DIEP 2014

NicNak - we have similar diagnoses and treatment, at least the order of things. I ended up pretty damaged from rads (no talk of skin grafts, though). I still have the damaged tissue on my back and side and on my upper chest (it doesnt look damaged anymore, but feels damaged). However a good size portion was removed for my flap. My surgical report says that surgery did take longer than anticipated because of the time it took to remove the adhesions from rads.  I am a uni. My surgery was 10 hours. In am pleased with my stage 2 result and looking forward to stage 3 and final this fall or winter.

You can do this!

GG - I really don't think anyone but me would notice the slight difference.  I would do it again, it really did help fill some deficiencies on the one upper part of the breast.  I would do it again.  I'll come back and let you know once all the swellings gone.

GeorgieGirl - a bit of sleep. I have already finished making a dress this morning and have sheets in the laundry. It's like I'm the energizer bunny. I had something to take when I was sleepless after bmx but can't take it before surgery. Fortunately, I'm local. We will leave at 4:45 in the morning and be home tomorrow afternoon!! Yeah. 

Niknak - Anesthesia  was my biggest fear too. Looking back though - not scary at all. Here are a few things that made me less scared. 

My PS told me that even though it is a long surgery, it is a very safe surgery, and the anesthesia is relatively light compared to more intense surgeries. As they don't go into any organs this surgery is not considered an 'insult' to your body. Instead, it's more superficial. A frontal realignment, really.

Secondly, my anesthesiologist told me that for him, the DIEP is boring. I asked him what the heck he meant by that (I took it personally) and he said that it was dull. There were no highs and no lows. It's just a safe steady sleep. 

This is the time to you to kick back, and put yourself into the hands of an excellent medical team that are intensely interested in making you whole and healthy, and complete. Let them do all the work. You've done enough.

I will be thinking about you on Friday!

Nicnak, I had the same experience as Bailey with rads.  My DIEP was 12 hours because my PS had to remove so much radiation damaged tissue, and even then, there's a big burn scar on my back that he's STILL working on!  Although the DIEP can't remove all the rad-damaged tissue, it helped quite a bit.  My pectoral muscle on the rads side will probably always feel like beef jerky--DIEP can't help that--but my chest no longer feels like a lumpy, stiff, board.

Blessings and prayers for your own surgery.  I bet you'll be surprised that many of your fears don't pan out.  And here's a tip--go get a lovely pedicure the day before surgery.  Have them paint your toes bright, cherry red.  It will make you smile.

Nicnak, I would echo others' comments about the surgery. I also was fearful of the anesthesia and flap failure, but our anesthesiologist friends also call it "ho-hum" surgery from their end. I'll take that! My PS said her only flap failures came from women with unknown atherosclerosis or clotting disorders; I found that reassuring. I think when we have children we get nervous about anesthesia risks and whether the risk is "worth" it. I found the women on this board to be the best help in that regard.

Goldie--I am nearby in Topeka. I would love to know about support groups etc!

Thinking of you flapper girls this week! Many prayers!

And a beef jerky pec....exactly Sbel. 

Wintersocks - I think it is part of the procedure to get to needed blood vessels. It's a tint part.

Recommendations needed for PS's in the Boston area or maybe NYC.  I live in Vermont and they don't do DIEP here.  I have been on the boards here awhile and posted before.  I have been keeping up with all of your post and it appears to me that NONE of you regret your decision to do DIEP, even if you had complications.  

I had silicone implants and HATE them.  They are painful, hard and I hate having the muscle over my breast.  I even went a full size or two smaller so I wouldn't have to wear a bra, which I do like, but they still stink.  I hate the implants and even my PS doesn't think I should have nipples done till I "fix them".  They are very lopsided due to an infection in the left side.

So, I want to see someone ASAP about scheduling a surgery hopefully for the first week of November.  My daughter gets married next June and I want to feel and hopefully look okay by then so I can dance, etc.

I live in northern Vermont and they don't do DIEP here but have seen a great group already for my second opinion team at Beth Israel in Boston.  If any of you have had surgery done in the Boston area and recommend a doctor I would love to hear about it.  I could also go to NYC.  I am from NY and my family and friends still live there but the trip home from Boston would only be a 4 hour drive and the trip home from NYC would be 7 hours so Boston is probably better if you ladies have someone you can recommend there.

Thank you so much for this board.  It has really helped me realize that even thought this is a big surgery I think feeling okay about my body as much as I can is important.  I hate how hard and uncomfortable the implants are and just want soft breast again.

Take care and I look forward to hearing from you.

Julieho

Hi Julieho, 

I had my DMX and DIEP at Brigham and Women's in Boston. I am at Dana Farber. I loved both my BS - Dr. Faina Nahklis and Dr. Eric Halvorson is my PS.  I am 5 weeks out today. Still healing and recovering, and I am very happy with my decision.

Teacher - Sending positive vibes to you!

Teacher - wishing you the best tomorrow.  Trish

Teacher, tomorrow is the icing on the cake.  It will be over in no time, and you will be back at the gym better than new soon.

Teacher.  Good luck tomorrow.

Teacher, thinking of you today! 

I hope that next week when I see my PS we'll at least discuss Stage 2. I want to get an idea on timing and what all they might be doing. While I don't want to rush anything, I also want to get as much done this year as possible since the ole deductible is all paid!

All of my drains out now--9 days post surgery. Have some fresh bruising  around the edges of the flap; is this normal? I assume it is from the breast drain being pulled and the fluids being contained now in the breast. Have a call in to my PS to check for sure. Also, when did your docs recommend you begin working on range of motion on the affected side? thanks, ladies.