DIEP 2013

Cherrie

I do have necrosis in my right breast, which is not the one they are concerned with. I just sent an email to my much beloved PS. I will see what she says. Hope she answers it. Thanks. I am scared. Damn!!!

nihahi

cherrie....((((X))))

sbelizabeth

Cherrie...cleansing breaths...I know the tough part is waiting.  With our insides as scrambled as they get with DIEP, who knows what she saw?  But I know the dark and scary corner where our brains scurry with stuff like this.  Take a walk.  Do a Sudoku.  Watch a movie.  Distract yourself, stay off Dr. Google, and stay out of that corner.

Jeannie57

Cherrie, I can understand your feelings! What crappy news. But it doesn't have to be the worst. Like Sbel said, try to stay out of that dark space. Sending you gigantic (((((((HUGS))))))!

Cherrie

Thanks! Dr. Massey called my oncologist and called me afterwards. I love her. My ultrasound has been moved to this Thursday morning just in case I need a biopsy. Trying to keep to a time frame for my surgery Sept. 19. Cancer is very uncommon at this point. Dr. Massey has done hundreds of DIEPS and has only had 2 patients that this has ever happened to. I am sure I will be fine. It is probably surgical changes or scaring. Think I will have some wine tonight.

Cherrie

Thanks! Dr. Massey called my oncologist and called me afterwards. I love her. My ultrasound has been moved to this Thursday morning just in case I need a biopsy. Trying to keep to a time frame for my surgery Sept. 19. Cancer is very uncommon at this point. Dr. Massey has done hundreds of DIEPS and has only had 2 patients that this has ever happened to. I am sure I will be fine. It is probably surgical changes or scaring. Think I will have some wine tonight.

hrf

Cherrie, keeping fingers crossed for you. Your doctor sounds like an amazing person

Jeannie57

Cherrie, I'm glad you got some reassurance! I will be praying for you and Thursday's appt.

goldie4040

Cherrie,

All will be fine.  Thank goodness for good docs.  Have that wine, have two!

nihahi

cherrie....sounds like reassuring news so far, and I'm so glad to hear your next test has been moved up. Less time to be stressed. I think I'll be joining you in that glass of wine tonight....they always say there is strength in numbers

Jeannie57

I will join you and raise a glass!

sbelizabeth

ME TOO!

nihahi

hmmm......cherrie.....no chance now to be a "secret drinker"....sounds like the support party is on for tonight!!!!! fyi...I only drink organic wine, since I get massive headaches from stuff with pesticides....Bonterra is my wine of choice....anyone know of any other organics that are good?

bluebird, sherry, hrf....thinking of all you today.  (((((X))))

Cherrie

Thanks guys. I will think of you all as the glass is raised. Thanks so much. 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

Morningsun1

Here is my glass, to a clean US, Cherrie.

Jeannie57

Nihahi, I never knew there was organic wine! Jeesh, pesticides are everywhere.

nihahi

so.....cherrie's news has opened another really good topic....how are we supposed to have "followup" on a flap???? I'm sure not thrilled about the mammo compression, no matter how far out I am, and, what would a mammo show, as there is no breast tissue left?? Is an MRI the way to go??? I still have one natural breast, but it was "lifted and reduced" during my flap recon.....not thrilled about the mammo compression on that girl either!!!!!

MartyJ

Dr. Marga is the best.  So glad she is on it!

liefie

Nihahi, I'm with you - don't want any more mammo's on my realigned front end when I'm done. Would they be doing ultrasounds then? MRI's? Or what? 

Islandgirl, you are in the arms of Wilbur as we speak. When you wake up a flapper, you will be so happy that it's over. Best wishes for an uneventful recovery. Take it as easy as you possibly can!

Cherrie, thinking of you, and hoping for the best outcome. Can't imagine that it will be bc again, no. Most probably scar tissue, fat necrosis or something else, but it sucks nevertheless. ((((((BIG HUGS)))))

Sherry and Bluebird, I am so very sorry for the stuff you two are dealing with, and I sincerely hope you will turn the corner, and see healing happening there very soon.

Jeannie, belated congrats on the wedding anniversary! Sounds like you had a lovely celebration, eh?

Sheri, 2timer and sbelizabeth, good luck to you three for your surgeries later this week.

Jubby, welcome here, and hoping your recovery will go smoothly. You have found an amazing group of women!

It seems I have turned a corner in the yogalates class. Iron plate prevented me from stretching down over my legs, but this morning it was gone - yayyyy! Still a small iron plate there, but no more discomfort there any more. Not lifting both legs together up straight yet when I'm lying on the floor because I still feel some pulling in the tummy incision when I do that, and will be patient. Have read enough here about wounds opening up - not worth the risk. I have time on my side - the rest of my life, as a matter of fact. Lol.

