DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
Comments
-
Grateful, that's what my PS says too, my scar will look just the same as the closed part, just a little line. Let's hope she's right. She's going to use non-dissolvable stitches this time because the previous ones dissolved too quickly. That way she has control over when to take them out.
Tigs, I am certainly scared going back into surgery for "stage 1, part 2", and my stage 2 will be 5 weeks later on January 5. But it will be nice to get this over and done with.
For those of you who've had stage 2, how much difference did the fat grafting make?
0 -
Tigger, I can appreciate your andst about going back for more surgery. I felt the same way. I had my DIEP last December I was scheduled for Stage 2 in April. By then I had my energy back, and the last thing I wanted was to feel out of it again. But I did want to finish.
I was glad to find that it wasn't too much of a set back. I was tired for about a week. I was told not to lift for about 4 weeks, but I was able to get back to my regular activities pretty quickly.
It was also great to get some of the lumpy areas of my scars smoothed out and to get nipples--love my nipples!
I had fat grafting from my inner thighs and waistline. That was the hardest part. Those donor sites were sore for a very long time, but that too passed. I am happy with the resulting shape.
Sobottom line, it is worth it!
0 -
Nlo, I agree--stay with your mom. You'll need the bathroom a lot, and tons of steps are just out of the question for the first couple of weeks. I was pretty helpless for two weeks.
It is a big surgery, but it is so worth it. My foobs feel so natural--they are me! They aren't the real deal, but they are close enough for me. I love having cleavage again, and soft, warm breasts that jiggle. The implants were just awful.
0 -
Maya, the fat grafting makes a subtle change, but I suspect an important one. My PS didn't have much fat to work with, plus they have to be careful not to use too much lest it die,leaving you with hard lumps.
But it does fill in flat or sunken areas, providing a more natural look. I think it made a big difference for me. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
0 -
What is phase 2? I thought that it was just the one surgery, (hopefully), and done. Unless something happens that needs to be fixed.
Those of you whose husbands are not on board, or are on the fence. At first mine totally didn't want me to have it done. The reason was because he didn't want me to go thru another surgery and the pain afterwards. I tried to explain why I wanted to do it. That it is for me, so that I can feel more normal again and not so much like a cancer victim. He finally came around to understanding. He said that if it would make me feel better than he would support me. As time has gone on he is more supportive. I'm thankful for this.
Another question for those of you who have already had it done, separately from the bmx. How long until I can take care of myself and be left alone? I have arrangements for the first 3 weeks. I know everyone is different, but barring any unforeseen problems, should this be enough time?
0 -
Maya15 thanks so much for the info. I am so fortunate to have so many people that want to take care of me. My husband, my 15 yr old son, my parents, and a sister n law that's a nurse. I'm thankful I have so many options, I just have to pick where I want to go. But of course who doesn't want their mom to always take care of them when they are down.
The count down begins, I believe the next 4 days are going to go by so quickly. I will be surgery before I know it. Surgery is scheduled for Dec 1, just hoping I'm able to enjoy the holidays.
Wishing you the best for your surgery Monday, hoping for a quick recovery for you!! Did they say why the incision opened? Is it because you did too much activity? Or is that something that just happens?
0 -
Cwayman, the DIEP is usually a 2-step process. The first surgery is the big one with the goal of successfully transferring tissue from your belly to your chest.
The second is usually done about 3 months later. It is a much shorter thing done as outpatient surgery. They tidy incision lines, remove dog ears (floppy areas), create nipples, and even thing ms out with fat grafting. The recovery is usually pretty short.
I found my DIEP a little easier to recover from than the initial BMX with tissue expanders. I think the biggest reason was I got to spend tThe first 4 days in the hospital, which I hardly remember.
I needed a lot of help the first 2 weeks, but I got along much better after that.
At first, you have to walk hunched over because they took all that belly skin. It takes time to stretch out. I think I was fairly upright after 2 weeks. It is pretty hard on the back. I used a walker for the first few days. That helped.
Nlo, wound opening usually just happens. Those who go into this over weight have the highest risk, but it can just happen. Overactivity can contribute, but that is not always the reason. If it does happen, it means packing the wound so that it can heal from he inside our.
In any case, taking it easy is crucial. I am a nurse, and I am amazed how soon we send people home these days. Your brain says "I'm home, so I must be OK, right?" No, you are home because it costs too much to keep you in the hospital. Pretend you are still there! Let people feed you. Don't lift a finger. The only thing you should get up to do is pee, poop, and walk around the house periodically.
