DIEP 2013

goldie4040

Thanks, Ebelizabeth.  I haven't slept through the night in weeks.  I try so hard not to fall asleep during the day, and even on the days I succeed I still can't fall asleep at night.  My regular doc gave me Lunesta yesterday, which I took around 9pm last night.  It says, "do not take until you are ready for bed!" Well, at midnight I was still staring at the TV.  I am so over this.  Today i feel like a zombie.  Tired, and Lunesta hangover. 

kuka21174923

Goldie, have you tried ambien? I think the first day I was hungover, but then my body got used to it and haven't have that drowsy feeling any more.

Katy, that's good advice on sleeping. I'm going to have to try it next time I wake up in the middle of the nigh!

goldie4040

Yes, Kuka.  I tried ambien years ago.  I will never forget it.  It knocked me out, and I thought I woke up okay. I went to work (worked in a small office) and my boss called me in half way throught the day, and said, "is something wrong?" I was taken aback, and told him about the ambien.  He asked me to never take one again the night before coming to work.  My job was to be on the phone a lot with the clients, and evidently I was acting like I just didnt care...lol.  Luckily, I was myself again by the next day.  I did take it one more time, and really didn't like the way I felt.  Now, the Lunesta.  It has made me angry, and depressed, in a way.  Only way to describe the feeling, and tired too. I asked for Antivan.  I am calling him to ask for a change. Now I am all rialed up again...hehehehehehe 

liefie

Good grief, this thread is going at such a pace! Won't try to respond to all, but just want to give Goldie big hug. Can't imagine how you must feel with so little sleep. Then when you lie down to sleep, you are already hyped up because you are worried that you will not fall asleep - a vicious cycle. Not much to offer, but my mom used to say that a cup of warm milk with a teaspoon of honey stirred into it will induce sleep. She sometimes gave it to us just because it is so good. No harm in trying, is there?

Another thing to try is to read a somewhat boring book in bed. That should have you yawning in no time . . . hopefully. Room should be quiet, dark and cool too. If you don't fall asleep, get up, read, do something else until you get sleepy again, and go back to bed. Just go with the flow, relax, and let go of that expectation of sleep. If you have lots to do, your mind keeps going. Keep a notebook by your bed, and write down what you have to do. Then you can relax, and not stress about forgetting stuff.

Maybe if you just sleep during the day when you feel sleepy, and not fight it, your body will eventually go back to its normal sleeping pattern. You may be awake at night for some time, but just let it happen naturally. It may take time. Let your body tell you when it needs sleep. I don't know if this makes sense at all, but if pills don't help, one has to try something else.

MartyJ

JanetM - will be thinking of you tomorrow.  All will go smoothly and we will be waiting for you on the other side!

Morningsun1

Good ideas, liefie. Both work for me: boring book (stats, for instance) and naps during the day.

jlbloom

I can relate to the sleep deprivation.  For years I had sleeping problems.  I had problems falling asleep.  If I were awakened, I could never go back to sleep.  In the middle of the night things seem so overwhelming.  When the light of day arrives, you think, "what was I so worried about?"

All that changed for me when I had a bout of situational depression.  It was really anxiety that tipped the scales and depression came right along with it.  After trying 3 or 4 different meds, my doctor prescribed Effexor XR (venlofaxine).  That was almost seven years ago.  I could count the number of nights I have had problems sleeping in those seven years.  I do take a SuperSnooze capsule that contains melatonin.  I sleep like a baby. 

When I went through menapause the symptoms were very mild.  You can tell I can't say enough good things about Effexor.

My wish for each and everyone of you is a restful night's sleep.  May God bless in your fight against BC!

kuka21174923

jlbloom, I take Effexor too. I've just been taking it for about 3 months, so I haven't really noticed really big changes.

ironmagnolia

sbelizabeth---I laughed so hard when I saw the pic your son took of you! I'm sure that's what we all must have looked like just after surgery. Thanks for posting it. (I'm just glad no one thought to take a pic of me after my DIEP!!) Your son sounds like a he has a great sense of humor (which will serve him well as a physician), but you can also see he really loves his Mama! I also enjoyed reading your blog and appreciated the scriptures as well. 

