DIEP 2014

jenjenl - I saw my PS today for stage 2 on the 30th. I have several divots and the left side is smaller than the right. He said he'd take from flanks (muffin tops) and thighs. I told him he could take as much fat as his little heart desired and he said he would. A bit personal, but I'm having mons area done too because I'm uneven now. He said it would take a little lipo and pulling up toward the belly incision. I bruise easily and he told me to be ready to be colorful. I am! Let your PS where you want him to take fat and he probably will be able to accommodate you.

Prayers for Kayla and Goldie's niece. Hope both of them have excellent outcomes.

I am another one with healing issues.  I did wet/dry bandaging for about 6 weeks with little progress.  Today I was hooked up to a wound vac pump to see if we can speed up this healing process.  I will let you know when I start seeing progress.  It would have probably taken another 4 months of wet/dry bandaging.  I am hoping to cut the time down to 2months or less.  My wound is the entire lower half of my flap opened back up after the staples were removed.

Congrats to those completing surgery and to those making the decision to proceed with this surgery.  Even with my issues I would do it all over again.

My prayers are with you guys scheduled in the next couple of weeks.  

Tina - Thank you! You used the words 'bright light in the dark'. Please please please know that the darkness is just temporary, and not part of the 'new normal'. I was there once too and it felt like it would go on forever, but I can say that I feel it is safely behind me. That's not to say I'm not going to get knocked flat on my ass from big angry storm clouds from time to time, but they no longer own me, or scare me. And I'm almost 99.9 sure I can get back on my feet. 

well. After almost 3 months.   Surgery scheduled for Mx and DIEP 8/19 in NOLA.  Omg.  So much to do....  I don't know where to begin

I've been off for a few days, nice to be back online.  Glad to see more of you are getting surgeries scheduled.

Doing well, although starting to get indents on each breast armpit side, and they are both decidedly weirdly shapped, flatten in spots, , hard in other spots.  I see the PS next week.  And the size, it's up, it down, I've got a few bras in the rotation, as they really do seem to move around. 

I forgot the binder for a few days and was a bit sore, not bad, so I've put it back on. 

6 weeks, unbeleivable!  

Healing thoughts and prayers to Kayla and Goldie's niece. It is so good to hear that your niece is recovering well, Goldie!

I will be reaching my 6wk post surgery mark tomorrow. Woohoo I am honestly surprised at how well I have recovered thus far. I have to thank my mom a great deal for this as she was here right from the time of surgery until last Friday. She wouldn't let me do anything by myself, not even take showers on my own. I was able to completely rest. I am sure that made a lot of difference. I will be starting PT on Thur which I am looking forward to and Fri I will be having my radiation simulation appt. I can't wait to get this last phase of treatment over with!

I am still wearing the surgical bra that my PS had given me but I think I am ready to move on to something a little nicer. My former BC breast is rather flat and out of shape. I was wondering whether anybody on here had any suggestions regarding comfortable bras with inserts that might help in giving a little more shape. I would appreciate any input.

I hope all of you continue to recover well. And to those of you who are awaiting surgery...my prayers are with you for a surgery without complications and a speedy recovery.

Time for another venting.  Called PS yesterday and today with no returned phone calls.  Asked for an appt but PS only will see patients on Tuesdays.  I'm concerned with my upper ab pain and worried I may have hernia.  Feeling like a hypochondriac but would think that at 6 weeks out, pain should be receeding and not increasing.  I dont think I have done anything to strain these muscles that would cause this pain to begin over the last few weeks. 

I have heard of people washing with Hibiclens prior to surgery, its intent is to reduce infection risk.  I returned to work at 6 weeks and was actually ready to go mentally, as far as I could only watch so many more episodes of Say Yes to the Dress  With PT now at 4 months post bilateral Mx and DIEP I am just now really feeling like there isn't pulling or such, but at 6 weeks I had some mildly reduced hours and I do office work so that was probably why it wasn't bad. I think 8 weeks would have been nice but I ran out of sick time and was dipping into my vacation time.

sweetie - Hibiclens was just day before surgery for me.

Naiviv - my belly button was the last to heal and still looks weird. I talked about it with PS is stage 2 pre op appointment and he said to give it more time.

They gave me a soap to wash with the night before and the morning of the surgery.  Okay, then you put on your regular clothes and go to the hospital.  Such a dumb routine and a waste of time. Unless that soap has some magic barrier that it puts between you and the rest of the world I would think it is fairly useless.  It's like when I told my PS I would go buy sterile gauze for my wet to dry routine on my wound.  He said not to bother, there was no way to keep a sterile environment at home.  Once I opened the package it wasn't sterile anymore.  Even when you wear medical gloves, those are not sterile either.  

I wasn't told to use any special soap prior to surgery.

My third day of trying to contact the PS office was successful.  However, did not get to talk to PS just the nurse.  Per PS the type of pain I am having in the upper abs is all part of nerve regeneration.  Pretty much they told me to suck it up.

Is anyone else having pain in their upper abs after 5+ weeks?  I don't have any other pain.  This is cramping my back to exercise plan.  You don't realize how often you use certain muscles until they are screaming at you.

Goldie -- thanks for the laugh re: the magic barrier!  I didn't have any special soap to use before surgery and came through fine, germs and all! 

Hello all,

While at PS met a patient who was a week post diep and she showed me her hip incision.  She was first patient with a new skin closing that PS is using. It looked like a zipper. It is suppose to help eliminate , dog ears, openings, stitches or staples that will com thru. And a thinner smoother scar.

You can shower and everything, it falls off or is removed between week 3-4. It apparently has been used for a few years in other surgeries. 

Those of you getting revisions or heading into DIEP  Maybe should ask about it.

Sorry forgot actual name. Will ask

Vivian

For me it was surgical glue, though it felt like train track. Amazing stuff...I was totally glued back together on the outside....very thin scarring, no shower restrictions, peeled off easily after @ two weeks.

Hi, I am new to this sight, but not new to cancer and reconstruction. I had a failed silicone implant due to poor wound healing after radiation. The only option I now have is some form of flap surgery. I winter in Arizona, and hoped that someone could give me advice on which plastic surgeons to consult in the Phoenix area.