DIEP 2013

MartyJ

nihahi, I think we are experiencing a pre thanksgiving slump. I am cooking 4 extra birds this year for meals for the elderly. Too bad they were frozen so solid they resembled curling stones. Nothing like having 3 days to defrost and cook 4 -25 lb turkeys.

On another note, my next surgery has been postponed til the 16th so that my PS can check on the necrosis and the dark shadowing. Very bizzare. Though, I will get to go to the neighborhood holiday party.

goldie4040

Yep, I have been busy food shopping, food prep, and housework so I don't have to look at a dusty ceiling fan while I am recuperating. Also, was taken out for an early bday lunch since my birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year. The last time it did that was 2002.

Hope everybody is well. I think Marty is right, busy time of the year for everybody.

nihahi

Marty....that's an awesome thing to be doing....cooking a flock of turkeys! When I moved to Canada, I found Thanksgiving (US) marked the beginning of a month of homesickness...which ended on Christmas Eve. While my kids were still at home, I would make two Thanksgiving meals every year...one in October, the other in November.

So sorry to hear about the postponement.....difficult when you are so close to the finish line. But...I know your surgeon is doing it to be able to give you the best care possible. I'll ask the mods to change your date on the list.

goldie....pre-birthday lunch sounds like great fun!

marty....I don't see a date for you....do you want your next stage to be listed?

goldie4040

Nihani

I have Canadian friends in Texas that we do Canadian Thanksgiving with every year. It's fun. She is also Ukrainian, so she has two xmas's too. I accuse of her of making up reasons to have huge feasts.

MartyJ

Nihahi - it is fine to add me to the list. This will be Stage 2c or Stage 4 whichever way you look at it!

damiana9

Hey girls!  Long time no see!  Just taking a break from my school work (we don't even get this week off for Thanksgiving- boo!)

I have my stage 2 scheduled for December 13th!  I have my preop next week.  I am oddly really nervous about this surgery- I guess because it is stage 2 and everything needs to be just right.  I will be having the DIEP side reduced and rounded, origami nipple, hip nipple, a lift on my good side, and port removal.  That might actually be the last surgery for awhile!!!!

I hope you girls are doing well, I think of you all often!  School is out for the semester in 10 days so I will stop by more often when that happens

nihahi

Marty.....I've asked the mods to list you as a 2c....just can't wrap my head around a Stage 4, even though it's just semantics!

damiana....Hi Girl...great to hear from you! I've asked for your date to get added too. Congrats on being able to add "deportation" to the list, can I ask what a hip nipple is??? Sounds like school is going well, but sure am glad to hear you will soon have a bit of a break.

jbloom..hope yesterday went well for you.

milkyway....thinking of you today. You've got this girl....now let the docs do their thing.

Have good days ladies.

added..... Debdylan....just blame chemo brain! It's definitely real. Is this your last chemo???? Your mom sounds like one pretty independent thinking and lovely lady!

Cherrie

Awe Deb! You are so lucky to have your mommie around.

damiana9

Nihahi- I guess it is technically a hip-areola he will revise my tummy scar to flatten it out and get rid of the dog ears at my hips- he will take some of the hip skin and make an areola out of it and attach it to my boob. crazy stuff!

jlbloom

Hello everyone! My stage II was not as involved as some of yours have been. Lifts on both sides, some lipo under my left arm that was moved to the dimple above the left breast. They are still under wraps, so I haven't seen them. Nothing done to the abdomen. The anesthesiologist did a great job, so I was awake and ready to go very quickly. Very little pain and a norco every few hours took care of it.

Jeannie, Wilbur didn't stop by so I couldn't tell him to come visit you.

Happy birthday a bit late, Bailey and DebDylan. RHG, I had two positive nodes that were a surprise. Have you had the oncotypeDX test?

Good thing this was an easy trip to the OR. DD found out last night that we need three Native American Indian costumes for the grand kids, tomorrow. No-sew fleece, here we come. Love you all. ...Julie

sbelizabeth

Apparently there will be nipples in my Christmas stocking!