I haven't posted in a while, but lurk daily. I too found a pea size lump at the edge of one of my flaps about 2 weeks ago.  I have been massaging both breasts 1-2 x per day since 3 weeks post op and several areas of fat necrosis have melted away,although there is one area that has been stubborn. PS says he might have to do something about during phase II.

PS's nurse says that I can still develop these areas of fat necrosis even now, but wants me to have this new lump checked out. I opted to see my BS with it and will see her in about a week. Somewhat concerned, but not yet at freak-out level, even though I did have bilateral BC. This one popped up very quickly and is quite shallow. If these are so common after surgery, how the heck am I going to know if I have a local recurrance??

RobinY

JanetM~ I too will be thinking of you tomorrow.  Thoughts of a nice sleep, fast recovery and knowing that you are on the other side of this journey with the Vets!

As for sleeping issues, what I usually do is put on some classical music and kind of set up a daydream for myself.  Something pleasant, maybe a trip I want to take or the like.  Hope that all of you that are having sleeping issues can get things resolved soon!

I spoke to my ps office today.   My scar will be transverse- right across my chest.  This is fine with me, and its nice to know what to expect re: that scar.  Also let my contact in the ps office know about Dr. Charm, she was grateful for the heads up and assured me that my ps will be there with me the whole time, where as Dr. Charm will only be present for about 90mins. 

19days to go. 

wintersocks

janetM

just stepping in to wish you all the best for your surgery (today?/tomorrow). not sure of the time zone thing. Look forward to hearing from you when are out the other side.

Ladies, i am scheduled for my first chat with my surgeon to discuss my diep in July. I do hope it will be this year it is done. 

I have followed  all the trials and tears, fun and joy you have all shared. Thank you, it has been a huge help for those of us in still the queue!

Janet_M

Thanks everyone, for your support. I just had a massage, and now I'm going to watch Jim enjoy a glass of wine on the deck. 

goldie4040

Yes, Kuka.  I tried ambien years ago.  I will never forget it.  It knocked me out, and I thought I woke up okay. I went to work (worked in a small office) and my boss called me in half way throught the day, and said, "is something wrong?" I was taken aback, and told him about the ambien.  He asked me to never take one again the night before coming to work.  My job was to be on the phone a lot with the clients, and evidently I was acting like I just didnt care...lol.  Luckily, I was myself again by the next day.  I did take it one more time, and really didn't like the way I felt.  Now, the Lunesta.  It has made me angry, and depressed, in a way.  Only way to describe the feeling, and tired too. I asked for Antivan.  I am calling him to ask for a change. Now I am all rialed up again...hehehehehehe 

Thank you to all of you with the sleep ideas.  I am going to try them all.  I think part of my problem is not getting myself tired enough during the day.  I have gotten lazy.  Tomorrow I am going to get up just like it's a work day, shower, get dressed, etc.  and then not let myself be lazy till bedtime.....hmmm.  Even if I don't sleep tonight I am going to do it. I am going to force myself back into a schedule. 

I am so blessed to have found this website.  Somebody was talking about a Flapper Girl get together. We should do it!!!  When we all have big boobs and flat belly's.  LOL. 

Hope everybody else is doing well today. 

Goodie

I have found melatonin to work wonders for me.  I also count to 100 three times and if I'm still not asleep I get up and do something and then try again.  I've also heard to prepare yourself to sleep.  You should stretch our your whole body and also yawn like 10+ times in a row.  

Moviemaniac

JanetM......best wishes for a speedy and successful surgery tomorrow.....things will go well, and soon you will be posting from the other side.......we are in your pockets, girl! Anxiously waiting to hear from you after you are coherent enough to type a sentence to two! . Remember......Ativan is your friend, tonight AND tomorrow (if your anestheologist allows it). Use it!



