DIEP 2013

Cherrie

Kuka- Happy Birthday! You could be my daughter. Hope it was wonderful



Bailey-So sorry to hear about your loss. That is hard.



I am at the hotel and just took my shower with Hibiclens. I will do that again at 5:45. The surgical center is across the street. I will leave at 6:20.



THIS SHOULD BE IT GIRLS. LAST ONE. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏I started this journey 10 mo. ago and am glad it is coming to an end. I will miss my doctor though. She has been there for me and changed my life for the better.



Nighty night. Can't wait to be with Wilbur tomorrow. TOWANDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous

GO GET 'EM, CHERRIE!!! WOOT WOOT! SOOOOOO happy for you!

sweetpickle

Sweet dreams Cherrie, see ya on the other side!

Anonymous

Awww, Sweetpickle! You look beautiful! I love your new hair!

faith729

Hey all I've been a busy bee trying to get my assignments done before surgery Tuesday ! Along with work the kids etc oldest son is on crutches from a football injury fingers crossed he'll be off them after his appointment Friday.



Anyway I'm out of work for a while after my surgery next week so I'm sure I will have lots of time to catch up.



Peaceful and healing thoughts to everyone:)



Has anyone heard from Gini23 I know she's a teacher so I'm sure she's busy this time of year just wondering if everything is ok.

goldie4040

Faith, so good to hear from you.  Sorry about your son.  Hope he is off those crutches before your surgery.  Keep us posted.  You shouldn't be that out of it after the surgery, I would hope.  I am praying for you, and the best outcome possible. 

Jeannie57

YAY, Cherrie!!! It's so good to hear about someone finishing this up!!! Blessings to you!



Bailey, sorry for your loss. It reminds me what a gift life is.



Nihahi, good for you for being honest. I only wish you would have received more support. Maybe after a few more sessions, hopefully.



Movie, hope you were able to get your problem resolved!

faith729

Goldie because I'm in child care my doctor asked me not to resume full responsibility with the little girl I nanny for 3 weeks ! My bosses are amazingly understanding with all the time I've had off this year for surgery.

sweetpickle

Hi Faith, sorry to hear that your sonis injured.



Thank you Bailey, I am loving my new red hair. :-)

goldie4040

Faith, that makes sense.  It's still major surgery, and going back to work too soon wouldn't be good.  I meant you shouldn't be that out of it from the anesthesia because I don't believe it's an very long surgery, and that you should be able to touch base with us fairly soon after it's over.  I type too fast sometimes, and I type what I would say if I was talking to you, but it doesn't make sense when read...ugh. 

Anonymous

Hi Faith! Happy to hear from you! Sorry about your son! Darn boys, huh? I just saw a sign with the definition of boy on it....A Noise With Dirt On It But I wouldn't have it any other way!

Sweet - I 've probably said this before but I had three wigs...different colors and different lengths! Very fun! When my hair came in first we dyed it blonde and later red...and then back to normal

Here is me as a blonde (this is wig) Ha!

Jeannie57

Bailey, you are beautiful!!!

nihahi

sweetpickle...LOVE the "you do". Makes that smile of yours even brighter!!!! You LOOK happier!!!!

goldie, just keep typing girl, we love to hear from you! 

jeannie...I'm pretty sure I wasn't really expecting "support", but I was kind of "stunned" at outing myself. I certainly didn't go into great details, but it will be interesting to see if any of them "approach" me next week!

time to pop a melatonin...sadly, never did have that glass of wine tonight....tomorrow..after golf! IF IT STOPS RAINING AND WARMS UP.....snow in the mountains today....winter's coming this way!

nihahi

oops bailey...missed your photo...gosh, another stunner we have amongst us!!!!!! Love the new "signature" too!

kuka21174923

Cherry, good luck!

Bailey, love your eyes;) and the wig looks great!

Sweetpickle, love the hair.

Nihahi, I can't believe you were nervous. I know you're a strong woman and you can do it. When you talk to them imagine that you're talking to us. You'll win their hearts just like you won ours.

I had a great birthday. My DH and kids gave me some workout outfits for the fall and mother in law gave me hiking shoes. They're black and purple and feel very comfy. I can't wait to try them out! My DH brought BBQ home for dinner and we all had a great time laughing together. I had a hat and some feathers to wear. I wish I could figure out how to post pictures in here.

sweetpickle

Thanks Nahahi and kuka.



Bailey- Thats a great wig and you are rockin the blonde! :-)

Moviemaniac

Way to go Nihahi .......yep, if I can do it in a Japanese Bath in Jozankai......you can do it in a yogalates class !!!!! Good on you! You NEVER know......you may have started an internal discussion Ina lady or two.......



Faith, good to hear from you! Will be thinking of you next week as you undergo your surgery.......fast and uneventful healing....XO



Sweet....you are ROCKIN' the new do...........

Bailey.....DO blondes have more fun???????



Love to all......going to bed, this has been two hellish days (nonBC related carp........but the shirt still stinks! )



Love to all......

Morningsun1

Good to see you back here, faith. Good luck, Cherrie. You will prevail, movie. (((xxx))) to all.

