DIEP 2013

damiana9

Well Goldie- I think it all comes back to taking our health into our own hands. It is important to be advocates for ourselves. I had invasive cancer, but they still wanted to just to a lumpectomy+rads. I said no- chop it off. Of course I miss it but I am glad it's gone and the worry is gone (or at least reduced)

FireDragonll

I meet the new BS today I really like her and the office staff. Have an appointment with PS on Friday.

sweetpickle

Thts great Firedragon, it is so important to feel comfortable with your team.

FireDragonll

Glad you have less pain.

I feel much better with this Dr.

hrf

I am so reassured when I read all of your posts. You are amazing women.

Tomorrow I meet with the PS as part of my pre-op. Any advice on questions or issues I should bring up with her?

Jeannie57

Dragonboat, good news! It's impt. to feel good about your team.



Goldie, it is perfectly understandable for you to be angry, grouchy, sad, disappointed, whatever. You had your hopes dashed and worry take the place again. This is such a safe place to bring your feelings. We are all rooting for you.



Liefie, I can't believe you did all that yesterday!! You must be in fabulous shape, even post-DIEP. I was asking my ps what my day to day should look like and he said start with a ten minute walk and go from there. I think I'm already doing that...but I doubt I'll be in your kind of shape ever. It must be nice to have access to a lake. I can walk to a view of the Puget Sound which is nice. Dogs are the best, they get us moving. I'm not sure I want to be holding a leash yet, though, even though my pooch is well-behaved.



I saw my PS for post-op and he says I fall into the 30% of his patients who encounter "choppy seas" ie. constipation, blisters, slow-healing abdominal incision, sensitive skin. But none of that is serious. He thinks I'm about past the point of infection risk. There might not need to be a lot of revision. We'll have to wait and see what happens. I really can't get excited about a lot of liposuction. I don't want to feel beat up again. The best part of the visit is that I got two more drains out! Yay! I was happy to put underwear on when I got home. 😉I see him again in a month. We traded Wilbur stories. He had one lady become completely paranoid on Dilaudid and accuse her husband of all kinds of things. I don't mind the Wilbur references from you ladies at all! Keep 'em coming.



Question about sleeping that I forgot to ask: how long did you sleep on a wedge pillow and not on your side? It's getting old.



My daughter just vacuumed the house and emptied the dishwasher. I'll miss this!

Morningsun1

Thanks for all the well wishes,flappers. This one was a breeze compared to the initial DIEP surgery. I don't need any pain meds, not even Advil. My inner thighs are slightly sore and my throat is sore from the breathing tube. I woke up with a compression thingy that goes from under the breasts to below the knees. I'm suppose to not shower for 48 hours. Ps told dh that I didn't have enough fat for him to do much, guess I shouldn't have dropped that 12lbs. Now a question for those of you post stage 2ers, how do you handle going #2 when your backside is squeezed so tight? I feel like when the time comes, I need to either take it off or cut the crutch hole much bigger. Any suggestion?

Christina, hope all goes well for you.

jlbloom

Jeannie - I laugh every time I see Wilbur. I couldn't believe you were able to post!



kuka - I couldn't run that fast if liefie's bear were chasing me!





It seems my breasts matter much more to me than my DH. It has only been 12 days but they feel like my breasts after two months with nothing but skin from a skin sparing bmx.





Have a good sleep Christina and Tammy...





Later...Julie

Jeannie57

Goldie, as for TE expansion. I have a narrow frame and was a C cup. I had a narrow form of expanders called "Snoopies." I believe I was expanded to 400cc or thereabouts but really don't remember exactly. They sure protruded straight out, though, with a knob on the end. Very strange.

goldie4040

Thanks, Jeannie.  I appreciate the kind words. 

I am sorry you doc thinks you are a so healer. It sounds like you are doing great to me.  Are you eating a ton of protein? The fact that you need very little revision is also awesome!!!!  I asked earlier, but you might have missed it, were your expanders completely expanded at the time of your diep?  They are still filling mine even though my diep has been delayed.

That is funny what the doc said about your Wilbur, and the other lady.  

When DD1 leaves don't you have DD2 coming?  She will vacuum for you too.  LOL.

Janet_M

Jeannie - Funny you should mention side sleeping. For the first time last night I rolled off my wedge and was perfectly happy in the fetal position. I did a few variations on this over the last ten days, but I needed a bit of pillow support under my knees. Congratulations on the two drains by the way - what a relief. 

ssla01

Oh, I miss side sleeping. My drains will be in six weeks on Friday. Output is still in the 50's.



