DIEP 2014

Lili-RI so sorry for the open wounds.  It is a real let down after the surgery and very stressful mentally.

I had the entire lower incision of my right breast open back up after the staples were removed.  The wound was about 5 inches long and 3 inches deep.  We did the wet dry packing twice daily for 6 weeks with not much progress.  The tissue looked great by the end of the 6 weeks but was not healing.  I was ordered a wound vac and am 2 weeks into using it and the incision is over 50% closed.  It looks like maybe another two weeks and I will come off the pump.  It would have taken several months to finish healing with the wet/dry packing.  The pump is a miracle worker. 

Let us know how your PS visit goes and how the healing progresses.  Good luck and many HUGS!!!

To Sweetie1972: You're bound to get lots of responses on this one! How long before you can do things on your own is a broad question, and the answer is quite a range of possibilities. I think everyone will agree that for about the first week, you won't want to do anything much outside of get up to go to the bathroom, maybe fix something simple to eat or drink. Week Two I felt much better, like I was coming out of the woods. The mind clears quite a bit but the body is far from ready.

Week Three can be the toughest. There are theories about why, but it's often the "funk week." Like, enough of this bedrest thing, it's time to get back to normal - but the body still isn't ready for that. Some women say they've gone back to work after two weeks, but it must be hard. I'm sure they're not functioning normally but somehow getting some work hours in. Maybe I'm wrong?

I am entering Week 4 after surgery. I still feel like I'm not ready to drive because I feel too vulnerable. I still can't walk for more than a minute or two - but this may be longer than most for whatever reason. I am now able to empty a load of dishes, but I'm definitely not up to grocery shopping or preparing a family meal.

I haven't read about this from others, but I find that I have to gauge carefully how much activity I take on. Twice now I have somehow overdone it, and paid dearly. Just walking 30 feet from car to church and back, along with a little other walking and standing yesterday, left me miserable. So, whatever your level of ability, I would advise building up slowly.

Regardless of exactly how your progress goes, this surgery takes patience to recover from. The surgeon told me that from the start. Take it easy. The good news is, I find that each day is better than the day before. The only exception is when I've done too much at once.

It's wonderful that your mom will be with you for a while. My husband took a day off on my surgery day and came to see me after work from there on, and waited to take time off work to be with me once I was home from the hospital. That first week home, I absolutely needed the help and support.

Well, long answer! Get ready for a bunch more, plus a little humor to brighten your outlook. Best wishes to you.

-Elizabeth

enjoyevrymoment - expect the lipo to be the worst part. Nips are icing on the cake! I got fruit of the loom hook and eye front close bras and cut "nipple holes" so they won't be flattened.

This what what an allergic reaction to an anti nausea patch looks like!!! It was actually worse (this was Saturday) today when I saw my primary care. She said it was on the verge of infection, extended my antibiotic scrip and gave me a steroid shot and a Benadryl shot. The itching isn't as bad now. My dr had just come back to work after her DIEP and she said my breasts were "mavalous." She said before she'd gone to med school that she'd thought it would be wonderful if fat could be moved from point a to point b and just look what we have!

Oh, my the way, the patch did keep me from waking up after surgery tossing my cookies. Good thing surgeries are OVER! 

Oh Teacher, eek, that looks very sore and ITCHY!! I am glad you got the shots today to help. And of course I am thrilled your breasts are looking "mavalous"!

I am not in such a blue mood today. Looking forward and being patient.

sweetie- your countdown is going fast, soon you will be on the other side To answer your question, for me I showered on my own the minute I got home. I need no help at all, I wasn't about to wait for help I wanted to shower so badly and wash my hair. I did not use a chair or anything else. I clipped my drains to a old cloth belt around my neck and it worked fine. Getting up and down from the recliner was painful, moving was painful. I couldn't lay flat and honestly still need at I think 13 weeks to hoist myself up from laying position in bed. I couldn't reach a lot of things so I needed help. I didn't cook,clean etc as I was uninterested and too tired to care. I think I drove at about 3-4 weeks. I work at home so thought after 2 weeks I would return, I couldn't do it, not 3 weeks either. I think around week 4 I worked a little, I had no focus. I actually couldn't concentrate enough to do much. We are all different. Listen to your body as it will let you know LOUD and clear! Best to you, you will be in my thoughts.

Hello Everyone!  Thanks for the well wishes... I arrived home today and am so glad to be back.  My surgery went well.  Definitely met your friend Wilbur and tried my hardest to kick him out of the room!  Those drip pain meds were oh so trippy.  Fortunately, I was off them the morning after.  So funny to read all the Wilbur posts right after experiencing it... yet another reason I love this group.  Nice to know that others have experienced it and even given it a funny name to boot.  Ha!  I'd laugh harder but my belly can't take it.  

As I said the surgery went well and the flaps are doing great.  I was at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati and they use these pain balls with tubes that go straight into each side of the belly.  They called them TAPS.  I recommend them!  They managed the pain quite well until they took them out this morning.  

Definitely ups and downs, but every day I am moving better and feeling much better than I thought I would on day 3.  I hope Niknak is doing well.  I will try to catch up on all the posts.  I hope everyone has a great week!

