DIEP 2015

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  • Violetphisch
    Violetphisch Member Posts: 15
    edited February 2015

    So relieved to read that some of you have the same pain/numbness/burning underarm and upper arm and foob. I am 2 weeks post op and was getting frustrated. All nurses say it's normal and will resolve. Seeing occupational therapist next week after last and final drain removed. Hopefully he would have some stretches that will help.

    Myleftboob- I too quit smoking 6 weeks before surgery. So glad I did. When my PS found she was thrilled. Got a round of high fives from the nurses and surgical residents in recovery when it was discussed. That felt good. Good luck, and it can make a huge difference in your healing. I'm rooting for you!

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited February 2015

    I don't know if it is the same for you, Violet, but after three weeks I was allowed to start raising my arms above shoulder height. The first couple of weeks I felt like there was painful cording in my right arm (PMx side), to my wrist, if I lifted my arm even to 90 degrees in front of me, but this seems to have resolved a lot!

    My right shoulder ROM has improved dramatically this week. My left, which was always slightly tight pre op, is still waaay tight in comparison. May need some help!

    I found out yesterday that they removed ten lymph nodes from my right side to access the necessary vessels in my axilla. Somewhat disconcerting, as I previously had mild lymphedema in my left, original mastectomy side, and always use my right arm for blood draws, BP etc .... I'm booked to see a PT at the LE clinic Feb 9, and I'm glad about that now!

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited February 2015

    Violet, I didn't remember the burning sensation until I re-experienced it this week! I had one swollen node taken during my DIEP and I have been using that arm too much post-op.

    Morweena, I'm sorry to hear that you lost so many nodes. I'm surprised they didn't tell you sooner since you would want to baby that arm.

    I'm finally out of the hospital and working on getting up more frequently and trying to stand up a little more. The meds make it easier but I'm trying to take as little as I can get away with for the sake of clarity. I know it's a long recovery, but I hope the worst is behind me. The flu and two surgeries in 10 days was quite enough for this body! We are hoping to get a little beach sand between our toes on this beautiful Charleston Sunday then settle in at Extended Stay America for our own little Super Bowl party. Having my 7 year old daughter with me is so good for my healing. She keeps a smile on my face and is such a good and encouraging helper.

    I hope everyone is healing well. I'm enjoying everyone's posts - it's so reassuring to know all of this is within the range of normal healing. Hugs to you gals!

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited February 2015

    OVienna, I took Percocet for 4 weeks after my DIEP last year. I would try to stop taking them and felt miserable. I had a check up with my BS, and she strongly urged me to continue taking them, so I did. I felt better with the meds, and had no trouble going off of them at 4 weeks.

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  • Bestgigigirl61
    Bestgigigirl61 Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2015

    Hi Morwenna,

    I have a surgery date of April8th in Nola with Dr. W. Please add me to the discussion. I have lots of questions, but I have been through reconstruction before, just not DIEP, and I am rather nervous.

    Thanks, Bestgigigirl61

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  • julieho
    julieho Member Posts: 222
    edited February 2015

    bestgigigirl I had my DIEP with Dr W at NOLA in December. I go Match 6th for my second stage.

    I also had reconstruction before with implants. He removed those and used flaps from my abdomen for new breast. They are really so much more comfortable. The surgery is a long recovery and for me mostly about fatigue. Pain was well managed. I am 7 weeks out and feel pretty good now. Really thought the Center was a nice place and felt I got great treatment there.

    Take care,

    Julieho

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited February 2015

    Welcome Bestgigigirl61!

    I've added you to the timeline :) Ask away!!

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  • mefromcc
    mefromcc Member Posts: 188
    edited February 2015

    Surgery now 10 days away. I had a clearance from my cardiologist for the BMX I had in October, but found out Friday that this group Anesthesia department wanted a new clearance. I got fitted in today with the doc and got another clearance. I think I am all set now. Oh yes, saw my BS today for routine follow up. He said the PS won't like to do surgery if you have seromas. So he removed 15 ml from one side and almost 40 ml from the other side. Have not had any fluid removed since my last visit to him in December.

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  • NTL
    NTL Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2015

    jmb5 you mentioned that you had free TRAM. Do you feel pain or soreness in you belly? Many females told me that when they did the TRAM they would get a sore muscle after doing physical activities.

