DIEP 2014

I am two weeks out from stage 2 DIEP and was pretty upset after it too. I had six areas on my body lipoed and, quite frankly, was not prepared for how uncomfortable I was afterwards since, until the day of surgery, I thought they were only doing the inner thighs. I thought I'd simply be a bit saddle sore on the inner thighs, so when I realized how many additional areas were affected my mental state did a nose-dive...something that is unlike me. I really went down in the dumps and it took a mini horse-related RV trip of four days and some serious Retail Therapy to lift my spirits.

Now, I have my two sons here for Thanksgiving, which always brightens my mood and I just spent yet another few moments staring at what use to be me in the mirror. I must say that it appears I may be approaching symetry...something that was severely lacking after stage 1. I would estimate Righty to have been a 34c and Lefty to be a 36b/c. My current measurements now are 37c, but I expect that to reduce a bit since I am still swollen in areas.

Next week I go back for my post op and will hopefully learn if I will require additional stage 2 surgeries. So, though this ordeal is far from over, I take heart in the knowledge that I appear to be on the way to symetry and my former proportions.

For the life of me, I can not understand how some people would willing submit themselves to cosmetic lipo and tummy tucks......

Seeing Dr. Rosson at Hopkins on Monday for the first time to see if I'm a candidate. Anyone have experience there? Thanks!

I am at Hopkins....Dr.Sachs PS, Dr. Euhus BS.

have you considered PRMA in San Antonio or Kline and Craigie in Charleston? Both are first rate for DIEP and take most insurance.

Hi ladies - well, I've been lurking here for a few days but just read the list at the beginning....and figure I should jump in officially (especially since I see somebody else scheduled for DIEP in Houston next week, too - hi Warrior50!). I finished rads in May and am scheduled for DIEP 1 on December 8. Already I've learned so much from you ladies - thanks so much! I'm of course, glad to get this next (hopefully last) big hurdle over with and cautiously optimistic since my whole BC journey has been more of an inconvenience than tragedy (thanks to lots of answered prayers!)....but a little nervous.

I'd be glad for any advice or information - thanks to you all for being there!

- and good luck, Dufflady! Hard to believe I was where you are over a year ago - hopefully your treatment will fly by!

Saltyjack

Hi Everyone,

I am meeting with my PS for the first time on Wednesday 12/3 to hear what is involved with each of the different reconstruction options.  I am leaning toward diep.  My concern is that due to the length of the surgery, it may be difficult to schedule the surgery for a few weeks.  This worries me because I first noticed breast skin change in August.  Went to my primary on October 16.  Mammo, u/s and biopsie soon followed.  Was diagnosed on 11/10 with IDC in both breasts!  The BS said it is a very slow growing cancer even though in one breast, there are two satelllite locations of the larger tumor.  Sounds like spreading to me.  The BS said that I could do delayed reconstruction if I want to get the cancer out.  I think I prefer to have as much of the surgery as possible the first time.  Are the breasts from diep surgery "perky" like implants?  Do they sag after a period of time?  It is so wonderful to have all of you on this website!

Evegibb - Have you requested to be in a wait list? I believe we have the same doctor, and I also was frustrated by the long wait time and feeling like I was in limbo. At one point I was offered a surgery that somebody had cancelled with one weeks notice. I couldn't do it - but I was happy to know I was still on the radar. Eventually I became the squeaky wheel until I got my date.

I'm sorry your going through this - and I completely understand the frustration. This too is temporary - but I hope it's resolved soon

Luckygirl, others can probably give you alot more information than I can at this point (I'm scheduled for DIEP next week) but I decided on DIEP rather than implants for a couple of reasons (despite the much more involved surgery and longer recovery):

1) My PS won't use implants if you've had rads - he said 10-20% of ladies will have problems with implants but if you've had rads, it's more like 80-90%. Since 95% of his business is reconstructive surgery after cancer, I'm assuming he knows what he's talking about, even though I know others have had different advice/information from their doctors;

2) Implants aren't considered permanent (although many ladies don't ever have problems) - most need to be replaced after 5-10 years, while DIEP is forever (hopefully anyway);

3) DIEP, as Heidi said, isn't perky like implants but since it's your own tissue, it will sag, and change (for better or worse) if you gain or lose weight.

