2018 DIEP Surgery
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Scorpiogirl, I just had my BMX with DIEP reconstruction on 2/22. Just had my drains removed on Wednesday. The hospital gave me one lanyard. I had another lanyard from our local ACE hardware store that was made of a rubbery substance. I used a carabeaner to hook my drains on it. It was good to use in the shower because I did not care about it getting wet. During the day I was most comfortable pinning the drains to my abdominal band or my clothes.
You will need several comfortable sports bras that open in the front. WalMart carries Fruit of the Loom. Buy a couple of sizes larger than your normal size. There will be quite a bit of swelling in your breast area and under your arms not to mention if your PS upsizes your breasts. While you recover your breasts need support like a gentle hug not a tight fitting band.
You will get through this surgery fine. You have already been through so much on your journey to being cancer free. This time you will wake up cancer free with new breasts.
I will be thinking of you and praying your surgery goes well
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Twills--Congratulations on heading home! Hope all is smooth sailing now.
Yes Destin has changed greatly and continues to change. Sometimes it is a challenge to get around. I travel to Tampa-Moffitt- for my BS and MO since we have no real medical here. The Moffitt PS only wanted to do the lat flap which is why I started researching and found New Orleans. The Doctor told me they have something that a patient came up with for holding drains--since it works so well they now use it LOL I wish I would have asked for a description so I could share here. Maybe some others who had their procedure in New Orleans could shed some light?
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cindyanne
My husband and I are booked a few days before the surgery at the hotel monteleone. Its his first trip, and I haven't been since August 2005. I still haven't booked anything for after...hopefully somewhere close where I can rolled into for a few days! Cant imagine getting on a plane 8 days post op, but thats what I gotta do! We live in Chicago. 9 weeks to go. Chewing my nails off..i wish I could fast forward. I'm trying to prepare for my recovery. I'm putting my mattress on the floor to ease getting in and out of bed. Why oh why didn't I think of that after all my other surgeries!
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Cindyanne, the PS’s I saw around here also wanted to do Lat Flap, I went to Orlando to find someone that does a lot of DIEP, he is the best around here for sure. I’m interested in that drain holder, I’ve always used a lanyard when I’ve had drains and it works good.
Dawnann, I would not be able to get up from amattress on the floor. Gravity is rough when you’re weak. My bed is quite high and it’s even easier to get in and out of than my recliner.
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Thank you Twills and MommaGin and all!
I am really thankful for your advice! I am ordering some new supplies and calling around for home care help today! Surgery was just rescheduled to Friday, March 16!
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Congrats Kahnartist, it’s so nice to have a plan.
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TWills
I have the hardest time getting out of bed after surgery. My bed is antique and quite tall. I use a little step to get in everyday. I thought it would be easier to just "roll out" of bed. I guess I wasn't thinking of walking upright! My surgery isn't till May 15th so I have a little time to prepare. Oh, by the way, for all you ladies with drains out there...I showered with them in a nylon fanny pack that I didn't care if it got wet. That worked great.
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That’s a great idea for drains Dawnann, and I just thought I’d warn you about how weak and heavy you’ll feel. I feel like I weight twice as much as I do, it’s a very strange feeling. I don’t have as much pain as I did after BMX and then the Tissue Expander placement but the overall weakness is worse. Standing up from a seated position is quite hard I’ll be a week out tomorrow and I’vebeen able to do it pretty much by myself since I’ve been home except for opening and closing the recliner, not even close to being able to doing that.
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Kahnartist, I too scrapped the original plan for implants in favor of DIEP. I noticed you too are in Chicago. Where are you having your surgery done?
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TWills, I will be getting that Grabber for sure, as my powers of telekinesis aren't kicking in yet.
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Hi dawnann,
I am do it at Evanston. I have been with NorthShore for all of these fun aventures.
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kahnartist,
How healthy and active are you/were you prior to cancer? I believe that makes a big difference in the recovery from surgery scenarios you read on this site.
You will have a catheter placed for surgery. Mine was removed the next morning when I left ICU.
