DIEP 2013
Comments
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Jwoo
Hi, I am in Texas too. I haven't had my surgery yet. In limbo for various reasons. These gals will start chiming in to answer all your questions. I am sorry for what you are going through. Where in Texas are you? There are some awesome surgeons in San Antonio, and then of course, MD Anderson. If you are in the DFW area I have a couple you might want to consult with. I am in Arlington.
Hang in there. I know how scary of a time this is.
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aw Bailey....I should have been a little clearer. Your "pink" stories are what it SHOULD be....volunteers, kids wanting to "do something...ANYTHING to show support", the personal connections... that I believe is where the movement started, and results in the most rewarding experience for all concerned. LOVE the football story (((X))). What sets me going, is the "merchandization" of bc, without full disclosure. How many people read the fine print when they buy a "pink product"???? How many people realize that many companies actually "cap" the amount they "donate" that is un-related to the amount of product sold. How many people realize that in order for your "donation by purchase" to be activated by some companies, you have to send in proof of purchase? How many people realize how dis-proportionate (think $$$$$) the salary of the Komen CEO is, compared to other organizations? Those type of issues are what fuels my pink rage...not grandkids selling pink cookies for grandma, and donating everything they make to the local cancer society.
dyvgrl....so good to hear from you!
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So I'm in an air conditioned hotel room for the night. The movers came today and my house is empty.
Because of wound vac I'm not making my big move until I'm done with that. Going to stay with my mom for a while.
Saw PS yesterday. Says abdominal wound is healing. I have some undermining in one spot where my little "cave" is. She did traditional dressing and I was supposed to hooked back up to vac today however...
Because my mom lives in a different region I can't have this vac to take with me and can't get one in new area until Friday so traditional packing and dressings until then. Ugghh!
Left breast- all sutures out and good to go.
Right breast- some sutures out where wound was opening. To use damianna's term, I have 3 boob holes that are now packed and dressed. Not happy! Will the craziness never fricking end?!?!
My PS doesn't want to see me for two weeks so I don't know!?!
I'm so done!
Bluebird, hope everything went well for you today!
Nihahi, I'm much delayed recon and I couldn't have said a pinktober rant any better. I totally agree with you!
Sbe, I agree with so many things that have been said here. The only thing I have to add is more of my own question- some places have entire teams in place for people who are diagnosed so recon, treatment, recovery and everything are discussed. I had to do all of my own research and even educated my onc. On a few things. It's a tough road!
Cheers
Sherry -
Sherry, that is great news about your tummy incision starting to heal, but a real bummer about the wound vac situation. I wish you didn't have to go through so much. Why does it seem so easy for some, and other's have issues? I want to scream " no fair' or "foul." I hope the rest of your week goes as smoothly as possible, and you get to your mom's and start back on the wound vac ASAP.
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Oh, Nihahi, I know what you were saying and I agree! No worries, wasn't arguing with you, sister! Just sharing my experience. What I was trying to say was that I agree with you and my strong, natural tendency is to steer wide and clear of "the ribbon" ....however, having been sucked in a few times, it was better than I thought it would be because of the people I met.
The worst pink ribbon thing I received was from a very, very good friend who has been a very strong supporter. However, when I was first diagnosed she was beside herself with worry and sadness for me and my family and what we were going to endure. She cried every time she looked at me (Finally one day I said KNOCK IT OFF I'M NOT DEAD YET). Anyway, she got me a leather Harley pink ribbon flame doo rag kind of thing...you know....like biker chicks wear. I'm not ripping on biker chicks, by the way, y'all are awesome.
But I am not nor will I ever be a motorcycle rider.
LMAO. I didn't even know what to say. Wow. Am I supposed to wear this to work?
But ya know what? She tried. She didn't think it through, but I was on her mind while she was in the Harley store and she tried. She wanted to do something and she tried.
She also baked chocolate chip cookies for my boys every time I had surgery and she covered for me at work and she listened when I was really scared.
People are good.....most of the time.
