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DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016

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Comments

  • Mom4four
    Mom4four Member Posts: 63
    edited July 2016

    tanyarocks, after my BMX I got a rash only on my face and neck. It was from the anti biopics. Then after my last MRI with contrast I got a rash on my bottom, and the soles of my feet. Allergic reactions can be strange.

    My surgery is tomorrow. Feeling anxious for many reasons, one being family dynamics. I did get the ball rolling for home healthcare so that is good

  • nancyhb
    nancyhb Member Posts: 235
    edited July 2016

    tanya - so sorry to hear about your reaction - it sounds awful. :-( I've had odd reactions to antibiotics too, and hope you find some relief quickly.

    taag - those photos are what's keeping me down most of the time. I know I have to walk, so I am - two quarter-mile walks around my block today. Slow and steady. The rest of the time has been in my recliner, feet up, tummy crunched at the proper angle. It's a struggle to sit still but I'm determined. The output on two drains is incredibly low - less than 14 today - so I'm hoping they might be out by the end of the week. The third is my "major producer" and still upwards of 40ml each day, so that'll take a little longer.

    Mom - will be in your pocket for surgery tomorrow, thinking good thoughts and sending healing energy your way.

  • stellamaris
    stellamaris Member Posts: 313
    edited July 2016

    Nancy, I gave up with the drains and just safety pinned them to the most convenient spot. My surgery was in March, so I could wear a jacket over them.

  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited July 2016

    Mom4four -thinking lots of positive thoughts your way! Gentle hugs xxx

  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 135
    edited July 2016

    BCBS finally approved my surgery for September 7th now they are checking on if the OR is available. So readybto getvthis started.

  • Christianna
    Christianna Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2016

    mom4four - love and prayers for a great night of rest before your surgery. Knowing all is well and your body will heal perfectly. Can't wait to hear from you on the other side

  • Mom4four
    Mom4four Member Posts: 63
    edited July 2016

    Thanks everyone for the positive thoughts. I just took my first antibacterial shower. I have to take another one in the morning. We will leave at 5 am to get to the surgery for the 6 am time. I guess they expect the surgery to take 10 hours. Good night and I will see you on the other side

  • havilover
    havilover Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2016

    Thanks so much for all your posts. This is my first post, but I read posts on this forum to help decide what kind of reconstruction I wanted. The information was so helpful. I had a bmx ( hope I am using this term correctly!) with immediate diep flap reconstruction on July 7, 2016. This was my second occurrence of triple negative breast cancer. The first was eight years ago. So I am almost 3 weeks out from surgery and recovering well. Last night as I was getting ready for bed, I looked at my body in the mirror and for the first time thought,"Why did I do this?" The thought came unbidden and unwanted. That niggly little doubt kind of like a cancer itself. Today I talked to those who are safe and loving and realized I need to be patient with myself not just around the physical healing but also the emotional healing from this whole traumatic affair. Such a gift to have this forum of others who are traveling or have traveled this road.

  • cedee
    cedee Member Posts: 38
    edited July 2016

    havilover- Congrats on being 3 weeks!! Just rest, let it be, don't think too much and keep looking forward. I'm 16 weeks out and I'm so amazed how great I feel compared to 3 weeks or even 10 weeks. It's hard to be patient, but so worth it.

  • SA8PG
    SA8PG Member Posts: 280
    edited July 2016

    havilover- yes please take it easy. 8 years out from Triple Negative. :(((((. Was this a local reoccurrence? Sending you love, hugs & prayers. 3 weeks down just a few more to go. You can do it!!!!


  • zinny
    zinny Member Posts: 169
    edited July 2016

    Nancy - I chose my low riding underwear, and tucked the drains into those or my pants, and then pinned the drains to either my pants or my shirt depending. For showering, and for other times too, I would pin them to a lanyard around my neck.

    Once I was down to one drain, I just tucked it into my pants.

