nihahi said, everyone is different.   I wish you all the best that everything goes well for you.

Jeannie, Thank you, called the doctor and used a dulcolax supp., things are moving. I think I'm going to try to do a little more walking today. 

Gwenny, Glad you got through Stage 2! 

Jazlaumir, Good luck on the 18th. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Drains, breast drainage decreased a lot, abdominal still producing though color changing to light pink. No bra or compression for breast, using binder for abdomin only when up. Yoga pants and soft man's T-shirt with a hoodie working well. Clogs easy for walking.

BetNY22, How are you doing?

Can't contribute to hairline. Still hairless after chemo. Maybe a little kiwi on my head.  :-)

GwennyMD, hope the nausea eases quickly. Everything else sounds great!

Bebop, hope you are turning the corner and feeling stronger.

My skin, which basically fell off after rads, has healed well (PS says) after fifteen months but the skin is red and has broken vessels that my PS zapped during my recent nipple procedure. He thought they might return. I  have a slightly itchy rash on my upper back on the rads side. Both sides healed well after DIEP and Stage2. Rads just keeps on giving.