Liefie, would have loved to have seen your bear! From a distance.



Jeannie, sounds like you are doing great!

Jeannie57

Goldie, yes, protein at every meal. Right now it seems like not a lot of revision but we really have to wait and see. I think leftie is hanging lower than rightie, for example. I swear my belly button is more to the left than it was but ps says everybody's is crooked, they measure, blahblahblah. Not a big deal at this point.

I don't know that the TEs were fully expanded but they were expanded to what they thought I'd need for a C cup again. Yes, I am both proud and embarrassed I had enough menopause belly fat to make 2 Cs!

They actually are a little bigger than that, I think, but I'm sure they will shrink some.

Another interesting thing is that the irradiated side had big vessels to work with. The other side had tinier vessels which took longer to attach. I wondered why the Doppler sounded different on each side.

TammyT, so glad your procedure went so well and you feel good! It's encouraging for us future stage IIers.

damiana9

ssla- Ummm, my eyes popped out of my head when I read that you still had drains in. You poor thing!



As for side sleeping- I am 6 weeks out tomorrow and still not able to lay on either side- super ouch! I miss it badly though.

MartyJ

Tammy - believe it or not, you will be able to go when needed in the garment.  Those openings are designed for most body types.  Worried me the first time, but . . .  My doc is one who believes that the longer in compression the better the result.  Thus, I have had it on since my Stage 2a for 85% of the time over 4 months.  I have accummulated several of those things with and without zippers so I have a daily change.

Jeannie - I think those choppy seas are directly related to your wonderful red hair!  Us redheads are just different - we require more anesthesia, need more pain meds, have sensitive skin and on and on.  

sherry35

So not much sleep last night as they woke me every hour. What an amazing sound to hear the pulsating of the blood supply! I cried the first time I saw them. They looked even better when they sat me up!

Not much pain. More discomfort. Having toradol and travacet (??h). Had an arterial line to monitor bp. It came out today.

Feeling happy!

I can't focus enough to read all of your posts but wanted to let you all know I felt your presence with me yesterday!

TAWANDA!

Jeannie57

ssla01, so sorry about the drains! I wish I could yank them out for you! You will appreciate being drain-free more than the rest of us, that's for sure.



Goldie, DD3 was with me last week through all the horrors I went through. She was fantastic! DD2 is here M-W this week with a friend coming by Th-Fri. I don't need help with my care, really, now that I am thinking straight (although I took two thyroid pills by mistake this AM)! It's just nice to have someone reach for that thing that is too high, someone to walk with, someone to do housework I can't do and to water my bajillion plants outside.

All three DDs will be here at the same time in a few weeks. That hardly ever happens so we're all excited.

liefie

Tammy, wonderful to hear you are doing so well! It is reassuring for those of us who still face a stage 2.

Jeannie, thanks for the compliment. However, there are women here who are in much better shape than me, believe me. I put in a lot of hard work before DIEP, and was in good shape going in. My PS did not want me to do anything but walking for 12 weeks. I'm 11 weeks out. That work before DIEP is still paying off, because I now feel strong and energetic, and able to do more than I thought. Have to say that I was over-ambitious yesterday, and did way more than I should just because it felt so darn good. Was very tired, slept till nine this morning, feeling pretty sore - lol - and having a much quieter day today. You will get there too, I'm sure. Take it slowly, no hurry, eh? You've got the rest of your life to do this. As for the leash, I did not hold it for quite some time. Have a big golden retriever who never learned to walk on a leash properly, and pulls a lot. DH always walked with me, and held the dog. Now I can walk him no problem. Your DD's sound like darlings - aren't they just the best? I have only one, and have always wished for another.

ssla01, 6 weeks with drains - you must be the drain champion, for sure! Wow - I would have been bonkers by now if it was me. Hope they can come out soon!

Nihahi, I enjoyed your 'sag and drag' description, and the BEST part is that it applies to our DH's too. We should never forget that some parts of them also start to sag and drag, and gravity gets the better of them too - LOLOLOL!!! But we love them regardless . . .

Curlylocks

I am just reading through the posts....a question came to mind.  Can you tell the PS what size you want your new reconstructed breasts to be (A,B, C or D) or do they just take whatever fat you have on your tummy and create the size that it becomes.  I am not really interested in large breasts, have had them all my life.  Is there a choice or how is this decided?

