DIEP 2013
Comments
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Awesome Cherrie! Living the dream....to be DONE! Life is good
So I had my appointment and my blood draws. She ordered an ultrasound of the lump in my flap. We all feel confident it's a necrotic spot....but nobody wants to be wrong lol. Which is good. I don't want them to be wrong either.....A LOT. There will be a loud WTF?!?!?! heard round the world if it shows something, though. They are ordering a full PET scan, too...sure to show an incidentally, right?. Sigh. Cancer is one of those things that defies the laws of nature....sucks AND blows at the same time.
But in the happy column, I have a few minutes between appointments so I am in the cafe enjoying a no-bake cookie (one of life's greatest treasures) and Goldie asked if I was 12 ROFLMAO....life IS good. Snort! (One can't help but wonder if this was a comment about how I ACT rather than how I LOOK). Hehehe. Fact is, I was 45. Fact is....I don't look like that anymore. Two years of treatment including several surgeries have taken their toll. But I look more like that now than I did a year ago, that is for certain! I will try to post a picture of me a year ago...right after chemo, rads, mx, hx and a year of Herceptin. You saw what I look like now from my hiking pics. These is a big difference! For all of you lovelies just finishing treatment just know what a difference a year will make. For those of you just starting know that the changes you see in yourself are not all permanent. You just have to be an overcomer!
Movie...you know I almost always have fun, regardless of my hair color, BUT I did get hit on in the grocery store parking lot in the blonde wig.....just sayin'....
Aspinner I am a West Michigan girl, too! -
Went for follow-up today after nipple reconstruction last Friday. It already looks awesome. "I feel pretty, oh so pretty..." I have an appointment for my 3D tattooing at the PS's office December 19th. Merry Christmas to me! I will be done!
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Debdylan! There must be a wig shop in Jersey!
Hang on...I googled this one
http://www.wigsnaturallynj.com/products.html
Pics on their website look good....like whomever did them knows how to style them. Go to this or some other wig shop and get professionally fitted. $500 will get you a very nice synthetic wig. The wig shop you use should have a stylist who can cut it to your liking. Quite often they need to be thinned out to look natural. And the ends need to be trimmed sometimes.
My blonde wig was 500. The brown one 250. They both came from the wig shop. Later I bought the red one online for $100 but it didn't fit very well.. The blonde one fit the best. Some wigs shops will wash and style them for you for free, which is nice. My wig shop was 45 minutes away so I just did it at home. Synthetic hair cannot have ANY heat applied and it goes back to its same shape after you wash it, air dry it and brush it out. Get a special wig brush, wig shampoo and conditioner, too. Do not open a hot oven or dryer with your wig on....they can and will melt!
I did not want a wig. I did not want to go pick a wig. I had no interest in it at all. Losing my hair was not a big whoop to me. I know that is not the case for most women. I was dragged to the wig shop by the owner of the company I work for...God love her. She made it fun....and was there to pick me up off the floor when it was no longer fun and just really real and I started bawling. She bought two wigs for me (no insurance coverage) And then she made me wear the blonde one out of the store and to lunch where it slipped back on my head whilst talking to the waiter and we laughed so hard there were tears running down my leg. So, I did wear the wigs to work....which, frankly, was more for other people's comfort than mine. BUT I wanted very much to carry on with work as best I could and the wigs helped me to do that....baldness on a woman can be rather distracting lol...and it makes everyone think about how sick you must be and I didn't want to be just a talking disease. Other than work...baseball caps and bandanas for me....more because my head would get sunburned or cold without. My sons said I really knew how to rock being the bald mom!
So what I am trying to say in the most wordy way possible is go to a wig shop if you can. Love ya! -
I found out about Paula Young wigs online after I didn't need one anymore. A friend with thin hair wears them & they are cheap & good looking. Here is the site:
http://www.paulayoung.com/ -
Debdylan....also...a monofilament wig (monofilament on top only is fine) looks more natural than a traditional wig....a "lace" front is nice too...gives a more natural hairline look if the wind does catch it.
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Yeah, Sharon. I am so glad the nightmare is over. So, no more visits until Dec? You have been cut loose?
