diep flap reconstruction please help
diep flap reconstruction please help hi i am just waiting for a date for a double mastectomy with diep flap reconstrution. has anybody had their op performed by mr juma he carrys out his ops at the countess of chester nhs and private at murryfields and i think he also has a practise in blackpool. i have put threads on before but havent had any replies. someone somewhere must have had an op carried out .by mr juma please help me i am getting very worried
Hi Trudy
Sorry can’t help you. I am due to have surgery shortly (WLE) at the Countess, but my consultant/surgeon is Mrs Harding McKean. I have a friend who has been under Miss Redmond but have not heard of Mr Juma at the Countess. Are you having your op there or somewhere else?
Hope you manage to find out about him somehow
Nicky
Hi,
Don’t know the surgeons your talking about but I had DIEP flap done just before Christmas. Had a problem with a bit of flap dying but they can remedy that. I believe it is a bit like having a ceasarian and it takes a little while for muscles to knit back. Mind like having a baby everyone’s experience will be different.
Good Luck let us know how you get on!
Treakle x x
still no luck hi nicky
having op at countess of chester because murryfields do not have the backup for my surgery. maybe you could ask about him for me. thank for your reply. will keep trying fingers crossed hope he is ok.
waiting for date hi thanks for your reply. still no luck with info about mr juma.hope all goes well with you. will just have to keep my fingers crossed. will keep you informed.
Mr Juma Hi there,
I think you should speak to Mr Juma secretary and ask if Mr Juma has any patients that you can speak to regarding the operation, or if you could see any photo’s of his work. Finding out how often he performs this operation and when did he do his last one will give you and idea of how experienced he is. I had DIEP in London last year and my surgeon showed me lots of photos of the ops he had done. I think it is really important for you to have confidence in Mr Juma before you undertake such a big operation.
Hope this helps
Good luck
Jo
I’ll ask for you Hi Trudy
I am seeing my consultant next wednesday re surgery, I will ask her about Mr Juma for you. I will write in on my list and hope I remember to take it! last time I just nodded blindly, didn’t take anything in and couldn’t think of any questions to ask! Must do better this time! When are you scheduled to have your surgery?
Nicky x
Hello,
I have just had a Tummy reconstruction on 10th September ,
found some threads and I think one lady did a blog of here experience but can not find it on the new web site !
Drop me a PM with any questions and I will respond while it is all fresh in my mind at the mo.
Kind regs,
berthab
Hi all
I had my DIEP flap op in 2006, and was given a ‘girdle’ type thing to wear every day for first 3 months post-op. It was made of thick elastic type material and wide enough to cover from lower rib area to below hip to hip scar, it was pulled tight round to the front, secured with velcro. Its worn tight to prevent any build up of fluid inside abdomen. Worked a treat.
Reading your posts is making me ask… Are these girdles still used, or are you just advised to wear support pants post op?
Wouldnt have thought that support pants are tight enough to prevent swollen tummy post. Let me know what you think ladies.
Wishing you all a good recovery
Lesley x
:smileyfrustrated:Hello! i have just been diagnosed as needing a mastectomy and am veering towards DIEP reconstruction. I feel as though everyone is trying to influence me towards implant, hubbie because he doesnt want me to go through the longer surgery or recovery period but rest because its “easier”! i feel quite strongly about not wanting an implant and just wanting “me”. am i doing the right thing? i am also thinking that i want immediate reconstruction as dont want 2 ops. how long does it take from diagnosis to surgery (been 2 weeks since i was told)? any hints and tips would help as i am feeling really scared and so emotional, which is so unlike me…usually tough as old boots!! the Bridget jones knickers and hints and tips doc sound great!! Elaine X
Hi Wicko,
I had immediate recon using a strattice implant just over three weeks ago. I didn’t want the extra scars and pain associated with the flap options. I’m pleased with how mine looks but it does look odd and will need a small fillet or an uplift in my natural boob. although I’m still in a surgical bra so once back to normal bras it may be ok when dressed.
I agonised over what to do and so far think this was right for me
Good luck and best wishes xx
The posts in this thread shows how different the experience of diep reconstruction can be for two different people. And that’s the most important take away from this discussion.
Don’t make your decision based on what happened to someone else because there is no way to know what will happen to you.
Don’t decide to have a diep because someone says that they found it to be an easy surgery and recovery and are happy with their results. Make the decision knowing that you could land in either camp.
Too often we talk about diep from the standpoint of the surgery and the time/difficulty involved with the reconstruction process, or from the standpoint of appearance. But the surgery and reconstruction process is temporary. And the appearance is something that you eventually adjust to, whether your reconstructed breasts meet your expectations or not.
What a reconstruction is really all about is living without your natural breasts and living with reconstructed breasts for the rest of your life.
Someone who had an easy time with the surgery and reconstruction might find over the next years that either physically or emotionally or even from a relationship standpoint (the sexual implications of reconstruction) they have great difficulty living with a MX/BMX and reconstruction. The best anyone can do is to really think it through, really try to understand what’s involved and what all the possible short-term and long-term outcomes might be, really look into themselves, and then make whatever decision is right for them.
Hi-its ages since I came off the forum- when they changed to the new form which I had difficulty with. I was diagnosed Oct 2011 & had a mastectomy end Oct 2011 followed by chemo till March 2012. I decided to have an abdominal flap reconstruction & after fattening up for a year (what?!! ‘eat pies’ the plastic surgeon said- after all these years of dieting!!) had recon at end July 2013; I could not tell you what I had as during the op the surgeon found bloodvessels were fine (they were mine so of course they were!) so had to lift a little muscle & put in some abdominal mesh so presume moved from DIEP to TRAM. On Mon gone I went in as a day patient & had liposuction & lipofill to reduce & alter shape- & had new nipple made- now got fingers crossed for success happening under the delightful dressing so I can move onto tattooing. Apologies to ladies I got messages from & could not get back to courtesy of forum changes and my struggle with Windows 8 !
Good luck…
Hi
I had my Diep Flap in Feb 2016. The results are fab and made me feel like me again. Pain was low but a tad uncomfieranle. Only thing I would say is I have no feeling at all in that breast.
If my back is tickled that’s the only time I feel anything in that breast. It’s a bit odd but I am so happy I had my op.
Hello,
I am discussing a possible immediate DIEP reconstruction but need to have radiotherapy. Can anyone advise the effects of radiotherapy on the reconstruction please? Many thanks.
I had DIEP in 2016 but left the hospital after 6 days with knowing that the right side had no circulation. 2 weeks later it looked like a Hamburger Bun with a burnt hamburger inside. Completely dead. Had to go back in for a debrision. Decided not to do anything else, my skin had been cut so much. 2017 I decided to have the left one taken back off it was so awkward.
Every patient is different. My surgery took 10 hours and the right one died before I could even leave the hospital after 6 days and all the discomfort. I have no breasts now but I had been cut so much I made that decision. I have lymphedema in my left arm from chemo and radiation damage after removal of some lymph nodes. Stage 3C breast cancer. Hope you make a good decision?