DIEP 2013

MartyJ

just so y'all know that I am not falling down on my job as I enjoy this balmy weather - I did just PM Kellyb with lodging suggestions.

Ridley

Nihahi -- hmmmm -- how about you send it once I'm at the hospital -- anytime after next Thursday at 6 am my time -- 'kay?   I'll be holed up there for 4-5 days and will happily watch the cold from inside.

Ridley

nihahi

nope....no deal, Ridley. But....I am willingly to temporarily park it in Saskatchewan for you?? Would that work

fyi....my surgery was in early April...one of the days I was in hospital recovering, hubby couldn't make it in to visit.....why, you might ask.....BLIZZARD!!!!!!!

sbelizabeth

Urgh...I just drank 10 ounces of grape-flavored mag citrate.  Like chewing on a salt lick.  I hope it doesn't kick in until I get home from work.  Poor planning on my part.

Deb, I hear your.  It doesn't make sense to me either.  I initially thought my BC was like a little tic-tac and I could scoop it out with a sharp melon baller.  It's all a mystery!

bdavis

kellyb... First off, you can discounted rates by either booking through the Center or telling the hotel you are having surgery. I have stayed at Homewood Suites, Monteleone, Bienville House, Omni Royal and Hope Lodge. Not all were for surgical stays. For stage I, Homewood Suites is my personal favorite because it is large, with a separate living room, kitchen etc. Plus free breakfast and light dinner weekdays. Plus its near the hospital and Quarter.

RHGSR

Thank you everyone for the encouragement. I feel like I just "take" from this board but haven't been able to give back yet. I hope that will change soon and I will be able to support all of you as mch as you supprt me. Thank you!

christina0001

lol @ sbel - I bet if you got a binder from a medical manufacturer you would have paid a lot more than $14!!!

(((lahela))) - hate that you have gone through so much!

RHGSR - so sorry to hear the unexpected pathology results. Sounds like you've got a great plan in place though.

Kat-ski

I haven't caught up on post reading but am thinking about you all.

I am out of hospital but have to go back for MRI on Tuesday. They said it was to make sure all of the fluid is out. The BS did say they were going to test for cancer cells from the biopsy now I am freaking out! I feel out of control of what my body is doing. Pretty scary.

Well, I guess I will just have to clean and clean since I have this drain bag that I am totally embarassed. I have lost my boobs, lost my hair which is not growing back as fast as the last time and now this bag.(JP drains are easier for some reason). I don't know how to conceal this "thing". And I have a date next Thursday to see the "Sound of Music" and feel like I will just loose $35.00 b/c of this "thing". I apologize for being a downer but can't seem to fix the problem.

mammalou

so sorry to all the girls in pain. I am 3 weeks out from inner thigh lipo. I'm not taking pain meds but I still have some pain. The spanx definitely helps it not hurt when you walk. Hang in there!

Deblyn.. Did you get the small lump looked at? I have a pea sized lump on the edge by my armpit. The PS said it could be from the flap, but he wasn't sure. I see MO in 3 weeks and plan to address it then, as those nagging worries keep cropping up.

Ridley

Nihahi. Saskatchewan sounds perfect. You can even send it as far as Manitoba if you like.

Question for anyone who has used Wellspring. They have an exercise program for cancer patients that is individually developed for each patient. It runs twice a week for 10 weeks and then once a week for 20 weeks. Has anyone participated in one? What did you think?

Do you think you would have been able to do an you of exercise a month after surgery? I thought it might be a good program for gentle stretching, etc. at the beginning. And it's free!

Thanks. Ridley

nihahi

Ridley...I know of someone in Calgary who went to the classes just after chemo finished. She found the "freedom" of exercising sans wig very liberating. If it's an individualized program, I can't see why you shouldn't try it. Of course, get your surgeons' blessing, and expect to start at a low level, but you may find you progress rapidly, especially within a structured program.

RHG....helping someone is a very rewarding thing, especially to us, who know first hand, what you may be struggling with. It's great to hear that we are helping you....you are also helping us....it's a circle of "sharing and understanding"....you will definitely be someone's "anchor" one day, yourself. (((((X))))).

kat-ski....where is this drain bag??? I bet someone here has suggestions for you. Getting out to something you are looking forward to, sounds like something that would be a very good target!

nihahi

sbe.....thinking of you big time! Hope the pre-op went well, and the "cure" didn't kick in while you were driving home! I am sending you huge hugs and prayers....hoping for amazing results for you. Have you packed your bathing suit for the dive?????

Jeannie57

Sbel, hoping you have subdued that cold into submission and can sail through surgery tomorrow. Wilbur is waiting....

sbelizabeth

Nihahi, I did just fine until I walked in the door, and then it was MAKE A HOLE, COMING THROUGH, GET OUTTHE WAY! The timing was perfect. This whole schlemiel is so...unladylike.

Jeannie, I still have the cold, but I'm armed with nasal spray to fool everyone into thinking I'm perfectly healthy tomorrow. My only concern is the diving part, and a head cold can make it tough to "clear your ears" with puffy, swollen tissues. But again, my trusty nasal spray will blast everything open and it'll be fine.

I'll have the hubs take lots of photos so you can share this interesting experience with us! Thanks for the love and prayers. Wilbur is waiting...

Moviemaniac

Sbe.....sending (((hugs))) your way.....May Wilbur grace you with more than a one-night stand.....that is my prayer for you......XO

Sherry, wishing you all the best, too......closer and closer.......

