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2018 DIEP Surgery

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Comments

  • cev20
    cev20 Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2018

    Hi Ladies!

    Checking in from CCU. I had my surgery yesterday. It was scheduled for 1, but didn't start till 3.

    My BS began working on my breast while my PS started on my belly. He was getting poor venous return and so had to switch from the right side to the left. As a result, morethe surgery took about 5 hours.

    I didn't get into CCU till about midnight and I was extremely groggy. I had a nice drug induced sleep. They gave me a pump for Dilaudid and the first dose was fine. The second made me nauseated. When they came to clean me up and change the sheets I had a third dose and my body DID NOT like it. I vomited which was not comfortable considering the belly wound. Thankfully, the wound feels like soreness than pain.

    The Bair Hugger is a pain. I feel overheated and my husband has been putting wet napkins on my forehead and neck.

    The physical therapist came by to get me out of bed and into chair. It was a bit painful, but all in all it was ok -- more soreness than pain.

    They check the blood flow with the doppler every hour. So far everything looks good. My doctor said I may be able to go home tomorrow.

    Oh, and I just graduated from ice chips to broth. If it stays down then I may be able to eat a solid dinner!

    I hope sharing my experience helps as your experiences have helped me. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

    Cev20

  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 289
    edited June 2018

    cev20, thank you so much for sharing your experience. My surgery is next Friday and the anxiety is really getting bad. Did you have just one breast? I am really worried about the heating thing. I get so hot as it is and feel awful I am scared I am going to be miserable. I was so sick from anesthesia for my BMX, I am also worried I am going to be sick again. My PS said he can have them place a patch behind my ear prior to surgery to help. Best of luck with your recovery. I will be following you to see what to expect.

  • cev20
    cev20 Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2018

    Hi OCDAmy. I was pretty anxious about this surgery myself. I had a oncoplasty and lumpectomy in April and didn't think twice about it, but this one had me out of sorts.

    I only did one breast with immediate reconstruction. My PS is super confident and it's hard to be nervous around him.

    I also get very hot very fast. It was manageable but uncomfortable. I'm wishing I had packed one of those sports cooling things you put around your neck. The good part is as long as I'm in a chair I don't have to use it. I may not get back into bed. Lol.

  • cev20
    cev20 Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2018

    One more thing... I did fine with the anesthesia. It was the Dilaudid that got me. I've switched to Tylenol and muscle relaxants

  • Teaberry11
    Teaberry11 Member Posts: 66
    edited June 2018

    cev20 - so glad you are up and in the chair you are doing great! I have no idea what the bear hugger is? It warms you up? I didn't have have any heat on me.

    I do remember when they moved me from PACU into the ICU about 5-6 nurses descended on me — washing every part of my body - head to toe! Replacing my socks and all! Then I settled into the hourly checks of the flaps and vitals .. my BP and heart rate were low and the machine kept beeping — but they said it was all normal.

    OCDAmy - I had the nausea patch put behind my ear in pre-op and honestly felt great throughout - I was so sick after my BMX so this was a nice surprise .


  • Justkeepmoving
    Justkeepmoving Member Posts: 57
    edited June 2018

    Thank you for sharing Cev20! It sound like you are doing great and on to the road to recovery! Congratulations :):):)

    Scopolamine patch behind the ear is a great idea and I plan to get that as well...

    I appreciate this site and getting to connect with other people who are going through similar experiences.

    Anyone know what I'll be able to wear over the next two weeks? Will I be able to put a top on over my head?


  • Teaberry11
    Teaberry11 Member Posts: 66
    edited June 2018

    Justkeepmoving - othing over your head for a couple of weeks .. get lots of button front .. I found dresses or night shirts the easiest because I didn’t like anything I had to pull up! The hospital also supplied me with a zip front Camisole that has drain pockets - I bought a second one to swap out when laundering.

