DIEP 2013

kuka21174923

Why is it that the night I can't sleep it's so quiet in here? You girls party every night, and tonight you're just too tired for it? I don't get it! I took 2 ambien and a Xanax and still wide awake! And still with a headache😩

goldie4040

Me too, Kuka.  A valium and a hydrocodone, and no sleep.  Been looking at before and after pics on Timtam's site.  Some are great, and some are scary.  I want to look like the great ones. 

Try to get some sleep sweetie.  You are just excited about your surgery, and your mind is on overdrive.  Do some deep breathing, and try to nod off.  Tomorrow I want you to fill a half gallon container with water, and finish it before dinner time.  Do that every day till surgery.  You can flavor it with lemon, or a little fruit juice, but please drink water!!!!!! I know where you will be on Monday, don't make me come up there and make you drink water and eat spinanch...lol.

Moviemaniac

OMG.....I'm gone 24 hours....24 HOURS! And all hell breaks loose on here! I just can't leave you flappers alone....something is bound to go wrong......!!!!!! :P



Jeannie, I am praying for you now......and truly hope that Saint Wilbur has kept watch over you in the hospital......sending you a (((( HUG)))) and want you to know we are all pulling for you....



Mammalou, you are not alone.....TammyT and I have been there, and I think Damiana has joined our exclusive club......if you want info. , please feel free to PM me and I will do what I can to help you.....so sorry you are dealing with this.



Sweet pickle....day 5000 and change.....too funny!



Wilbur.....the patron Saint of Flappers everywhere......"TOWANDA!!!"



Would love one......I got a "Hell yes, they're fake......my real ones tried to kill me!" Dri-fit t-shirt.....princess(?) seams.....so a flattering fit (in pink, of course!) from Cafe Press......wonder if they would do it? Maybe "Wilbur" could be a single boob w/wings.....or better yet, make the "W" and add the nipples to the bottom of it!!!!! Serious!!!



Love you ladies......(Kuka: DRINK MORE WATER-if you don't like it....try an essential oil-Lemon essential oil....I get mine from DoTerra......it makes the water taste amazing! )



Going to bed, and avoiding stepping on Bailey's ass as I make my way there........



XOXO

Namaste and God Bless - Jackie

goldie4040

Moviemanic

Love your tshirt slogan and ideas!!!

I had been quite a day.   I hope everything works out for everybody!

lahela

nihahi - nope, I meant weeks. We were actually discussing a hysterectomy when I got the BC dx. I'm now hoping that Tamoxifen will fix it.

Bluebird - so glad you're doing better. I know I'm going to mourn the loss of my breasts but I hope it's not too long before I accept the noobs. That part really scares me but it's so comforting to hear positive news from the other side!

Jeannie - fingers crossed for you.

A question - relocated said they won't do the immediate recon if her nodes aren't clear, but my PS said she'll continue regardless of what they find in the nodes. Is this likely to be because my BS has already said I won't have rads (one of the reasons I opted for MX instead of LX)? Is chemo a risk factor for DIEP success?

Morningsun1

Goldie, count me in for the Wilbur-Tshirt. Those of you creative flappers, please think about include "TOWANDA" in you slogan/design.

Healing thoughts to all Wilbur's Flappers.

Anonymous

Pretty sure the boobs on this t-shirt need to glow in the dark

hrf

So there is a "normal" and a "crazy" one here. In my opinion, we are all at least a little bit crazy and entitled to be so. I think it's a good thing. LOL



I have a question for you wonderful women. My PS said that on occasion, during surgery, if there seems to be difficulty finding all the necessary blood vessels, that they can convert a DIEP to a muscle sparing flap. Did this happen to anyone? She said it makes no difference to the outcome or recovery and it probably won't happen but that she needed to warn me of every possibility. She is a very experienced and highly regarded surgeon.

damiana9

Hrf- Yes, mine ended up being converted to muscle sparing free flap and I believe that happened to Nihahi also.



Jeannie- hope you are doing better today!



Kuka- OMG that's too many pills girl! LOL!



Goldie- where are you at in regards to tests/getting results?



I am now 6 weeks out from surgery. It is finally getting easier to get out of bed. Went to an outlet mall yesterday (in 103 temps- what was I thinking?) and it went well until I got home- I just collapsed. Everything was tired and sore. I recovered quickly though. Got the paperwork for my outpatient surgery to fix the boob hole- it isn't scheduled till 1:00! Ugh! It really pisses me off when I have to fast for that long. Not even coffee in the morning to keep my going. Ugh.

