2018 DIEP Surgery
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Leatherette, a turtle on its back trying to get up... LOL! Perfect description.
Seeing the PS nurse for my one week follow up tomorrow morning. Hoping to get some drains out but it may be too soon. One of the hip drains is tugging. I'm hoping theycheck the blood flow for peace of mind.
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question to those of you who have finished surgery - were you given blood thinners or shots as part of the post op process?
Lanne
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Lanne- after stage 1, just while in the hospital. I was on Xarelto by the time stage 2 rolled around for blood clots in the lungs caused by tamoxifen.
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there was a lot of debate and back and forth regarding blood thinners with me....
I had a clot in the placenta with my last child and testing showed I had a MTHFR gene mutation which is a type of clotting disorder. Honestly a lot regarding this disorder is debatable. I never considered myself having s clotting disorder but I did mention it to my doctor and oh boy!!
I saw an oncologist/hematologist and she was recommending lovenox for a few days prior then post op while in the hospital then Xarelto 10mg daily for a month after. My PS wasn't very happy about it and he discussed with her and it was changed to just the standard lovenox 40mg immediately preop with lovenox 40mg every 24 hours while in the hospital them aspirin 325mg daily (which is his normal regimen).
I had such issues with bleeding! My breasts were huge with swelling and I had hematomas. After having to come back to the hosptial to have my hematomas surgically removed my dr changed the aspirin dose to 81mg daily. My PS attributed the swelling and hematomas to excessive bleeding
So strange and I was a little worried about clots but I'm now 2 weeks post op (DIEP flap surgery) and he says I'm doing fine.
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I had the Heparin shots while I was in the hospital
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I had heparin shots in hospital and I'm taking a low dose aspirin daily which I was taking before in hopes of preventing recurrence. I had to stop the aspirin two weeks prior to surgery.
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bcsilverlining, I'm so sorry to hear of your flap loss. Did your p.s offer the possibility of harvesting tissue from another area? I am at 8 weeks post diep and I still have nightmares of my breasts falling off in the night! There should be a plan B they can offer you besides an implant.
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Justkeepmoving, This is the first time I'm hearing about heparin shots. If they gave them to me in the hospital, I don't know about it. I was sent home with a DVT machine for my calfs. Maybe because I was flying home.Its strange how each of us has a different DEIP experience.
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One week follow up, no drains out yet but the nurse said probably Monday I can get a few out. Everything looks good so far. I've been feeling like I have a UTI so they got a urine sample and started me on an antibiotic. I had a UTI about a month ago as well so I know what it feels like. I hope it clears up soon.
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somebody had a flap loss? What happened?
Feel better OCDAmy...UTIs make you feel like crap
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Parachutes,
It's 3:45 am and I'm awake laying in my hospital bed. I had the choice to go home yesterday. They "installed" my expander and it was supposed to be the easiest surgery yet. Nope. I am in more pain now than I was with the diep surgery. It looks better, but from having 3 surgeries in 3 weeks, my body is saying enough is enough. Im not too sore from the diep surgery any more, meaning my stomach. PO 22 days there. I also have said if I knew then what I know now, I may have not chose this route, but probably.
Prior to cancer, I had lost 120 lbs and have kept it off for 3 years. So when I found out I was a candidate for the diep I was all in. My boobs were saggy and I had a ton of extra skin below my belly button. Hence the silver lining in my username. I keep telling myself it will all be worth it.
Are you healed from your diep? If so and you need a good laugh, get a group of people together and play Cards Against Humanity. Super funny game, can get gross with some things, and not rated for kids. Adult card game.
Depressing? Hell yes, everything about this is depressing and I totally understand you there. I'll check out Pena Chodron. Any thing at this point.
A quick funny. When I came home from my diep surgery, our 9 yo daughter said, " Mommy, at least you don't have to have any more heroine shots." Oh my I about fell over. I couldn't laugh, but I sure wanted too. I said, "Heparin, babe. Not heroine." She says, Oh yeah, never do heroine."
-M
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justkeepmoving,
I did have a flap loss. June 22 I had diep surgery on my left breast. I went home on the 25 and my husband had to take me in on the 26th. My breast became hot and started to get huge! The pain was terrible. My flap was on the bottom of my breast, so I took a pic with my phone. It was purple. Let me find a pic. It's pretty much been hell since then
This was morning of day 5 PO. If they fail, they say it happens in the 1st 24 to 48. Never have they had this happen 5 days later. Please get this over.....soon.It won't let me upload the picture.
