DIEP 2013

Jeannie57

Waiting for test results. Hopefully not a clot.

Anonymous

Thanks for keeping us posted Jeannie.....still praying!

sweetpickle

Hang in there Jeannie, we are all with you!



Day 5432 sitting in my recliner doing nothing, lol, I am so bored and just want to be able to get up and do stuff again. My stomach swelled up just going to the grocery store and back yesterday, I didnt even lift anything. I did some reading on seromas and I dont think thats what is going on because my stomach is rock hard. PS mentioned fat necrosis at one of my post op visits and didnt seem to concerned about it. However its painful when it swells so here I sit. When do I get a life again? In all honesty though, sitting still is way better than the pain I was in.



Good luck to all you ladies in waiting, the waiting really is the hardest part IMO.

FierceBluebird

Hugs to Jeannie! Stay calm and flap on!

Hi flapper friends! I'm finally joining the land of the living 12 days out from surgery. My surgery had some vessel complications and was over 12 hours, but I have two viable breasts. Yay!  I ended up with a free flap and a pedicled flap. Had a harrowing hospital stay, more on that later.

Starting vomiting when they switched me to pain pills instead of the pump, then some inhalation issues, and came home from the hospital unable to take any pain meds. So I was feeling like I'm stuck in a steel bear trap and barely moved. Developed a blood blister which broke and been dealing with leakage, wound management, a 25 inch incision and 5 drains to manage.  Not fun!! I had read so many amazing stories of women coming out of surgery and being happy and thrilled, and yet I felt like the Bride of Frankenstein wondering what I got myself into. But I blame that on the pain.

I was really depressed and feeling pretty sorry for myself, but as time passed I slowly began to feel better. Luckily my husband has been a great nurse and support and helped me get through this.  And of course this wonderful group of women who've "been there done that"! It truly helped me to know I was not alone both in my miseries and my feelings.  It truly did get better over time. I think I was grieving over my lost breasts.

I now feel stronger and more confident that everything will be okay and to remember that the ultimate goal is to have HEALTHY breasts!  My surgeon called and told me my pathology report was completely clear! No sign of anything in tissue or lymphs! Hooray! I feel truly blessed. The original plan was to have six weeks of radiation, but now they are reconsidering.

As of this morning I had one drain left which I have named "Pinchy".  It figures the one that bothered me the most lasted the longest. Getting the drains out was somewhat of an ordeal. An hour ride into Philadelphia, paying for parking and walking long stretches to doctors office but I was anxious to get all the drains out. With less than 30 mls for the past two days Pinchy knew his days were numbered. Last night I was unable to sleep and Pinchy did his best to keep me awake.  This morning I cut the suture and pulled Pinchy out myself!  (The doctor's office okayed it.) It was unpleasant, but I feel sooooo much better!

So now I can concentrate on healing and learning to love the new me. I will have plenty of battle scars, but peace in my heart.    It's good to join the world again.

ssla01

Good to hear from you Bluebird! Lucky girl, no drains!

kuka21174923

Liefie, thanks for the tips. My big problem is my 3 year old red haired girl. I took them to the community pool just to have a change from our pool. When we got home she decided she was going to keep walking and when I called her to go inside she took off running. I, of course, had to take runing after her wearing just my swimsuit. And she's fast!!! So in sure a few neighbors were wondering what the crazy women with the swimsuit was doing runing around the street!

I've been watching a lot if the super nanny show lately and I've been taking notes. Time out works with her most of the time, but she ends up doing a lot of time out through out the day, and making sure she does it it's a lot of work! My DH and MIL are taking turns to take care of the kids. I know it sounds bad, but I actually can't wait to have the surgery and finally get a break!!

Jeannie, hope you're doing ok. Please update!

Bluebird, so good to hear from you. What happened at the hospital though?

Jeannie57

Bluebird, so good to hear from you! I was wondering about you. Your happy news cheered me up.



I am being admitted for pleural effusion or fluid on the lung. My MO doesn't think it is cancer-related because my recurrence risk is so low. They have to draw some fluid out through my back for testing. I am on a drug cocktail. Hope no more Wilburs show up!

