DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2017
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Surgery in 3 days and the anticipation is building. Feels similar to the mix of dread and excitement that I felt when I narrowed in on my due date at the end of pregnancy. I'm ready to put this anxiety behind me I've decided to take a break from reading here. There are too many potential complications to learn about! I'll post again soon.
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Hi All, best wishes to all currently in the process. Understand the anxiety and probably why I have taken so long to get going. But in the end it sounds like it is worth it so sending you positive energy for strength and healing!!
I am seven years past Unilateral mast without reconstruction. I am now finally at a point where I feel ready for reconstruction but Diep is only option I would consider. I like idea of natural tissue and no need to destroy muscle. The tummy tuck sounds like a consolation prize for the the efforts. Any CHICAGO based doctors any ofyou can recommend?
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One week recovery as of today. Feeling good. Drain still putting out over 60cc. No pain pill for 24 hrs. Going out to eat lunch with hubby.
Hope everyone is having a good day.
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Let's remember Hammie28 as she has her DIEP tomorrow.
Hammie28 I am praying for a successful and uneventful surgery.
We will be in your pockets.
All you have to do is show up and everyone else will do the rest.
Your job starts again after recovery. Take it slow and easy.
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jb- as I recall from the MX the drains are a pain, so it's great to know you feel up to going out to lunch! When do you follow up w the PS? Thanks for keeping us posted and for remembering Hammie. Xoxo to everyone here on this journey.
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Add me to the list! I was originally scheduled for Feb 7, but had to cancel when my mother became very ill. She's stable now, although in poor health. My sisters, DH, and DD have encouraged me to go ahead with surgery, so I can begin to get some closure on this terrible experience.
I'm scheduled for April 20 with Dr M.Whitten Wise in NOLA (Center for Reconstructive Breast Surgery)
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Hello ladies ☺
Could you please add me to throw list? My recon surgery and reduction is April 18th....excited and scared all at the same time... keeping everyone in my thoughts and prayers for a smooth surgery and uneventful recovery.
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Good for you, must love poodles. Sounds like it's time for you to take care of you.
Kali44 hope all goes well for you with your surgery.
Jbdayton, sounds like you are recovering well. That's great to hear.
I'm scheduled for my BMX with immediatr reconstruction on April 4th. Not 100% sure I'll be having DIEP; need more tests first to see if I have the right kind of veins. Did anyone else have to get a CT scan with contrast dye before your plastic surgeon agreed to do DIEP? Sometimes I feel like they're making me jump through all these hoops for no good reason.
Wish me luck! I think I'm going to need it.
Trish
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Trish- I had an MRA last month to make sure I'm a candidate for DIEP. You're on the right track if that's where you're at
Must love poodles- sorry to hear about your mom and the subsequent delay of surgery. Where is NOLA
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Trish, I wish my PS would have done a CT scan of my abdomen and mapped out my perforators prior to surgery. My PS preferred to use his Doppler to identify them during surgery.
I woke up from my surgery and only had one breast. He said I had bad perforators on one side and was happy he was able to make me one good breast for my radiated side. His solution was I would be beautiful with an implant on the other side. I was devastated, I went to him because I wanted flaps only. His reputation was sterling. I asked why the other side wasn't converted to a Muscle sparing TRAM and he said it was too late he was already committed.
I am not a DIEP specialist but I feel I would have had an entirely different outcome if we had done a CTscan and could have known in advance of any potential veins issues.
Good luck finding good results from the scan.
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Falconer, thanks for asking. I have not had an issue with this drain. Since it is only one drain and it is by the groin area of my abdominal incision. I have it in a pocket that I Velcro to my binder. I wear a very loose button up shirt or a flowing sun dress.
I have an appointment with the surgeons nurse this Thursday to remove tapes and drain, if ready. My P S appointment is not until March 20.
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Kali44 welcome to the group. Hopefully we can help with your questions and worries or even fears. We all have been there or are three with you.
I could not not have gotten through the last 4 years without the friends on this website.
Mustlovepoodles, I am so glad your family has encouraged you to persue this surgery now. You are needing to complete this and move forward with your new life. I am so looking forward to saying I am through and can focus on other life important issues. This will give you new life energies that you can direct towards the rest of your family members, if needed. Congratulations on making this decision.
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Falconer, NOLA is New Orleans, Louisiana.
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must love- of course! Sorry I don't get out much these days
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Trish, I had the CT scan also. This one is a hoop you definitely DO want to jump through. The PS studies it in advance of the surgery to see exactly where your perforator veins are. Also it tells them if there's going to be a problem before they open you up. If you don't have it, they have to go hunting around in your abdomen for the veins and it makes the surgery longer, with potentially more complications. The scan takes about 10 mins. The only pain is the needle for the IV.
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Hi Maya, how are you healing? It looks like you're following the path we are on just ahead of us. I went to Cornell Weir for the imaging of my perforators! What a nice place! Where did you have your surgery
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I had my surgery at NYU (and the CT scan as well). I'm all healed now (never thought I would get there!) Breasts look really great (if you ignore the scars) and I have a date for my tattoos, April 14.
