Hi, 

It's a very personal choice and so the decision is all yours. I said to myself when making the decision that it is me who has to live with the results for the rest of my life.

After much discussion with BCN's, Surgeon's and reading the breast cancer now reconstruction booklet and recovery chart, I opted for the diep flap. I had my surgery two weeks ago today and I am very pleased with the results and positively surprised at how well I am recovering.

If you want to know anything else, let me know and I'll be happy to tell you. 
 
All the best with your decision making and I'd love to hear what you decide. 
 

Mickey xx ️

Many thanks for your response and great to hear how well it has gone for you, how long do you think you will be recovering? 

Did you opt for stomach fat removal and how does it feel now? I am a bit worried about messing with more parts of my body so the implant seems more straightforward but as you say this is for life.

thanks again

Thanks a lot Katherine for your reply. It is great to hear your journey. Fantastic that the nodes were clear that's another big worry of mine!

I feel very uneducated on all but hopefully that will be rectified once I talk to my plastic surgeon.

Initially I thought implant might be best to get faster recovery with less complications but there are pros and cons and the real skin element is a benefit. It feels like such a long time to be healing. How fast were you up and about in your home comparing to in bed as that thought really does frighten me. 

But you're right i have to remember the goal here.

Did your surgeon say there were pros and cons for where they take the excess tissue from? Worried about this too and having multiple scars. 

How  did you both handle the drains and did you get help in when you came home from hospital? Feels very daunting to me.

BTW Lovely to get the support from your daughter too, bet she's very proud of her Mom x 

Thanks so much to both you and Mickey 

SL 

Morning, 

Im really pleased you've had some more responses on this now, that's fabulous and thank you to the lovely Katherine [@rine53]‍ who has kindly shared her experience with me since we can across each other just after her surgery. 

I get that now, with large areas of dcis they would have to check that none of it has turned invasive, I recall them saying something similar to me. I'm also praying they are clear. 

Thank you for your positivity re my results being delayed. 

Re the drains, again everyone's experience is different, even in the amount they have. I had two into my tummy from the very top of each leg and one to my breast. My mx was on the right. I had my op on a Tuesday and the right breast and leg drains for me were able to be removed on the Thursday afternoon and I felt much better when they were as it made it easier to stand, walk and go to the loo. The left one came out very late on the Friday and I went home on the Saturday. The left drain should probably have stayed in til the Saturday it wept a lot and I had to have the dressing changed three times during the night. It had stopped weeping so much by the Saturday, but the dressing still needed changing daily (although no-one told me that), that one has stopped weeping now too and they are all healing nicely. I do know some people go home with like a small drain bag that they can empty, but I didn't want that and opted to stay in hospital until the Saturday to make sure the last drain removal was ok before I went home (luckily I could). I was glad I did, everyone is different, but I would have panicked if it had leaked that much at home about replacing the dressings etc. 

Re your question re walking. I was home Saturday evening and I managed to drag my case on it's wheels (not allowed to lift) all through the big hospital myself. My walking was very slow, but stable. I rested pretty much on the Sunday and had my first outdoor walk on the Monday (day 6). I was very slow to start (maybe fear of falling also), but I was stable, I could really notice any inclines for the first time, but I was fine. I think I did 1.5 km that day and then built myself up. I have no problem now walking at my usual pace and can do circa 5k, but I don't always and I try not to push it as it does tire me later. 

I was surprised when I got home that apart from reaching high, lifting etc I was pretty self sufficient and could use the stairs and meet all my basic needs, but yes I have my partner home and you do need someone to do things that you can't. 

I think I've answered everything, but if not, don't hesitate to come back to me.  Please keep us posted it is a big decision for you and hope this all helps. 

Virtual hugs Mickey xx ️
 

Hi Silver, 

I think this thread gives a lot of info about my experience with the diep and hopefully that will help. This is Day 16 post surgery for me and all is going well for me. If you have any questions, I'm happy to help. 

