DIEP 2013

Morningsun1

bailey, do you need to put both baking soda and salt in the warm water to rinse? I get a lot of cold sores in my mouth without chemo and they last forever. If I can do something to prevent them, it would be worthwhile.

nihahi

Tammy....baking soda is sodium, aka salt, so likely an either or???? Some also try mouthwash with soda water.

mammalou

Janet m... So glad to hear of other DH getting tired of all this Cancer stuff. I lost it with mine the other night. During the blowout he said he had been doing the grocery shopping for 4 whole years. Geez! Thank god I was quick enough to say, wow, 31-4= 27 years that I've done it. He shut up real quick.



Has anyone else had their abdomen scar seem to kind of split a little with white gunk in the middle. Plus red around the skin. This is only the part of the scar in the middle. The outsides are perfectly healed. I wish I could post a picture here.

sbelizabeth

OK, ladies, FUPA = "fat upper pubic area."  Use your imagination!

Firedragon, I had a DIEP a year after my MX, with no TE placed.  My RO was very much against having a TE in place during rads, so I went with it.  During the DIEP, the PS carved out a lot of radiation damaged tissue and adhesions, and it has helped enormously with reducing the pain and locked-down feeling in front. 

Yes, my original Stage II date was August 16, and it was changed to August 15.  Scheduling problems.  It's OK, because I got a 0900 slot on the 15th and it was going to be in the afternoon on the 16th.  I don't know about you guys, but I rebel against the "NPO after midnight" nonsense.  According to the American College of Anesthesiologists, it should be a "light meal (toast, cereal, nothing fatty) 6 hours before, and clear liquids up to 2 hours before, administration of anesthesia."  All this fasting and being dehydrated before surgery is ridiculous. 

Well, there's my rant for a Thursday morning!  Baby watch continues!

liefie

Janet M, really enjoyed your post this morning - too funny!

Mammalou, can't help you with the scar question, but can certainly sympathize with DH being exasperating. One would think that after 34 years of marriage all issues will be sorted out, and it will be all peace and quiet - NOT! Had a huge fight this morning. DH rinsed a dirty pan in the sink, washing lots of grease down the drain. I've told him umpteenth times to first wipe out the grease with paper towel - it stands right next to the sink - before he rinses it, but noooooo! We have a sensitive septic system, and have expressly being told NEVER to flush any grease down the drain. Why is he so friggin stubborn? Arrrggghhh! I was so angry I could easily have strangled him if he wasn't so much bigger than me. A new septic system costs upward of $20 000, and ours is old . . . why can't he just do what he knows is right? Then when he left for work, he came to kiss me goodbye with a big smile, asking if I love him . . . Why does he find it so amusing when I get angry with him?  

For the girls doing chemo, I have to agree with the others re baking soda. If you rinse with that 5 - 6 times a day, and brush your teeth after every meal, you should be okay. It really helped for me. I got a small mouth sore on two occasions during chemo which quickly went away each time. As far as drinking water, it cannot be stressed enough. Especially on the day before, the day of chemo and the days afterwards one has to drink lots. The quicker you flush those drugs out, the milder the SE's will be.

Janet_M

Mammalou - You just described my abdominal scar!

The extremities are healing well, but in the middle of my scar, below my new belly button, the skin has split, and there are two corn-niblet size areas that are dark red around the outside with a gunky white centre. I cleaned out the white gunk as best I could. When I saw my PS yesterday, he said it was a reaction to the stitches, and sure enough, after digging around, we found a couple that he pulled out. I believe it wasn't the stitch itself, but the reaction to the stitch. He said that some bodies are quite sensitive to the stitching, so I guess I'm one of them. Possibly you are too - though I wouldn't dare make assumptions about someone else's SE's.

His nurse gave me some dark brown liquid-y stuff ( I don't know what it's called. She poured some in a specimen jar) that I have to apply for the next few days, and keep covered. 

And now for the DH (Dick-head) report. He apologized for being a curmudgeon, and said that he's 'back on board'. He offered to drive me to another appt this afternoon but I told him that I wanted to go on my own. The reason is - I'm tired of hearing him complain. Especially when I try so hard not to. We're having a heat wave here in Ontario (92!) and he said that the heat makes him tired and crabby. F*uck. Try going through chemo, rads, surgery, menopause in the heat - and then get back to me.