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  • Violetphisch
    Violetphisch Member Posts: 15
    edited February 2015

    question:

    My tummy feels right and nurse said it is from swelling and that takes 3 months to clear up.... Aarrgghhhh. My foobs have some of the same tightness. Nurse said nothing about compression garments. I have gotten some really great answers here, so what say you, women of experierience.... Best brand / type compression garments

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  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2015

    Morning Ladies, I still have some weight to lose but nervous about the surgery. Reading all of your post makes it better so thank you for that!! I too am one who has had a c-section, tubes tied, large grapefruit size tumor all cut in the same place and will be removing the implants, the ps still says he will be able to do the diep surgery. Which was not my choice but his recommendation because of the lumps too close to the implants and he is concerned about possible infection.

    My next question may sound crazy but here it is, did anyone who had the double mastectomy notice the top of their stomach looking exteremely larger? And when they do the diep will they fix that part or just concentrate on the bottom?

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  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2015

    Julieho, I believe I'm having the same surgery. The ps did not give me much info just recommended me taking out the implants. He said I won't have to have the drainage tubes in the breast and that they will take the tissue from my stomach and use it in the place where the implants are. Is that how it happened for you?

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  • mefromcc
    mefromcc Member Posts: 188
    edited February 2015


    Dila,

    I had a BMX and afterwards noted sometime in my life I had developed a gut full of fat (as you describe). I specifically asked my PS if that would stay there. He said they tunnel between the fat, too and bring that and the skin down. I teased back that I would not lose my pot belly after all. He laughed at that. Anyway, I will be having my DIEP next week and I will let you know.

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  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2015

    Mefromcc, thanks for that info...After I had my double mastectomy my stomach was so bloated. When I mentioned it to the surgeon he said it was always there but I never had a problem with the top of my stomach just that pouch at the bottom after my c-section and other surgeries I've had. I've looked at other women that I know that have had the same surgery and notice they have it too. I have had so many surgeries and have never been worried or nervous before having them but this one, I know I have to lose the weight first but I am extremely nervous about. Looking forward to your good report!!

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  • julieho
    julieho Member Posts: 222
    edited February 2015

    Dlia,

    I did have breast drains and abdominal drains after my DIEP and their taking out implants. I think breast drains are likely. I did find they came out much faster than the drains I had with expanders. I got all my breast drains and one of my abdominal drains out at my post op one week appt.

    I will be eight weeks post op tomorrow and happy I did it.

    I have Stage two in four weeks and then I am DONE. Can't wait. I will eventually get 3D tattoos but no more surgeries after the next one. PHEW. I had with all my infections four surgeries with expanders and implants so two with DIEP seems reasonable.

    Best of luck,

    Julieho

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited February 2015

    Dlia,

    I think your surgeon was correct I'm afraid. We don't notice our upper tummy paunches until we suddenly lose our boobs! Then the first thing you see when you look down is this spare tire you never knew was there! WTF!!

    The good thing about this surgery is not only do they remove that troublesome paunch below/around the belly button, but then they stretch the fatty upper part down, and you lose the upper tire too! Bonus!!!

    I do find it hard to believe that you won't have drains in the boob area after diep, so don't bank on that. But I did find the lower abdomen drains more of a nuisance, personally.

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  • Sue007
    Sue007 Member Posts: 27
    edited February 2015

    Hi Everyone, Contemplating a DIEP, so let me get this straight and everyone please feel free to respone. So are you forever numb from the DIEP donor site up to the boob? thanks

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  • mefromcc
    mefromcc Member Posts: 188
    edited February 2015

    Morwenna,

    You mean I won't be replacing my current pot belly with the stuff pulled down from my above waist?!! That would look so weird to me - I have always had a pot body, even when I weighed 57 pounds less as a 12 year old!

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  • Ridley
    Ridley Member Posts: 634
    edited February 2015

    Hi Sue -- I'm just over a year out from DIEP -- my donor site might be a little bit numb just below the incision, but nothing I notice. I am not numb above my ab incision.  My right breast (which only had this one surgery) is numb where the skin patch is in the centre (often referred to as a crop circle -- I did not have nipple sparing surgery) and a bit on the outer side toward my armpit.  My left side (which had a lumpectomy before DIEP) is more numb (bigger crop circle because they had to remove the lumpectomy scar). 

    I'm not sure whether more feeling will come back or not.

    Ask away with any questions you have and good luck with your decision.