Just saw the PS.  Surgery is 12/6, and will involve lifting, removing the underarm boobage, scraping out more fat necrosis lumps, and tightening the abdomen a bit. 

The BEST PART....!  He will excise the big, painful, adhesed-down radiation scar behind my arm and move some skin around to make it just a longish incision.  I really don't care what the radiation burn looks like--it's a battle wound from kicking cancer to the moon--but it's so stuck down to deeper layers that it limits my shoulder and arm range of motion, and has contributed to a frozen shoulder in the past. 

And then, and this is pretty cool, he wants me to have 4-6 hyperbaric treatments to get the wound healing of the radiation scar excision off to a good start.  I worked as a hyperbaric nurse about a million years ago, so this will be the fun part.  A blast to the past. 

The next surgical "adventure" is just around the corner.  Let's hope it's the last, and there's a pretty good chance it will be!

goldie4040

Yeah, everybody has great stuff going on!!!! Happy Holidays!!!! I love the xmas nipples, it's the best part. I can think of at least 3 of you getting nipples for xmas, and I know we are hoping Christina can get her's too.

Damiana, so good to hear from you. You sound awesome.. Stage 2 will be great! It seems like most of these ladies tend to breeze through the Stage2's. I am hoping the same for you!!!

SBE, once they get that tight skin removed from your back you will be hanging that star upon the highest bough. You doc sounds awesome. It will be a great xmas for you too, especially with little Aubrey around your tree for the first time.

MartyJ

Katie - now that you have a date, you have 1 week to get ready for Christmas! OMG - shop, decorate, shop, decorate. Lots to do before Stage 2.

Ridley

Hey everyone -- so much activity in the surgery suites before Christmas!

I have just over two weeks to wait -- stop taking after Tamoxifen tomorrow, so its getting close.

I just got news from a biopsy that I had last week on the side that was supposed to be prophylactic.   The radiologist didn't think the suspcious area looked like cancer, but it came back as DCIS.  So now I have to have a sentinel node biopsy on that side.  I was hoping to avoid that, and I have to say, it hit me pretty hard.  Woe is me for the rest of the day and then I'll try and be back to normal (or as normal as I've been since this whole ordeal started -- which is really not that normal as I think about it:))  

Happy Thanksgiving to all in the US!  I'm off to walk with a friend and remind myself of all I have to be grateful for.

Ridley

nihahi

hope the costumes turned out ok, jbloom.

sbe...that is WONDERFUL NEWS!!!! How awesome that he can sort out the radiation scar issues....but I have NO idea how they will be able to "contain" you in a chamber! I've asked the mods to add your date.

Gosh Ridley.....it's always tough when it's unexpected. I guess you might find jeannie's "plot twist" helpful.....stay as positive as you can...spending the wait time being negative won't change the outcome, but sure goes a long way to making things even harder.{{{X}}}

Zenful

Oh Ridley, sorry you were hit with that bad news. Just when we have a course of action in our head, something comes at us sideways to change our plan. Glad to hear you were walking with a friend. You have a wonderful attitude, and there is nothing wrong with allowing for a woe is me day before moving on. Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone. I am so grateful for all of you!

jakig

Lots of positive posts! Thanks for sharing...one note about the revision surgery after the DIEP. For me, I had rationalized that it would be a piece of cake since the DIEP was so intense and the recovery so major. So, I underestimated the revision. So, just a reminder to respect your body and know that any surgery is a stressor - one we overcome, but still stress none-the-less.

My drainage was clear and only lasted about 48 hrs. In contact with PS office,and looking forward to an honest conversation with the surgeon Dec. 4th. It's my belief I'm headed for another revision, but it may be months away.

Happy Thanksgiving for everyone. My gratitude list is long, and so is my shadow when the sun shines. I was walking the other day and the sun slanted my shadow forward and it looked like I was twenty feet tall. And I felt twenty feet tall!!!

Survive and thrive ladies....we are here and now...

