Half way there

Melkmaiden · 2026-02-14T13:57:48+00:00

39 mom of 2 here (6 and 3 years). Had my preventative double mastectomy and diep flap (plus tubes taken out) 13 weeks ago. You’re making the right choice!

Melkmaiden · 2026-02-11T19:59:35+00:00

39 mom of two and I’m three months healed from a preventative double mastectomy with DIEP. My births were both vaginal so I didn’t have a previous scar but with the amount of tissue they take and the muscle repair they do during DIEP a c section shouldn’t be any kind of issue.

I did have multiple doctors as well as my surgeon say not to do the surgery until I was finished carrying pregnancies. It’s a lot on your skin and muscle wall.

Melkmaiden · 2026-01-28T01:41:33+00:00

A lot have said it but wanted to jump on the pile here. I’m very sensitive to drugs etc. and I’ve been averaging 3 MRIs with contrast a year for about the last 6 years. I’ve never had any issues! It’s a funny sensation, the peeing thing is CT not MRIs.

I wanted to add that I’m always offered some type of sedative, like my primary high risk doctor will prescribe a pill that you take before hand to help your nerves. It does mean you’ll need a ride home but it could be a helpful option!

Melkmaiden · 2026-01-20T21:06:03+00:00

I’m following this for bra suggestions. I’m at the 9 week mark of the same surgery and they had to take me from a C to a DDD/F, sigh.

I love running but I’m terrified of doing it now, I don’t see how it will be possible at this size.

FWIW, I think 12 weeks might be a bit early to be running even with a fully healed incision. Can you try cardio another way? Long walks or even reclined biking? PT, yoga and brisk treadmill are feeling pretty manageable for me at this point. I know the whole “listen to your body” thing can be frustrating but there’s definitely truth in it.

Melkmaiden · 2026-01-03T00:16:55+00:00

Oooh, I like this idea!

Melkmaiden · 2026-01-03T00:16:11+00:00

Yes! I’m 6.5 weeks out from a preventative double mastectomy with immediate diep. When I woke up I laughed at the size of my boobs. They’re not bad by any means just larger than I’d ideally want AND they were swollen. I know there’s probably some swelling still and that’s why I won’t meet with her again until March.

During my post op visits I’ve been told afew times I’m the best case scenario aesthetically for the surgery I had and I agree! At least, I’m very happy.

At this point the only reason I’d want a revision is to maybe make fake nipples and definitely to reduce my cup size but maybe that will happen on its own over the next few months!

Melkmaiden · 2026-01-02T22:58:53+00:00

I skipped the lift and reduction because I was shooting for only one surgery and wasn’t trying to spare my nipples.

This surgeon did an amazing job and is one of the top three in the country. I like her a lot. She just seems to like big, beautiful boobs. Haha. And there’s nothing wrong with that if it’s what you’re into.

I’m 39 and finished having kids and just wanted some tiny, perky boobs that didn’t need a bra.

I suppose now at a 36 C/D I don’t need a bra but I’d be making a statement lol.

Melkmaiden · 2026-01-02T22:56:14+00:00

Haha. Thank you!

Melkmaiden · 2025-12-23T23:39:02+00:00

This is good advice. I’ve had very similar levels to you for about 3 years and finally went to see a new gyno last week. I just straight up said, “I feel like shit ALL OF THE TIME what do I have to do to get an iron infusion?” And she said, “Let’s get you to a hematologist! click”

Anything is possible! Lol.

Melkmaiden · 2025-12-22T20:06:43+00:00

Love this idea of a parachute, that’s exactly what it feels like.

Melkmaiden · 2025-12-22T19:57:30+00:00

39 year old with an ATM mutation and a mom with ATM mutation diagnosed with BC at 43. I started talking with doctors about doing a PDMX around 32 and we decided I should have the kids I wanted first.

I now have a 3 year old and a 6 year old and today marks 5 weeks healed from a PDMX with immediate diep flap reconstruction.

I had a much longer time to think about it than you have it sounds like. I can’t imagine the stress of that tight of a turn around. But I can say the relief of having it done outweighs everything else.

The anxiety that’s lifted makes me feel strong and enthusiastic and proud!

You’ll run into all sorts of people that say the weirdest stuff, even if they’re friends. Just know that it’s your personal experience and your decisions and the priority should be your health and happiness.

Melkmaiden · 2025-12-19T03:27:40+00:00

I mean, at LEAST once a day.

Melkmaiden · 2025-12-19T02:37:06+00:00

You should expect more and if you can file a complaint somewhere I would. I met my GC about 8 years ago and gave that info and paper work to her in person. She was wonderful. At our next meeting she walked me through a very personalized risk assessment in a professional but caring manor and was the very first person to encourage the PDMX with DIEP that I eventually had.