Getting to a seated position was difficult the day after surgery but by that afternoon i could get out of bed by myself, unplugging my monitor and IV and rolling all that to be bathroom.
I did not need a shower chair or raised toilet seat when I went home on day 2. I slept in my regular bed from that night forward.
Good luck
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Kahnartist
Best of luck. I am a Loyola "alumni ".
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Cindyanne, Did you travel to NOLA for a consultation, or did you do a photo consult? Do you have a date yet? Do you know who your surgeon will be?
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Dawnann, yes I traveled to New Orleans for the consult. Actually was there after a cruise anyway so they worked me in. Dr. Trayhan will be my surgeon. Still waiting for a date. (my only gripe with them is how long it takes to return a phone call) We did discuss DIEP but not enough tissue. Dr. Trayhan did say that you would only be hunched over a few days due to how they perform their procedure?
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cindyanne, I think they work on Louisiana time. Its almost as bad as Hawaii time. s-o s-l-o-w. I may be needing a Hybrid procedure if I don't have enough tummy. I have heard about the tightness and hunched over. I wish I could go for a real live consult, but I don't have the luxury of time. Dr. Blum will be my surgeon.I do love how they call you "miss" so southern.
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CindyAnne- Windsor Court and Stay Alfred were both great for after surgery. If you go with Windsor Court let Heidi at the center make the reservation. They get a better rate, room upgrades, discounted parking and a huge breakfast allowance. Also ask for a room that has a handheld shower head.
DawnAnn- many of us are bent at the waist for weeks after DIEP even when we have the surgery at NOLA. It’s not a big deal really, it just means pillows under your knees anytime you lay down, legs up when you sit (usually with pillows under the knees), and dealing with some back tension from the posture.
TWills-so glad you’re home! Sounds like you’re doing well. Every day will get a little easier. Time is your friend.
Bella-Yay! No drains!!!
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lula73, thanks for that info. I will call Heidi to see what she can do about reservations. Still nervous about doing a "destination surgery".
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Hello ladies, its day 3 after DIEP. Getting up and down on my own, using the bathroom and trying to do 3 laps in the am and pm around the hospital ward.
I bought all this stuff with me loose clothes, wedges and potty booster and I haven’t opened a thing as the hospital had everything I needed. My care has been incredible. ICU the first night was as if I even looked like I had problem someone was there in seconds to assist. I was on a vasculsr ICU so I was the least serious of their patients so the nurse said everyone wanted the ‘easy’ case.
Moved to regular room the day after surgery snd should be discharged this evening or tomorrow morning.
Flaps look good and pain is very tolerable with my valium and percocet (though they've eased off of this slowly).
Peeing a lot and passing lots of gas but told that’s actually good. My breasts look exactly the same in terms of color except much perkier. Wow! I haven't seen stomach yet....still very swollen and puffy.
Awaiting pathology on lump removed but the 2 nodes removed were benign. I also had a hernia (unbeknowst to me);that was repaired so got two for the price of one on that.
If all continues to go well, I will be singing the praises of DIEP for sure.
Peace and blessings
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Yay Opt4Life! Continued healing!!
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sounds like you’re doing great, Optforlife! So glad things went well and you’re feeling good!
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Thank you Lula73! I love the Windsor Court but unfortunately it is $500 per night during my time in New Orleans.
Yes I finally have a date yeah! May 1
Dawnann I understand your nervousness about a destination surgery but I did my BMX and all of my treatments in Tampa. I will say just know your body and plan your travel accordingly.
Opt4life -- you make it seem easy LOL All the best!
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Cindyanne-is that the rate through the center
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Cindyanne, sorry didn’t mean to sound like it was so easy. The first night I truly felt like roadkill from being hit by a mack truck....everything ached. Arms, legs, back, tailbone, neck....stuff that wasn’t operated on just ached. But every 24 hours has been better than the last 24 hours for sure.
I’m heading out of the hospital now waiting for my Mom (who is a nurse) to finish questioning my PS. He isabsolutely giving her his ‘I’m the expert here look’ so I better go rescue him.