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Falconer, Jb, Maya,
Thanks for the replies. I don't mind doing the tests as long as they're necessary. And it sounds like this one is. It's starting to feel real now. I spoke to the surgery scheduler, and she was booking me for all the pre op tests I need to have done. She somehow managed to get all of them booked for the same day. Yay! Saves me trips out there ( It's about 45 minutes from my house)
Jb,
So sorry to hear how badly your initial surgery went. That's my biggest fear, that I'll wake up and not have had the procedure I want. I really, really don't want implants, but I'm afraid something will go wrong and I'll end up with them.
Again, thanks for all the encouragement. It really does help calm the fears.
Trish
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Trish- good luck with you surgery. I only had to do a lot of blood work bc of multiple miscarriages. They were concerned of a clotting disorder. I did great with my surgery except I had complications of small vessels so more had to be reconnected to ensure adequate blood flow to flaps. I had to have a rib removed to get to a vessel and I have a lot os sternum pain from that. Had I not of had this complication the cancer hiding in my internal mammary lymph nodes would have been missed since it can't be visualized without looking under your sternum. I had 2 MOs tell me that it's not very common to have cancer there, could be that they don't see it there very often Since I wouldn't have qualified for a PET at the time this would've progressed to stage 4 in a matter of months they told me. Probably the only time I've been thankful for the complication such of that.
My chemo was to begin tomorrow but is having to be put on hold because I have an abd incision that opened back up after surgery and is having trouble closing. I did a wound vac and that helped tremendously but I still have about a 2 inch gap that needs to close. Frustrated beyond all words right now.
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WGraf- I'm so sorry to hear that the wound vac is not working as quickly as you had hoped! I hope that your kids are helping you out and that you aren't doing too much except taking care of yourself. ((Hugs))
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Falconer- thanks for the support. My kids have been great and the husband stepped up and went to the grocery and had dinner ready when I got home. Iwent to urgent care at the cancer treatment center today and was given an iV for dehydration. Had an US on my neck. The tech was having difficulty finding my port and they were concerned it wasn't placed correctly and that may have been causing the neck pain I am experiencing. It appears that I have an enlarged lymph node in my neck. They are not sure if that is from my cancer or just a reactive node. Just ready to start chemo tired of worrying about every little thing. Hopefully next week 🤞🏻
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WGraf- Glad to know you have the support you need, along with attentive doctors and the ability to get help for yourself, like going to Urgent Care. I'm sorry to hear about the port and the enlarged node & all the worry it's causing you, which is exhausting.holding you in the light.
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WGraf so sorry to hear of your problems. I hope the remaining wound heals quickly. I hope the node is enlarged due to your body sending so much energy to healingyour wound. I am keeping you in my prayers for healing and getting to start chemo soon.
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cdv, I am thinking of you today as you have your surgery. We are in your pocket. Let us know how you are doing as you have time and feel p to it.
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Hi all- wondering how everyone's doing. Thanks always Jb for keeping us posted about latest surgeries. Hugs all around
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Hi, I am ten months post DIEP and waiting for part 2. Meanwhile, I'm having shooting pains in my right (reconstructed) breast. Anyone have those? I'm thinking that perhaps I pinched a nerve or maybe it's nerves regenerating or pulled a muscle?
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If you want to avoid the extra radiation dose from a CT you can ask about having a MRI Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) scan instead. Worked for me to identify my perforators.
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argynis- I had an MRA as well. However, not everywhere does it if you have TEs in bc many have magnets that identify the port. My PS published an article this Dec that I shared on another thread saying that it was safe- in case anyone needs help getting an MRA.
Grateful99, I haven't had the DIEP surgery, but still have plenty o pain from the TEs and the surgery in general. Acupuncture has helped some.
Best to all of you.0 -
Thanks for all of the well wishes. I am feeling a ton better today and had some energy following the IV. Not thinking about the LN in my neck as nothing I can do right now. I went to a movie with DH today and forgot I had cancer for a few hours😊 Nice to feel normal even if it is for a few hours
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10 days since my last Stage 2. I was supposed to go to get my incisions and drain checked today but I called yesterday and postponed to next week. My drain is still putting out about 70cc per day. I live about 4 hours away from this doctor.
I am starting to feel like this really will be my last revision. The breasts are fuller but a little closer in size to each other. I think one may be about a half cup size difference. My belly is smooth again no more bulges. Yes I am still using the binder and compression bra.
I am only having a little pain now in my abdomen where he repaired the hernia by the belly button. It only gets me while getting up and down. I am still tender in the fat donor sites and still have lots of colorful bruising.
I really am glad I did this additional revision. I finally feel like I can live with the results.
The only thing I need to decide is if I want to go somewhere else to get a 3d tattoo or return to my prior PS and have it re-inked. It is barely visible and I am 13 only months out.
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