  • parachutes
    parachutes Member Posts: 34
    edited June 2018

    Is there any woman on this forum that's had a DIEP and is 115 lbs or less (at the time if surgery)that I could PM? Thanks

  • KimE
    KimE Member Posts: 34
    edited June 2018

    Thank you for the encouragement Carol. I'm currently on Aromasin and Lupron (shots every three months) and I definitely know that this has slowed down my metabolism. I'm just really bummed that my first PS didn't see any problems with my weight left the medical group that I'm with and moved her practice to New Orleans, so now I'm stuck with a PS who doesn't like my weight. I don't have too much more to lose so I'm shooting for October (I need to get through a couple of events in September and need to not be hampered with the recovery from DIEP).

    Congratulations on your surgery and I'm happy that you like the results!!!

    Kim

  • cev20
    cev20 Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2018

    Hello Ladies. Made it home today. The PT came and got me to do a couple of laps on the floor, and then it was homeward bound!

    I've been sleeping most of the day. I had a low grade fever earlier, but my PS says that's to be expected

    Did a couple more laps at home and then went to freshen up for "bed" (recliner) and started to overheat. My husband says I was deathly pale. I think I may have overdone it.

    Anyway, one day at a a time and tomorrow will be better than today.

    Justkeepmoving, I'll be thinking of you and sending happy thoughts your way.

    Cev20

  • bella2013
    bella2013 Member Posts: 370
    edited June 2018

    CEV20, welcome home. Stay ahead of the pain...take your meds on time around the clock. Stay ahead of the constipation by hydrating and taking stool softeners. Take one day at a time...you will have good days and some not so good days.

    Praying for a miraculous recovery with miraculous results

  • Carmen71
    Carmen71 Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2018

    I am anxious about having my next surgery on July 18th. I had a double mastectomy on October 18th with tissue expanders. I wasn’t healing well and had another surgery in November where my expanders were replaced and they redid my incisions. I had my implants put in in April. A month later my incision opened. My doctor hospitalizedme and I had another surgery to close the incision. The next day we discussed that she felt this will more than likely happen again. I have thin skin. She suggested we do the DIEP flap. My doctor originally suggested the DIEP flap surgery for me, but I chose not to for I am career driven and wanted to be back to work ASAP. Four surgeries later, I didn’t choose the quickest recovery after all. My breast implants are extremely uncomfortable. My surgeon is working with me as we have a family vacation to Hawaii in July. I will be having surgery two days after we get back. My PS is amazing. She has been wonderful and encouraging throughout this process. Her specialty is microsurgery/DIEP flap. I’m just nervous, anxious and I want this to be over with so I can get on with my life.

  • TWills
    TWills Member Posts: 509
    edited June 2018

    Thinking of you today Justkeepmoving!

    Welcome Carmen71, I’v added you to the list up top.

  • TWills
    TWills Member Posts: 509
    edited June 2018

    Parachutes, hopefully you’ll find someone, not that I'm big but I think my skeleton weighs about that. Lol

  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 289
    edited June 2018

    I was wondering how many of your PS use ERAS protocols for your DIEP? MY PS went over this briefly with me and mentioned some sort of pain block. Is that like a spinal block or what? When is that administered? They also instructed me to drink gatorade and water prior to the surgery. I don't have all the instructions in front of me but was hoping those of you who had this protocol can fill me in.

  • lanne2389
    lanne2389 Member Posts: 220
    edited June 2018

    Hi OCDAmy, the ERAS protocol sounds interesting. I found this link with info in the blocks:

    https://prma-enhance.com/breast-reconstruction/enhanced-recovery-after-breast-reconstruction/

    Lanne

  • Justkeepmoving
    Justkeepmoving Member Posts: 57
    edited June 2018

    hello everyone. I'm lying here in my hospital bed - surgery went well yesterday (only 10 hours long - I've heard of other having 12 hours)

    I'm sore but feel great. Thank you all for well wishes. And everyone here at this facility is amazing. I feel very loved and cared for!!

    I think I weigh about 122lb? Is that close enough to 115lb? Let me know...

    I'm on a modified type of ERAS. Around the clock ketorolac and Tylenol. I has an exparel intra op and am still numb from it. Dilaudid for breakthrough. The block they mention is probably a TAP block. It's done in the abdomen and not the spine. Not sure what your doc will order or give but that is what they did for me.

