DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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Hello everyone, please say a little prayer for me. I have Deip surgery and I am scared out of my witts. I am so looking forward to putting this behind me tho.
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All the best, Teejax. Wishing you speedy recovery.
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Teejax, being anxious is normal. It's a big procedure. Most of us say that it ended up being easier then we thought it was going to be. We build it up so much in our minds. Keep up the communication with your surgical team. They can help you be calm and comfortable, but only if they know how anxious you are. Good luck and well wishes for a quick recovery! 💓
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Thank you both! I decided to take my family to dinner and try to get everything off my mind for a while.
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Hello all! Day 6 from BMX followed by immediate reconstruction via DIEP and also placement of small silicone implants. It took 9 hours but who knew?
So far, I am feeling amazingly well! I haven't even taken a Tylenol since 12:30 this afternoon. I may pop a couple just in case. I just can't believe how well I feel! My hubby and I just took a walk outside. Just a short one but it felt great to get outdoors! I lost one of six drains before leaving the hospital on Friday. I see my PS next Thursday. Fingers crossed I can get rid of the rest of these pesky drains! I hope I continue through the recovery process doing as well as I am now. Moving forward! So glad to get the surgery behind me!!!! By the way, Penn Hospital was amazing! What a great group of professionals! 0 -
Well, DizzParkMom's prophecy was right--it hit me today. Sore belly and thighs, but tolerable while on the pain meds. I'll just keep taking it easy as things settle in.
My foobs are bandaged and I am not supposed to remove them until I see the doctor on Tuesday. I am eager to see what they look like!
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My prayers are with you Teejax. I remember the might before my mastectomy I was doing fine, then all of a sudden I had a major anxiety attach. This was new for me I'm usually very calm and collect. I guess it was just the anxiety of knowing you have cancer and my journey of surgery then chemo and radiation was starting . All the unknowns. Will be thinking about you. You've got this!!
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I am about 7 weeks post op from bilateral MX with immediate DIEP reconstruction and am experiencing delayed wound healing on the underside incision on each breast and my abdominal incision in the middle. it is very distressing to say the least. i take pictures every day. i saw the doc march 31 and we started dressing the wounds with inadine dressings covered with medipore pads. when we changed the dressing last saturday night my bf became alarmed as it looked like there was a big home where the "slough" used to be so we called the hospital and they suggested we come down to emerg so the plastic surgeon on call could look at it.
he cleaned me all up but was not alarmed. no sign of infection. said once the slough clears out the wound will start healing and become pink. awesome.
now tonight, that hole appears to be better but the other side appears to be bigger (i think) but it could be my paranoia lol. i called the hosptial and asked that the plastics resident on call be paged and to call me back. 40 minutes ago. so, now i am on here waiting for pizza to be delivered and the doc to call me back (wishful thinking..........)
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Tanya, I am so sorry that you are going through all this. Sounds like you have good people around to help you.
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Hello All,
I am about 8 hours post op. And doing well. My foobs seem to be getting the blood supply they neen. Thanks to tthe .pain medicine pump I am not in too much pain. I haven't been able to see that hem yet but they feel much softer and warmer than the implants that were removed. Thanks for all of the warm wishes. 😃
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8 Apr 2016 01:52
Breast reconstruction
Not sure if this is the right place to as this, I am new to the site and trying to find my way around!!
l had a WLE 4 weeks ago and then a second op 2 weeks ago as there wasn't a clear margin. I went for the results from the second op yesterday but the results were not good. I now need a mastectomy.
I have decided that I want a reconstruction at the same time and am favouring a DIEP / SIEA flap reconstruction. Would anyone mind sharing what made them choose this rather than an LD flap?
Thanks Carol x
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Hi CazzleD I am having a diep flap because 1. I had radiation , and 2. I have lymphedema and taking the skin from my back and bringing the blood vessels past my arm pit isn't a good option. Went to see my PS for consultation, really liked him so didn't go to other consultations with other PS. Diep flap is what he suggested to be the best option and in doing my research I agree with him.
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i had DIEP b/c i have rheumatoid arthritis and can be prone to infection so i didn't want anything foreign on my body. i also wanted my new boobs to be a true part of me and feel/look as natural as possibe. i also had enough fat in one place lol
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Hi Carol. I started out with implants because my PS told me I didnt have enough belly fat. Two infections later, implants were off the table and my PS was recommending a lat flap.
I was not thrilled with the option because the Lat flap still used implants, which made me fear more infection. After reading experiences on the Lat flap thread, many of which were not pretty, I went back to my BS who sent me out of town to see a DIEP surgeon. There I was told I had enough fat to get at least a pair of B cups.
