DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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Mom, painted nails make *everything* better - good for you! I hope you're able to get a shower tomorrow, it'll really help you feel better. Isn't it surprising how hard it is to do very little? I have a really hard time sitting still. I finally picked out a new crochet pattern and started an afghan this week - I had to do something, I've run through my Netflix queue and read an entire Harry Potter book over the weekend.0
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Nancy - so true. I have watched lots of TV so decided to pick up a book today - it is excellent but somewhat slower read so good for me. I also had a friend stop by - one that doesn't mind mess and that was a nice 20 minutes. My family situation is strained but I am holding on to doing what is best for me and taking anti anxiety mess when needed. Things are slow bet better
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rosiegirl, thinking of you. Rest and find happiness that your on the other side of surgery- will only improve from here!
Christiana, thinking of you today as you have your surgery. Positive thoughts and gentle hugs. Update us when you feel up to it.
Myajames,please know that we are with you, do you have any tests scheduled? It sounds like your MO is on top of , it was nice of him to check on you. Did you have chemo? I experienced chemo brain after the first time about 3-4 months after finishing where I had to often search for words. My MO became alarmed and ordered a brain MRI, turned out to be chemo brain which greatly improved with time. Hoping it is the same for you, but do investigate. We are here for you, waiting is the worst and we all get that. Positive energy your way.
Mom4four, you sound much better!! Painting nails is always a great sign- I carefully did my toes 2 days post 2nd stage- I hate naked toes!
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I just want to tell you all how helpful you have been to me. I have been researching DIEP for months, ever since I got these stupid hot breast forms. The 2 PSs I have seen here in Atlanta have pooh-poohed it, in favor of a lap flap or over-the-orc implants. No thank you. I have applied to NOLA. If they turn me down too, I'll just stay flat I think
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To all of you wonderful ladies going into surgery soon, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
mom4for-I really seem to identify with your situation. I should be scheduled for surgery sometime in mid to late Sept but the anxiety is already creeping in, and I, too, have struggles with some depression. I'm cheering for you as you recover! You are stronger than you know and are truly a role model for those of us about to enter into this stage you've just passed. You, and all the women on this forum, are my heroes! Sending positive thoughts for your continued healing!
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I'm having my surgery tomorrow and I gotta say I am terrified. I have such anxiety about it and I don't know why. I had DXM, two separate surgieries to remove my expanders due to complications, and last week had the delay of tram flap surgery to prepare for tomorrow and I have done just fine with all of them but this one has me so scared maybe I won't wake up, or I'll have major complications. It helps me so much reading this thread so thank you
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Flip flop - I so understand. I have never been as full of anxiety as I was going into the DIEP. My DMX I was joking with nurses and did my hair etc... This one threw me for a loop. I don't know why and now it doesn't matter. If I could go back I would try to be calmer as I think my tensing up didn't help at all. Maybe I would ask for anti-anxiety pills sooner. Either way you will do fine after this one - I have really great flaps and very little pain - thinking of you and knowing you will make it
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Thanks Katiebird. I went back to counseling before my DIEP as my anxiety had gotten so bad, it helped but of course nothing is a quick fix. I am doing better mentally each day and I know that will help me physically
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Okay confession, I am looking at my nails that I painted yesterday and I did a terrible job. So excited to have the time to finally learn how to paint nails without making them look like a 3 year old did it....my plan for the day
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mustlovepoodles I too talked to 2 ps and felt like they were discouraging me. Luckily the 3rd was a charm. I loved everything about the hospital and staff even though we had to drive 2-3 hours to get there. The hospital provided discounted hotel rooms for a family member to avoid so much driving. How wonderful was that?
I thought I was pretty calm before surgery, but then I stopped being able to sleep at night. Hmmm. Maybe not as calm as I thought! Got my gp to give me some Ativan and that helped me sleep. My heart goes out to all those waiting for surgery and having anxiety. Its not easy. I am so grateful to those that had been through it and come out the other side and shared here about it.
I had bmx diep flap on July 7. For the last couple days I have been experiencing almost no pain in my right breast but still considerable pain in the left. I have appointment with ps on 11 so if it doesn't improve we will discuss.
Can anyone tell me what dog ears are?
