Tag: Breast Reconstruction

Managing Surgical Drains with Drain IQ

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Managing Surgical Drains with Drain IQ Managing surgical drains post mastectomy and post breast reconstruction is one of the biggest grievances I hear when I speak to women about their surgery after breast cancer.  I was in that club after my own DIEP flap breast reconstruction.  I used the paper recording sheet provided by the hospital to track drain output.  Keeping track of that piece of paper and diligently recording drain output each and every time I stripped those drains was a necessary evil and part of the process for the duration they were stitched to my body. Let’s talk about managing surgical drains with Drain IQ. Managing Output Using your Phone? But, how many of us today have our phones with us almost as an appendage?  I am surprised to hear from ladies while still in hospital after their surgery, texting and posting on social media that they are Continue Reading →

Guest blog: Wojciech Dec, MD

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Guest blog: Wojciech Dec, MD I recently connected with  Wojciech Dec, MD after he came across my website and he asked to write a guest blog explaining the various types of breast reconstruction.  Dr. Dec is a member of The American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons.  ASRM is a resource I list for patients to check to see if a micro-surgeon is a member when they are seeking a plastic surgeon for breast reconstruction. I particularly like his title. So with that introduction, here is Dr. Wojciech Dec’s guest blog.  The Alphabet Soup of Breast Reconstruction Surgery (Making sense of all the acronyms: TRAM, free TRAM, MS-TRAM, DIEP, SIEA, GAP, PAP, TUG, LD.)   by Wojciech Dec, MD   When I first meet with a patient to discuss her options for breast reconstruction we take a step back and look at the big picture to avoid getting bogged down in the Continue Reading →

Physical Therapy after Breast Reconstruction

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Physical Therapy after Breast Reconstruction I had the honor and pleasure of interviewing my physical therapist, Leslie Drawdy, to discuss the value of physical therapy after breast reconstruction.  Before I share the information we discussed I want to share my personal story and how I came to meet Leslie. My breast surgeon, Dr. Michele Boyce Ley, advised that I begin physical therapy soon after the mastectomy that she successfully performed.  I went in for a follow up appointment after healing post-surgery and told her of onset and new shoulder discomfort, especially when I was on my computer.  Knowing how much time I spend on my computer she gave me a sheet of well-qualified physical therapists.  I chose Leslie because she is a lymphedema specialist.  Although I did not have lymphedema my thought was, who would know better about the lymphatic system and post breast cancer mastectomy patients?  I hit a Continue Reading →

Connections through the Breast Reconstruction Community

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Connections through the Breast Reconstruction Community I am always amazed at the connections I have made in the #BreastReconstruction community since beginning my education and outreach through social media.  A woman I met at a Casting for Recovery weekend in October of 2015 was the patient of a well-respected micro-surgeon at Cancer Treatment Centers of American in Chicago, Dr. Daniel Liu.  When I found this out during our fishing weekend and the long conversation we had together, I told my friend how often I Tweeted with Dr. Liu and leaned heavily on his knowledge and information about plastic surgery and breast reconstruction.  We took a picture together that weekend and I Tweeted it to Dr. Liu letting him know Connie and I met and by coincidence found out we both knew him. Here we are again, six months later and these two had a meeting just this week to discuss Continue Reading →

Areola Tattooing Post Breast Reconstruction

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Areola Tattooing Post Breast Reconstruction Areola tattooing is usually the final phase of breast reconstruction after mastectomy. The nipple can be rebuilt using the patient’s own skin after reconstructive surgery.  This normally takes place about 3-4 months after phase 1, the transfer of the tummy tissue and blood vessels to create a warm, soft, breast mound. A 3D tattoo of the entire nipple and areola complex can also be done if a patient does not have the nipple rebuilt.   Both procedures can be done as a final step to restore the breast as close to its natural look as possible. Many plastic surgeons offer tattooing in their office but there is an alternative. You can go to a skilled and qualified tattoo artist to have these procedures done. A patient who has had the nipple rebuilt can have the areola area tattooed. Some chose not to have the nipple Continue Reading →