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wow - that's terrible. I'm so sorry
I almost had flap loss. Post op day 3 my right breast was starting to expand and swell - but the nurses didn't notice. I noticed and said something but due to the pain and pain medication I was unable to fully understand what was happening & express my thoughts. I was discharged but had to come right back to the hosptial to have emergency surgery to remove hematomas. All is well now (fingers crossed)
What's your next step?
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I had heparin shots daily in the hospital. My BMX/DIEP was in June 2014. I am still so happy with my decision in spite of all my medical issues which followed. My surgery was 11 1/2 hours. I was in ICU for 4 days and then in hospital for 4 or 5 days more. I really do not remember too much. My suggestion to all is take your time recovering! We all heal differently. Love and time.
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Now that I have my surgery date my mind is reviewing all the logistics
time to get down and dirty...how to wipe the bottom?? Any helps and hints? I see there is a travel bidet...anyone, inquiring minds want to know. Thanks for the help and as we know Everyone Poops!0 -
Mimi,
I have full use of my dominant arm/hand, but wet wipes can be more thorough than paperwith less wiping, and are more gentle, esp. if there are constipation or diarrhea issues. As my P.A. said, “better to use a little too much stool softeners/laxatives and have a fiery anus than have to deal with constipation.” I love my care team.
L.
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Thanks Leatherette, If I am reading you DX, you had single MX, mine is to be BMX, think I could use my dominate side with MX?
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Mimi-you might be able to but don’t count on it. I bought a bidet seat and DH installed it at the place we rented then uninstalled it and we took it home. Warm water and warm air dryer. Here’s a link: https://www.bidetsplus.com/blooming-nb-r1063.html
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Mimi, that's why I specified-I don't know what the level of arm use is with a DMX, but if you can reach....wipes. A bidet sounds great regardless, but.....$600!
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Sorry L, I misunderstood. Sounds like I will be enlisting a little help from my friend (DH), going to stock -pile the wipes!
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Lula, my friend, you travel in style! Looks like I'll be needing some assistance! Do you remember how long until you have that kind of reach?
Thanks!
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About 10-14 days. Still difficult but doable. Just for the record, I've never done anything like that before. I am very finance efficient. My husband couldn't believe I bought it. But I just couldn't deal with not being able to handle it for myself. I've already dealt with that on 24/7 bedrest when pregnant with our youngest and I just wasn't going there again. Well worth the investment provided you use it when you get home too. 1 huge benefit is not having worry about the toilet paper clogging the toilet anymore😉 There are cheaper versions but no warm air dryer (cold air is not fun) and no hot water (or delayed hot water so you get a cold wash first).
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Hi everyone, sorry. I thought I posted the other day. But I couldn’t get my phone to work right. I will try it again.
I have a feeling it will not work even switching my txt screen to numbers takes a few seconds on this site. But I will try again.
Today is 2 days post op. Surgery was Tuesday until 7pm. Today was Thursday. Hi everyone, I have been doing really well until today. I woke up with very high blood pressure I never have high BP usually it is low. But today 195/87. felt really sick and scaredI didn't know why until they did my BP at the end of the nurses shift a few hours later. I think I alienated my surgeon during this time. He said he was still planning to discharge me to a hotel room tomorrow and I was terrified. The way I felt I didn't think I could take care of myself he was also stopping all the IV pain meds and I wanted Torodal rather than any narcotics but with this really High BP i just couldn't think clearly there was a full room of people at least 8, I didn't know who they were and my body was exposed for all to see. When I asked he said they are just his team I think he was upset that I was questioning. But it could have just been my perception at the time because I wasn't thinking clearly with that as yet unknown very high blood pressure however, i did I feel more like a specimen than a person. He said I was being obstinate when I was voicing my concerns about caring for myself alone, he said I knew the plan and he wasn't changing it now. I wanted to keep my IV the rest of the day because IV Toradol takes my pain away. He does not want me to micromanage my care, he has done this 600 times he knows what he is doing I need to just trust him without questioning, I quit talking and was very upset. I wasn't even allowed To get up alone. Haven't been hungry yet. Later that day I told them I need freedom to get up and do things so I know what I can do before I am left all alone for the weekend. I said I wasn't trying to be difficult just I need to know I can function ok by myself. I was given BP medication that makes me dizzy and foggy also keeps me awake. But I don't want my surgery to fail. High BP could cause issues with those new blood vessels, I understand that. The rest of today I was up and moving. I walked a lot today alone. They let me leave the floor alone to get coffee. So I am feeling better about taking care of myself. Now if the fogginess would go away and I can get some sleep, I am pretty sure I will be fine. But I still believe I alienated my surgeon. I will see him in the morning. But truly I do feel good as far as my surgery is I haven't been in much pain even though they are only giving me regular Tylenol and ketorolac in pill form. They refuse to give me ketorolac longer than 5 days so Saturday is my last day of that so then just Tylenol. It does damage to your kidneys they said. But I thought it was heart issues with more than 5 days. But I did know you can only have it for 5 days.