I have bronchoscopy tomorrow at 1pm. This cracks me up. Don't eat or drink after midnight. I told the woman who called me that it would be the same instructions if I had to be there at 6am. She chuckled, and said that's true. You can have something 8 hours before if you like. Yeah, I will be sure to get up at 4 in the morning to eat breakfast....lol. This has to be the end of my tests. It has to be.
Bailey, you really do look young in that pic. I saw your pic after your chemo, etc. and you look very good. Would never know you have been sick. But, in that particular pic you look very very young. Take the compliment girl! The other's will back me up.
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Thank you Goldie....and everyone else for your kind words.
Goldie - How is the anticipation? Doing ok?
And yup I had my flap from my tummy but they used my SIEA vein instead of my DIEP vein. I did not have imaging done before surgery. I had several abdominal surgeries prior to flap....2 c-sections, gall bladder-orectomy, hysterectomy and oopherectomy. I went in to sx fully expecting a tram flap (which was ok with me...I really just wanted a boob) I was told however that I was lucky lucky lucky they found an siea vein and that it was intact. It was not expected. Whatever...i don't think I know the difference. -
Goldie, I go back to see Dr. T in 6 weeks for another follow-up. Good luck & prayers for you tomorrow!
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Cherrie, so happy for you! You sound really cheerful - good for you!
Sharon, yayyy for you too!
DebDylan, nothing makes me angrier than incompetence, and people who won't take responsibility. No wonder you swore at them! Is there maybe another hospital where you can go for chemo? Don't know if I would trust this facility. And yes, you have to check the chemo bags when they hang them that it is what you're supposed to be getting, and in the correct quantities. Cannot leave it to chance, unfortunately. As far as wigs: I ordered a very cute Gabor wig (sassy bob style) from www.wigsalon.com for $104. They were very patient and helpful on the phone as far as colour etc., and I was so impressed when the wig arrived. It was light, and it breathed, unlike the first (expensive!) wig that I bought which was heavy and unbearably hot.
Question for the Canadian ladies here. I heard of someone in my town (in BC) who was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. She wants a double mastectomy, but has been told by her doc that she would have to pay for the prophylactic side herself. This does not sound right to me. I had the choice of BMX, and there was never any talk of having to pay for it myself. Can anybody shed some light here, please? I think this doc is confused.
Nihahi, good for you on starting yogalates - you will enjoy it. Guess those people were just stunned by your unexpected revelations - lol. For us in this boat it has become totally normal to discuss MX, scars, etc, but the rest of the world has no clue, and don't know how to deal with it. They will soon come to love you, our Mother hen!
Proud of myself. Did two sets of leg lifts in the gym this morning, both legs together, for the first time after DIEP 4 months ago. 15 with straight legs, and 15 with bent legs. There was some pulling in the tummy, but it was doable. Slowly, slowly we're getting to where we were before - lol.
Kuka, belated happy birthday to you! Cake sounds good too.
Goldie, we will all be there in the spirit tomorrow. Best wishes!
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Hi liefie,
About your question to Canadian ladies. Me too never heard about payment for prophylactic side. Nobody mention any money at this point.
I'm 3 weeks today post op. My mysterious rib pain is gone now.
Healing nicely. Energy level is still pretty low. But trying to cook soup for my little girl. -
sweetpickle - I felt like a new woman after that first cut and color. Your new profile pic looks great!
Cherry - you are done!!! Wow that is huge!!! When you feel up to it, champagne is a must.
Bailey - blonde hair suits you! You look fabulous! Sorry you have to have a PET scan... better safe than sorry though.
DebDylan - at this point I would focus on moisturizing and gently massaging that incision, to help break down scar tissue and soften it. I would think the raised area would be either scar tissue or swelling... if it feels hard I would think scar tissue but that's just my guess. I can't believe the hospital lost your echo results! Will you have to do it over again?
aspinner, every surgeon seems to do it a little differently but I would not recommend DIEP solely on wanting to have less surgeries. The surgery is difficult to recover from and many of us need multiple revisions after the initial surgery to get things right. If you have any doubts you might want to get another opinion from another DIEP surgeon, and even consider other options.
2timer - so glad you are starting to turn that corner! I bet you love having those four drains out! Try to not worry too much about the chemo - I know it was much worse in my mind than it was to actually do it.
Sharon, congrats on the nipple recon! That's awesome that the results came out so great, and right away!
goldie, I really really hope everything comes out okay tomorrow with your bronchoscopy. You have been such a huge support to me and probably countless other women here, cheering us on. It needs to be your turn!