Benefits of Exercise after Breast Cancer

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Benefits of Exercise after Breast Cancer It is #WorkoutWednesday and I’d like to share a comprehensive video from John’s Hopkins Medicine on the benefits of exercise after Breast Cancer. Take ten minutes out of your day to view it and then I encourage you to move at your pace and ability to improve your health. Cancer diagnosis, treatments, surgery as well as breast reconstruction surgery take a lot out of our bodies. We may have gone into either of these situations being very healthy. I often hear this from other women. This is definitely to your benefit and will help with recovery. However, after treatments and surgery you are then left to pick up the pieces from the assault on your body. Where do you move forward from there? Whether you are walking, running, dancing, doing Pilates, yoga or another form of movement, know that you are providing great benefits Continue Reading →

Parallels between Fly Fishing and Breast Reconstruction

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Do fly fishing and breast reconstruction have anything in common? Are there parallels between fly fishing and breast reconstruction? Let’s explore some facts and then I’ll tell you about my own personal experience at the Casting for Recovery event I attended. First of all a bit of history about the program directly from their website: Casting for Recovery was founded in 1996 in Manchester, Vermont, by a breast cancer reconstructive surgeon and a professional fly fisher. Casting for Recovery’s innovative program focuses on breast cancer survivor-ship and improving quality of life, and has garnered endorsements from medical and psycho-social experts. Awarded 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 1998, Casting for Recovery has inspired international efforts in Canada, UK/Ireland and New Zealand.  To date, Casting for Recovery has conducted more than 500 retreats, serving nearly 7,000 women nationwide.  In 2014, we held 42 retreats in 36 states, serving 600 women. I am going to take the very Continue Reading →

With Cool Weather Brings More Writing

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Cool weather brings more writing and so I’ve accepted a personal challenge.  November 2015 #NaBloPoMo is a writing experience sponsored by @BlogHer, women and men encouraging creative voices in blogging. I was inspired to join after reading a post from BC Becky, a fellow blogger and social media connection. We are both breast cancer survivors. I honestly don’t remember how my first connection with Becky began but it was instrumental in launching my blog in March of this year, 2015. I read her instructional information regarding blogging. It was very beneficial and really motivational as I started my blog about breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. I truly had no knowledge, no idea how to blog. I set a date to open the blog knowing that would push me to actually do it. I had no expectations on its success or outreach but I had high hopes. Seven months after launching Continue Reading →

#WorkoutWednesday

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#WorkoutWednesday Exercises Let’s call today’s blog #WorkoutWednesday. I’m back at my desk today after an amazing trip to one of my favorite places on the earth, Seattle, Washington. I was able to enjoy family and friends as well as schedule meetings and dinners to connect with more amazing women in the breast cancer and breast reconstruction community. I unpacked my week and a half’s worth of luggage as well as my “portable office” after my flight yesterday. I was amazed at how happy I was to set my laptop back up in the office space in my home or as I have fondly named it, “The She Shed”. I missed writing, blogging, researching, sharing and reaching out to the on-line community. But the face to face meetings I had last week were invaluable. There will be blogs written as follow-ups to those experiences. It was important for me to get Continue Reading →

Flying Home After DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

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Flying home after DIEP flap  breast reconstruction surgery has the potential of both emotional and physical impact for patients. It was for me and I’d like to share my experience with you. I recommend securing a wheelchair to get you to the gate. It was invaluable for me for two reasons. I didn’t have to worry about walking fast to my next connection and it eliminated excess swelling and pain from walking long distances at the airport. It gets you through TSA much faster, too! Physical Impact of Flying Home I highly recommend you have a travel partner for phase one of DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery. I did and they can do the heavier lifting for you. You will be instructed not to lift anything over ten pounds for six weeks after surgery. Lighten up the purse this one time, ladies. I suggest the following items: Lip balm to Continue Reading →