DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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grateful glad you are thinking about swimming must mean you are on the mend. So sorry you have a cold and sore throat, as if you don't have enough to deal with. I too have just developed the hard lumps you are talking about. Mine are very sore( the lumps), but not so much in my breast more just above or at the top of my breast. I was going to post about that today to see if anyone else was dealing with this so will be happy to hear if anyone else has suggestions.
Tanya- good luck with the surgery hope it clears everything up for you.
Christianna- I was on letrozole first, it was probably the same as you. At first no problem, by the 3 1/2 month mark I said enough is enough I was having so much joint pain it was terrible. By the end of the day I walked around the house like a little old lady. I was so sore. Joint pain is the most complained about symptom.
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is phase 2the last surgery?
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Hi ladies, well my stage 2 is tomorrow! I'm excited and a bit nervous. I'm not sure how much like stage 1 it will be like as they are reattaching my abdominal muscle on the right side. Apparently this is still considered day surgery. Yea I get my nipple!! (.)(.)
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Dlia-phase 2 is usually tweaking, fat grafting and improving aesthetics. For me, it will be the last surgery because I had a nipple-sparing bmx. Nipple recon is phase 3 if you go that route.
I just had my pre-surgery appointment with my PS today. I am having small implants put in under my flaps. Well, I'm 90% sure I am.
I've had pneumonia, although X-rays on 7/5 showed the pneumonia was all gone. I'm still coughing a lot and have stuff in my chest. I need this cleared up! It has gone around my entire family, starting with my daughter! I've been sick since 6/24....I'm done with it. Grrrr...
Tanyarocks- I need to catch up on what is going on with you! PM me and fill me in.
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slv58- good luck tomorrow. We will be thinking of you!!
Jlstacey- sorry you've been sick so long. Hopefully you're over the hump and will be better real soon.
I was away on vacation last week at a place that had a pool. I realized how good it felt to stretch my body by swimming and moving around. They should have all of us diep ladies do water therapy as part of our recovery. I feel so much better just after a week of floating around!!
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slv58 Prayers & lots of love for tomorrow's surgery. We are in your pocket. (((((Hugs)))))
Jlstacey. Hate coughs. Sorry yours has lingered. A lot of my friends have gotten allergies this year for the first time. Yuck. Prayers this thing clears up for you.
Sleep well ladies.
G
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thanks so much ladies, feeling the love and support! I'm in pre op now so almost on the other good side of this journey!
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Stage 2 was a walk in the park compared to Stage 1. Every PS is different for what they do, and a lot of it depends on how Stage 1 went for you.
Stage 1 is focused on moving tissue and getting a good blood supply. If the procedure was nipple sparing, they leave extra skin just in case the nipple doesn't make it.
Stage 2 is focused on refining. The incision lines are cleaned up if needed. Dog ears, floppy skin/fat at the ends of the abdominal incision, are removed, and fat grafting to even things out is done.
The fat grafting basically does liposuction in the waistline, hips, or thighs, and the fat is injected into the breast area. They fill the donor site with saline/lidocaine and then scrape the fat away. The donor site involves a tiny incision (1/4") which is hidden in a previous incision line if possible. Thanks to the lidocaine, an anesthetic, it doesn't hurt much the first 24 hours, but it will be sore for awhile. Half of the fat they inject will be reabsorbed. The main side effect to be concerned about is fat necrosis, which is why they can only inject some of the fat--the more they inject, the greater the risk for fat necrosis.
Recovery isn't bad. You are back to lifting restrictions for 4-6 weeks and you'll be tired, but you won't lose range of motion or anything. I was pretty tired for 6-8 weeks, but I attribute that to stress and aging more than to the surgery.
The need for a Stage 3 all depends on how Stage 2 went. My nipple recon was part of Stage 2, so I could be done, but my lefty is noticeably smaller than my righty, so I might go for more fat grafting. Today's appointment will determine that!
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I was browsing the articles on this site and ran across one on hormone therapy that might answer questions some of you have? Hormone Therapy for Treating Breast Cancer
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my stage two will be a reduction of the lefty, which my PS didn't get to during the DIEP. She had planned to do so, but she ran out of time (10.5 hr). Mine went longer because she had technical difficulties joining the blood supply (veins?). Anyhow, anxiously awaiting the call to even me out lol
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When I got the implants I didn't get the tattooing but the ps tried to make nipples but it didn't really work. The left implant has a large bubble on the side that you can see it through my bra and shirt and the right one is rippling. Can't wait to take them out
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At my 3-months-after-Stage 2appointment today, we decided my results are about as good as we are going to get. Hurray to be done with surgery! Now to call Vinnie's and see when I can get in.