Taxi!

goldie4040

Nihani, I have heard of it, just heard it called something diffferent, Thanks for the explanation. I had a friend who worked hers out with PT and Yoga.  She is good as new, but 10 years younger than me too.  Everyday I go a bit further with my yoga. Hope my surgery isn't a complete set back. 

Whats interesting to me is that age doesn't seem to matter too much when it comes to healing of the wounds, but it does seem to matter when it comes to getting moving again.  Also, prior physical condition seems to come into play there too. I love that so many BC survivors are in better condition after BC than before.  

I don't know how many of you heard your older relatives say this when you were growing up, but I heard it a lot, "if you have your health you have everything."  They were right. 

Dyvgrl

Thanks ladies so much for the positive thoughts. It's much needed at the moment. I scheduled an appt next week to meet with a naturopathic oncologist to see if I can forgo the chemo and radiation and stick with my plan of hysterectomy (which I need anyway) and Femara. I just can't see how chemo and rads can be better when A) we don't know if there are bc cells lurking. It increases your risk for ovarian, skin, bladder, and leukemia cancers. How is this helping me again?? I feel like a customer for the pharmaceutical monsters out there. Anyone else took a path less traveled?

FierceBluebird

Restful healing dreams to Jeanie and Jlbloome today.  Be joining you shortly!

Janet, sorry you are having extra stress!

Dyvgrl, I did a combination of natural and chemo even though it sounds illogical.  I had a rare and aggressive form of cancer and needed all the help I could get!  Chemo was brutal, (5 months) but tried to counter act the bad with lots of water, eating small amounts throughout day, and nature walks/meditation.  Heres a recipe for magic mouth wash that your oncologist can request the pharmacist to make up or you can do a modified version yourself with over the counter liquid Benadryl and no lidocaine. You WILL get through this! 

• 80 ml viscous lidocaine 2%
• 80 ml Mylanta
• 80 ml diphenhydramine 12.5 mg per 5 ml
• 80 ml nystatin 100,000U suspension
• 80 ml water

I alternated Magic Mouthwash with baking soda in warm water.  But only needed it the first week or two before I started my supplements.

So after the first two weeks of plummeting blood counts, getting sick of Neulasta and Neupagin shots, (*OUCH* Over the counter Claritin helps the bone pain if anyone has to get these shots.)  I began researching alternative treatments. My background is chemistry/biology so I became very interested in mycology (mushroom) research done on breast cancer.  To make a long story short, I took Maitake and Turkey Tail mushroom caplets along with Vitamin D, Evening Primrose, Tumeric, and some other vitamins.  After I began taking the mushrooms, my hemoglobin and White Blood cell counts went right back up and stayed normal throughout chemo. Yay! 

Your mind is a powerful thing so try to stay focusd on getting through this and try to think of chemo as good medicine. It totally sucks, but it fights hard.

Hang in there! 

I'll be a basket case by tonight, so if I don't get a chance to log back on, have a wonderful weekend flappers!  See you on the other side!

Kristine/Bluebird144

liefie

Dyvgirl, nobody was more upset and rebellious than me when I learned that I had one positive node, and chemo and rads were strongly recommended. Did not expect that at all. Went back and forth, did not want chemo, and just hated the idea of putting that poison into my body. You say we don't know if there are ca cells lurking. The only treatments for which there is good scientific proof that they can kill ca cells (that I know of), are chemo and rads. These treatments are certainly not pleasant, or even 100% effective, but it is the best we have. That's why I decided to go for it. I wanted to know that I had done everything in my power to kill the ca, even though I absolutely hated the idea of doing it. Everybody makes their own decisions. Whatever you decide to do, I will not judge you, and respect your wishes.  It is bad enough to go through this, and your decision will be the one that you can live with. Good enough for me!    

Bluebird, now would be the ideal time to take one of your meditation/nature walks. Breathe in, breathe out, relax. You will be fine. By this time tomorrow you will be well on your way to new boobs and flat tummy. Eyes on the prize!

Jeannie 57 and jbloom, on the table at this every moment, sleeping peacefully while the drs do their work, I'm thinking of you, and willing you to do well.

