DIEP 2013

la2shea

OOPS my bad!!! Sorry, read too fast through the many posts

CJKLOSE - you had the smoking question. CONGRATS on the 1 cig a day, and I think that would make you a PS dream for a smoker/ex smoker patient. But I know they do want you to get to zero a day for whatever period of time they require since they all seem to be different.

Deb - I am so sorry for the confusion! CONGRATS to you too for dropping the smokes prior to surgery. We smokers know how hard it is to quit and all deserve a pat on the back, whether we pick it back up or not. I've always said one of my many talents is to quit smoking because I am so good at it. Lol

la2shea

And Lahela....WAY TO GO to you too for 7 weeks smoke free!!! ...didn't mean to leave you off the kudos list! Now I'm going to go hide under a rock now and put my foot in my mouth.

Tracy516

My blog: about? What else! Breast Cancer!;)

http://trakoh516.blog.com/2013/09/13/4-weeks/

http://trakoh516.blog.com/

Tracy516

Smoke free!!! Great job!!!

(((((DEB)))) hugs

Today was a good day!

TGIF!

sweetpickle

Deb- I kmow exactly how you feel, I quit right before chemo started and if chemo hadnt made me so sick I dont know that I would have stayed quit. Heck, I still crave them now almost a year later but my dh still smokes, not around me, so that is probably why. Hugs to you and keep up the good fight.

christina0001

Janet... mmm Toblerone.... good stuff

It makes me feel good to know I am not the only one who is so indecisive about nipple surgery!

ugh Sharon - OUCH! I hope you are feeling better.

FierceBluebird

Movie, I don't know what you're talking about. I sucked my thumb all through chemo and surgery!  ha..ha.. just kidding. Not to say I wouldn't dearly love to be hugging a blankie and sucking my thumb! Still love my nappies in the afternoon.

I had some of the nastiest wounds out there and I never smoked.  One was from the eschar, 3-4" around third degree burn, but it just wouldn't heal.

Silvadine did nothing for me. I started using raw honey from a friends apiary and then Manuka honey from New Zealand that Bailey mentioned. Within two days the wound looked 90% better! It's still healing but is filling in with nice pink tissue. Plus it smells a lot nicer.  Love my honey!

Zoemom

Hi everyone - had my diep on Tuesday. What an experience. Now at home recovering. Have one drain left. Pain is sporadic. So thankful for Percocet. Dr Levine did a great job. Dr Allen assisted but I never got to meet him. Had a very bumpy painful ride home in a taxi from the hospital, hoping it didn't do any damage.

Anonymous

Manuka honey!!! All I could think of was Mandela. Guess I could've googled it again lol. But I got stuck on Mandela... Mandela's Honey....Nelson Mandela's Honey?.....squirrel....shiny object....where am I?



Today I had to go to a coworker and ask her what the word is that means when two things run together ...at the same time....CONCURRENTLY.....YES! Thank you!



Chemo brain...it's an experience.



Movie....what happened to your noobs again? I don't get it. I do want this thing to be smaller....but not gone!!!



Loved wapples! Hilarious....DH would probably like wapples...but then he'd be full.... lmao....and need a nap and I'd get distracted by something shiny....



It's been one long-ass week. TGIF.

Anonymous

Bluebird - which Manuka honey did you get? Like who is the manufacturer? There are several on Amazon.com....I still have a few very superficial spots that just don't want to stop being scabby...they aren't at all deep but will not heal completely. They are underneath my heavy noob and right in the crease...would really like to close those puppies up.



And you are HILARIOUS! Suck our thumbs, indeed! So happy you got your attitude back. Brings tears to my eyes!

Tracy516

ZOEMOM!!!!! May Wilbur be with you! Take care and rest!!!

sherry35

Hi ladies,

Well, I've made my move and hopefully things will start to settle down.

I had my appt. with PS and it was a good news bad news session, just like all before. Good news, things look good. Where have I heard that befor?!?! Apparently I'm healing. I don't see or feel it but she said I was healing. She wants breast to heal on its own so we will continue to pack and change dressing everyday until it closes up on its own, which could be god knows when! I have to continue with wound vac, that's another story, for a while. Not sure what that means! And I now have a spot in my belly button that is being packed and a small pocket in abdominal that is being packed. Ugghh!!!

So, because I moved to a different region I have to get a vac from new region. So they don't know when they can get one for me, maybe by the end of next week, so in the meantime it's traditional dressings and packing changed daily. Ugghh! I don't know which I dislike more! But hey, I have some fleshy, fatty mounds on my chest that create a bit of cleavage when pushed on.

I am also an ex smoker, my PS required 3 months smoke free before and 6 weeks post. So far I have not gone back although there have been many times that I've wanted to!

Sherry

Pattysmiles

Loving the clearance shopping.

Picked up a set of comfy button down front pajamas at Target for $8. I thought that was an awesome find. Then I was in Sears tonight and picked up a pair for $5!

Also went to Good Will to look for some button down shirts and found 2...

