2018 DIEP Surgery
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Brandi1616 All of my surgeons have told me there is no correlation between reconstruction and reoccurrence. As for my experience, I was hyper aware of the issue expanders...not in a good way. I called them an iron bra. The minute I woke up from DIEP, the pressure, ever constant, was gone. I will say that i am jealous of all you ladies that had DIEP at the same time as your mastectomies, but better late than never. At least I can say that I appreciate what I have now even more.
Ladies....I stopped looking in at the posts awhile ago, because I was working my mind into a frenzy over my upcoming phase 2. I have had the sensation of movement in my abdomen anytime I'm not wearing spanx. Almost feels like pregnancy movement! Has anyone else had this strange sensation? I have been wearing spanx as a "security blanket " for the past 3 months. Another plus side for the spanx is that it has helped with the awful back aches I had after Phase 1. I have a list of things to revise with phase 2 but I am very happy with the results so far. I am planning to return to work the day after labor day...I hope that is realistic. I leave Chicago for New Orleans tomorrow. My reconstruction has been with Dr. Trahan @ the Center for Restorative Breast surgery.
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DawnAnn-the feeling you’re having in your abdomen may be digestion and waste moving through your intestines. Everything’s squished in there now where before you had more room. I have IBS and there have literally been times where you could see my tummy jump similar to a baby kicking in the last trimester of pregnancy,
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Lula73 thank you...it's not painful, just strange.
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like something out of the movie Alien!👽
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Whah!! I just want to cry. My PS office called and my surgery scheduled for 9/10 is being rescheduled. I have so mentally prepared for this - my pre-op is scheduled for 9/3 and now I don't know when I'll have my surgery. I know that it's being rescheduled because he has a 10 hour procedure that day that's taken priority. They prioritize the "active cancer" patients over those like me who are reconstruction - and I am so thankful that when I needed my mastectomy that it was scheduled so fast (and probably resulted in someone else being bumped) but geez! I have such a busy work schedule and this has been on the books since March or April - I don't even remember now. My entire work schedule has been planned around this date.
They are going to call by the end of the week and I told them I'd take an earlier date if that's possible but I"m betting it will be later.
Sorry to vent but I am just so irritated. Getting pulled back into the patient mode is not something I have wanted so I just want to get it over with already!
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hi Ladies - I haven't been posting for a while and just lurking... All is well.
Teacher01 sending you hugs and love. It's ok to vent here. Take it one day at a time. I hope you can find uplifting music, books, podcasts or anything that can help you right now.
Mustlovepoodles -- congratulations and speedy recovery!!
And regarding the compression garments: my PS had me in only a surgical bra which really didn't offer much compression at all (that's probably because my breasts are small -- he stuffed gauze in there to try to give me compression!! Leave it to me to be stuffing my bra after a boob job!). He didn't want me using a binder for fear of it pushing on my breasts but I started wearing one at about 3 or 4 weeks and it makes me feel so much better. At home I wear it around the house and keep my phone in there and listen to music or podcast!
Starting to think about phase 2....
Peace
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well while recovering from my surgery I ended up in the er thinking I had kidney stones. I didn’t but still didn’t and still don’t feel good. Followed up with primary today. He had the full report. Report showed gallstones, a lymph node on my pelvic region (that’s was not there last year as it was used for a comparison). I also have a growth in my abdomen which doctor says he thinks it’s a seroma. He is very concerned about the growth on my pelvis. Wants to see the GI doctor I have at the cancer center asap. Got appointment sept 5t
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mustlovepoodles - awesome, so glad that you are pleased with your results!
dawnann - good luck with your phase 2 later this week
shellybeans - so sorry for the delay, I know that is disappointing, hoping they can get you in quickly
teacher01 - oh my goodness, so sorry to hear about these additional problems, hugs to you as you navigate these challenges
I'm headed in for my phase 1 at 7:30 tomorrow morning, looking forward to seeing the results!
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Good luck Sonia! Check in when you can.
Donna, I hope they can figure this out. Thinking of you.
Shelly, that stinks!
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Good luck Sonia - sending happy, healthy, easygoing vibes your way!
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Sonia - thinking of you tomorrow!
Shelly —- grrr. Fingers crossed they get you in soon!
DawnAnn —. Yay for phase 2 — hopefully a little over a week before back to work goes well .. I’m planning on working 6 days after my phase 2 so looking forward to hearing how you do!
Twillis — please let me know what your PS says about cryotherapy .. i emailed mine and will share once I get a response!