Shine - so glad to hear that all went well and you're home!

optimi - I am so sorry!!! I was thinking about you earlier today since it was your first day of rads. I sent you a PM a couple hours ago. I truly hope that rads will do its job. I will keep you in my prayers. We are here for you!

optimi...I am flabberghasted that this additional area of concern was not removed during mx. I was TNBC also, and know how fast it can grow...but chemo should have knocked it down a bit, especially if you had neoadjuvent and were able to monitor its efficacy. Sorry you are going through this.

As for clothing, I noticed no difference in how things fit after my DIEP, though I am staying away from underwire bras for the time being.

Ribs...my PS also stated cartilage (vs bone)

FWIW

Optimi, I am so sorry about your new lump. Prayers being sent your way for the radiation to do it's work. 

Heiditoo, I hope that your days have gotten a little better since your last post. I can't imagine how hard it must be to be away from your family on top of everything else you have been through. 

Teacher sounds like your results have turned out well! Is your rash better? That picture looked like it was very painful.

Lili-Ri thinking about you today, sorry you are having difficulties with the wounds and healing. Let us know how your appointment goes.  Praying your surgeon will have good answers for quick wound healing. 

K79Miller, thanks for the info. Did you have Dr. Pisano? How are you getting the nursing pads to stay in place? Paper tape? My instructions just say tape so wasn't sure...I am glad you are doing well! 

Andrea  

Lemon I'm sorry you are in a funk. Sounds like from reading some of the posts that others are having some "funkiness" too. A most unfortunate part of the process.  Sending you some virtual love from funky girl to funky girl. Hang in there. I feel ya on the clothes thing. A lot of my pants don't fit right and if I had to go out and find professional clothing right now it might push some extra buttons for me. Praying for peacefulness in prep for your upcoming trip and surgery. 

JBdayton, glad you are having success with the vacuum pump. Thanks for sharing about the pump!

Shine so glad things went well! Keep us posted on how you are doing!! 

JBM5 that was a funny story about your visit to the oncologist and kind of sad too. It goes to show how there isn't enough knowledge out there about this surgery and post treatment follow up on the medical side of things. I asked my onc about imaging follow up which I will be due for in December. Her plan is mammo on the native breast and MRI on both breasts. I am going to ask my P.S. next week about his thoughts on imaging. I think when I consulted with him initially that mammo's were not necessary since it was tummy tissue and breast cancer doesn't happen there?? But I could be remembering wrong. It was a foggy time when we consulted in Feb!  I do feel that an MRI should be done just to catch anything that might be on the chest wall...

MS it is understandable why you'd be concerned about your results and the differences between the two breasts. I hear they can do amazing things in stage 2 but from what you've described it sounds like there is more there to do than just some fat grafting and small adjustments?? I wonder if you could get an earlier appointment with the P.S. to discuss your concerns and perhaps get some answers to what the plan will be going into stage 2 earlier than later. I am glad you are healing well and have such amazing family support. 

Ugh - so sorry, optimi! I hope the radiation takes care of it.

georgiegirl- thanks...my days are typically filled with activities and/or travel. Keeping put was a real 180 for me but I have moved on now. In fact we are headed out yet again in RV and will be seeing our younger son in his new digs as part of our trip, as well as cheering our older son on towards what, by all indications, may be a national team title in rugby. Their team is semi-pro, very strong and undefeated. Last week's game should have had a mercy clause...68-0. He is a health and education teacher in his "real" life; other son is corporate quality control manager for national pet food company. I still have empty nest syndrome often, but I am so grateful they are young, healthy, reasonably nearby and successful in their careers. I just miss the growing up days!

I do wish the foobs would stop spitting out stitches, but it is a relatively minor inconvenience. PS continues to assure that all will be fixed in stage 2....it's my Type A personality that wants it done yesterday. Due to other obligations on my time my stage 2 will not be before November. I am so impatient....

Hi ladies, I could really use some advice or suggestions. I am very unhappy, disheartened etc. with my DIEP flap results and the surgeon. Since my bc diagnosis back in August 2012, I have run into some real buggers with doctors, mostly the one who removed part of my healthy nipple to paste onto the mx side, without ever mentioning that he might even possibly do that! Anyway right now as I described earlier, I feel like I look worse every time a surgeon touches me. I don't have faith or trust or comfort with my current surgeon, who supposedly has many, many happy patients.

So, since I feel I have had such lousy luck with surgeons here in the San Francisco area, I am considering going down to the San Diego area (400 miles away?) and going to the TV surgeon Dr. Dubrow. My sister who lives down there tells me he specializes in fixing messes, although he's not a breast specialist. I would be able to stay with my sister or my parents, who also live down there.

Anyway, does this sound like a good idea? I just don't know how to find a reputable surgeon who will be straightforward with me, tell me straight what can and can't be done, and tell me realistically what I can hope for. They can schedule me for a phone appt. in October for a $350 deposit, which would be applied toward any surgery I decide to have.

Thoughts, please? Thank you my sisters! -Elizabeth

optimi - so sorry that you find yourself dealing with a spot.  I'm glad the plan is to blast it away as scheduled so you can start right away,

MsW - sbelizabeth is from California - I think she is between San Fran and San Diego, but I could have that wrong.  If she doesn't pop on here, send her a PM.  Sorrry you are disappointed.  Based on your surgery date, you are really early days, so maybe give it some more time?  Probably not what you wanted to hear, but I think you are the timeframe for the 3-4 week funk.