Speaking of poop, have stool softeners on handto take, and take them religiously. I got colace and I took one each time I took a narcotic pain pill.
0 -
Big sister- Thank you for sharing your experience. I so want this to be over with and get on with life!
I also don't have a lot of fat according to true PS😳 She said my 'opportunities ' were my outer thighs and possibly inner thighs. Most of my fat is in my bootie but she says it would require turning me and making it a different surgery.
Insurance won't cover inner and outer thighs. Was this true in your case
She will also take my flaps out. The surgeons were able to spare a lot of skin and my nipples so my flaps are small. I am concerned about complications.
Maya- You have been through so much! I pray this next step is an easy one for both of us
0 -
Help! I have had adult cystic acne since 6 weeks post op from my Deip flap surgery!
It is mainly my nose and chin. My dermatologist has me on Fineaca (?) and aczone topical. Is this a common reaction to surgery?
0 -
Hi Ladies, it's been 8 weeks now since my unilateral DIEP. Overall, I feel good and I've been told that my recovery is going well. I'm feeling twinges of pain on the reconstructed side, especially under my arm where the lymph nodes were removed. For those of you who've been recovering for awhile, is this pain/discomfort normal? I'm guessing that it's nerve pain as the numbness starts to wear off. I also wanted to ask if any of you have experienced anxiety or fear that every little thing that you feel in your body now causes you to worry? I've talked to my dr several times and have even been in for more exams, but I'm so worried about recurrence, or that something will show up on the non-surgical side. Trying to stay calm but not too good at handling stress.
0 -
Bigsister, thank you for the info. I think I will stay at my parents...one floor, no stairs, and the bathroom is close. My PS said I will recover in the hospital 3 days at the minimum, hoping I don't remember the first couple days post recovery as well. He also said I will wear an abdominal band and no walking straight, I believe two weeks. I am definitely not going to rush going home, because your exactly right about, if we are home, we think we are healed. This will be my first real surgery, besides my Cesarean section 15 years ago. Im hoping to let all the people that want to help, pamper me, and really be careful as not to do too much. My boss already told, don't even think about coming back early, she knows how I am, can't sit still.
0 -
Katiebird, so glad to hear overall your doing well at 8 weeks. Did I read your profile correct? Did they remove 22 nodes? I don't know much about the sentinel nodes, but that seems like alot of nodes to be removed?
I am also concerned about the other non cancer side. I was diagnosed with a fibroadenoma 5 years ago in my right breast, went through the testing, biopsy, and then relieved when it was nothing. This time it was the left side that was there problem. I was arrogant and thought again it was probably nothing. I received my results and was astounded to find out I had cancer. I had two aunts pass away at a very young age from cancer. I thought, I too, will always be concerned every time I have a mammogram, or pain, or feel something weird. So, I made the decision to do prophylactic mastectomy on the other side as well. I would rather just go through the pain now and hope that I won't have to worry about any more scares in the future.
0 -
Tiggerousity, my insurance didn't care where the fat came from. I don't know why yours is giving you hassle. My PS said as long as they mark it "revision of breast reconstruction," they are good to go. Perhaps you can have the office appeal?
Katiebird, I only had 4 nodes removed, and I remember having twinges here and there as nerves healed. Perhaps that is what is going on. I found rubbing the area helped. So did ice. I hope it calms down!
Nlo, glad to hear you are telling yourself now to take it easy. Give your family permission to scold you when you forget! My four girls, ages 11 to 20 at the time, became very protective of me. They scolded me any time I tried to wash a dish or start to cook a meal. They were troopers as they helped me in and out of bed, bathed me, and helped me with my drains. It was hard for them, but they took it in stride and learned a lot through it all.
I am BRCA2 positive. Two of my girls have been tested so far (I have six girls and two boys) and both are positive as well, so these girls will end up taking care of each other down the road. It really stinks, but this is the situation that we have been given. We have grown through it!
0 -
Tiggerousity, regarding your sudden cystic acne, I don't recall reading that anyone else struggled with that (I have read all of the 2014, 2015, and 2016 DIEP threads!). I suspect is it a result of inflammation from all that you have been through. The surgery was enough to throw your body out of whack--it is likely an immune system thing.
To help it, I would first load up on the probiotics. Get a good refrigerated kind. Second, be sure you are taking a good daily vitamin with methylated B's. Folic acid is useless--you want something with methylated folate. O.N.E. from Pure Encapsulations is an excellent vitamin with all sorts of other goodies as well.
