DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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Simplicity - I'm so sorry to hear there may be another hole opening up. Thank you for continuing to share your story - I know it's really helped me get through my own infection. I'm keeping you in my thoughts and hoping you start healing soon. *hug*
Katiebird and Dlia - Keeping you in my thoughts as your surgery dates come up, too!
I've been off my at-home IV antibiotics for almost two weeks now, and as far as I can tell the infection has not returned. I'm still holding my breath, though - it took two weeks for it to show up the first time, so I'll feel better in another week if I'm still in good shape.
I started running again, and went back to yoga on Thursday - it feels so good to be back to those things I love! I have an "iron bra" sports bra that holds the girls perfectly still, which is great - but after four days of moderate activity, my breast seems to be swelling again. It could be the seromas, I suppose, with increased activity. Is that possible?
I have one spot, however, that continues to worry me. It's a rock-hard "ridge" about four inches long and an inch wide on the underside of my recon breast. I believe this is the seroma area where the infection was first found. This has not softened up or changed at all since the surgery. After I wear a bra this area is irritated and becomes painful. I fear the irritation will reignite the infection, if that makes any sense. Does anyone else have any "hard" areas on their breast that have lingered for any length of time? Imight worry less and feel better if I knew I wasn't the only one. Oh, and my PS just doesn't seem phased by any of this - although he wasn't phased when my breast was bright red and fiery hot, either.0 -
NancyHB, thank you. I do worry about sharing here. It does help thou, knowing Im not alone in my complications.
I have hard ridges too. One is above the left breast (tram/non cancer breast). That one is long and narrow, about how you describe your's. It's also home to a fluid cavity. Hard to tell if it's around, under, or over. But I can hear the fluid when I massage and a massage during dressing change brings about a waterfall of sorts
My Dr says it's scar tissue. I had one above the other breast but it has since dissipated a bit and is more in the pit area (axillary dissection side-which I worry about during stage 2).The ridge above my left breast hurts today. I don't massage vigorously, Well, it's been hurting this past week. The area under that arm pit, just below, to the side of the breast, has been sore since surgery. I've told my Dr many times. I honestly think PS's don't know what to do when complications arise.
Also, anyone else's tummy tender to the touch? Another since surgery thing. Thought it was just the tightening/tummy tuck.
My abdomen looks great. Looks like normal skin over the dehiscence now.
Does your breast feel 'full' Nancy? I have noticed with my abscess, that increased activity builds more fluid. Feel free to message. I am not shy at all lol Watch for areas of skin that look different, especially at the base (gravity is a beotch), and on an incision line.
With all my complications, I can easily identify problem areas. At least I now have a zombie apocalypse skill? lol My computer skills would do me no good in that scenario.
Hope today is a good day for all.
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I have a hard area about 3" long and about 1" wide at the bottom of my reconstructed radiated breast. My PS said it is radiated tissue. It feels like concrete. They cannot remove 100% of your breast tissue during your mastectomy. I also had Alloderm added to create a sling during my mastectomy. We did not anticipate radiation at the time. I did have some fat added around the mass in stage 2 so it would not be as obvious. The only other solution was to have it removed surgically. I did not have enough fat to graft that much area. I finished my last fat grafting over a year ago. I decided to leave it since I do not feel it so much anymore. I do however worry about it hiding a future lump if one chooses to grow beneath it.
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Can someone tell me more about the DIEP? Is this tissue put over or under the pectoral muscle?
Does this make it more difficult to detect any further cancer?
Also, are there multiple stages to this process? I'm having a double mastectomy September 30. Right now the plan is to do the TE/implant route, and I'm not finding myself comfortable with this choice. (Hate the idea of the TE discomfort & something forgein inside of me! I also understand I'm at a greater risk of complications due to radiation 5 years ago)
Unfortunately when I discuss this with my PS he keeps telling me he's confident this is the best choice for me, and that I'm over thinking this (which I DO tend to do). As a result, I feel I'm on my own in learning about DIEP (and I'm feeling like I'm running out of time!!!)
I'm looking to have both breasts removed and both rebuilt as quickly as possible. I'm also trying to understand what the time line would be for something like this.
I had a large lumpectomy & radiation 5 years ago. That process seemed positive and I felt empowered. This time round (yes, it's back!) I feel completely uninformed and terrified.
I'm looking for any guidance I can get at this point. I'm feeling so lost & broken at this point. Everything I read online seems to not answer my questions
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Can you use your own fat from abdomen? That is the easiest, one surgery and your own tissue, not implants and expanders
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Hi, sweave,
((Hugs)) sorry to hear of your reoccurrence. Note that not all doctors are proficient in DIEP flap surgeries and you may need to locate a microsurgeon who specializes in this technique.
