DIEP 2014
Comments
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Etoile, glad you are home and planning a trip. Go for it!
Dim, glad you got the last drain out. Hope antibiotics and binder will take care of things.
Tibradyful, enjoy your long nap tomorrow.
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good luck tomorrow, tlbradyful. Sending positive healing vibes your way.
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On the home stretch! I saw my PS this morning and we did the walk-around. Here are the remaining steps:
- Lift and reduce the prophy side, centering the existing fipple
- lift, rotate and reduce the BC side
- add fipple to the BC side
- Revise the abdomen--it looks like some deep dehiscence of the tuck has taken place, and I'm a bit bulgy.
- Revise and reduce the radiation burn scar excision (with my favorite hyperbaric "hamster tube" treatments again!)
- TATTOO and GO!
June 4, which is our 37th wedding anniversary, we'll do steps 1-4. Later in the summer we'll do 5 and 6. I cannot believe that by the end of this year, God permitting, I will be on the other side of this BC speed bump.
The light's getting brighter at the end of that tunnel!
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Jmb- I am sorry you have to deal with this with them and thank you for the heads up as we both go to the same place. Horrible. I did not do my C treatment with them, I went locally and to the Siedman Cancer center in Mentor. I hit my deductible by the end of FEB so I had all my treatment for free, that was nice. This year not so, I just hadn't thought about the cost. Our health is so much more important. Make payments and see what happens. Like I said that's what I do. They have literally thousands of patients coming and going there, to pick on you.. please.. By the time they notice you might have it paid off. Best to you.
Tbradyful- have a nice nap tomorrow, good luck.
Teacher- Glad you got a good report, in fact it sounds like a great report!!
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Well I got released come home last Thurs. 2 hrs down the road I started running a high fever & ran it all afternoon. Dr. Pisano's nurse didn't want to call anything. Said she wanted to wait & see how I was on Fri. I was fine the rest of the way home Fri. Got home & into my recliner & within 2 hrs my high fever was back so to the ER my daughter & I went. I ended up spending the weekend in the hospital here in Tulsa with a cellulitis infection below my stomach incision. Saturday they decided to run a ct scan because I was so red & swollen all the way down into the pubic area. The ct scan made me nervous so I called & talked to the PRMA dr on call. She assured me that the hospital was doing everything they would be doing for me. After some really strong IV antibiotics they finally released me to come home yesterday with an oral antibiotic. The good news both of the tummy drains have really slowed down their output & what drainage there is no longer looks pussy.
Georgie...sorry so long for the reply. The only thing extra I bought was some non stick gauze pads to put over the drains. I was there for a total of 17 nights. We broke our drive up into 2 days both going & coming home. I think it would be way too tiring to make the drive home in 1 day. Just be sure you have a pillow to put between you & the seat belt.
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sbelizabeth, happy anniversary! What a way to spend it!
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Hello everyone! I've posted on this thread quite some time ago when I was scheduled for a DIEP last year. Unfortunately my PS was involved in a horrific accident a few months before surgery and my DIEP had to be delayed. He has now made a full recovery and surgery is set for April 30. All my pre-op testing was done today and everything is good to go. I am so excited to begin this next step in my journey and I want to thank each one of you for sharing your experience. I'll be posting more the closer it gets to my surgical date.
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sbe......GREAT NEWS!!!! You WILL be done this year and you will be AWESOME!!!!!
teacher...so glad for you re: cardio report too!
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Bdavis, tats...yeah. I'm looking forward to being a tattooed nana. Be calm today, KooKoo. Tomorrow will be a good rest day. Sunone, take it easy til Friday. So glad this is such a busy week because it means positive forward motion for so many.
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k79Miller... I can't believe that happened to you. So sorry! I was at PRMA yesterday and had 3 of my drains pulled. I keep thinking that since tomorrow I will be 2 weeks post surgery that no complications can hit me now! I also keep thinking I should be well, healed and back to normal but that isn't happening either. I'm not a very patient person. Hope you are doing better now.
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Yeah, SBE!!!!! Time to wind things up!!! It's been an incredible journey, and you did it with such grace, bravery, dignity, etc. Thank you for all the great advice and compassion you show us all.
Ann, that would probably be Dr Michael Saint Cyr? He just recently did somebody else's diep on here. Can't remember who. Well, welcome back, and good luck with your surgery. I am having mine a few days later. You can join my "whine' club. Or, even better, my "I am doing awesome" club. I sure we will all be doing both.