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havilover ive been wanting to know what dog ears are too just slow at getting all my questions out.
Ive been having vertigo so much I saw the neurologist today and because they cant seem to find out why im having it he thinks its all in my head I hate when they make you think you are crazy I wouldn't wish it on anyone but just once could they walk in my shoes to feel what I feel... i guess welcome to my new normal
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Wondering if anyone has had lumps after their flap surgery. I have a couple at the very top of my breast almost above it. Saw my ps today for my 8 week check up. He said they are fat and that they will probably go away on there own. Just wondering if anyone else has had them and if they did go away or did their ps have to do something about it. Got the date for stage 2, its Nov 14th was a little surprised but thats fine more time for me to get myself feeling great again before another surgery. Next stop....breast lift and a reduction. Going to be very weird going from a D cup to a B cup (if that). Looking forward to the final outcome.
Happy Healing Everyone!
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Dlia and Havilover, dog ears are the little tufts of excess skin that is usually at both ends of the abdominal incision. These are usually removed during stage 2. I also have one caused by my original LX but have learned to live with it.
Taag4, I had a concerning lump at the edg of the flap almost at side , under my arm. It was very close to where my cancer was so I was very concerned. After an mammogram, ultrasound it was determined to be fat necrosis- thankfully! It has gotten much softer and somewhat smaller as time has passed. My PS warned me before my diep that I would find lumps and it would scare me but almost all of them are necrosis. I'm happy she still investigated! I had quite a reduction and an appreciated lift! It has taken a bit of getting use to the smaller me but I am very happy with my perky boobs, I'm sure you will also,
Flipflop, thinking of you for your surgery tomorrow! We are all with you sending positive thoughts!
Xxx
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Hello taag4 I had my stage 2 back on April 19th, I had cancer in my right breast twice now. So it's my right breast that went through radiation 6 years ago. My left breast never had any cancer in it. I decided to have the Diep and had both breast done last December, I once was a DD and now I would guess I'm a B. I wear Rhonda Shear bras that you buy online the kind that you pull over your head, the stretchy type so I have no idea what exactly my size is, I just know I'm one bump away from being flat in my opinion. I love being this size but I hate these boobs, to me it's just strange. I have no nipples, just scars now, I have no feeling in them, they just sit on my chest to give me somewhat of a feminine shape. The cancer is gone and for that I'm okay with all of it but if truth be told I would prefer to have never had to have gone through any of this. My abdomen feels like I have bricks sitting on me constantly. I feel like my torso is a couple inches shorter than it was. My pubic hair is right under the scar line, I mean there is no space where it's just skin, no, it's like there it starts. uugghhh anyway back to your original question, my right boob is full of hard lumps, feels like a rope inside of it twisting in every direction. The PS told me to massage them continuously and eventually they will go away. I can only hope. And standing in front of a mirror I can see that my breast clearly don't match, the left one has some droop and the right one looks sort of deformed. Basically ugly. However I am the only one that will ever notice this, my husband of 28 years could care less what they look like. He's just happy I've lived through everything.
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Tomorrow will be 4 wks after bmx and diep flap. My right breast where the cancer was is feeling fine, but the left which had no cancer is still very sore. It feels heavier too. I also have painful spots on what must be the ribs they cut to get at the blood supply. At least I think that is where it is. Anybody else experience this difference in pain between the two or this rib (I guess) pain?
Thanks for the explanation of dog ears, slv58.
chiefswife I am so sorry yours don't look good to you after going through all this. Mine look very different too but I assumed that would be corrected in stage 2. Maybe not.
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Thanks Slv58 my ps said they will probably go away so I guess I will hope for that. My next surgery isn't until Nov so I have some time for them to get better.
Chiefswife- Im sorry your not satisfied. I have only done the one side and Im sure things won't match perfect I guess that worries me a bit. But like you said, Im very glad I am here to even be doing this. Funny you said you thought your torso was shorter, I was thinking the same thing but my kids said I was crazy lol. I will try the massaging although sometimes the area is really sore.
