DIEP 2014

Hi Bev,

Merry Christmas to you too, It's already arrived in the UK. I am 9 days post op and doing good. I am agreeing with you that this sounds most likely to be nerve pain. I think if it was an infection you would be getting other symptoms. I guess the holidays means you won't be able to check that out for a while?

How long did you have your dressings on for? I have just a narrow tape over abdo wound and new breast wounds. I was told that it really helps to keep the scar flat and prevents keloid scarring developing. I forgot to ask at the dressing check yesterday whether I should be peeling it off some time? as I have noticed it is a bit smelly near the cleavage where there was some dried blood post op, and I have the same dressings on.

I am amazed at how long the list of names has grown for 2014 DIEPsters. My PS told me the reason he went into plastic surgery concentrating on DIEP reconstruction is because his grandmother was not offered the option of reconstruction less than 20 years ago. I feel so blessed to live now when we have options. A year ago I was in misery with drains and the expanders and now I am complete and feel so satisfied to look in the mirror. Sure,there are scars, but they are fading and my life is normal again. It's so normal that I did the entire dinner and cleaned up by myself. DH was trying to get my new camera to download pictures while stepson and his wife looked for Disney princess accessories that seemed to have disappeared causing a downpour of tears from two 5 year olds. It was a normal day

How much belly have you gals lost from surgery? Can you quantify it in jean sizes or pounds? I've gained some belly over the last year and wonder how hopeful I can be.

I'm definitely sporting a muffin top pre-op!

I'm curious to see how the muffin will look at the sides when the front is trimmed. I guess that's where the dog ears come in??

Hey all, I'm new to this thread, but have had both Stage 1(August) and Stage 2(December).

Wintersocks, I did not have any dressings or tape for either stage. Sutures and glue on the incisions. I was just put in a compression bra and abdominal binder with ABD pads to protect the incisions. The tape I was give for keloi

I know people probably get tired of hearing the same thing but truly we are all so different! I had lost a bunch of weight just before my dx in Feb and between Femara and obviously my eating more and exercising less I have gained some of it back, I was a size eight going in before surgery, I fit it differently but still was an 8 afterwards, and now I have what I feel are much bigger legs and behind, skirts are tighter there. So it is back to MyFitnessPal and exercise each day. Another woman I am buddies with lost like 30 lbs through her DIEP experience (what, I still like her but oh my!). She lost her appetite throughout all the process. I can honestly say with my about 14 lb weight gain since February, my stomach is still flat but not as hollowed super flat.... hope that answers your question. When I have lost weight the chest seems the same to me but it is hard to tell since I have only lost a small amount thus far. (just got back on the wagon)

To the preceding poster about the hip pain, there were all kinds of weird pains I had post op, I just told the surgeon and she always said that was normal. My abdomen would just tense up sometimes, not sure what that was about but yeah it was weird. Rarely does that now. Probably the area was just reacting to the harsh treatment it had received, it wasn't a little surgery after all. Hope everyone else doing well.

I am not sure anyone minds but can someone please help me with where to look for a mother of the bride dress? So far the choices I have found are either 1. hooker or 2. 101 year old. Ideas?

Cindy

Thanks, ladies, for the comments about the hip pain. From what I read online and your comments, I'm assuming it's just a (hopefully temporary) part of the healing process. Guess it would have been nice if the PS warned me about it. I'm really impressed with his technique and competence - but in the hospital when I had some questions, my sister joked that we had to pretty much claw on his ankle to keep him in the room..... Glad you're here!

Saltyjack/Bev

Hi All,

Nearly two weeks post now, wow that has gone fast. I am doing ok, but I have not really had much of an appetite. I understand this is not unusual after surgery. I have had a lot of surgeries but this is a first for me.

Q - The 'track' across the breast seems very pronounced to me! does it get flatter?

Thanks and I hope all had a good Christmas. xx

Cindy and Norita....I agree with teacher, I found my mother of the bride dress at Macy's also, plus they aren't that expensive.

To all of you I wish a Very Happy New Year...that this journey may soon be behind us and we can look at it as just a bump in the road that we got over and continued on.

Thank you all for your suggestions and answers and making me feel like I am ready for this surgery.

Nicole, I had BMX with SGAP when my daughter was 4 years old. There was no way to hide my body from her with the long re-bandaging ritual that happened twice a day, so it was clear to her why she couldn't sit on my lap. She was a great source of comfort to me and took good care of me. One of my favorite memories is hearing her tiptoe in while I was napping, feeling her rub on my arm and kiss my forehead, and then tiptoe back out the room. She loved sitting next to me in bed and reading books or watching videos. It was special time for her when I was more accessible and not running around trying to get things done all the time. The first time I was able to give her a real hug, she looked so surprised that I cried. My impression is that getting implants wouldn't be much easier for a mom of two. I hope it all works out for you!

Does anyone know if chest adhesions/scar tissue can be fixed at Stage 2? I had my mastectomy 3 years ago which left me with chest adhesions/scar tissue. I had my delayed reconstruction last month and was disappointed that my DIEP still left me with an area of adhesions, about the size of a quarter right above my new breast. Massages didn't do anything to fix it in the last 3 years, so I don't have much hope that it can go away with just massaging the area.

This brings me to another question. Did your PS gave you any instructions for massaging your scars after your DIEP, and if so, when to start?

Nicole, I do have young kids and had the DIEP last month. My girls are 5 and 6 years old. They were my little helpers. When I had my mastectomy 3 years ago, they were only 22 months and 3 years old. It was really hard for my youngest who always wanted to be picked up prior to surgery, but she quickly got used to it. I had chemo and radiation too, so it was a long journey for all of us, but kids are resilient. I had a unilateral, so it will be a little harder for you with a double mastectomy, but I would still highly recommend it over implants. Don't hesitate to pm me if you have any questions.

I had a DIEP in June. Problems I had and am having now, are in July two tears about an inch on each side in the middle of my chest by the center corner of each flap. The healed and now have rough raised scars. The rest of the scars around the flaps, some are flat and some raised. Stomach scar pretty good. I'm probably going to get scar revision in one or two months. Have not put anything On old or new scars, so wondering what if anything works to keep scars flat and how long does it take redness to go away? Also is there anyone out there that has gotten a hernia or had other stomach problems; also my stomach is round and hard?

Thanks TheNannie

I'm 3 months out of surgery. Last night, I started having some nerve signalling or neuropathy in the far edge of my left flap. It occurs somewhat rhythmically and feels like intense itching. Is there anything I can do to stop this? it's driving me crazy.