Then was at Kohls and found one for $4 in the men's section on the clearance rack.



I need to double check if I squirreled away anything. I think I need more pants. If not I'm wearing pajamas on the airplane. I won't mind! Lol. Aren't pajamas "in" to wear out?



Zoemom , glad the surgery went well. Only one drain left, impressive!



Manuka honey? Will have to look that up. Does Wilbur eat that?



Pat

Sharon1942

I'm home & had a great stage 2b. Lipo sculpting to the boob & foob to make them perfectly symmetrical. Removed dog ear on side of already reduced & lifted natural boob. Nipple on the foob. Abdominal scar revision in which he raised & flattened pubic area & smoothed original scar. Love my PS!

Anonymous

Yes Pat!!! Wilbur eats only Manuka honey....silly old bear

lahela

Zoemom, glad to hear you're home and recovering! Rest, rest and more rest. {{{gentle hugs}}}

Sharon, so glad the bee sting didn't interfere with your stage 2! Sounds like you had a lot done - gentle healing {{{hugs}}} for you!

jlbloom

Good morning, everyone!  Reading this thread is so entertaining.  Thanks to those of you who can bring humor and light to all of us.  Have a great Saturday.  ...Julie

sweetpickle

Zoemom- Congrats on being home and speedy recovery to you!



Pat- I love when I find deals like that! I cant remember th last time Ipaid retail for anything.



Sharon- Congrats on stage 2! How are you feeling?



I saw my PS and the gyn onc. On Thursday and we are still waiting on approval from medicaid so I dont have a date for stage two yet. Our state has gone to a new digital system and it has everything all messed up. I feel bad for the ladies waiting to have their cancer cut out, at least my surgeries are recon and preventative at this point so time doesnt matter. My counselor is awesome and I have started yoga which is helping a lot with my anxiety. Hope everyone has a happy Saturday!

Katita182514

Good morning ladies!

Up again in the middle of the night feeling super hot. I start getting this hot flashes after surgery. Nothing to do with premenopaus since I still have my ovaries and periods.

In march I had prophylactic

Just little over 2 weeks post op now. Almost don't take any pain killers ( except some Tylenol ).

I can discribe my discomfort as like someone parked a car on top of my breast. Is anyone have the same feeling?

3 out 4 drainages is removed on day 7. But one on the right abdominal is still showing hight numbers(60cc, 55cc in 24 hours).

My mistery rib cage pain is still present but I think I'm used to it or its getting better now.

Smooth recovery to everyone. Strength and hope to all of us.

Zoemom

Good morning,

Thank you all for the support and hugs.



First night home was rough. Had ab and back pain and couldn't get comfortable. Slept on the recliner in the living room and was afraid the cats were going to jump on me. Kept myself covered as much as possible. I bet I had no more than 4 hrs sleep



Should my compression binder stay on my abdomen at all times (except shower)? The pain is sporadic but when I have it, it is horrible.



Since I am prone to clotting, I have to stay on a blood thinner and administer shots to my thigh. First one later this morning - can't wait



Thinking, praying and hugs to the ladies who've had a rough time (bluebird , deb, sherry etc)



Linda

MartyJ

Zoemom - the shots are a piece of cake, really.  My doc typically has all her patients do it following surgery.  Just don't rub the spot after you inject as that causes bruising.  

Katita - often the docs have to shave off a tiny bit of rib to get to the blood vessels.  The pain should disappear soon.

Okay, honey girls, how do you cover it?  I tried adding honey to my scar cream, but felt too sticky.

Anonymous

Sharon....So happy your stage 2 went well....were you making Manuka honey when you got hit??? Lol.



Zoemom....gentle hugs to you. The first few weeks are rough for a lot of us. Nothing about it feels normal, but it is. My PS wanted me in the ab binder 24/7 for four weeks...except to shower. There were a few times I forgot (???) to put it back on after shower....I paid for it later in the day with pain and stiffness. Keep in mind that some PS don't use them at all on their patients. So you aren't going to break in two without it lol. But imho it helped with decreasing pain and keeping swelling at bay. I hope you are able to nap today!



For those of you that just joined (or are lurking.....we see you!!! Just kidding, lurk away) and have some time before surgery (if you don't have time before surgery do not listen to this advice....you will be fine....it is what it is). ANYWAY....some of us have found that strengthening our quads, gluteal and abdominal muscles before surgery has helped us feel stronger through recovery. Learning to keep your shoulders down and back (instead of pulling them in towards your chest and up towards your ears in protective/ stress mode) is also a big help. I will try to find some links to specific exercises and post. Hey! There was also a good post- diep program that Johns Hopkins developed that Damiana (I think?) posted. I will try to find that link, too.



Of course, anything you do like this needs to be ok'd by your doc first...as I am not a doc...I just play one on the DIEP board sometimes lol!.



Love ya, honeys (Manuka honeys lol) happy Saturday!

Pattysmiles

Bailey,

Too funny!