As to fixing it, I am utterly astounded at the results people are getting with Rodan and Fields, a skin care company. It was started by a pair of dermatologists (the same ones that invented Proactive), and it works incredibly well. PM me if you want more information. My daughters struggled with acne, and now they have the most amazing skin--no more need for make up! I am looking forward to using it on my scars to hasten their fading.
0 -
katiebird, I feel the same way, but my MO is very dismissive. Says in my case risk of recurrence is low ( oncotype 27). I think he is basing that on node negative status. Hang in, it takes a while to mentally recover from the shock of a cancer dx, and that there is life after dx and tx. Hugs
0 -
Katiebird, I forgot that I wanted to respond to your concern about anxiety. I have struggled with that immensely. When I went for my BMX, my cancer was very small, so I didn't have to worry about chemo or anything. However, because I carry BRCA2 mutation, I opted for a BMX. My PS said that I was too thin for a DIEP (little did he know!) and since I was in terror mode, I went with implants.
Two weeks later I was getting one removed because it was infected. They reinserted it 3 months later, and it got infected again. This time, they tried to save it with antibiotics, and I ended up in the hospital for a week with sepsis. After they finally removed the offending implant, I was discharged with a central line and 2 more weeks of daily IV antibiotics.
When I recovered enough to think about what had happened to me, I really struggled. Anxiety was at my side constantly and I was pretty hopeless about where to go next. I finally went to see a DIEP surgeon who put me back together. It was almost a full year from my first BMX till when I had my DIEP. That was last December.
During that time I started taking L-Theanine for the anxiety, and it has helped a ton. L-Theanine is the amino acid in green tea that gives that tea its calming properties. It has been wonderful for my anxiety. When I take it, my emotions become much more stable. I suppose I could drink a bunch of decaf green tea to get similar effects, but the capsule ensures that I get a good dose. It is great for those undergoing tons of stress, like all of us!!
The other thing that helps me is a solid foundation in Christ. Nothing happens to me outside of his hand. That gives me a solid safety net to depend upon.
HTH a little. Hugs.
0 -
bigsister2-
Thanks for the input. I know hormones are whacky because I am having microflashes of heat on and off daily. A good probiotic is a great idea. I stopped taking it two months postop.
The cystic acne isn't due to clogged pores. I guess the stress of the surgeries did it. My dermatologist said that about 6weeks after a stressful event the cortisol levels come down and the skin reacts to this shift..
I'll look up the skin cleansing system and the vitamins you recommended.
0 -
Cwayman, I think by 3 weeks you should be able to be left alone and take care of yourself, one thing you will still need though is someone to do your shopping and any cleaning/vacuuming etc around the house. And someone to take you to the surgeons office for check ups.
Nlo, I did the same as you and did both sides in the hope that there are no more scares in the future. As for why the abdominal incision opened up, it definitely wasn't too much activity, I was doing nothing at all for the first few weeks. If you're a smoker or diabetic or very overweight you're at higher risk but I wasn't in that category. My PS says I'm very slow to heal and questions me about whether I'm eating enough protein etc, but for me the reason is clear: too much chemo. It's made me slow to heal in general, like a cat scratch now takes weeks to heal. The last infusion I had was 6 weeks post DIEP, and within 48 hours I was in excruciating pain and then lots of fluid came bursting out of my open abdominal incision...
katiebird, your pain sounds normal, the nerves get cut from the lymph nodes surgery. Check if you have cording (you would feel them in your armpit and down your arm). Otherwise, do arm excercises to regain full range of motion, you can do some manual lymphatic drainage (there are videos online that show you how to do it) and if you're in a lot of pain like I was, you can ask for a prescription for gabapentin.
Tigs--are you on any other "poisons" that might cause acne? Such as chemo, hormones etc?
0 -
Maya- none of the cancer treatment toxins right now. I start hormone treatment after the phase two surgery.
My nose hurts! I hope it resolves soon so I don't look like WCFields. I have upped green drinks and hope eating clean- post holiday will help.
Sending you some positive vibes that Jan 5th will go smoothly. How long does it take chemo to get out of the body?
Love and light
0 -
I had my ovaries out two years ago to prevent ovarian cancer. I found that juicing carrots and cucumber really made a difference in reducing hot flashes. I juice about 1/2 c of carrot juice plus 1/6 of a cucumber per serving. I juice for both my husband and myself he finds the juicing helps him sleep. We drink it at bedtime.
0 -
Tiggerousity, I think it is less about the chemicals getting out of your body and more about your recovery from the effects. I would think that it would take a long time for your body to recover.
For example, when you take an antibiotic, it takes months to restore the normal flora in your gut. Add to that antiseptic soaps, and you are always behind the 8 ball.
