DIEP 2013

FierceBluebird

Good luck Deb!

Sweetpickle, I agree 100%. I think my expectations were too high and didn't count on problems. Surgery is rough on anyone even someone in good shape, let alone after 6months of chemo. My body just can't bounce back like it used to.  I am so tired of sitting in my chair, but have no energy to do anything else. I've graduated from feeling stuck in a bear trap to being wrapped in barbed wire. I'm doing small walks, but it is exhausting and painful.   I enjoy walking out to visit my chickens, but the mosquitos are so bad after all this rain!

I would think the glowing boobs would be just like shining light through your hand/thumb skin area which looks red.  If it worked at all it should work best on implants since they are less dense. 

sbelizabeth

Good news and bad news.  The fever's down, redness is fading, pain is better.  But...my Stage II has been postponed.  I'm so disappointed! It makes good sense, though, I wouldn't want to risk my PS's beautiful work by even a glimmer of remaining infection.  September is our goal for the rescheduled surgery.

Maybe I'll get out of here today?  The nurse was doubtful, since the fever spiked again last night, but one can always hope.

faith729

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that the flashlight trick worked for me ! It was hilarious. My dh is a corrections officer and a local prison so he caries a strong led flashlight. We went into a dark room put it under one of the noobs and turned it on ...no joke my new nips glow we certainly had a good laugh.



Thinking of all you lovely ladies today !

goldie4040

Faith, werent you supposed to hear something yesterday about your biopsies.  Did I miss one of your posts?

faith729

Nope just haven't heard yet dh made me call on my way home today guess he's anxious too ! Just waiting for a call back

lahela

Been in hospital for 12 hours already, with another 12 to go before surgery, and it has been flat out! Don't know why the letter said to come on an empty stomach when the first thing they did was give me breakfast! LOL! After that, I had my radioactive injections. Then a talk with the PS to confirm the decision one more time - she said my noobs will be tiny and my scar will be high, but I said at least it will be all me. Then a quick lunch before the CT to locate the nodes. Then a betadine scrub and back to the PS for a river of ink to be scribbled all over me. Then a visit with the BS, the PT and the anaesthesiologist, then blood drawn... will today ever end?????

And I have a major bone to pick with whoever neglected to tell me that I wouldn't be allowed coffee or even tea for at least 10 days after surgery!!! Giving up smoking was hard enough!   The PS said she won't even allow decaf in case they mix it up!

Apparently, they like to keep you in longer here than anywhere I've heard of - at least 7 days, usually closer to 10. Right now, I'm glad of that, although I have no doubt I'll be champing at the bit, desperate to get back to my own bed and my own routine soon enough.

Thinking of you Deb and hoping that everything is going smoothly for you today. {{{{{hugs}}}}} to everyone.

Anonymous

Goodness, Lahela! Blessings on you! Very different from U.S. for sure. Hugs to you!

sweetpickle

Lahela- Good luck to you! You will be on the other sideof it all soon.



SBE- Sorry your stage two got delayed but better safe than sorry. Im having my stage two the end of September.



I am beside myself excitec that in two days Ill be back in my own house!!!! No more MILs house for me :-)

Jeannie57

Sweet pickle, so glad things are finally looking up for you!!



Sbe, I can understand your disappointment. Things are supposed to go according to plan, darn it! You will be strong and ready in September.



Wow, Nahela, things sure are different where you are! It sounds like you will be well-taken care of,

though, and they can catch any problems early, before you go home. We'll be thinking of you and we're with you!



Hope DebDylan has good news

and is doing well.



Bluebird, I'm wishing for smooth sailing for you from here on. We are strong survivors who can withstand these complications!



Faith, I pray you have good news soon!! Sending (((hugs))).



Goldie, have you cheered up? I wish I could send you Wilbur. He would make you smile.



I walked slowly over a mile today and feel really good. It will be three weeks tomorrow since surgery. The tummy compression forces me to breathe deeply which is good for my lungs. Now I guess I should rest. Well, I should shower but it's so much work, especially since I need a haircut! At least I don't have a drain to deal with! Ssla, I always think of you when I write about drains. I do know it's better to drain than let that juice accumulate and cause problems. That's one reason I'm wearing the tummy binder and why they didn't even steri-strip my incision closed. Get that stuff out!



Blessings to everyone!

Morningsun1

I want to move to Geneva Switzerland!

goldie4040

Wow, Lahela

They are treating you like the old days in the US when you went into the hospital the day before, and they take care of all your tests, and then they give you a nice sleepy shot the night before your surgery.

Lahela, are you from the U.S., or are you from Switzerland, and speak great Englilsh? I must have missed your background somewhere.  It sounds interesting.

I am glad they did the radioactive dye test to find your nodes.  It means they are not just going to count on the blue dye during surgery, and you should only have your sentinel node taken, and no others if that is clean.  The CT you had after lunch wasn't really a CT, but a gamma camera. Did it take real long pictures, and move very slowly? It picks up the radioactive rays.  I told the guy he was making it up, and they must be filming a remake of The Twilight Zone.  