Goldie, our health is indeed everything. We are issued with only this one body, and we have to take care of it. Two of my children are very good, eating healthy and exercising regularly. My oldest son however is wrecking his health, and it is very hard for me and DH to watch. He is 29, already weighs 280 lbs, has a desk job, works long hours, and for years has made no effort to do any exercise whatsoever. As I am sitting here recovering from surgery I am way fitter than him. Fortunately he doesn't smoke, but will have a few beers over the weekends with his buddies. He lives on his own, prefers red meat, bread, and junk food, never buys fruit or vegetables. His idea of a healthy breakfast is a granola bar and coffee. He always says he's going to exercise and lose weight, but it never happens. It has become such an issue that we cannot talk to him about it anymore, because he gets very defensive and angry. I sent him a very loving, diplomatic e-mail last week recommending myfitnesspal.com, and according to his brother he is very upset with me for doing that. He is a handsome young man, but for some reason he is burying himself under layers of fat. Sorry for whining on here, but it is just so difficult to see your child like this, and you cannot help him. 

Cherrie

I just can't keep up with you lovely women. I miss 2 days and am 5 pages behind. I think of you all often and will poke my head in now and then. Love and peace to all.

Janet_M

Bluebird/Kristine - 

I had the same surgery that you'll be having - five weeks ago. I found the wait challenging, but the morning of the surgery my inner warrior appeared and I was much more in control than I ever imagined. It was easier for me to be in the hospital surrounded by such excellent staff, than it was to be in my own home. I think that the surgery was so heavy on my mind, that I needed to be where the action was. By the time I checked in, I felt like I was exactly where I should be, doing exactly what I should be doing.

Just know that you are being taken care of. Your part is done. For ten hours (or a blink of an eye) you can just take a break. And then, start healing.

The recovery, by the way, was much more manageable than I thought. The drains were a pain in the ass, but they are a blip - they just require a little organization and patience

Looking back, this month has been a very calm time for me. I hope you find calm as well. 

We'll be with you tomorrow,

Janet

5andcounting

Dvygrl-only you can make the choice. As long as you are comfortable with it, it is ok.

What I share is only my thoughts, I'm not dishonoring any path you choose.

I choose aggressive chemo because I believe it gave me the best chance of killing rouge cancer cells that might have broken off for other targets. Friendly poison is pretty effective in catching them. Not always but it's the best we have. Low fat diet and 3 hours of exercise a week can help cut recurrence 30 percent.

Please dear sister, know that chemo is survivable and will be over before you know it. It is very difficult but passes.

Love and hugs to you.

Anonymous

Ok...if you asked something and I fail to answer ask again...I just can't keep up....and once I start typing (Kindle user) I can't change pages or I lose what I typed.



Anyway....1 part salt and 1 part baking soda and warm water were my instructions from chemo nurses. They told me to do it after chemo for 10 days. I was not good about it after 1st chemo and PAID for it...mouth sores were my worst side effect from 1st tx. So I got religion real quick. I never had them again after that....because of rinse and the canned peaches in heavy syrup. idk if it would work for cankers or not...give it a whirl and let us know!



Work is great. No worries. Yes I am tired, but tired is ok. Tomorrow is TGIF!



Sbelizabeth - your poor little toes! Owww! Glad that is over for you. Baby????



Goldie - LE is something all of us should be aware of as it can happen at anytime....even years after node removal...and to anyone (I only had two nodes out but I have it). Once you have it you need to manage it..doesn't usually "go away" forever. I had my LE appointment today. They want me back in compression bra asap (they are deferring to PS at this time since she doesn't want flap compressed) to help make sure it doesn't come back in my chest. And I have to wear sleeve and glove for certain activities (working out, bike riding or heavy yard work and flying) forever...and I don't have it bad in my arm at all. ( BTW, My docs and therapists say any bc survivor who has had nodes out should have a sleeve and gauntlet or glove for flying....just sharing...idk if other docs believe the same or not)



Aws...yes Nihahi, meant axial web syndrome. Another one of my fun hobbies If you are having post treatment issues bring them up until somebody listens. Some of the "stuff" you may find you have to learn to live with...but some of it can be helped....you need to be your own best advocate. Don't settle if you don't have to. It took me 3 docs (mo, pcp and obgyn) to get someone to listen and care about my low thyroid (like sbelizabeth it was damaged by rads) symptoms....but I kept at it until somebody said, let's check your thyroid. BINGO!



