DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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Stellamaris, it probably depends on the type of BC you had and the chances of it spreading to the other breast. Or maybe the rules are different in B.C. and Ontario. I did have a scare one year post MX during a mammogram, and was close to hysterics, so perhaps that swayed the doctors as well.
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Lemint- Im just having my right side done Monday morning bright and early. If you need pictures Id be happy to send them. lol
Jen1- Good luck Ill be thinking about you. Im also going in Monday. We can compare notes when your out.
DizzParkMom- Thanks for the advise my husband will be there so Ill make sure he keeps the ice chips coming.
Rdgc- thanks for the prayers, I can use them for sure.
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Taag4 and Jen1, thinking of you both tomorrow. You will be on the other side of surgery before you know it!
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Taag and jen!, all the best to you both tomorrow and through the next week!
Stella - my BMx is "prophylactic" - I only had invasive lobular cancer on once side, but DCIS on the other, and I think everyone I talked to was in agreement that with bilateral presentation premenopausal, it was the right choice.
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I had my major stage 1 and 3 touch up surgeries after that. My stage 1 was 10.5 hours. Prophylactic BLM with immediate DIEP. My surgery 1 was November 2012. Still looking good. Besides scars I look better naked after surgery.
You are all going to do GREAT!!!!!!
PM if you have any questions.
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stella,I did not have to insist. Originally my BS went for a genetic testing.... But I got tired of waiting for the results and asked if I could get bilateral MX and she said yes. I thought perhaps the insurance wouldn't cover it... But that was not the case. that may be because of the reconstruction laws here in the USA. Very happy with my decision. DIEP is a big surgery....but worth it in my opinion. NNice bouncy natural looking boobies!
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hi stellamaris - I also had a BS [different one] in Vancouver. She didn't bat an eye when I calmly said I wanted BMX, as I had heard lobular more likely to appear in other side, and didn't want to do this all over again, [my original tumour was quite large] and she readily agreed to do the bmx. I also chose immediate diep recon. It turned out I DID have stuff starting on other side, so was very relieved, and BS said I had made a good call. I did end up needing rads after on my poor new lovely noob, but things are seeming fine - a bit tight even with stretching and a bit higher. BTW, I see my PS Tues to discuss stage 2 sometime this fall [driving down this morning in this heat wave! but going over to Victoria for the rest of the week, so maybe a catch-up visit when I come back in the fall??]. PS I am sure it wasn't you getting brought out of the Grouse Grind by stretcher in this heat!!
Ooooh Yes lesssharp they are so natural, warm, bouncy! Thrilled with this decision.
I did neoadjuvant chemo to shrink it first, and that gave me the time to calm down post diagnosis, and research best surgical option for me, .... that's the plus side, compared to those who must do surgery right out of the gate and need to make quick decisions.
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Taag and Jen, good luck! I will be having my right side done on the 14th. Yay, us!
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I could use some encouragement from anyone here. Part of my abdomen wound is still not healed at almost six weeks. A week ago I went to see the doctor because it was still oozing a bit and she cleaned it out which opened it even more and now it looks worse than at two, three, four and five weeks. In fact it feels like it's getting worse after every visit. Shouldn't I get some stitches on it to keep it from opening up? It just seems that every time I move, it opens up and every time a doctor messes with it, she destroys what healing happened the previous week. I am putting Inadene pads on it every day but am wondering how much longer it will take to heal and worried about further complications. I am not overweight and I eat well but the skin was stretched quite a bit during surgery and once the stitches dissolved, the wound just opened up. Has anyone have any words of encouragement?
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grateful, I have not had that experience....however, I know my sister-in-law had a tummy tuck with similar issues. It took many months and a vacuum pump. I hope that isn't the case for you. I think they don't close them up with more stitches because perhaps that will cause it to fester??? Give a call to your doctors office and express your concerns.
Anyway, I'm so sorry you are having this complication....I'm praying your body will begin to heal!
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grateful, they absolutely will not want to close it up at this point as there is no way of doing that without trapping bacteria, which would lead to infection. However, there may be some dressing tricks they can do…
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Thank you lessharp and zinny - I get your point about trapping bacteria. I am supposed to see a doctor next week or at any time if I have a fever, so I'll just stop worrying.
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hi Phoebe, would love to catch up in the fall! I am glad you were able to get you bmx and that is exactly what I am worried about - it is ILC, and my whole right breast was involved...oh well, it is too late now, and I don't fret much. But I can tell you if it is in the left breast I am going to be one miffed camper. Right now hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. No - I did do the hike Sunday and managed to finish on my own two feet - but it was very hot. I think all the hiking I have done in Hawaii has prepped me for our hot and humid summers. Enjoy your summer and I look forward to catching up
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grateful I had a similar issue. My PS cleaned it out and gave me some antibacterial gauze to put in the wound under the dressing. That helped it heal from the inside. This was at 6 weeks, and it took another 2 weeks to close up. I am about 10 weeks now and it is still pretty red, but it is closed
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Thank you stellamaris, what you just wrote gives me hope! I also have antibacterial gauze (Inadine) to put on the wound with normal dressing on top. I am so grateful that you wrote - I've been worried sick about this.
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Nipple surgery scheduled! Finally! June 22. Outpatient, local anesthetic (which makes me a tad nervous). But overall, super excited
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Some progress photos for those who are curious
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They took rib on my left side when I had my DIEP 5 months ago. I have a huge indentation where they removed the rib and broken vessels on the skin that look like spider veins. I went to a major medical center with an experienced diep flap surgeon. I am so upset and suspect that the residents and fellows did my surgery. My indentation looks awful and was told fat grafting MIGHT improve it. Cannot wear low cut tops or bathing suits now because it looks like I am deformed.!