(The second worst pink thing I received was that stinky, sweaty, dirty pink football jersey lmao!!!) -
Bailey, I'd like to see you in that hat! Too funny. My daughter manages a retail store in California with loyal customers. I guess she shared that I had bc because not long into it I received a cozy quilt covered in, you guessed it, pink ribbons, that one of her customers, a stranger to me, made. It was shocking to see so much pink-beribboned material at first but it was a cozy comforter during those very long months of treatments. How could I not embrace the pink ribbons on it? I like to see the good. My third daughter, (no tattoos) walked three days with her best friend for me, raising over $5,000. I choose to believe the literature that told us what percentage went where, most of it to my local community.
Oh, Sherry, good grief! I am glad you at least can see some progress. So frustrated for you.
Sbel, tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow, you're only a day away! Excited to hear how it goes. -
Sherry...sending gentle (((hugs)))
To what part of the province are you moving? -
Jeannie, your story of how you found out you had bc is heartbreaking. It's hard enough to hear those words, and deal with the immediate emotional aftermath... but seriously those people were just plain ignorant. It makes me angry.
debdylan, I am sorry you are feeling so low.
The three week mark or very shortly after was a major turning point for me, physically and emotionally. I hope it is for you as well. This surgery is rough.nihahi, re: your pinktober rant: I totally agree, and I am also annoyed with companies who use pink as a marketing ploy. The birdseed I buy, has a pink ribbon on the bag. I have a friend that posted on her fb that she was proud the Mike's Hard Lemonade she was drinking had a pink ribbon on it. Who cares? Who does that help? And I am so tired of loved ones giving me pink stuff. I don't want to be ungracious so I always accept the gift and thank them kindly, and I know they mean well, but I have lost count of the pink bracelets I have, I have a few pink scarves, I have a glass Christmas ornament with a pink ribbon inside... I don't know what else. But I don't want to complain, I am so touched that people care, however they show it.
kuka, that is great that you are working out again! I was wondering about trying to do a cardio DVD this weekend, just a short workout, but maybe it is too soon still? I don't want to hurt myself.
ugh Tracy hang in there...I think when I was at your point after surgery I was pretty close to hitting what turned out to be rock bottom. Things WILL get better, the pain WILL subside, you WILL sleep again, I promise! And you are not a fraud, that is ridiculous. Unfortunately for us, but fortunately for them, there are some people who are blissfully ignorant of what that "stage 0" really means. And bailey makes a beautiful point - how wonderful that it was found at stage 0, that is a very good thing.
JWoo, welcome. I won't PM you because there is great information already on this forum, and lots of amazing ladies here who can send you more articulate information than I can. I couldn't have figured it out without the information here. But welcome, and good luck to you.
hrf - hooray for comfy bras! I totally get what you are saying when people need to understand there is no cure. When I was first diagnosed, someone said something that was so offensive to me, it still upsets me to this day. This idiot guy actually said basically that breast cancer is basically "almost curable," and when it's not, it's "almost" at a point where it is a long term, chronic disease that can be managed. Really? REALLY!?! Tell that to the women who don't survive this... oh it makes me so mad... okay think happy thought Christina...
Sherry - so glad PS says you are healing. Two weeks is a long time... I do hope that in two weeks you have some tremendous healing to show him.
Okay, any chance that I can get my insurance to pay for laser hair removal on my new breast? Because the original sure didn't have hair on it like this! I don't remember having this much hair on the skin when it was on my stomach! When I see PS next week I am going to ask if it is okay to do laser hair removal on my foob, and if so, how long I have to wait. It is seriously disturbing and I would like it permanently gone before I get my nipple tattoo.
I told DH that Friday is my new breast's one month birthday and I expect a birthday gift.
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Christina, I believe I waited 6 weeks after my first surgery before I started working out. Second stage goes by a little faster. You can do cardio though, just no weights yet!
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Omg! Sbe, I just saw that you're doing your stage 2 tomorrow! What are you all getting done? I wanted to wish you good luck and will be thinking about you.
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Omg Jeannie I am totally wearing it hiking this weekend just to mortify my children!!! Ha!!!
