DIEP 2011

IowaSue45

mscal102.... I get them from my facebook page. Click  on the pic. you want then copy it to the txt box and then paste it.

x-raygirl

Sue- you look amazing!!!!

c8ndygr1

Went to Target and found an inexpensive temporary Stage 1 bra. It called 'Simply Perfect' by Warner's - Style #TA4011. It's a comfortable wire-free t-shirt bra with very light padding, just enough to smooth over my lumps and bumps, making my breasts appear symmetrical. It only costs $14.99. Woo-hoo! I can look normal in clothes while I wait for Stage 2.

I talked to my PS's office today and have a tentative Stage 2 surgery date on the books - Sept 12th. When I go in to see him on the 25th of this month, if all looks good, I hope I can persuade him to move the date closer, like sometime in August. We'll see.

NotAfraid

Sue!!!  You look great!!!  You got larger foobs than I was able to get.  They look good on you.

IowaSue45

The swimsuit has some padding, I do think they are a nice C. Thanks ladies I am so glad I had this surgery!!

SAMayoFL

Hey Sue!!  You are looking hot girl!!  I am up three weeks from tomorrow.

Hey Brenda!!  I am so happy to hear from you.  I keep saying I am going to call you tomorrow.  I have really been wanting to talk to you.  I am glad to hear you are feeling better.  You have about a month or so of summer left?  I hope you continue to feel better by leaps and bounds!

Betsy, I can't wait to hear how you are doing.  It seems like yesterday when you and I were both looking at different places and options for reconstruction.  Now it is just around the corner!

Well girls, I am sitting on Xrayest's pity potty tonight.  I had my pre-op stuff done last Friday.  To make a long story short, the GP, who has to sign my consent that I am well for surgery, called this afternoon and said there was an abnormality on my chest Xray.  I have had chest congestion and sinus stuff since about week 6 of Taxotere.  I am now 3 months post chemo so I have had the congestion for some time.  My onc, however, has not been concerned about it.  I had a clear PET scan in April, my blood work looks good and I am doing better every day.  There is no way this could be anything bad, right?  About every other day I tell my DH that I am not sure that I can go through surgery.  However, this afternoon, when there is a threat of me not being able to go through surgery, I am singing a different tune.  Please send positive thoughts my way tomorrow.  My CT scan is scheduled for 12:45.  I just hope that this is some crazy, goofy hoop I have to jump through and nothing more.

Susan

IowaSue45

The most comfortable bras I have found are the mastectomy sports bra, I just called the BRA lady I had for the mastectomy bras and had her get me 4 more and she turned them in to my ins. because she didn't know I had reconstruction surgery so my insurance still covered them. I have white and blk. and they look like tank tops under my shirts. I started wearing them about 5 wks. up to that point I just wore wife beaters but you may need about 6 of them, so you don't have to wash them all the time.

Sorry to hear about this Susan I am sure it will be nothing serious and I'm sending positive vibes your way !!!! Let me know what you find out, I will be waiting !!!

bdavis

I have started a list of items to bring with me to the hospital and what I will need for the week or two immediately following... can people add their top five items? I will be travelling for surgery and won't return home until 11 days post surgery so I need to buy it all this weekend and be ready.

This is not my list but someone else posted it:

facial and body wipes

tooth paste, brush, floss picks

throat drops (get very sore from tube)

oversized undies

oversized button down fleece long enough to cover butt when walking

slipper socks

body wash, shampoo,conditioner (travel sizes), lotion, face cream

dry shampoo

blistex

sundress to wear home/shawl for around shoulders if needed

slip on shoes

phone (charged)

Kindle (charged)

small pillows for tummy and breast when wearing seat belt.

Some does not pertain to me (like dry shampoo (not a lot of hair due to chemo)), but I would add 

front-button shirts

SUGGESTIONS?? And again, what is a wife beater? And I am flying home, so suggestions there?

SAMayoFL

Hey Betsy, I wondered about the wife beaters too!!  Wife beaters are the ribbed white tanks that old men wear.  I bought a pack of 5 at Walmart for around $10.  Honestly, though, when I got home I have a bunch of tanks from Old Navy that I love.  I can't really see the difference between the wife beaters and my fave tanks except that the wife beaters are longer and thinner.  I am planning to pack two dresses that I bought from Target as well as the yoga pants.  I am in the same predicament you are in - traveling for surgery and will be gone for two weeks.  In all the posts I have read, most ladies post-op have complained about constipation.  I am also packing something like Benefiber and Senekot.  I know they will give you something in the hospital to get things moving but since we are traveling I think we might need something after being released.  I hope your surgery goes smooth as silk and I will be thinking about you.  I hope to hear from you before I go!

