I’m due to go in for diep surgery on 21st of May I’m so scared and stressed I don’t know what to expect I know it will be painful for few weeks and my life will come to a stand still again- I had mastectomy in December 2016 and completed chemo and radiotherapy and herceptin in October last yr I’m on tamoxifen for 5yrs but have stopped for surgery I don’t know if I will survive this can anyone please tell me why to expect after surgery
Thanks to everyone in advance
Hi Aneesa, there is a superb DIEP Reconstruction Uk Facebook page, join the group and you will will get loads of support and information. I am due to have my DIEP on 28th May and I know the feeling of dread as the date approaches but if you don’t go ahead how will you feel in a year. I have had doubts but am feeling well supported and informed and determined to do this. Wishing you all the very best, you have done the hardest bit, this is nothing like as hard as chemo as one of the ladies on the site told me after her operation xx
Thanku linkj I will look into joining the Facebook group so far chemo was the worse am hoping no one ever goes through this nightmare of a journey not knowing what’s ahead - and you right a year on I probably regret not having this done - thankyou so much and wish you all the best xx
I had a delayed free DIEP in 2013, after Mx , chemo and rads in 2010. It is a big scary op, it wouldn't be natural if you were not nervous. Recovery can take a while, i had a couple of post OP niggles in the first month or two. My other boob was not reduced to match until a year later to allow it all to settle down properly. But I cannot recommend it enough !! It was the best thing I ever did! It's so natural, and with a nipple tattoo hardly noticable at all. And i got a nice flat tum into the bargain! Plus i don't have to keep going back for implant revision, or risk of capsules forming etc.
Give it time.... Very best wishes
Thankyou so much for replying I feel abit better after reading the positives from yourself - your right the main thing is not to have implants as I don’t want to go through replacements xx
Hello
I’m 4 weeks post diep op. It’s totally do able and not as bad you we imagined . First week Is tough but each day gets better. It’s sore but not painful . Good luck xx
Any surgery is scary, and this is a big one. I agree with all of the above- the first week was the worst and massive improvements every day thereafter. So happy with the results! Keep that in mind to see the light at the end!
I had my DIEP at the same time as my mastectomy so it was a 7 hour op and then 7 days recovering in hospital. That was July 2017, it's hard like any big operation, but it's manageable if you set your mind right.
I had to cope pretty much out of the gate when I came home from hospital as my teenage daughter was rushed into hospital with a burst apendix. We all managed.
Have a plan for how you will settle yourself in hospital and when you come home.
For some it's watching box sets on Netflix for some it's meditation.
Do whatever will drop your stress levels and it will aid your recovery.
There's a wonderful intro to EFT tapping here on this site. EFT is what got me through and I still use it now to manage my stress levels around annual mammograms etc. Good luck x
Can I ask where the EFT intro is please? Thought I might find it useful myself as do alot of worrying xx
Hope everything goes well for you Aneesa 19. I can't advise as had mastectomy and node clearance in January this year. I wasn't sure about reconstruction as thought with the chemo before op I had been through enough at that point. I'm 50 and only small in size so at the moment just keeping up with recovery (having herceptin every 3 weeks until Nov) and feeling better with how I look with prosthesis. I do wish you lots of luck though and hope you make a full recovery and feel happy with everything. Lots of love xx
I'm not sure where you are, but I used cannabis patches instead of opioids after my surgery and it really helped manage my pain and anxiety. If you are in an area where it is legal I would definitely recommend it
Hi Aneesa, I had my surgery in 2012 and am now in remission. I too am on Tamoxifen. I started while in South Africa and then moved to the UK only to be told that here in the UK you take it for 10 years! I have been fine on it although it causes me weight gain but I have been able to control that with hanging my eating habits.
To be honest, you CAN survive cancer but it does change your life. You will ever be the old you but you certainly can survive and be a new you. It just takes a bit of time to go through all the therapy and treatments but then you come out of it all and start again. Lots of things change, even the sex life, but if you are open and honest about how you feel and what bothers you etc, speak about it to anyone who will listen. The problem i found is that not many people like to talk about their cancer or cancer in general. Be vocal, talk, write about it. I do and it brought back my confidence and has allowed me to identify with so many others suffering from cancer and I am able to talk to them from person experience.