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited February 2015

    ME,

    if I am understanding your question right, er, yes you will .... But it's the same mass spread over twice the area, so net result is a tighter, flatter tummy. I am liking this look, even though I'm probably somewhat swollen! :)

    Re numbness: at 4 weeks out, I am numb through the central portion of my tummy, including my brand new tummy button, but I have read some of the tummy numbess fades. I am also numb in the crop circles, and under both armpits and the upper inside/backs of my arms, although it feels like it might be starting to recover.

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  • Sassy01
    Sassy01 Member Posts: 61
    edited February 2015

    Sue007, the abdomen was numb after surgery but slowly regained complete feeling. The breasts are a different story. I have absolutely no feeling in them. I lost all feeling when I had my bilateral mastectomy 8 months prior to the DIEP.

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited February 2015

    NTL, I do not have any pain in my belly, but a year out I do still have some numbness. It definitely feels different, but there is no pain thankfully.

    Sue, My PS told me that I would get some feeling back, but it will never be the same as before. She also said that nerves regenerate 1 mm per day. I've noticed over the course of this past year (DIEP was Jan 2014) that feeling has slowly returned to my abdomen, kind of starting from the outside, working in, if that makes sense. So the whole middle part around my belly button is still numb. I can feel pressure, but if I lightly rub a finger over the skin, there is no feeling. It's kind of weird, but you get used to it. My breasts have more feeling than I thought they would. Again, it's more on the outside, and none where the fake nipples are. Sorry if this is TMI, but when dh touches them during sex, I can feel it. I've been pleasantly surprised, because I thought I would feel nothing.

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited February 2015

    I don't think there is such a thing as tmi in this forum. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited February 2015

    Lol, Morwenna. Very true. Thought of this topic of feeling in the tummy area when I was at Target today shopping without a cart. I was carrying a few items, and the corner or the box was jabbing my tummy and I didn't feel it. Lol.

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited February 2015

    You do have to be careful!

    One of my friends who had had reconstruction was having trouble with her poppy back in November, and it kept falling off, and she kept jabbing it back in, ..... then that night found her shirt was spotted with blood where she'd been sticking the pin into her numb boob! :o

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  • OVienna
    OVienna Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2015

    My PS says he wants me back in the abdominal binder the majority of the time- he didn't like my Uni Qlo body girdle as much as I did, boo, hoo. (Seems that he and his Nurse Practitioner are not on the same page about this.) But I can wear the girdle at bedtime and for a minimal amount of time at home. I do want to heal properly, so I am complying....back in the binder I go. There are certainly worse things, I keep reminding myself. Still at three weeks post-op, I feel so much better. It's hard to be patient. I want to feel myself again but I know I still need to take it easy. I am forcing myself to rest as much as I can. Ancy

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  • OVienna
    OVienna Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2015

    Speaking of numbness, it seems I will no longer be able shave under my affected arm, for fear of injury. Must switch to an electric razor or waxing when I get my arm mobility back? What have others done

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited February 2015

    I shaved for the first time today! I do have an electric shaver, I got when I had my first surgery, but I couldn't seem to make it work this morning .... Maybe the hairs were too long.

    Eventually I used a new clean disposable razor, and a lot of care!! Felt good to get rid of the bush! Although, most of the hair doesn't grow any more in my left pit, since it was wiped out by the radiation!

    At four weeks out, I drove myself also for the first time today .... and walked around Costco :)

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  • Sassy01
    Sassy01 Member Posts: 61
    edited February 2015

    OVienna, I use both an electric razor and normal razor. I stuck strictly to the electric razor for months after the mastectomy, but now I am just really really careful with my left armpit as it is fairly numb and a giant crater that I have a hard time seeing. I had 11 nodes and a bonus tumor taken out on that side so it's pretty messed up. Just take your time and make sure you have the mobility and steadiness before you go back to a normal razor.

    And Morwenna, the electric razor definitely does not work on long hair!

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited February 2015

    I just thought the shaver might work, as it has a trimmer blade at the side as well as the foil. I'll probably mostly use it now that I've cut back the four week's undergrowth! ;)

    I'm so numb under both arms now, and still have some swelling that makes it awkward to reach to the opposite armpit or to pull the skin taut.

    I wasn't expecting to have nodes removed from my prophylactic side. Does everyone get this? My PS blithely explained that they "only took a few, to be able to get to the vessels under the arm", but the path report said ten nodes were removed and examined (ned thankfully), and I already have established LE on my left side, where 11 nodes were taken!

    Anyway, I have an appt with the PT at the LE/oncorehab clinic next week, so we will see what their opinion and advice is....

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