DIEP 2014

debiann

I am using palmers oil and lotion interchangeably 3x a day.  Appears to be working very well

Laurie, I talked with my ST disability benefit administrator yesterday.  They told me that my surgeon originally filed for 8 weeks for me and if I need more time, I just need to call them to call him to confirm and they will review/extend.  Each company may be different (mine is through work) so you may want to call and ask their policies on how to handle this in case you need to extend.  I am not quite at 3 weeks yet and can't even walk down the block right now - we are all different.  Take care.

His PA said I could use it on anything that is not scabbed, but your right, it does seem early. I only have two small areas of scab on one breast, everything else healed. I'm waiting till I talk to the PS tomorrow before I use anything.

Anyone still have a port after DIEP? Mine us really sore now, hoping this improves cause I'll have it till June.

I need some help.  I had phase 2 lipo 14 days ago.  My flank is increasingly swollen and hard, warm and somewhat hot, sore, and itchy.  It has horizontal ridges in the hard part.  Is this normal?  Is massage recomended?

jmb - did you talk to your PS? 

Hi all,

Just stopping in for a quick "hello."  Hope everybody is doing okay.  

Two things I wanted to share.  If you are like me and can't get a flu shot in either arm, CVS (female pharmacist) gave it to me in my hip for free with my insurance. So, if you have been paying to go to you doc to have your flu shot, ask your pharmacist. 

The other thing is now that I have nipples that never go down, but I hate wearing a bra, it's been a challenge getting dressed. But, I found these great silicone nipple covers, that really stay on, on Amazon.  They are called Boob-eez.  LOL.  But, girls...you can't even tell you have them on, and the edges thin out in such a way that they do not show through anything.  So, if you have the same issue, give them a try.   So far, they have stayed on without an issue.  I am hoping after I wash them a few times they continue to stick.

Had my 4 week checkup with the PS today. Hard to believe its been a month already. Got his approval to begin mederma, go to the gym as long as I don't work on the core area and I'm going back to work on Monday! Getting really bored at home, lol. I need to wear the tummy compression at least 12 hours a day for 3 more weeks, but I'm sure I'll be wearing it more, doesn't feel right without it. Nurse suggested a Spanks garment instead of the bulky surgical binder. Stopped and bought one today, so much more comfortable. I don't have to go back to see the PS till I'm ready for stage 2. I want to finish herceptin first, so next surgery will be in July. Feels good to be moving forward. Next hurdle,  Arimidex starts next week.

I had both done in August and I think they are about a cup size apart. I am the opposite, though. I wanted small so I will ask for the larger one to be reduced. I am shocked at how big and heavy they are. I can't even imagine being larger than a C.

I am still healing.  The wound is finally closing after nearly ten weeks. I can't wait to buy new bras and clothes, since I've been living in the same outfits since the summer. Not sure I ever want to get out of yoga pants again, though!

I still don't know how to sleep. I am still afraid to put pressure on the new breasts, yet if I lie on my back I have some pain. When do you stop worrying and trust that they are your own breasts and here to stay?

KB

It takes time for them to settle and swelling to go down.  The wrinkles I had smoothed out on their own. I have 1 Diep that is 5 months old and 1 lat flap that is 2.5 months old and I just had fat grafting to add volume and to correct symmetry to lat flap. It is currently fuller and rounder than Diep, but it still need to not be swollen which will take a few weeks and to see how much fat may be absorbed before we will know. But it is rounder and firmer than my diep, but he could not add fat to top of diep because of port, so I will probably have one more procedure to add some more fullness to right to match left and to lefty if it has any areas that need it. And if left settles smaller and looking good symmetry wise I may just leave them alone for awhile they are both same projection wise.  I am happier with my smaller C size. I use to be dd/f.  I actually like going braless and just wearing tanks. I was never able to do that before.  I have weight to lose, so that may effect them, not sure if fat is lost from them with weight lost, another question to ask.

V

Hi,

I'm having my implants removed and a bilateral DIEP on Tuesday...eek!!  Totally anxious. I was wondering if anyone had advice on what to bring to the hospital or for recovery at home that you had wished you had known beforehand? I remember some really helpful tips after my Bmx so hoping you wouldn't mind sharing for DIEP.

Thanks!!

Dana

diep surgery 10/17/14. How long did everyone wear their surgical bra before returning to a regular supportive bra? I feel so squooshed,  but still have alot of underarm swelling

My surgeon never had me in any bra or compression. In fact, he didn't want me in one, even weeks later. I tried wearing one yesterday and I took it off. I am ten weeks out. Everyone told me to get button downs, but what I really needed was a soft, snug cami.  I still want to live in my yoga pants. Also, if you are going to buy shirts, buy dark colors and patterns.

vballmom: I had my surgery just before you, in late July. My PS told me my breasts were good to go--just like normal, in terms of activity and position during sleep. I started running again at 8 weeks, and I have some discomfort from my pectoral muscle tightening, I think. Still some soreness around my breastbone, where they removed rib bone. My general surgeon told me she likes to have patients continue to get mammograms on the DIEP side (a recurrence close to the chest wall would be impossible to feel with self-exam); the thought of compressing the DIEP breast makes my hair stand on end, but I have to trust the docs that it's safe.

I definitely will get some lasering done at some point for some, ahem, unwanted hairs on the flap.

I still wear my surgical bra, because my breasts are uneven sizes and my old bras don't fit. 

Stage 2 scheduled for Nov. 20! Hoping to be done at that point.

All,

I am going to attempt to search, but I seem to remember someone on this topic talking about being put on a wound pump.  My visiting nurse just left and apparently over the weekend, my abdominal incision went from 1 seeping wound to 3 and now I have an emergency appt with my PS at 3pm.  She will not diagnose or recommend, but did give me a list of a few options she has seen on this in the past - and one of them is a wound pump.  I guess I will find out in a few hours, but would really like to read through posts of someone(s) who have been there so that I know what it is all about, assuming I am going to have to go that route.

Thanks in advance for any pointers or sending me in the right direction.

Chris

They are called wound V.A.C.s. You might ask for a referral to a wound specialist. My close friend is an RN who specializes in wound healing.