(((Hugs)))



Namaste and God bless - Jackie

Janet_M

Thanks Jackie - I'm about to pop half an ativin tonight - and I'm signed up for a double dose tomorrow. Oh - for a glass of cabernet.......

goldie4040

Janet, you go girl!!!  It's all good.  Let us know how you are doing when you can, but till then know we are all sending positive thoughts your way!!!!!

nihahi

Just checking in to send hugs and positive vibes to you, Janet! Tomorrow will go well, and soon you'll be sharing that glass of wine with Jim, and it will all be behind you. Jakig, thinking of you, hope things are going well.

Jeannie57

Good sleep hints, sbelizabeth. I also checked out your blog. Love it!

sherry35

Best wishes for tomorrow Janet. Can't wait to hear from the other side.



July 29th can't get here soon enough for me. I want to do this already!

ssla01

Prayers for you tomorrow Janet! We are in your pockets.

Sharon

Jeannie57

Thinking of you tomorrow, Janet! Sherry35, I'm with you. My DIEP is July 18th.

liefie

Sweet dreams tomorrow, Janet M! Best wishes for a smooth crossing to the DIEP side - we'll be waiting with Cabernet . . .

sherry35

Jeannie, now that I have a date ( I've been waiting a year for a date) I just want to do it!

I've been having insomnia for weeks and some nights the drugs don't even work. I was up until 6:30 this morning then managed about 4 hrs. Ugh!

I know I'm depressed and anxious- I am medicated- but I can't seem to get motivated to do much of anything. This surgery is the first positive thing in my life in about 2 years. It can't come fast enough.

sbelizabeth

Jeannie57 and Ironmagnolia, thanks for reading.  My blog is a lot of fun--I get my writing kicks as well as a release of fears and other emotions, so I'm very grateful to my daughter-in-law for setting it up for me not long after I was diagnosed.  Ironmag, I can't believe this new bump would be anything but fat necrosis, but I know how our cancer radio tunes in when we stumble over something new.  

Janet, you're in my prayers tonight.  You'll do great!  I don't remember much about the morning of my surgery; I think the drugs and anesthesia wiped it off my brain.  Before you know it...bam, it's over, and you're on the road to recovery.

Jlbloom, my onc tried me on Effexor and it just made me sleepy and nauseated.  We switched to Paxil, and that worked just fine.  I was a little disappointed; Effexor seems to be the chi-chi drug that does wonders for everyone, and I just couldn't get used to it.  

Wintersocks, Sherry35, and everyone else who is waiting for their DIEP, welcome, thanks for chiming in, and we're here to support you.  

Taking slow yoga breaths, thinking about a massage, and cooing to myself in my mental Mommy voice...sleep...sleep...

kuka21174923

Goldie, hopefully you can find something that will be able to help you sleep soon.

JanetM, thinking a lot about you tonight. You're going to do great and please keep us updated when you have a chance.

We will all meet at flaparasise one day!

Morwenna

5 to 12, am I the last one up?



I didn't expect to sleep much tonight as I had Taxol #10 today, slept through most of that and then another hour when I got home. Managed a short stroll this afternoon, and cooked supper. Then spent about three hours catching up with all your posts!



To which I have just two responses: TIM-TAMS? Safeway sells them. I love the caramel ones! ;p

and BOOKS? I'm also ploughing through the Outlander series. I started last summer, when I bought Echo in the Bone, but realised I had to go back to the start because I had no clue what any of it was about!



Ok, to bed perchance to sleep!



The best advice anybody gave me on that was not to worry about not actually being asleep, so long as the body was "resting", so I practice deep breathing, relaxation, going to my happy place, and sleep usually follows. Although I do often have trouble staying asleep, and wake a few times a night, on the rare occasions I really cannot get back off due to brain-churn I might get up, and come down to the couch, with my pillow, a blanket, my book and my two cats!



Sleep well youall!

Janet_M

TOWANDA ladies. Off I go! One step closer to a flat stomach and a glass of cabernet. Three cheers for Ativin.

Jaking, be well.

Lily55

Good luck..

Morningsun1

TOWANDA! Janet, see you on the other side.