Now a newer update to follow.
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to answer a few questions, I got the heparin shots every day for 3 days in my thighs. They hurt and bruise but not too badly.
I can do very well taking care of myself. Walking down to the cafeteria getting my food sitting in the cafeteria to eat, Showering all no problem. Wiping my self after a bowel movement, no problem. I gues I made hospital record by having my first bowel movement within 24 hours after 11 1/2 hour surgery. So I am not taking the stool softener. I was given one about 12 hours after surgery and again 2 days after surgery, I would not have taken it if I wasn't so foggy from the beta blocker they have me taking twice a day. Hopefully that's will be either changed to something I can tolerate or stopped. I never had high blood pressure before.
The surgeon came in by himself the next day and was very nice. Even extended my ketorolac thru Monday. I am pretty sure that was his peace offering. But that's fine. I am not upset anymore about it.
My breasts look amazing I can't believe how great they look. My belly scar is higher than I expected and so is my belly button. He is a good surgeon and I think he was very proud of his work.
The drains, I have 3 , one for each breast and one for the stomach.
I am getting very little fluid from the right (radiated side)breast drain only 16.5 ml the left breast there is quite a bit of fluid. Over 50 ml already today and I have one more stripping to do yet. My stomach drain is 42 so far. I am hoping to go home Monday. But now I am thinking they might not want me to go home till they can take that left drain. The plan was to add a couple days if they thought it was almost ready to come out.
I was able to stand up and walk 230 steps around the hospital room floor about 18 hours after surgery. I was upright and unassisted I did have a nurse with me though. The next day I was free to walk all I wanted. But my breast monitor machine did not have a very good battery so I couldn't be unplugged very long.
All in all. If I didn't have this BP problem, I would be just fine and no issues. Oh yeah. I forgot. I am not hungry at all. How ever I have had 4eggs some cheddar cheese and 2 grilled chicken breasts as well as a hamburger patty, since my surgery on Tuesday morning. no carbs. Just protein, but truly I am only eating because I think I should. I haven't been hungry since surgery.
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Thank you for all the suggestions regarding my hands swelling. The swelling went down to normal after I took off the compression sleeves. Yes the were just wrist to upper arm sleeves and the nurses would not let me take them off after surgery. PT came in the next day and wrote in very large letters onmy board no compression sleeves at night
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Carmstr835
Holy smokes -- you are doing great
First some information (but please be careful getting medical information from a message board!):
Ketorolac is normally limited to 5 days due to increased risk of GI bleed. Yes, it could be toxic to the kidneys as well but officially the 5 day rule (not always followed) pertains to the gastric bleed risk.
It is normal and appropriate to change pain medication from IV to taken by mouth. What narcotics are you taking?
Beta blockers can make you feel tired and they slow down your heart rate.
Will you have a visiting nurse after discharge? What is your plan?
You are doing great. Much better than I was post op -- I don't know how old you are or in what shape but I'm only 49yrs old and I kick ass at Bikram yoga and am very active and thin. I wasn't doing anything near what you are doing in terms of activity post op. Maybe because I also had rectus diastasis repair as well. But like the other poster said we all recover at different rates so be kind to yourself! I'm worried you are doing too much!
Sorry to hear about your experience - unfortunately it sounds typical. Don't worry about hurting anyone's feelings or alienating them --- you take care of you!
Get some rest! Sending love and hugs xoxoxo
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carmstr835, thanks for continuing to post your updates. You may not feel this way, but it sounds like you are doing well. Good for you for insisting that you could move on your own before discharge. Your thinking sounds reasonable and sensible. You are very brave. Iwill be cheering you on as you continue to progress. Sending healing thoughts.
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Carmstr835, glad to hear you are doing well. Sorry about the BP. Sounds like it's under control.
What is Ketorolac? I'm taking Celebrex, is it similar? I'm still taking it one week later, should I stop taking it? I'm off narcotics now, just taking Tylenol but don't even feel like I need that anymore.
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Carmstr, Thank you for all you have contributed to this board, you are helping more people than you realize. You are very strong but it is still upsetting to get sideways with your Doc, your energy should be focused on healing, glad that has worked out in the end. Thanks again for all the intel, you my friend are a warrior! Take good care!
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My friend sent me the Bottum Buddy, ordered off Amazon, get some Cottonelle wet wipes too! Life safer! Tried to upload a pic but it gave me an error message. This is for Mimi-s11. But really for ALL! This stick-like device was a game changer and saved my hubs and I the humiliation, as if there isn’t enough of that already!
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