Thanks to all of you for your love and support ......I am surprised at how painful and difficult this surgery has been....wasn't expecting this.....and in no way does this mean that we all will experience it in the same way...so take heart....I am probably just a big, fat weenie.......

Janet, your kind word this morning brought me to tears......I AM so close.....I am not throwing in the towel now........

XO

mammalou

sweet dreams tomorrow sbe.... What all are they doing to you and are you thinking this might be the end? Hope, hope, hope

lahela

RHGSR, it's all swings and roundabouts - I think I mostly complain, but try to support too. Don't worry, you look after yourself right now - that's the most important thing!



{{{{{{{{{{Kat}}}}}}}}}}



Mammalou - some days I think those nagging worries are the worst, like a little voice in your head that reminds you of the C word whenever anything unexpected happens. Part of the new normal that I hope will fade in time.



sbe - I have the most hilarious image of you dressed in lycra bike gear & helmet, red high heels and hollering for everyone to get out of the way! LOL!

Dyvgrl

sbelizabeth,

Take a Sudafed about 2 hrs before diving. Will clear it all up. Jealous you are goin diving. I haven't been in a year! Where to? Hopefully some place exotic!

MartyJ

SBE - can't believe they are pushing you straight from surgery to the hyperbaric chamber. Wow! Have a great swim.

lahela

*grumble grumble grumble* Ultrasound to see what's going on with my noob on the 19th. Nearly 2 weeks away.

nihahi

lahela.....I wouldn't be grumbling, I'd be roaring!!! I'd be calling every day to see if there have been any cancellations!!!

sbe....you're probably "under" by now......thinking of you big time today......it gives me the chills to think about this likely being "the finish line" for you........hugs, hugs, hugs!!!!

movie....hope it was a better night and it's a "start to turn the corner" kind of day. Don't stress yourself about the shower....though we all know how wonderful a shower makes us feel. Do the sponge bath thing....much better for you than freaking out about "de-nippling" yourself!

kat-ski....seriously, it's winter, people wear layers, (even down South), I'm betting the Sound of Music outing IS possible. I know what it's like to feel everybody is "looking at you", but really, unless your name is on the marquee, that isn't how it will be. You can't necessarily control what your body is doing, but you CAN have some input into how you deal with it. Going to something you are looking forward to sounds like a way that you can give bc the "whack...take that you bugger" moment. sbe went to church, work and bike rides with her partner the "fart machine"!

take care ladies.....the sun is coming up!

goldie4040

I have gotten too far behind. The lipo pain and the meds have kept me busy. Movie, I am with you girl. I had the lipo from thighs and flanks. The thigh lipo is very painful.

SBE, I am with you today. I know you are sleeping now, but I hope you wake up relatively pain free, and happy with your results.

Lahela, they need to get you in sooner. Has your tummy swelling gone down at all?

Kat...put that drain in a cross body bag, throw a nice big scarf over the whole thing, and go to the show. Did you see the live version on TV last night? Not too bad

LucyV

Sbe- thinking of you today!

Goldie and movie- hope you are feeling better this morning

Lahela- hoping you get an earlier date.

Six weeks post op and this was the first day I put on my jeans! Been in sweats and yoga pants forever. Lasted three hours in the jeans. Not bad. Unfortunately the waist hits very close to my ab scar. Went to a holiday breakfast and didn't dare sit down!

nihahi

Lucy....I am impressed! 6 weeks and into jeans is wonderful!!!!! Much earlier than I could tolerate, for sure! My scar is below the "jean line", but my weirdly sensitive skin just didn't like the feel of the jean against it, especially near my hip bones. It's way better now, but I still like to have something thin, like a camisole type top between my skin and the jeans. Hope you enjoyed the holiday outing.....!!!!! Again....6 weeks and back at it...woohoo!!!!!

Jeannie57

Ugh, my jeans still bother me but only on the left side. That side has always been itchy and sensitive but had the least work done. I still wear 'em, though!

Goldie, I hope you start feeling better soon! Movie, too. Rest, rest, rest.

Moviemaniac

Lucy, I was thinking the same thing as Nihahi.....6 weeks is fantastic! Love your attitude, girl!

Kat-ski

Thanks for the suggestions. I do have a nice-new cloth purse that I could put the thing in. It is draining from the right underarm with the drain in the minus breast area. I am adjusting but feels like a spider when I don't have long pants on. Shoot, I did not want a reaction of this sort, it just happened. I am very thankful it is cold and layers are good!!

Thanks everyone.

nihahi

{{{{x}}}} kat-ski......Give "thing" an appropriate name and shove it in the bag.

I hope you join in the singing when it's "Climb Every Mountain" time in the show!!!!!!!!!! Nobody else has to know why!!!!

Kat-ski

Goldie, I did see bits of the Sound of Music last night. When the film version came out in 1965, I had every song memorized from Mary Martin's album!! My mom said I drove her crazy with all of my singing(and I can carry a tune) that she would give me busy work to do but it didn't work!! Lol I did plays, choir and accapella in high school and continued plays when we were living in Sydney, Australia. I think I drove my husband crazy too b/c he is so quiet!!

Dyvgrl

as I get closer to my recon the thought occurred to me that if I ever got cancer on my left side, how would I reconstruct? Would it not make sense to have a prophylactic mastectomy them immediate DIEP? I have enough fat for both sides now, but afterwards I don't see it. Has anyone just gone ahead and done the other side at the same time? I have really dense breasts and am wondering if I shouldn't have gone ahead and just done both...