Patrish

well, that is a drag, gal, but probably not too complicated a fix since a nipple is all on the surface.  hopefully your ps can do the fix and reconstruction all at the same time.  I had a part of my diep breast turn black, and lost about 20% of the breast...but in the end, it was repaired, I am symetrical and all is good now.  it is just hard to get dealt a setback when you have already been thru so much and the finish line is in sight.  you will get there!  all my best, Pat

hi Teresa,

one of my friends was diagnosed stage 4, and had a delayed diep.  and why not? no one knows how long we will be here, might as well go around with boobs, if that is what you want.

I also had a delayed diep, mainly because I was fed up with wearing a prosthesis. but, I got an unexpected bonus...having reconstruction added a much needed dose of normalcy to my life, and made it easier to move on.  I am now three years out, and I used to have cancer on my mind constantly.  now, I swear to you, I can go for whole days without thinking about it!  reconstruction helped me do that.  my best to you, whatever you decide.  Pat

hi Ladies, I had a uni and a diep.  so I have one natural nip, and one faux.  they never have they had the exact same projection, and even if they did, I don't want my headlights showin' anyway!  I found a great solution, called Ultimate Silicone Gel Petals by Fashion Forms.  they stick right on your breast over your nip(s) and give you the coverage of a padded bra.  now, I never wear a bra, (hate 'em) altho you can also wear them with a bra.   & just wear one, if you only have one nipple and want it to match the smooth side. they are so comfy, I often find I have forgotten to take them off at night or in the shower, can't even feel them, even on my natural side, and you can re-use them over and over.  they are thicker in the middle, then contour down to almost nothing at the edges, about 2 and a half inches across. they even come with a little carrying case, to keep their form. I got mine at Steinmart for $10, altho I think they also sell them at Dillards, maybe even Walmart.  just wanted to pass it on, because they have made my life so much easier.  best, Pat

getting cranky is a good sign, you are getting fed up with the status quo and soon you will turn a corner...4 weeks is a tough time, you are sick of the recovery mode, but not quite in a better place yet.  I remember it well.  but time will do its job, really!

 I forgot to tell you how to actually deal with feeling this way...IMHO...you have to step it up a notch. exercise in particular.  get your doc's okay and then get in the pool and stretch out those sore spots. water therapy will heal body and soul.  I know 'cause I have been there, done that.  you feel like you cannot do more than you are already doing, but you can.

I had my uni-diep in May '07.  4 weeks later I was back in the hospital for "revisions" to top and bottom due to circulation complications. I was also back to square one for healing, back on the walker and everything.  had stage 2 in sept. '07.  I remember that it took me 3 months to feel like I did not regret the diep.  in jan. '08, 7 months after my diep, I was hit by an SUV while out for a walk, both legs were broken at the knee.  I spent 3 months in a wheelchair.  now, I am walking un-aided.  I credit water exercise for bringing me back from both the diep and the broken legs.  I am still in the recovery mode, and when I get really down, I know I have to step it up.  you can do it!!  best, Pat

my friend is having a unilateral mastectomy for IDC on thursday.  she knows she wants reconstruction, but will do it delayed.  I am concerned that her bs has not discussed the option of a skin-sparing mastectomy with her.  I would like to see her avoid the scars that I had with delayed reconstruction with a conventional mastectomy, if possible.  are there medical reasons for not doing a ss-mastectomy vs. conventional, or is it a matter of surgeon skill/preference?  thanks Pat

hi Keryl, me again.  regards the nip...it is my understanding that with a skin-sparing mast., it is sometimes possible to save the nipple...they take out all the breast tissue underneath it and make sure it is very clean under there...but I think it depends on your doc and dx whether they can save it, or whether your bs believes it is safe to leave it in place.  this option seems to be getting more common, altho if the nipple is removed, it is it can be reconstructed nicely in an outpatient procedure later on... 

ps, wrote another note to ya on the "bummed" question...p/ 

hi Keryl...yea, you are right to stick with the exercise.  get your abs & back muscles in the best shape possible before the surgery.  I actually hired a personal trainer for 3 months before my delayed diep, and I think it really helped with my recovery.  your back muscles will be doing all the work while your abs recover, so your back can get really sore. the stronger the better.  and you don't have to feel as guilty about the brownies!

I read some of your earlier posts, and it sounds like you are trying to make some tough decisions right now.  just want to send you my best, Pat

hi Keryl, I think it is pretty hard to tell by yourself. I thought I had plenty, but my ps told me I barely had enough fat for one B breast.  seeems I had very little fat just under the belly skin but above the ab muscle.  that is the fat that they use in a tram or diep.  I had some extra fat under the ab muscle, but that is not in the right place, even tho it gave me a tummy pooch.  if you can grab some squishy tummy, that is a good sign!  best, and have brownie, can't hurt...Pat

I agree that it may be too soon to tell what the final outcome will be.  however, after my single diep, I had a complication which resulted in my diep breast being smaller than my natural one.  my ps suggested doing either an implant in my diep side to increase the size, or lipo on my natural side to reduce it.  I chose the lipo, and he was able to match my breasts quite well with this minimal procedure.  best, Pat