DIEP 2013

goldie4040

Bailey, have you seen any improvement in your lymphedema since your DIEP like Damiana did? 

Damiana, have you pointed out to your surgeon the reduction in your lymphedema, and if so, what was his reaction, or explanation?

Also, if anybody Facebooks and they want to become "my friend", I think it would be a great way to keep tabs on how we are doing after the time, and need for this support forum passes.  Like I have said before, people come here when they need a save place, and that is great, but I really like you guys, and would love to continue to hear about the good things, like grandbabies, babies, graduations, weddings, great vacations,etc.  I would love to be able to share all the happy things we fought so hard to be around for...

So PM me if you are interested.

nihahi

faith.....omg!

Now, if it was goldie's amazon account, we'd all be guilty!

goldie4040

LMAO Nihahi!!!

sweetpickle

Mamalou- plication is when they sew your stomach muscles back together after they have seperated. Its pretty common for women who have had multiples to have seperated stomach muscles because you get so big. I had no idea that mine had seperated and he just fixed it while he was in there.



Dyvgrl- Hugs to you sweetie, I know its hard but you can do it. Take your meds, drink plenty of water and curl up in bed to rest. Try and graze througout the day to stave off nassau. If you are feeling really bad and nothing is helping call your Dr. Office, they know so much about helping you be more comfortable while going through it. Keep reminding yourself that the chemo is melting the cancer away to nothing. HUGS!!!



Nihahi- Thanks, I dont feel sane......lol

kad22

Dvygrl- hang in there, the toughest chemo for me was the first one...so sick docs didn't give enough nausea meds. If this is the case let them know for the next time so many meds that can help make it a little easier. I will be thinking of you with prayers - chemo sucks!



Jibloom and Jeannie - prayers for you two for tomorrow. May you wake up after your nap loving those new foobs.



Sweetpickle - went to Kohls and Target today and my behind was also kicked! Can't believe you are doing all of this while moving!



Faith- hope everything turns out for the best and you find out soon waiting is the hardest. My sister had her thyroids both removed and now takes meds daily. Positive thoughts sent your way.



It's nice to hear about stage 2 can't wait until I'm there.

nihahi

ok.....I've GOT to ask.....what exactly would a FUPA costume consist of???????

goldie4040

Okay, I know what a FUPA is, but why would somebody put anything put panties over it?  A costume?  Nihani, explain please....lmaoooo?

nihahi

HEY....I DUNNO.....Faith is the one to ask....she witnessed it....I was, ya know, just wondering!!!

There ya go Faith....how's that for "off topic"!!!!!!!

Anonymous

Goldie....by the time of diep we had my truncal LE "under control" and seromas had healed. Also had my mx scar adhesions loosened up and slight aws taken care of. We had arm LE under control. I was wearing a special kind of (torture device inspired) compression bra. And i wear a LE sleeve and glove when I work out or I can feel fluid in my arm or hand. I do manual lymph drainage as well.



I had felt the first several weeks that maybe diep took care of all of the "tissue issues" I had in chest and under arm and in my back (from rads)....it was temporary though there is the nice belly tissue part in the center but any radiated tissue that remains is painful again. Must have been numb and swelly.



So 8 weeks out....I do not think there is any sign of truncal LE or seroma in my chest....awesome. I have some fluid under arm and upper arm swelling...who knows uf it is surgical swelling or LE???



I also think I can feel some cording deep in my arm so aws seems to be acting up. Will see my OT next week, hopefully. She loves to break up cords....sadist, she is (if you are lurking on this board, A, I luv ya)(I think she lurks everywhere).



I see my LE doc tomorrow....we will see what she thinks about the amazing science experiment that is me! I see PS next Tuesday as well.



One day at a time! No worries. I've seen the end of the world and this is not it!

kuka21174923

What are y'all talking about! A costume?

kuka21174923

I want to know now, what happened with the pupa??im very intrigue!

sbelizabeth

Radiation killed my thyroid dead as a rat.  I couldn't understand why I was puffy and swollen and was cutting back on sodium.  My onc figured it out and tested--my TSH was 80 (should be, like, 0.3).  I take thyroid every morning and it's all under control, but there's a little piece of me that wonders why they couldn't have shielded my neck during rads and prevented this.  