Susan

daisy4ever

Great list, Betsy. I am three weeks post-op. Your list covered everything I needed. I brought a book and crossword puzzle, but my eyesight was fuzzy and I couldn't see right for a few days. I have really appreciated being able to wear sundresses. I found some really cute ones from Macy's called Style and Co. I can hold them down, step into them, and then pull one side up at a time without lifting my arms up very far. I found that anything with lace irritated my skin. As others shared, the Barely There bras are great. I bought mine at Macy's. I did get constipated for days. Taking the stool softeners helped, but wasn't enough. I finally ate prunes and took a suppository. Things have been fine since.



For all of you that are about to have surgery, the first week is rough--but hang in there. I wish you well. It is worth it. Days 3 and 4 were the hardest for me, but every day since then has been better and better. Get up and start walking as soon as you are able. I think we are all so blessed to be able to have this surgery.

afield

Sue - I'm with the rest - wowza!

 x-raygirl - my massage therapist (not a PT) has done some specific training in oncology issues and in scar therapy, but I don't know what.  I can ask.  I can also ask if she has recommendations for anyone closer to you since if you tell me where your close area is.  Her group, the Teal Center, actually has a group that focuses on cancer patients.  I would just differentiate from most massage therapists who have general training.  But I can say that with Lucille, I don't need to go to PT b/c she does the same work basically, and, amazingly, health insurance covered a fair number of the visits.

ladym13

Betsy- Ipod, Ipod, Ipod....was the most important thingI for me and a book, I was SO bored.

 I had this HUGE bag FULL of clothes and stuff that I didn't need. never changed out of a hospital gown for 3 days and by the time I could, just a pair of yoga pants and a tank worked.

but nothing was better than that Ipod.

sunflowerE152

The "wife beaters," men's undershirts, have been great for me.  I wear them all the time under everything.  I had some tanks that I thought would do as well, but they are thin and go under the binder and keep the breast covered, since I am not wearing any bandages.  Yesterday I even wore a mastectomy bra over the wife beater when I went out. 

My cousin had this surgery 2.5 weeks before I did and sent me a bunch of model's coats (front opening house coats),   They were great while I had the drains because everything was covered yet easy to get to.

JustLaura

Betsy - my top five would be:

Slipper Socks - for walking around the hospital. The ones with traction glue stuff on the bottom. I got really cute ones at Bath & Body Works with my daughter before I left and then thought of her each time I put them on.

Chapstick - my lips were chapped.

iPad/Books - I read a lot. I don't watch a lot of TV so I read. And I was able to read shortly after surgery. I was also able to email and update this forum with my iPad which was great. A little connection to friends and family.

Slip on shoes - Easy entry shoes to slip on once you are at the hotel for your walks and for the airport. Make sure you can wear socks in them as you get very pretty bright white compression socks that you must wear on the plane.

Sundresses - I brought one and wished I had brought 4. Being in NOLA it will be HOT. You will probably not want a fleece but an easy access sundress as mentioned above. Mine also is Style & Co and was great. I continue to wear it now at home and have gotten several more. Make sure it is very loose fitting to cover your drains and has straps wide enough to cover wide bra straps. You will have a surgical bra that you have to wear at all times and the straps are not dainty and pretty.

If I think of any more I'll let you know.  

mscal02

Sue: Thanks for the posting info. You look really great!

Sam: I hope all goes well and it is nothing to be concerned about.

Betsy: I don't think that you will need button down fleece. It is pretty hot right about now. You will want to go for comfort. Flip flops for sure.

IowaSue45

Thank you Ladies, it feels so good to fill out those cups in a swimsuit, that was a big reason for me to wanting diep was the natural look of filling out a swimsuit plus I hated the prosthesis. I am left with dog ears, is there anyone who doesn't have them. I know I was told they could fix it later but I don't understand why they leave it this way in the 1st place? Looks like it would be easier to fix first time around. I do not have phase 2 scheduled at this time, my next check up is in Aug,

maryann77

Hello ladies. I have a consultation to see my PS in Aug for DIEP. I'm very nervous because all the stories that I have heard, alot+++++ of pain. I'm not really a wimp for pain But I hear that this is like no other. So my question for all who have been through this surgery if you could rate your pain and let me know how you felt,etc after your surgery. Thanks!