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DebDylan, don't give up. I don't know to whom you spoke at the hospital, but call the cardiology department and tell them your story. If they can't help, ask your insurance company who the cardiologist was who read your echo--they paid him/her, so they'll know--and give that physician's office a call. They should have a record of the doctor reading the scan.
Bailey, yup. You look like you're maybe twelve years old in the blonde wig. Wow...
I bought a nice wig for around $150 and my insurance didn't pay a dime for my "cranial prosthesis." I wore it for a few weeks and ditched it. Everyone in my world knew I was bald as an egg and quickly got used to my hats and scarves. I was determined that chemo was NOT going to make me ashamed of my head. I even went commando some, and no one blinked. With earrings and eye make-up, we look exotic, not sick.
Cherrie, blessings for a smooth and painless recovery! Welcome back to the land of the awake!
Goldie...we're with you tomorrow, and you're in our prayers tonight.
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Well-said, Christina! I echo your words to everyone. Is that allowed? lol. How are you doing?
Sharon, so excited for you! It gives me hope that we will all be there one day, too.
Cherrie, congratulations!
Good for you, Liefie. I know that was a goal of yours.
Goldie, I'll be praying for you and waiting anxiously to hear your GOOD news. By the way, the only NW lady I really "know" is Movie! It will be good to meet her and others, too. -
Debdylan, if you work at the hospital the should be able to check the appointment booking to verify you were there. No insurance was used? That might be another way to verify a date for the echo. But if the echo is free, get another one before surgery, one half way through and one at the end to monitor your heart for damage. I had some small damage done from the AC. But not enough to worry about.
And try Martino Cartier in Washington Township for a wig! He is fabulous and makes you feel like a rock star. He's a big celebrity and is constantly on television. It was the first positive experience I had after diagnosed. And there is no charge for the wig! http://friendsarebyyourside.com/
Sweetpickle and Bailey, you are both beautiful! Since we are sharing photos, here's one of me in my ridiculous glamour wig with Martino Cartier!
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Ooh-la-la, Bluebird!
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I have a question about the Manuka Honey. I have read there is the kind you use only externally, and then the kind you can eat. I have a friend who has had a terrible problem with thrush on the back of her tongue since she was on a long course of various antibiotics. Do you think it would help her, and what would be the best way to administer it? I was thinking taking a tongue depressor and painting her tongue with it, and trying not to swallow it for a minute, or so. Nothing has worked for her, and it is effecting her taste buds, etc.
Thanks for all the well wishes. I am not going to say I am not scared, but this too shall pass. Wait till I get there and start barking out orders about needles, iv's and how they move my body around because of the expanders. They are going to love me.
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Jeanie, you are too funny! I hated my wig! I am not a wig kind of gal. I just wore hats all the time. lol... But I do have a neon pink wig that I liked!
Good luck tomorrow Goldie!
So today I had two consultations for radiation. One doctor told me I needed radiation right away since it's been three months since my last chemo. Despite my recent surgery and not being healed. She wanted to do a CAT scan right away and tattoos, so I said okay. I feel totally rushed into this and I'm not thinking well anymore. They have a new affiliation with MD Anderson Hospitals so they are using their protocols. But this location is looking a bit run down!
Second opinion doctor says not to hurry so much, and begins sending pictures to "his" plastic surgeon to see what he thinks of my wounds. Ugh! His affiliation is with Fox Chase in Philadelphia, locally known but not ranked very high. He has brand new state of the art equipment though.
I'm so confused as to what to do. I'm going to go back to pondering which puppy to get! ;-)
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I probably wouldn't use Manuka honey to treat thrush. Thrush is a fungal infection and may feed of the sugar. Besides extra acidophilus in yogurt, capsules, etc., salt water gargles and peroxide rinses may help. My daughter had thrush as a baby and we used nystatin and diflucan I believe.
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Wow, Bluebird! Very cute! I don't know why I didn't picture you a blond. I love this putting faces to names thing. It's great. Is blond your natural color?
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I'm more of a honey-blond. Manuka of course!
Of course my hair came in white, then blonde, now some brown and some gray. It can't make up it's mind! And it's totally crazy curly with a faux-hawk on top! -
I'm echoing you, Jennie, Ooh-la-la Bluebird!
