DIEP 2013

Krissie42

my surgery I in 4 days and I am terrified... Mostly of the anesthesia. I was told my surgery will be 11 hours

nihahi

Krissie42...it will seem like a short nap to you....It is enough anesthesia to keep you under, but not an intense, deep, hard to manage level of drugs. Trust your surgical team.

Jeannie57

krissie42, deep breaths! Nihahi is right. After surgery, in my drugged state, I kept waking up, saying, "Time for surgery!" I didn't even notice I'd had it, hahaha...just be patient with yourself afterwards.

Butterfleyez, same to you! Nerves are normal, but surgery is like a nap. Hoping both of you have smooth recoveries and enjoy your new, soft, warm boobs!

I see my oncologist tomorrow for my four month checkup. Hopefully nothing shows up that is a problem (like my lungs) that would delay my stage II surgery on Wednesday. This is the first time I am going to an MO appt. by myself. I am hopeful.

nihahi

jeannie....wear something with BIG POCKETS....cause we're all coming with you....TOWANDA!

Jeannie57

Yippee for good company!

butterfleyez

krissie42 same here! 10hrs seems so serious. Like nihahi said I keep trying to remember that 3hrs or 10 will all feel the same to me while I'm sleep. I think the scary part is that I equate more hours to more risk although I know the risk is the same regardless. It's been super helpful to see all of the ladies on here that are on the other side of surgery.

LucyV

this will be my sixth time having anesthesia and the last three times I had it were much better than the first three. They have made a lot of progress in 35 years! I worry about waking up in pain but then I realize they won't let me be in agonizing pain....I worry about throwing up but then realize they have good drugs for that now. I hope to just take everything day by day ( or hour by hour!)

goldie4040

Good luck to everybody having procedures this week. Positive outcomes across the board!!!!

ladypirate13

well, I have been a stalker since Friday the 13th (lucky huh?) last month with my DCIS diagnosis and finally decided on the DIEP. Left side only. Not sure when the surgery will be, but will give them the go ahead to schedule it tomorrow.

My reason going with the DIEP is that my DCIS area is 7cm (!) and a lumpectomy would be huge out of my 34b. With it so widely scattered, clear margins aren't guaranteed and more than one lumpectomy would probably be needed and then, may still need mastectomy if still mot clear. I have an 8 and 10 year old that don't need to be seeing me go thru all those surgeries without a guaranteed cure (plus radiation and reconstruction over 9-12 months). Lets go ahead and get it all done in one swoop, right? And a plus is to get that pooch out...not a bad turn of events.... So looks like I'll be joining the club!

So how to plan? Tips for recovery!. What do I wear? Sleep I was reading is with like 100 pillows? Button down shirts!? Sweat pants? Front closing bras only? Chug colace? What is the one thing you didn't live without or wish someone told you first.

I know there's other threads, but can someone lead me to the best one? Reading thru 1000s of posts is brain numbing!

Guess ill update my signature but just joined...yippee.

mrtw43

I want to wish everyone well this week of surgeries and recoveries.

Lady pirate, there is a great list of things to bring and what you will need afterward in this thread, the one thing I wish I would have thought of was changing out the shower head in my bathroom to the long flexible hose. I realized this when i had to take a shower in the hospital, the hose was really helpful. When i got home i could sit in the shower and hold the shower head myself. I still needed help washing my hair for a few weeks but the other times I could do it myself. good Luke to you

Kat-ski

Good Morning Sisters! The weekend is past. Healing thoughts today for those healing. For those who are on little vacations, hope the weekend was more than you expected. I did some karaoke with some girls from my tween years. Geez, I felt 13 on Friday!! lol.

I wake up today and am not feeling so great and wish I could stay warm in bed. That won't happen b/c m mom has cut back on her driving and she has given me all of her doctor's appts. until the end of the year. Still wish I could climb back in bed.

One of my girlfriends from school was having irregular heartbeats Friday. She was in hospital overnight. Blood tests showed no heart attack but she did have a stress test on Sat. morn. and sees the doc this morning. She went home on Saturday. I will carry her in my pocket today.(thanks for the phrase) It gives me comfort I can have her close. Off I go and hit the roads.

Everyone have a something special happen today. I am tired of all of the negative things related since BC started last June 2012.

Love ya Sisters!

goldie4040

Ladypirate, welcome. Glad you found us, and finally spoke up. This is a scary time for you, but you have made the right decision. Like somebody right before me said, there is a list here somewhere on what to bring for surgery, but you did mention sleeping,and I believe the one BIG thing I did for myself was have a recliner ready to sleep it. It's a life saver for almost all of us. Since you are doing a uni you will have pretty good use of one arm at the beginning. So, if you plan to buy one, or rent one make sure the lever is on your good side. A lot of women rent the motorized ones. I wish I had more time to talk now. I am running out the door to doc for flu shot, and it's got to be in my butt...ouch!!!!

Carmelle_in_CT

Hi all,

Krissie, if you think the anathesia might bother you ask if they can give you an anti nausea patch during surgery - I was told about this afterwards and wish I knew to ask because I was severely affected by the anathesia, ie., vomiting for 2 days afterwards. One thing I also didn't know (altho I'm sure I was told but too out of it to remember) is that you'll have a morhpine button once you're in recovery. I found out the next day when I asked the nurse if I could get something for the pain & she said just push your morphine button - every 6 mins - what???? Positive thoughts to you Jeannie as you see your onc this week...:) Ladypirate - the two things I love are my wedge pillow that I borrowed from a neighbor & shower chair. I also have a regular recliner that I sit in with pillows. I was able to use my tub as I have a hand held shower thing which worked great. Can now use the regular shower altho I still used the chair I think maybe next time I won't have to - 3 weeks post surgery tomorrow. Positive thoughts to all heading into surgery this week - you will get through it.

goldie4040

Yeah, got my flu shot today (in the butt) and it hardly hurt. And, so far no reaction. Every few years I seem to get chills, and fever for about 12 hours. So, if you need to get it in your butt because you don't want needles in your arms, go for it. It was fine. I did go to my doc though. I asked at CVS and they said no, the wouldn't do it. They are going strictly by the protocol they are given. I even asked the girl, and I was not snippy, LOL,..what if I had no arms, and she just shrugged. Hope everybody is well.

