DIEP 2014

someone asked about phase 2....

I'm having phase2a, phase2b, and possibly phase2c. I had my DIEP and ended up with positive nodes found at time of surgery. My radiation affected that radiated side. So last week I had a fat graft - my understanding was that it was to keep the breast supple to avoid anymore damage. The in a couple of months I'll have a larger surgery where we lift, stuff, shape, fix,etc. The final stage will be small touch ups and nipples. 

Andrea, good deal! I am glad you didn't feel that way. Sometimes in my zest for sharing I fear I might come across as pushing which is not intended. You didn't sound like you were implying that at all! I was just putting it out there in case I came across that way! Have a good day new friend! 

Thank you for that information, Kim. Unfortunately,  we have two big dogs, Alaskan malamutes, who wouldn't do very well in a hotel room. But the info both you and Georgie have given makes me realize I have more options out there. Thank you so much for letting me know!

Just wanted to pop in - July 30th is my DIEP breast's one year birthday! Feels and looks great! I hope everyone here gets through their surgeries with as little discomfort as possible, heals well and without complication, and enjoys their new breast(s) for a long, healthy lifetime.

Yeah, Christina. So glad you stopped in. I hope all is well with you. I can't believe it's been a year. BTW ladies, Christina looks fabulous!!!!!

I am getting nervous about my stage 2. I just want this to be over, and to get my life back. The tightness I was so hoping would go away with my diep only got worse, and different. It has started to cause some big issues at home. Long story. Won't bore you all with it, but my marriage can't take another failed surgery. Stage 2 has got to work out better than the mess I have been through over the last year.

Lemon, I am sorry stage 2 is not going when you expected, but better to wait to get the best result.  My date is different that Georgie's.  I am on the 8th, and I thinks she is the 16th.  

Georgie, that could be where your nodes were taken during your original mx, and it is showing up now because things have been rearranged.  I have heard of other women having fat grafting into the area where their nodes were taken.  Just a wild guess.  But, have no fear....they can fix it.

Teacher you crack me up! 

Hi ladies! I am one week out of surgery now, and just wanted to share my very positive experience at the University fo Kansas Medical Center Hospital. My surgeon was Dr. Julie Holding. The nursing staff was just superb. You may recall, my surgery date two weeks earlier was canceled due to bug bites on my abdomen. My anxiety level going into surgery was pretty high--will it be canceled again? I so dislike being out of control. But everything went great. I had a unilateral DIEP; it took about five hours, and the results are great. The veins were strong from the beginning; I was kept on the Burn Unit ICU the whole time to monitor the tissue health. It looks to me like I may need a lift/small reduction on the right breast, but I am okay with that. They used surgical glue to close the wounds. My pain control was absolutely excellent. I had an epidural during surgery that stayed until day four; bupivocaine administered directly into my breast and hips (those little grenade pouches...); long-acting morphine; and break-through short-acting morphine when needed. As of today, I am only taking the long-acting morphine, with Tylenol as needed. I will probably discontinue it today, because the morphine really ties up my gut; the only bad day I have had was yesterday, and that was because of terrible constipation. I thought I was on top of it by starting senna even before the surgery,  but I should have been more aggressive once I missed a day without a BM.  

I evidently had a diastasis as well, which she repaired. I have also had some sharp pains just below the breast, and she said this was because of stitches directly into my rib. I had a lot of discomfort before surgery with my tissue expander, particularly where the pec connected to my breastbone and to my shoulder. These areas are still sore, but ahhhh!!!! so great to have the TEs out.  I am moving around fairly easily--definitely difficult getting in and out of bed, but pretty good once I am up and about. I have taken some short walks and even got on the treadmill yesterday to walk to try to get my bowels moving. It felt okay.

My abdominal wound appears to be healing well--surgical glue, also. My doctor did not have me use any compression at all on my abdomen, and just a surgical bra on my breast. I think some advantages I have are that 1) it is unilateral, so I can still use my right arm easily; 2) I had no chemo or radiation, so no issues with wound healing; 3) I did not have the mastectomy at the same time, in a single operation.  Maybe you kind of lose your innocence after the mastectomy (my first surgery ever...), but this has not seemed as big of a deal to me. The mastectomy is such a profound surgery, both physically and emotionally, and I had cording and arm pain and of course pec pain from the TEs for months afterward. Now I know the routine, handling drains, etc.

I work part-time as a psychologist, so I plan to see my clients at 3.5 weeks post surgery; I know this is ambitious, but I do get to sit the whole time! Next week I will be relaxing in Aspen, where my son is playing in the Aspen Music Festival. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your experiences, advice, tips and especially emotional support. This is one of the few places where I think we can all say what we are really thinking and feeling, with those who understand, with no fear of judgment. I so appreciate that. That pink bus was outside the hospital for me.

Jenjenl - oh no!  I hope they even out. And congrats on it almost being over!!

Hi everyone,

I'm just checking in after 3 months. I hope all of you are feeling and looking well.  The girls are looking much better and jiggle quite a bit even though they are small (large A I think).  I think because it is stomach fat and not breast tissue, they are getting all my fat store first (my tummy was always the first to gain weight). I am supposed to have a fat graft with BRAVA and dog ear revision in October and a final revision where she will remove my "under-nipple tummy-skin circle (I don't know how else to describe it)" sometime next year.  Part of me is a little afraid of the fat graft since the girls look pretty good.  And Jenjenl's post just above causes me to ask if other people have done the fat graft with BRAVA?