K79miller, I am so sorry that happened to you. I hope you are completely well soon. I hate that cellulitis. It has gotten a few of these wonderful ladies. But, take heart, they are all okay now.
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Wynne50, I understand the idea of feeling normal. It wasn't until the end of week 2 that the fog lifted for me and I wasn't even on pain meds then. The anesthesia side effects were brutal. Today, one day into week 4 I went shopping and walking in the sunshine. My mind tells me to do, do, do and my body says no, no, no. Walking, some arm exercises and a few household chores are it. I start off strong around 6:30 and by 7 pm, my back and belly are protesting every movement. My dr stays six weeks is the magic time. Sure hope he's right. Oh, I did buy a pretty floral Easter dress. Even with the binder, I loved my new shape.
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Yes, goldie, it is Dr. Saint-Cyr and he is awesome. I was told by another surgeon that I don't have a lot of belly fat and would end up a B cup, but SC said no problem, he can put me back to my original size of a C. I really just want symmetry and as natural a look as possible. I've lived with TE's for almost a year and I cannot wait for them to come out. I am looking forward to sharing our experiences.
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Ann, that is great news. I hope you get everything you want out of your surgery. I have implants in. I figured I would give them a try, but I can't stand them. How have you managed all this time with expanders? I know some people have no issues with either. I have been miserable with both. Can't wait for my diep.
I have intentionallhy put on about 10 pounds. It's been fun and disconcerting. I know if I lose the weight after surgery my boobs will probably shrink too, but I wanted to make the surgery easier for my doc and me.
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went for my pre-op today for stage 2. She will just do an origami nipple & a small amt of lipo on the outside of the reconstructed breast. She will only take out about 25 cc. It is not bad at all, but maybe slightly larger on that side. I figured I am going to be there anyway for the nipple, so I may as well have her make it as perfect as she can. Nothing is needed anywhere else. Also, I have an appt with the laser dr. for a consultation. I want him to remove the red spider veins caused by radiation damage and also the radiation tattoos. It involves 2 different processes, and they will get my insurance co. to pre-certify it. Hopefully they will, because I have heard that laser is expensive and involves multiple treatments. They said I could do tattoos 1 mos after nipple reconstruction, but I am going to wait. I am going to vinnie in MD and he recommends waiting 5 mos for the best results. I feel since this is his expertise, I am going to listen to him & schedule it for the fall. I'd rather wait and have it look the best that it can.
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My TEs are just under the skin, not the muscle, so it's not been too bad. One has a weird fold in it and if I lay on my side it is very uncomfortable. The other side is rock hard. I'd like to lose 10-15 lbs. between stage 1and 2 and if so, some may be lost in the breast. SC said he can reshape and add during stage 2 and will keep tweaking as needed.
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Ann...glad you finally got your surgery. Now just sit back & relax. If that's possible. LOL
Wynne...My daughter pulled my 3rd drain today so I'm finally down to 1. I figured that I would have the drains for a while. It took a while for them all to come out when I had my BMX. I'm so glad you're down to 1 too. At the rate you're going you may beat me at being drain free. I can relate to not being patient. I feel pretty good too & I know that it would be easy to over-do so I'm doing my best to make myself take it slow. I got out & walked around the block today & just enjoyed the gorgeous weather.
goldie...thank you so much! I do feel much better. The drains aren't hurting nearly as bad now that the infection is clearing up. 3 wks out & I still have 1 drain but hopefully it won't be much longer & I can loose it too.
KooKoo...good luck tomorrow! We're all in your back pocket.
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I just wanted to update everyone. I am so happy that I had enlisted a back up diep surgeon here in GR.(he does all of his surgeries solo and went to PRMA for first stage b/c they had two micro-surgeons so I accomplished my goal). I have had my abdominal incision weeping so bandaging that. The right breast(not the flap itself) which had radiation has opened at the fold and have been doing wet/dry bandages on it. The PS here told me that I will loose some of that breast area due to fat nerosis but it is fixable. Since I can't afford to go back to PRMA, I will have to trust him. He has done about 8 bi-laterals here and have done dieps in CA. He has requested a visiting nurse as of last Friday to help me but I have not heard from them. I just hate doing these dressings!! I think this "Humpty Dumpty" would rather be Rip Van Winkle and sleep through this process. No one told me that all of this wound care could happen. On top of all of this, I lost my seven year old kitty. She died last night. I made a special fabric box for her and (I did not see her) and my husband buried her under the butterfly bushes. I just wish all of this crappy "drama" would go away. When will I get my life back!! Very sad for my Katie. Disgusted with my body!