My PS won't do the surgery until at least 6 months after rads (so whatever skin changes have occurred will be healed or at least minimized). I finished rads in May and scheduled a consultation with him in November, with the goal of having surgery right after Thanksgiving so I could enjoy the holiday and then be pretty much recovered by Christmas. I was thrilled that he was able to schedule surgery on December 8 - but I sympathize with you ladies who have had to wait so long to schedule surgery.

I have to say that just in the few days I've been reading the posts here, I know many of you were probably laughing at my first post (saying that DIEP is the last big hurdle) - now that I read about all the follow-up surgeries. Sigh......

Thanks to you all for being here!

Saltyjack/Bev

Hi All, 

I am going to my pre assessment tomorrow.  The 15th is on the horizon. Thinking today 'why am I doing this? It's a choice' .   Getting wobbly!

Goodluck Julie & Wintersocks! Know that in the first few weeks you may question the decision even more because the breast may feel hard & heavy and the belly look unnatural. Be patient and you'll find its all worth it. As my bs said "it won't always feel like you have milk jugs sewn to your chest,. Lol

I'm nine weeks post and suddenly amazed how soft and smooth the breasts feel. The scars are still visable, but fading. The tightness in the belly is gone and its looking good except I can now see a little bit of dog ear that wasn't there at first. It will get fixed stage two, so no worries.

Best wishes to all with upcoming surgery.

Bev, I hope I can help. A DIEP is a doable surgery.

Yes, you will not be able to straighten up for a few weeks, but each day you will stand up straighter. I was standing straight up again at about week 3. I did sleep in a recliner for several weeks with both my mastectomy and my flap surgeries. If you were able to sleep in your bed following your mastectomy you can probably sleep in your bed with pillows for this surgery.

Don't worry about the complications, you may not encounter them. If you do then you can worry about it. I am one who had incision problems but now it looks great.

As for pain meds. I only took hydrocodone after I got home on day 5 and only needed them for about another week if that.

As far as driving, it took me several weeks. Pain meds was not the problem, pushing the brake and turning the head to backup were my problem. Started driving comfortably at week 4.

Week three was the hardest week emotionally for me and several other ladies. You start to feel really good but get disappointed because you tire easily.

On a good note, I apparently drained fast. My drains were removed for both my DIEP and my Ruben's flap before I left the hospital on day 4.

As far as running, I don't know, but I was able to walk the Making Strides 5k 5 weeks after my DIEP with no complications and probably could have made a couple more miles. Felt great, so move as soon as you can.

I will offer a prayer for you Monday morning, my procedure doesn't start until 2:00 Monday afternoon. Mine will be an outpatient procedure.

Let us know how it goes.

hey, edukes, you'll be ahead of me by 3 days and I agree, Jeannine, all the information is very helpful. What's a Ruben's flap (and dog ears that everybody keeps mentioning)? The warning about the emotional letdown after a couple of weeks is good to know - hopefully I can remember it when I start getting cranky and frustrated! Fortunately, I just have a pretty self-sufficient husband and two retired racing greyhounds (if anybody knows the breed, they're 80-pound couch potatoes - sleep all the time) to deal with at home.

I had 2 drains after my mastectomy and had them in nearly 2 weeks - I'm sure hoping I can get rid of them this time sooner than that but I don't want to even think I might get them out before I leave the hospital. That's too much to hope!

Thanks for any more information and advice....and especially prayers!

Bev

wow, Norita, you sound amazing - you go, girl! I sure hope I have a recovery like yours. My mastectomy was amazingly easy (well, except for whenever I think about the BS chopping off a chunk of my body, of course). I took one pain pill the first night in the hospital (mostly because my PT sister told me to, rather than risk waking up in the middle of the night). I took a couple of ibuprophen the first two days at home but that was it - except for the drains, I felt pretty much normal after a week or so. Except for pesky BC, I've always had excellent health so hopefully the next few weeks will be tolerable.... I like the idea of sleeping late and long afternoon naps, though!

JMB, I completely agree about having the MX and reconstruction at the same time. I met a couple of women from my hometown that were in NOLA the same time I was. At 4 weeks, they were out driving around, wearing makeup, feeling good and I was still on pain meds and feeling awful. And I was 10 years younger than they were! But they'd had their MX 2 years earlier. It's a lot to go through all at once, and the time under anesthesia is a lot longer too. I'm hoping that my DIEP next month (OMG, I can start freaking out too now that I can say "next month") will be easier since there is no MX, it's only on one side (yay for my right arm!), and I've somehow developed a lot of belly in the last year.