DIEP 2015

Karen: That's wonderful!

I am having my surgery sometime in Aug and I am renting a recliner.

Brandi.

A recliner is nice, I tried the bed a few times but always went back to the recliner. My recliner is REALLY comfortable anyway, and it is electric so it was great to sleep in.  I spent two weeks in that recliner.

Scwilly happy to hear your home and recovering! I had to laugh because I have the exact same bed situation- my bed is high with an appropriate foot shelf to push myself on.

Annie, it sounds like you have a much smoother recliner than my mechanical one! If mine was electric and smooth I probably would have used it because once in it is also very comfortable, unfortunately getting out of mine would have been painful! Thanks lazy boy 2002

slv - that shelf hasn't been a good feature as I've caught my leg a few times and actulally smashed my IPad glass as I put it down too hard. Good for it to have a positive role now.

hartrish: so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I too was ILC.

I think I could have had a small implant (and matching reduction on other side) - but several doctors did say that because of the radiation - which tightens up skin so it doesn't stretch as much - the DIEP would probably work better. And, I had a personal aversion to implants so that was ok by me. I tried BRAVA + fat grafting first, and my radiation damage was severe enough that also didn't work well (it might have if I was willing to do 8-10 procedures but I called it quits after 6 and had DIEP) because the radiation made my skin too tight to stretch. Don't be shy about getting multiple opionions!

brandi: I got a backmax countour pillow, but then found that pillows under my knees and lower legs worked fine.

Proof that there can be light at the end of the BC tunnel - I just got my first NORMAL bathing suit since diagnosis 7.5 years ago!! Still from Land's End since they make longs, but NOT a mastectomy suit. it is so nice to feel just a little bit normal even with the "franken-boob" look. I'm doing great after stage 1 on Jan. 15, go for Stage 2 on May 28 and I will call this DONE. I could stop now and be 90% happy. I donated all my prosthesis to Duke Cancer Patient Support when I went for my annual checkup in mid-Feb. Yippee!!

SheriCola, as I say, may you have an uneventful surgery Monday, and heal quickly.

I had an electric recliner for recovery for diep surger and two minor revisions. I loved it. Slept in it for a couple of weeks after diep and a couple of days after each revision. For me, it kept me sleeping on my back, so I had no fear of turning over and lying on a drain, etc. One tip if you have an electric recliner - make sure the battery back up is working. I got stuck twice during my first recovery when the power went out during an ice storm!

Well, it's sunrise out here where I live. I have taken my Chihuahua out into the back yard to let him do his business. I'll then go shower and off to the hospital. Another surgery will soon be over. Wonder how many more I must face before I can put this BC misadventure behind me.

I'm sending best wishes healing thoughs to you Mefromcc and also to Shericola, Blessed 15, Hartrish and anyone else having surgery this week.

((Gentle hugs)) to those recovering just like me. It's Day 8 for me and so far I am doing really well and so happy I have had my surgery. I've not been up to much and am looking forward to moving on from drains etc. A shower is something of a distant memory and what I am most looking forward to when allowed. My little puppy is whining for a cuddle at my bedroom door so think I'll just let her in for a gentle one. Sarah x

(edited for typos)

thank you.

I am considering a delayed diep, after having a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders placed in December 2012, followed by an implant exchange surgery in May 2014, and then had my right implant removed due to an infection in my radiated breast.  At this time I have an implant on the left and nothing on the right.  I am struggling with the decision to scar up another part of my body (abdomen) in order to make a halfway decent looking breast.  I am thin, but my PS says I have some fat/tissue in my abdomen that he could use for a DIEP, along with placing a small implant behind it in order to match the size of my left side.  Are you happy with the way your DIEP breast looks/feels?  What about the large scar across your abdomen?  I know I don't want to continue looking the way I do right now, but am concerned about having two "scarred" areas, rather than just living with a messed up looking breast. . . Any suggestions would be great!  Thank you

Hello ladies! I'm scheduled to have BMX and Diepflap on April 23rd. Having never been under anesthesia other than port installation, completely terrified !!

Hi Sharon! I'm also in San Antonio PRMA! Small world! Is this your first surgery?

I will be at the Baptist Hospital. Dr. O is my doctor from PRMA. I live just outside San Antonio and was diagnosed last August. I've completed my chemo. My last treatment was March 10th. So is chemoin your treatment plan?

How long will you be staying in SA

Som, I, too, had the mastectomy and the expanders. I couldn't go with implants because my skin was so thin from the radiation, so it was Diep or nothing. I thought the same thing you did, do I want to mess up another part of my body to make my chest look ok. Yes I think the scars suck, but I would do it again because at least when I put on clothes or even a swim suit (my two pieces went bye bye) I look OK.  I can wear a tank top and don't need a bra, and still look OK. Put it this way,  I am not as self conscious about my scars as I would be if I didn't have breasts. That would be a lot harder to deal with.   I know the scars will fade, and will take awhile and yes the breasts are nice and soft.