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

That would be great thanks 

Love to hear also from anyone who has gone the implant route and what the experience was like? 

Thank you, that's helpful. I realise DIEP is a big op but I'm thinking that 6 weeks out of my life is a small price to pay as I'm always feeling unhappy with how I look now. I was very sick with nausea after the anaesthetic for masectomy but will mention that to my consultant. Glad you are healing well

Silver 

Hey. 
Gald it helped.

xx

I was given a DVD about reconstruction by the nurses

Hi, 

I just wondered whether you have had your appointment yet and how you are doing? 

Virtual hugs Mickey xx ️

Thanks for thinking of me Mickey xx. Yes I had my apt and they have recommended the Implant with mesh as couldn't do Diep with my body type :-(. Getting my head around that but just want it done now as feel like there is a mountain the climb. So the long wait now for a surgery date. How are you doing? 

Hi

Sorry to hear this but sometimes when the doctors make the decision it does help in the long run. Good luck with the surgery hopefully it'll come soon and you can then get on with your life.

All the best

xxx

Here's hoping. Thanks so much for all your responses

Hi, I'm hoping that you're pleased with the outcome as you were originally thinking about the implant option as an easier recovery option . I must plead my ignorance in respect of the 'mesh' and what part that plays ? 

I know we don't always think to ask at the time, but did you explore what the consultant meant by 'body type'. I was a bit shocked about that as I thought that they could pretty much perform that op on most body types now??  

Yes, the wait seems to be forever, did they give you any indication of a timescale?  I'm still waiting for my post op results including whether my sentinel lymph node(s) are cancerous or clear. I was originally told four weeks due to delays over Christmas and New Year, however, I then got issued a phone apt for 24th Jan (six weeks). Which I was told could change once they get the results if they decide they want a face-to-face. When I was back at the hospital yesterday the results still weren't back. 

I'm four weeks post op today and I consider myself lucky. I've had no problems with the reconstructed breast or my arms (although masectomy side arm is still numb).  The last two weeks I've had a bit of Seroma in my tummy and a small area in the middle hasn't sealed properly and has been excreting a bit of 'gunky' looking fluid. This just meant I had a few extra apts last week and yesterday, but the Seroma has already gone down and I've got new dressings for the unsealed part and the BCN said it should now heal in a week or so. The plus was I got extra useful information at those points and some stubborn stitches around my bellybutton could be removed and so all is good. 

Thanks for asking and I look forward to hearing more when you can update. 

Virtual hugs Mickey xx ️

Hi, I'm hoping that you're pleased with the outcome as you were originally thinking about the implant option as an easier recovery option . I must plead my ignorance in respect of the 'mesh' and what part that plays ? 

I know we don't always think to ask at the time, but did you explore what the consultant meant by 'body type'. I was a bit shocked about that as I thought that they could pretty much perform that op on most body types now??  

Yes, the wait seems to be forever, did they give you any indication of a timescale?  I'm still waiting for my post op results including whether my sentinel lymph node(s) are cancerous or clear. I was originally told four weeks due to delays over Christmas and New Year, however, I then got issued a phone apt for 24th Jan (six weeks). Which I was told could change once they get the results if they decide they want a face-to-face. When I was back at the hospital yesterday the results still weren't back. 

I'm four weeks post op today and I consider myself lucky. I've had no problems with the reconstructed breast or my arms (although masectomy side arm is still numb).  The last two weeks I've had a bit of Seroma in my tummy and a small area in the middle hasn't sealed properly and has been excreting a bit of 'gunky' looking fluid. This just meant I had a few extra apts last week and yesterday, but the Seroma has already gone down and I've got new dressings for the unsealed part and the BCN said it should now heal in a week or so. The plus was I got extra useful information at those points and some stubborn stitches around my bellybutton could be removed and so all is good. 

Thanks for asking and I look forward to hearing more when you can update. 

Virtual hugs Mickey xx ️