I was supposed to be dealing with DIEP recovery, now this. I am very sad and worried but I really appreciate your concern and prayers.

goldie4040

Bluebird, you are cancer free!!!!  That is the best thing of all, right?!  Yes, you are miserable.  I had just bmx, and I was miserable.  Having diep and bmx together has got to be soooo hard.  And, you had a few complications too, so...give yourself a pat on the back for doing so well already. Heck, you walked from the car to the docs office already.  That is like walking on the moon.  We are so glad to hear from you, and I hope everybday is an improvement over the last.  That's the way it was for me.  You will have your down days, but I hope you have more up ones, than down ones. 

Anonymous

Oh, Jeannie, wish I could do something for you (besides pray). Big hugs to you.

Curlylocks

Jeannie how scary!  Thinking positive thoughts for you...what a ride you have had...

Thanks ladies for the comments on the size of the reconstructed breasts, makes me feel better.

Michele

Anonymous

Welcome back, Bluebird!

liefie

Thinking of you, Jeannie!

Bluebird, glad you're back!

kuka21174923

Oh Jeannie, so so sorry! When will you have the results?

liefie

Kuka, please don't feel guilty about looking forward to be 'rid' of the kids for a few days. Every single night I was glad to be rid of mine when I could finally tuck them into bed around 7.30, and they all turned out okay - LOL!

Janet_M

Jeannie - I hope you're resting calmy, & comfortably. And that your drug cocktail is working for you. And for your sake no more Wilburs - though I think we all kind of love him.

kuka21174923

Awe liefie, thank you;)

nihahi

Tough day today for some of you.....sending hugs, prayers and positive vibes to all, especially jeannie and sweetpickle. May your pain resolve, and your recovery get back on track ASAP.

Bluebird.....good to hear from you....just remember, while you are learning to "love yourself again".....we've never stopped loving you!

Kuka...seriously....no veggies and no water??????? OMG!

July seems to be the "complication" month.....come on August!!!!!

fyi...TOWANDA....battle cry of women with the courage to face and conquer the wrongs of the world, and make them right! Likely also often shouted by St. Wildbur.

FierceBluebird

Thanks guys. Nice to be back in the land of the living!

Jeannie, do you think it could be related to anesthesia?  I had difficulties breathing after surgery and hated the darn spirometer thing. But after 12 hours of anesthesia, my lungs were beat and it really did help me to get them back in shape.  One of my home nurses told me she thought my lower left lung quadrant sounded "fluidy" and to use the spirometer again.  So it might be a lingering thing for you as well? Hopefully they will address whatever it is and get you feeling better soon.  As if surgery and healing isn't enough on your plate.  Gotta keep you on your toes!

Kuka I was a stay at home mom and after being up since the crack of dawn, I used to put the kids to bed at 7 pm whether they were tired or not and tell my husband "the kids are not cute after 7 o'clock"!  Don't feel guilty. We all need breaks.

Someone's got to fill me in on Wilbur.

goldie4040

Jeannie, keep us posted. Scary, but it is not recurrence.  It is from the anesthesia, I would bet anything.  Didn't they let you go home against their better judgement even though you weren't doing well with your breathing? I just have a feeling it is that.

goldie4040

Bluebird, Wilbur was a figment of Jeannie's drug induced imagination right after her surgery.  She tried to write to all of us, and must of drifted off somewhere and she accidently spelled Wilbur jdkdljkjdkjfk, or something like that and we haven't let her live it down since.  But, now Wilbur seems to have become our mascot.

marieann1020

Hi ladies,

It's official, my Diep surgery date is scheduled for Sept 5,

Having my MRI August 12.

Please keep me in your prayers

Anne

goldie4040

BTW..speaking of Wilbur.  I spoke to my son about getting Wilbur tshirts, and he spoke to his friend who does graphics for tshirts for the likes of Paul McCartney's last tour, and also Elton John.  He has offered his services for free, and I kind of promised him honorable mention on the BCO website. The problem is getting somebody to donate the tshirts themselves.  My son also has a friend who has tshirt graphics business, and he might do the shirts for cost, but he doesn't think he would donate them. 

Anyway, I am getting way ahead of myself. First, I would like to know if anybody is interested, and then I thought it would be fun to have a contest among us and come up with a slogan with Wilbur in it, like "Wilbur and his Flappers", or something like that, and then on the back we could have something that makes people understand it's a shirt worn by a breast cancer survivor. I am hoping for a feminine looking tshirt, not some big old tshirt, you know, something that shows off our new flat tummies, and new foobs.

