DIEP 2014

jb, it really is a wild ride, isn't it? I hope leftie does make it and you don't have to wait too long for rightie. You have wonderful support here. Rant, rave, whatever you need to express is A-OK.

Melissa, welcome home! I hope everything goes smoothly as you patiently recover.

Zenful, sorry about the cording. Hope you find just the right person. I didn't have it but my PT worked on that for others. She was supposed to be an LE specialist, too, but FAIL, she wasn't.

Beautiful day here! Sorry about the winter weather for some of you. 

jb -  glad to hear the good news about lefty hoping righty won't be far behind

So here I go again but I' m pretty sure that I live in a town where everyone should be checked at least once a year to make sure their brain and tongue are connected. Ran into an former workmate and after the hi how are you stuff was done told me her  husbands aunt had just been diagnosed with a tumor around her heart.  After telling her  how sorry I was for the lady and her family she then told how LUCKY I was that I ONLY had breast cancer.Took a minute to recover looked her straight in the eye and said I didn't feel very damned lucky and walked away. But  remembering all your supportive comments last week I did walk away with a smile

Jbdayton, yeah for leftie. They can make you a rightie that will match. Good to hear you are up in the chair. 

Zenful, my neighbor had cording. A few physical therapy sessions and she was good. No lymphedema. 

Tberg, I got my reminder too. It was a bit disheartening. 

Brendarj, good for you. I hope you told her to eat your dust as you walked away.

I am looking for some advice - I know no one can tell me what would be best (although if anyone has a crystal ball I would appreciate knowing) I met with the PS yesterday and she said I would be a good candidate for DIEP. This is my third go round with DCIS, I know I am fortunate to have had this found each time at this point, but after two lumpectomies (one on each breast 2 yrs apart, and radiation to one breast) and this time there are 2 areas of DCIS to the unradiated breast, after talking to the BS we had decided BMX and reconstruction because DCIS keeps making an appearance. After talking to the PS she said, although I am a candidate for DIEP, she will most likely only be able to get a small B cup size breasts if we are doing both sides. I told her fine, let's get this scheduled. But after sleeping on it, I am wondering if I should only have a uni at this time (which would allow keeping more the size I am now)  The previously radiated, lumpectomy side has not had another occurrence, is has been about 4.5 years since last one. The new occurrences have shown up just over 2 years since lumpectomy on the non-radiated side. I know that breast size should not be the focus, I do know that, but I am also hoping to have a, hopefully, as good as possible, appearance afterwards, am I crazy? I don't have large breast now, probably a full size C cup, and I am not young, mid 50's, so I don't know why I am even thinking about this. I really don't want to have to worry about this happening again, so BMX would take care of this, yes? (then again all the "news" about overtreatment keeps echoing in my head) Smaller breasts shouldn't really matter to me, right? Any one have any advice, words of wisdom? (sorry this is so long)

diz913 - I met with PS yesterday, I am 5'5" and 147 lbs. I think it depends how much of that weight is in in your stomach area. I was told I can have the surgery, but will have smaller breasts, most likely small B size, because there is not a lot of tummy to take.

Sunone, I'm going from D to B. In some cases size can matter, but I decided to be happy smaller since I'm short, 4' 10" and shrinking and 135. I chose BMX because of issue of worry of reoccurrence and I couldn't handle rads with heart issues. I have plenty of belly fat though PS said not to lose any weight. That was wonderful news to hear from a dr! Tuesday I go from expanders to my B's. It's a matter of what you want, not what anyone else says. It's about you and how you feel.

Tberg, there has to be a way to get off that list! That's terrible!

Brenda, stupid knows no limits sometimes. I wonder how she would feel if she were diagnosed with bc??

Sunone, jeep in mind that you can only do DIEP once. There is also the TRAM and LAT, though. And, hey! There are no "shoulds" here! It is perfectly ok to want boobs again, no matter the size or your age. It's ok to want replacements for what you have lost. You have a lot of living to do!

Dlz913, your PS is the best one to tell you how appropriate DIEP would be for you and what he can do. The first long surgery is to connect the blood vessels and place the flap/s--the goal is to get them to live. Everybody recovers at their own pace but you can't lift much for 6 weeks or so and some people have a hard time standing up straight for awhile. You will need rest. I started to feel better at three weeks but still needed lots of rest.The second surgery usually happens when you need some shaping or alignment and is much easier to recover from, in general. If you have lipo for that, you will need to wear compression for several weeks. Some people have more revisions if they need them. Sometimes you get nipples in stage II or III. I got mine in my dr.s office and needed no recovery for that. Stay tuned for more info from others!