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Update - a week ago , 7 days, I had my first stage of DIEP. They removed TE, and did bi lateral DIEP. I can say my outlook is good and with the help of a recliner I am sleeping over 4 hours at a time. I have 4 drains and two of them are on track to leave me by Friday- I already have an appointment. My noobs look good but small, they are different sized but I was that way before. My pain is minimum but my energy is super low, which is okay with me.
Right after surgery I thought I had made a mistake, today I feel different each day brings new feelings.0 -
Mom4four - so glad to hear you're feeling better with each passing day. Those first couple days after surgery are brutal and it can be hard to feel like there's a positive end in sight.
havilover - four weeks!! I'm sorry you're feeling so sore. I'm not as far out as you but I am having tenderness, fullness and heaviness in my breast (I did UMX) and it's bothersome.
chiefswife - so sorry to hear you're feeling so discouraged by this experience. Like you I had cancer twice in my left breast and after previous radiation I had to do a mx this time around. Truth be told I'm horrified when I look in the mirror right now but my DH couldn't care less, he's just so darned happy I'm still here. Bless his heart he's been cleaning my drains and shopping for me and happily doing anything I ask. I feel like my foob is an in-my-face reminder of the last four years - I guess I still have some work to do.
Today is 2 weeks since my surgery and every day gets a little better. Minimal pain, but low energy. Had 2 drains removed on Tuesday at my follow-up, where the PA said everything looked really great and I didn't need to come back for another four weeks (unless there's a crisis). They're asking me to refrain from coffee and chocolate until that time (6 weeks - 6 WEEKS!!), or if I must indulge, then "very small amounts very rarely". The PA said there are no real studies to show that this helps improve outcome but it's their standard and they say they see results. I'm fine without the chocolate - looking at this as a way to give up my favorite food group (and maybe lose a couple of pounds!) but I am having a 1/3 cup of coffee in the mornings. Doesn't taste as great as I remember but the caffeine definitely helps fuel my morning!
I drove for the first time yesterday and went shopping by myself. It all felt a little surreal, not sure why. It took me twice as long to get through the grocery store and I was exhausted by the time I got home. I still have the 5-lb. lifting restriction so my sister is coming over today to help with some gardening (the weeds have completely taken over my entire front yard), as well as the minimal walking restriction (I do stuff around the house and then 2 quarter-mile loops around the block every day). I'm frustrated the most by the restrictions, but I'm determined not to do more than I'm told I can do. My PA said they'd talk with me about increasing my activity level at the 6-week appointment - is everyone else on this same kind of restriction? I feel like I could easily walk a half-mile every time I go out (I'm a runner and this lack of movement is making me crazy!) but I don't want to mess this up, either.
I had UMX with immediate reconstruction on my left breast, and asked my PS to match with my right for size. I'm sure some of this is swelling but my left is almost twice the size of my right, and I'm a little worried. I'm hoping this will all get resolved during Stage 2, and while I don't expect perfection, I also don't want to appear obviously lopsided in clothing.
My last drain should be coming out on tomorrow (calling today for an appointment!!) which I know will really lift my spirits and make me feel better overall. Once that's out I'll have to go bra shopping as my new foob won't fit in my old bras.
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ok whats the story with the rib my ps didnt mention anything about that and I dont recsll any of you mentioning it...
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question Monday is my cat scan of my stomsch is that with or without contrast?
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Dlia: they take a small piece of your rib to access the internal mammary artery to attach the flap to. My PS said it is not usually a problem.
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Dlia - I found out about the cartridge from the rib on this board also - my Dr didn't mention it at all. I asked and they took from the third rib on both sides. It aches sometimes. My CT to find the vascular system needed for the DIEP did use contrast. It went into an IV.
Sometimes I think Drs don't tell patients everything because they think we will get freaked out - but for me it makes me more worried. I am a planner and like to know ahead of time.
