DIEP 2013

nihahi

Another important point cherrie....that I forgot to mention. If you are doing the exercises on your own.....your guideline should be: if it hurts, don't do it. You need to let the inflammation (that is likely the main cause of your pain) settle down. Moving through pain, should only be done on the specific direction of your physio. Who ever came up with that saying "no pain, no gain".....wasn't talking about every situation!!!!! Hope things get better quickly for you, but, please don't get discouraged if they don't. Shoulders can be stubborn asses!!!!!!!

mammalou

Goldie.. Yes the 150 CC of fat was a gift. The PS only put 45 CC back in. But. My legs don't really look that much skinner to me.

mammalou

Cherrie.. After problems in both shoulders with no injury that I know of, I have asked lots of questions of docs. Apparently, it is fairly common for women our age and in the case of frozen shoulder, they don't really know why it happens. There are different theories from an Injury to an auto immune response. So, I think they just don't know. I'm definitely not an expert, but certainly understand your frustration. I'm just trying to stretch my arm and not protect it by not using it, so that it doesn't freeze up.

goldie4040

Mamma, if you think about it 150 cc is not that much when you take it from a whole inner thigh. I was looking at some before and after lipo pics and they are quite something. Women lose a couple of pant sizes, but when they go that far it can be dangerous, and very long recoveries. I saw after pics where these women were wearing full body compression. Can you imagine? OMG...this little thing is making me nuts.

I bet if you think about it, between your new flatter tummy and thinner thighs you jeans are probably looking really nice on you.

Cherrie, I know this would seem like a huge step backwards, but what if you go back to the simple stretches they gave us right after of mx's, and do those very slowly a couple of times a day, along with some advil and icing down the shoulder. I still do those little stretches whenever I have a minute, like waiting for the microwave, or when I am put on hold on the phone, etc. It amazes me how quickly those muscles tighten back up when I don't do those simple little stretches.

nihahi

debdylan.....vent wherever you feel the most comfortable. Just remember...."support goes in, dumping goes out"...

cherrie....I'm having quite a chuckle reading your last post! Too funny. Shoulders are actually one of the "weakest" joints in our body....structure wise. Bad posture, tension from stressed muscles, repetitive movement or static positioning....they all can take a toll on the shoulders and neck. You absolutely don't need a known injury to have bad shoulders. Hmmm.....any of those categories apply to you in the past year????

Moviemaniac

KRISSY, we have completely overlooked your question about the FUPA fixing........ladies? Okay, I'll go first.....yes, mine was covered by insurance....

On the hairy foob question .....I had some hair, not dark, just more numerous than before....PS told me over time that this hair DOES diminish...something to do with less blood flow to the flap....none of that mattered to me, b/c during stage 2a my ab skin was removed and the breast skin was sutured back together.....

Cherrie, hope you get your shoulder sorted.......

Jeannie, sending lots of love, and cyber hugs your way.....

My areoles are compressed by yellow surgical sponges cut to size and literally STITCHED to my breast to keep the grafts from being jostled/moved for almost three weeks. The stitching is about every 1/4" and it pulls the sponge in, so the whole thing looks like a Black-eyed Susan..... My fipples are protected with some black plasticky thingy that looks like the middle of a flower....kinda pretty.....maybe I won't want to change out for the new ones!

SheChirple

Thanks, Tammy!

For those who are so impressed with my attitude, remember, I left and had to take a break because I was feeling so.....inadequate, depressed, uninspired, blocked, and all those other emotions. I went through the roller coaster, and still do on occasion. It aint easy. There are good days and bad.

Dyvgrl

debDylan,

I'd read a book called Anticancer. It's written by a neurologist who ended up with a brain tumor. He did lots of research (now that he's a patient) and came up with a diet / exercise regime to follow. He lists all of his research and links to read up on it yourself. Extremely informative!

lahela

Ocean, Ridley & Damiana - all the best to you this week, healing wishes for you and all the ladies recovering from procedures!

So much going on with all of you! We have such a long road to travel with all this cancer stuff, sometimes it feels like it's so steep we struggle to make it up the hill when other stuff is added to it. But we'll get there, giving each other a hand over the humps.

It's morning here and I'm off to see the gyn today to see how soon she can get this stuff out. Never thought I'd be so excited at the prospect of a doctor's visit!!!

Ridley

Thanks Lahela. Good luck today at the doc.

