@Luskentyre1 thank you, a long charging cable is now on order as my phone battery is pretty useless and I have some Audible books to listen to 
I have my first appointment with the plastics consultant on Wednesday so should hopefully get some idea of when the operation will be then 
thanks x
I found the rucksack tip really helpful for after my DIEP. Also a battery pack, as even with a long cable might have some issues- sockets in wrong places!
Thanks for useful tip ref battery pack looby
Seagulls
I am 1 week post diep and just home from hospital. My surgery lasted 12 hours, although Iām told my surgeon is slower than others.
I do feel like Iāve been hit by a bus but amazed at where I am just 1 week on from it. No wound complications (so far) and mobilising well.
I only had one wobble during the night after my surgery, when I was on 30m obs and flap checks, where I had wondered what the hell Iād down to myself but it was very short lived and I am glad I had it done.
I had similar choices to you regarding options and although I waited the 8 weeks for surgery, I was on Tamoxifen for 6 weeks of that, which shrunk the tumour a little so the wait didnāt concern me too much. I wanted surgery at the time as I want to get this all behind me as quickly as possibly!
Iāve now got to heal for chemo and radiotherapy but Iām positive about it all just now, albeit aware that there will be many challenges ahead.
So whatās right for you and very best of luck with your treatment x
Good to hear you survived 30 mins checks, I got very exhausted by them maybe being 67 at the time made it worse but itās certainly pretty hard to have. I also was sick once but I found the sick bag in time and it was great, you just twisted the top and there was no horrible smell of sick. Very sophisticated as it was also throwaway.
Seagulls
Have you used the litter picker to take washing out of machine? The only thing Iāve ever used mine for is getting rid of rubbish in my village and in the hedge by the side of Frederick Road Hastings. I go past there regularly now and it is still litter free after about 8 years!
Seagulls
@lepw1705 thank you for sharing your experience and really pleased to hear that you are doing well after your surgery.
I will make sure i am mentally prepared for the first 24hours which sound tough going. Its amazing to know how quickly everyone seems to get over the full body assault.
I am still waiting my surgery date, mainly due to me asking about having a bilateral procedure. The change was due to me having had successfully treated breast cancer in my other breast in 2020 but having explored options if i had a reoccurance, the best choice was to opt for the bilateral mastectomy. This has taken a couple of additional weeks to get signed off, so fingers crossed i will get a date through soon
I hope your recovery keeps going well, and make sure you take care of yourself x
It is tiring and having both breasts reconstructed at the same time could be more tiring than one unless you can sleep ok on your back for quite a while. I meant to do this after earlier breast cancer in 2003.
The biggest issue for me was the scar from hip to hip where the flap was taken and my scar round my tummy button as they move your navel upwards and graft it to skin further up.
I did all my exercises religiously as exercises had helped me the first time. My programme was twice a day, and it was progressive as the weeks passed so I felt I was making good progress. I used paracetamol if in any pain but I donāt remember anything terrible.
The worst thing is tiredness emotional and physical. I like having a warm living breast which I think looks great in best tops. if I am nude it looks nothing like my other one.
I was offered more surgery but I think it is pointless as no amount of tinkering will make it reach the standard of symmetry I would want plus I donāt like painful ops. In my experience even minor ops and tests have been excruciating at times however short they are.
Doctors often do not care if they think you will be in agony only for ten minutes. In my book I would rather be out cold however short the procedure. A recent report in a womanās mag said it is assumed women have higher pain thresholds than men. Not fair! Complain vigorously if you are left in pain as a man would no doubt do!
Seagulls
Hi all, quick update, I finally have my date through having been planning this since 14th Feb, for a bilateral mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction. The delay was due to me asking about the bilateral procedure having had DCIS previously in the other breast. It was a bit of a shock as had a call at work last Thurs saying could I come in for surgery a week on Monday so the 22nd April! eeek! after shock, tears, panic I am now in a better place and currently just about to head off for an appointment with the plastics team.
Hello, I waited a year after my mastectomy before I de the decision to go ahead and am now 7 days post DIEP. Surprisingly I found the 1st 24 hours completely reassuring as it meant I knew the flap was still working. Someone suggested a water bottle to drink from and that was a great idea, I also used an eye mask as the nights are shortening.
It is brutal and I feel like Iāve been battered, however I donāt have pain in the surgical areas, it my back from having to walk / stand like a question mark! Iām finding myself totally exhausted, returning to bed and sleep after my shower & hair wash, itās disconcerting how little energy I seem to have.