Hello,

I just found out my diep flap will be scheduled for October.  I am so excited.  My PS is very conservative, and waits a year after radiation is complete, and then I am waiting a couple of additional months, as I will do better with my benefits from work.  I am wondering, how long are most people in the hospital after this type of surgery?  I had a bilateral mastectomy and was only there 3 days.  Thank you and nice meeting everyone here!

kat-ski...when I woke up from my DIEP in NOLA I was in a Veronique.  Went from under the bra to close to the knees.  I just came out of stage two and am wearing the same style....size 5x which makes me feel like I must be a large woman! Lol. BUT this is a bigger size compression, same weight as from stage 1, but this was all about lipo, so I think that has something to do with the larger size garment.  I am 5'11 200 lbs, size 16.

Here is a Veronique measuring chart, might help. http://showcase.designveronique.com/sites/default...

Are you sure it will be an additional month after drains are out?  I can't remember all the way back to October...lol...but, I think I had ordered another garment, and wound up sending it back because after the drains were out they told me I was good to go.  I DID buy a pair of "compression" underwear...off the rack, as I felt "swelly" and liked feeling "held together"...I wore these over my regular underwear so I wouldn't have to buy so many pairs, (sorta like wearing jeans twice?). Definitely go bigger.  I had a paired compression  that was too tight and I was miserable!

Wishing you the best.

Pat

lahela. NO mammogram on DIEP.  Only breast MRI.  Do not let her have her way.  Get your PS involved.  

Sunone - Nobody but you can decide what matters to you. And no, you're not crazy. ( Another answer would be that we're all crazy and there's nothing wrong with that). So I'm going to throw in my two cents. I think symmetry is really important, and would recommend having both breasts done.  I had both done because I had to, but would have been uncomfortable if I'd done just one.   And since you do have a history of cancer, why not just have the extra guarantee. A smaller cup size may be an adjustment but a good pushup bra can work wonders on a gal. 

Dlz913 - Like you, I'm 5'6" and went into surgery at about 150. I'd deliberately gained a bit of weight (fun!) and had a healthy belly. My cup size was a C, and I was told I might be a B, but it seems I'm still a C. The only downside of having a 'moderate' or 'slim' built is that they have to pull the belly super tight to close it up. It's good for the eventual flat stomach, but takes a bit longer to stand up straight. I was a bit hunchy for eight weeks. 

I only needed a Uni but have decided to get a prophy on my left because I have a high family risk although bit BRCA positive, have extremely dense breasts, and want to only use a tummy flap. In my case, I have a good chance of getting cancer on the other side and then what to do with recon? I only want to do this once and be done with it. I already look like Frankenbride so didn't want to have to attempt a flap later on and have scarring elsewhere and not be symmetrical. This option makes a lot more sense to me. Of course, I have plenty of fat to donate to the cause so I'm hoping for a D/C cup for both and a tight tummy!

A brief word on cup size - about 6 months after my DIEP I rushed to Nordstrom and purchased a "real" bra (had implants for 28 years and hadn't worn one).  They measured and provided me with a Wacoal in a 36C.  I bought 2 cuz i was so excited to finally have one.  No wires, but the band was never comfy.  They were apparently some form of minimizer - was that salesgirl crazy, I don't want to minimize the girls. I mostly wore nothing or my Bali stretchy trainers or my Coobie.   Several weeks ago I purchased another bra at an indy lingerie store - OnGossamer in a 34B.  It has light padding, is way more comfy, has underwires so I get a tiny bit of cleavage.  Okay, I am officially confused.  What size am I anyway.  Going to try another place.  Long story, short - size is what you make of it.  I was a 32DD until I was 33 (5'3", 118 lbs) and looked a bit top heavy (okay a whole lot).  

I think the biggest challenge everyone is having is the surgery curve.  10 years ago very few doctors had the training to preform DIEP.  Now it is "the" thing and more doctors are getting on board.  Over the past 5+ years, GAP and PAP flap surgeries have been perfected but most PS are not trained so don't offer them.  A woman without much tummy may have a lot on the backside, but it seems that it will take another 5 years or so before there are enough trained surgeons for these procedures.  The stacked flap is also a great option, especially for thin girls like Zenful.  The procedures are available, no one has to settle for being smaller because their PS doesn't do a particular procedure.  Research and look - you might be surprised what you can have!

DIEP Tuesday so when will I wear a bra again? Going braless has been an advantage of the expanders, but being myself again is beyond words.