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myajames, you have very nice looking tatas! I will be going in on Monday for my second revision. Lowering abdominal scar and fat grafting to fill up my boobies...
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Myajames - just gorgeous! You are so lucky to have such a beautiful result. So happy for you!0
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Ramonica - so sorry to hear you did not get good result. Have you spoken to the pS? what did he say?0
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Yes Myajames they look wonderful. I'm so happy for you.
Raminica I'm sorry as well. Is this something that your ps will address and fix for you? Can you get something in writing stating that your next surgery you want no residents to assist?
Grateful. I didn't have open wounds with the diep but I did with the expanders. I had a wound vac with one of my surgeries and then with the others I used the Puracol collagen strips & Silvasorb gel to help my open wounds heal. Ask your ps if you can buy some. Please keep us posted.
Less. Prayers and hugs headed your way for Monday. Will you need drains again? If I remember correctly you had a great cosmetic result as well with the tatas.
My stage 2 is late August. I will not look anywhere as good as you all but after being flat for a year and being cut on more times than I want to count with my mean infection, my ps said we are going for nice cleavage, lowering abdominal scar, repairing core muscles since I have an umbilical hernia and yes, I will have my not so favorite friends again, drains. Lol
Thinking of everyone as some prepare for stage 1, others moving on to stage 2 & some completing with nipple tats
Love, hugs & prayers,
G
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Thank you myajames for your pictures you are very generous to share. And you look beautiful!! It's great to see such great results, giving those of us who are getting ready for the same operation a whole lot of hope. Congratulations!!
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Grateful99 I will be praying for your speedy healing.
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Grateful, things do tend to get worse before they get better when a wound opens up. The docs needed to remove scar tissue to provide good tissue to adhere better. That is why they made it bigger.
They are using antibiotic strips to prevent infection while it heals. Many docs use a wet to dry dressing technique to keep removing scar tissue, keeping the wound edges clean and moist.
Sadly, it will take a long time to heal--that is normal--but it should heal well in time. If you are concerned, ask to see a wound specialist.
The only other thing you can do is to take care to keep pressure off the wound (no lifting, stretching) and ensure food nutrition (whole foods, quality vitamins, probiotics).
So sorry this happened to you
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OOF. Day 8 post op stage 1. So far so good. Taking celebrex twice a day and no narcotics since I left hospital post op day 3. Yes, apparently that is how they roll these days here - they expect you out after 3 nights, of course you stay longer if it is not going well. I am surprised that i am getting around pretty well. Most discomfort is around getting a comfortable position to sit in for longer periods. Hardest thing is really lying/sitting around all day for so many days - that is not me at all!! For what it is worth, binge watching is your friend for this - the distraction of a whole pile of shows in a row does wonders to make the time pass. Reading is ok, but harder to get in a comfortable position for hours of that - hospital bed was way better for that! Maybe if i had rented the recliner after all…. LOL.
Things I learned at follow up today - protect your core over your arms. My hospital discharge instructions focussed more on not using arms and didn't really say much about not using abs at all, which is the PS's biggest concern. I guess it is kind of obvious them, not so much to me. Rolling out of bed, you have to use one or the other unless someone is lifting you:) That is where the idea of something attached to the end of the bed to pull on is a good one…
Drains. Glad they do their job, really happy to get 3/4 out today. Getting them out is not for the faint of heart. I am pretty stoic, but I think it might have been nice to have had a little ativan on board for that bit, or maybe a little narcotic. Feels so much better when they are out, though.
Thinking about those having surgery this week. Way to go ladies…
Is anyone else shocked at how quickly a year ( give or take) has gone by? It is surreal that it has been 10 months since my dx, and that I have now done all three hurdles of treatment.
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Ramonica, I also have 2 small intentions (bilateral diep) where the rib was removed for accessing the blood supply. My surgery was performed by 2 very talented, experienced surgeons and so I know that it's not anything that was done incorrectly to cause the indentations. What was explained to me is that most people have more fat in this area that covers the ribs and that fat conceals the gaps are after diep. Some of us are naturally more bony in this area and it's not so easy to conceal. They pointed out how little fat I have around my collarbone and mentioned that it was probably one of the features that made me look great in strapless dresses. It's not so great though when they have to take a chunk or 2 out of you. My PS is going to attempt to fill this area with at little fat during my 2nd fat grafting, but it really isn't guaranteed to work. There is a reason this area had so little 'padding' in the first place....my body may just not be willing to hold on to enough fat to conceal the gaps.
I agree that you should definately be made aware of who exactly participates in your surgery and if they are just assisting, observing, or leading the surgery.
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Having worked at a teaching hospital when I was in nursing school, I know that students and residents are never on their own during surgery.
When I talked to my PS about who would've doing the work, he said that he would remain scrubbed and ready to step in at any time. He was clearly in charge of the thing and watching over the whole process.
As others have said, they will do all that they can to make things right. Keep pestering
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omg Maya?! Are those DIEP flaps? They look wonderful. Awesome shape! I just had DIEP (R), TRAM(L) breast recon. Looking good, but my flaps are nowhere near that neat. I had radiation on the right, so the skin was very damaged
Hope all you other ladies are doing ok tonight
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Have any of you heard from CarolinaAmy?
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