2018 DIEP Surgery
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Hi ... I had double mastectomy and DIEP on April 30, 2018. I've had loads of surgeries, but this is by far the most challenging for me! Part of it is my age: 57. I just don't rebound the same way anymore.
But the other thing was not so much the pain as developing an infection, which I got after going home on May 3. I felt pretty bad, so I don't know if I was already developing one when I was released but within 2 days I had severe fever and chills, and the right side (no prior cancer) began to turn black. The surgeon told me that was pretty normal, and it was skin necrosis that would peel off and grow back healthy.
Problem was in the OTHER breast, which was my irradiated side. I've had two other surgeries on it, and both times I had infection. I did tell them, but I don't think my surgeon took it that seriously. I've had almost 10 days of hell between the infection start and finally starting to feel better. It seriously retarded my recovery, and I haven't been able to eat from a reaction to the Amoxycillin for a whole week. My docs finally prescribed Zofran, which kicked in today and has made me feel a whole lot better.
It's pretty intimidating reading about people who are walking a mile or two by the end of Week One when it's still a struggle for me to get up to shower and go to the bathroom, but everyone recovers differently. I'm trying to be patient with myself. My last drain will finally come out on Monday, and I can start feeling more human.
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roxwrites, wow, you’ve had quite an ordeal. As smooth as mine has went it was still rough going the first several weeks. I’m 10 weeks out and am feeling pretty close to normal. What ever that is:)
Hope you continue to feel better!
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Roxwrites, I had BMX with DIEP Flap Reconstruction on Feb. 22nd. I did not have any infections and it still took me 5 weeks to turn the corner. I just turned 61 in March. You are just coming up on two weeks. You have a ways to go yet but considering what you have been through you are progressing. This is a HUGE surgery. Don’t measure your progress against any others. Everyone is different. Many on this site had mastectomies previously and are just coming back for reconstruction. They may rebound faster than those of us that had the two surgeries combined.
My first two weeks were the most challenging both pain wise and emotionally. I had not had surgery since an emergency appendectomy at age 13. This one was a big deal. Someone posted that at week 3 she felt she turned a corner. I was hanging on to get to week 3, but I didn’t turn the corner. It took me to week 5. It does get better and the pain will lessen. You will feel so much better when the drains come out.
Stay close to BCO. There is a lot of love and support here.
Sending you a gentle hug and prayers for a smooth recovery. All of this suffering is worth it in the end
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one thing I wish I had done differently with my BMX/TE surgery was not taking advantage of the stronger pain meds that first few weeks. I only ever took Tylenol and it was doable, but in hindsight it kept me down longer than I would have been if I'd been up and moving faster and farther with smarter pain management. I know taking opioids can be tricky business but there is a time and place for it and BMX should have been it for me. Won't make that mistake again.
Lanne
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Roxwrites - you had a huge surgery and severe (in my opinion) complications. I'm glad you are feeling better now. It will be a while before you "turn the corner." Rest and work on healing. Don't worry about how others handled it. All the best.
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Twills and Lula73: Thank you so much!
5 weeks later...I'm feeling great, and heading back to work tomorrow. I've ordered some tanks with built in bras from amazon as I've gone without a bra for 5 years, and although I was elated to “need" one again, I find the restriction maddening. The only pain I have now is what I assume to be nerve pain on the left side. My guess is that radiation saved me from that on the right. Any advice on dealing with the shooting nerve pain?
Best decision I've ever made, hands down!🙌🏻
Wishing you all a blessed Mother’s Day!🌷
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Hi ladies. I am in New Orleans awaiting surgery on tuesday. I find myself in a state of emotional panic. I want this surgery, but I dont want to do the recovery. I am hoping for some calm to miraculously appear. Thank you all for your cander, suggestions and support. Dawn.
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Stacey- So glad you’re recovery is going well! you can try using some Vagisil cream where you’re feeling the pain. It works for many of us. It’s the same stuff that was in Lanacane for itch and pain. (Lanacane is no longer sold in US). The brand name and walmart brand work great, the target brand left clumps of cream all over that crinkled up and fell off like bits of pencil eraser, do I do not recommend target brand. Good luck!
DawnAnn- perfectly natural to have the jitters at this stage of the game. Surgery is Tuesday? Take some time and enjoy the city, try some restaurants, basically act like you’re on vacation and it will help with the jitters. If they get bad enough, try taking a Xanax if you have some or Benadryl if you don’t. I relate DIEP/SGAP flap to childbirth...it’s not necessarily easy, you should expect to have your pain handled well, the outcome is 100% worth it, and after a few months you tend to forget the tougher parts. Know that you are in the absolute best hands! Good luck this week. 🍀 Warm encouraging thoughts coming your way!
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Dawnann--I am so excited for you! Prayers for a speedy recovery. Please keep us posted and try to relax--you got this!
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DawnAnn, I agree with Lula73. It's perfectly normal to have anxiety this close to surgery. You have gone through your hardest part of your cancer treatment already...losing your breast. Now you get to have them restored from your own tissue. It is so worth it! The flat tummy is awesome! In 4-5 weeks you are going to feel so much better. It is like birthing a child. You don't want to go through labor and delivery but you have to in order to receive the great gift!
Xanax helped me with the anxiety. I took two an hour before I arrived at the hospital. I was not feeling any anxiety! Tomorrow is your day. You get to sleep thru the whole thing!! You can do this!
