DIEP 2013

Cherrie

Good question CJKLOSE. I have no experience with this yet, but my doctor told me that when I lose weight my breasts will get smaller. It would be nice to hear from ladies that have been through this themselves.

mtpeteacher

Hello, again, Flappers I'm almost 2wks out from bilateral DIEP....healing seems to be going well. Still stripping drains and wearing the thigh-to-foob girdle. Takes me a long time to shower still but each day gets easier and I get more upright! At my age, it's amazing to have "the girls" back in a perky position again . Will be anxiously awaiting swelling going down so the new body becomes more evident.



Cherrie: glad you are doing well and are all done! You give us all hope!



As I reread the last week of posts to catch up, it makes me thankful that we have places of support like this one where people really get our story and support our journey.

krissy42

6 more days until my surgery. I'm getting nervous!

Janet_M

Holy cow, I can't believe how fast this thread moves.  I just went back to work last week, and it's really interfering with the rest of my life. I barely have time to read. Seriously,  LE exercises, medical appointments, tummy massages, creams,  & yoga can fill up my entire day. How on earth did I ever manage to work ten hours a day? There are so many things I took for granted that are REALLY hard to do. I'm so used to doing things at my own pace, and now I have to move fast. And I really can't jump in and out of my car, or open heavy doors, or carry a bolt of fabric without a lot of effort. So every day I have MartyJ's voice in my head reminding me that healing is a slow process, and I try my best to just dial it back.  I'm wiped out by the end of the day - and usually in bed by 9. 

So I'm trying to catch up because I really miss hearing about everyone's progress, adventures, and triumphs.

It is so nice to see photos of you guys. Sweetpickle - congratulations on you first cut and colour - you look fantastic. Bluebird & Bailey - I love your glamorous blonde wigs. Beautiful.  And seriously - I wouldn't have known they were wigs. 

DebDylan -  I have to echo what sbelizabeth said - the anticipation of losing your hair is far worse than the actual experience of being bald. And it really is a blip in the whole scheme of things.  And it has nothing to do with vanity - and everything to do with familiarity. Our hair is part of us, and baldness makes us vulnerable - don't apologize for your emotions. The night I shaved my head I was a warrior - but the weeks prior to that - sitting in the chair at a wig salon, I had a nervous breakdown. And when I was bald, my favorite thing was the feeling of my head against a crsip freshly laundered pillow . Everyone should experience that once in their life. 

What they should NOT experience is the shabby treatment you had at the hospital. That post made me shudder. You needed to be able to trust, and your were truly let down by their incompetence. I can't believe that these things happen. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. 

Cherrie- You're done! That's so fantastic. Such a long road - and now you can be comfortable, and finally say that you are finished. 

2timer- Another big Yahoo for making it to week three without any complications. Week three was a big turning point for me - and I think that if you've made it this far and you're still feeling good - it'll be smooth sailing (I'm knocking on wood as we speak)

Carmelle - Cat ears is a much better word for those weird thingies on either side of the incision. I've always though of them as pillowcase corners, and even though mine are slowly relaxing, I hope to be rid of them in the new year.  By the way - I travelled five weeks after my surgery to Florida for a lazy vacation.  I had a great time, but... I couldn't keep up with my friends. I was on the sofa while they went out shopping, and they'd come back and get me for lunch.I wasn't allowed to swim, but I could still ride a  bike and go for short walks. And I couldn't run through the airport in Atlanta when we were late for our connecting flight. But that's easily solved - don't get a connecting flight. They're always troublesome anyway.

Skiing at 19 weeks may be ambitious. I'm at 14 weeks and my core is still pretty weak. My legs are great - and I'm good on a bicycle - but when I'm lying down I still find it hard to twist and sit up. Skiing at this point would be rough. If I fell I'd just have to call over some handsome ski patrol guys and have them bring me some brandy. 

Mammalou - Hats off to you for going back to work after 5 weeks with holes in your stomach. You deserve a medal! And the last thing you need is someone making such an inconsiderate comment about 'another' appointment. People don't have a clue how much time this BC stuff takes. And there is no option - we have to live two live rolled into one. 

Nihahi - Your 'outing' experience sounds pretty cathartic. Was it? I find it impossible to predict when I'm going to feel like exposing my personal story, or when to keep it close to my chest (so to speak). Sounds like your were in a nice safe environment. 

Cjklose - Dumb question? Hardly!- it's the one that everyone asks. To the best of my knowledge your breasts will fluctuate with your weight. It's one of the great things about using your natural tissue  - it reacts naturally. That's one of the first things I asked my surgeon. 

I haven't had time to compeletely catch up, but to everyone who is struggling - I wish you strength, and optimism, and safety. 

Janet

Anonymous

MtPeteacher...Good for you! Glad to hear from you!



Krissy....hang in there....waiting is almost over!



Best to all of our new flappers this week! You got this!

Cherrie

Janet, I wish words could flow from me like they do you. You have a real knack.



Krissy- The waiting is always a struggle. We will all be there with you.