Breast cancer, the gift that keeps on giving!

Moviemaniac

JLbloom and Jeannie 57.........sweet dreams tomorrow my friends, and when you wake up, you'll be on the "Other Side"........ Thinking of you both, and in your pockets.



Faith, if there was a "Dislike" button, I would hit it! Hopefully this turns out to be a big nothing! Sorry about your debit card being hijacked, too.



Dyvgrl, so sorry about the SE's........am sending good thoughts for an easier time next session.



Geez Ladies, it's getting so bad I am afraid to leave my IPad!!!!! You all post way roo much....i cant keep up! Tomorrow I am going on a looooong walk, from my town, Lake Oswego, to downtown Portland. It's a 10 mile walk along mostly treed parkways......when I get there, I will partake of the food carts, which Portland is known for.......bus home, I'm not crazy enough (yet) to walk back home!



Today, I found out my insurance has actually ok'd my stage 2plication.......gulp! Do all of you plicated girls have the mesh? Surgery is in early September, no date yet.....I need to coordinate mom care for my.....mom. Stage2ladies......need your guidance!



Robin, a special cyber (((hug))) going out to you, my friend. Remember, when one door closes, another one opens.........we are always here for you, come back when you are able......



Love to all.......



Namaste and God Bless -Jackie

Moviemaniac

PS......I must have missed this....what the hell is a FUPA????????

faith729

Ahahahaha ! I am cracking up over here ! So the four of them wore black tights, heels and a black leotard that they stuffed the fupa area to exaggerate it and each girl had a large glittery letter attached to the area so when standing together they spelled out fupa.



Too funny ! I needed that laugh

sweetpickle

Movie- I have the absorable mesh with mine. PS told me it would absorb in six months to a year.

Lmo45

Jibloom and Jeannie57, thinking if you both today, soon it'll be over and you'll be so relieved! Prayers that everything goes smoothly!



Faith, sorry for your stress and uncertainty. Praying its nothing!!



Dvygrl, in the same boat, ugh!! Have my 4th round tomorrow and just want chemo to be over!! It does get a bit better each time, but those 2 weeks (which is my schedule) comes way too fast! Not sure what you're taking, but it sucks no matter what!! I'm keeping my eye on the prize, which is Sept. 13, my last treatment, which also happens to be a Friday the 13th! Water, grazing, mouthwash, rest, it's all important especially to keep those white blood cells going so that you don't have to delay any treatments!



Sbelizabeth, hoping that baby comes soon!!



Hugs to all, have a great day!!!

Anonymous

Chemo thoughts - do baking soda, salt and warm water rinses 1st thing in morning, before and after you eat and before bed....will help prevent those wicked mouth sores some of us get....but you have to be religious about it. Also, peaches in heavy syrup (light syrup won't work) served COLD helped my mouth sores....Chemo nurses suggested both.



I also always had a bag of IV fluid infused when I went in for my Neulasta shot....extra fluid helps so much in preventing nausea.



Have a great day ladies!

Janet_M

Lmo45, Dyvgirl - I'm sorry you girls have to go through chemo. It's rough, I know. Drink as many fluids as you can to flush those drugs out of your system. Like Nahahi said, water, water, water. I drank a lot of coconut water during chemo - it's sort of gross but the  electrolytes are good for you. I also ate candied ginger to help with the nausea, which was available in health food stores. Sometimes you do so much preventative stuff, you never know what it is that is the most effective. (But the candies are delicious). I'm sorry it's hard, but you will get through this.

Jeannie & Jbloom - My 'Happy Nap' thoughts were a bit pre-mature, but I'm sending you lots of strength today. Rest well - your bodies will know exactly what to do. 

Sweetpickle - Holy cow! You are forgiven of any and all whining/venting/breakdowns if you're  moving homes, and are surrounded by lots of people. Was just re-reading and I didn't realize all the upheaval in your world. That takes stamina - I hope you get settled soon.

They should really have a reality show for girls like us called 'Can you survive THIS?'. We'd all kick ass!

Robin - I think about you all the time. I wish you calmness.