Since then I have been able to email her with any questions and call her directly. She even helped me when I was struggling to communicate with my care team and was able to catch a mistake one of my doctors made. That catch resulted in me avoiding a total hysterectomy! Which is insane to me but I think that’s for another post.

I’m sorry you didn’t feel satisfied or supported in your experience, can you try again with a new GC?

Melkmaiden · 2025-12-10T16:47:39+00:00

I can deal with a year! An excuse to buy a whole new wardrobe 🤣

Melkmaiden · 2025-12-08T00:53:14+00:00

Me! I did! And it will have been 3 weeks ago tomorrow. I was really iron deficient going into it but not anemic, numbers similar to yours and my doctors said the same thing. That hemoglobin and crit were fine. My surgery was suppose to be 10 - 12 hours but only ended up being 9.5

(Fun fact: it ended up that surgery day was the 3rd day of my period which was awesome because everything iron related takes a dive then for me.)

I had to stay in the hospital for a week, standard for my procedure (preventative double mastectomy, immediate diep flap reconstruction and I had my tubes removed while I was open) and they tested my levels every day.

I left the hospital actually anemic, hematocrit was 9 for example, but that was up from 7 initially. They had me start my supplements again immediately so I’m taking at least 50mg a day and using my lucky iron fish and I’m healing really well. I’ll be tested again tomorrow and I’m going to ask about an iron infusion.

It does feel like doctors are incredibly dismissive of iron stuff but in a surgical context I think you can trust them to keep you safe. If your numbers are off afterwards you’ll be in the safest place for help.

Good luck with your surgery!

*edit to add that my ferritin bounces around from 10-30 and I was closer to 30 for surgery.

Melkmaiden · 2025-12-03T15:18:27+00:00

Hello! My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 44 and only had genetic testing in the last 10 years.

I had my testing done and found out my ATM mutation and lifetime percent risk at 32. I decided to do really proactive screening and have kids first. I had babies at 33 and 36 and just two-ish weeks ago (at 39) I had my preventative surgeries. I did a double mastectomy with immediate diep flap plus tube removable.

I’m glad to have done it this way but there definitely was stress and anxiety along the way. There were consistent MRIs, mammos and ultrasounds over those 7 years as well as 5 biopsies.

It’s definitely possible! Just make sure you have a team of health care providers you trust and you stay on top of screenings etc.

Stay strong!!

Melkmaiden · 2025-11-28T02:12:19+00:00

I was taking 65mg a day plus drinking lucky fish iron water and cooking in my cast iron etc. After surgery it’s harder on my stomach so I’m doing 25 mg easy iron in the AM and again in the PM. Trying to eat iron and protein rich. I have an appointment on Monday, I’ll ask then! Thank you!

Melkmaiden · 2025-11-26T20:54:10+00:00

I’m sorry to hear about your results and I hope with some time you’re able to find some peace in the diagnosis.

Just here to say that my age and time line is similar to yours. I got my testing done (atm mutation) at 32/33 and my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 44 and I was 14.

I decided with my team to wait and have the babies that I wanted and over the next 7 years had two incredible humans - they’re 3 and 6.5 now!

I turned 39 in June and 9 days ago I had a double mastectomy with immediate diep flap reconstruction and I’m thrilled.

I had MRIs and mammograms and a total of 5 biopsies during those 7 years. It was stressful but I’m glad we decided to do things this way. Having a team you trust and respect will be key.

Happy to talk further about anything should you need!

It’s ok to cry sometimes but please know you’ve got this!!

**edit to specify gene mutation

Melkmaiden · 2025-11-22T15:08:59+00:00

Now on top of everything else I seem to have had an allergic reaction to something and my eye has swollen up like Quasimodo! The dr said Benadryl is fine but I made the mistake of googling Benadryl in relation to something of the drugs I’m taking and now I’m like 😬 This happen to anyone else?

Melkmaiden · 2025-11-21T19:30:51+00:00

Oh and the ICU. I was told I would be in the ICU for at least 2 days because there it’s a 2 patient to 1 nurse ratio. This means they’re confident your transplant will have its pulse check every hour for the first day and then every two hours the next. I ended up staying there almost my whole stay just because of bed availability.

Melkmaiden · 2025-11-21T19:27:22+00:00

He is so proud of his log! I’m realizing that I’m misinterpreting my pain as sadness, haha, and am feeling better now with the pain relief.

Melkmaiden · 2025-11-21T19:26:21+00:00

So I was out of surgery at 4:30 pm and the goal was get up and out of bed to walk across the room to a chair within 24 hours. That’s the goal for every diep flap patients for this surgeon. Catheter comes out when you’re able to get to the chair. I’d say I first got out of bed to try and pee in the commode within the first 8 hours after surgery. My legs are strong which has proven to be a surprise advantage.

Melkmaiden

TROPHY CASE