Jeannie57

Good morning flappers and flappers to be. I am still in the hospital, in my private room! I'll take any perk I can get. Didn't sleep well but I'm on Vicodin and the pain is much more bearable. Just had bloodwork done in my ankle and it was only one stick this time. Yay for small miracles---remember I have lymphedema in both arms and can't get bp/needle sticks there. The current thinking is that whatever is going on is not serious. It's not a clot, MO thinks it's not cancer related since my risk of recurrence is so low (I never get tired of hearing that!) and there is still debate on whether to extract fluid for testing. They think it's possible the fluid on my lung is from all the fluid during surgery and the pain is muscle strain (from doing what??? Pressing the button on my power recliner??) I'm waiting for "rounds" to see what docs say. I'm supposed to start a diuretic to try to get rid of as much fluid as possible. I hope I can go home today but it depends on various things, like my oxygen sat. level. This is the first time my husband can't really be with me. He just started a new job in April after being unemployed for several months so he doesn't have much time off, plus he needs to do a good job. He's my rock. I have a couple friends coming in shifts to be with me today, esp. If I need a ride home. So blessed. Goldie, I wish I were wearing a Wilbur shirt right now! I'm in. Thinking of you and your tests today.



Thank you for all the prayers and support! It means so much to me.

damiana9

Jeannie-You sound really good! I bet that fluid is leftover from surgery since you did have some problems with your lungs while you were in. Where is the pain that they are saying you strained a muscle? Gotta love the power recliner I really miss mine!

Jeannie57

Damiana, the pain is under my right boob but when I move or breathe deeply, it shoots up and around. It's a stabbing, shooting pain. I suppose I could have strained something by dragging myself around without using my arms.

damiana9

so they don't think that pain is related to the lung thing? Maybe breathing pulled a muscle? LOL! How is your LE since surgery?

faith729

Goldie I'm definitely in on the T-shirt idea Lol we each had our Wilbur moments right thinking of you today not sure if you already posted I'm still catching up on some of the posts.



Thyroid test went well painful but well. Doctor said it's the most nodules they've biopsied at once. The earliest I'll know by is Tues.



Jeannie thinking of you sending a gentle hug your way. Wilbur's in your corner !

Jeannie57

I don't think they know what is going on. They are just guessing.

I have been wearing my compression garments and have done lymph drainage massage a few times. I haven't measured my arms to see if there is swelling. Maybe this weekend.

Janet_M

Jeannie - I love the postives. 'Not serious' and 'private room' jumped out at me. Not that I'm at all diminshing the challenges that you've been through - I just really want you to be safe and comfy.

By the way -  I would MUCH rather have a Wilbur bumper sticker than a pink ribbon. 

Anonymous

Jeannie - I had a huge seroma that developed after mx, during rads on the rads side, that sent me to the hospital via ambulance early one morning. There was so much pain and pressure in my chest, and numbness in my arm, that we thought for sure it was a heart attack. I have never been in so much pain ever. They pumped me full of dilaudid and it didn't touch the pain. The seroma had become infected. They took me to interventional radiology and drained 600 cc or so off immediately and another 1000 cc or so drained over the next two hours.



I REALLY hate to armchair diagnose people just because "it happened to me" and hesitate to do so here....BUT... since they don't know what it is....it is probably worth asking about it?



Slept like Liefie's bear friend last night....feel really great today...10 weeks out.



(Psst ...HRF..they say I am crazy but I am pretty sure it's them, not me)



Have a great day, flappers.



Prayers for all.

liefie

Goldie, I will pay for a Wilbur T-shirt. Just love the idea!!!! Movie seems to have a few good ideas, and Wilbur, Flappers and TOWANDA needs to be on there, I think.

Jeannie, I feel like taking the first ferry to Seattle, and come and see you. BIG HUGS!!!

Wil check back later. Have to run for a yoga class.

nihahi

hrf....yup, I was a scheduled diep converted to a muscle-sparing tram free flap....Hasn't slowed me down, been any different from a diep in any category what so ever. Your doc sounds like mine, experienced, and priority given to a viable, survivable flap and my health post surgery. Trust your doc, let her be the intra-operative expert. You'll be good, which ever version you end up with.

Jeannie...thinking of you....I agree...go for any perk they offer!

I'm in for the tshirt thingie too.....agree with bailey....gotta have glow in the dark boobs, wilbur and towanda!!!!!!!

Gotta dash. love to all

Sharon1942

Love keeping up with you wonderful ladies. My stage 2b will take place this fall. Reduction of flap to match lifted, reduced natural breast, & nipple construction at either 2b or 2c.



"Where There's a Wilbur, There's a Way!" TOWANDA!



Prayers for all of us.

Moviemaniac

Can I just say that I think we are ALL pretty damn awesome??????