Every doc is different.  I people some were allowed coffee. Some have compression, some don't, some are kept hot, other's not.  Every PS does it differently.

I am assuming you are thin, hence the higher incision, and the smaller foobs?  I was told that too.  Although, my incision is/was going to be about half way between fuba and belly button. 

Good luck. Sounds like you are in really good hands.

Janet_M

sbelizabeth - You sound so good! I'm sorry that you're in the hospital, and feeling uncomfortable, and the postponement of your Stage 2 is super crummy. But man, you manage to always come across as so strong and postive, and that everything is under control. I wish you lived in my house. Even for a day. I even have a therapy dog for you.

Lahela - Great to hear from you - the hospital procedure is certianly handled differently in Geneva. I had absolutely no coffee restrictions, which was great, but I lost my craving for it after surgery anyway. But I would have loved seven days in the hospital! Even though I missed my bed, and routine, I like the adjustable bed and all the conveniences. 

I have small noobs as well, and I like 'em that way. And you're right,  it'll be all yours. Anyway - I'm sure the next 12 hours will fly. It was so good to hear from you - 

Janet

goldie4040

Thanks, Jeannie

Wish I could say I am in a better mood today, but I am not.  Between these awful expanders, waiting for my tests next week, and my back I just want to run away.  I usually can get my back fixed pretty easily with exercise, but I can't do it all like I use to, and I can feel my back wants to release, but it is just stuck.  I will get it unstuck soon, I hope.

Thanks for asking.  I am so glad you got to go for walk.  That is awesome.  Skip the shower.  Nobody cares...lol.  Did you get any of those Olay facial wipes before you went into the hospital.  Just use those in the special places...lol.

Jeannie57

Goldie, yes I have those wipes! I am just concerned about keeping all my healing bits clean and free of infection. But still haven't showered. I do my manual lymph drainage in the shower, too, so it all feels like a long process. Then I have to put hydrocortisone, burn bandage, sanitary napkin on incision, tummy binder, compression sleeves, blah, blah, blah. I'll deal with it later.

Your post made me teary. I hate cancer so much. The outside world has no idea of all the c$&p we go through, in addition to the other things like bad backs that we already live with. It's certainly okay to be crabby some days, especially with everything on your plate. I am anxious about your test and praying for good news! Then you will feel better and can get this show on the road. Either way, I am with you as are so many others here. You have an army of supporters!

goldie4040

I know, Jeannie.  It all feels so overwhelming sometimes. Why can't we just jump in the shower like normal people?  I am sorry, sounds like you're not having the best day either.  I hope you can take a bit  of a nap, and then maybe you will feel up to the whole shower thing.  I remember after my bmx there were a few days I just blew the shower off because it took all the energy I had.  I knew I was feeling better when I could shower, get dressed, and still do something else without collapsing.

Hang in there. You are doing great.  You took a real walk today.  Tomorrow will be even better.

jlbloom

Deb you are in my prayers.

sbe, happy to hear the good news, but sorry for the delay.

lahela, I think we all want to move to Switzerland!  You should be going nighty-night about now.

Jeannie, I have just tried to follow the lead of some of the veterans.  I know I miss a lot.  My DH has finally stopped asking what I am doing every time he walks through the family room.  He knows I'm talking to my friends.  Congrats on the mile walk.  It is too humid out right now.  Maybe later this evening.

Goldie, it is amazing how different they are.  Kind of like how some of us did everything wrong when we had babies 30 - 40 years ago.  It's a wonder any of them survived!

Bailey, you must be back to work.  Hope that means you are feeling much better now.

Off to get a badly needed haircut.  ...Julie

Jeannie57

Jlbloom, tell me how the shampooing went. The thought of stretching my torso terrifies me.

faith729

Unfortunately it is thyroid cancer so..that has put a damper on my day. Dh and my boys are at football practice for a couple hours so km just gonna use this time to sit have a good cry and get it all out.

Jeannie57

Oh, Faith! I'm sorry! Most thyroid cancers are highly curable! I know several women who have had it and are just fine now. I will be praying for you, for sure. Thanks for letting us know.

Morningsun1

((((HUGS))), faith.

ssla01

Faith, I'm so sorry. You are in my prayers.

sweetpickle

So sorry Faith, prayes being sent your way! My cousin had thyroid cancer twenty years ago and is doing well today.

goldie4040

Faith, I am so sorry.  They are going to cure you. I know it.  I have you my prayers

kuka21174923

So sorry to hear Faith. Will be praying for you!

sbelizabeth

I'm so sorry, Faith.  You and your family are in my prayers.  Hugs...

Anonymous

Faith, you are lifted up in prayer and thought by all of your friends here....crying with you, sister.

FireDragonll

I finally have a surgery date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SNB 9/4 and DIEP 9/5

mammalou

Dear Faith... We are here routing and praying for you. I'm sure you know how to stay string from breast cancer, but I'm sure you are also tired of that. Hang in there and take it a day at a time. Hugs.

MartyJ

Faith - praying for you!



DH is just out of surgery and on his way to his room. 11:30 surgery didn't start til 3:15. Whew!

FireDragonll

I'm sorry Faith, hugs.