If you are a candidate- i.e. Have enough abdomen fat and good blood vessels then it is an option. There are other options for those who have had a tummy tuck before or who can't have a DIEP. These are the SGAP and a few others.
The tissue in my recent DIEP was placed over the muscle. Recovery time is 4-6 weeks and there is is a phase 2 component where the breast are fine tuned. Usually by evening out symmetry or adding fullness with fat graphing or other techniques. The phase 2 has a much shorter recovery time.
On Facebook there is a DIEP support forum.
I'm just going through thie DIEP phase 1. I also didn't want implants in my body or under the muscle. I has implants under the muscle for years prior to getting cancer. I wanted my body back. That said implants are a great option for those who want to go larger, don't want a complicated sx and don't have complications such as capsular contraction etc.
Hope this helps! I am sure the more experienced ladies will add to this conversation
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Hello ladies, my diep surgery is October18th. Just wondering when they do stage 2. Thx
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Morning ladies.
Lemint wrote: Hello ladies, my diep surgery is October18th. Just wondering when they do stage 2. Thx
I don't believe there is a standard. It depends on how your recovery goes and what you and your PS decide
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Hi ladies my time is getting closer and now I'm starting to think about those drains they were a pain when I had them for my breast and now to have to have them for my stomach too.
My ps said the pain is really more like soreness as if you had done a thousand sit ups... some how I can't seem to get my head around it. Is it soreness or pain? Ive had a c-section, tubes tied, and hysterectomy all in the same cut so he will go back through the same incision.
Still have to work tomorrow 6-4:30 so I will check in tomorrow before going to bed for any last minute advice you all may have.
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Dlia - thinking about you!! I'll be honest - I had very minimal soreness, and no real pain. I had a pain pump of morphine and rarely used it. My PS said there is less pain because no muscles are cut; he also said the pain would be far less than a C-section. And, afterwards, as the nerves in the skin and tissue have been cut, there's no pain coming from them. I had more pain in my lower back from walking stooped over, than in my breast or tummy area.
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LeMint, Stage 2 is usually done about 4 months after Stage 1. It is done outpatient--you go home the same day.
Sweave, good for you to try and do some research before the fact. To adequately decide if a DIEP is for you, you need to see a surgeon proficient in them. No one at my hospital did them, and my PS there told me I was too thin and wasn't a candidate. Two infections and 4 surgeries later I needed a fresh opinion.
I finally traveled to a larger medical center that did them. The DIEP surgeon said that I was actually the perfect candidate. I had enough fat for 2 C breasts (slightly bigger than what I was!) but not too big that I would be at risk for complications.
The scarring is better if you do the DIEP right out of the gate. You can compare my pics with another lady's back on page 10 or so on this thread
Wish I had done this first off! Love the results and the fact that I am done for good and not having to have them redone in 10 years.
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Tomorrow is my big day hope I get to sleep tonight. Gotta be at the hospital at 5 and surgery is at 7. Talk to ypu all when I can...
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best wishes Dlia -- you will be so happy to wake up on the other side - my timing was the same, and I woke up perkily post anaesthesia after 11.5 hours on the table. Yes, you will be hot and hunched over when you walk [that's where the back pain comes from] for a few days, but you will notice significant improvements daily
I would describe it as soreness too from lots of sit-ups. Don't overstretch your arms til you get the all clear [the unofficial term is T Rex arms ].0 -
morning ladies.
T rex arms lol So true! Remember to move slowly too, watch how you move, grab things, reach (not for the first week or so) for things. I watched all my movements very carefully cause you know, us women tryo to do so much at times. we get to moving and don't pay attention to HOW were moving.
Thinking of you today! I cannot wait to meet/see you Sat! Please let me know if there is anything I can bring to you or your family
Maybe a covered dish? (I should warn you, not the best baker lol But I try)Hope everyone else is doing ok.
I am so extremely exhausted. Staying home today. I think my body needs a sleep catch up day (I was on call last weekend), and I accidentally scratched a bit of scab off my belly last night
Stings like crazy.0 -
thinking of you Dlia, wishing a quick surgery and recovery. Great advice above, remember not to overdo- this is your time!
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Dlia,
Thinking of you as your start this healing journey. I cried everyday for two weeks because felt so vulnerable and scared. It's okay. It will get better day by day. I hope you're one of the people who has minimal pain and heals easily!
Phoebe, T Rex arms !!!! Bwahahahahhaha that is perfect!!!
I am SO looking forward to the day I can stretch long and tall. At two weeks out I am starting to feel stronger and less exhausted.
A huge thank you to all the ladies who share this journey and reach out to each other. You each make this world a better place
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You ladies make me smile! Has anyone else had the urge to do some major housecleaning before surgery? It feels like the nesting instinct I had during pregnancy. My husband thinks I should be sitting around eating bon bons for the next several days. Surgery is in one week-yikes!