I just thought of a pet peeve of mine. "People who say, I don't know how you do it. I couldn't do it." Guess that kind of echoes what somebody else was saying yesterday. Drives me nuts. It's life...it's just part of life. You just do it. How do we get through any of it? My brother died at age 7, my sister's 40 year old husband died on Christmas Day 5 years ago, last December I sat with my grandmother in the hospital for days and had to make the decision to take her off life support with my dad out of town, my 12 year old suffered with anxiety for the whole terrible year I was in treatment....you just do it. You pull your friends and family close and get through the minutes....minute by minute...
But there is joy....JOY...and laughter in all of it, in all of life, if you know how to feel it, to understand it, to find it. There is always a peaceful place, a hand to hold...a heart that understands.
I think it was Sbel that said chemo was a peaceful time. I agree. I had a schedule of chemo sitters for my 8 hour chemos and close friends and family would come and sit and talk ...it made the day something to look forward to. I can remember the first day, my sister came to sit with me and DH and we were laughing so hard we were crying about some dumb thing...I felt bad because there were people there alone and very, very ill, but the nurses told us no worries, it was always good to have people like us in the room!
Ok...ladies I am in the upper peninsula of Michigan (ay yi yi closer to the knucks!) as of tomorrow afternoon...ON VACATION... So may be offline for a few days. Write a book of posts for me to read when I return (cos I know you will!).
Sheila
PS Nihahi or Sbel asked about my bike....no bikes this weekend...just hiking. We have an 8 hour drive up and back...and have to return on Sunday. So time is limited and we decided to forego bikes THIS time around. -
Hrf-my family is from a small town between London and sarnia.
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SBE- thinking of you tomorrow! We are all there with you.
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hi Zoemom,
Dr. Allen will be performing my surgery at NYU, Sept 5, ( next week
I will keep you posted, you are right behind me
we are in good handsAnne
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bailey: Amen...you just do it. You do it, because you don't have a choice.
Someone earlier said something about being Stage I, but having mastectomy, or being cancer free but it's not "behind me".
I have to say, ladies who DO choose to have preventative mastectomy and reconstruction (or not), suffer that same body part loss, that same anxiety of possible cancer. There are not guarantees for them either. But, to take that step, voluntarily, has got to be as difficult, if not more, than it being thrust upon you, and just taking the steps we have to take.
I was reading today a magazine article about Peirce Brosnan and recent death of his 41 y/o daughter from ovarian cancer. Her mother, (his first wife), and her grandmother (his MIL) both died of ovarian cancer. His daughter, now deceased from ovarian cancer, has 2 children, a son and daughter. They are all carriers of the BRCA mutations. So, this is the third generation female in direct genetic succession to die from ovarian cancer, the last one knowing she had the gene mutation.........there is another generation (now 15 y/o) Isabella. Can you imagine the impact on her..........my mind is floundering. I cannot imagine.
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Sbel....TOWANDA!!! You got this
Bluebird...hope you are resting well.
Mammalou how goes it? Hugs!
Somebody else was falling apart....and my chemo brain can't remember....hugs to you, too!
New ladies....welcome....you've come to a great place!
Tracy you make me lol....Good humor is such a grace
Kuka, glad to see you! Kids are keeping you hopping!
Debdylan welcome back to the "real" cyber world. Happy to "see" you here!
Ok packed and ready to go....cya flappers! -
christina, go for a walk with a really good support bra on, but I wouldn't bounce that foob too hard yet. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
I agree with you Bailey, most people mean really well, and they just don't know what to do, or say to make it better. I think they are uncomfortable. Almost like when somebody dies, and you go to a funeral and you come face to face with a grieving person, and you are at a loss for words. You mean well, but you just can't put it into words, so you say the usual thing, "I am sorry for your loss."
I have a few friends who were like that, and I feel sorry for them so I try to break the ice, and make them feel more comfortable, which shouldn't be my job, but I find myself doing it fairly often.
I have no real opinion on the pink thing. It has come to be a very recognizable symbol, and that is not entirely a bad thing.