Mtpeteacher- You sound amazing for 2 weeks out. Keep hydrating, walking, and resting well. I am 3 days out and am wearing the knee to foob garment also. You get use to it. I have come to feel better with it on.



DebDylan- When I see girls who have lost their hair I still think they look beautiful. This too shall pass. Wear funky hats, pretty earrings, etc. There is a grieving, but hair comes back. Just be yourself and celebrate life. You will do great.



There is a light at the end of the tunnel girls. It is a long year, but you will get there. I miss my "old" self, but am now embracing this new me. One step at a time. Celebrate these small steps along the way and be thankful for this site, our doctors, loved ones, our healing powers, etc. we may not return to "normal", but a great "new normal".

nihahi

Wonderful words of encouragement and understanding, cherrie....hope you stay with us, for those of us still "on the journey."

kimdy

DebDylan I had taxotere & cytoxin.  Not the ones that usually damage your heart?!

I had no cardiac workup prior to starting, but through cardiac echo & MRI they determined that the heart had been damaged.  It has improved enough for surgery, but it will require medication indefinatly.

lahela

Nihahi, thanks for the tips! I'll try lying down as you describe - you're right, it does stretch everything but is much easier on the back. And I'll try to be patient...

Gentle hugs to everyone!

Tracy516

Krissy42!! Keep busy! And check in here. Funny, caring and informative!

nihahi

Morning Tracy! Hope it's a great day for you.

lahela....it will help. For each of us, there seems to be a certain "tipping point" in straightening up. Once you get just a hair past that point, it seems to come together quickly. My doc wanted me to be "aware" of the tightness in my skin and tummy, but not let it be a limiting factor. There is a difference between "tight" and "pain", once you figure it out, it's easier to let yourself stretch. Keep that tummy skin well moisturized too, not just the incision area, but the whole front and sides of you. You'll get there, girl!

christina0001

CJKLOSE - welcome! I can relate to your situation as I am 2 hours away from my PS. I have seen my PS 2 days post-hospital discharge, went back one week later to have a nurse pull a drain out, and then went back again at the 3-week and 5-week marks. I definitely needed someone to drive me to the 2 day and one week appointments. I probably could have driven myself to the 3-week appointment but I was still a little fatigued, so I let my husband take me to that one too. Since then I have been fine on my own. That's just my experience though. Seems like some women here A. have fewer follow up appointments, and B. need more time before they are up to driving. You will probably also need to go up for a consultation and then possibly a separate pre-op appointment (bloodwork, review of meds, etc.), so that is two trips pre-surgery. At this point, I do not see my PS again until a check-in before my stage 2/revision surgery to even my breasts out a little bit. I'm sure I'll have at least one follow up after that. Once I am healed from that, it's on to getting a nipple! I'll let you estimate how many trips this is!

Good luck to all the ladies going into surgery this week! Quite a few!

kuka21174923

CJ, two hours is doable. As long as you don't mind making trips, it would work. Many times ps will let you email photos if there's something wrong. I live 20 minutes away and I would text him pictures at the beginning when I had my blisters so I didn't have to drive;)

Goldie, I was very annoyed, but last night when I came home from eating dinner with friends DH had cleaned the whole house and done the laundry, so I'm happy again;). We, mothers, don't have the luxury to be sick, even when we go through all of this, but if DH gets a cold, the world is over and they can move out of bed! Just venting;)

I have a question, why hasn't anybody posted a picture after DIEP in here? I know some if you have done it on the picture forum, but why not here? Is it not allowed?

hrf

Nihahi, I would say the first 2 weeks were uneventful although there was/is a small area of necrotic tissue which the doctor felt could be corrected with a revision and she was not worried about it. However the home care nurse told me that she needed to see what was going on underneath and without the doctor's approval, and without me understanding, she did a little bit of debriding. Also on the top of the flap where there was some scabbing, she used Vaseline to soften it and removed the scabs. The doctor had ordered Polysporine but the nurse started using bitadine. Since the debriding the wounds have been bleeding and oozing. I went to the doctor immediately and she said no more debriding. The doctor ordered Flamazine to be used on the wounds and also put me on an antibiotic. After a week of no improvement the doctor ordered AquacilAG to be used on the wounds. After a week there was definitely some improvement but where the nurse had done the debriding, the wound has opened up so now the doctor wants it packed every day using bitadine in addition to the AquacilAG on the rest of the wound. The nurse now wants to change some things as she feels things are not healing fast enough and she believes that she and the wound care expert she works with know more than the doctor. I emailed the doctor and her clinical nurse this morning and also sent a few pictures along. The response from the doctor is that she is the expert and wants her orders followed. The home care nurse is very sweet and I do like her. But I don't think she truly understands the DIEP. She has only ever had one other patient with reconstruction. Anyway, that's my story. So here I am at 5 weeks and the wound seems worse than it was at 2 weeks and the nurse is causing me to be anxious.

nihahi

hrf...from your description, I agree the home care nurse should be required to follow your surgeon's orders. What she has been doing (aside from using vaseline....wth?) aren't necessarily outside the parameters of wound care, but could be outside the specific needs of "free flap" care, as the flap tissue isn't fully vascularized for awhile. Before she puts her hands on you, maybe can you politely say your doc has stated that her medical orders are to be followed without alteration.  I think she is legally bound to follow dr's orders, and if she feels the need to go outside those guidelines, she has to get it cleared first by your doctor. At least, it would be that way in Canada. Your wounds may have progressed as they have, even if no changes to protocol were done, but, you and your doc have no way of knowing that now.