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Ann, my Diep is 4/22 at Mayo in Rochester so we will just miss each other. The other woman who had Dr. St. Cyr was BellaMomma. I think she was happy with his work.
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Kat - Ski - So sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved Katie. Our pets give us unconditional love and ask for nothing in return. You will get your life back, maybe not the same as before but a new happy, healthy normal. Sending you hugs and good thoughts that today is a better day.
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AnnBR
I had DIEP with Dr St-Cyr on March 18th. He is awesome! I could not have been more pleased! I met with my local oncologist yesterday and he was blown away with my reconstruction. He asked me to explain what Dr St-Cyr did and he told me he had never seen anything like it. He couldn't believe how few incisions were made and how well everything looked 3 weeks post op! You are in the best possible hands! I am so glad I found him! PM me with any questions! I had bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (DIEP - both). Only 3 days in hospital and no stomach drains!
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Kat...I'm so sorry that you're going thru all of this. It is so hard to lose a pet. It's like losing a family member. I hope the wound care is going ok. Keep your head up. It will get better. Just remember that there is a bright side to everything.
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Hi All
Had my stage 2 in NOLA with Dr Sullivan yesterday. Up and walking
Around, eating and off the pain meds
Just visited with Terry KooKoo who had Stage 1 yesterday and she looks great!
Stopped by and saw Terry tlbradyful. She looks amazing. They are both sitting up their recliner. Go girls
I am about to be sprung and will stay in NOLA until Sunday before flying home to VT. LOVE DK
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Hi there ladies,
I am so glad to have stumbled upon this forum!! Reading some of the posts with all the invaluable info and experience has certainly been very soothing on my anxious/emotional self. I am currently undergoing the last few sessions of chemo before the big surgery (BMX) in about two months. As the days are flying by and time is getting closer I have to admit that I am getting rather nervous thinking about the long surgery which my tentative PS said would be 8-9hrs ( I am still in the process of 'interviewing' Surgeons and PSs - on that sidenote has anybody had Dr. Hani Sbitany from UCSF as their PS...I would love to hear your outcomes and reviews!!). I will need radiation post surgery. I was wondering whether anyone of you received radiation post BMX/recon? How did it affect the recon breasts. I was told that I do not have enough tissue to form two breasts and thus Dr. Sbitany suggested a DIEP on the BC affected breast and an implant on the other side. After reading several nightmare scenarios about implants I think I would prefer a DIEP on both sides. I am not sure how that is possible since 'I don't have enough tissue' apparently. Any experience and input would be greatly appreciated.
All the best to all of you ladies on your journey through this!
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I only got one reconstructed breast out of my DIEP. It wasn't really a tissue amount issue but I did not have good enough veins for two flaps. My PS is letting my reconstructed radiated breast and tummy incisions heal and then we will do another flap using tissue from my buttocks. There are other areas to get flaps (hips, under buttocks, thighs) but you may have to search for a surgeon who will do those.
Good luck. Look at the NOLA (www.breastcenter.com) or PRMA (www.prma-enhance.com) sites for details of other flaps available.
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Kat-ski, So sorry to hear of your Katie's passing. That is never easy, only time will heal that wound.
Sorry your also having to deal with a different type of wound, I hope that gets easier for you and the nurse comes to do it for you or at least contacts you quickly. No, they sure don't tell us this stuff but because of people like you we are all better informed on the what ifs that can happen.
((HUGS)) to you, hope you are on the up side of feeling better soon.
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Sunone, have a soothing nap tomorrow. Tell Wilbur to stand by with you.
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Kat-ski - I hope the home care nurse contacts you quickly. I had them coming for many weeks due to some stitches that wouldn't dissolve, and had to be removed. Created some wound care issues. I liked home care, as I felt that I had someone else looking at the wounds, who would know whether there was something that was not moving in the right direction. I got pretty good at the actual bandaging though, and liked the freedom of doing it myself because then I didn't have to schedule my day around a nursing visit. While I didn't like the look of the wounds at first, I eventually found it kind of fascinating that my body could heal these wounds, including a sizable hole in my abdo incision. My med team told me to increase my protein intake to help with the healing,
Patience grasshopper, as some would say!
And sorry about your cat.
Sun one - best of luck tomorrow.
Ridley
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Sunone...Good luck tomorrow!
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Sunone in your pocket for tomorrow.
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