Good eating habits, a daily probiotic, and a good vitamin are daily essentials--even over the holidays! Keeping carbs down is the most important hing you can do for your health. Make it a lifestyle choice. It is hard to get started, but one it is a habit, it is easier to maintain.
0 -
bigsister2 -
Thanks for validating that it is just a long process. It is hard to be patient. Cried for two hours today from fears of another surgery, tired of not being whole and strong, and just exhausted trying to figure it all out (work).
Carbs never have been my friend. I feel horrible after eating pure carbs so it is no problem for me to skip chocolates, cakes etc. I do love wine and cheese though. I'll try the cucumber in my green drink. Thank you for giving me some new ideas and encouragement
0 -
I am told it takes a year for the body to recover from chemo, but for now, I'm getting Herceptin/Perjeta infusions every 3 weeks and my body never has time to recover.
I read a great blog someone posted a link to on this website about what it's really like to be a cancer patient: https://herecomesthesun927.com.
0 -
Tiggerousity, my heart goes out to you. I remember reeling after all the events of my awful year. I kept questioning myself--all this surgery just for looks? What was I thinking?!
Yet now that I am almost a year on the other side, Ivan confidently say YES! It was worth it all. I love my warm, jiggly breasts that look pretty awesome in clothes, and my nice flat tummy is a nice bonus.
While I was waiting for my DIEP and throughout my recovery, I read through the entire 2014 DIEP thread, all 227 pages! (Those ladies were quite chatty.) it gave me the courage to keep on.
Of those 100+ women on that thread, not one regretted her decision, even the two that had flap failures and had to try again.
They also had a few sayings that were so encouraging. They said we didn't have to be brave--we just had to show up. Lol. I could do that!
They also reminded each other that this surgery is like a marathon, so you measure progress in weeks, not days. That taught me to be patient about recovery.
They also encouraged one another to be sure to rest and take it easy. They shared all sorts of tips to make things just a little easier during that time.
Even though I was reading posts on that thread that were more than a year old, I felt like the ladies on that forum were my friends. Their concern for each other and upbeat posts helped me immensely as I followed along on the journey.
It is OK to be afraid, to cry, and to wonder if you are dong the right thing. I know I did! But the DIEP is a great way to get some semblance of self back out of this terrible disease.
0 -
Maya, I am so sorry for your continued treatment messing with your healing. That really stinks.
Thanks for that link to the blog--well written. I too am a nurse who has worked in oncology. I didn't get it either. Nobody does unless they have heard those words "you have cancer." They change you.
0 -
Hi everyone feeling a little overwhelmed... I saw the blood specialist on Friday who told m my lymphocytes were even higher. My neutrophils have finally gotten in the normal range but the lymphocytes continue to climb. They have been up since I did chemo in 2011. The doctors in VA said they were aware of my numbers and were watching them 5 years later and they see how they are climbing but now they are waiting till May of next year to rule out infection and for me to show symptoms before they can offer a treatment. This seems to be a never ending battle to get to enjoy life... Can I have an infection for 5 years and not get treated? I'm so confused...
0 -
Dlia- oh wow! That sounds scary. I am so sorry they can't offer more help now. I will add you to my prayers today!
I'm working with my diet for healing. Green drinks and smoothies are supposed to boost the immune system. I know it isn't a huge help but maybe it is something you can add to help?
Love and light,
Tig
0 -
Tiggerousity I truly appreciate the thoughts and prayers. Anything to boost my immune system will help. The hard part is the waiting and not knowing what or why my numbers are up. I don't know if I can handle waiting 6 months I don't understand why they can't rule out or say whether or not it is infection. I don't want to have this continuously on my mind for 6 months and if it is infection is it safe for me to have my stage 2 surgery? Just venting...
0 -
Dlia sorry to hear that. It seems we all have endless things to worry about.
I had my abdominal surgery on Monday to fix and close the wound. Surgery took 1.5 hours and I have a drain and external stitches across more than half the abdomen. The first night I had extreme pain and nausea, but feel much better since they increased my pain meds. Now I just have to hope it all heals up nicely and stays closed.
0 -
Dlia, it may or may not indicate infection. You have many kinds of white cells. When a larger petcentage are neutrophils, it usually means bacterial infection. When a larger portion is lymphocytes, then it is usually viral, which you can't do much about.
I see an integrative medicine doctor who is helping me restore my immune system. Is their one in your area that you can see? The immune system begins in the gut, so diet and supplements to aid the gut in healing would help you.
Ask around. It looks like there are a bunch in Charlotte. Not sure who to recommend.
0
