DIEP 2014

AnnBR so sorry to hear of your node.  But what really jumps out at me from your post about it is that you are healing so well.  please give some thought to what YOU have done so far - how strong you are, and how healthy - you wouldn't be healing so well if you werent!

Thank you for the suggestion about using a fold up web type lawn chair int he shower - that is definitely ingenuity!  Our local StVdeP has a medical equipment closet of stuff they loan out but they didn't have any showerchairs.  Just days before I was leaving to go downstate, they called to let me know one was in!  So, I have a shower chair to use and was happy about that until earlier today going over post op stuff they told me no showering while drains in! UGh. i bet I will still use it, just not as soon as I thought I might.

Thank you so much ladies for the good wishes, the {{hugs}}, and sharing your stories.  You have all helped to keep me as calm and positive for this surgery that is MY CHOICE - but still scary.

i am to report to UofM at 5:30 - in just a few hours for my big day.  I guess I am supposed to say "Go blue", I will say 'just not the flaps blue".  Send positive thoughts for success?

THANKS!

Lemon, so glad you are this side. Stay on top of pain. I don't know about mesh. Good news about the nips. Extra skin removed next week? That will be good. I've had my extra since December but it will be gone this summer. Blessings.

The 1toC, sweet dreams today.

the1toC...I'm betting you'll get lots of use out of the proper shower chair, and imo, is far safer than a folding chair. Sending positive vibes that your surgery is going well and your healing will be quick and gentle.

lemon....great to hear from one of the cinco gals. Now is not the time to be "stoic"....keep taking the pain meds. They are much more effective if you don't let the pain build too much before taking the meds. You'll feel better soon I bet. Day 3 or 4 often is a real downer day after surgery. 

kat-ski...hope all goes well for your sister. Try to be less "judging" of the shape of your new breasts at this early stage. I do know that is so hard to do, but, things ARE still healing, resolving, and MEANT to be adjusted in the next stage. I think our "mental" image of what we wake up with after stage 1 is more emotional expectation than realistic concept. Even ladies who are happy with the initial result, are happ"IER" after their second surgery. Get as healthy as you can, both fitness wise and weight wise before your next procedure, and I bet, after that healing is done...you will have a much different outlook.

curly.....KIDNEY STENT....What the HE**????? Man, I must have missed something. Hoping things feel better extra soon....you have been through it girl!

Out running errands and got call from PS office. I've got stage 2 date!!! July 30.

Dyvgrl, closing a negative chapter is a huge positive. Take it easy today and enjoy your nap tomorrow.

Hello Dyvgrl....I see that you are having the DIEP and doing a prophy on your "good" breast.  I have to make the decision to either keep or take my non-affected breast and I'm still on the fence...I've talked to two ladies who decided to keep the breast but have yet to chat with someone who decided to have it removed.  I'd love to pick your brain when you are done with surgery and feel up to a discussion, I still have plenty of time to make a decision but would like to get input to help me get there.  

Best of luck to you on the surgery, here's to a pleasant hospital stay and a healthy recovery!  

Meg2

I did a prophy on my left side and have no regrets.  I kinda feel like I now have a new matched set:). I am 8 weeks post DIEP. 

I did a prophylactic on the right and am so pleased I did. Like many others, I have dense breasts, but in addition to that, my thinking was, what do you think they will do if they see anything slightly suspicious once you have had cancer?  Right, they will biopsy it to be on the safe side. Now I don't have to deal with that. Also, many of us have found something on the "good" side at the time of BMX. In my case, it was atypical lobular cells. Who knows what might have come of that, but I don't have to worry about it anymore!

I did bilat as well.  We actually found that I had DCIS on the "good" side before surgery, so that sealed the deal.  My reasons were similar to those mentioned.   Once I had all the facts I thought were relevant, my decision was clear for me and no regrets.  But like so many other decisions we have to make, including whether to reconstruct and how, this one is so personal.  I can remember reading a post on another thread where a woman could not consider DIEP after she saw the tummy scar.  For me, the scar wasn't even on my radar as an issue -- just goes to show how different we all are!

Best of luck with your decision.

Dyvgrl -- you got this -- good luck tomorrow!!

Healing energy to Goldie, Lemon GeorgieGirl and Varda, and to you, Dyvgirl!  ((Hugs)) to each of you!

Teacher...Yay!  I'm still waiting on my date for Stage 2.  PRMA told me last week that they're not even booking into June yet.  My PS told me it would be sometime this summer.  My son & his girlfriend are expecting a baby in Sept so I told them it had to be sometime in July or Aug.  I'm anxious to get the exact date.

Goldie, Lemon, Varda & Georgie...I hope you all are doing good.  I've been thinking of you all.

Dyrgrl...Good luck tomorrow & sweet dreams.

I had a prophy on my left too.  My surgeon told me that I had over a 40% chance of getting the big C in that breast because of my family history.  It was still a hard decision to make tho.  People don't understand how hard the decision is to have even 1 breast removed.  Many times I've heard people say "just take them off" but when it comes down to it it's still a hard decision to make especially when you have 1 healthy breast.

After surgery my radiated breast was larger than the un-radiated one.  I noticed in the mirror a couple of days ago that the radiated breast has shrunk & is now smaller.  Thank goodness that will be fixed in stage 2.  My PS had said that they would probably do the fat grafting from my thighs.  I'm hoping that he can take it from my love handles.

Thanks for the feedback ladies, I definitely feel better informed.  I am meeting with my MO in 2 weeks so will get her opinion as well.  My PS explained "you only get once chance with DIEP" so I have a lot of thinking to do. I'm dealing with the dense breast issue as well....my brain hurts over this choice.  

Sending good vibes to you all

Lemon, great to hear from you! Hope the pain resolves soon.

Goldie, Varda, Georgie - thinking of you.

Dyvgrl - in your pockets and sending all best wishes.

Meg2, like k79, my BS recommended BMX because of family history (all the women in my family had multifocal, most has bilateral BC). I don't regret it at all - they never would have got good symmetry otherwise, DIEP is a one time option and now I don't have to worry so much.

You ladies inspired me to get fitted for a bra yesterday! I had tried on sooooo many myself and was getting quite despondent about it, but the woman in the store was utterly fantastic and I ended up in tears of joy in the dressing room when we found one that fit well, was comfortable and didn't show the flat crop circles! I flashed hubby as soon as he walked in the door after work! LOL!

dyvgrl....best wishes for a good surgery today. You've climbed some emotional mountains to get to today.....hope you have a peaceful "sleep" and gentle healing.

missing cinco gals....hope all is well....you both should be getting lots of short, bent over walking in by now....looking forward to hearing how you are doing.

lahela....so good hearing about your "happy tears"....towanda!!!!