37 Year Old, 1 Child. Atlanta, GA

I will try to upload them from flicker. I took my pictures with my cell phone (android) and can't get my mac to recognize my phone..URGGGGGGHHHHHHHH. So I will have to get everything on flicker and then download them to the computer.

After my surgery was scheduled for July 31, I went for my preop appoints with all three surgeons that would perform my DIEP Reconstruction. When I saw my Plastic Surgeon, I casually mentioned that it had only been 3 weeks since my ankle surgery to remove the screw they had implanted several months ago. Why I opened my mouth, I don't know but it was for the best. Dr. Ma insisted that I wait a full six weeks before having surgery to ensure there were know clotting/bleeding issues. Soooooooo, I ended up having my Diep surgery on 9/11/15. I was so anxious about the surgery, I didn't even realize it was 9/11 until I woke up in ICU and my parents were watching one of the memorials on TV. I stayed in the hospital for 4 days. My first 24 hours were in ICU, and then moved to a private room at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. I was on IV pain meds for 48 hours and then on a complicated schedule of pills and Miralax. I was also able to get out of bed on my own after 24 hours. Because they didn't cut my stomache muscles and just used skin and fat, the surgery wasn't as painful as my C section. On a scale of 1-10, I would rate the C Section a 9 in pain and the Diep a 4-5 (but of course I could take pain meds for the Diep unlike when i had the C Section. They also insisted I take Miralax. I didn't understand the need for it until one of my nurses explained that opiates make people constipated. Needless to say I am not a fan of laxatives.... All of the breast tissue was removed from both breasts and the nipples were spared. Then skin and fat from my wonderful post baby belly was used to create a flap on the left breast where my original cancer was located. The right breast was injected with my own fat to fill it back up. I should also say that I was warned that my breast would be a little smaller (I was a 38 D) but I can still where my 38 D bras. (No underwires for now).

The Good
All in all I am satisfied with the flap they have created. I knew I felt self conscious all of these years but when i saw the flap, I really felt like a whole woman again. I would have to write a book on how having a radical lumpectomy interfered with my confidence, self esteem, and marriage but this isn't the place. I am happy with the outcome.

The Bad
Because my left breast was radiated after my chemo, the skin did not respond well to surgery. So while the flap is beautiful healthy skin (with a few baby stretch marks), the top part of the breast that was radiated started to blister the second day out of surgery and eventually turned black including my left nipple. (So glad my Doctor explained to me why I wasn't a candidate for an implant. It would have been a disaster. ) As I was cleaning the wound tonight I removed the final scab, which is was all that was left of the nipple. I can't describe how I feel. It didn't hurt but I did want to cry. I don't know why. I know it sounds stupid, but I would have rather woken up for surgery without it, than have to watch it die and then remove it. But on the bright side, the tissue underneath was pink and seems healthy. As for the wound, it is currently being treated with some sample Medihoney strips but they are expensive and my Doctor is unsure if my insurance will cover it. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

The Ugly
The entire bill came up to 98K based on a itemized report sent to me by the hospital, so far it seems my insurance has covered everything except the coinsurance and deductible that I was responsible. I am holding my breath and praying that I don't get any surprise bills before the holidays.

Well ladies, I thought that I would be in recovery but instead I am getting ready for work tomorrow. At my preop appoint, my surgeon was asking some casual questions and I thought all was going well until I mentioned that I was feeling great 3 weeks after ankle surgery. All of a sudden my surgeon's demeanor went from extreme confidence to lots of red flags. She wanted at least 6 weeks between my ankle surgery and the double mastectomy so after lots of coordination I'm scheduled for September 10th. Im kinda disappointed but hopeful that some other things in my personal life will clear themselves out by that time. At least I've paid for most of the surgery. Now I only have the bill for the actual hospital (approx. $600) left to pay. I will update if anything else happens. That's all for now.