lemon, I have a spot on my crop circle that looks, sort of, like what you have.  It's like the skin folded over on each side of the incision and the folded edges healed together.  It's about 3/4 of an inch long.  My ps said its kind of weird but she can easily fix it in the office, she just cuts it open again and puts a couple of stitches in.  Hopefully that's all that's going on with you!

Hi, I am new here and it feels so good to hear from people who are going thru this. My friends and family are great at listening and giving me advice, but they really don't understand what I am going thru. I had a double masectomy last May. I have the crappy expanders in and am just now trying to figure out what kind of reconsruction I should have. I just want someone to tell me what to do, but I know it doesn't work that way.  I am scheduled for the Deip flap January at Mayo. I was scheduled for August, then changed my mind and was just going for implants, but then changed my mind again, and now can't get in until January. I am still so uncertain as to what I want to do. I have gone for a second opinion, and that PS told me my skin was so thin and I would be at a high risk for infection, and that I am a good candidate for the Deip flap. The surgeon at Mayo told me the same thing. My biggest concern is, I am not a very big person, and I don't have much of a belly. She did tell me she could possible get me to a B.  The thought of this kind of surgery really scares me. I am so tired of surgeries and doctors and everything else that goes along with this damn disease.  My radiologist did say, if the implants didn't work, I could still have the surgery. But that is then another surgery. I would rather do it right the first time. So how hard was it for you all to come to the decision to have this done? and also, where any of you concerned that you didn't have enough belly fat to do this?

Hey JMB & Lemon... more Ohio hugs coming your way, this time from Cincinnati!! Praying hard that the results show no cancer and that Lemon's divot settles down.  

AnnieB... my surgery is not until Aug 1, but my PS had the same concerns regarding having enough belly fat.  I am a B now, and he is fairly certain he can get my back to B again.  He said if the size is too small, they can always put a small implant in below, but won't have to deal with the tissue expanders, etc.  I am hoping that it won't come to that, but it's nice to know I have a fall back plan if I decide I am an not happy with the results.  I think I will be happy with the perkiness and a slightly smaller size won't matter as much, but hard to say how I will feel.   Good Luck!!

Three weeks until surgery... feeling good and ready!!

Hi ladies,

I have been so busy, which I guess is good, but I have so much catching up to do here.  Hello to all the new ladies.  Welcome.  You have come to the right place for advice and friendship during your diep journey.

I am still doing the wet to dry packing on my tummy wound.  I am trying not to let it hold me back from too much, except swimming, of course.  I am doing more things around the house everyday. The discomfort (pain) across my chest has not improved which is more than discouraging. 

My niece, Lily is doing better. She has a surgery a week, and the skin graft on her leg took, which was a big deal!!!  So, we are feeling very optimistic.

Annieb4 - Deciding on having the DIEP was very very difficult for me. You certainly aren't alone with your concerns or your uncertianties because it's a lot of information to process and a lot of unknowns. Firstly, I'm the biggest chicken in the world when it comes to surgery. I can barely stand the sight of a needle and I had a panic attack en route to my first lumpectomy.     But by the time I had my DIEP I was really well prepared, and even eager to get it done and put it behind me. One lady on another thread wrote in that she was 'so excited that she nearly jumped up on the table'. 

But the decision making process was a huge challenge. I was given the choice between surgery, and a lot of radiation. I trusted all my doctors, but they all had their own opnions. The hospital assigned me a psychiatrist to help me get my stress level down so I could think more clearly. The psychiatrist by the way, wasn't any more helpful than my close friends( and a lot less fun), but she did take me through a pro/con list making session that was kind of useful. I came to the conclusion that the things that were important to me are symmetry, and using my own flesh rather than having any foreign objects in my body. In fact, I think I knew that I wanted the DIEP right from the beginning, but fear got in the way. 

I'm not a very courageous person, but I'm  pretty good at arranging my tools. So knowing that I was going into a long surgery I down loaded Guided Meditations, did yoga, Reiki, and became a zen, yet powerful, warrior. I over prepared for my convalescence, but it made me feel like I was in control. 

Looking back (to last summer) everything went very well. My PS said it was 'unremarkable' and my partner Jim said those were the sweetest words he'd ever heard. Beforehand, I was told that they may not be able to give me my C cup because I didn't have a lot in my belly to make two breasts. I was content just to be able to wear an open blouse and have the hint of a cleavage and some kind of breast mound - I wasn't concerned about the size. But at the moment (I'm looking at them right now) I'm pretty sure they're the same size I've always had. And they look great! My bras fit almost the same and they sure feel like they belong on my body. 

Sometimes when you write out your questions, you end up saying what you really want. I noticed that you said you want to 'do it right the first time'.  I think that says a lot.  Keep digging around in your brain for questions and concerns and get them out there. The good news is that your surgeons think you're a good candidate for DIEP - so at least you know you have the option. Talking to people here is extremely helpful - we can empathize with the mental minefields that we all have to deal with. 

