DIEP 2013
Comments
-
SBE- YEAH! BINDER! The day after I found out I had IDC, I went to Target and bought a cool silver, teal and grey 3-Ring binder, and folders and a matching fat notebook. I keep it in a silver tote and that is my "cancer bag"! It has come in handy MANY times for me as well. I actually asked for my CAT scan disc while I was waiting in recovery from my bad reaction, and they did it right then and there for me! Lehigh is EXCELLENT with giving you what you want very expediently!
-
Sherry, I am so sorry you are feeling down. I have been that way lately. I am a little better today. It is so hard to get through this recuperation, but you can do it. Remember how much you wanted it? Keep the eye on the prize. Its right around the corner. Try to hang in there, and by all means whine to us, that's what we are hear for.
Sweetpickle, glad you got that all straight. You actually got a better deal than most. They did more work on your tummy, but down the line it is going to hold up really well. Hang in there. Had no idea you had twins. No wonder they did a plication. That was really nice of them. What I didn't know is that the mesh dissolves after a while. Good news. You should feel better when all that takes place.
-
Thanks so much ladies ! I appreciate all the hugs , thoughts and prayers. It is curable so i have felt relieved knowing that. Just about all of you hear know what it's like to hear the words its malignant so Im just processing a boat load of info and trying to figure it all out. At first they did not think nodes would be involved since I was so young etc etc but I got a call today from my endo doc and he said that unfortunately it looks like there are two nodes that are a problem. He recomeded that I meet with a specific surgeon chief of thyroid surgery at Mass General Hosp because he will be cautious enough to review all nodes. I will start there but of course now I am concerned that it may have spread.
I've be reading but haven't had the energy to post much . Emotionally im spent and part of that is that for whatever reason my sister will not contact me im not sure whats goingbon I know she's been upset with my mother but she has shut me out also and it's hurtful especially during this kind of situation.
Anywho even if im not posting please know that I send a prayer up for everyone who needs one and I'm thinking of all of you ladies.
Thanks again
Trish -
Faith, I am so glad your doc agrees that it is curable. I know that doesn't make it easier. You still have to go through all the crap to get there, but thank God it's not a met from the breast cancer, etc. It is a curable cancer. I am not being flippant when I say that, because it might sound like it. I know this is serious, and I am praying every step of the way with you.
-
Sherry, this is the place to complain. I totally get the drains. I will have had mine 7 weeks tomorrow
Sbelizabeth, love the idea of you getting tarted up to fool the Dr. I can just see you laying in bed with the red heels on. Lol
Sweetpickle, glad you got good news today.
Movie, hope you fur baby comes through surgery great.
Faith, as always, thinking of you. -
Faith, yes, we know what it feels like to be told you have bc, and to be told you have nodes involved. So lean on us, tell us how you feel, and what is going on. Nobody understands like all the wonderful women here. Just this morning I told somebody that I don't really talk about my bc experience to anybody, because I have all the ladies on Breastcancer.org who have all been there, and who know exactly what I am talking about. You people have given me courage when I needed it, sympathy, many good wishes, great advice, amazing unconditional love, and no judgment, just true friendship. What a blessing you all are!
Sweetpickle, I have been concerned about your recovery for a long time now, because it seemed to be going so slow. I'm so glad you saw your surgeon, and got some answers. Reading my post-op report, I learned about a few things that were done that I'm glad I did not know then - ostrich politics. The less you know, the less you are afraid of - LOL.
Mammalou, good luck with those 6-graders! Hopefully it will not be too much for you. I've been a teacher myself, and I know how they can test your strength, patience and endurance. Best wishes!
Movie, hope your doggie makes it through surgery okay. It is so hard when our furbabies are not well. Hopefully you are regularly munching on Timtams to get your energy levels ready for Glacier Park?
Was at the gym for yoga and a session with the trainer this morning. I did not get the session, because the 15-year old son of my trainer's friend had tried to hang himself last night. His mom discovered him before he died, cut him down, and he is barely alive. My trainer went to be with her friend at the hospital today. They are still not sure what brain damage he has, and if he will survive. Hearing things like these, I know that any of our DIEP experiences pale in comparison to something like this . . . and puts things in the right perspective.