Chemo does suck, its horrible but you will get through it all. I often laugh when I tell people how chemo changes your toilet habit, how my family had to evacuate the house each time I have chemo. You will find lots to laugh about your experience. Just keep your chin up, keep positive cancer hates laughter, it hates fun and it hates confidence and change, so let it stay with you on YOUR terms until it has all gone.
I wish you all the best with your treatments and I pray all goes well. Be positive now, LIVE, LAUGH and LOVE
XXX
Thankyou so much meatball it’s really helped me a lot reading through your experience and yes it’s definitely changed me in a lot of ways even though I wish I was back to how I was but i think going through this change and awful journey has made me see life through another lense - I have 2days to go before the big reconstruction day - thankyou everyone for all the support and postivity I will keep everyone updated after the 21st I’m praying everything goes well I think the thing that we fear the most comes and stares us right in the face feel am I’m in this black hole and hopefully will get out of it next week.
Thankyou everyone I really appreciate all the positivity and support it really helps talking to people who have gone through the same.
All my love Aneesa xx
Hi Anneesa how did your operation go? Hope you are ok. My DIEP is the 3rd of June and I am going to use the tips of taking each day as it comes. I must admit I'm not looking forward to it but then I know it will be all worth it in the end. Take care and rest when you need to xx
Hi jt72
Hope your doing well I’m on my 4th day of surgery I must say I was very scared but the surgeons were very good and made sure I was
Comfortable once the anaesthetic is in its over by time you get back up - on the 2nd day of op I did have a bit of a scare as they thought the tissues were bleeding and may have formed into a haematoma but luckily it wasn’t I have an appetite issue I am on forty sips as the anaesthetic makes u feel that way for a few days but now I’m called the star patient as I have recovered enough to go home tomorrow which is the fourth day - on the first day I did regret it but after that everything has got easier I managed to go out and enjoy the sun have an ice cream and can’t wait to go home tomorrow- it’s tiny steps yet still but in no time will be fully recovered have been told 3months fingers crossed - u can do this it’s so much better than chemotherapy that was the worst ever - please do let me know if there’s anything else you would like to know I will be more than happy to help but trust me you can do this all the best and keep us updated xx
I had a DIEP in January 2019. And very happy with the results.
Like u guys I too was so nervous! I Its hard at first, suppose surgery of that type will take a huge toll on ur body.
With the support of the doctors and nurses of who were absolutely brilliant.
Good to treat urself after everything, with me it's a yummy slice of chocolate cake from Aldi 😍 have after my weekly chemo sessions of Paclitaxel, 2 down 10 to go. My original plan was to have chemo first then surgery, as my blood levels went very low after 3rd session of FEC so they decided to bring forward my surgery.
I've noticed my left boob is little bigger than the new reconstruction. I do have the option to have it reduced later on by the same plastic surgery and to have a tattoo nipple. At the minute I'm using both of the boob pads in the right boob to make them. Both look the same size, that's included with the post surgery bra ordered from Asda/George online, includes 2 bras 1 black and 1 white for £15 I also purchased from M&S good to have a range of post bras. I've been told to wear for at least another month then I should be able to wear my wireless bras again.
Hope all is well with everyone 😎
Sami
That’s so great sami01 I did have mastectomy but because I was too thin (43kg)to have anything else done they gave me 2months to put weight to 60kg to start chemo then had radiotherapy and herceptin for a yr 2yrs later at 64kg they did my new boobs I did have both done as I had seen my freinds who had gone through the same she was lopesided and didn’t wna put myself through it all again so had all done at same time 4 days later I am now at home resting up and really happy I did it as the tissue expander was too much for me it would harden in the good weather and felt like a cricket ball I couldn’t go to hot countries but am so glad I had the opportunity to get this done I would highly recommend it - I had tissues from my stomach in both breasts they look awesome iv just gra wait a yr or so for nipple tattoo on my left one as they managed to save the uplifted right one feel they are good and perky with a good tummy tuck the scarring will fade down with time main thing is I feel normal again
Insomnia with new brand of Tamoxifen 
Letrozole weight gain
Hi ….from a newly dx’d comrade from the UK
Questionable Hospital bills…