Ok...son is 75 miles from home with overheated car and we are dealing with that fun at 10 pm and a work night.



Ttyl flappers!

nihahi

Bluebird....you're going to be fine....this time tomorrow, you'll likely be starting the recovery/healing phase, and the stress of "the wait" will be behind you. We've all been there!

jeannie and jlbloom....sending hugs and high fives! Hope to hear from you soon.

Bluebird...gosh, I've thought lots and lots about your post... I do hope you thoroughly discuss your reasons and options with both your current onc and the naturopathic one. I do agree that maybe using the "best weapons" of both disciplines might be a good approach? The fact that you have been dx as stage 3, with a positive node likely means the chemo route will be aggressive. I have no idea what a naturopathic approach to that significant a dx would be.

I will tell you this, I think at some point, every women with breast cancer has felt "mutilated" by surgery,or  "poisoned" by chemo, or "fried" by rads.....and angry that it all feels so unfair, so hard, so impersonal, and so "un-guaranteed" to be without complications. Your feelings are real and understandable, and all the more frustrating in that you can find arguments for and against absolutely every tx regime out there, western med and naturophathic alike. Ultimately, you have to make your own choice, after carefully weighing the pros and cons, with specialists (from whatever "persuasion"). Sending you hugs. (((X))).

nihahi

Bailey....we must have cybercrossed our posts...hope son gets sorted out and home safe and sound, before the crack of omg dawn. Lots of info in your post....thanks for sharing and stressing the need to be our own advocates for successful outcomes.

goldie4040

Liefie, never feel like you are whining, and you are a mother who loves her son, and wants the best for him.  So, not whining, just concern.  I go through it with my husband.  I am thin, and athletic, he is heavy, and a couch potato.  Lately, I enjoy being a coach potato with him, but when I am finished with this stuff he better watch out because he is getting off the sofa, and we are going to get back in shape together...lol.  He has been loving this period of time that I am suppose to be putting on weight.  Well, he did, and i haven't...ugh.

Bluebird, tomorrow is going to be a nice long wonderful dream, and you will wake up to a dream come true...God willing. 

Went to PS today for final visit before surgery.  How many naked pics do they have to take?  With boobs, without boobs, of my stomach, etc.  I haven't gained enough weight, so I am getting smaller boobs then hoped for, but I didn't have huge ones to begin with.  The nurse promised me I will be standing up straight in a week...let's see about that. 

kad22

Goldie- wish I could give you some of my boobs!



Leftie- goldie said it best you are jot whining just concerned. My daughter who is 18 is going off to college and shevis already getting a pooch of a tummy so I worry about her and health because of her chances of having the brca gene that I have.



Bluebird- sending positive thoughts your way gor tomorrow... hugs



Hope everything went well for our two ladies that had surgery today



Hugs to Robin





Thanks ladies for being here keeps me sane just reading the posts.

goldie4040

Kad, if I could have all the fat and extra boobs people offered me I could have a XXX cup...lol.  Wouldn't it be nice if they could figure out how to donate fat just like we donate blood.  Think about it...if you are the same blood type don't you think it could work?

mammalou

Went to PS to check out nasty abdominal wound today. My son watched a 1 hr 36 min movie while I was in the exam room. 8 hours later I'm home. Exhausting. They swabbed the infection to make sure antibiotic will work. Otherwise I have to be careful and wear compression garment all the time and follow so e care regime. Told me again I was very tight and the little bit of opening of the scar wasn't surprising. He told me they used everything I had to get my B size uniboob, so I'm obviously not as fat as I thought! I find that hard to believe!



Good luck tomorrow girls.



It seems that there a few moms of twins here? How many? I have 26 year old identical daughters.

goldie4040

Mammalou

Sorry for all the trouble with your tummy wound.  You need to totally sit still! Or, no Hawaii.

sbelizabeth

Me! Me!  I have 31-year-old twin sons who look and act like they were conceived and raised by different sets of parents on different planets.  The stretch marks that blossomed during their 38 1/2 week pregnancy are now pale stripes on my breasts. 

I have a question for those whose procedures are further along than mine.  My PS will use fat grafting to fix the asymmetry in my DIEP breasts, as well as treat the radiation scar on my back.  From where does this fat come?  Do they just stick a big needle into a fat spot somewhere and suck some out?  Doesn't that leave a divot there?