Jeannie, hope all went well at the MO today, and you are on track for Wednesday.

This thread is running slow lately. I guess that's a good thing. Everybody is busy, and active and doing other things.

Jeannie57

Goldie I got my butt flu shot Friday. No pain all weekend! My MO appt. today was just fine. The PA and doc asked about my husband, who wasn't there, more than they did me! My lungs sound good, phew, that's a relief. Getting psyched for stage II Wednesday!

LucyV

9 days before surgery and I really feel like I am getting a cold.....ugg. I am being a complete germ a phobe but the person I live with (um DH) is not. Wonder how much of a cold you have to have to make them cancel surgery.

LucyV

glad it went well jeannie! Best of luck Wednesday!

goldie4040

Lucy, I had a cold the week before my bmx, and I was fine by surgery. Hope you are too.

Jeannie, that is all good news. Funny, they missed your husband...lol.

GwennyMD

Nihahi, I tried to send PM last week but I am having problems with the computer. For example, the paragraphs collapse when I submit a post. So now I have to use.............................................................................................................................................

My surgery is at 10 in the morning. If everything goes smoothly, they should be pushing me into the recovery room in exactly 24 hours. I tried to take some me during the past few days. Yesterday I got a massage at my favorite spa.................................................................................................................................................

Butterfleyez and Krissie - Good luck to both. We can compare notes next week. .............................................................................................................................................

Dyvgrl

Hi ladies - hope you are all doing well. I just got back from an apt with my BS's nurse. Didn't go well - tried to get a PET scan - no go - told me it wouldn't serve any purpose - then proceeded to tell me that I needed to do hormone therapy. If you can't find any cancer, why would I go down that road? So glad I have an ND tracking me. She wants me on Femara after my hysterectomy / ooph. Anyone here taking it? What kinds of side effects are you encountering? So frustrated with this crappy "standard of care" - quit quoting me statistics! Ugh!

goldie4040

dvygirl,

I know it stinks, but if you have bc that is estrogen positive they usually want you to take tamoxifen, or femara. It is, of course, your choice. But, it seems to be pretty much part of the bc chemo protocol. If your BS won't let you have a PET scan ask your MO. My MO is usually the one who orders all the tests, and does all the follow up care.

nihahi

Gwenny.....you'll be "on the other side" before you know it. Glad to hear you did some "me things"...the massage sounds lovely.

I can't help with any of the "new format" issues, sorry. I had a devil of a time being able to post photos after the updates, but messaged the mods and things seem to have been sorted out. It'll eventually work for everyone, I'm sure.

Positive vibes going out to this weeks ladies.....may Wilbur be with you.

Jeannie57

dvygirl, I agree with Goldie that your MO may be the one to discuss treatment from here. My MO told me that for me, the anti-hormonals were the most impt. part of my treatment. I hear your frustration. Good luck with your decisions!

Dyvgrl

Goldie,

I have basically fired my MO which is why I was hoping the BS would order it. I understand it is outside their normal realm. I will have to ask my Naturopath Onc to see if he can order it. I feel like no one is driving the train here. The nurse actually said, well if we found any other cancer, we'd have to own that so no, we won't order a scan. Then proceeded to tell me it was unnecessary radiation. Seriously?? So 6 weeks of daily rads is ok, but a PET scan is out of the question?? She basically told me there is no way to determine if I have cancer or not until I have symptoms. Like the ones I didn't have with a 6 cm tumor? I couldn't believe how stupid she was... Don't try to force me into your treatments unless you actually have a valid argument.

sbelizabeth

Dvgrl, I've been on Femara for a year now, and the most annoying thing I've noticed is that it makes my joints a little stiff and my hands achy. Exercise help a lot. My MO said being on Femara was like holding back the gasoline from glowing coals. If there are ANY rogue cancer cells asleep my gizzards, I want all the help I can get to keep them from waking up.

Moviemaniac

Butterfly.....best wishes for a successful and uneventful surgery tomorrow, and may Wilbur be with you as you cross over to "Flapland". We are in your pockets, and will be ready to welcome you to the other side.........God bless!

Moviemaniac

Gwenny, is your surgery tomorrow? If so, I didn't get the memo, and I am sorry! I am sending you the same wish I had for Butterfly......may your surgery be successful and uneventful, and may Wilbur never leave your side as you cross over into "Flapland"......in your pockets, and we will be waiting to welcome you to the other side.......God Bless!

Jeannie57

well-said, Movie! Thinking of you, GwennyMD and Butterfleyz!

butterfleyez

well today is the day ladies! Say the prayers and send the positive energy

Janet_M

Butterfleye - Good morning! And it is a great morning - the wait is finally over! I'm sending lots of positive energy down from Canada. It travels fast - it'll fly through customs and be there real soon.

Even if you're feeling anxious (who wouldn't be?), remember that your surgeons and your body know exactly what to do. All you ned to do is show up. Your body is super-intelligent, and your medical teams is super skilled. They'll be looking after you today.

Have a nice rest - sending you calmness & strength.

Janet