-
Gosh, Liefie. That is so scary. I just watched something recently where the talked about suicide and age groups. Teenager's have a very high rate of suicide, and it's sad because they have not lived long enough to know that things can get better.
-
Wow...I need to quit my job to keep up. Trish(Faith)good to hear from you. I am sorry you have more waiting....I always feel better when there is a plan and it's in motion. I am praying for your sister, that she will get past whatever is holding her back. Chin up, sister.
Liefie - such a tragedy. My heart goes out to that family.
Sbel and Sharon- I am binder-girl too! I "scrapbooked" the front and back covers with pics of me pre-bc, and during tx and after...and pics of my boys and dogs and friends and sayings or verses that give me strength. All my nurses have liked looking at it...seeing what I looked like with my own hair and now I have wig pics in there so they see my red, blonde and brunette wigs....it's fun. But more importantly I have all my info and history in one place. If someone needs my med list I just pull it out and say take a copy! And with chemo brain and two kids I can't keep all the dates straight sometimes so it's good to have it written down.
Movie- hugs to that baby dog....you tell me that and want me to make you laugh in the same sentence! You're challenging my wit, seriously....I got nothing...
How about this...so one of my health care professionals read my sx report to me. (I still need to get my own copies....FOR MY BINDER!) She started cracking up. Wth? She said, "Do you know they lost a sponge in you?" WHAT????? They lost a sponge. WHAT?????? She is lhao and I am mortified. She finally tells me they had me all sewed up after a 9.5 hour sx and the sponge count was off. Can you imagine the conversation in the OR? Count. It. Again. Again.....AGAIN!!! Crap. Everybody wants to GO HOME and there they are playing, "Find the sponge". So, with 46 inches of incisions...where is the sponge? They had to do an X-Ray to find it....it was in my new breast. Popped in, popped it out and restitched me.
Now I want to see the video of my own surgery!!! Would be so awesome.
I know it probably happens more than we know....but it happened to me....while I was peacefully snoozing away.
That'll make you dibs your Wilbur!
Hugs...going to go walk!
Oh my therapist says I am getting stronger already....She is pleased....me too! -
Bailey- OMG that would freak me out! One thing that was not in my report was the two units of blood that they said they gave me. Maybe that was in icu, I was to out of it but I was pretty sure they said in surgery.
Liefie- Thank you, I had to hold my stomach while reading it. It seemslike one side was easier than the other. I just really wish they had given better post op instructions or said something when I was there two weeks ago. I am totally willing to do some hard work, even if its painful as long as I have a goal in mind. -
So hard to remember everyone's name and situation after reading 3 or 4 full pages of posts. My goodness, this is a busy place. So hope no one minds me generalizing a little. For those of you in hospital and in recovery mode, I'm sending lots of gentle hugs. So sorry to hear of a young person attempting suicide. Hope the fur baby is doing well. So much about plication (never heard that word), mesh etc. etc. But seems that despite challenges, everyone is happy they did it. That is very reassuring. For those going to surgery in the next few days, I'll be thinking about you and eager to hear back from you.
Had my pre-op today so everything is a go for next Thursday but I'm trying to focus on Friday when I will be in healing mode. -
Hi all! Sorry I have not been quite with you this week. My DH's surgery went beautifully and he has taken a couple of walks today. My wonderful GF spent yesterday and last night with me and then took me to the hospital to see him so I could pick up the car (he drove himself to the hospital since I was in another hospital). I spent this afternoon in bed, reading and napping, finally. Tomorrow I will pick him up and bring him home where we can recover together.
-
To those of you doing yoga, here's a question. When we're doing sitting poses on the floor, and have to bend over from the waist to touch our feet, something weird happens with my 'dead' belly button area, the iron plate. It is as if that area does not like to fold over itself, and it feels so uncomfortable that I have to sit up before attempting to go down again. It was not like this before DIEP. Does anyone experience the same? A positive thing that I do find is that I can now go down way further over my legs than before when the tummy pouch was in the way - lol.