  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited July 2016

    Hi everyone, I had a great post op check up yesterday. She was very pleased with how everything is healing and looking. She told me I can go swimming in two more weeks! Yipeeeee! I'm visiting my daughter in Vancouver for the first time and would love to be able to go for a dip. I have to wear the binder for 2 more weeks then graduate to spanx. I've tried spanx on before and found it a total #*€>}# to get on and off- is there any tips or other brands I can try? She also wants me wearing surgical bra (or a light support one) for 24/7 for 2 more weeks, she explained that the lifted breast will want to gravitate downward and this should prevent that- I guess this happens during the healing. She was able to fix my abdominal bulge without mesh and I have to be very aware of not using those muscles for another month. There is still a slight bulge still but it is much improved and I can live with it. The slight dog ear on right, I was instructed to massage and if it still remains she can fix that under local at next visit-3 months. It felt strange having her male fellow comment on how natural my nipple looks ☺️ but it was so nice to hear! She told me it will flatten a bit but it's pretty prominent now so that's ok.

    She had no clue as to why I'm so itchy between breasts as there is no redness or rash. She didn't think it was regenerating nerves but couldn't rule it out.

    I hope everyone is healing and as happy as I am with their choice.

    Xxx Shari

  • havilover
    havilover Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2016

    Cedee, thanks for the encouragement. So great to hear the experience of one who has gone before.

  • havilover
    havilover Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2016

    SA8PG oncologist says its likely a new occurence since she has never heard of triple negative reoccurence after 5 years. In any case we caught it early. There were several in sito spots and a few invasive that had just figured out how to get out of the duct. There was no lymph node involvement. Now there isn't much for it to get started in. Both occurances were in the right breast. I had bmx because i don't want to ever have to go through this again. Oncologist agrees that was the safest move.

    Thanks for your encouragement!

  • nancyhb
    nancyhb Member Posts: 235
    edited July 2016
    havilover - I can appreciate your thoughts and worries about your recurrence, and this intense surgery. Mine is TN this time, but was mildly ER+ four years ago. Local recurrence in left breast. I hope you can be patient and kind with yourself, as you are ARE worth it. *gentle hugs*

    Today is one week since surgery, and I feel great - which is gonna get me in trouble. I started walking outside a few days ago - first, just down the street, then accidentally walked around the block the other morning, which is a quarter mile. I did it again later that evening, and for the last three days have been walking this quarter-mile loop twice a day. My doctor said "no restrictions" and that he wanted me walking - am I overdoing it?

    I keep reading about others wearing compression garments, but I have nothing, it's rather odd. No bra, nothing around my mid-section, just chillin' with my flower mumu and sexy drain camisole. I'm getting itchy in a few spots and my reconstructed breast is incredibly heavy and full, but otherwise everything seems to be okay.

    Zinny - thanks for the advice, I found some low-rider panties and am wearing those, tucking the drains into my pj pants or the camilsole pockets.

    I just don't want to mess this up!
  • Mom4four
    Mom4four Member Posts: 63
    edited July 2016

    I had my bi lateral DIEP yesterday and feel awful today, I think I made a mistake.

  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited July 2016

    Nancy, so glad to hear your doing so well! I don't think your overdoing it, you know your body best. Make sure you rest when your tired though. I napped several times a day but also started walking early on. As far as compression garments, I think it's usually used on stage 2 surgeries (but I may be incorrect- seems PS are all different).

    It's funny about the panties, it never occurred to me that my pre surgery panties would sit right on my scar- as soon as I was able I had to go out and get high waist 'granny panties' which I found really comfy as it sat above my incision. Ashamed to say I still wear them and threw out all my bikini style. Well I am 58 as my kids love to remind me!

