DIEP 2014

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  • Sharon1942
    Sharon1942 Member Posts: 272
    edited March 2014

    Maybe after the DIEP they should issue us a medical card explaining the pants on the ground phenomenon. 

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  • Ridley
    Ridley Member Posts: 634
    edited March 2014

    teacher -  good luck tomorrow - you will be on the other side before you know it.  Have a nice sleep tonight and tomorrow:)

    Jeannine - I'm glad you have time to think about what kind of surgery you want to do on the other side instead of having to have made a decision so soon after your stage 1.

    Donna - that is awesome that you have one step left and you are done!  I might do a little fat grafting on one side to even things out (maybe then my pants will fall down!). I'm a bit nervous because the side that could use the grafting needed extra love and a few extra hours of surgery for stage 1, so I'm nervous to touch it for fear of disturbing something.  Will have to talk to my PS when I next see him.

    Gwenny - I am so with you re the snow. I just saw that we are supposed to get another inch or two this coming weekend.  I really really really want to put my winter boots away.

    Ridley

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  • Beebop
    Beebop Member Posts: 206
    edited March 2014

    Good luck tomorrow teacher!  You'll do great.  Rest well.

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  • Zenful
    Zenful Member Posts: 599
    edited March 2014

    Thinking of you tomorrow, teacher. Breathe, relax and let them do their magic. 

    So I finally read my operative report. For my Stage 2, my PS cut away the sides of my flaps and rotated them to the upper pole, leaving the blood supply in place. Amazing. I hope that means I won't lose the projection in the upper poles.  Time will tell. I have requested my before pics from my PS and will post them to the picture forum when I receive them. 

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  • lemon68
    lemon68 Member Posts: 684
    edited March 2014

    You will be in my thoughts tomorrow Teacher, good luck to you.

    So much great information, I am so grateful. I read something on one of the threads the other day about AIs and tamoxifen. Does this mean after DIEP its no longer recommended? My oncologist is going to push a AI on my this week when I see him and again I am going to say No Thank you Again. Can I now say it because I don't need it? How did I miss this??

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited March 2014

    Wilbur is waiting for you Teacher....rest well, check in when you feel up to it.

    lemon.....I'm not going to promote myself as a "hormonal expert", but I don't think there is a connection between having tummy flap recon and no longer being recommended for hormonal tx. Tummy fat is a known estrogen "deposit zone", I believe, and moving tummy fat to the breast area, doesn't change that fat "personality". Of course, your Onc is a better source of reliable info on that. 

    Ridley....I never had the falling pant syndrome either. 

    Donna.....you've done spectacularly....congrats on getting the all clear!

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  • Teacher64
    Teacher64 Member Posts: 840
    edited March 2014

    Anesthesiologist just called. It's real now. Yeah.  

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  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 1,068
    edited March 2014

    Teacher - Best wishes for tomorrow. You're going to feel so friggin' happy when you wake up and realize that all the waiting is over and the healing can begin. Enjoy your rest!

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  • brendarj
    brendarj Member Posts: 72
    edited March 2014

    Teacher - I hope you rest well and so glad that your long wait is finally over. I will be sending lots of good thoughts your way tomorrow


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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2014

    We're in your pockets, Teacher.....you don't have to be brave.....just show up!

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  • annajo
    annajo Member Posts: 84
    edited March 2014

    Best wishes Teacher!!

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  • Salina888
    Salina888 Member Posts: 96
    edited March 2014

    Zenful- I had 2 cords going down my left breast that also protruded when I lifted my arm above my head.  My PS said it Mondor's Disease, or Mondor's Cording (google for pictures) and usually goes away on it's own within a couple of months.  It usually happens after a traumatic surgery.  I was told to put a cotton in the area if it hurts, so my bra would not irritate it further.  Mine went away after about 5 weeks. 

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  • Kat-ski
    Kat-ski Member Posts: 212
    edited March 2014

    Teacher, I am in your pocket and saying prayers and sprinkling "love" potion too.  Wake up and feel the greatness of magic!!  Kat

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited March 2014

    Good luck tomorrow, Teacher.  You are going to do great.  You are prepared, and ready!!!  Prayers for a save and easy surgery.  Keep us posted when Wilbur let's you. 

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited March 2014

    Hey, Teacher, sleep well!  It will be over before you know it!

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  • Sunone
    Sunone Member Posts: 151
    edited March 2014

    Good luck tomorrow teacher, sending you good, positive thoughts! <3

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  • Zenful
    Zenful Member Posts: 599
    edited March 2014

    Thanks, Salina, for the information. I did find info about Mondor's when I googled cording. There were conflicting opinions on whether it resolved on its own without physical therapy, so I appreciate you sharing your experience with me. It sounds like I just need to be patient.  Although it looks like I need PT anyway for my shoulder limitation, it's good to know the cording will resolve on it's own. 

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  • lahela
    lahela Member Posts: 515
    edited March 2014

    I don't know what to do... saw the PS yesterday for my post-op check up and she agreed to a mammo in June! I really, really, really don't want mammos any more. For a start, my BC didn't even show on the mammo they did straight after the MRI, secondly I'm not supposed to have any breast tissue left anyway, but mostly I don't want to put my noobs at risk!!! I'm such a coward that I'm thinking about just forking out for a private oncologist and never going back to the hospital! I got the appointment letter today for the mammo and burst into tears at the thought. Help!

    Teacher, sweet dreams and all the best.