Dyvgrl

okay this may not be the most ideal forum for this but I have to vent. I had an appt with my nd today to see if he would order a scan. He was hesitant only because he isn't covered by my insurance so he called my onc that I've basically fired to see if she would order it. She doesn't want to because if it doesn't show any evidence of cancer, she thinks I won't continue treatment. I've already decided not to finish out chemo, not doing rads and am on the fence with hormone treatments. How is telling me whether or not I have mets or any other cancer floating around going to change anything?? If I see I big ole tumor anywhere, I'm pretty sure I'll be looking for treatment options! For some reason these oncs up here in Alaska don't see the point in doing any scans. How else are we supposed to know if we have anything? I've never had one and they've never done oncotype testing or any other diagnostic test. What would you do if you were me?? I need to know where I'm at so I can make informed decisions. I'm not a blind follower and I'm not just going to take a shot in the dark when my life is at risk here!! All they care about is money money money...

nihahi

jakig.....AWESOME post....thanks for sharing such powerful thoughts....yes indeed....SURVIVE AND THRIVE! TOWANDA!!!!

goldie4040

Hey, is everybody cooking? I have been in the kitchen for hours. My feet and lower back are killing me!!!! I did learn that peeling and then mashing yams is something my shoulder did not like at all. Baby steps!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful and loving Thanksgiving. I am know that as I got frustrated with my small limitations today in the kitchen I remembered how much worse it could be, and I turned up the music and kept going. I know what will be part of my husband's Thankgiving prayer tomorrow, and mine.

MartyJ

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Thank you for being there as a support system for me and each other. Be kind to yourself. Remember internal healing takes longer than external.

RHGSR

sorry to hear your news Ridley. This is a crazy roller coaster ride. We were hit with plot twists too once they "got in there ". It's so easy to get discouraged. I loved the previous post - "survive and thrive - Towanda!"

Not sure if I heard this on here or not, but I keep telling myself a quote from Finding Nemo - "just keep swimming "

Any advice on sleeping after DIEP discharge? I have a wedge that keeps me almost up right in bed, but my tail bone starts to hurt.

Also - TMI alert - still have not had a BM. It's been over a week. Any advice?

MartyJ

RHGSR - not TMI. You need to go to whatever is open ASAP and buy liquid magnesium citrate. Costs about a dollar and usually works quickly. Drink lots and lots of fluids. Did the doc give you stool softeners? I am so sorry you are having this problem, but don't want you to have to go to the hospital.

Re sleeping - prop up on the wedge not sitting up. Maybe elevate your head about 30 degrees. Put pillows under your knees. This should shift your weight off your tailbone.

christina0001

Marty, omg that's a lot of turkeys to cook! I bet they are going to make a lot of tummies happy.

Dvygirl, I'm a little confused (not unusual for me...) If I understand right, you don't want to continue treatment (chemo, rads, etc.), but if you had a scan done, and it found metastasized cancer, then you would want to continue treatment? I don't understand how treatment at stage IV would be more beneficial than at stage III. And if you wouldn't want treatment at either stage, I don't know why you would want a scan. What kind of scan do you want? When I was diagnosed they did a CT of my abdomen/liver area, of my chest/lungs, and a bone scan, since that is where mets most commonly go. They said the brain is another place but if I understood them right, they don't scan it because usually the person has symptoms (I guess a headache) and then they will scan to be sure. Anyway I'm probably confused but maybe it would help to get another opinion from another oncologist? Sorting all this out is the worst part, it's so stressful.

I hope everyone has a peaceful, healthy Thanksgiving. It's been a rough two years for me... My ob/gyn found my lump two years ago this month. I am very, very thankful to be past the point of coping with a new diagnosis, figuring out treatments, going through treatments... thank you ladies for all your support through reconstruction.

nihahi

I expect most of you gals in the US will be enjoying family, friends, and turkey with the trimmings tomorrow, as you should be!!! So just want to send "Happy Thanksgiving" wishes to you all.

