I am about 21 weeks out and I can finally see & feel more normalcy over the past couple weeks! I can wear normal bras (have to search) and have been in a 2 piece all summer! I still have some hard spots on my right side and swelling when I've done too much or had a long day. I was out of work about 8 weeks even with my incision opening, but only went back to a desk job at that time. I have not returned to coaching gymnastics yet, but going back next month. I think it depends on the job you have. I've had 2 back massages and a Cellutox Ocean Wrap with Morpho-Lymphatic Drainage treatment at a spa! Absolutely wonderful, especially for those who are still have bowel problems. Taking probiotics is great too and highly recommended! We have 25 ducts under each nipple, so if one is diagnosed with DCIS it is unlikely that they will have a "nipple sparing" mastectomy. They wouldn't let me keep mine. I was in the hospital for 4 days including surgery day, went home the 5th day. They had me doing exercises and walking from day 1 (after surgery), lifting my arms, going to the bathroom by myself, emptying my own drains, etc... so I enjoyed a big comfy t-shirt and yoga pants! The drains pinned to the pants. Walking was harder on my lower back than anything. Constipation was the biggest issue for me, I think cause they gave me so much iron in the hospital cuz they said I lost a lot of blood and they wanted to avoid a blood transfussion. I see the PS next week and I'm hoping he will be ready to discuss the next phase of my surgery. His initial period was 6-12 mos post surgery. October will be the 6 month mark. I don't know if we can leave #'s on this site, but I have no problem talking with anyone by phone if they would like to call me! C: 301-481-1410 Blessings and Hugs, Munchie
I had my DIEP on March 6th, 2012. Home after 5 days. Felt great, spirits up, had lots of help and walked everyday. DId my exercises. Most of pain was the nerve pain throughout the chest, which came about 1 week post op. Felt like my new boobs were superglued to my chest wall. As time went on they felt like when your milk comes in after delivery; hard, leathery and painful. I am at week 5 now and that has gone down a lot. Still irritating to wear "sport" bra for long periods, I am not yet into a regular bra.:(
More to the point of the abdominal incision OPENING. OMG, I thought I had some alien goo coming out of me. The center section (over my c-section area) was scabby, red & irritated even in the hospital. PS was concerned that the tissue would die. Well at week 3 1/2 feeling great, walking 1/2 mile and ready to do more, started driving, doing light housecleaning, and off major pain meds,but still resting a lot my incision started to ooz a little. Doc said put gauze on it to avoid getting on clothes, no worries. Next day I took gauze off to change and the scab came off with it exposing the fatty tissue and I had a small opening in my incision. Doc checked it and put me on antibiotics just in case, but said it was fine. Wash with soap & water 2-3 X a day, treat with peroxide and keep covered with gauze; see me in 2 weeks. We put sterri strips on edge of opening to keep it from going further and just a few over the opening. Doc wanted it to have some opeinings to heal. It has been just over a week now since that happened, the green fatty tissue goo has liquidified and gauze is sopping it up. The incision opened all the way across (about c-section length) and is pink and raw looking, but not as deep now. Never got an infection or fever. As other small scab areas came off, the incision was pink and looked like it may open. Put small sterri strips across areas and kept "cotton" tape across incision line (all of it) as doc said this helps keep incision flat and closed from just the little bit of pressure. I was so scared and it took me back to week "1" basically. My spirits went down and I became more discouraged and questioning if I made the right choice. PS said he'd fix the scar when he did all the final touchups down the road. I cannot drive and no longer take my n'hood walks. I have gone backwards in my activity with fear of having any other areas open up.
At the 3 week mark I developed some excess fluid in upper tummy, which has evaporated and some moved down around right side of abdomen incision. Doc is waiting to see if my body will absorb this.
I am not happy that he had to pull my bottom tummy skin (pubic hair line) up to meet top part of tummy when closing me. I am very small and he said it was difficult to close me as well as I have "child" like arteries, but the "flap" took fine! I just feel I look weird down ther but waiting for all to settle and swelling to go down. I wonder if everyone is closed this way or just the top skin is pulled down to meet the bottom? At 3 weeks I was at my best and tummy felt flat (aside from constipation issues), but now it is not flat.
I can't give up hope and patience, trusting God that all will work out. My sisters left at the 3 week mark and hubby went back to normal work schedule. I would have benefited from having help for 2 more weeks, especially through this set back. So if anyone can have at least a month of help, I highly recommend it! Just having someone here to help, keep you in check, do the extra little things, walk (slow) with you, etc.... makes it so much easier and not so scary.
Hi eringobragh14!
