DIEP 2014

brendarj, you will do wonderfully. I have my moments but then I realize this is just a blip and I choose to see my life as fun and fabulous and fighting the indignities tossed my way. 

Waiting a call for dr about skin peeled off by tape. Is this normal?

Dyvgrl, Goldie, MartyJ and BDavis thanks for the info on recovery time. I think I will go into this believing I will be superwoman with no complications and quick recovery (ha, I am knocking on wood as I type that!) No, really  I will definitely have a back-up plan for work, I think I can get someone else to assist me if needed, would have to share the pay, but better than no pay, right? I know I will have to be off, or close to off, pain meds to work, totally forgot about the drains, bathing, hair washing! Don't want to scare off the clients Better to have this done now and take care of my health first. Recovery will be whatever it will be, I'll try to be prepared for a longer one.

J1971, K79 and Teacher - you all sound like you are doing well with your recoveries, yay!

Teacher I love your attitude and sense of humor.

What is the best way to "hang up" the drains? I was offered a discount through insurance for mastectomy bras that have pockets hanging off them to hold drains, but I think I've read some people use pins, lanyards or belts to hold them?

For you new DIEPer's (and soon to be's)....."Sock Humor"........

Well I have decided if I am nervous on the big day I am going to think of- Wilbur, socks, power tools to shave with, drain balls ( I especially like that one) and pants falling down.. I am sure to be smiling. And knowing all of you have empowered me to be brave, that brings a tear of joy to my eye!

Teacher- I am so impressed on how you are doing!!

I'm having surgery on Thursday.  I messaged to the person it said to at the top of the board but it never got added.  I'm having BMX with DIEP flaps.  I'm getting more nervous by the day but I am so ready to get past the surgery.

Everyone's posts are so helpful.  Thank you guys!

aw, Wynne, Thanks for speaking up.  All will be well and we'll see you on the other side!

Wynne, we're with you! The anticipating is the worst. Just show up and let the docs and nurses take care of everything.

I'm almost two weeks out after left DIEP flap, trying to transition to Aleve from oxycodone but have lots of pain in the evening that Aleve can't fix. Anyone else have discomfort under the armpit? I don't know if it's from the sentinel node biopsy but it's so irritated it feels like there's an incision there. Baby powder helps a bit. It's actually more painful than the new swollen breast.

Comet  - I think the sentinel node biopsy is often painful from what I have read on the boards.   There will be internal incisions where the nodes are removed, and my surgeon explained that they often have to move the nerves out of the way, resulting in temporary numbness and some pain in your arm that seems far away from any incisions.  Have you called your surgeon to ask?  Hope you feel better soon.

Comet, the node biopsy left me with pain and a weird sensation under my arms like I was chaffed, and my skin was kind of burning.  I also tried topical stuff, but it's from the inside, not the outside, so nothing really helped but time, and healing.  Now, I can practically feel the razor when I shave.  Hang in there.  This two shall pass. 

I loved my drain belt.  I don't know if it will have enough loops for my diep. I am hoping all my drains are out before I need to go anywhere except the PS office for a follow up visit, and drain pull.

Nihani, no...I haven't written Kuka yet.  I will.  She is so busy during the week. She is full time now, and she has taken on a lot of new duties since they added another PS to the practice.  In the evening she is so busy with her kids, and I hate to bother her.  I will write her on Friday.  I talked to her through her whole recovery, and I don't remember her mentioning a binder.  I do know she had compression after her lipo, but that was stage 2.

I had all of my drains for a couple of weeks.  I found it easier to pin all 4 of them to a long ribbon.  That way I could change clothes, take shower, pull down pants, etc without pulling the drains.  As far as clothes are concerned, I wore a hospital gown the entire time I was there.  I wore large button down shirts and scrub pants or soft pull string pjs at home.  I had no bandages or binders. I did not worry about shaving anothing because I was still recovering from 6 months of chemo.  Actually, I was so used to being bald everywhere that I did not notice when it slowly started growning.

Lemon and Sunone - relax, you will do just fine.

Teacher and Katski - I am glad that you are both recovering nicely.

Rosebud - I also had major skin irritation between the boobs.  I starting using Aveeno cream.  The cream seemed to help a little.

Wynne- Good luck on Thursday. 

Wynne, sending positive, healing energy your way. We are here for you. Check in when you feel up to it and let us know how you are doing. 

hi folks,

I used this wallet/belt for my drains for all of my surgeries and it work find.

annajo....not a question anyone with a uni wants to ask of their surgeon....but truly, a very courageous and smart topic for you to discuss. Good for you to be as informed as you can be. It seems like everything else surrounding flap surgery, many different surgeons result in many different protocols. 

I'll be discussing fat grafting/lipo with my PS in early April. I have no idea at this point what his plan or protocol is....I'll post the details when I get them for me. There are, though, lots of 2013 gals who have gotten through the lipo/fat graft stage and I'm sure they'll be popping in to comment.