Marty, good to hear you have everything organized, and getting some rest too. Must be a great relief that DH's surgery went well. Hope he is a more compliant patient than my DH who is like a naughty child. He once cut off a cast three days post-op that he was supposed to have for a few weeks - I was so upset . . . say no more!
-
Oh Liefie, my DH is bulletproof. He will be doing all sorts of naughty things and will drive me insane. Thankfully he knows that if he doesn't go with the program, he may never be able to do any of the things he wants to do (like play golf).
-
Movie, try not to worry about the mast cell tumor. I was a veterinary nurse for many years it they are fairly common. If your vet gets good margine, prognosis is excellent. Another may reoccur later, but it's not the same as metastasis. Our pets are our family too, so sending your lab healing energy. The hardest part will probably be trying keep a lab still while recouperating!
mammalou, these open wounds suck! I've switched to using a homemade healing honey soap that a friend made me, and I swear it's made a difference in my wound healing. I was using a tea tree medical soap, but nothing much was happening. I'm sure the tea tree oil helped keep bacteria at bay though. The skin will fill in over your open wound. It takes time though. I've never been very patient though!
Good luck Lahela!
-
Bailey, that sponge story cracked me up! And I can't really laugh right now without having some pain on my incision. But I needed that laugh!! Can you imagine if they didn't count and left the sponge in there?
Last night I had my neighbor wash my compression garment and I put my other one on. I don't like it as much because it doesn't compress as much. Anyways, this morning when I woke up I had the garment that my neighbor washed on, but I don't remember how it got on me. I asked DH and he told me that last night I put on a show. I guess I took my ambien and hydrocodeine instead of Tylenol. He said I was talking to him in Spanish and I asked him to bring me the garment if it was dry. He did and I wouldn't let him help me put it on. So I laid in my bed trying to suck my tummy in to zipped the garment up! Then he said I was just walking in circles and would not lay down. I don't remember any of it, lol. -
Oh crap! I went to strip the drains....for the millionth time. One of them was coming out! It was about an inch out and the stitch that holds it in was waving. I pushed it back in, yeah, that hurt more than I thought it would. I taped it to my skin with plastic tape....must find my paper tape. I have on tons of compression so it won't move.
I texted the Dr. She said I have to go get the stitch put back in tomorrow. Crap! Happy seven weeks of drains. :-( -
Gosh Liefie, I wish I could answer that. I bet is gets better with time, because doesn't the iron plate get smaller, and smaller till it disappears? I know my PS nurse said my tummy would be hard as a rock, but I didn't think she meant forever. And, I have heard people on her say their iron plate was shrinking. I bet it's just a matter of time. But, if you are getting more reach now than before, that is great. I bet the discomfort will pass. I know after my hysterctomy there was an area that pulled badly when I did cobra. One day I pushed it to hard, and I thought I tore something because it hurt for a few days. Then it quit hurting, and I was able to do cobra again no problem. I guess a call to you PS wouldn't hurt to make sure you're not doing anything that could hurt you.
Kuka, as I was reading your story I got worried it was leading to you doing some kind of nudist display in front of your neighbor....lmaoooo. Thank goodness it was just your husband. That will teach you not to mix drugs. I am sure he had a giggle, but be careful. I don't think you should take ambien with hydrocodeine. But that is pretty funny.
Marty, glad you and your hubby will be home together soon. I can just see the both of you now. No, it's your turn to get up, no it's your turn. Then you both sit there is matching recliner's staring at each other...lmaooo. I'm sorry, it probably isn't funny, but the image made me laugh.