I found out that my surgery was over 12 hours long because they found "inflammation" in one of my mastectomy breasts and had to test it for cancer then test it for MERSA. But no one told my family they just changed shifts and left them sitting till 11:30 PM. UGH, this is a tough road
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Had phone appointment with PA today regarding my concerns. Im 2-3 hrs away so its hard to get in. My new belly button is infected. Got instructions about how to care for it. She said more pain in one breast than the other is within normal boundries. The pain in my sternum that feels like something heavy is on it is indeed the ribs that were cut. She said that is what usually takes the longest to feel better. She said her sister had this procedure and it took 12 months for the ribs to heal. I didn't want to hear that. I was supposed to have phone appointment with PS next week. He is currently on vacation. I changed it to in person appointment. I want him to look at this belly button and left breast.0
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hi Dlia - A small part of your sternum area will feel a little sore and achy for a few days due to the tiny rib cut, [esp when coughing] but it's temporary and fades. When I had my CT scan for abdomen blood supply mapping it was with contrast dye. I believe they need to use the contrast for good visualization. A heads up: Although apparently unusual [I had 3 CTs prior to that with absolutely no issues], I ended up 24 hours later with a very rashy arm allergic response. I was told that can happen, especially after a few CTs, and allergic symptoms can get more severe with future contrast CTs, so now I plan to avoid the contrast dye if possible, or get pre-treated. Remember this is rare, but just wanted to inform you just in case -- I hadn't a clue!
Nancy - sounds like things are going well. How I remember missing coffee and red wine -- not really a regular chocolate person -- but the thought of keeping my new girls healing as best as possible was the only thing that kept me motivated!!!
Mom4 - I think you are turning the corner -- yay
) -- the low energy is because your body is so busy using it repairing and healing, so that's ok -- keep resting as you need and drinking water.chiefswife - I hear ya. My noobs look pretty good in that they match and have a fairly nice shape [except missing a nipple which I will get in the fall], so in clothes things look fine, but after nearly a year although the scars have faded well, I still have very little feeling too, and I am surprised there is still some tenderness in certain positions, and also weaker abs.... so am always aware of what procedure I had done. But you are right - it beats the alternative. However, we seem to have matching pube areas!!!!
-- it's beginning to seem the new norm and less weird.Taag - A brief gentle massage done regularly is helpful for healing - I did mine in the shower. No need to go deep or too firm. I kept hearing about dog ears, but I only developed one very small 'kitten ear'
Havilover - I recall one side healing a bit faster - for me it was the 'good' side which had less invasive surgery, but I think part of it is just how well the attached blood supply works, so some areas get more oxygen... and one side gets a better abdominal transplant -- they don't exactly match.
Good continued healing everyone.
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Sorry havilover for your bellybutton etc - cross posted and missed your newest. My rib was back to minimal issues within a couple of months, with just a tiny bit of tenderness that hung around.
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Im glad to have all of you to travel this road with. I understand we all heal differently even though we may have the same procedure. It's always good to talk to someone who knows what you are going through. I appreciate the sisterhood but wish none of us had to go through any of this.
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I just got my two breast drains removed ! Maybe one of the abdomen drains next week. Feeling lighter. But I noticed my abdomen incision is in the worst place for pants, either my pats have to be at the pubic line or way above my waist and non of my pants fit in these ways, so I am wearing low cut pants and sagging them. Any ideas
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Dlia - you said it so well! I wish none of us were here, but am so glad to have sisters who understand and are supportive without judgement, recriminations, or explanations. I've learned more here than I have from my own PS (who is wonderful, but not terribly forthcoming with information). Thank you, everyone!
Mom4four - I found the exact same thing. I bought several pairs of drawstring pj pants that are both comfortable and a little stylish (in case I need to go out). They all come up over the incision and are large enough that they don't bother them at all (unlike my yoga pants which are too tight and form-fitting). I got most of mine at Target for around $16 a pair; Gap had some nice ones, too, so I picked up a couple pairs there. I hope to try a pair of low-rise jeans in the next few days but I'm not sure how that's going to feel.
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okay so anyone 4 or 5 weeks out and able to wear pants? I am hoping by then it won't bother my abdomen or I shall have to get new pants
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Hey ladies, just wanted to drop in with an update. My surgery went well, dr was a little annoyed at my mastectomy as it didn't actually save much skin, but he was able to get them somewhat proportionate to my body. Had to have a transfusion yesterday- low counts and felt veeeery weird. Retaining fluid still, but overall better and walking and got a shower. Apparently there was also a tornado here in NOLA yesterday, luckily it was mild with no severe damage. Hope you are all well and having a good start to your weekend! Thank you to all who answered all my questions earlier- you have been a wellspring of info!
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