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LOL, Bluebird. When you're ready you can have any hair color you want. Thank goodness for a good colorist. I wonder when we decide to let it go grey? I know when my mother in law was in the assited living home the dining room was a sea of grey hair. But, then I see women in their seventies still coloring their hair. I will color my hair as long as it doesn't look silly. But, I might be too old to realize I look silly...lol. Hmm, that was an optimistic statement. Girls, I am going to live too long to realize I look silly!!! We should all strive for that.
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Sharon1942: congrats!!! Lol
Cherrie: congrats!!!
Goldie: healing vibes!!
I napped twice today!!!! Wth...
Anyway I feel good body wise. Nothing hurts. I see PS on Tuesday! I hope all is well and I can go on ...
Having brunch with my girlfriends tomorrow!!;) fun!!!! Can't wait! My friend lives on a lake!! -
One more thing, Bluebird. I missed your post about the rads. I can't believe there is more you need to go through. I am so sorry. Hope you figure out the best way to go, and the best place to have it done. You are a smart lady, and you will find the place that suits you best. Don't rush into any decision. And, yes...find a puppy.
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Hi Ladies.......
Manuka Honey came today from Amazon......(the one Bailey recommended) can this shirt go on my sutures?????? So it's honey, gauze, tegaderm?
Goldie, I will be thinking about you tomorrow.......sending positive vibes that all will go well, and you will be free to move to the next level on your recon........in your pockets and fingers crossed! (((Hugs)))
Sharon and Cherrie.......I confess that I am more than a little jealous about you both being all done......I hit a wall today, and felt so anxious over the fact that I. Am. Not. Done. .......that I almost had a panic attack......I have had external pressure the past few days trying to deal with some real estate DD owns in another state.....so I have been more stressed than usual, but a panic attack??? Anyway, congratulations to you both....and please stick around to help us less-experienced ladies cope with this crazy recon shirt.........
Blue-you can't fool me.....I see that steely glint in your eye, and I know that buried underneath that sweet exterior is a backbone of iron......... When is the puppy arriving?
Liefie! You go girl! I wasn't doing anything close to that before stage 2! Proud of you!
Jeannie....looking forward to meeting you next Saturday for lunch! (You are the only reason I am going....is that a bad thing? ). It will be fun to connect! We can compare scars!!!!!! LOL
Well, my SIL is in town, so I have to cut this short.....Nihahi, how was golfing today?
Forgive me for not including all, but I DO think of you all, every day.
2timer......congrats! You DID it!
Namaste and God Bless-Jackie -
Bailey- Can you tell me how your oophectomy went? How was the recovery? Any sugestions? Thanks!
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Sweet, are you BRCA positive?
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Yep, brca 1. Im curiois what the side effects are fter ooph
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Sweet, are you already taking tamoxifen?
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You bet, honeypickle! Lol. I was 5 months post final chemo...So we have to factor that in. I was already in chemically induced menopause from the chemo. I was on the hyster sisters website for information. There is good info there, but I felt like I didn't really fit, I guess....certainly not the camaraderie we have here. Anyway..I went in early in the morning...the plan was to evaluate after some time in the recovery room whether or not I would stay overnight or not (and I did stay two nights.....was horribly sick from narcotics....no surprise there lol). They did it all laproscopically. I had some fibroids, too, but no complications from those. My worst issues in hospital were being over hydrated....I thought for sure I'd drown. I had a drain hole that was still open and I was soaking a maxi pad every hour from that hole. My hands and face were like balloons and eyes were little slits. I had to go to the bathroom constantly. Ridiculous. I called the docs office myself to get them to send the order to the hospital to cut the fluids. Anyway, I did ok first two weeks (nothing like diep), third week I quit sleeping. Did some ambien so I could go back to work.
You get swelly belly for a while after. Belly binder was so helpful. I had some residual pain where my ovaries were for about 4 months. I kept my cervix...the surgeon "coned out" the area of the cervix that gets cancer and I was able to keep the rest. It helps with ....uh....satisfaction....and it also helps to keep your bladder where it should be. I had some problems after with dryness and thinness of the vag walls but there is a pill that you can insert that helps with that. It is an estrogen pill but in such a small amount that MO said I could use it. I am fine now....it was just for a few months after.
Ask a anything you want to know!
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