Maybe a stupid question?

Michele

goldie4040

Jeannie, do you paddle flaps, or just a round nipple scar? I know these seem like odd questions, but I am wondering if I should suffer through a whole expansion so I can have a better aesthetic result in the end.  Who knows, as long as it's taking to get everything sorted out, I might be forced to full expansion anyway.  As far as your belly button, somebody else said their's look off center for a while too, and then when swelling went down it looked fine. I am sure you look gorgeous.

SSla, I am so sorry about the drains.  Are they the ones in your GAP incision? Wish there was more I could say, except I hope it works itself out soon.

Liefie, you have super powers for sure.

Sherry, your post brought tears of joy to my eyes.  I am so happy for you. You deserve all the best. You have been through so much.

Jeannie57

Curlylocks, you should most certainly have a say in the size of your new boobs, especially if you want to go smaller. You are the one who will be living with them. Make your feelings about everything clear to your PS.



Goldie, I have mostly round flaps of skin where the nipples will someday be. To be clear, I had skin-sparing BMX. They won't be completely symmetrical because that's the way the bmx scars turned out but I think I'll be happy. With TEs, I think being inflated to the size I would one day be only helped in my good result. Are you worried about it because you're uncomfortable? Remember, I was fully filled for about 14 months, having had the TEs for fifteen and a half months. They served me well, I had no problems other than discomfort in the beginning. For the most part, they were just an annoyance but they did give me a bust.

liefie

Curlylocks, my PS asked me what size I wanted to be. I think it is important to have that discussion with your PS to make sure you get what you want, especially in your case where you definitely want to go smaller. They are not always able to size it perfectly, but they come close most of the time.

Goldie, as far as super powers - this girl lay around the house today, too pooped to do much after yesterday. Did water some plants, and that's about it. Planning to take the dog for a walk later, because I did not do it this morning. Next gym session tomorrow - lol.

Jeannie, amen to what you said about your TE's. My experience was pretty much the same as yours. Had it for 15 months, and today I have a bust thanks to the TE.

Judy_63

The nurse told me to pull mine down when that time came. I have zippers and hooks and eyes on both sides.

Anonymous

We did a 30 minute walk tonight for the 5k training program I am doing. It's for the Komen here in September. It felt really good. I was walking during my first 7 weeks regularly. I have to admit not so much since I went back to work Seems to take all my energy just to go to work. And I am whooped tonight.



So cheers and prayers and hugs to those who need them. Thinking of you all.



Y'all rock, my flapper sisters!

hrf

Don't think I can recall everyone's situation .... Sorry. I'm sure over time I will get to know each of you.



Sherry, you sound terrific. So glad it's over and that you feel well and are happy with the result.

liefie

Sherry, so glad you are doing so well, and you like the new girls! I think that pill is called Tramaset/Tramadol. I had them after my hysterectomy, and they are wonderful.

sweetpickle

Woohoo Sherry! So glad you are doin well, its all downhill from here. :-)

Jeannie57

hrf, don't worry about it. We want to get to know you, answer your questions, be your cheerleaders.



Good for you, Bailey! I am taking little walks. It will take awhile to get to 5K again but I'll try to be patient!

ssla01

Yes, they are the hip drains from sgap. I'm just glad they are doing their job!

goldie4040

Jeannie, the expanders are so very uncomfortable. That was the main reason I opted for the diep.  I wasn't very busty to begin with, maybe a full B,  and then when I woke up after what was supposed to be a skin sparing mastectomy I had nothing left, not even inflated expanders.  The surgeons told us they had to go to plan B because my tumor was so close to the skin. They couldn't even start to expand me till almost two months after my bmx, by then I had made up my mind about the diep.  I just wonder how much I should suffer to expand the skin.  My PS said it would help a lot, but I am pretty miserable, and probably why I have been so depressed.  I have "iron bra" x 100 I believe.  It keeps me awake.  With this last expansion by right arm went numb for a few hours. I went over to the TE forum on here and asked a few questions.  Some gals stay miserable through the whole process, some say it gets better. So far, it's worse for me.  I just pray they figure out what is wrong with me soon, and I can get on with it. 

So glad everybody who had their surgeries is doing so well.  Very exciting.

Kuka, you have been quiet today.  You are probably running around like a wild woman getting everything ready for your stage 2.  

SSla, I really hope your drains slow down soon. Does your PS have an opinion on why this is happening? I am assuming your foobs are good?