Hi wonderful ladies was having a look at this thread have not read it all yet. I have a question I was wondering if any of you have been in the same position, I have back problems where the discs in my spin are crubleming.I have two gone in my lower spine and one in my kneck. Had suregery many moons ago, now have pain a lot in my lower back and weakness in my left leg so I use a stick on my wright side. Had mx May grade 3 with 2 lymph had a implant with inflater. My implant has moved to under my arm and has gone hard and painfull so needs to be removed. They carn’t do the back recon as i don’t have enough fat on my back and I use that musel for my stick. The diep is the only one that could work as i have a nice fat tummy, but the ps is worried it may make my bake worse because of the tightness in the tummy area after surgery,.Also my mobilaty with still being able to use my stick as I use it on the wright side same as mx side, and need to use it as left leg gives way. I don’t now what to do. Any advise PLEASE.
Carol. XXX
Hi Carol, you have been in the wars haven’t you.
I understand you ps’s worries. DIEP is a massive operation, and it really does put a huge strain on your back - especially in the first few weeks, as initially you are unable to stand up straight. Indeed for some it can be a good few weeks before they can, and I do know someone who was very fit but needed the aid of a zimmer frame.
I am almost eight months post DIEP, and even now, most mornings my tummy starts off tight and I have to stretch it out - if not it would put horrible pressure on your back.
You also say that you need full strength/use of your mx arm. This will not be easily achievable after DIEP as gain as for a good few weeks you are not allowed to use that arm for anything heavy/strenuous etc as it puts a strain on the flap - even opening doors can be a no no. Initially the heaviest thing you are allowed to lift is a cup of tea.
I was very fit and healthy when I had my op, and I honestly feel I needed every ounce of that fitness to help me recover. I would seriously suggest you have another think of your options. Sorry if this isn’t what you want to hear.
Sue
Thank you for your reply Sue, it is some thing I’m really worried about. At the moment I have made the desision that I will not have the DIEP, but i don’t now if I will feel the same when my implant has been removed. As at the moment I do have some breast and have had since my dx. The PS did say if I carn’t cope with just one breast he would do the op. Thank you.
Carol. XXX
It’s very difficult isn’t it Carol - and I really understand your concerns about living lopsided.
Have you thought about any of the other flap ops such as TUG (this uses the muscle on the inside top of the thigh) as this shouldn’t inpact your mx arm nor your back either. I have a friend who has just had this and is recovering well and is really pleased with the result. Then there is the SGAP (Buttock) - not sure whether this should affect your back…
Hopefully others may come on with some help, but sadly with the site revamp a lot of girls don’t post on this forum as they used to.
Good Luck, Sue x
Hi Ladies
Havent been on for a few weeks so i thought I would give you an update, well the nipple is healing well (bot bigger than I thought but I was told that it will reduce after time) not sure if I will need any more lipo (hoe not) I just want the tattoo done and hopefully that will be the end of this journey.
Any ladies who are wondering about the op I would have it done in a second, I only wished I had had it done the first time (LD flap failed) but thats hind sight!!!. I have been showing my new breast to anyone who wants to have a look (women )because there is so much fright about the op and everyone is amazed.
I read my first comment at the beginning of the thread and cant believe now how scared I was but I have had wonderful surgeons and nurses so it has been all good
Good luck to anyone going through the op and hope everyone is recovering and healing well
L
xx
Hi L
i also had a LD flap that failed and now have been advised to have a DIEP. Just waiting to see the plastic surgeon to discuss what’s next. any tips?
gillian xx
Hi gillian
do you want to pm me and I can give you more details, I would however like to say I don’t regret the deep at all
l
Hi Ladies
Sorry about the absence - it is a looong story but mostly because my mum has been in and out of hospital and needing 24 hour care in between and after!
I have finally booked myself in for lipo tidy up and new nipple - despite all I said before I have (as expected!!) changed my mind as I am not happy with the shape of the new boob - great to have a boob and be alive but as they are offering me the chance for a better look I am going to take it!
I am booked in for the op on 4th April and will be in overnight afterwards - hopefully home on the 5th!
I am glad everyone’s surgery went well and that your nipple surgery went ok Tinfish 
To add to all comments above I would say despite the longer recovery time the DIEP is one to go for if offered and your surgeon has done it before with good results.
Good to read all your news everyone
Best wishes
Liz
So good to hear from you Liz, although sorry to hear about yor mum, but hope she’s on the road to recovery!
Yep, it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind! When I was Dx my aim (after living) was to have the best boobs possible, naked - I viewed this as a consolation prize for having bc.
Good luck for the 4th - I’m sure you will be more than pleased with the outcome!
Sue x
Hi Ladies
I now have a nipple and it is there to see!!! I love my new breast. I am waiting for the nipple tattoo and have been signed off from the plastic surgeons.