Great news Andrea!

Welcome to the group  Shine. Hugs back at you. 3 weeks will come quick and you will be on the other side

Thanks all of you for the well wishes. My PS called on Friday, the seronoma (sp?) is on the chest wall so we are going to leave it alone for now, it has nothing to do with the divot. He thinks the divot is caused by scar tissue. Annajo wonder if that is the same for you? He said my skin was so thin after they scrapped it to remove the breast tissue. I feel lucky I guess as it could be a lot worse and the good news is he can fix it. He was willing to do so now and left it up to me, I am going to wait for Stage 2. I see him again on 7/25 and we are going to discuss Stage 2!! He said he is willing to do whatever I want to be happy, he is such a doll. I am not unhappy at all just got scared. We have all been though so much it just got to me. Unfortunately due to the swelling he wants me to wait till Sept. for Stage 2. I also have to go to a work event in Chicago for 2 weeks in August. Dang I was hoping to show off my new bod! Now I will be concealing

Goldie I am glad to hear Lily is doing better. I am sorry you sound a bit down, I GET IT. Seems like our Cinco de Mayo was so long ago...but the end result is going to be worth it all we will get there.

Annie, welcome to you also.

Lemon, so glad your divot wasn't anything serious.  I had a feeling all was okay!!!  Yeah.  I am glad your surgeon is helping you feel excited about proceeding with stage 2.  

Andrea, yes...I did have implants before my diep.  I felt I had to give them a try for many reasons.  Lack of body fat, the fact that the expander's were placed at the time of my bmx,  etc.  So many reasons.  I really wanted them to work.  And, I gave it my best try.  In the end I had extreme tightness, the BS had taken way too much of the fat under the skin, and the implants were never going to behave correctly.  My pecs also did not seem at all happy with the implants underneath them.  I am almost 9 weeks out from diep and although I would love to say I feel so much better,  I can't.  I still have a lot of discomfort across my chest, a little worse than before diep, but I am still healing.  My breasts are a work in progress, and I am hoping by stage 2 to be much happier with them.  Ask you surgeon a lot of questions.  Make sure you are both on the same page.  I thought my surgeon and I were, but it turns out, maybe not, but I think we are now.  There are quite a few women on this board who had their implants replaced with diep and are very happy.  Try to find MartyJ, Jeannie, Nihahi.  Other's will come to me.  Are you unhappy with your implants?  Are they causing you pain, or discomfort. Did you have rads with them in?  And, yes...your insurance should pay for both breasts to be done.  Congrats on your date being set.  It will be here before you know it.  

has anyone felt a pain at 11 o'clock to belly button?   It feels like a bruise or aching muscle.  It is almost a constant pain.  Wasn't there last week.   Worried that I overdid or pulled something.  I'm thinking a hernia would be super painful. 

Cording issue has reared it's ugly head so I had to go to church with my hair pulled back. I just couldn't hold the dryer to make it look decent. I had so hoped that I'd worked through it and it would be GONE.

teacher - this darn cording is so frustrating. I have had the worst pain in my shoulder blade for the last 2 days. I'm not sure if it's because of the cording. I pray it's not from rads since I am only 2 days in. 

wintersocks - full recovery is much longer but you will read about many women here that return to work at 6 weeks. I'm sure that you will get responses from those ladies that are further along on the recovery road. 

Sorry, but I just noticed a few folks went to PRMA in San Antonio--that's where the surgeon is that I visited with. Can you share your experience there and who did your surgery? THANKS!!

Hohoma,

I had nipple and skin sparring bi lat mastectomy. My right was propy side.  It made waking up and looking in mirror a lot easier for me. Although scarred it still looks like my breast. I am in the small percentage that has retained breast sensation and my nipples are responsive to cold and stimulation. (my nipples were removed, cored and then replaced) . When I went into surgery I didn't know if I would be able to keep the left one and I told the BS if I couldn't keep left to remove the right, I was thinking of symmetry and reconstructed nipples matching later.

If you choose to keep your nipple, you can have the other tattooed. A nipple can be created from skin and then it can be pigmented with a tattoo, or you can have a 3d nipple tattoo. I have seen 3 tattoos on patients in my ps office and they look realistic. But I have only seen both done in person, not just one. 

Decisions are so hard, I believe we have ladies here in different  nipple recon situations who can tell you a lot more than me. I wish you the best.

Take care

Vivian

I edited to add

I found this thread you should check out

Under topic/forum  Nipple reconstruction - Is it right for you? Discuss timing and various procedures and techniques.

Naiviv- I had nipple and skin sparring also. I have no sensation and that is what I miss the most. Lucky you!