Which Marena bra did you all choose? Is one better than the others?
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Tomorrow is it...having surgery. Your in my thoughts and prayers Sonial as we have the same surgery date! We will need to compare notes for sure. I will come back and post as soon as possible. Thank you all for sharing your experiences, it has helped immensly! ❤
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Teaberry - for now I'm sticking with the Breezie bra (love this thing!) but if I need something else for stage 2 I'd go with B01G (second pic down) if dr approved.
Someone else mentioned the Spanx Higher Power Panty for post-op compression a while ago - I tried it today and I think it works as well as the Marena medical panty. (True to size via hip measurement - and cheaper).
I think my new belly button is a bit right f center - and I don’t care!!
Lanne
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Hi all. Good luck today, Sonia!
I had my surgery July 10 went back to see the surgeon August 8 was told I am healing well and I can go swimming. I started taking a new drug called Nerlynx on Aug 16 and my incision is not healing anymore. In fact, there is now a slight discharge in the center of my stomach below my belly button. The scab is now 1 inch long (it was about 1/2 inch and dry) and sticks to the gauze bandage they asked to me to begin using again . They also have me back to putting a prescription antibiotic twice a day. I also have a small opening under my right breast not scabbed over, but definitely a very small opening that has a slight drainage. No pain at all really except I have noticed a bit of stomach pain above my stomach incision on the right side, but nothing to really complain about, just a slight discomfort.
My breasts are definitely uneven now, my left is much bigger than my right(radiated) and there are very hard areas that are visible as lumps just looking at them. The lumps are on the upper interior side of each breast nearer the sternum. When feeling them, the right is very hard and smaller, about the size of a walnut. The left hard area is much larger and not quit as hard, probably the size of a small apple. I am slated for my revision October 10, and really hoping these issues won't delay them. I have sent a picture to them of my breast and stomach incision on Monday and waiting to hear back from the surgeon. Hopefully he will get a chance to look at it today and they will get back with me as to what I should do differently.
The nurse said, no swimming. Good thing I did not go swimming yet, I was planning a mini vacation this weekend and was planning to swim so glad I thought to ask, they told me not to.
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carmstr835, do you think it is the new medication that is causing the delayed healing? I know when I was having chemo I fell in a parking lot and really skinned up my legs and it took forever for them to heal and they looked really red. To this day I still have big dark scars. I hope it does not delay your stage 2.
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OCD Amy, I don't know, I sure hope not. I still have my revision to complete this year and then the tattoos. I still havent heard from my surgeon. it is a week now so hopefully he doesn't think it is anything urgent. I have read where it can be an issue.
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Hi ladies - well the PS called today and my surgery is back on for 9/10 - I guess that they were able to move some things around. I also think she heard the desperation in my voice and really did me a favor. I'm so glad to have it scheduled and that everything is back on the same day. I know it's not the end of the world and anything can happen, but this whole process does such a number on your mind as it is!
Good luck to everyone having surgery - I'm getting there!
Michele
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Hi Casun19,
My stage 2 is on Aug 29. PS will add a small implant on the diep side for projection. Also nipple reconstruction on the DIEP side. He will also do a lift on the good side. But he tells me that symmetry may not be achieved with that. He is suggesting a 100 cc implant on good side and 200 cc on the DIEP side.
I do not want to put an implant on the good side if it messes with clear mammograms.
Thoughts?
Thank you and good luck
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carmstr835, I'm three months out and half my breast is still pretty rock solid. It feels like a small weight. I've been religiously massaging every night with no changes. The nurse finally clued me into finding a therapist that uses therapeutic ultrasound. She says women have seen great results. I am hoping all is not lost. Stage one women maybe ask for this sooner?
Teacher01, I'm sorry you hear you have abdominal issues. I do too. The pain is horrible and I finally got my out of state Doctor to refer me to a local doctor who's first available appointment is September 17. I'm just counting the days. I have no idea what's wrong but I know something is not right. Did you have an MRI or CTscan to figure out what you had? The bright side is at least they know whats wrong and how to treat you which is definitely moving in a better direction.
Oh I do have some positive news to share which is BIG change from most of my posts. I was chosen to go on a fly fishing weekend through Casting for Recovery. You don't even have to know how to fish! I'm not sure if any of you ladies have done something like this but it will for sure be out of my comfort zone as this journey has been very private. Anyway, look it up. We deserve things like this.