    I'm going to try to nap now - I got up to use the bathroom! Getting better!! And my node were clear on preminary pathology! 🎉

    I'm on the other side of this now!

    Xoxoxo


  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 705
    edited June 2018

    justkeepmovin- so glad everything went well yesterday and you’re feeling good! That’s great news on the nodes too!

  • cev20
    cev20 Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2018

    Justkeepmoving, that is great news! So happy you're doing well!

  • Elijahgirl
    Elijahgirl Member Posts: 111
    edited July 2018

    cev20 and justkeepmoving

    Thanks so much for sharing your experience, my surgery is in a month and I have been writing down a lot of information to ask when I go to my pre-op appointment. I hope your recovery is improving daily. Thanks again for sharing

  • lanne2389
    lanne2389 Member Posts: 220
    edited July 2018

    Elijahgirl - you might want to find out who will be there for your pre-op assessment - it may not be your Dr or anyone from your team. Send your Qs to your Dr directly if not. I had my pre/op yesterday, and it really only covered what pills I needed to stop taking, a verbal assessment of my health (all those questions you usually have to answer on paper) and instructions for the night before and day of, plus a blood draw. Nothing on procedure or post-op. Don't want you to be surprised or disappointed!

    I've been communicating directly with my team so I wasn't expecting much from the pre-op. I did learn that Tumeric acts as a blood thinner so I'm cut off that (and glucosamine) for 10 days before surgery. :<(

    Lanne

  • Elijahgirl
    Elijahgirl Member Posts: 111
    edited July 2018

    Lanne2388

    Thanks I will definitely find out about that before my appointment.

  • Elijahgirl
    Elijahgirl Member Posts: 111
    edited July 2018

    I have probably read the answer somewhere but can someone explain the different stages? I am having the BMX w/ DIEP. I was told it will be done at the same time. So what does Stage II ? I was told that there’s a possibility that there maybe complications with the healing process due to previous radiation therapy. But there is no way to know until after the surgery how much damage to expect if any. The only other thing is that I will most likely have to lose part if not all of my current tattoo on my right hip lol, I told my PS not to worry because I have not seen it in years due to my belly fat lol

  • lanne2389
    lanne2389 Member Posts: 220
    edited July 2018

    Elijagirl - haha same for me on the tattoo!

    Stage 2 is, if all goes well with your BMX/DIEP, a second surgery to make you look better, ie even things out, fix scars, fix how your waist looks, etc. Different Drs do different things - ask what yours covers and if they can usually get it covered by insurance!

    Lanne

  • Runrcrb
    Runrcrb Member Posts: 202
    edited July 2018

    Elijah2 - stage two is based on your needs. I could easily do nothing as my breast looks great and is a fairly good match for my natural breast. I have two hard spots along my abdominal incision (since the beginning) which my doctor said are fat necrosis. I am choosing to have those removed. I am also having my axillary node incision recut to remove the scar tissue that I believe contributes to my very slight trunk lymphedema. I have very small "dog ears" that I will have fixed too. Again, I would be fine leaving all as is but have decided to have these things cleaned up. Hopefully, your surgeon will tell you that stage 2 is optional and not everyone needs more work done.



  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 289
    edited July 2018

    Justkeepmoving, glad to hear you are doing well. Thanks all for the input on the ERAS protocol. I'm hoping it makes my recovery easier.

  • Leatherette
    Leatherette Member Posts: 272
    edited July 2018

    Hi all,

    Just checking in after an RV trip with no wifi...I go in for my DIEP at 5:30 tomorrow morning! Nervous and excited. Can’t wait to be on the other side.

    Take care,

    L



  • trishyla
    trishyla Member Posts: 698
    edited July 2018

    Good luck Leatherette! You can do this. Check in when you can to let us know how you're doing.

    Trish

  • cev20
    cev20 Member Posts: 41
    edited July 2018

    Best of luck, Leathette!

  • TWills
    TWills Member Posts: 509
    edited July 2018

    Leatherette, good luck! We are all rooting for you!!

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