Best wishes Mickey xx ️

Are there any products that really helped that I should think of that would be worth buying now? Like types of mastectomy pillows, bras or things that made it easier to sleep with? 
thanks everyone

Hi

I was up and about after 2 days. They encourage you to be up ASAP. The drains are fine you don't really notice them and mine where taken out while in hospital. You also have a catheter which again is taken out ASAP. Once that's gone then your up and walking. The more you do the better. I walked around my cubicle every couple of hours as wanted to get home as soon as poss. I did end up staying in 7 days as I got an ear infection! If all things. Once home I was up every day but did spend a lot of time on the sofa. Usually a little walk and then a rest. Recovery is on going and does take about 6 weeks as you can't drive and lift anything initially but I'm guessing it'll be something similar for implant. Tummy cut is big as it does go from hip to hip but that healed really well. You are left with a scar of course and mine is at the top of where my knicjerbline would be if wearing a normal pair of knickers. I wouldn't be wearing a bikini! But I wouldn't have worn one anyway! Lol. Tummy is numb some days but that is fading. They actually pull your skin down so your tummy is flat. Mine lost a how overhang from my c section scar so was a bonus! 
You need someone with you for at least a week as you'll not feel up to too much, my husband went back to work after that. I was grateful when he came home though and he did cook tea every night so I could rest. It is definitely a big op and will take time to fully recover but you are not bed ridden or anything like that. Hope that helps and to you all good luck with whatever ops you chose. 
xx

Thanks for all your brilliant advice gals and honestly I would be lost without all the tips and support so thank you to everyone ... good to hear there are some bonuses to these challenging times re tummy! Also a good sign that you managed the surgery even with the caesarean scar.  And with the pandemic at least that might help to have more support around me which thankfully I will have. 
I was unsure how much time to take off work as keen to get back to working remotely but it might be difficult to sit up at a computer desk?

thanks again  
xxxx SL

I had a heart shaped pillow that fits underarm to rest your arm on but that was given to me by McMillan charity. That was good  I also has a microwave heat pillow that was comforting. I wore vesty type tops at first and then got front fastening bras later on.I was amazed how quickly the scar healed . The nurses advised E45 after healing. 
Best wishes

Silver

Thanks for the tips Silver good to hear scars heal quickly too. 

Hi re products, 

Luckily I had a heart shaped small bean bag cushion from years ago and I have to say that was a godsend. Although I had no pain under my arm on the reconstructed side, largely because they did not make a separate incision there to remove my sentinel lymph node(s), as done from the breast op site, however, my other arm had various skin nicks and grazes from the surgery (I have very sensitive skin) and so I used the bean bag under that arm to stop the skin from rubbing on those wounds. That really really helped. 

In terms of bras, I knew I would be given one front opening hook and eye white one at hospital in advance and I was given it the day after surgery. For info, although again different hospitals have different practices, I wasn't put in a bra until my breast drain was removed.  I booked an online post surgery bra fitting session at M&S pre-op. It was really helpful, none of the post surgery bras actually fitted me very well, but they suggested I tried their flexi-fit front zip (with a hook to easily do up) and that was perfect for me.  They say to go up size due to swelling post surgery and so I brought two in the next size up, same cup size.  I know others have needed this, but I was lucky and have managed to stay in my usual size bra all the time. 

Again everyone is different and I'm usually a PJ girl for 'slobbing', but I brought some cotton button down the front nightshirts from Amazon and they are good enough to wear as dresses too. I have literally lived in these and so easy to manage when everyone needs to check your wounds/boob etc. Although, I can manage my arms in normal clothes now, I still wear the dresses for apts, as so much easier to access everything with ease and confidence, I have found. 

I have used my sensitive skin lotion on grazes and areas that have needed some care post op. I haven't yet put anything on the scarring, but have been using baby oil to remove stickiness from dressings when they are removed, very gently. 

If you decide on the diep you would also need control pants to keep your tummy shape for first six weeks. Again M&S have a good varied range, but they should be above your belly button and they suggest you go up a size. Depending on where they put your drains, I realised that lower leg cut ones or even their short version ones (forgive me, I forget the proper name for those) are better. 

When in hospital ask for another pair/pairs of DVT socks, one just isn't enough. I ended up with four, I was very lucky, but 2-3 is helpful if you want to change them regularly and not want to add to the burden of someone having to wash yours smalls every day on top of other things. 

That's all I can think of for now, bound to have forgotten something. 

Virtual hugs and support Mickey xx ️

Amazing great tips, thanking you Mickey  

Amazing great tips, thanking you Mickey