Best of luck to all of you headed to surgery. Sending positive vibes your way!
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Shellybeans, so glad they were able to get you back on the schedule for your original date!
Teaberry11, I asked about the cryo and my PS said go for it, he hadn’t had many patients do it so he couldn’t say for sure it would help but it could.
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TWills, explain to me again what cryotherapy would help. Thanks
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parachutes, basically to possibly speed up the healing of brushing and inflammation, I'm concidering it because of the Stage 2 lipo and all of the swelling and bruising that can occur. I'd google it for a better explanation. I'd just be paraphrasing or giving my opinion which isn't really a good thing since I'm not an expert or a good explainer lol. I'd copy and paste the info but it would be easier to just google it. I'm up for anything that could possibly speed up healing time. Athletes use it a lot for injury recovery.
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I got a copy of the full report and it scary. They are talking about a cyst that has grown over 1 1/2 cm in a year. Another lesion almost 4cm big. Another cyst measures 3.9 cm. Then the new lymph node on my right pelvis wall that wasn’t there a year ago. Scary part is is that I just had diep surgery in May and they did no scans or tests before hand. I have an appointment with oncologist on sept 5t
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teacher01, so sorry to hear about all your complications. I find it hard to believe they did no scans preop for diep.I thought they absolutely needed that to map out the blood vessels, and checking for any metasasis was a "bonus"
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I'm sorry too! I had CT scan prior to surgery. Hope it's all just cysts and nothing else to worry about.
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Teacher01, I had a scan but it was not ordered for the Diep. Not all surgeons order ct scans prior to diep. The scan I did have showed a tumor which was removed and found to be benign. Good luck with your upcoming appointment. Hang in there. I know it’s easier said than done. Try to take it easy and rest.
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yea I went in for pro op thinking some kind of scans would be done. I read about mapping out blood vessels but he didn’t order any scans of that nature. All I know is the morning of having an ekg to check my hear
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Parachutes Congratulations. I was fortunate to get selected for CFR (Casting for Recovery) in the fall of 2014 in North Texas. It was the most amazing weekend. They treat you like a princess. You will bond with the other women and will learn to tie flies and cast even if you never fly fish again.
In Texas, we have an annual CFR reunion of ladies who had attended a prior retreat for fellowship and we raise funds to sponsor another lady for a retreat. I will be going to my 4th reunion mid-September. I have made some lifelong friends. I am praying your retreat is as fabulous.
Everyone else, I highly recommend applying for one of these retreats. Go to www.castingforrecovery.org to apply (retreats are available nationwide). It is free to any breast cancer survivor. We had one survivor who was 15 years out.
I read this thread regularly, praying for everyone along the journey. I had many complications and I still promote this reconstruction.
Mustlovepoodles I am so glad you finally got to have your surgery
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Hi ishallovercome- you should just do what feels right for you
I am adding the implants for projection too. I don't know the exact size but the PS says they will be small, smooth, round, silicone. there is a requirement for implants to have an MRI done every 3 years? (I can't remember the exact time requirements) This should give a very clear shot of the breast and implant. As far as mammograms go, maybe check over on an implant board and see about the mammogram process!? If anyone has had clarity issues with implants.
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Hi everyone - well, the never-ending saga of may surgery date continues. After being off and then back on for 9/10, the PS's office called on Friday to say I needed to be moved again but - they wanted to move it to 9/1 - next Saturday! They could have chosen pretty much any other day but that day! My son and his girlfriend are flying home from college the day before. We are all going to the Alabama vs. Louisville opening game in Orlando (he goes to UA) - there are five of us and we have all been so excited. I've had this planned for over a year as I couldn't go to any games last year since I was getting treatment. I really didn't want to complain as my surgeon is so hard to get in with - but I asked if there was any other day they could possibly move it to without a significant delay. We are looking at 9/14 if another woman will take 9/1. If she doesn't them I'm going to go ahead and get the surgery that day.
I've already told my family they still have to go to the game. It's at 8:00 in the evening and my surgery is at 7:30 am - there is absolutely nothing that they can do for me sitting in the hospital. My mom will be there and I'll be really pissed if they let these fantastic tickets go.
So - I'm sitting here not knowing whether I'm a week out or 3 weeks out. Hopefully we will nail this down on Monday as I have to get my pre-op appt moved up from 9/4 if it's next week. I hadn't stopped caffeine yet so (after this wonderful cup I had today) I will go ahead and back off.
Hugs to everyone -
Michele
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