I was "in shape" prior to chemo..(overweight, working on weight loss, eating mostly right and exercising). .then hit the gym a few times on my good days during chemo and have since fallen to the wayside. I let myself get mentally undone, and then now physically!



Your reminder is very timely. My local DIEP doctor wanted me to be working out aerobic 3-4 times a week. NOLA doesn't have exercise listed on of their "things to do". But your reminder is a good thing for me to step away from the Bon bons and get to some exercise.



Would love to see the links you speak of too.

Thank you!

Pat

sbelizabeth

Happy Saturday, gloobsters!  My son and his wife, along with her parents, are taking a mini-vacay to a nearby resort town, so I'm Aubrey-less for the weekend.  Talk about hogging the baby! 

Bailey, I think I have the same issue you have.  In the inframammary fold--the crease where your breast meets your chest--the incisions from my Stage II are slow to heal completely.  They're not enormously open, just oozing and peeking a little raw tissue.  How are you managing them?  Are you using manuka honey, silvadene, or nothing at all?

Welcome to our newest ladies!  If you're anticipating surgery, I would second Bailey's advice to prepare yourself with aerobic and strength conditioning.  It helps the surgery go well, and helps with recovery. 

DebDylan, kudos for moving forward with your chemo decision.  You're in my prayers for as comfortable an experience as possible, and when you graduate from "Chemo U" you'll know you threw every weapon in the armory at the enemy.

It's already September!  I have until the end of the year to take advantage of my insurance out-of-pocket maximum being met!  Let's see...I'll get my appendix out, my uterus lifted, and maybe throw in a colonoscopy.  Maybe two.  Sheesh.

Have a great day, everyone!

sbelizabeth

Aubry going swimming!  I think this fashion feature is striking.  I'm going to put a big yellow sunflower on my tummy, too.

Sharon1942

Haha! No, Bailey, I wasn't making Manuka honey but wish I had of had some to drown them with. The swelling & pain from the stings have all gone away! This is the morning after stage 2b yesterday afternoon & I feel great. I had wonderful care from all the nurses. Just now took a couple of Tylenol to deal with minimal pain. Stripped down last night & showed my daughter all the PS's art work & we are both so impressed. Just praying the incisions heal properly. I go back to let the PS address the nipple bandaging next Thursday. Looks like several layers of gauze with a hole cut out for the nipple - all covered with clear waterproof tape. No compression for the minimal lipo. He said the tattooing will be in 3-4 months (I think that's what Wilbur is telling me) in his office with medical grade tattoo ink. He'll have them do light pink to match natural righty. He said if it fades they will redo if & when. I'll keep y'all posted on further recovery. I'm to the point of telling my breast cancer - TOWANDA!

Anonymous

Here are the links....was there another from Johns Hopkins or am I making crap up in my chemo brain again????



https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/therapies/physiotherapy/Physiotherapy-advice-after-breast-reconstruction-surgery-using-a-DIEP-or-TRAM-flap.pdf



http://www.christie.nhs.uk/booklets/668.pdf



My advice is to start doing these presurgery...it makes you familiar and gives some muscle memory to your muscles. I started doing the post mx exercises I was given a month or so before mx....and then as soon as they said I could afterwards and I believe it really helped me recover well from mx.



Sbel.....gosh maybe we should see if we can get a twofer on the colonoscopy, eh? They are so much fun we could make a weekend of it! (I had a cancerous polyp at age 33.....I am 47 now....I have had my share for sure!!!!)

Editted to add..sbe...I have tried moisturizers and ointments and jams and jellies on these spots and nothing seems to help I ordered some Manuka honey last night....should be here on Monday....Will let you know if I see any forward progress by Friday....would love to clear it up before I see PS again on the 23rd.

lahela

Bailey, thanks so much for those links. My abs are driving me crazy at the moment, so tight and they burn, so I think some exercise is called for, to stretch them out a bit.

Jeannie57

Sbel, loved Aubrey's photo! She's a happy cutie, for sure. How is your "talk" coming along? My knee is so much better, especially after using silver on it. The brave soldier came yesterday, for next time...eeek.



DebDylan, do you know why they say you have start chemo by eight weeks from surgery? There must be a reason but I sure can't figure it out. I can't imagine how frustrated you must be. (((((HUGS)))))).



Sharon, you give me hope!!! Maybe I'm just a little less afraid of stage II now.



Zoemom, I hope you heal well and are able to get lots of rest. Don't forget to get up and take a walk around your house once in a while. Drink lots of water and eat protein at every meal! Patience is an important part of DIEP recovery, too.



I have happy news: my last scab fell off my ab incision after 8 weeks! I know it's minor, but I celebrate whatever I can these days!



Happy weekend!

Anonymous

You are welcome Lahela....be so, so careful....baby steps, sister....very gentle and small movements. Some gentle tapping from the area of "normal feeling" into the area of numb, tight burning may help to desensitize the skin and teach the nerves how to act. (Nihahi explains it better....I just know it works lol....tap tap tap)



I'm totally getting a sunflower tattoo on my belly, like Aubrey