Hope your all OK
L
xx
Woo hoo Tinfish - nipples rule! How long is it now since you got it? They make such a difference don’t they! I expect to have another lipofil (maybe2) yet, but if I’m honest, they don’t really need it, but then I think why not! Lets go for perfection:)
Sign off from the ps deserves a celebration - wine me thinks:)
sue xx
Hi Ladies,
Really glad to read about all of your up dates. Lots of “nipple news” lol. I have my date for my nipple, its the 9th April. It’s being done under a local anasthetic as a day case. I met my new PS last week as my previous one had left the NHS. She seemed really nice and was very pleased with my reconstruction and the fact I didn’t need any furthur surgery as it was such a good match. Hope I am as pleased as you all are with yours.
A x
Hi bb, I’m sure you will be thrilled with your nipple - they look so real.
i think they are usually done under a local - or no - anaesthetic if you are not having any other work done such a lipo.
I too am having a change of ps - mine has changed jobs boo hoo - and I’m looking forward to hearing what her replacement thinks of them.
The only disappointment is I can’t for the life of me see any difference fom the liposculpting - thought I’d lose the love handles lol:)
Sue x
Hi all
Just back from another week of helping my mum - boy am I tired!!
Whilst away I got a phone call saying my PS is not available for my surgery but has arranged for another surgeon to do it on Wednesday instead or I could wait for a few months until my surgeon has time - I thought I might change my mind if I waited and anyway I want to get it out of the way so I can get on with the rest of my life! so I went for the earlier appointment - as I am having lipo to get rid of (I hope!) the dog’s ears at my hips and reshape the breast a bit for a better match and comfort (I still cant sleep comfortably on my right side as the breast sticks out at the side) I will be in overnight - should be back home on the 4th all going well
Glad you are all pleased with your nipples - good luck on the 9th BB - I have a bottle of champagne earmarked for when all surgery is over! (It might get drunk before I have the tattoo LOL)
Best wishes all
Liz
Hi all,
Thanks for all your good wishes. Sue i guess you are as anxious as me having to change PS. The way I see it we have had the BIG op. done, so hopefully the last few stages wont be so bad. Liz that seems a good idea to have a bottle of champagne ready. It does seem that the end of a long hard road is in sight. (It is 3 years to the day that I was diagnosed with BC.)
Hope you all enjoy your day today, Im off to work now 
Still only till 6:30 pm. Hope it goes fast!)
All the best A
Hi ladies
don’t seem to come on the site as much as I did, also hard my ps changed as my 1st one retired I did however love my 1st one and havent had time to get to know my new one. However all my ops went well and I am so pleased with the results, I won’t get to know my new ps as I have been discharged but have been told if I want any more tweaks done just to ring them. I am now waiting for tattoos done. I haven’t got champers out but have downed a few bottles of processco as its my preferred drink!
The time has gone so fast and if you read my 1st comment will know I had a ld flap fail so I was really scared, now I wonder why! it hasn’t been an easy ride but I am so pleased I took it.
love to you all
L
x x
Hi Ladies,
Just a question to all that have just had their nipples done. Was it painfull? Also did you have any problems post surgery. People have said that you wont feel anything. I’m not too sure. Sound a real wus don’t I. I would just like to be prepared.
Thanks.
A x
Hello Ladies! wondering what you think…
ad right Mx, ANC 2010, chemo & rads 2011. I’m on Femara. Due to have DIEP in TEN days time at Charing Cross. Have stopped the low dose aspirin my Onc put me on, on 1st April as per hospital instructions.
Think I’m ready from the practical point of view - not sure about mentally, have been getting advice from all over, inc reading through this thread over the last few days. Question is did any of you use Arnica? My PS says he “doesn’t mind” but the BS who did the Mx says “no way”. If I’m going to I need to start withing the next few days, have the pillues in the cupboard. Have some Arnica cream on order, should I just stick to rubbing that in instead?
Would be interested to know what any of you did or were advised? Thank you. P x
Bump… anyone there?
You’re not a wuss BB, the nipples don’t hurt at all - seriously, nothing, the area I has no nerve endings and the surgery can be done without anaesthesia, or dependant upon what else you are having done, can be locafor GA.
I’m 7.5 weeks in now and it’s all been plain sailing, no issues at all.
Hi Peachez, sorry we’ve not been around, but I think many of us don’t come on bcc so much now since they ‘improved and updated’ the site about a year ago.
I never used arnica, either orally or topically after my DIEP, and I healed really well. I can’t offer any advise, and it sounds from your post that even the experts can’t agree!
I was advised not to massage anything in until the scars had healed over, and then to use E45 or Bio Oil. I didn’t like the E45 cream and found it really messy. I do like Bio Oil though, and religiously massage all scars daily - they are all doing well to dates and I’m rather pleasewitty them.
That said I do believe that it is the actual massage that makes the differenc and not what you use.
I did use Arnica after my liposculpting and nipples, and can’t say it made much difference - I’m back on the Bio Oil now.
Good Luck with your op - I’m sure you will be pleased:)
Sue x