I started reading the DIEP posts, especially the 2014 thread, and was surprised to find that no one regretted their choice of recon, even when there were complications. So, I ended up choosing a bilateral DIEP and couldn't be happier.
It isa long surgery up front with a couple of additional revisions, but the results are permanent and feel like ME! I am so happy with my choice.
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Thank you so much everyone. I had already thought that I didn't really want an implant. My current PS doesn't do DIEP, but she has organised for me to see the PS who can do it next week and I think this might be the way to go. You are right, on reading the thread on here for DIEP almost everyone seems happy with the results.
The thing I an liking is that it doesn't use muscle, I am trying to think of what will be best for my long term health and mobility, and at the moment all I do with my tummy fat is tuck it in my pants!!
I still have a a couple of weeks to make my final decision but I just think I will feel better if I have a firm plan.
Thanks once again everyone x
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Welcome CazzleD!
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Good Evening,
I am about 24 hours post op. I am feeling much better than i expected. I was able to get up and walk around a little. My foobs have strong blood supply. I have 6 drains right now. I do not like these drains at all. Hopefully i will not have them for very long. Thanks for keeping me in you prayers.
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Congratulations, Teejax!
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Good Evening,
I am about 24 hours post op. I am feeling much better than i expected. I was able to get up and walk around a little. My foobs have strong blood supply. I have 6 drains right now. I do not like these drains at all. Hopefully i will not have them for very long. Thanks for keeping me in you prayers.
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the drains are a drag, Teejax. Keeping my fingers crossed you lose them sooner than later. Mine were gone within two weeks, but I only had 3. Glad you got through it okay!
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Good Evening All,
I am about 72 hours ppst op and doing well. I was able to come home this afternoon! Yipee. It was much sooner than I thought t would be. I had to bring all 6 of these pesky drains, but thanks to the wonderful advice from all of you I am well prepared to deal with them. I took a shower. My advice to others would be get a shower chair. I do not own one. My husband ended up bringinh me a metal chair because I just couldn't sand up well enough and long enough. Also my detachable shower head was very helpful for washing my hair. Overall I am progressing much better that I thought or feard. I will update you all in a day or so. Thanks for all of the encouragement and warm wishes.
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welcome to the other side, Teejax!
TV binging is a great way to pass the time. Find a series and enjoy
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Thank you! I am planning on catching up some shows.
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Teejax
So glad this part is behind you. Rest as much as you can. One day at a time.
G
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Good to see you posting, SA8! How are you doing?
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Hi Big Sister & everyone,
Been doing well. I go to physical therapy 2 times a week to help with breaking up scar tissue from all the previous surgeries from that mean infection with expanders.
My stage 2 is August 25th. He will be re doing the abdominal scar, a whole new cut, fixing the belly button & tighting my abdominal wall with biological mesh. So, I'll have 2 drains again but he said this should be the end of it. I'm amazed looking back at all the detours of the past 2 years but oh so thankful for it.
Those waiting on your surgery, as others have said we get so worked up over the unknown. This is the best place to ask your questions. I was completely prepared for surgery & as things would come up, I could say yep, I remember someone saying on Bc.org that this was normal or this was going to take this many weeks to heal, etc. You can do it!!!! Resting when your body tells you is so important. Trust me I understand when it's hard to do that with having so many little ones around but even if your sitting it's better than trying to be up walking around or standing all the time. Yes, we need to walk but don't over do it.
My continued prayers & love to all. I am so happy for you all.
)Hugs
G
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Good Luck and sending prayers, SA8PG I am also scheduled for surgery on the 25th. I am having LD flap surgery to replace shrinking skin from radiation. I am very nervous and was on the fence about it. Just got back from apt with PS .. so I made my decision to go ahead with it. He said he has done over 75 of them and no one has complained about their back after. He seems to think I will have drains at least two weeks but after they come out I should feel almost back to normal. We all know normal is not great but its our normal. until today I was ready to back out. But the tightness and being uncomfortable all the time makes me want to do it.
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I hope all goes well for you, June. Before I settled on the DIEP, I was pretty sure I was going to get a lay flap. Having done a lot of research on it, I decided it was a good procedure. We all needy I decide what works best for us.
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I finally got to see my new nipples yesterday. I was expecting them to be big after reading these forums, but found them to be dinky compared to what I used to have. After nursing 8 children, I had tootsie roll nipples. Now I am back to virgin size, and I don't know what to make of it. Lol
I do have a question for those who did nipples. How long did your doc have you protect them with covers? Post open, mine just had them under several layers of gauze with a hole in it, but he sent me home with just a Telfa pad over them.
They are still healing and fragile looking, so I am afraid of smushing them. They are only a week old and I am not supposed to let them get wet for another week to ten days. Thoughts?
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This is probably a weird question but were are they getting the skin from to make the nipples.
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