Tracy516

Bailey!! That picture is great!

nihahi

Hey deb...sounds like a good time to start putting yourself on the "important person" list, and take good care of yourself. Doesn't mean, you have to be a "saint", just do the best you can to be as healthy as you can. It's a lifestyle change....takes time. At 6 weeks out, you likely still have lots of swelling happening and that may "come and go" also. I thought at my 3 MONTH appt, my boob swelling had resolved...nope...said my PS, and he was so right. At 5 months post, I can defo tell the difference from 2 months ago. The tummy incisions will likely "look" better, scar wise, than the boob incisions at this point, because they have more tension on them which may make them appear to be flatter and smoother. There is more "loose tissue" around the boobs, so you may be more aware of the swelling, scar changes there for awhile. You have mentioned your concerns with scarring a few times. At this point...your scars are VERY active....they will settle down, they will fade....it takes time...it takes months, not days....it may take more than a year, or less than a year...everyone is different. If your incisions are well healed, keep them moisturized WELL, and massage them. Maybe take a photo now...put it away....and look at it in 2 months....bet you see a big difference.

cherrie....sweet dreams, gentle healing....can't wait to hear from you.

sbelizabeth

Cherrie, not that you have any pockets right now...but we're all crowding behind the drape, right beside your anesthesiologist, cheering you on! 

Jeannie57

Deb, are you talking about raised areas at the ends of your ab incision? If so, those are referred to as "dog ears" and they are smoothed out during Stage II surgery. Good luck on Tuesday. I tried to think of it as chemoTHERAPY, meaning it was helping me find every last stinking bugger in me and obliterating it! The waiting, wondering how it will affect you, is the worst. It may not be as bad as you fear. Hang in there!



Cherrie, I'm excited to hear from you that you are DONE! WOOP!



Today it has been nine weeks since surgery and I feel good other than some moping. I need to be around people more. I get to meet Movie on the 28th! There is a lunch date for NW bco ladies.

kuka21174923

Deb, I had a part of my tummy incision that was raised and hard tithe touch. My ps took care if that during stage 2 and is now gone!

I can't believe that they're doing this to you again!!! You're in your right to be mad, I would be too. I'm so sorry for what they're making you go through.

goldie4040

Sweet, love your hair!!!!  RED...yes!

Cherrie, good thoughts for you today.  

Bailey, great pic!  Love the wig.  Looks so real. Also, how old are you....12?

Deb, glad you got to rant at somebody.  You needed to get it out!  Now, take a deep breath.

Jeannie, I am jealous you guys in the NW got something organized, and are meeting up.  That is great!!!!Take lot of pics.

kuka21174923

Deb, my ps said it wouldn't go away on ots own. He said it was the stitches protruding through the incision and it just has to be smooth out in the or. But that's for scar revision and if that's all they are doing you don't need to be put down completely.

Kat-ski

I am going with a DIEP for both sides.   We will need to set you up with a consultation and CT angio appointment before scheduling surgery due to your history of multiple abdominal surgeries.  And I have to fly to their location instead of getting the angio here in Grand Rapids.  I just want to know if this is within the normal routine b/f doing the DIEP.  Can anyone fill me in?  I worry about being rejected for Diep.  I just hate how all of this is causing me mentally.  I was under impression that it would be phone consult but now b/c of previous surgeries, I have to get this done and perhaps not be able to do that kind of flap.  I wanted to get this kind of surgery so I would not have to do two separate procedures to reconstruct.(I just want less surgeries)  Anyone with thoughts?  (I do get the benefit of seeing my daughter and grandsons and I look at it like that would be rewarding in itself.)  Thanks

2timer

Just checking in.  

I had my surgery 3 weeks ago yesterday.  I went home with 6 drains.  On Monday they took the last 4 out.  I feel as if I'm getting some semblance of a normal life again.  I've been cleared to drive and I mostly take ibuprofen for pain (never any really bad pain anymore).  I still am not 100% in terms of stamina but I feel I'm getting stronger all the time.  Still very tight around my stomach and breasts but even that is slowly getting better.  Healing pretty good.  Soon I'll be moving to the next stage of treatment (chemo) and I'm really dreading it but taking things one day at a time.  All in all I feel pretty good.

MartyJ

Aspinner - it is common to get the CT angio near the doctor as the facility that does it will be familiar with what they are looking for.  If the veins don't look right on the CT, then the doc can do an ultrasound during the consult.  My CT didn't show good veins, but the ultrasound did.  If they can't do DIEP, then they may be able to do a GAP or PAP procedure.  These are different types of free flap surgeries and all very good.  Don't be wed to one option.  Very few of these free flap surgeries are one step.  The first goal is to get the flaps in place with a good blood supply.  They will go back and refine later (4 - 6 months plus).  I had implants for 28 years and they are not a one step surgery either.  There can be many problems with them (infection, necessary replacement at intervals, coldness).  I wouldn't trade my free flappers for anything.

Cherrie

I am out and Wilbur is still at my side. My surgery was only two hours and it was my final one. I had fat grafting to both breasts from inner thighs. Pain minimal, but still after effects of IV drugs.



A spinner- I live near GR. where are you going for surgery.



NWgirls- I will be in Seattle for 10 days over Thanksgiving. Hope I can meet one of you. I willbeba k longer next summer.



Going to try eat and drink . I am done!!!!!!!!!!!!!

goldie4040

Aspinner, you might want to ask if they can send a specific request to the CAT people, and then you can overnight them the disc with the CAT on it.  I am surprised that they would expect that extra expense from you.  If they are planning to do an ultrasound at the time of surgery anyway, then what it the point?  There are women here who have had Siea flaps with no CAT.  I believe Bailey is one of them.  I did have a CAT, and they weren't that happy with my vessels, but he did say he wasn't sure till he got in there.  I had a c section, and a laproscopic hysterectomy. 

Yeah, Cherrie.  Welcome back, and so happy for you.