DIEP 2013

nihahi

Faith....so good to hear from you...you haven't been out of our thoughts. Hope you find the right doc, and are able to move forward in confidence. 

Bluebird...hmmmm.....wondering and a bit worried for you...hopefully things are sorted out and you're just "offline". 

sbe...dreaming in recovery by now, I expect.....say "hi" to Wilbur for us. 

sweetpickle...sandwiches, some veggie sticks, an apple or peach....good to go! Nothing wrong with that menu!

jeannie...I'm chuckling re: golf...yep, I defo get my money's worth....sometimes I play "military style" aka leftside, rightside, leftside, rightside....it's all fun, my golf buddies are non-competitive, we just go for the fun and friendship. Enjoy the zoo.....sheesh...nice weather for a while, rain on your "night out"....murphys law.

tracy...good news! Thanks for sharing. 

Movie....still ankle deep in dirt??? Having a project like that might be just what's needed to work off that nervous energy. You're gonna do great girl!!!!!!! Hang in there.

Hope everyone had good days....love to all.

goldie4040

Well, I guess cymbalta wasn't for me.  Woke up with nausea and dizziness.  Went back to bed.  Still feel awful. Can't eat.  It's like the room keeps spinning.  Going back to bed. 

Faith, have been thinking about you a lot.  You will find the right surgeon. Glad you stopped in.  I have missed you and have been worried about you.

christina0001

Cherrie - SO RELIEVED your US results were good. Oh the anxiety from the worry... I'm very happy for you that you can put it behind you.

Faith, sorry to hear the consult did not work out for you. On to better things, better doctors!

goldie, some antidepressants can cause dizziness and nausea in the beginning. Effexor did that to me, although not as severe as you are describing. Talk to your doctor and/or pharmacist and see if that is a common SE, if it will last, and how to manage it. I was very tempted to quit but I stuck with it and I am glad I did because I needed it at the time. After a week or two it was totally gone. For me, it helped to take it with food.  

goldie4040

Thanks, Christina

If it was slight nausea, or slight dizziness I would try, but I couldn't do that another minute. I am just now feeling like eating something.  I will have to try a different one.  

No news SBE?  I guess Wilbur has her in his arms, and we will have to wait till she is awake enough. 

ssla01

Need advice....I have recently had some very awkward emails from someone in my PS's office. I did not respond to the first one. It seemed very out of character and every one has a bad day. I spoke with the P.S who contacted me and the P.S. apologized. I really didn't think about it again. The emails I've gotten this week are terse at best and another weird one today. I feel like a child being chastised.



So, I am less than 2 weeks out from stage 2 and I feel so strange about it. I am now nervous, worried about getting the best work done, and jittery (typically not me). I'm not sure what to do. I suppose do nothing, keep my head down, finish stage 2 and hope it is the last surgery I need.

goldie4040

Ssla, can you email your PS directly? The last thing you need is to feel apprehensive about your next surgery.

sweetpickle

Ssl- you shouldnt feel that way going into surgery. I would try and talk to ps about it.



Has anyone else had drain pain tnis far after surgery? Im still experiencing this itchy/stabby twinges on my drain scars and if I push on them they hurt. It seems weird this far post surgery.

goldie4040

Sweet, mine pinched for a while even after they were out. I thought they left a stitch in there at one point.

nihahi

ssla......are these emails coming from your surgeon or from one of his staff? Are they coming out of the "blue", or as a response to messages from you? If you are feeling uncomfortable, it certainly should be resolved before surgery! Can you go in to see your surgeon next week and try to sort it out? Maybe it would be the best move to postpone your stage 2 for awhile.

ssla01

Nihahi. The first was a response to me. They are from a staff member. The other two have been out of the blue. I don't want to postpone stage two, but this does not feel right.

Anonymous

We made it to Mackinaw City! Boys and I walked down to the beach in the dark (Lake Huron)...it is overcast so no stars to wish on but I know they are there Said prayers for my friends here while we looked out over the water...the lake was quiet tonight with just small waves lapping on the shore. Very peaceful. The hotel has beach chairs along the water so we sacked out for a few minutes and all agreed if we had a pillow and blanket we could nap there for a while.



And then it started to rain.



LMAO. Story of my life I make plans and God smiles a wry smile. Sometimes I have to look up at Him and say, "Seriously?"



Ah, well, we got a few minutes. Tomorrow will bring more.



Love to you all, sleep well, friends.

Tracy516

My SMILE is 23 inches .....



After the doctors today I slept off and on;( was so exhausted! Hubby kept taking my temperature. Was fine.



***Has Anyone have breast pain when they lay down??? Not completely flat but unless I sit up I get this pain. Hard to sleep sitting up. BS said it should go away....



Healing Vibes being sent out to all my breast friends!!!!!;)

sbelizabeth

Friday night...time to party!  Well, maybe next week.

