Anyone w stroke hx and had blm with diep flap? Im terrified.

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Cjzach10
Cjzach10 Member Posts: 87
edited September 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi to all! Haven't posted in a while. Adjusting mentally to all this. Had left lumpectomy sept 6. Path showed IDC 1.1 cm er/pr positive her2 equivocal but fish was neg. Im planning to have blm and lymph node removal with diep flap in Nov.

I have a hx of a small stroke..not ministroke..almost 3 yrs ago. Have complex partial seizures now. On meds for both. I'm so thankful the stroke left me with very small residual effects only i know are there. At least i think so!

I am now getting terrified of having this long surgery. I trust my bs and ps and this has always been my plan if i got cancer. I'm a mammo tech and it didn't take long 16 yrs ago to decide on my plan. Of course this was never gonna happen to me! The thought of having a stroke during surgery has me 2nd guessing myself. I just want reassurance that other people in my shoes have had the same thing and been ok.

My drs agree my hx increases the risk a tiny bit but im getting realky scared. But i don't want to back out. I know this is the right thing for me.

About to have a complete hysterectomy fridsy the 28th due to some findings on both ovaries. Praying i dont have ovarian cancer too. Ca125 was normal. The breast cancer i can deal with..ovarian not so much. Once i get through this surgery ill be more at ease with the next longer more serious one i hope.

Thanks in advance!

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited September 2018

    I think surgeons routinely tell patients to go off their blood thinners, aspirin, etc. before any surgery. Don’t let them brush aside your risk. Please get your neurologist who cared for you after your stroke to weigh in on this. It may be safe for you to stay on something like low-dose aspirin. At least weigh the risks and benefits with all your doctors’ input

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  • Cjzach10
    Cjzach10 Member Posts: 87
    edited September 2018

    He says the risk isn't zero but slightly increased being off the plavix. He hasnt ssud what the risk is fir the surgery itself. I need to ask him specifically.

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  • Cjzach10
    Cjzach10 Member Posts: 87
    edited September 2018

    Anyone else? Maybe i need to post in a different forum?

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  • bella2013
    bella2013 Member Posts: 489
    edited September 2018

    Have you been told how long your surgery will take? When I started down the road to discussing DIEP Flap Surgery my BS said it’s a 10 hour surgery. My PS said it could be 5+ hours. It ended up being 4.5 hours. I had two PS and three of their PA’s working on harvesting fat and veins from my abdomen while my BS removed my breasts. That really cut down on the time I was under anesthesia.

    Are you having your surgery at a breast cancer center? Was your stroke from a blockage or was it a brain bleed. Remember, while you are in the hospital you will be getting Heparin injections to lower the risk of blood clots.


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  • Cjzach10
    Cjzach10 Member Posts: 87
    edited September 2018

    The ps specializes in diep flap and now is the only thing him and his associates do. Its not a cancer cener but my bs is a surgical oncologist. He said as little as 3..no problems everything perfect..up to 5 hours. Ive messaged my neurologist. Im curious to see what he says. Being on heparin makes me feel so much better. Mine was from a blockage and it was small. Left about a 2cm area of damage. Thank you so much!

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  • Cjzach10
    Cjzach10 Member Posts: 87
    edited September 2018

    The ps specializes in diep flap and now is the only thing him and his associates do. Its not a cancer cener but my bs is a surgical oncologist. He said as little as 3..no problems everything perfect..up to 5 hours. Ive messaged my neurologist. Im curious to see what he says. Being on heparin makes me feel so much better. During surgery is still worrisome. Mine was from a blockage and it was small. Left about a 2cm area of damage. Thank you so much!

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited September 2018

    My DIEP was more than 10 hours but I also had a lift on the real side, the good side. I had no health issues at all. So you might want to get a second opinion maybe from your GP.

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