Ocean and Damiana - best wishes for smooth procedures with wonderful outcomes,

I read Anticancer as well. Thought it was worth reading,

I've been following along -- you are all in my thoughts and prayers.

2 more sleeps to go for me!

Ridley

toronto-girl

Good morning everyone--infact Great morning! I'm getting out of hospital today and feel very ready for it .I've had consistently wonderful care since my OR date on Thursday. I'm amazed with how I look.My one hick-up is bowel and I have a plan in place to move things along..One huge part of my recovery (imho) has been Not Having Visitors.I've only allowed my Dh, Dd-1, and one of my sisters to visit.It truly is a whole different ballgame when your environment is sedate. I've been lucky and had a private room and all that has meant I've way more time for learning from the staff and resting.Anyone going into this--I recommend you take it into consideration, you can always use the help at home....Best Wishes Penny

Jeannie57

DebDylan, thanks for asking about my eye. The vision got worse last week. My DH was laid off with 300 others yesterday. I hope your challenging week goes smoothly.

I'm reading posts and thinking of you all.

nihahi

lahela..crossing stuff for you that she says...."ok, lets get you in tomorrow!" Hang in there {{{{{X}}}}}

toronto....you sound awesome!!!! (except for the plugged up thing). Yep,private room and limited visitors is the norm here too. I agree, gives you the rest, recover and re-adjustment time. Glad to hear you're getting sprung.....AND feel ready for it!

Almost there Ridley....almost there.

jeannie...you're up early this morning....want to come over for coffee and watch the snow....(wish we could, eh?). Did you get any sleep last night??

bdavis

Goldie... The GAP flap was completely painless and a much easier recovery than DIEP... But for some reason the GAP area is very juicy. I had my hip drains for 8.5 weeks. Partially, this is because I had DIEP at the 4 week mark which re-juiced my drains. And second, I think by week 6 or so, my compression wasn't compressing enough. I requested smaller garments from my PS, which they overnighted to me, and that helped dry things up. I think the last few days with drains, I was wearing the compression girdle, and flexees on top, plus some folded ABD pads over the incision.

christina0001

Toronto girl - what a trooper, you sound great! Enjoy being home again.

Jeannie, so sorry about your husband, and your eye. My heart goes out to you, that is so much to contend with.

toronto-girl

Jeannie, I'm very sorry that it's been one problem after another for you and yours. I hope things will take a better direction sooner rather than later.....Nihahi, no more plugged up thing--Yahoo Pen

nihahi

toronto....that's HAPPY DANCE NEWS! No sense in bringing "that" home with you, eh . Travel safely home, don't overdo things.....keep smiling........you sound wonderful!!!

oceanwarrior....thinking of you too...remember...you just have to show up....everyone else is ready for you.

Sharon1942

debdylan, here are some good nutrition books I purchased.

Donna2012

Just something a little strange about diet.... I have always been a big diet coke drinker - not coffee or tea, just lots of diet coke! Since I was diagnosed last year I have completely lost ANY desire for ANY soda at all. No one told me not to drink it, but I'd say in the last year I have maybe had 2 sodas, where prior I would drink 3 diet cokes each day! I wonder if there is some kind of connection - is this what caused the cancer? Is this my body's way of doing what needs to be done & a defense mechanism?? Now, besides my morning OJ, I just drink water w/lemon or green tea - no sugar and no artificial sweetners.

nihahi

donna....I'm not a big believer in the "specific foods or lack of" theory as the cause/"cure" of cancer, but, in my opinion.....if you were drinking that much soda of "any kind" on a daily basis....you likely weren't eating healthy in a whole lot of areas. Good for you for eliminating that from your food intake. GOOD FOR YOU!. I hope as you progress through tx and recon, you keep eating and living a healthier lifestyle.....it will only make everything better for you. fyi....if that is "from concentrate" morning OJ....you're still getting a pretty good dose of sugar....natural, yes, but still recognized by your body as sugar. That's why OJ is given as a quick fix to a diabetic in trouble. My goodness....this thread is all-encompassing eh!

nihahi

deb....the info re: skin sensitivity post chemo is incorrect. It is not "forever".