A comment on the driving questions: If you mean to drive on your own, please remember it involves more than just sitting in a car. If your drive is 2 hours in length....will you be able to walk, etc. unassisted at your destination as needed? There are weight restrictions for things like pulling....could you open the car door, reach and twist to put on a seat belt without help? More importantly, you have to be able to physically and mentally respond to unexpected, sometimes dangerous situations. Could you quickly and forcefully stomp on the brakes....turn the wheel....cope with being jerked sideways....???? I found going over bumps, the "torque" of road curvings at speed pretty uncomfortable for a number of weeks....as a passenger. I think I was driving at about 4 weeks, very short trips, withing our small town, at speeds no higher than 50km/hr. I wasn't ready for highway driving until around 6 to 8 weeks on my own. 

Geralyn.....how are you this morning?

MartyJ

I drove my DH to and from his spine injection at 3 weeks - 45 min each way. Really exhausting. I didn't remember much about the drive. Used foam padding between me and the lap/shoulder belts. Got home and slept for 2 hours. Didn't drive like that again for 3 weeks. The first stage of DIEP is big surgery and you need to give yourself plenty of time to heal properly. Very few of us bounce back like Kuka, though I wish we did. You might ask your doc is there is a Hope Lodge you could stay at for free for a few days after hospital discharge so you are close by at the most critical times.

hrf

Nihahi, I am in Canada and yes, she is required to follow doctor's order. I think you hit the nail on the head about the free flap needing time to become vascularized. She really does not understand that. I keep telling myself that what she did didn't make a difference because otherwise I will be upset not only with her but also with myself. I have an email from the doctor stating clearly that no changes are to be made and I will show that to her tomorrow. I'm ok with the slow healing. It's the doubts that she is putting in my head that bother me. But I trust my PS totally. Anyway, I appreciate your response. Thanks.

nihahi

"smack".....sound of me slapping myself on the forehead...hrf....I forgot you ARE in Canada...must be the sinus/cold tablets toying with my old brain. re: regrets.....won't change a blinking thing, girl....go forward. Good to hear you trust your ps...there is alot of "healing energy" in well-founded trust. 

Have good days ladies. 

lahela

I had a shower all by myself while hubby was at work today. He had been showering me because I couldn't bring myself to do it. It feels stupid to be proud of doing something so basic, but I am. Today is a good day for me and I hope it is a good one for all of you, too.

nihahi

WAY TO GO LAHELA!!!!!!!! Nothing "stupid" about it AT ALL....it is a HUGE threshold you have crossed!!!!!

Janet_M

Lahela - You SHOULD be proud of bathing yourself! I know there was a time where you didn't like to see your own body - so to go from that emotion, to giving yourself a bath is a fabuous step forward. Way to go, sister!

FierceBluebird

Good luck to all the new surgeries this week!

Okay, totally off topic.... Puppy update.... Rescue Shiba Inu it is. Now....Red or Cream?????

Of course the puppies don't look this good. They came from an abusive situation and have hardly any fur!

sweetpickle

I vote red bluebird, super cute!

Morningsun1

Red!

I really like the black and tan ones.

hrf

Lahela, way to go! Everything we do that is new is a milestone on the healing journey.



DebDylan, your PS was right in my opinion. To me scabs are a good sign of healing below. Just leave them alone and by the time they come off, the wound below has healed. I can't go backwards so I just have to focus on healing from here on in.

Cstrong

Hello ladies. Tomorrow I will be 2 weeks out from my bilateral mast and Diep/tram (still not sure which they did). I've had lots of complications and my right flap is still at risk. Can't stand the thought of losing it after the hell I e been through. Also can't stand the thought of another procedure. I still have a drain in the right side and can't shower ugh

And, after 6 days without getting up and 10 days of narcoti s my hemmorroids are the worst they've been since childbirth

nihahi

If it's a boy....white (wwwwwwilbur)

if it's a girl....."honey" red (Manuka)

Janet....how is work week #2 going???

bailey....aren't you seeing your ps today???

nihahi

debdylan......that means A/C has a 95 to 97% chance of NO heart problems

cstrong......hugs, hugs, prayers and positive vibes going to you.

Anonymous

Cstrong...So sorry....Hugs....praying for healing for you! All that and hemmorhoids too! Noooo! That goes way off the "fair" scale I think we can all say that you have a very lovely daughter who kept us all informed of your progress early on...So take heart in that.



Yup Nihahi, I see the PS late this afternoon (4:15). Kind of excited....kind of nervous.

kuka21174923

I vote Red! Yogi for boy, Lucy for girl