2018 DIEP Surgery

marg2018, each PS has their requirements. My PS had me wear it for 4 weeks then switched to Spanx or a similar product. The longer you can wear something to support your abdominal area the better the outcome you will have. I liked the Spanx more so than the abdominal band because it gave me support all the way around my torso. Please see my post above about the details

roxwrites, wow, you’ve had quite an ordeal. As smooth as mine has went it was still rough going the first several weeks. I’m 10 weeks out and am feeling pretty close to normal. What ever that is:)

Hope you continue to feel better!

one thing I wish I had done differently with my BMX/TE surgery was not taking advantage of the stronger pain meds that first few weeks. I only ever took Tylenol and it was doable, but in hindsight it kept me down longer than I would have been if I'd been up and moving faster and farther with smarter pain management. I know taking opioids can be tricky business but there is a time and place for it and BMX should have been it for me. Won't make that mistake again.

Lanne

Twills and Lula73: Thank you so much!

5 weeks later...I'm feeling great, and heading back to work tomorrow. I've ordered some tanks with built in bras from amazon as I've gone without a bra for 5 years, and although I was elated to “need" one again, I find the restriction maddening. The only pain I have now is what I assume to be nerve pain on the left side. My guess is that radiation saved me from that on the right. Any advice on dealing with the shooting nerve pain?

Best decision I've ever made, hands down!🙌🏻

Wishing you all a blessed Mother’s Day!🌷

Stacey- So glad you’re recovery is going well! you can try using some Vagisil cream where you’re feeling the pain. It works for many of us. It’s the same stuff that was in Lanacane for itch and pain. (Lanacane is no longer sold in US). The brand name and walmart brand work great, the target brand left clumps of cream all over that crinkled up and fell off like bits of pencil eraser, do I do not recommend target brand. Good luck!

DawnAnn- perfectly natural to have the jitters at this stage of the game. Surgery is Tuesday? Take some time and enjoy the city, try some restaurants, basically act like you’re on vacation and it will help with the jitters. If they get bad enough, try taking a Xanax if you have some or Benadryl if you don’t. I relate DIEP/SGAP flap to childbirth...it’s not necessarily easy, you should expect to have your pain handled well, the outcome is 100% worth it, and after a few months you tend to forget the tougher parts. Know that you are in the absolute best hands! Good luck this week. 🍀 Warm encouraging thoughts coming your way!

DawnAnn, I agree with Lula73. It's perfectly normal to have anxiety this close to surgery. You have gone through your hardest part of your cancer treatment already...losing your breast. Now you get to have them restored from your own tissue. It is so worth it! The flat tummy is awesome! In 4-5 weeks you are going to feel so much better. It is like birthing a child. You don't want to go through labor and delivery but you have to in order to receive the great gift!

Xanax helped me with the anxiety. I took two an hour before I arrived at the hospital. I was not feeling any anxiety! Tomorrow is your day. You get to sleep thru the whole thing!! You can do this!

You are in great hands at NOLA and I am sure you will have a great result. Warm thoughts and a gentle bear hug coming to you.

Blessings,

Barbara

Dawnann and Primerose24, excited for you both! Cheering you on and wishing you a comfortable recovery and healing process:)

ocdamy,

If your CT was ordered by your plastic surgeon for DIEP, you won’t hear anything. It’s his/her tool for knowing where your arteries are and will be used to guide where he/she will cut your belly. Mine confessed that he didn’t look at it until he’s prepping for surgery

Dawnann good luck tomorrow , you got this! I am heading into surgery on Thursday and like you the nerves are kicking in. I know I am in good hands and thankful for the women who have shared their experiences on this site, it has helped me to have a better understanding and know what to expect during my recover.

Hi ladies, I wanted to chime in, I am a year out from my DIEP Flap surgery. I was diagnosed last year at age 47 with ER, PR and HER2 positive IDC multi focal breast cancer with the biggest tumor 11mm. 4 tumors all together on the left side. I had a Double Mastectomy with immediate DIEP Flap reconstruction. Without a doubt this was the best decision for me. My surgery date was May 22, 2017. Eight weeks later I was at my nieces wedding up and dancing. I had extreme anxiety leading up to surgery - this was the worst for me.

Chemo for me was more difficult then the mastectomy and DIEP Flap reconstruction. I started TCHP on July 24. The chemo held up my healing, but once that was over in November, the healing started. All wounds closed up at the end of February. I did walk around with open wounds from July to February but I took good care of them and had a visiting nurse tend to them once a week till all wounds healed.

I had help the first two weeks home, after that I improved a little each day. I still have to do stage 2, I have put it on hold since I am HER2 positive and I am still receiving Herceptin and Perjeta infusions every 3 weeks til beginning of this August. Once kids are back in school in the fall I will do stage 2. I look better in clothes now then I did before surgery, I am extremely pleased with my body.

I have lost 58 pounds after surgery, I feel and look great. For me the chemo was harder of the two which I started on July 28, 2017 approximately eight weeks after surgery. I had my nieces wedding on a Saturday and then started chemo on a Monday.

What I want to reiterate is that one year out from my surgery I look and feel good.

Good Luck to you all. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Monica

Thanks suburbs!

My Breast Surgeon was Dr. Ashikari and Plastic Surgeon was Dr. Koch. NY Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, Cortlandt Manor NY about 45 minutes outside of NYC in Westchester County.

Primrose24--Good Luck tomorrow! Prayers for an easy speedy recovery

hI ladies, I am 2 days out after diep surgery. The first thing I noticed was no more cronic pain uhDer left arm b after surgery. Dr Trayhan had reattached neeve's and muscle an removed scar tissue. At this point feel relived.

Lonher lether later. Dawnann

so glad the pain is gone, DawnAnn! Sounds like everything went well. So happy for you!🤗