    Havilover, I had a local recurrence of triple negative 1 1/2 years after first. I know how difficult it is especially when you start living your life without thinking of C every minute. Be kind to yourself. I thought of my diep as a gift to myself and a way to say f#*€ you cancer- your not going to mame me!! (Please no offence to those who choose no reconstruction but my experience as a young girl accidentally seeing my Moms mx left me with a lot of negative feelings). It has meant do much to me to feel that C has not altered how I feel about my body and am so grateful to have had this option. You have been through a lot so give yourself time and know your not alone! Xxx

  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited July 2016

    mom4four, I'm so sorry your feeling awful. Big hugs to you as well and give yourself time. Some people go through a bit of depression after surgery so it could be an effect of what you have been through. It's a huge surgery and will take time to recover BUT you will! Each day will get a tiny bit better and before you know it this will all be a distant memory. Do you have emotional support? Someone to help you walk a little bit? Make sure you do deep breathing to clear that anesthetic. Take your pain meds on time- don't wait until discomfort sets in as it's much harder to control then. Sleep as much as you can. Eat lots of protein and vitamin C. Drink lots of water. We are here to help as much as we can hon. Xxx tomorrow will be a bit better.

  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2016

    Mom4 - Sorry you are having a rough go -- you have just finished a huge surgery and things will improve -- I found days 2 and 3 The Worst -- you will notice changes for the better rapidly - please give it a bit of time. Syl gave perfect advice. Almost without exception, all of us are so happy to have done this.

    Syl58 - glad your revisions went well and enjoy Vancouver with your daughter! I lived there in my 20s and still love going back. So much to see. Lots of great swimming spots too! There is a BC thread that has mostly Vancouver gals you might want to check with.

    Nancy - Walking is great - happy for your progress - just don't lift stuff!! I didn't wear compression either until a bra provided by my PS about 10 days later - every doc is different. Great mumu image:))). My surgery was last August, so wore similar fashion statements. Your noobs [new boobs] will feel less heavy as the swelling gradually decreases. I did wear a light t-shirty stretchy bra sometimes or a stretch cami for a bit of support.

  • Mom4four
    Mom4four Member Posts: 63
    edited July 2016

    I guess it will get better, they couldn't get an IV to go in, I came out of surgery after a couple hours and my whole arm was swollen. Then 8 tries later still no IV. They tried twice on each arm and foot. Finally gave up. Now I am on oral pain meds and fluids. Hope tomorrow is better

  • nancyhb
    nancyhb Member Posts: 235
    edited July 2016

    Momfor4 - I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time. You're at the very worst time of it right now, and simply said, it sucks. I'm eight days out from my DIEP and I promise - it gets better. I had a breakdown on the second day - cried for an hour and then told my nurse I was done and giving up. I was exhausted from being poked and prodded every hour, still getting rid of all the anesthesia left over in my body, buried under that stupid-hot bear hugger blanket, back hurting from laying for so long, and I swear the pain pump wasn't working. The next morning at 6:00 am the nurse and assistant came into my room to clean my drains and I said, "No. I want out of this bed." And once that happened, things got better incredibly fast. The foley came out, the pain pump was removed, they let me eat (okay, it was chicken consumme and cranberry juice, but nothing ever tasted better!), and I could get up and walk. I was shocked by how much better I started to feel at that moment, and it just got better from there. Eight days later I'm struggling to sit still; with the exception of some tenderness at the drain sites, I feel surprisingly great.

    I'm so sorry, too, for all the pokes and failed IVs - that makes your experience even more difficult, I'm sure. Because I finished chemo recently I still have my port. In pre-op the nurse asked if I was a "tough poke" and when I replied I was and had one arm that couldn't be used, she decided to access the port. Wonderful!! Except everyone after her was upset about it. But they used it to knock me out, for which I'm grateful. Because I woke up with an IV in the back of my right hand and a giant IV in the top of my right foot. The next day we discovered several band-aids where they'd tried to start other IVs: top of left foot, side of left knee, crook of right arm, inside of right forearm, and another poke on the top of my right hand. Shortly after, my IV occluded and they ended up re-accessing my port which - SURPRISE!! - was the best decision since they had to quickly force fluids when my BP dropped.