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I am hoping to talk to the graphics guy this week about the tshirts. He is back from his trip. I like something Nihani said in one of her posts about Wilbur. "Come on Wilbur, do your thing." I loved it. And, then "Towanda" on the back. Clean and simple. Only we will know what it means, and it's a way for us to be close even though we are far apart. Our private joke. Our little secret. If we all agree, we might want to add a caption to the top about it, and why so other's that join us will understand, and get one if they like. We could even put a pic of it up.
What do you think?
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Sbe- best wishes tomorrow!
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Goldie, I love that idea!
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Bailey...have an awesome, wonderful, spectacular time away with the family....pics please!!!!!!
sbe....thinking of you BIGTIME....bet you're stocking up on cuddle time with the gbaby before tomorrow. You got this girl.....Wilbur's waiting for you!
cherrie....hoping tomorrow goes well for you too....so glad your ps is helping to sort it out for you.
goldie.......bet if you asked the mods, they'd put a photo of the shirt on the header for us.
bluebird....hope things are "clean and sorted" for you. Time for some serious healing to begin!
sherry....my husband is from London, ON....thinking of you too...enjoy the air conditioning while you've got it.
OH HECK.....thinking of EVERYONE!!!!!.....take care ladies...have good nights.
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Nihani, that's what I meant in my post when I said we should be a caption on top of it. It being the top of this forum..lmaoooo. Once again, me and ativan do not do well explaining ourselves. Yes, I would like the moderators to put a caption and pic on top of the forum.
So, those who agree T-shirt will be:
Front: Come On Wilbur, Do Your Thing
Back: TOWANDA
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS FEELS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.
I THINK WHITE CAP SLEEVED V NECK T SHIRT THAT IS SHAPED, BUT NOT TOO TIGHT. I HAVE ONE I LOVE THAT HAS PRINCESS SEAMS, AND IT LOOKS SO FLATTERING.
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Go for it, Goldie.
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Sbelizabeth we are all in your pockets tomorrow.
Bailey, go have a great vacation. -
What a date night! I got the world's best pedicure, Jerry got a massage, then we walked across the street and ate enough sushi to sink a ship. Great way to end the day before beauty spa under anesthesia!
I don't really know what the plan is for tomorrow. I trust my PS that much. I plan to drift into the arms of Wilbur and wake up looking like Barbie.
Everyone else with healing issues, you're in my prayers! Gotta go make cookies for the OR break room--Katy
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Good luck tomorrow, SBE. Wilbur will be sitting on your surgeons shoulder guiding him (like one of those little imaginary devils), and you will wake up as Barbie with red high heels on.
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Smooth sailing into DIEP Stage 2 waters, Katy.......hope you have Wilbur to keep you company ALL day!
. Post when you can......I am as nervous as a mail order bride about my appointment next Tuesday........ *o*
Bailey, have a lovely time camping this weekend! I will be in your pocket.
Love to you Flappers....one and all!
G'nite -
My MRI report came in yesterday. Whatever this is it is 2.8 cm and near the chest wall. I did not tell my DH this, but knew you girls would understand why I am up at 4:46 in the morning. The ultrasound is in 4 hours. I'm choosing to believe it is surgical change and nothing more. I have told no one except here. I know you will say a prayer and send thoughts and silent hugs. That is what I will think about when I am in there.
I was first diagnosed about 11 years ago. Does this fear ever lift or is it forever on our shoulders? Thanks for listening to a very tired girl who can't sleep. -
Anyone else had what I'm experiencing? Quite often, mostly at night, the muscles across my front where the skin was pulled down tighten, like they're having a spasm, then they relax. Sometimes, my thighs do it at the same time. I guess it's just my body trying to heal itself, but it feels really weird!
Tracy, my scar is like a huge smile, too! Very strange. I measured it yesterday... 55cm+.
Bluebird, Sherry, Mammalou and everyone else having a difficult time, I'm thinking of you all.
Cherrie - fingers crossed that it's nothing!
SBE, may Wilbur be looking out for you today.
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(((Hugs))), Cherrie
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