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Congrats Bigsister!!! Can't wait to hear about your journey with Vinney!! Good luck and hope you can get in real soon. Keep us posted
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My stage 1 is in 2 weeks so today is my pre-op and CT scan. Nervous that for some reason they will say I am not a candidate... Weird
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Bigsister, that's great news- and going to Vinnie!! I'm trying to find a Canadian equivalent.
Well stage 2 was yesterday. I must say the worst for me was the nausea I experienced..throwing up with a sore abdomen and breasts was no fun. Was taking lots of gravel but didn't really help. Thankfully I awoke today and no nausea! My flanks are starting to get sore and the area where the bra band goes but I have to wear my surgical bra 24/7. Percocet help! I'm happy that I can raise my arms normally and bend down, I wasn't sure if there would be restrictions. The one thing I hate is sleeping on my back! I can never get comfortable but will have to for awhile (I guess).
I can't wait to see my nipple but have to leave the dressings on for 48 hours. Guess it will be a surprise but realize that the final look will probably change over time.
Hope everyone is well.I guess jlstacey is next for stage 2 on the 27th!
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went to the orthopedic doctor today he wants to do surgery but will not do it until I am 6 weeks out from this surgery or vice verse. But that is one surgery I really don't want to have. They also want to do surgery on my husband but he definitely doesn't want to do another surgery on his back, especially when at the last visit they told him if they take out the disc on the right of his spine they don't know how his back will hold up. With mine I can't get with going through the front of my neck... ugh!
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Dila, my husband has significant back issues. Fortunately we were able to connect with Dr. James Cox who pioneered a no surgical approach to back issues. Maybe you can find a doc in your area trained in his technique?
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slv58:
Let me know how the next week goes for you. I planned on having my stage 2 during my Thanksgiving break (week off) and then ready to go back to classes the Monday after. There would only be 3 weeks left of school until the end of the semester, but since that means studying for finals I'm not sure this is the best idea after reading BigSisters post about fatigue. I'm a 47 year old biology major and my mind needs extra time at this age. I'm planning on graduating at the end of this semester and I don't want to mess that up by doing stage 2 if it's going to make things difficult for me.
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Omickijo, you might do fine. I am 55 years old, so there is that. I also endured sepsis last year, and I think my body is still reeling from that.
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BigSister: I have six classes which translates to a lot of sitting. Will that be an issue? When I asked my doctor he said I would be fine, but he's not a 47 yr old going back to college.
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omickijo, I will definitely update you. I have found today much harder. I started getting a low grade fever last night and kept an eye on it. I'm already on antibiotics so I am just monitoring. It's is down now. I'm also off Percocet and on extra strength Tylenol as of 2:00 am last night. It's enough pain relief for me and my mind is much clearer. The worst part for me is trying to sleep on my back- just can't do it but found that I can roll to my side a bit and use a pillow to support opposite breast a bit (even though I'm in surgical bra). As I expected, I'm getting cranky from lack of sleep so if you have no problem sleeping on your back you'll be much better off. Walking around at home is fine, getting out of bed is a little sore but I have full range of arms (I wasn't sure I would). I get to shower tonight and have my first peek- going to wait for DH to get home and help me. Also I'm going to be 58 this month which I'm sure affects the bounce back factor! if you have to wear a compression band (are they doing fat grafting from flanks?) you will find it gives you support in sitting. Hopefully you can get up and move around a bit to prevent getting stiff.
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slv58- Thanks for the update. I don't do well on pain killers so I'm glad to hear Tylenol did the trick so quickly. I hope you don't have an infection, but I'm glad they gave you antibiotics quickly to make sure. I do sleep pretty well on my back but unless I'm in a recliner I tend to move to sleep on my sides a lot as well. Do you have weight carrying restrictions? I just remembered my book bag can tend to get pretty heavy. More like 20 lbs instead of the 10 lbs I have now. Heal quickly! :
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slv58- ps. Happy Birthday!!!!
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getting frustrated called the doctor's office the nurse hasnt even started my paperwork so now the surgery is pushed back to September and until she does even that is not locked down.