Does anyone have any experience with this or plan on doing this?

Thanks!

Best,

GG

Hello Everyone!  

First off, JMB so glad to hear the good news regarding Kayla and the surgery!  She has been in my prayers so much lately.

I am getting caught up today after being away and also reading all your posts helps me get ready for Friday... I cannot believe it is less than 4 days away.  I downloaded the guided imagery and am loving it.  So calming and empowering!

Lots of great questions in posts recently... Andrea - I was thinking the same thing regarding nipples.  Not a fan of headlights, but wondering what it would look like without them.  I guess I will know soon.

And the question regarding exercise, too.  My PS said 6 weeks to running and starting slowly.  I was afraid to ask him about playing tennis because it seems like it will be forever until I can twist and turn and use my core muscles again.  Anybody a tennis player who knows the answer to this question?  I am hoping my goal of starting in the new year is a conservative estimate.  

Pollyanna - good luck with the interview!!

Lemon - sorry for your visit didn't go as well as hoped!  Hang tight, everything is going to turn out fine in the end. 

Teacher - good luck on Wednesday!

Shine14, I play tennis and lucky for me, so does my ps. I had the abdominal wound healing problem which pushed my recovery back about 3 weeks. PS cleared me for light hitting with a pro/friend three months post DIEP. To play competitively, I waited 6 months, but still did not play well. I felt more like myself on the tennis court about 1 year out. I know younger people bounce back faster (am 56).

Hello all!! I have been reading through this thread for several months while waiting for my surgery date. You all have answered so many questions for me and been such a huge help!

I am scheduled for this Friday the 1st, just like you Shine14. I am actually sitting in admitting waiting to pre register at the hospital as I am typing this. 

A little background: I am 33, single mom of two little boys. I had chemo, bilateral mastectomy, and radiation last year. I had Hers2+ but with chemo and herceptin, my last scan showed cancer free. So after living a year without breasts of any kind, I am ready for this surgery! 

I am definitely getting scared though! I think it's the 12 hr anesthesia part that scares me the most. That, and the fear that the flap won't take. I had severe burns from radiation to the point where they wanted to do skin grafts but then decided against it. There it so much tightness and scar tissue, I find it really hard to see how they will get through it all and give me pretty breasts. But then again I have a lot of tummy to donate and anything will be better than the flat boy chest I have had for a year. 

If you all would keep me in your thoughts and prayers this Friday, I would appreciate it!

Pzercher, so happy to hear you have made it well to the other side after the initial drama. Sounds like your recovery is going smoothly. Continued healing thoughts to you.

NicNak, it sounds like you have been through a lot. I will be praying for you and Shine14 for a successful surgery on Friday. I hope they can fix your skin issues and give you beautiful breasts that you deserve.

Polyanna, I hope your interview went well. I can't wait to read about it. 

Goldie4040, all the best for your stage 2. The last thing any of us need is any more drama and stress. I am praying for that surgery and recovery will go smoothly for you!

Nicnak, the diep can be the best thing that happens to you regarding the rad burns.  The will cut away all the bad skin and graft your nice healthy fat and skin from your tummy to make your new breasts.  I know women who have great relief from the tightness from rad burns after diep.  I think you will find this was the best decision you could have made.  Please keep us  posted on how you do.  You are so young.  You deserve to feel good again.

pzercher, glad you are doing so well. 

Optimi, thanks for the supportive words.  It means alot

If I may ask a random question, when you get the origami brand of nipple reconstruction how long do you need to be off from work?  And can you wear a regular bra without being uncomfortable?  I was told it would take 15 minutes each in the OR and it is day surgery but was wondering about recovery.  I am assuming I might not need any other touch ups, but who knows for sure I will see them for Preop Wed.  

NikNak- many times it does not take a complete 12 hours.  Considering all you have been through, yes, it is a big surgery but this is the home stretch!  I had the MX the same time as DIEP so can't say how your recovery will be but like everyone has shared on this board, it is one day at a time and great follow up with your PS!  People are pretty honest on this board so if you read it you can see we all heal a bit differently and some PS have different recovery instructions!  Best wishes.

Teacher you are "nesting" before your surgery, sounds like you are getting a lot done.  Get lots of rest tomorrow.  Isn't it nice to know this surgery is much shorter!  

How do you all get the cool quotes on your profile?  I have only been on the boards since March and still don't know that!  HAhahaha

pzercher sounds like you are doing remarkably well for being one week out! Enjoy the lovely weather and your family in Colorado! Are you local to Kansas City or did you travel for your surgery? I am in KC and do some things at Gilda's Club close to the Country Club Plaza. If you are ever interested in connecting they have some great classes and support groups!

gowanusgal glad to hear how you are doing 3 months post op. I've heard of the Brava but do not know anyone who has done it. I will be interested to hear if others have had experience with it.

nicnak glad you introduced yourself! Welcome! 

teacher hope you are able to get a good nights rest tonight and tomorrow night. will they let you anything to help with the rest? i got a script for sleep aid before my stage one and it helped a little although I never slept completely through the night the days before surgery. do you have to travel for your surgery or are you local?

positive thoughts and prayers going out to all who are having surgery this week!