May the weather allow everyone to travel safely and arrive at their destinations and then safely back home, may the turkeys be moist inside and golden on the outside, may there be enough stuffing for all (plus the leftover sandwiches that everyone craves), a bounty of veggies, both healthy and yummy, lump-free gravy and mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie that doesn't land wrong side down on the kitchen floor, whipped cream canisters that don't spray the entire table when little ones ask to do it themselves, lots of eager hands to help with the cleanup and dishes, amazing football games where everyone's favourite team wins, and above all.....many, many, many more years for each of us to "thankful" for so many things.

I will be with you in spirit (and my turkey sausage/stuffing casserole) and saying my thank you's for the privilege of "meeting" you all. {{X}}

Pattysmiles

Dvygrl, I understand your frustration about not being able to get a scan. I agree with Christina though, what would make you seek additional treatment? Or is it the opposite question you are trying to answer..."has everything been done that can be done to show I am cancer free"?

I also asked for a scan, PET, anything! And was told no. My ct for DIEP picked up 2 suspicious areas. One on the liver (subsequent MRI showed benign) and one nodule on the small portion of my lung that was scanned via the abdominal CT! That one nodule led to CT of my lungs, which showed 4 nodules. just heard today that the one nodule is suspicious, so a rescanning 3 months to "see what's going on"....(the other 3 nodules are "likely nothing".)

Anyhow, don't thinkit is just those "Alaska docs". I still can't get a PET.

Is it possible to get another doctor or consider coming to the lower 48? Perhaps someone knows of a cancer center that you can forward your reports to for another opinion?

Wishi cold be more help.

Pat

Jeannie57

RHGSR, oh my goodness, listen to Marty! Call your doc for advice, too. Riding in an ambulance to the hospital because of the extreme pain from constipation is miserable---I did it after DIEP. They did take care of it there, though, bless them.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

goldie4040

RHG

Do you have a recliner in the house? It was a life saver for me after my bmx. Still is. I use to hate the thing. I complained to my husband all the time about making me buy that ugly chair. Well, now that old ugly one is gone, and I got myself a nice new one...yes, I am spoiled. It was the third night home from the hospital and I couldn't sleep. I stumbled over to the ugly old recliner, and laid back in it while my husband was on the computer. I thought maybe we would talk. I found myself there the next morning covered with a blanket. We moved it from the office to the bedroom that day, and then I called lazyboy and ordered a new one. The old one was over 20 years old, and mostly used by the dogs. If you don't want to own one, you can rent them too. Several women on here have done that.

Nihani, I wish there was a "like" button for your post. Thank you.

Jeannie57

Christina, hugs to you. dvygl, I went to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. People come there from other states, countries. Maybe they could take a look. I can't even remember what scans I had. I'll have to ask at next appt.

Pattysmiles, sorry for your troubles and worries.

nihahi

RHG....listen to marty.....get your hubby to a pharmacy! You only have to stay upright as much as you need to to be comfortable. If you are able to recline a bit more....that will minimize the pressure on your butt. If you are really struggling in bed, can you move to a recliner? If not, places like Walmart have mattress toppers made of pressure sensitive foam, that aren't too pricey. Hope you get more comfortable, and that things get "moving" for you soon.

DYVgirl....sorry to hear you still sounding so angry. I thought you had found peace and confidence in pursuing a naturopathic approach. Like christina, I am confused as to why you are so determined to pursue a test, that is not consistently used in the medical approach you want no part of??

Since you asked.....I will tell you, that I view your situation somewhat differently than you describe. Appropriate tests HAVE been done, in that you state you have positive node involvement, and positive hormonal receptors, both ER and PR. How you choose to weigh the significance of this information and what type of treatment you agree to pursue is certainly your decision to make. Are scans used by ND's? If so, then he should be the doctor to order and interpret such a test, then pursue appropriate treatment based on those results.

I do still strongly disagree with you, in your continued statements that medical decisions regarding what would be the best choice of treatment for you is "financial gain driven" by your oncologist. But that is my opinion, and we shall just have to differ on that one.