Anyway, if I get enough postive feedback on this maybe we can really get something started, and it would be fun. 

Anonymous

Bluebird - here is Jeannie' s "I just came to the surface from the depths of my narcotic induced stupor" post from a mere few hours after DIEP sx...



"I am officially a flapper! Everyone says my doc did a fantastic have been jnnt fit the block. I can't dibs both Wilbur grgvsimecgungrt"



It was well received by all!



Prayers and hugs for our girl Jeannie, back in hospital tonight....and for all the flapper sisters. I AM going to bed....don't step on that thing dragging behind me...it's my ass.



Oh! Sweetpickle...love that wry sense of humor you have... day 5432 indeed!



lots of good vibes for Goldie and Faith for tomorrow!

mammalou

It's hard to keep up, but I hope everyone is doing well. Praying for you Jeannie!



I'm really glad I did this surgery, BUT. This recovery is ruff. I am 5 wks today and my abdominal incision opening is growing everyday. I sent picture via e mail today and they called and said to get there. It's 2 hours away, so I hesitate to just run in there for stuff. Dr. Came out of OR to look and cut out some dead tissue. They considered admitting for IV antibiotics but sent me home instead with a 3rd round of oral and wound care packing instructions. I go back next week to check on it.



I cancelled trip to Hawaii, so now I have 12 days to try and be ready for school to start.



Cardiologists from the same hospital are meeting to discuss my son tomorrow morning and then will call me.



I really need to win the lotto, so I can I just not worry about money and deal with all this stuff. Too much mental juggling!



The dr did tell me that my husband is being way too protective and that it is ok to walk! Lol. I think my husband copes with the uncontrollable by trying to control the only thing he can, ie. me walking or working. If only he realized he could control dishes, laundry and grocery shopping. Selective protectiveness, I think!



Take care everyone!

Anonymous

(I just can't quit you)





Annm YAY! You have a date! Let the countdown begin!



And whomever asked about TAWANDA needs to watch the movie Fried Green Tomatoes!

kuka21174923

Goldie, I'm in!! I would love the a Wilbur tshirt. I'll pay for the cost of the tshirt and the printing. That's nothing! I will have to think on some ideas. Let me pick at my brain for a bit;)

goldie4040

Oh Mammlou, I wish they would do for you like they did for me.  When he cut the dead tissue off and restitched I was healed in a week.  I did have to go under anesthesia for about 1/2 hour again, but it was worth it. I hope you will be okay.  I am sending healing thoughts your way. I know your hubby is making you a little nuts right now too, but what would you do without him?

The stress of worrying about your son is not helping either, I am sure.  Keep us posted on what they say tomorrow. 

Kuka, glad you are in on the tshirts, hope other's think it's a fun idea too. 

goldie4040

Oh yeah, one more thing.  I know my husband loves me, and I have never been jealous of him looking at other women on TV, etc.  Today when we got back from lunch he turned the TV on and Katie Couric show was on.  I know he has always had a little crush on her, but today when he said something about her I felt really hurt.  I don't feel sexy anymore.  I don't feel like I can go over and sit on his lap, and make him pay attention to me instead of some fantasy on TV, because I don't feel sexy anymore.  For the first time through all of this I realized I miss that.  The man who's head I could turn with a look, and now I don't have it anymore.  Does it come back after the surgery?  I wonder?

sweetpickle

Mamalou- So sorry that your incision opened up,,it is no fun and I hope it sorts out soon for you!



Bailey- I always find a way to laugh at myself, it keeps me honest. LOL



Nihahi- Thank you, Im like the little engine that could, ill get there eventually :-)



I love the Wilber tshirt idea.

hrf

Jeannie, hope things are improving.



Saw the PS today and things look good to go ahead. Will go for the pre op soon but don't have date yet. I asked her about stage 1 stage 2 thing. She said in Ontario we don't have an official stage 2. But they do revisions as required. Also our health care doesn't automatically cover lipo to fix other bulges. Guess if I want that I would have to pay but I'll wait to see how things turn out.



Glad I'm not alone in feeling scared at this stage of the process. Hugs to all