DIEP 2015

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  • spookisgirl
    spookisgirl Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    I like him a lot. Mat leave seems to be the issue with PS's in Victoria right now--I was told by my SO that there were only 3 PS's did DIEP in Vic, but that one was on mat leave and the other about to go on or something similar. I think he does do a lot of implants, but that is not an option I would entertain myself. Good to know there are a couple stages and that things can get fixed--I am sure it is similar for the military as well. We usually receive coverage equal to that offered by any of the provinces.

    My focus right now is getting through chemo--just weathering through round 2 of 4 of AC before switching to Taxol. Slowly plans are getting in place though.

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

    Best wishes for getting through chemo, spookisgirl! You are so young to go through this mess!

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  • Neta69
    Neta69 Member Posts: 203
    edited February 2015

    Glad you like him Spookisgirl. I hear good things about him. I had that same chemo I think. ACx4 then Tx4 every 2 weeks. I remember the second AC knocked me on my ass but for some reason AC 3-4 wasn't as bad. I tolerated Taxol quite well and hope you will too. Hang in there!

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

    I had the same chemo, but my Taxol was weekly for 12 weeks. I did find the Taxol easier than the AC to start with, but the last 3-4 weeks were tough with fatigue and upset tummy.

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  • emusmummy
    emusmummy Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2015

    No worries, you've got this!!!

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  • Scwilly
    Scwilly Member Posts: 489
    edited February 2015

    I saw my PS on Friday. She likes to wait 6-12 months after rads to do DIEP but prefers 12. I'll be around 8 monts so she's happy. Just waiting for the scheduling, which I hope to be in a month. My PS is going on mat leave in May - seems this has been a common thing for PS's on this thread! I have a good friend who is a physicians assustant and I'm really happy she can be in on my op.

    Just a little concerned as I've been disgnosed with DCIS (In Feb) and worry they might find something when they do the mx part of DIEP, then if I shoukd have rads then that wont be possible. Going to have mammogram on Tuesday then seeing my surgeon to duscuss all this on Friday. Feel I need a MRI - had one in June last year which was clear but this has come uo since.

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    Scwilly-

    I just had a mastecomy/DIEP last week for DCIS and also was very worried about something unexpected showing up in the tissue. Both my Breast surgeon and plastic surgeon said if something came back in the pathology and I needed chemo or radiation, it would be fine for the DIEP

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited February 2015

    Seems like opinions are mixed on this one.

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    well they just meant that if I'm going in for DIEP surgery, it's kind of too late after the pathology comes back because the DIEP has already been done. Radiation isn't ideal after a DIEP but it's done. They also said chances were if something hidden were found it would probably be small so removal may be enough or then possibly chemo. But usually not radiation unless it was really involved.With that being said, I would recommend an MRI before surgery if possible. I had 2 issues that were only caught by MRI, not mammo or US.

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  • Scwilly
    Scwilly Member Posts: 489
    edited February 2015

    Thanks for your advice. I think I am concerned because I have had previous invasive BC. I don't know if this new case is connected to my last, but have a gut feeling its not as it completely different presentation. I'm not confident the mammogram will pick up everything and think I will push for a MRI. I do know nothing is guaranteed. I did get the impression the PS didn't want RADS after the DEIP (logical as its her work that would be effected)

    nmh35: did you get further pathology after your DEIP? My pathology after my last UMX, showed a much smaller IBC remaining (.9cm) and DCIS and LCIS. My margins were all good though.

    Sarah

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    yes, they definitely don't want their work messed up lol. No pathology yet, probably tomorrow or the next day.

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  • rangerwife74
    rangerwife74 Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2015


    Ranger wife here. My DIEP at Univ of Colorado is tomorrow morning. Less than 12 hrs. I had a pre Surg apt 2 weeks ago. The MRI showed some adnormal stuff in my remaining right breast. So I had a  MRI guided biopsy last wed. By the way..... those suck.

    The results were benign on Fri, so I am cleared for surgery tomorrow. I am having a DIEp on the LEFT (had cancer) and a prop with DIEP on right. I am very nervous but excited. I know I will never look totally normal but a bit more symmetry would be great.

    I really wish some super smart doctor would find a cure for this crap.

    Hugs and Kisses,

    V

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    good luck ranger wife!

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  • Scwilly
    Scwilly Member Posts: 489
    edited February 2015

    How are you feeling following your operation? - I hope you are comfortable and healing well.

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  • Scwilly
    Scwilly Member Posts: 489
    edited February 2015

    Best of luck to you ranger wife from me too.

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    I'm feeling pretty good. Not so much pain, more uncomfortable from sitting all the time. And have to get use to no energy and endurance!

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  • mefromcc
    mefromcc Member Posts: 188
    edited February 2015

    Smooth going, Ranger wife😷

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

    nmh

    Yeah, I really started to have s problem with my tailbone, sitting on it so much! I would keep adjusting the recliner, or my pillows, or how I was sitting on them. Stuffing pillows in, and throwing them out when I was in bed.