-
So much happening with you guys! Hrf, you are right. Despite the problems, DIEP is amazing. I hope your recovery goes smoothly. Just rest, knowing this is a very positive step in getting back to the life you want. Bailey, I don't think I'd want to know they left a sponge in me! Glad somebody learned to count. Kuka, it sounds like Wilbur paid you a fun visit! Liefie, suicide is so tragic, especially when it's a young person with his whole life in front of him. I hope the young man recovers and gets help. Sweetpickle, I know what you mean about talking to your ps. I know mine is talented and busy, but sometimes I don't think he realizes how impt. something is to me. His PA is fantastic, though, easy to talk to. I hope you start feeling better! Mammalou, praying for no infection! Mercy! Movie, meeting you would be great! I am 30 miles north of Seattle. Centralia sounds very far away at the moment but hopefully sometime. I hope your sweet pup is recovering well by now. I love my dog so much so I know how you must feel. Faith, we're all with you in this latest waiting room. It's great that you have access to such an expert. Goldie, we're in the waiting room with you, too! Sherry, this is the perfect place to whine. We understand the worry and frustration this journey can bring. Sbe, hope you are home by now. I'm sure the doctor did a double-take when he saw you all dolled up and said "You're cured. Go home, young lady." Or he will. Marty, I'm glad your DH's surgery went well and that you have a good friend to help you. I hope you and DH enjoy your recovery time together. Janet_M, jlbloom, Nihahi, Christina, TypewriterJenny, Bluebird and anyone I've forgotten, wishing you well! As for me, my only complaint is that my tummy is swollen. I'm wearing compression but I feel so bloated. The incision really isn't draining today so I'm taking that as a good sign. No worries, it wasn't draining enough to make me feel bloated now that it's stopped! But I would like to see my flat torso again soon.
-
(((Kuka)))) that's a great story! I got a visual!
Pre-admission on Tuesday! My nerves are shot. Yelling and threw a Boboli across the room like a frisbee. Ugh
Hope everyone had a restful day! -
Tracy, I can picture that Boboli---with or without sauce? Seriously, the waiting is a lot worse than the surgery. You will be fine! You will wake up with boob/s! That's good news. We'll be with you and wishing you some fun Wilbur time.
Ssla! Holy crap! I can't believe the dr. didn't just offer to pull it. Feeling swollen is no fun, either, though. Although the #s on my left hip drain were good, I think it continued to drain in me and now I'm swollen. Not sure, not too worried, just bummed, as I'm sure you are! -
What the $(?$))p?! I just got on the scale and I weighted almost 2 more pounds! I thought with lipo they take fat away?! Could it be from being swollen? I thought I was going to be like 6 pounds lighter! For anyone that is having stage 2 done, purchase a garment with a zipper. There's no way you can put one one if it doesn't have a zipper. Even having one I scream everytime it goes across my incision. The lipo on the chin is very annoying. I have to wear this neck compression thing that is wrapped around my head for 2 weeks and I'm already sick and tired of it!
-
Jeannie, this is the drain that is still pouring. Not an option to take it out.
-
Bailey AND Kuka....... I laughed so hard I almost wet my pants.....seriously!
-
Ssl- you have my sympathies as I cant imagine having a drain that long!
Tracy- The waiting really is the hard part, even with all my "issues" its nothing compared to what my mind went through prior to surgery. You are going to do great!
Ah shoot, whos dog is ill? So sorry, on my pad its hard to scroll back. My pup is like my kid too, sending healin vibes pups way.
Marty- Glad to hear your dh is dong better!
Jeannie- Sorry your tummy is swollen, I know it sucks.
Liefie- I know exactly what your are describing, my stomach doesnt want to bend either. I can but it feels like there is something in me poking me until I strsighten up. Its a weird sensation to be sure. I guess because its a lack of sensation. -
Marty, it's a good thing that you have the golf to threaten DH with - LOL. The surgery that I referred to that my DH had the cast put on for, was after many injuries to the same ankle on the tennis court. After his non-compliance post surgery he could never play tennis again. You can use this story to 'encourage' DH when he wants to get naughty - lol.
Kuka, too funny! Wish I was a fly on the wall - lol. Wilbur, Wilbur, where art thou, Wilbur?
Jeannie, sorry for the swollen tummy, and hope it goes down soon.
