DIEP 2014

Hi Janet and all peeps,

I am really intrigued/confused about these 'crop circles' - I don't have them! Am I supposed to at this point?? What are they and where do they come from?

Janet, it's really lovely to hear how thrilled you have been getting the nips. It really sounds like the icing on the cake, or maybe the cherries??

I am super exited when it gets to be my turn although that is some way away yet. I am four months post diep now and i really cannot believe just how fast it has gone. I am due to see my ps in May and I guess he will tell me what's what. I am also down for the gynae, the gastro and my GP. Oh yes, I forgot to say I am also going on a holiday! my GP has arranged this for me as she says I really need it. It's no good to anyone here as it is in the UK, but, I will tell all when I return on the 24th but here are the details http://www.odyssey.org.uk/ I might even post photos!

I was wondering what that was, too.

I'm so glad you are all talking about nipple reconstruction.  I haven't been on the discussion board for a while, and I've got that coming up at the end of this month. So I'll be doing some reading tonight to prepare.  Also, I just started working again - I'm super excited!  To those who have had the nipple reconstruction, how soon did you return to work? I'm planning to be out the day after my procedure, but return to work two days after.  Does that seem reasonable?  Thank you in advance for your excellent advice!

Hugs to all,

Tina

Thanks, Ridley! I appreciate the tips.

Still - I remember someone who had surgery before me writing that when she talked to the anaesthesiologist, he said diep was a boring surgery for him. No major organs involved and long. I think boring for him = good for us!

I just had my forth surgery since I was diagnosed (lumpectomy, bilateral mast and recon, and 2 revisions). Ranged from 1 hour to 11.5. Made no difference to me. Once you are out you are out, and when you wake up, you have no sense of how much time has passed. Long ones are just harder on your family in the waiting room.

Have you had your pre op yet? I would encourage you to talk to them about your fears. They might have some suggestions.

Good luck - and there is a diep 2015 thread that is more active than this one.

thanks so much Ridley and Debian for the encouraging words! I know it's not going to be easy or fun but I agree that I will be glad I did it when it's all over with

Still Standing - When I told my PS that I was terrified of the long surgery he asked why. Then he said kindly, 'A long surgery is my problem, not yours.

Being asleep for eight hours is pretty much being asleep for 20 minutes. You close your eyes, then open them, and its done. This is your time for your body and mind to take a break while your fabulous medical team takes over and do what they do so well. Let yourself take a time out, and realize that you are in very capable hands, whose only goal is to make sure that your are safe, and healthy.

And also remember that this isn't a deep surgery involving organs and stuff. It's fairly superficial - and as one woman described it - a 'frontal realignment'. Is was my anaesthetist who described the surgery as boring. Because, as he said, there's nothing for him to do. No highs - no lows - just a long steady light sleep. I got the feeling this fellow wanted a bit more drama, and my bilateral DIEP surgery was just way too dull (sorry, doc).

When you wake you'll be groggy, but you have a whole bunch of people that will take care of you. When I woke up I was so relieved that it was over and that feeling of relief carried me a long way. I also remember my recovery as being surprisingly pain free. There were definitely restrictions of movement and range of motion, and sitting up on the first day was tricky, but also manageable. The nurses like to get you sitting on the first day, and it may seem unappealing - but you'll get help. And its the best thing for you. But for that first night you'll just be lying in bed while doctors check up on you every hour or so to make sure that all your blood is moving around the way that it's supposed to .

Within a few days you'll likely graduate to short walks, taken down hospital corridors leaning on your IV stand. Nothing to worry about though - you'll have help. And you'll probably look forward to these little walks, because you're bored. Between sleeping a lot, walking a bit, watching movies on my iPad, the four days in hospital passed quickly.

As someone else mentioned you'll have a catheter. It was my first experience with one, and I didn't know what to expect, but I loved it! I begged to have it a little longer so I wouldn't have to walk to the washroom, but the nurses wouldn't budge. And speaking of washrooms, mine was outfitted with a raised seat for the toilet, so that sitting down wasn't too difficult. I was hunched over, and walking like a slow turtle, but it wasn't too bad. In fact, I found that the hunched over-ness was the most frustrating part of the entire recovery. It took me ages to stand up because they pulled my tummy so tight, and my lower back ached. If anyone offers you a back rub during your recovery - take it. In fact, take all the help you can get because you'll be moving at a different speed than you're used to.

I hope you can find some calm and/or excitement amidst the nerves. I was a basket case for my lumpectomies and pretty anxious about the surgery, but it was a smoother period than I expected. One thing that really helped me was a guided mediation. I downloaded 'guided Meditation for a Successful Surgery' by Bellaruth Naperstak. She helped take away the fear factor, by making the whole procedure seeing less lonely and intimidating. She talks about the role of the patient, and how to make the OR seem like a safe, welcoming place using visualization. And she helped me let go of control and just basically, join in the fun. I can't explain it very well without sounding like a flake - but it worked for me and I went from being a big hairy chicken, to feeling confident and (almost) relaxed.

Oh, here's the other thing. An Ativan before the surgery is also pretty fantastic. Ask your doctor if he can give you something to make the butterflies go away.

Good luck with everything,

Janet

Janet: I am not having my surgery until August but your post was very helpful. You don't sound like a flake at all!

I like the idea about thinking of your grandmother. I am happy about the fact that when we visited the hospital, they showed us the facilities. I can picture where I will be and it helps me to know. The nicest part is that it was not a typical loud busy hospital.

Wow! Janet & LAstar, you have made me feel so much better about all this. I will definitely try guided meditation for surgery. I have used it for the last few months to sleep when the chemo was keeping me awake. It certainly does help. Anything to calm the mind I'm all for

A lot of the meditations can be found on YouTube for free

I too listened to Belleruth before my BMX and flew through that surgery June 2014. I am having unilateral DIEP on April 29 and just started listening again. Thank you Janet for you post as the unknown is always scary and you made this surgery sound doable. Thank you for your post.

Janet, you nicely explained the surgery and what to expect. Someone should save it for reposting when the question comes up again.

Jmb, I am so sorry to hear about your friend's diagnosis. Does she have the option of chemo first? That was the route I went and it allowed me extra time to decide on a surgery plan.