We got home around 6:00 and I'm doing great.  I can't see under the dressings, but I can take them off Sunday and shower, so the loveliness report will have to wait until then.  The pain isn't bad at all--I'm looking forward to a relaxing, fun week off.

Thanks, everyone, for your prayers and encouragement.  Love you, friends.  Katy

mammalou

Katy... Can I ask what you had done?



I went to PS today. Tummy has improved but still projecting a few months to close.



We talked about what's next for breast. I need to be bigger to be symmetrical. He says he will need to put in a small implant under the flap and do some fat grafting around the outside. I must say I was a little thrown by the implant. I took an implant out to do this DIEP. I really don't see any other choice. Fat grafting the whole enlargement is not an option. I really want my breasts to be closer to the same size, but sometimes I wonder about all these procedures. Anyone else do a small implant under DIEP.

Jubby

Questions ladies.....  I am day 7 post surgery and the chanel that runs between my breasts is quite itchy.  When I look at it, it seems that there are some small punctures in this central cleavage line. Perhaps I was injected with something at this site?  I am having to do everything in my power not to scratch.  What would have been injected there? Fat? Other than the itch, I am doing pretty well. Drain site wounds seem OK.  Seeing my PS on Tuesday.  When does one start wearing a bra again and how long before I can lie on my side to sleep?  I feel like a corpse getting into a coffin at night when I go to bed.  LOL. Lying prostrate all night is not natural!  

sweetpickle

Jubby- I was super itchy for a while too. Take a benedryl and it will help alleviate it. I have no idea what caused it but it did suck.

mrtw43

I am new to the forum and am 3 weeks out from my Dmx with immediate deip flap reconstruction. I had DCIS with no invasive. I had great surgeons and am very happy with the results. I was wondering how long did it take others to begin walking completely upright (without the hunch over) and how long did you wear the compression bras? Also, when could you begin sleeping on your side?

sweetpickle

Welcome MRT! I was able to walk upright around week four, I didnt have a compression bra and I was able to partially side sleep with pillows underneath me at around nine weeks. I can now side sleep with a body pillow at fifteen weeks. I had weekly progress which helped me keep going through the rough patches.

klanders

Hi MRT! Being bent over was probably the hardest part for me. Don't try to rush standing up - believe it or not you really will stand straight someday again. I think it took me about seven weeks. Another woman I met was standing up straight right after her surgery. Because I was so bent over I was most comfortable sleeping in a recliner for the first two months. I never did figure out how to sleep flat on my back in bed. I wore the compression bras for several weeks. My doctor gave me a good supply of them and I still wear them on occasion. Four months out I'm still mostly wearing sports bras. I don't like the feel of the underwire bras. This is a great group of women! You will be glad you found this forum board.

Janet_M

Jubby & mrtw43 - Good morning post-surgery girls.

I never wore a compression bra, but at three weeks started wearing a soft cotton bra which fastens in the front. But no underwire! I'm not sure what the time frame is for an underwire - but the incisions need time to heal. I also alternated the bra with a cotton camisole. It took a few weeks to put it over my head, or if it was stretchy enough, I'd just step into it. 

I'm twelve weeks out (BMX/DIEP) and started sleeping on my side at about 8 weeks. I had a little help from my huge collection of pillows which have taken over the bed -sometimes I'd slide one under my ribs for extra support. And you're right Jubby - it was sleeping like a corpse. I'd even have my hands across my chest 'cus I wasn't sure where to put them. I started off sleeping on a wedge - but ended up using pillows for body support, and the wedge to elevate my legs. 

And as far as hunching - I was a late bloomer. Started standing up pretty straight just a few weeks ago and I remember the day, becuase I was on my bike (it's an upright) and caught my reflection in a store window. Rode slowly home with a huge smile on my face.

Must confess - my posture still doens't feel back to normal. Apparently I look normal, but it takes a lot of effort, and I've lost the core strength that keeps me upright. I will get it back though. Never thought I'd utter these words - but - Bring on the Situps! In the meantime it's light yoga at home, and the occasional massage which feels absolutely fantastic. 

Sweetpickle brought up a good point about the weekly progress though. Every little bit of progress makes things better. I started off being impatient to get myself back, but realizing it can't be rushed, just enjoyed every little baby step forward. 

Mtrw - So great that your happy with the results. Yay!

Tracy516

Jubby! I'm 15 days out! I had itchy cleveage too. I wet a washcloth ( not sopping ) and placed between it is better as if two days ago. I wore a bra home, but my breast are large and every dr is different;) HOPE you feel better!

lahela

Saw my PS today and she says I can wear a sports bra now if I want to - I'm 3 weeks out from surgery. Just waiting for my Bali bras to arrive in the mail. PS was so pleased with how everything is going that she kept bringing other PS in to look at her handiwork! Best news for today, though, is I'm allowed to have coffee and wine again!