Goldie, in my case the iron plate is really rigid - defo does not like to be bent over. But it is getting smaller, gradually.
Sweetpickle, interesting theory. The 'poking' description is spot on. You may be right that it 'feels' strange because there is no feeling - a contradiction in terms, but totally viable. It's Movie's lab that had surgery today.
Ssla01, it is formal. You are now officially crowned the DRAIN QUEEN of this thread! Honestly, I have never heard of drains staying in that long, and still having that output. Each to his own, eh?
Tracy, as long as you throw Boboli it is fine. When you start throwing hard objects, I will get worried - lol.
Lahela, just a few hours to go now. It seems everything over there is done with real Swiss precision, and you will be fine. Don't worry about the longer hospital stay. You will just be that much stronger when you go home. Best wishes!
-
Kuka, Of course swelling weights more, and you had a IV with bloats you up. If you drink a lot of water you will rinse your system out, and lose some weight. Oh, and broccoli makes that water weight fall right off...lmaoooooo. Only kidding. But, the water will help. Lots of it.
-
Kuka - which of your compression garments do you prefer? I am assuming the Leonisa? You must be really cute with that neck compression. Your DH must have enjoyed the show. And yes, I woke up carrying 5 extra pounds from all of the fluid the pump into you.
Tracy - a new competition - the Boboli toss! Wow, loved it.
Goldie - you may be on target with your assessment - we will be laying side by side in our adjustable beds. One recliner is enough for this household.
Sharon- I am so sorry you are working so hard to establish a record for drain juiciness. And now to have to go get restitched. Ouch. Just remember Dr. M won't ask you to do anything she doesn't think is absolutely necessary.
Jeannie - sounds like you are near Mount Vernon?
-
Marty, yes it is the leonisa. Although I just received a marena one in the mail and I love it. It is so soft and comfy. I also got a bra from marena and I love how comfy it is. My ps wanted a bra that lifted them and push them together without compressing them in the front. Their costumer care is awesome and they will tell you exactly what you need! I think I'm going to return all of my spanx and stick with marena!
Goldie, drinking water as I type, but no broccoli for me😄 -
Typewriterjenny—I keep mine in a tote, too! I’ve actually had physicians ask for my binder so they could peruse it for details they didn’t currently have. The offices of my physicians are very used to me asking for copies of everything.
Sweetpickle—being a twins mom is hugely rewarding, but it sure wrecked my abdomen. Now that my tummy is healed up and tight as a drum, I’m buying smooth-fitting dresses. I haven’t worn dresses for a long, long time. The two units of blood might have been documented in the anesthesiologist’s record.
Faith--whatever you need, whenever you need it, if it’s something we can provide for you, we’re here. You will be in our prayers even if we don’t hear from you for a long time. My heart’s breaking for you, because I know you’re reeling right now. We are holding you up…
Liefie—what a dreadful incident. I so pray the young man is ok. Suicide is such a permanent solution to temporary problems, but our teenagers are so at-risk!
Bailey—what a hoot about the lost sponge. When I used to scrub c-sections a million years ago, “the count” was always an enormous deal, and when we couldn’t find something, the world came to a stop until we did. Those sponges can be amazingly hard to find, and I used to keep count in my head how many I’d handed the surgeon and demand all of them back. And this was for a 1-hour surgery!
Lahela, we’re all jealous of your spa-like care. But if you wake up with a clock in your chest, it’s going to be hard to wear a nice bra.
Whew!
STILL IN THE HOSPITAL! But going home tomorrow after two more doses of IV pesticide. Believe me, I will never ignore the signs/symptoms of cellulitis again. Hopefully there will never be a next time!
-
GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS! I just got a text from DebDylan. She said, "I did it!" (Lol....I think that probably means she didn't run screaming from the hospital like we are all wanting to do the morning of sx!) She said she has a "warm, ample boob that is thriving". She said the BS took one node to test, but it looked healthy. She doesn't have the result back yet. She said pain is manageable. I told her everyone here has been posting and praying for her. I told her to rest well and check in when she can
Brave woman...like y'all
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team