Faith, Goldie, AND Jeannie......thinking about you as you face these new obstacles.....Jeannie, I ended up with Bronchitis after everything else.....leftover from fluid not drained from my lungs.....I hope this gets sorted out, and soon!



Sharon, LOVE your "Where there's a Wilbur, there's a way! TOWANDA!".......



Bailey, I just about spit out my caramel macchiato (iced, of course) when I read your suggestion.....and , as usual, you are right..... :P. Toooooooo funny!



TOWANDA and to WILBUR......patron saint of flappers......everywhere.



Love to all......

Namaste and God Bless - Jackie

Tracy516

Surgery August 15th so fast! Bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap and reduction! I just found out and I have so much to do!! Ugh!!! Scared!



I hope all you ladies are having a great day!

Anonymous

Wow Tracy! Woo hoo! That is fast. What is on your to do list? Don't overdo...most of us find ourselves over prepared....but it does fill the time! What are your fears? What are the positives for you?



Movie- I am REALLY bummed that you ALMOST spit caramel macchiato (iced).....making someone TOTALLY spit caramel macchiato (iced) is on my bucket list....So close....

Tracy516

Thanks bailey6760! Just don't want pain! I know that's a lot or impossible to ask for!;) so I go in guns blazing because I don't want my husband or kids to see me weak ! I know I will need to rest and ask for help!



One should never spit ice coffee! Lol

Anonymous

If you have people offering to help (friends, family, neighbors, coworkers) now is the time to take them up on it. Do not be proud. People truly want to help....just like we do when we know someone is down. When you accept someone's offer of help you bless them and something really cool and heartwarming happens. So say yes to the meal or housekeeping or babysitting or money or whatever you need.

kuka21174923

Goldie, have you done your tests today? I'm dying to find out what they told you!

Mivie, I love your idea on the tshirt and making them glow the dark! We can add TOWANDA on the back of the shirt!

My headache is gone now. I've been trying to up my drinking, so hopefully I'll be ok until surgery!

Anonymous

And some people have helped me in ways that can never be repaid....only thing I can do is pay it forward by helping someone else. And then I get blessed. It's very, very cool. I was in the nail salon during chemo and started talking with a little tiny bit of a woman named Faith. She was a survivor, too. She left before me and when I went to pay I found out she had secretly paid for my manicure and pedicure before she left. I have never seen her again. People are good.

goldie4040

I am home. It is 103 outside. I know nothing new except I gained the weight my PS wanted me to. I have to wait to see if BCBS will pay for another type of CAT scan of my abdomen, since they just paid for one.  This one I will have an injected dye, and a dye I have to drink all morning the day of the CAT. I have two bottles, one banana and one vanilla...lol.  I have never had to drink anything for a CAT scan before, so I am assuming it will show more than the regular CAT scan.  Oh yeah, and my weirdo bloodwork (wbc has been slightly elevated for a year, or more) is normal.  So, I have no date for CAT yet until BCBS approves it.  They they will get me in immediately.  If BCBS does not approve, I have two options. Have diep immediately, so then I can have MRI, or wait. She doesn't seem too concerned since my breast cancer was not invasive, and doesn't believe its mets. She said liver cancer is very rarely primary. She is leaning towards hemangioma, but she also told my breast lump was probably nothing, so...  

Oh yeah, there is always the good old needle biopsy of the liver...lmaoooo.  Just shoot me now.

Faith, I didn't want to tell you the thyroid biopsy hurt, because I didn't want you more scared.  It's really too bad you have to wait for results, but if there were multiple nodules then I guess he couldn't read them all while you wait.  I just had the one nodule, and they stuck me twice.  They don't numb you because the numbing hurts more than the biopsy, is what I was told. Hang in there. 

I am going to have to go back over the posts and write down some of the suggestions of tshirt slogan.  Sharon, yours is pretty good!  If anybody knows someplace that would donate the shirts and the printing, I know for sure I can get the graphic design done.  Keep the slogan ideas coming, and the serious message for the back of the shirt. Also, somebody mentioned a certain type of tshirt.  I have to go back over all the post since yesterday, but I am going to rest for a while.

Kuka.....drink water!!!

Jeannie...feel better!

Damiana, it's good they are going to fix your hole.

Sharon, did you see Teotia today at Thursday clinic?

damiana9

Goldie- I hope they hear back from insurance asap. As for the delicious barium shake- drink it cold- with a big straw (like the kind for milkshakes) and put the straw kinda back far in your mouth- then chug, chug, chug. I found it most tolerable that way!



I have done far too many errands today and now I am beat. All we have to eat is ice cream and watermelon. That might be dinner! LOL!

ssla01

Goldie, glad you have a plan. I'm betting that those drinks don't taste like banana or vanilla!