She said that when I'm feeling stronger, she'll show me photos of my surgery. I'll never be that strong!

hrf

Good questions today. I am also 15 days out and still have one lower drain which I hate. Doesn't seem that it's anywhere ready to come out. Just keeps putting out more and more especially since the other drain down there got removed.



I'm still hunched over but feel it is not as bad as first. My worst time is trying to sleep. I am using a wedge pillow but it takes forever to fall asleep,and I keep wanting to turn on my side. What's the secret to this?



My PS gave me a light compression bra at my first post op meeting. It's cotton and soft with a front closure. Feels good. I still have an area that is not healing. PS wants me to use Flamazine on it now, hoping that it will help.



She also suggested light massage to help with circulation. Any tips on how much or how often to do massage?

sbelizabeth

Mammalou, yesterday's procedure included "moving" the left breast to a little more centered position, lifting and moving the right breast to eliminate the under-arm bulge, cutting out the fat necrosis lumps in both, and smoothing out some of the old incision lines.

For the abdomen, he lipo'd my hips and tummy and removed the tiny dog ears.

It's a little zingy this morning, but not bad at all.  A piece of cold pizza and a percocet and I'm good to go.

Slept on my back last night.  I have to admit, my hair looks better this morning than when I grind my head into my pillow!

Happy Friday, everyone.  I feel like I'm playing hookey.

nihahi

Morning Ladies...

TGIF and Happy Long weekend to those "working" girls. 

Welcome to the new ladies....these are wonderful women.

"corpse in a coffin"....makes me laugh...I felt like that too....I wonder if anyone is a "natural" back sleeper....doesn't seem so.

sbe....so good to hear from you. You sound good...hope the "unveiling" goes well.

"upright" was truly a thing of stages for me. In the early days, even in hospital, I walked ALOT!!! Not always very far, sometimes 20 steps out and 20 steps back, but it was frequent!!!! Sometimes took me longer to get out of the chair or the bed than it took me to walk, but I kept at it. Once home, if the TV was on, I walked at every commercial break. Lots and lots and lots of little walks. I needed to get upright as soon as I could, because of a "tempermental" lower back. The turning point for me, was when I could lay on my back in bed, without something behind my knees, so I was "straight" for more extended periods of time, without straining to do so. That was at around the end of the second week home (about 3 weeks after surgery).

I think I was one of the early ones to get upright, but.....according to friends and family, I looked upright long before I felt upright. Then there was the phase where I could see for myself, that I was upright, but felt super, super tight. Then....upright, not so tight. Then....tight only after sitting for any length of time....now, occassional feelings of tightness that I can stretch out almost instantly. I feel the skin tightness if I have slacked off on the moisturing and massage, and get almost instant relief if I do those 2 things. I found a "stick" product, (looks like a stick deodorant) in a sports store that has come in very handy. It is meant to reduce chafing, blistering while running, etc., and has a moisturizing component also (shea butter). I keep it in my purse/pack and if things start to get "that feeling" I zip into a washroom and swipe it across my "smile". Works well for me. 

sherry35

I'm so freaking done with this!

6 more weeks on vac?,?!? Are you kidding me!?!

I'm done!

goldie4040

SBE, glad to hear you sounding upbeat.  Can't wait for the revealing on Sunday.  Happy relaxing!!!! 

Mammalou, several months, wow.  I am sorry.  Are you still going to work? My PS offered implants to me under my diep if they couldn't give me enough with my tummy.  I have two to do, and no matter how much I try, I can't gain enough weight.  I know Kuka's PS also offered her an implant too.  I don't believe they put it under the pec muscle, so it's not uncomfortable, and they are very small implants.

Question: for the women who took longer to stand up straight, are you on the thin side, and they pulled your tummies very tight after surgery?  I am just wondering what I am in for.

lahela

Sherry and Mammalou, I'm so sorry that this process is taking so long for both of you.

Goldie - I was pulled really tight - the PS kept saying I was the tightest she'd ever done. I'm a long way from upright, which is a pain in the back but I don't have any choice. I just don't do anything that could pull my incision.

Janet_M

Goldie -  It took me a long time to stand up straight. And, according to my PS I am on the thin side. ( I would have said 'average' - not thin)  Also I am bilateral so my stomach was pulled very tight in order to make two boobs.  That's probably what accounts for my extended hunching - though that never occured to me until recently - and I never thought to ask. 

nihahi

sherry....so sorry to hear of the healing issues. Hang in there seems pretty shallow a comment...but don't know how else to say it. You have been through so much physically and emotionally, your "healing" is probably trying to cover many bases. Stress is healing's enemy....I know it sounds "trite", but can you use this time to try to find some "emotional" peace for yourself? There are some really good cd's on healing, relaxation, meditation that might help. Try to eat healthy foods, find something positive to focus on (no matter how small or insignificant it may seem in the big picture) each day....Wish I could do something to truly help. (((((((X))))))))