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Katiebird - YES!!! I spent the two weeks prior to surgery cleaning and organizing my basement, laying a new patio, and erecting a screened gazebo! My husband thought I was crazy. But I knew I wouldn't be able to do much, if anything, for the first few weeks after, and if I had to stare at the chaos I'd lose my mind. Bless my DH's heart - he helped me do anything I wanted, regardless of how crazy it might have seemed.
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Katiebird and Nancy, I was exactly the sam -for 2 weeks I was in full nesting mode and cleaned everything plus spent a couple hundred in decorating! The weird thing was that I decorated my deck but have to admit I love the way it looks now. I did spend a lot of time sitting out there and taking it easy so I guess that was my plan
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Thinking of you Dlia, best wishes!!!
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My surgery is in 4 weeks and I want to clean top to bottom before then. Kinda how I felt in my 9th month of pregnancy. Lol
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Dlia, hope all went well!
How difficult is it to get in or out of bed unassisted for the first 2 weeks after the surgery? And if you can't lie straight, what have you found most comfortable? Bed with pillows or a recliner? I don't have one so I'm wondering if it's worth renting one.
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Hi Maya15!
If you can afford it- DEFINITELY rent a recliner- I had this surgery in July and needed it for a whole month. Also, do lunges and squats to strengthen your legs as much as possible before surgery. I think I recovered so much better because I was able to get out of bed faster because of my leg strength. you can get comfy in a bed with plenty of leg and wedge pillows, but a recliner is SO NICE and restful.
Good luck!
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Maya, I agree with Annie - a recliner is the way to go if possible. We purchased an inexpensive electric one from Sam's Club when we were unable to rent one (later I found a friend with a similar chair who would have been happy to share it with us, so if you can't find one to rent consider asking friends/family if they have one to loan).
I used it exclusively for the first 4-5 weeks, and found it incredibly easy and surprisingly comfortable. When I finally moved to the bed I used one of those pillows with arms like a chair to prop me up, and a pillow under my knees (I was more comfortable that way but didn't need it for my tummy anymore). I'm now 8 weeks out and am able to sleep flat in bed, on either side, with no props needed (though I'm now hooked on a pillow as a side prop).
I realized when I was in the hospital that I wouldn't be able to sleep in a bed for a while. Even with the hospital bed that sat me up, getting out of bed was a challenge for the first week or so. Our bed is lower to the ground, and I think standing up would have been a problem.0 -
Ouch! I think I used my stomache muscles to help me get out of bed yesterday and now they are tender!! I have a recliner but got lonely and tired of sleeping in it.
I am 2.5 weeks post op and scared I messed up something 😬
Anyone else go through this?
Tigs
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Morning ladies..
I made me a little 'nook' prior to surgery with everything I needed and wanted right there next to my recliner and did a bit of cleaning. I've been nesting since.
Im coming up on 1.5 since dx at the end of Sept
Hard to believe I have been doing this so long, and I am still not done ughI went to see Dlia yesterday. Got there at about 2:30, and she wasn't out yet
Had me a bit concerned. But I went to see her family as they were on my mind. Has to be scary, sitting, waiting for someone you love to come out of surgery. Plus I thought maybe they had questions about recovery? So I didn't get to see her. Took her family some muffins, talked for a few, and left. Just wanted to offer whatever support I could. I received so much over this past 1.5 yrs. I feel honored to be able to give some of that back.
Gosh, I had forgotten trying to get out of the hospital bed right after surgery. That was rough. I was up the second day I think with help, third day without. My last day in the hospital, I walked the halls lol
Tigger, my tummy has been tender since surgery. I've told my doc, he just says it's muscles healing (I had DIEP and TRAM). Do take it easy. I cant remember who, but somebody here said at 2 weeks, your stitches start to dissolve. Not sure how your bed sits, but if you sleep there, just be mindful and slow about getting out of it. Careful how you move.
Hugs and healing thoughts to everyone
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Hi ladies
I am planning on get fat grating for the top of my chest, above my diep flaps, as I have hollow spots.
For those that have done phase 2, how long was your surgery? Do they completely knock you out or did you do twilight ? how long did it take to recover? Do they give you pain meds? If there is bruising, how long until they went away? did the fat grafting take?
I know this surgery is way easier after the diep long surgery, but still feel somewhat nervous about the pain and the results
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unexpectedly, last minute, going in for stage 2 next Wed. They had a cancellation, and given my complications, he is utilizing that time to fix the physical issues as well as standard stage 2. He says 3 incisions, 1.5 hour surgery. I say BS. I'll believe it when I see it.
Keeping all of you in my thoughts. Hope Dlia is able to check in soon.
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simplicity: good luck with your phase 2!
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simplicity, keeping you in my thoughts over the next few days, hoping for relief from all that you've been dealing with, and quick (and complete!!) healing from your stage 2. *hug*
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