MartyJ

SBE- lipo! He will use lipo on your flanks, hips, thighs then reprocess the fat and reinject.

Typewriterjenny

Re: Goo where incision was- I had some whiteish goo too after my lumpectomy. I left it at first, but then, decided to try to clean some out and see what happened. It stung! I gently used a wet tissue to dab it off. The spot that I left it alone healed faster and nicely. Where I dabbed the goo off, the scar is a bit wider and reddish. I'm not concerned though, because as of August 15th, that will be gone, and hopefully, my new boob will be in it's place!

I had a discussion with my surgeon's nurse yesterday. She told me that when I am under, they test the lymph nodes, and if they come back positive, I can choose to just have the mastectomy. This can be a pre-planned scenario. My issue with that is waking up and knowing immediately in recovery that there is a problem if there is no new boob-and how that will impact me. But, if that would be the safest option, I'd have to consider this. Does anyone know if I would continue with the DIEP if there is lymph involvement, how radiation affects it, and how soon after the DIEP they would begin rads/chemo? I'm going to call the surgeon again too, but until I can do that (easier to type here at work than have a conversation) I thought I'd get your take.

Thinking of today's DIEP girls!!!

Hugs Robin!

SBE-I had a pair of oxblood red fluevog low boots in college. Wore them EVERYWHERE. You got me looking on that site and now, I have a 4 pair wish list....wish I could wear them into surgery! Nothing could go wrong if I had my fluevog boots on!

How long until air travel is safe after surgery?

MartyJ

Jenny - I flew at 10 days from New Orleans to home with 4 drains and no energy. If I had a choice I would have waited. Flew again at 8 weeks.

nihahi

sbe......any grandbaby news yet????? This is turning into just like the royal baby watch!!!!! Should we start placing our bets on when???? Are you looking at lots of asymmetry, or is it more for the radiation repair??? 

Liefie....more similarities for us..Your son sounds truly, clinically depressed. Boy, do I recognize the signs, hope he finds some help. I cringe at my daughter's weight and lifestyle of inactivity. I know how much being active helps my "mind and emotions" and how eating well to maintain a reasonable weight helps keep all the body parts as happy as possible...But, you cannot make someone be healthy...or happy.

Bluebird.....thinking of you. 

jeannie and jlbloom....sleep deprived yet ? Things get better!!!!

Faith....how's things for you???? I tried to access your debit card for a pair of those flue shoes....no luck! Have to try goldie's amazon again, I guess.

faith729

Lol nihahi ! Still working with the bank to reverse the charges they just had to wait till the charges officially posted to the account. I guess there isnt anything they can do while it's pending.



Anyone else have phantom nipple feeling and belly button feelings ? Dh laughd at me lol but it's there .

liefie

Typewriter, my PS was adamant that she did NOT want me to have rads after DIEP because of possible damage. There is a thread on here, 'Has anyone had rads after DIEP' where you can read about women who had rads after DIEP. It seems the biggest problem is that rads may shrink the DIEP boob. It is a difficult decision, but in the end it is your body, and you know what you can live with regardless of what the PS suggests. Maybe you should talk to a radiation oncologist about this, and do your own research. To me it seemed best to be patient, have rads first, give the skin and tissues time to settle (which can take quite a few months), and have DIEP then.

Nihahi, you may be right re depression. He had a very bad break-up with a girl 5 years ago. She broke his heart, and that may well have a lot to do with this. Has not been interested in girls since, and I think he still misses her. In the meantime he did really well for himself academically, finished his studies last year, and has a good job. So we thought that now he would start looking after himself, and he said he was going to, but no. The worst thing is that we cannot discuss this with him.   

goldie4040

SBE, they can take the fat from wherever you want, and they use lipo to take it, so you can do it wherever you feel you have extra fat.  Are you perfectly happy with your tummy contour now?  Maybe you want to take fat from you flanks, or waist.  Do your thighs have a little extra pouch on the inside, or outside of them.  Anywhere you want baby, you can have lipo and but it in your breasts

nihahi

Liefie...."successful" people can be severely depressed.....they just manifest the symptoms differently than those who end up sitting by themselves in a dark room. But I'm sure you and hubby know that. I can share from personal experience, when one of your kids gets longterm depression, it can make you feel like you've failed as a parent. NOT TRUE....Hang in there....!