Those of you in the healing phase, make sure that you eat foods that boost your immune system. It stimulates the production of infection-fighting T-cells, and white blood cells. Vit. C and E are very important here, as are carotenoids and bioflavenoids. 5 - 6 or more fruits and veggies per day will give you these important elements, as well as seeds, nuts, vegetable oil and whole grains. Oranges, strawberries, papaya and cantaloupe contain Vit. C. Grapefruit does too, but those on Tamoxifen should stay away from grapefruit and citrus peel. It contains a substance that opposes the function of the Tamo.

15 - 50 mg of zinc daily will also really increase production of infection-figting white blood cells. 6 medium oysters contain about 76 mg of zinc. My white cell count was abnormally low in January, and by eating about three smoked oysters (canned, from WalMart) daily it went up to a normal count in 3 month's time. Dark chocolate, fortified cereals, beef, crab, and dark turkey meat also contain zinc.

Omega3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna, mackerel, flax oil) works with Vit. E to boost the immune system. Selenium (shrimp, tuna, red snapper, chicken, eggs, lamb) does the same. Raw garlic also stimulates the multiplication of infection-fighting white cells.

Sorry if I bored you with the lecture, girls, but I'm always looking for ways to do things naturally instead of taking handfuls of pills, and I'm thinking many of you feel the same. Fresh food, fruit and veggies are so much tastier than pills, right? If we eat the right food, our immune systems will function way more efficiently, and we will be much healthier. I've been reading 'Boosting Your Immunity for Dummies'. Very interesting.

hrf

A glass of wine here too!



Nahahi, thanks.

Jeannie57

Thanks, Liefie! Good info. Nihahi, believe it or not, I have never really discussed DIEP/aftercare with my MO. Oops.

Janet_M

Wow, time moves fast on this thread. It may not seem so for those of you still navigating the early waters, but now that I'm ten weeks out, it feels as though time just whipped by. And I think I'm a late bloomer, because I just recently was able to stand up perfectly straight. For those in the early stages, don't get discouraged, I seem to have had prolonged hunching.

Hrf -Don't be in a hurry to stand up. Your body will return to normal in its own time. It's a slow steady marathon, rather than a sprint. And the lack of arm movement is SO frustrating but don't do anythign to cause yourself any pain.

Funny - I had abdominal pain two weeks in, after not having any previously. I was told it was normal because of two vertical incisions on either side of the belly button, that aren't visible. They said it's 'common' which may or may not be true, and it makes me wonder why we aren't given more info about the 'common' stuff that may crop up.

Damiana - It sounds like your doing great. Welcome back to your real life!

Bluebird & Sherry - I hope you girls are doing okay. So stupidly unfair that there are so many obstacles to your recovery. I admire you for even entertaining the idea of a stiff upper lip. I can't imagine your frustration. It really will get better, and there will be a day when you wake up and not feel any pain. I hope it's soon.

Tracey - Big 'attaboy' to your husband for going bra shopping. During my crazed pre-surgery shopping I found that Target has the best return policy ever. I bought the same thing in all sorts of different sizes and got Jim to return everything I didn't want while I was recovering. I bought about 20 pieces of clothing, and returned 18. But still... you could always suggest your husband buys quantity, so you have some choice. Just a thought.

I got on a plane this morning and was selected for a 'random security check'. I told the security lady that I'd had surgery, and asked that she be gentle. She noticed my compression glove and sleeve and gave me one of the gentlest pat downs ever. Sometimes people can be very nice.

christina0001

sbelizabeth you were SO RIGHT!!! I had a hard time falling asleep last night from the anticipation of going to work today. Although on a happy note, I only woke up once and fell back to sleep before too long, and I didn't need to take anything extra during the overnight for pain! Holy cow! Work today was GREAT. Everyone was so happy to have me back and of course that felt good. A good co-worker was "worried" I would be disoriented so she labeled EVERYTHING in my office: chair, desk, another chair, shelf, wall, door... you get the picture. It was so funny! It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. My energy level was good all day, and my tummy was sore for the last half of the day, but nothing untolerable. That was weird too because usually it's my breasts that hurt, and my tummy usually doesn't trouble me whatsoever. Oh well. So happy to be getting back to normal life! I was supposed to only do a half day but I stayed all day. Got an earful from DH on that but it was worth it, made me feel so happy to be getting back in my groove.

oh bluebird, what a scary and frustrating night you must have had! And it's so hard to put that faith in our doctors, especially when things seem bleak. They are not infallible. But generally (not always) they do know better than we do. Keep us posted, I think we are all thinking of you and hoping that things finally turn a corner for you.

Tracy - ROTFLMBO I can't believe you named your drain Asshole! I love it!!! 