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TWills-you said you wished you could use a binder for lower back pain. But it’s weird! My back hurts more with it on than when I take it off! I do have this corset that I bought years ago at a show for Hairdressers that helps with back pain. I tried it on and it was like heaven. My back suddenly felt great, my chest felt great (it only went as high as the bottom of my breasts). And my abdomen felt great! But it was really tight and I panicked thinking I might be cutting off the blood supply somewhere that I wasn’t supposed to be, so I took it off. : /
The only thing that helped my back is Tylenol, muscle relaxer and standing up straight
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Hi everyone!
Glad everyone is doing well. My surgery has been postponed because of my HER2+ infusions They won't be completed until June 6, 2018. I am very disappointed about that. I contacted John Hopkins and they agreed that my Her2 treatment is a non issue, but can't fit me in until October. NOLA again stated they don't work with my Blue Cross PPO from Michigan, it would cost plenty out of pocket.
So my new date is July 10, 2018 in Zion at CTCA with Dr. Pelletier and Dr Lui. They believe they can complete all 3 stages by Dec 31st, barring any complications. So Zion it is. I am comfortable and well acquainted with the process and the Dr.s there.
I am reading with interest everyone's experiences and wishing you all the best. Thanks for all the support and suggestions.
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Lula73--No I am still waiting for the Center to call me about travel. It appears I picked a busy week in New Orleans though
Opt4Life--I was just joking...I was sure it easy not an easy experience but was happy to hear your positive take on it. Please keep us posted on your progress. I am learning so much from everyone!
Carmstr835--I understand the HER2 thing but remember better safe than not.
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mitzi458, my back is really the only thing that’s causing me pain and it’s bad. I can’t even stand at the counter and wash both of my hands at the same time, I have to brace myself because my back will cramp up and feel like my muscles are ripping. It’s bad. Maybe I’m hunching a bit more than I should or my back was weaker than I already knew it was but sheesh! I know they said I was in the thinner side, which I never hear in any other situation lol, so my abdomen incision and pulling is quite aggressive so that’s got to be the reason. I’m consistently taking muscle relaxers and ibuprofen 800mg and I’m sure it’s helping but I really can’t tell that it is. Just can’t take the oxy, it makes me feel to bad and it wasn’t helping either. I’d say today is a bit better than yesterday’s though. I just want to stand up straight so bad. Anyway, I’ve got boobs so there’s that lol. I’m a hairstylist too btw. Other than the back everything looks great and is healing well, I can’t see my abdomen yet so we’ll see on Tuesday when the wound therapy bandages come off. Hopefully I’ll get all 4 drains out as well.
carmstr835, sorry you’ve had to delay, I know that’s frustrating. Hoping all of your stages can fall with the year, I’m trying to do the same.
Hope everyone is healing well!
Good luck this week to SadieSue09 and scorpiogirl! Sending good and healing thoughts to you and your Drs!
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Thanks for the well wishes TWills. I've been absent on the boards since I first showed up a few weeks ago, but I have been reading everyone's posts and they have been a huge help to me. Luckily, I've got the first appointment in the am tomorrow, so I'll report for surgery @ 6 am. While I am super nervous, it's not the dreading it kind, just an adrenaline type of energy. I'm so ready to get this part over with so I can get final pathology and a final treatment plan.
I did decide on UMX with immediate DIEP reconstruction and luckily, it's on my non-dominant side. I'm really hopeful that eases some of the frustrations during recovery. But I'm ready with lanyards for breast drains, a fabric tool belt like thing for abdominal drains, enough safety pins to melt down to make a car (I tend to lose stuff like that easily), wedge pillows, neck pillows, leg pillows and a Amazon Fire tablet with Netflix on the ready.
I'll try to post updates during my recovery to let everyone know how it's going.
Sending good vibes to scorpiogirl as well. You've got this!
Gentle hugs to all
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You sound ready SadieSue09, I us my lanyard for both breast and hip drains. I've also just pinned them the the inside of my pj top. Good luck tomorrow and I'll be thinking of you! You'll do great:)
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