Reading your posts have been very comforting. I can tell you are patient and compassionate to others which is a gift and a blessing for others. May many blessings be returned to you as you continue to go forward in this journey. Thank you again! Munchie in Maryland
I would recommend the DIEP Flap. It is a refined version of the Tram flap, not messing with any stomach muscle. It does require a specialist plastic surgeon in microscopic surgery, so do research and ask questions. I live in Maryland and researched John's Hopkins in Baltimore and Ann Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. Both offer experienced surgeons, but I chose Ann Arundel in Annapolis. Let me know if I can help with more knowledge, I can give you my #. Good luck! Kimberly
Recent comments
I am about 21 weeks out and I can finally see & feel more normalcy over the past couple weeks! I can wear normal bras (have to search) and have been in a 2 piece all summer! I still have some hard spots on my right side and swelling when I've done too much or had a long day. I was out of work about 8 weeks even with my incision opening, but only went back to a desk job at that time. I have not returned to coaching gymnastics yet, but going back next month. I think it depends on the job you have. I've had 2 back massages and a Cellutox Ocean Wrap with Morpho-Lymphatic Drainage treatment at a spa! Absolutely wonderful, especially for those who are still have bowel problems. Taking probiotics is great too and highly recommended! We have 25 ducts under each nipple, so if one is diagnosed with DCIS it is unlikely that they will have a "nipple sparing" mastectomy. They wouldn't let me keep mine. I was in the hospital for 4 days including surgery day, went home the 5th day. They had me doing exercises and walking from day 1 (after surgery), lifting my arms, going to the bathroom by myself, emptying my own drains, etc... so I enjoyed a big comfy t-shirt and yoga pants! The drains pinned to the pants. Walking was harder on my lower back than anything. Constipation was the biggest issue for me, I think cause they gave me so much iron in the hospital cuz they said I lost a lot of blood and they wanted to avoid a blood transfussion. I see the PS next week and I'm hoping he will be ready to discuss the next phase of my surgery. His initial period was 6-12 mos post surgery. October will be the 6 month mark. I don't know if we can leave #'s on this site, but I have no problem talking with anyone by phone if they would like to call me! C: 301-481-1410 Blessings and Hugs, Munchie
I had my DIEP on March 6th, 2012. Home after 5 days. Felt great, spirits up, had lots of help and walked everyday. DId my exercises. Most of pain was the nerve pain throughout the chest, which came about 1 week post op. Felt like my new boobs were superglued to my chest wall. As time went on they felt like when your milk comes in after delivery; hard, leathery and painful. I am at week 5 now and that has gone down a lot. Still irritating to wear "sport" bra for long periods, I am not yet into a regular bra.:(
More to the point of the abdominal incision OPENING. OMG, I thought I had some alien goo coming out of me. The center section (over my c-section area) was scabby, red & irritated even in the hospital. PS was concerned that the tissue would die. Well at week 3 1/2 feeling great, walking 1/2 mile and ready to do more, started driving, doing light housecleaning, and off major pain meds,but still resting a lot my incision started to ooz a little. Doc said put gauze on it to avoid getting on clothes, no worries. Next day I took gauze off to change and the scab came off with it exposing the fatty tissue and I had a small opening in my incision. Doc checked it and put me on antibiotics just in case, but said it was fine. Wash with soap & water 2-3 X a day, treat with peroxide and keep covered with gauze; see me in 2 weeks. We put sterri strips on edge of opening to keep it from going further and just a few over the opening. Doc wanted it to have some opeinings to heal. It has been just over a week now since that happened, the green fatty tissue goo has liquidified and gauze is sopping it up. The incision opened all the way across (about c-section length) and is pink and raw looking, but not as deep now. Never got an infection or fever. As other small scab areas came off, the incision was pink and looked like it may open. Put small sterri strips across areas and kept "cotton" tape across incision line (all of it) as doc said this helps keep incision flat and closed from just the little bit of pressure. I was so scared and it took me back to week "1" basically. My spirits went down and I became more discouraged and questioning if I made the right choice. PS said he'd fix the scar when he did all the final touchups down the road. I cannot drive and no longer take my n'hood walks. I have gone backwards in my activity with fear of having any other areas open up.
At the 3 week mark I developed some excess fluid in upper tummy, which has evaporated and some moved down around right side of abdomen incision. Doc is waiting to see if my body will absorb this.
I am not happy that he had to pull my bottom tummy skin (pubic hair line) up to meet top part of tummy when closing me. I am very small and he said it was difficult to close me as well as I have "child" like arteries, but the "flap" took fine! I just feel I look weird down ther but waiting for all to settle and swelling to go down. I wonder if everyone is closed this way or just the top skin is pulled down to meet the bottom? At 3 weeks I was at my best and tummy felt flat (aside from constipation issues), but now it is not flat.
I can't give up hope and patience, trusting God that all will work out. My sisters left at the 3 week mark and hubby went back to normal work schedule. I would have benefited from having help for 2 more weeks, especially through this set back. So if anyone can have at least a month of help, I highly recommend it! Just having someone here to help, keep you in check, do the extra little things, walk (slow) with you, etc.... makes it so much easier and not so scary.
Love and blessings to all!!!
Munchie
Reading your posts have been very comforting. I can tell you are patient and compassionate to others which is a gift and a blessing for others. May many blessings be returned to you as you continue to go forward in this journey. Thank you again! Munchie in Maryland