Sherry, yes our surgery dates were so close but we have certainly had different results. It hardly seems fair. This surgery is brutal.

mommalou, so happy you are noticing some healing going on. Hooray!

Jubby - welcome! I hope your recovery is smooth and not too uncomfortable. 

Sharon, welcome. I hope you will share how lipo goes. That is what I am looking at next, in a couple of months. I'm a little nervous about it. Not sure why, can't be nearly as bad as what I just went through! lol

Cherrie that SUCKS. I have been wondering how I will be monitored after I am done with reconstruction. My tumor was close to the chest wall and it scares me that something will pop out of it. Please let us know how things turn out for you. Hopefully it is nothing; I have read that breast MRIs are notorious for false positives. Enjoy that wine!

liefie, great post. I have been taking vitamin C and zinc supplements since after surgery; tapering off of the zinc at this point. I don't know that it's made a difference in my healing, but I have seen it prescribed many times at work for healing wounds, so I figured it could not hurt anything. Plus the chewable vitamin C is yummy... lol 

Janet M - wow, a happy story about airport security. That's so nice to hear. 

sherry35

Well ladies, I took some of your ideas and tweaked them to suit me, dusted myself off and got dressed today. Then I called my hairdresser and my mom drove me for a wash, blow dry and straighten. My hair is course so the humidity makes it look frizzy. The straightener just polishes it off. It felt so good!

I was so embarrassed to go out with my vac tube but I just put it in my head they were looking at my boobs!

Recovered in air conditioned car while mom did some shopping. Then went into Walmart to get a sports bra. I rode around in one of those scooters. No luck.



Now very tired. Went out for three hours.

See PS tomorrow morning. Will let you know what she says.



Bluebird, how did it go today?

Jeannie, happy belated anniversary.
Cherrie, thoughts and prayers with you!

Christina, how was work?

Hrf, take it slow and easy.

Jubby, welcome. Sounds like you are doing well. I'm an oddball, don't let my stuff scare you, it's not the norm.

Mammalou, how are you holding up?

To everyone, thank you for giving me some of the courage I needed for today!

God bless!

Sherry

Cherrie

Ok I have settled down. Went for a long walk and had that glass of wine. Now I am thinking much more positive. I think when you first hear something it shocks you.



My BS thought that I would need a mammogram after DIEP because there is still some breast tissue. That just didn't seem right to me so I called my PS. She emphatically said do NOT compress your flaps. She wrote a letter to my BS and my ONC. My PS and Onc say that you need a baseline MRI after DIEP and then an MRI every year or two for follow up. I will never need a mammogram again.



I'm sure as more women have these free flap surgeries there will be more research on best practices for follow up care. We have to trust those that we chose to do this surgery with.

liefie

Way to go, Sherry! Glad you found the energy to do that, and enjoyed the outing. Nothing makes you feel better than having your hair done - honestly. Now rest, and heal, okay?

Christina, happy your first day back to work was so successful! It is indeed good to feel part of the normal world again, and get out of the 'patient' mindset.

Cherrie, happy to hear you are feeling better now after the wine and the walk. We are all rooting for you here, and we are all willing this to be nothing serious.

Jeannie57

Raising my wine glass right now (6:40 PM West coast) to you, Cherrie! And to Sherry for getting out of the house, wound vac and all! And to Christina for a good day at work! And to all my flapper and flapper-to-be friends. Welcome, Jubby. I am impressed by your coherence at only the third day. Ask anyone, I was not ready to post here at that point....thus all the Wilbur references.



Just put my oldest daughter on her plane back home to San Diego so all my chickadees have flown the coop again. Sad!!

ssla01

Cherrie, I'm personally thrilled to never, ever have another mammogram!



Bluebird, you, ok?

krissy42

Movimanica,

No problem. I feel exra Krispy on a regular basis. I appreciate your imput on your experience.  I was thinking I wanted a bilateral DEIP if it was not such an ordeal. (6 to 8 hours for just 1 and up to 14 hours for both breasts). That amount of time scares me compared to the 6 hours for SMX with DEIP or the small amount of time for implants.  My PS didn't even bring up double MX until I did and said i may not have enough stomach fat for 2 full breasts. ...guess I'll take that as a compliment.

Take Care,

Krissy

goldie4040

Yeah, Sherry!  Glad you got out. You deserve a nice long sleep. As for the bras, I went on Kohl's website and ordered a whole bunch of bras, then brought back all that didn't work, which was all but 2.  If you have a Kohls near you it makes it easy, if not the it would be a pain to mail them all back.  I don't know what size you are, and how much support you want, but on the Kohls website you can get a two pack of Bare Necessaties sports bras, and they are so soft and comfy. I wouldn't call them a true sports bra, more like a comfy pajama bra.  I would say they are more a cami bra.