DIEP 2014

Curlylocks, so good to hear from you. I'm so glad you are done with chemo and I hope your symptomlessness re: your kidneys continues. I have often thought of you and said a prayer. No wonder you are tired! You didn't really get a chance to recover completely after your DIEP experience when the new assault happened. I hope you have turned a corner and can start to just rest and recover. No radiation since you already had it, right?

Dyvgrl, you are sleeping now while the magic happens. You are well on your way to putting cancer behind you but you'll need to be patient and gentle with yourself first. Remember, healing from DIEP is a marathon, not a sprint.

Yay, Teacher, for getting a date!

Naiviv, good to hear your excitement and that time is flying by. 

Praying for you, AnnBR!  I can only imagine how you're feeling right now, and I hope the change of scenary this weekend helps. 

I don't see my breast surgeon again until Tuesday, and I guess I'll get the results of my MRI.  But, now I've gotten myself all upset about some shoulder pain that I've been experiencing in my right shoulder blade.  My mind keeps focusing on the negative and that it's possibly mets to the shoulder.  Why am I thinking this?  Jeeze....I'm so ready to have this surgery and starting healing and get back to normal.  What an emotional rollercoaster I'm on....

One love,

tp4ever

I had my "good side" taken after other side removed nearly 15 months ago. 9 weeks out. No regrets. I didn't want to worry for the next 50 years. After review with my MO- no more tamoxifen, mammograms, or MRI. 

Ann BR- sending you all good thoughts, peace, and strength while you wait for results. Best wishes to you. 

Hi All,

I am going to be  brief....lol.  I know,  I know, does she even know how to be brief?  4 very miserable days, but I am home.  The tummy part is the worst for me.  I think the PS was surprised at how tight he had to pull me. he as much said so.  He came in the next morning after surgery and redid the dressing on tummy himself to have a good look at it.  He also over estimated how big he could make my breasts, but I am not going to get to upset till I have a good look at them. Right now I have to baby this tummy.  The incision area burns like fire right now, but it is time for a pain pill.  Had my sleepy bladder issue again after anesthesia, but it resolved fairly quickly. 

I don't know which drug, or what combination of drugs did it, but I was hallucinating at one point.  It was very strange.  My room had fake wood floors and the fake wood grain started to move around like thousands of worms, then a kitten ran out from under the bed playing with a little toy.  I guess Wilbur was definitely with me!!!!!!

I took my first shower just now, and I am ready for a nap.  I hope all is well with everybody else.

Hi Ladies - 

I am brand--new to this discussion board. I have already undergone lumpectomy, re-excision, and radiation on right breast last summer and fall for IDC and Mixed Lobular. At my annual diagnostic - they detected hyperplasia in my left breast with the beginnings of Lobular.

So I have decided with my BS to opt for BMX with DIEP.

I met with PS on Tuesday - and I am now scheduled for the procedure on June 17, 2014. 

I am single, 52 yrs old - and live alone. I do have a great support system, but I have used up a lot of support in the last year. It sucks.

I also self-employed and trying wind-down in 6 weeks will be very stressful.

I am scared, but positive of my decision.

Lisa

Hello ladies. I haven't posted in a while. My recovery from chemo (TCH Sept. 2012-Sept. 2013) is finally rolling along nicely! The radiation (March-April 2013) left my little girl pretty tough and unsightly, and the revision surgery (Oct. 2013) was not successful - I look and feel worse now than before. I just met with a new surgeon who specializes in breast recon, which the first one didn't. The first had said I was not a candidate for DIEP but this one says heck yeah.

I am afraid to hope. On the one hand I know not to hope for perfection, on the other hand I wonder how much better could it be? This new doc says she can do "much better," but I can't go on trust alone anymore. The first ps really let me down. Two things: One, he removed part of my areola and nipple to paste onto the implant side, without ever discussing that possibility with me; two, he said, honest to Pete, "I guarantee you will love the result." Phooey! How can a ps say something like that? I believed him. So now I have a very lumpy sister with a rag-doll-looking nipple, I feel terribly pessimistic.

Can someone give me some pros and cons from this type of recon surgery? For example, do you still have tight, sensitive skin?

Thanks ladies.

Msw, it always hard to change docs.  I did.  I left my first PS who botched up my original surgery with implants  I just had my diep this past Monday, and I can't really speak to how I feel about the outcome yet.  I can say "ouch" on the tummy part of the surgery. 

Okay guys, I have a couple of questions. First, where your new foobs itchy all the time?  The pain in my tummy incision is a burning sensation, normal?  I went home with one drain on the abdominal incision, and the output is almost nil.  I am finding it weird that I have hardly any output.  My appetite is nil, which I expected, so when I do eat something I am making sure it was something worthwhile.  I backed off the pain meds, wrong move!!!  Back on them again. 

Any word on Georgie?  I heard from Lemon. But, nothing from Georgie that I know of.

Goldie, it's good to hear from you. I didn't have that kind of pain with mine. I know we are all different, but that combined with the lack of drain output might be worth a call to your PS. Mine was uncomfortable, but not painful. Do you know if maybe they involved the abdominal muscles in some way, or is it the incision itself that is painful?

Goldie, hope your recovery is safe and uneventful! I know you know to be patient with yourself and not to overdo. Your date has finally come and gone! Control the pain and be proactive against constipation!

Welcome Lisa;

You've come to the right place for support. I too am single , and am three weeks out from phase 1. It has been a miracle the way that friends, new and old, have made themselves available for support. You can definitely do this. 

Goldie, it is so good to hear from you. You know from my complaining on the 2013 thread that it took me 12 weeks before I was anywhere near upright. Some of us are just pulled tighter than others so we just need to be patient. Let your DH wait on you hand and foot 

GeorgieGirl, hope you're doing well!

Ann, thinking of you.

Lisa and MsW, wishing you both all the best.

Good morning, flappers!

Rose - some of the women here have seen a share of scheduling issues, yours seem to be at the extreme end of it. So sorry. That must be so frustrating. And I am sure it only adds to the apprehension. The unknown always produces apprehension, your feelings are understandable and I think what most of us would be feeling. 

Did they explain what the issue is? If you work can you tell them you need a solid date for planning purpose with your employer? Just a thought.

Hugs, honey, it WILL get scheduled and it sounds like it will be fairly soon.

rose111 - It's sort of normal.  At one point, while I was waiting for a date, they said they'd had a cancellation and could I come  in eight days. I said no. Then I waited for a new date, which would have been three months later, but then they called to say that they were moving it up three weeks ahead of time. 

I agree with Bailey. You might feel better if you tell them how important it is to have a solid date. And then find out why they keep moving things around. Ask a few questions - it will ease your apprehension if you have some facts and are aware of the process. 

I was told that scheduling is very tight. Your two surgeons, and an OR for 8-12 hours. I was told right of the bat that my dates would never be 100% solid - because emergencies do arise. There was no extreme urgency to my surgery  - because I'd gone through chemo, surgery, rads, and I had a larger window of time. Easy for them to say - it was my life that was being put on hold.

I feel for you - the anticipation of surgery and recovery is very frustrating.  My advise would be to pick up the phone on Monday, and check in with your PS. Be a squeaky (& informed) wheel.