    I hope today is a better day for you, and that you start to feel better soon. Hopefully, too, you'll be out from under the heating blanket (if you're using one) which for me was probably the worst. I'm keeping you in my thoughts. *hug*

  • stellamaris
    stellamaris Member Posts: 313
    edited July 2016

    Hi Everyone - just popping in to offer support and cyber hugs. Momfor4 - please don't get too discouraged, the first couple of days are the worst, and I'm so sorry the IV didn't work for you. The heat is a killer, I know - my room was kept at 32 degrees, and believe it or not, there was also a heater that was on full blast. On top of that I had the compression stockings and the pump thingy wrapped around my legs to prevent clotting. When my DH came to visit Day 1 he almost passed out.

    By the way - for my Canadian sisters - I have started using Scar Away bandages (starting 2nd week now). I found them at the Canadian Superstore in Vancouver, BC, for $22. They are reusable (one can be used for 7 days), washable, and can be cut to fit. I cut one into 3 pieces to fit over my tummy scars and a couple for my noob. I haven't seen much difference yet, except my lx scar looks like it has faded a bit. A plus is that the bandages protect the area from pantie rub, on the occasions when I pick the wrong ones that don't rise over the scars.

    Nancy - my PS didn't suggest any compression / bra garments either after stage 1. I stuck with medium support Sports bra, just because it was comfortable, and jockey briefs (because even the 'granny' style is pretty).

    Hope everyone continues to heal - (())

  • stellamaris
    stellamaris Member Posts: 313
    edited July 2016

    PS - Superstore Pharmacy - they are kept behind the counter.

  • nancyhb
    nancyhb Member Posts: 235
    edited July 2016

    stellamaris - I'll need to read back in the thread to see if there are similar scar bandages here in the U.S. I almost forgot about that - thanks for the reminder.


  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 135
    edited July 2016

    Sending healing thoughts and soft hugs to everyone. My surgery is now scheduled for September 14th at 7:00 am.

  • havilover
    havilover Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2016

    NancyHB, Thanks for the encouragement. My PS said I should wear a kind of loose bra just to give my newbies a little support so they don't sag. They feel really heavy. They are supposed to be the same size as my old ones but they feel bigger. Maybe they are swollen.He has me wearing a binder for the ab incision to help support everything. It is a total pain. It rides up over my new belly botton and I have to keep pulling it down so it doesn't press against my new breasts. I consulted with 3 PS before deciding and each had way different things to say. Recovery time was from 6 to 10 weeks, surgery time was from 8 to 14 hours, some said I couldn't climb stairs, etc.The advice of listening to your own body makes a lot of sense.

    I get what you are saying about feeling great getting you into trouble. I am trying really hard to do as little as possible aside from walking like you are. I may never again have the chance to do nothing!


  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 135
    edited July 2016

    Hi All, I know everyone heals differently but what can I kind of expect on day 10 after my surgery? I ask becsuse my hubby is scheduled to be out of town. I don't want him to cancel but if I can't find someone to be with me he will cancel.

  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 135
    edited July 2016

    havilover you say recovery time is 6 to 10 weeks my ps said 4 weeks. I hope he doesn't put that on my paperwork for me to return to work in 4 weeks I don't have any help at work here in NC its just me handling 3 blds.

  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 135
    edited July 2016

    I have 19 stairs to get to my apt... oh boy

  • havilover
    havilover Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2016

    slv58 Thanks for your reply. I have to admit I have not been wearing panties! The binder is enough of a pain. I had thought that I would be ok without reconstruction. After all, I am seventy and the breast have done there job. But when it came to decision time and I found out about the diep flap procedure I realized I too wanted to have as natural a body as I could get. I am so happy I went this way. 3 weeks out and it is still painful, but bearable. It feels like something heavy is nailed to my chest. There is a burning pain in my nipples that aren't there anymore! I know this will get better.

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