RetiredLibby

OK, plunging in.  Waiting to be scheduled for BMX and DIEP shortly ... according to PS, within the next couple of weeks.  (DCIS recurrence 4 years out ... both of them are coming off and ovaries are coming out later this year)  Have read all of this thread and most of the other ones about DIEP, so I think I have a good handle on what to expect. 

Like most, I am anxious about the pain, although I understand it is highly individual.  I'm also concerned about the temporary impairment.  Also, can you fly with drains in? 

Other than that, just waiting for the date ...

L

NotAfraid

If I were to pack for DIEP today - knowing what I used and what I didn't - my top 5 would be:

A&D Ointment for lips (chapstick/burts bees didn't TOUCH the amount of chapping I had)

iPod

Face wipes

Mouthwash

Socks.

Plus, clothes to go home in - yoga pants and a tank or buttod down men's shirt.

That's all I needed.  I packed too much as usual.   

Shellyann

I've been reading these posts for months now and cannot tell you how helpful it has been. Well....tomorrow I go in for my DIEP. I am having my 'good' breast removed (uni mast prior to chemo 6/10) and both breasts will be rebuilt using the belly fat I've been harvesting for years! I'm nervous but hopeful. I was scheduled for this surgery two weeks ago and got a call the afternoon before from the dr. Cancelling my surgery due to an emergency. Talk about a letdown!!! But now, I am geared up again and ready to go. Dr. Klein at MD Anderson is doing the surgery and I have heard great things from his other patients.



I have taken your advice from this forum and packed essentials and am praying for a speedy recovery. I am supposed to go back to work in a month. I am a teacher and planned for 6 weeks but the schedule change knocked 2 weeks off of my plan. Oh well....i will do what I can do. I've been exercising a lot (spinning, elliptical, walking, and sit ups) trying to strengthen my core to prepare myself for this.

Any last minute advice?

IowaSue45

    Shellyann, you sound good and ready to go.  I believe you will be fine to go back to work in 4 wks as long as your not lifting anything. I went back at 2 wks 25 hrs. per week and at 4 wks I was working 32. After the first 3 days you will feel 50 % better each day. Good luck (((HUGS)))) and prayers.

I had no pain from surgery and didn't take the narcotics after day 2 because they always upset my stomach which I told the PS but they always insist and sure enough I got an upset stomach then I had dry heaves which felt real wonderful with the incisions. Once they stop the narcotics and it got out of my system I felt fine without the pain meds. Wish they'd listen when I know my own body. Could have saved one miserable night.

MrsMot

Betsy - NotAfraid said it right.  I brought 3 pairs of undies and never need them in hosp.  Couldn't put them on when I got to go home due to the all the swelling.  So big oversized ...big...will work.  You don't need a whole lot in hosp...  I was lucky and had the greatest nurses that took such good care of me.  One angel would wash my hair for me and give me a bath (sponge) and that was wonderful.  I hope the flight home will be ok...you will not be in a lot of comfort.  Recovery is rough...won't lie.  I am 5 weeks out and its getting better.  I figured out my abs issues...the doc had to move my belly button back to where its suppose to be so that is why I have abs that are sore.  I started chemo this past Monday and so far so good.  I wish you the best and its all worth it in the end. 

MrsMot

Shellyann -Everyone recovers differently.  No way I could go back to work in 2 weeks.  That is awesome if you can,  I had the darn drain tubes in for 3 weeks.  I had to use a walker cos of the abs.  But that was me.  You might do much better.  Its all worth it in the end in my opinion.  You have your own tissue and never needs to be replaced.  Sometimes I think implants would have been easier, but I am getting radiation later and it will ruin the implant so I had the DIEP.  My boobs are starting to look like boobs...but it takes about 3-4 months before they will soften and be more natural.  At least that is what my PS is telling me.  Just take as much time off as you can.  This is a big surgery....recovery is long.  You are dealing with a tummy tuck as well.  Which is great...I gotta flat tummy out of it!  yay!  Good luck and you will do great!!!

c8ndygr1

MY LISTS OF STUFF NEEDED/NOT NEEDED

My hospital provided:  hairbrush/comb/toothbrush/toothpaste (although I had brought my own including hair ties), slipper sox, face wipes, talcum powder, large safety pins for drains, dressing supplies and antibiotic ointment to take home

My top five for hospital (in order of preference):  #1 sleep eye mask, #2 smartphone & ear buds for song playlists, #3 lightweight robe for walking the hallway, #4 lip balm, #5 mini fanny pack to clip to bedrail to stow phone, lip balm, eyemask within easy reach