You are in great hands at NOLA and I am sure you will have a great result. Warm thoughts and a gentle bear hug coming to you.
Blessings,
Barbara
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roxwrites, hang in there. Infection is a nasty business. I am still dealing with one nearly a year out from surgery. I happened to contract a rare one, slow to grow and identify. Please insist on a culture if things don't improve quickly. Yes, some people bounce back quickly, but that is not always the case.
On the subject of pain meds, if you can, make sure someone else is doling them out to you and keeping a count. When I was being weaned off of them, I was told to take Tylenol and Motrin alternating. This worked. Hope this helps.
DawnAnn, good luck with your surgery. As nervous as you may feel, you will get into pre-op and be amazed at how professional and confident all the people around you are. They do this all the time. Best wishes.0 -
Dawnann and Primerose24, excited for you both! Cheering you on and wishing you a comfortable recovery and healing process:)
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Good luck to everyone having their surgery soon. It's so helpful reading this thread to get myself ready for this. I had theCT of my abdomen on Friday. I didn't ask but I assume no news is good news? I wasn't sure if someone would get back with me on the results or not?
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ocdamy,
If your CT was ordered by your plastic surgeon for DIEP, you won’t hear anything. It’s his/her tool for knowing where your arteries are and will be used to guide where he/she will cut your belly. Mine confessed that he didn’t look at it until he’s prepping for surgery
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Runrcrb, Thanks, that was what I suspected but just wanted to check. Made me nervous thinking they'd find cancer in my abdomen.
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Dawnann good luck tomorrow , you got this
! I am heading into surgery on Thursday and like you the nerves are kicking in. I know I am in good hands and thankful for the women who have shared their experiences on this site, it has helped me to have a better understanding and know what to expect during my recover.0 -
OCDAmy, my PS called me with my CT results but no news can be good news as well. Mine just confirmed that everything looked good but that I should have my gall bladder removed. I knew that already and I told them boobs were first in my list. Lol
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Hi ladies, I wanted to chime in, I am a year out from my DIEP Flap surgery. I was diagnosed last year at age 47 with ER, PR and HER2 positive IDC multi focal breast cancer with the biggest tumor 11mm. 4 tumors all together on the left side. I had a Double Mastectomy with immediate DIEP Flap reconstruction. Without a doubt this was the best decision for me. My surgery date was May 22, 2017. Eight weeks later I was at my nieces wedding up and dancing. I had extreme anxiety leading up to surgery - this was the worst for me.
Chemo for me was more difficult then the mastectomy and DIEP Flap reconstruction. I started TCHP on July 24. The chemo held up my healing, but once that was over in November, the healing started. All wounds closed up at the end of February. I did walk around with open wounds from July to February but I took good care of them and had a visiting nurse tend to them once a week till all wounds healed.
I had help the first two weeks home, after that I improved a little each day. I still have to do stage 2, I have put it on hold since I am HER2 positive and I am still receiving Herceptin and Perjeta infusions every 3 weeks til beginning of this August. Once kids are back in school in the fall I will do stage 2. I look better in clothes now then I did before surgery, I am extremely pleased with my body.
I have lost 58 pounds after surgery, I feel and look great. For me the chemo was harder of the two which I started on July 28, 2017 approximately eight weeks after surgery. I had my nieces wedding on a Saturday and then started chemo on a Monday.
What I want to reiterate is that one year out from my surgery I look and feel good.
Good Luck to you all. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Monica
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KCMC, thanks for sharing. I'm 9 months out and would not change things. Having DIEP was the best decision. Like you, I am pleased with the results. And not having to deal with expanders or implants under the pecs was a bonus. I am so happy that I decided I was worth it. Early on fear had me thinking of going flat. These threads were very helpful. Good luck with stage 2
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Thanks suburbs!
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where did you have the surgery and which dr pleas
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My Breast Surgeon was Dr. Ashikari and Plastic Surgeon was Dr. Koch. NY Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, Cortlandt Manor NY about 45 minutes outside of NYC in Westchester County.
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will be having surgery at Brigham & Womens Boston on Thursday, Breast Oncology Surgeon is Dr. Golshan, Breast reconstruction surgeon Dr Pomahac
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Primrose24--Good Luck tomorrow! Prayers for an easy speedy recovery
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collybluebell- surgeon was Dr Frank Dellacroce at NOLA StCharles Surgical Hospital. www.breastcenter.com
Primrose - good luck Thursday!!🍀
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hI ladies, I am 2 days out after diep surgery. The first thing I noticed was no more cronic pain uhDer left arm b after surgery. Dr Trayhan had reattached neeve's and muscle an removed scar tissue. At this point feel relived.
Lonher lether later. Dawnann
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Great to hear from you Dawnann, wishing you a comfirtable recovery and that’s wonderful that some of your previous pain was relieved:)
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so glad the pain is gone, DawnAnn! Sounds like everything went well. So happy for you!🤗
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hi ladies! Just read my last post...must've been on norco lol. 4 days after deip and I have left the hospital and moved into another hotel nearby. I have back pain a little rib pain and I am very nearly upright. I'm happy with the results so far. I wish I would have done immediate reconstruction, but better late than never. Very happy with the service we got there.
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dawnann, good for you! Here's to smooth sailing and a quick recovery. Sounds like you are doing great. Also, I would not worry about waiting. I'm convinced that I might have had an easier recovery if I had not been so beat up by chemo. So, maybe there is an advantage to delayed recovery. I hope you reap the benefits of your patience. All the best
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