Double MX + immediate reconstruction 09/29/11

Deidre'...I don't know a whole lot about this but before I met with my plastic surgeon, I went to YouTube and watched some recoveries of people with reconstructions.  It made me not want to get the DIEP or TRAM as I was just too chicken to go through that much.  It looks like the first couple days are the worst, but they give you good meds in the hospital.  If you go to YouTube, search mastectomy reconstruction DIEP or mastectomy with TRAM or just tummy tuck surgery.  It shows alot of different people and their stories. 

I am opting for implants when I have my BMX in October.  I think it is wise to check your sentinel nodes.  They will want to know if the cells have gone beyond your breast tissue into your lymph system since recurring DCIS can have an invasive component.  If so, you will probably get chemo treatments.  Better safe, than sorry.  Let the experts do their job to take good care of you :-)

Good luck to you!!

Hi Deidre',

I had a bilateral mastectomy & delayed bilateral DIEP.  It seems like I was in more pain from the BMX but I think a lot of that was the node dissection.  It left me with nerve pain in my arm.  It's no so bad now but it hurt a lot then.

As to the Bi-DIEP.  The first few days are the worst & getting out of bed into a chair that first few times.  After that it isn't quite so bad. Getting up & down that first couple of weeks is challenging.  It helped to have a recliner that I could get in & out of it.  

As to having them at the same time, I can't speak to that but they do give you good pain meds so you are comfortable.

I too am a teacher.  I am 6 weeks out from surgery & probably would be getting ready to go back to work.  I feel really good for the most part.  Unfortunately I hit a snag.  One side has been radiatied so the top part is grumpy & on the bottom my incision opened. Again all of this is from the radiation. Since you haven't had it you should get along just fine.  

The worse part is drains, I felt so much better to get them all out.  I had six, 2 came out in the hospital, 2 a week later, 1 came out on it's own & finally the last one came out in about 4 weeks.  I am healing & that is the main thing.

I would do it again in a heart beat. It is nice to have the "girls" again & they don't look to bad either. I can't wait until Stage 2 to get the non-radiated side reduced just a little.  

BTW I am music teacher so I will be working hard when I go back. I hope this helps & enjoy your time off.  It has really helped me relax to know I have a good sub. 

Sending love & support. NJ