    I SO wanted to lie down flat and curl up on my side in bed. I am only now starting to be able to lie somewhat turned onto my side. My tummy doesn't mind me twisting now, but my flaps don't bear too much pressure for too long. I'm back down to 2 pillows in bed! :)

    How do you know what the normal or expected level of fatigue should be? That was a hard one for me, and now I realize that a large part of my poor endurance was my multiple pulmonary emboli!!!

    Starting to feel better, and wearing my fitbit again now: Today nearly 8000 steps, which is a huge improvement! :D I still have to take it real slow going up hills or stairs, and after a 3 mile walk today I slept for an hour and a half!

    I don't feel anywhere near going back to work yet, and luckily they are expecting me to be off until after early April.


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

    May your surgery be boring and uneventful, Rangerwife!

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  • Sassy01
    Sassy01 Member Posts: 61
    edited February 2015

    Morwenna, it took me a solid 8-9 weeks to start getting my energy back after Stage 1. I'm 10 weeks off of Stage 2 and just started getting the energy back about a week ago. I can still get pretty zapped if I overdo it. I did a 6.5 mile hike up a mountain trail yesterday and it wasted me for the rest of the day! Be patient, it will come. Rest and heal!

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

    Best wishes, RangerWife! I hope you get some rest tonight.

    nmh, glad you are not dealing with pain. Sitting around is challenging. There's only so much TV and naps anyone can stand. Hang in there!

    Nice job on getting back to activity, Morweena! I need to do some slow treadmill walks just to see how far I can go.

    Last drain out tonight - so relieved! I'm at 4 weeks tomorrow and feeling so much better. Energy is starting to come back. My attitude is a little better too. I felt bad for venting my negative thoughts last week and hope I didn't bring anyone down. Now what cute outfit can I wear tomorrow that doesn't have to hide drains? :)

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    morwenna-

    I know my endurance isn't normal because I can barely pick up a few toys in my living room without being winded. I got nervous reading about your emboli. How did you know? I know poor endurance and energy is normal but my chest hurts every morning when I wake up and get short of breath easily.

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

    nmh, that's my point, I didn't really know, and I kept telling myself that everybody feels winded and fatigued. I feel kinda stupid, as I'm a physiotherapist, so feel I have let this get me twice now!

    But at 5 1/2 weeks post op, when I was using both stair rails climbing up to my bedroom, I had a sudden thought: The last time I felt like this I had pulmonary emboli!

    Even then I thought I was just being over anxious, but I decided to mention it to my PT at my lymphedema clinic the next day, on the grounds that if I had never said anything and suddenly dropped down dead it would be my own silly fault. I actually told my PT: so this is me, mentioning it!

    I had vague tenderness in the calves, but then most of my body was tender, to a greater or lesser extent! My PT thought she detected some swelling in my lower legs, but nothing that I had noticed! Anyway, without her encouragement to go to ER and get myself checked, I'd still probably be staggering around with clots!

    FYI the textbook signs for p.e. are acute shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, dizziness, fatigue, low grade fever; and for dvt, calf pain, tenderness to palpation or to stretch, localized swelling, heat, redness or "bruised" appearance.

    I honestly had nothing dramatic going on, just a vague sense of unease, and an idea that it was my breathlessness that was constraining my progress, and it was slowly getting worse, if anything, when it should have been improving!

    I don't mean to make everyone anxious. I was always at high risk of a repeat thromboembolic event, given my past medical history and high platelets condition..... It just throws me that as a PT myself, I feel like I should have spotted it, and preferably avoided it! But the textbook signs and symptoms were conspicuously absent!

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

    Having said all of the above, nmh, you are just over 1 WEEK post-op! Give yourself a break!!

    Picking up after the kids? ..... Tsk tsk! ;)

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    yes I know I'm only a week out lol. But I'm actually having shortness of breath without exertion, just from sitting. The issue is that I had some shortness of breath before surgery, possibly from reflux, so I never know what is what. I mentioned it to my surgeon and he basically said there is possibility of an emboli but my only option would be to go to the ER for a cat scan. Guess I'll just see how I feel as time progress.

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

    Hmmm. Well I think the CT scan is probably the definitive tool for diagnosis.... and the quickest way for that, as per my experience, is to present yourself at the ER.

    Are you having any pain, tenderness, cramping in your calf muscles?

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    no calf muscles are ok. Of course now I remember having a pain behind my knee going into my calf muscle before surgery lol. I'm sure I'm just stressing myself out because there is so much unknown with this surgery recovery

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

    Well, you are probably right, but if you don't feel you are making progress, or certainly if it gets worse, get yourself checked!

    Otherwise, as people kept telling me, "Patience Grasshopper!" :)

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

    I hope you are recovering well, RangerWife!

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited February 2015

    RangerWife, thinking of you, hope your feeling better- gentle hugs

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