I'm on five-weeks post op, and I saw my PS yesterday. I had a list of questions written down, but when he came bouncing in wearing his OR scrubs I almost fell off my chair - I'd forgotten how friggin' handsome he is. Good thing I was wearing my nice underpants. And, in typical fashion, when I'm nervous I start asking a lot of questions. But not appropriate ones. I asked him if I could swim, (no), then I asked if he likes swimming, and I asked about his kids, then somehow it moved to playing the piano, and at some point he leaned over and closed my gown. I guess I'd just left it open. It was the best date ever!

Then it's back to reality. DH is getting cranky. He's tired of doing errands, and he says that it feels like his whole day is spent doing chores. I didn't know whether to do the 'thankful' routine, or do the 'suck it up' routine. What do you think us chicks have quietly been doing for the last 200 years!? 

Have a good day everyone...

goldie4040

Bailey, excuse my ignorance, but what are "aws"? I am so glad the majority of you LE problems are behind you.  That is great. 

How is work going?  Are you getting too tired?

nihahi

Janet.....too funny......thanks for a smile to start the day.

dyvgrl........first one done!!! YOU>CAN>DO>THIS!!!!!! If you feel rotten, just think of what the chemo is doing to any lurking bc cells!!! byebye bc!!!!!

jeannie and jlbloom.....zzzzzing now, soon to be veterans.

Typewriterjenny

DvyGrl- So sorry to hear about the chemo. Sending you strength and patience!!!!

Janet- MY PS is realllly cute. I kind of do the same thing-have everything all logically laid out, then sometimes when I see him, ummmm wait-what was I going to ask? His staff all love him too-I'm told he is a true artist in PS. In fact apparantly art is his passion, and it somehow led him into PS.

I LOVE coconut water-mix it with a little ginger ale if you don't like the taste so much, it helps!

ssla01

LOL Janet! I've always thought it funny that we were our best undies to the doctor, shave, paint toes, etc.

faith729

Janet I am cracking up right now thanks for that laugh this morning.. too funny



Good luck to our soon to be DIEP veterans this morning !



Just 2.5 days after my stage 2 and I went from wow this is painful to huh I feel pretty great ! It is hot a blazes outside and I'm still not allowed a shower so I will be inside for the day but I'm OK with that the heat is gross. The rather large area of necrosis on my right noob seems to be totally gone. The PS said he got most but not all of it so maybe it just seems to be completely gone due to swelling. We shall see I guess.



Enjoy your day ladies

sweetpickle

Janet- you are a whoot! Thanks for giving me my morning chuckle



To all the chemo ladies- Its almost over, keep trudging along and before you know it you will be to the other side. The chemo is melting all those nasty cancer cells to nothing!



Hope everyone has a great day! :-)

nihahi

goldie.....I think Bailey was referring to axillary web syndrome, (aws) which is "cording" that can develop in the armpit, extending onto the chest or down the arm, or sometimes both. Literally looks and feels like tight cords. Not fun, can be resolved after lots of work with therapist and exercise. (at least in my case). But, mine wasn't part of a true lymphadema, but a result of extreme swelling post surgery and compromised shoulder/arm ROM. Almost gone now for me, but not quite. I'm not sure how if it resolves that much for the lympha ladies.....sure hope so.

Faith...good to hear you're feeling better! Heat waves....yucko!

Heading out for the day.....take care everyone! Have good days.

FireDragonll

Has anyone done DIEP later without doing TEs?

sweetpickle

I didnt know about the cording but that is exactly what I have. First noticed it after my MSX but I didnt know it could be relieved, I just thought I had to live with it. Its very uncomfortable for me but feels better when I stretch or massage it.

Morningsun1

Love you JanetM!

Have a good nap, jeannie and jlbloom

Typewriterjenny

FireDragon-I'm not having TEs-I'm having a left mastectomy with immediate diep recon, but my situation may be different than yours.  When I was 18, my left breast was totally flat, and my right side grew to a 40D. So, at that time, they reduced the right and gave me a saline implant in the left side. Now, I have cancer in the left implant side only.

PS said they will only need to remove a large-ish circle of skin around my nipple, so I believe this may be a skin-sparing mastectomy? Perhaps no TEs required with this type of mastectomy. I am a Stage I at this point, still unsure of lymph involvement, as my surgeon removes sentinel nodes and biopsies at the time of surgery.