Iām hoping things start to improve soon, but Iām already thrilled with having a boob againā¦
I liked the warmth of the breast and it did feel like I hadnāt lost anything especially as my previous quadrantectomy surgery and radiotherapy had made my left breast look deformedā¦ I felt very weak and sick but I could ring an alarm and someone came and either gave me a sick bag or some very good painkillers which worked instantly. That was in 2022 and I joined a gym after and did gym training on lots of machines in a room for ages until my upper body strength was really good. I really enjoyed seeing my progress as I am quite competitive. The problem I had was my husband getting ill so he wasnāt coming with me, and heās now severely depressed and it looks like he may have cancer too as heās lost a lot of weight. It could be due to anxiety though, as heās just confessed heās lied to me about something horrible which I canāt reveal.
Divorce is on the cards. I was warned that a cancer diagnosis can make or break relationships. My hubbie spends the evening threatening to kill himself with a serrated carving knife held to his stomach, or a smaller knife I took less notice of.
I am now watching Pet Shop Boys and that is what I want to concentrate on, instinctive art. What I like about them is they are down to earth and they have an Auntie Vera who inspired their music. Itās interesting how they look now, They are funny, laughing about Neil Tennant quoting something and Chris saying, ācouldnāt they get Alan Bennett then?ā Bald and maybe 60 ishā¦
The two of them claim not to live in the same part of London even, let alone live together. I could do with a few make up hints from the boysā¦Neil did end up on the Kings Road a good place to get electrical work done in a local shop. Nowadays you have to go to a vast warehouse on a roundabout out of town to get a fuse or a pot of paint. So much has changed.
Seagulls
Hi Summer-sunshine not sure if I am too late to post and you have already had your opā¦but it is a pretty brutal op (I had single mastectomy, axillary clearance, DIEP flap reconstruction and they connected my lymph system to the vein in my upper arm so 5 wounds altogether). I was a fit 68 years old at the time of my op but found the recovery much slower and more painful than I had hoped. But 4 months on and I am pretty much fully recovered and back to normal.
Difficult things were a quite painful belly with stabbing/nerve pain while the area was knitting back together. This lasted 8 weeks. Also your boob doesnāt feel like your own as it has no sensation - but it is warm and I am getting used to my new body and accepting it more with time. My belly is still tight but not painful. I have a beautiful new belly button, no longer hiding in folds of belly! Good luck with whatever you decide xx
Hi @badger81
Thank you for your post and good to hear that you are recovering even if it is taken a little longer than you had hoped.
I have my operation tomorrow, and have opted for a bilateral procedure due to having had a previous occurrence of cancer in my other breast which was successfully treated. But as i am higher risk of problems in the future and canāt bear the thought of going through it again, the surgeons all have been very understanding of my request.
Hopefully, all will go well tomorrow.
Wishing you all the best in your continued recovery x
All the very best with your op tomorrow and lots of good wishes for a swift recovery xx
Thank you @swk1981, it was a 10 hour op, but all went well, the results look amazing from what i can see and tge pain is manageable, i am just very tired! x
Its early days yetā¦just take it steady and youll get there. Xx
So glad youre through the operation & are pleased with results. Feeling tired is natural just take things easy & look after yourself.
Youve got this
Hi Ladies
This is my first time posting! 
Some great tips and advice on here regarding the op & hospital stay!
I was diagnosed for the 2nd time in February with high grade DCIS right side. I had WLE with mammoplasty reconstruction surgery in March but unfortunately it was more widespread than anticipated meaning my margins werenāt clear so a Mastectomy is now my only option.
My first diagnosis was in 2011, it was grade 3 IDC which turned out to be Triple Negative. I had WLE surgery, chemo & radio.
I would have seriously considered going flat but only if they would do a double mastectomy, which they wonāt, even with my history, so I to have opted for a DFlap reconstruction.
Not the type of surgery I really wanted but neither was a single mastectomy. I fully understand their reasoning for not doing it, however I just donāt think they understand our reasoning or needs for choosing that option!
Thanks for reading my story/rant 
KazzieP
Hmmm. So agree and so sorry you do not have a say in treatment since a second breast cancer diagnosis should automatically make you eligible for a double mastectomy. Heck in the US, a first diagnosis does. Is there anyway you can move up the ladder and plead your case? With a double mastectomy you could avoid mammograms and annual scans for monitoring which would save the NHS money.