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Omickijo, there are lifting restrictions of 10 lbs for 4-6 weeks.
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Omickijo I was told the same thing especially since they reattached abdominal muscle. 10 lbs restriction.
I've been fine all day on extra strength Tylenol, I guess I could have gotten the one with codeine but then I'm awake all night. I really hate narcotics.
Tried to have a bit of a shower after deciding which bandages could come off and what should stay. I did use my shower seat but didn't want to wash my hair yet for fear of soaking all the incisions. Just seeing my body all cut up again was a bit hard. My reduced breasts looks so different to me, not crazy about the shape but I'm sure that will change with healing... I hope. My nipple looks big but understand that your body tends to absorb a lot of it so I guess it's a waiting game to see what I end up with.
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Evening, ladies! I've been reading back through the last few pages trying to catch up with everyone. I really must thank you all for sharing your stories and advice; it makes this scary-sounding surgery and process so much easier to prepare for, and get through.
I'm scheduled for the 21st - a week from today - and am feeling incredibly frantic. I've spent the last three weeks trying to wrap up some large home projects so they don't drive me crazy while I'm recuperating. We laid a brick patio over the 4th, and then built a gazebo this last weekend. We're also simultaneously remodeling the basement, and I still need to install the flooring (hopefully some of it tomorrow) so I can move all the storage items out of my sunroom and back downstairs.
I'm looking forward to surgery just so I can rest!
I had my pre-op appointments a week ago; going for my aorta CT scan tomorrow. I had a CT a few weeks ago but it was ordered incorrectly and didn't get the vasculature he needed. They did find a lump in my tumor bed that is growing - I just finished chemo four weeks ago - and so I'm very happy to get through this mx. My MO has hinted he believes my cancer is "chemo resistant" and this just sort of seems to confirm that.
My PS is truly wonderful - great bedside manner, really listens to my questions and provides answers I can understand. He's making the surgery sound sound big, but with an easy recovery (as long as I sit still). Five days in the hospital, then home for 7 weeks. He says my radiated skin is in great shape and that'll help with recovery (I was so worried about that).
I'm feeling like I'm prepared, and yet not - trying not to over-think everything and just go with the flow. Spending this last weekend just relaxing and enjoying time with my husband, kids, and friends. I'll be around here reading and absorbing - thanks again for all the information you share!!
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Hi ladies have question for you regarding swelling under abdominal incision. had my surgery Feb 11, all has been good have appt July 22 to discuss stage 2. I have been back to work since April 18. Work as medical secretary in extremely busy office constant up and down at desk and walking a lot. I noticed a very tight feeling in area under incision and st times one size looks really round and puffed out. this evening the one side is really big and round while left side flat it looks like everything shifted to one side very strange looking. This has happened a couple of times. I think I better watch my diet more closely! Anyway is this the swell belly people keep mentioning? Any comments would be helpful. Thinking of u all in past anpcoming surgeries, Tanya will be thinking of you and hi to Barb
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slv58 and BigSister- Thanks for the info on lifting restrictions. Maybe by the time Thanksgiving break is here I'll have figured out a plan. Maybe I won't need my textbooks or laptop at school or I can leave some in my truck and trade out between classes. Keep me updated slv58. I really appreciate it!
NancyHB- I did so many projects around the house too. I knew that if I had to sit and rest and look at walls that needed painted or if the disposal in the sink wasn't replaced or my house wasn't scrubbed down top to bottom it was going to drive me nuts! Lol!
I second guessed myself all the way up to the day of surgery if I was doing the right thing by having such a hugh surgery and recovery when my mastectomy didn't bother me all that much and I was feeling healthy and happy. When I came to in recovery and saw my breast mound I was so happy and didn't regret it. I'm two weeks out from surgery and the scars are big but I look like pre cancer me in my tank top. 😄 My husband lovingly referred to it as Frankenboob but he likes it too. (I didn't have skin sparring so I have a very large football shape of new skin within my radiated skin.)
Sitting around so much is driving me crazy but thanks to the women on this board I know I should take it easy if I hope to be healed up in that 6-8 week range. To all of those who have shared so much of their knowledge and personal experience I am forever grateful. Wishing you the best on the 21st.
Micki
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Hi Lilyn,
Have you checked with your PS? It doesn't sound good. You should be all healed by now. Hernia? Take care.0