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2014

    Oh my gosh! I am about 10 pages behind on the board! Have I missed anything good? I just added six new ladies to the board. Hope everyone is doing well!

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited March 2014

    Lahela, I don't know the system in Switzerland, but here, if you refuse a procedure someone might try hard to talk you into it but ultimately it's your choice.  

    Did you specifically ask the PS why she wanted a mammo?

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited March 2014

    Hey teacher....can you see us all hanging around you???? Wilbur is the goofy looking one...the rest of us are holding your hand....sleep well.

    kat-ski.....you're sounding so "grounded" now....enjoy the southern weather....it's still winter where you're heading.

    lahela....I second sbe....it IS your body and your choice. They can't do a mammo on you if you don't show up to have it....! Different health care systems have different rules, but in the end...your body....your right to choose. 

    Emotions certainly get in the way of communication during medical conversations....were you able to convey your feelings and concerns to your PS?? If not, could you send a letter, explaining your position, and asking for the "why" of hers??? I know my "words" disappeared when my PS said "lipo under local" for a bit of fat grafting for me, due to past horror experiences under local with different doc. I'm going back to try to talk things out in a couple weeks with my PS....usually he and I converse easily, at that appt....not so much. 

    have good days ladies....hugs to all.

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited March 2014

    Lahela, I'm sorry for the upset you are going through. Sbel and Nihahi are right, it is your body and they need YOUR permission to do anything to it. No squishing of the noobs.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2014

    I am in the same boat, Lahela, my PS doesn't see any reason to do a mammogram on my cancer side first of all (because she says I have no breast tissue), but says if b.s. wants to do one it's not problem for the flap. :(

    My ps who was the microsurgeon who did my flap is no longer in the office. So the ps I am seeing (who was there for the flap and did my tummy work)  is doing my revisions and doing a great job so I'm fine with her (more than fine....I love her) and I don't need a microsurgeon anymore......but I do wonder what the microsurgeon's take on a mammogram of the flap would be. 

    Bottom line for me is that it's not happening. As far as I'm concerned I should be having breast MRIS anyway.....my cancer came on so fast and so aggressively that my feeling is it's critical we find it early if it does come back. But I will settle for ultrasound if I can't get a breast MRI ...or I'll pay for it myself. 

    Hugs, you will find your way. Stay strong.

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  • Moviemaniac
    Moviemaniac Member Posts: 949
    edited March 2014

    Safe surgery and gentle healing, Teacher....just who up, Wilbur will be there to escort you through surgery and beyond.......see you when you wake up on the other side......

    Lahela, I have a BS who is adamant about Mammos...I love her, but if I can't get her to budge, I'm leaving her...NO more mammos for me!

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  • lahela
    lahela Member Posts: 515
    edited March 2014

    Bailey, we're even in the same boat as far as the PS situation goes! I wish I could talk to my original microsurgeon, but she's gone to run the department in Berlin.

    Thanks for the encouragement, ladies. I'm decided. Tomorrow, I'm going to cancel the appointments and make one with a new ONC and I'll be firm. No more mammos. I have gone through too much for these noobs already and am not going to put them at risk.

    I have been feeling uncomfortable with the current ONC anyway because she actually laughed at me when I told her she couldn't do a mammo in July because I'm having nipples done in June! She said she would do it in June "if I insisted on it being before the nipples"! She clearly has zero concept about surgery recovery! Good riddance!

    You all are so awesome. I've gone from feeling tearful and helpless to feeling strong and able to take control in just a few short hours. Thank you, again, for helping me cross that line!

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited March 2014

    An onc who laughs at your concerns?  Adios...

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited March 2014

    Good grief, good riddance and good for you, Lahela!

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  • Sunone
    Sunone Member Posts: 151
    edited March 2014

    wow Lahela, I am so sorry she laughed at your concerns, that would be a big "goodbye" I haven't had my surgery yet, but I do not want to have mammos afterward. I have an appt with the BS tomorrow and am going to ask about that. I just assumed there would be no reason to have another mammo after surgery.

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited March 2014

    Lahela, I think I said it before, but "tfb." You do not have to have a mammo if you don't want one.  End of discussion.  Tell them you will happily have an MRI.  You are not refusing screening, but want a different kind.  I really hate doctors with a Holier than Thou attitude, and treat you like you feelings don't matter.  Believe it, or not.  Sometimes we are RIGHT!!!!!   Sorry, I am on a roll today, and I might have let it spill over a bit here...lol

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited March 2014

    This comes up every year on the DIEP thread. It seems most were told no breast tissue, no mammo, but there are occasional people told differently. 

    All my followups were with med onc since I did not have rads nor chemo/tamox and chose scorched-earth mammo for DCIS instead. Med onc was basically conversations and a manual breast exam. I was given the opportunity to see the BS if I needed but I had no reason to. Ultimately, the BS saw me one last time to close my file and hand off to my family dr. In that examination, she did a manual breast exam as well, and that is what she told the family physician to do. 

    In terms of the abuse to the flap that a mammo would cause, my PS is not all hung up about the flaps. I can do whatever I want with them past the 6 week point. The greater concern in my opinion is that mammograms are unnecessary radiation in relation to the probability of a breast tissue cell being left behind in there. There may be stray breast cells but there are no ducts. I have vastly less chance of breast cancer than anyone with breasts.

    Taking all that into account, I figure I will save my radiation dosage for things I may at least debatably need like the occasional chest X ray or dental exam!

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