Didn't need:  hard candy for throat (didn't have sore throat), books, magazines, anything the hospital already provided (listed above), granny panties or wifebeaters

After hospital:  digital thermometer, pillow for car ride, Oxyclean for stains, yoga pants with roll-down waistband, zip-up lightweight hoodies, tank tops I already had, lanyard to hold drains in shower, step-in sundresses, slip-on flat shoes, Spanx thigh tummy shaper, Colace & Dulcolax for constipation, stick on maxi thin pads to protect clothes from stains

bdavis

Thanks all for your suggestions... I will be in New Orleans two days prior to surgery, so I need stuff for that... then 4-5 days in hospital, then 4 more days at Hope Lodge (hotel for recovering patients) and then another 3 days at Homewood Suites... All in I will be away 13 days, so I need to pack the "after hospital" stuff as well... I am not overly concerned with missing toiltries as I can always send my friend out to buy stuff plus I really don't have hair due to chemo... And I am on vacation now, so I only have Monday to wrap up my shopping and then pack... so much to do. I return from vacation on Saturday, send my son off to Costa Rica on Sunday, and then off to New Orleans on Tuesday... getting so anxious.... so here is my updated list:

facial and body wipes
tooth paste, brush, floss
throat drops (get very sore from tube)
oversized undies
oversized button down shirts
slipper socks/skid resistant
body wash, shampoo,conditioner (travel sizes), lotion, face cream
blistex/AD Ointment
sundresses
slip on shoes/flip flops
phone (charged)
ipad (charged)
small pillows for tummy and breast when wearing seat belt.
ipod / charger
books, magazines and puzzle books
tanks or wife beaters
constipation meds
yoga pants
laptop and charger
cell phone numbers etc for family

alexanjb

Hey, the mini fanny pack to clip on the bed rail is a great idea!  I can't imagine bending over and putting slipper socks on my feet right after the surgery, I had thick soled flip flops to slip on.

Maryann77, my pain was totally kept under control, I didn't even use the morphine pain pump button except for when I knew I was going to have to move.  I had an IV with pain meds and vicadine.  When I got home I used the vicodine regularly for the first couple of days and then started backing off of it and used only extra strength tylenol.  I was local so I can't address the drains on the plane issue but it sounds like others went on the plane with them.

Getting out of bed by yourself can be a challenge. I grabbed hold of my bedsheets and hauled myself up that way.

RetiredLibby

All of these lists and suggestions are really helpful, including the "what I didn't need to bring" list!  I live about 6 blocks from the hospital, so DH will be there and will be able to run back and forth ... it is just that there was a (fun, not work!) trip for an event I wanted to make in mid-August, and wondered whether I could fly with drains.  Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself since I don't even have my surgery scheduled yet!

I am in Northern Virginia, BTW.

L

alexanjb

IowaSue,  I am not sure what is meant by the dog ears so I guess I don't have them....

c8ndygr1

@IowaSue44 - I was lucky and did not get dog ears. But they are definitely fixable in Stage 2.

@maryann77 & HappyLibby - In my experience, the horror stories I heard prior to surgery about pain were much worse than the reality. You are in a hospital, they give you round-the-clock pain medication. Yes, it hurts to move. Yes, it hurts to cough. Yes, the first couple of days you get little sleep because they are constantly checking your Doppler, poking/feeling your breasts, your vital signs, your automatic blood pressure cuff, your automatic leg squeezers to prevent blood clots, taking blood, doing IVs, blood transfusion, emptying drains, turning off buzzers that go off when IV bags are empty or the batteries are low, wake you up to introduce you to the next shift of nurses, yada-yada-yada.

BUT once I was moved out of the ICU to my own private room on Day 3, it got much better very quickly. The catheter was removed, 2 drains were removed (from 6 to 4), the 24 hr/day trial flap monitor machine was disconnected. Getting up out of bed for the first time is hard but take your pain meds beforehand. Go slowly. Each time you get up is easier than the last. You learn which ways to move that cause the least amount of discomfort. The pain med Percocet worked wonders for me. It didn't upset my stomach, it didn't make me drowsy or knock me out. I felt great, almost human again, sat up in the chair for most of the day, ate my meals there, used my laptop, visited with family, and walked the hall. (Percocet is very constipating though but they gave me stool softeners and a laxative to take care of it.) The first two days are rough I'll admit but the pain is manageable if you keep on top of it. And just know, after that it amazingly gets better by leaps and bounds each day. We all did it and are happy we did. You can do it too. Knowing what to expect is half the battle. Good luck to you.

bdavis

oops... forgot the fanny pack... it is now added to my list