Donna2012

I have totally changed my diet and feel wonderful! It has been very easy to do - since now I feel like I have something "bigger" at stake than fitting into skinny jeans! Whether diet plays a role or not, I'll never know for sure - but being healthier certainly can't hurt. I eat about 8 +\- servings of vegetables & fruit each day (mostly veggies). I have eliminated all processed food and eat a limited amount of dairy & animal protein. Only fish or chicken about 2x per week. I also love to cook - so this helps tremendously. I am not working, so I have the benefit of having the time to prep & cook everything. My family loves our new way of eating as well.

I have many tips for incorporating veggies into your diet - so if anyone has any questions, please ask. One I will share now is - I put 2 eggs & 1 cup of kale in my blender to make scrambled eggs (add 1 tbls of water, a little sea salt & pepper). Some times I will have this with a side of sweet potato home fries & peppers sautéed in a little olive oil. So, some days at breakfast, I will have already had 3 servings of veggies.

Donna2012

I am planning on returning to work in in the future ( maybe next fall), so it will take a little more planning then. I can still keep up my healthy eating, I will just do more prep work on the weekends since I won't have the luxury of spending 1-2 hours a day cooking & chopping!

nihahi

donna.....you sound like you have made amazing changes....GOOD ON YOU!! You're right....eating/living healthier can only be a good thing, and something so positive you can do for you AND your family. I'm no expert, but the processed food thing comes from the nutritional value of what you are eating (more processing tends to decrease the nutritional value) I think. Also, processing can sometimes mean more "additives"...often of dubious value. The sugar, white bread, carbs thing from my understanding is partly the lack of nutritional value again, as well as the thinking that excess sugar (refined carbs are converted to sugar by the body) is stored as fat in the body....(rarely a good thing)....many women store excess fat as tummy fat....and tummy fat seems to store estrogen.....not a good thing if your bc was ER+. Again....I'm not trying to pass myself off as a nutritional expert.

To my thinking, because "tummy fat" is what our new breasts really consist of....that reinforces (to me) the importance of getting to and staying at a very good weight (a bit towards the low side, but not drastic) as well as being as active as possible. We haven't eliminated tummy fat, we have just relocated it. No one has told me this, but it is what I believe. Tissue doesn't become different tissue, just because it has been surgically re-arranged.

I'm "good" with the reality that it is my responsibility through what I eat and what I do, to maintain a healthy body. My PS stressed this mindset to me, and I agree with him.

nihahi

hmpf.....snowing here too, Deb. I like snow too, I like snow BETTER, when I can actually get out to the mountains to play in it. Roads are a mess again here, so....(sob) no drive to the mountains.

Gotta function......have good days everyone!

Donna2012

Here is a blog that I get some ideas and recipes from. It is a family that took a 100 day challenge to eliminate all processed foods from their diet - and only eat "real" food. I enjoy reading about the food she serves her family.

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com

Dyvgrl

From my understanding, glucose uptake causes accelerated tumor growth. If you google glucose and breast cancer there is a ton of information regarding the metabolism of glucose into tumor cells. Lots of science behind it, but basically if you eat a processed sugary diet, you are feeding your cancer. This is how Metformin helps kill cancer stem cells.

nihahi

oops....I'm back.....

donna....I checked out that link....it looks great! Thanks for sharing that!!!!!

OK..seriously....I'm outta here!

MartyJ

Deb - the whole what to eat thing can be all over the place. There are those who believe that you must be a vegetarian. Others follow a paleo lifestyle. Personally, I think that it is really a matter of clean eating - lean protein (animal is fine), fresh fruits and veggies, healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil), low sugar, no wheat. Often we get so focused on reducing carbs, we eliminate the good stuff. You can certainly spend a fortune on books advocating different positions. Google it and keep the $$ in you pocket.

Flour and sugar create inflammation in our bodies. There is a belief that inflammation can stimulate the overgrowth (cancer) of cells.

lahela

{{{{{{{{{{Jeannie}}}}}}}}}}

Nihahi... I don't know how you did it, but you did!!! As you know, I saw the gyno at the hospital today. She's very concerned about my cyst, which is a bit bigger than a month ago and may be twisting (which is a bad thing) and she says it has to come out. Tomorrow (Wednesday). It will be laparoscopic surgery and they'll remove both ovaries at the same time. I go in at 8am, they'll operate at about 4pm and I should be home on Thursday or Friday, depending on how things go. She was just going to phone plastics as we left, to fill them in, but then I bumped into one of the plastics interns as we were on our way out, so I told him - he thought it was the right thing to do, under the circumstances.

Oh, and on the diet thing - I've been a pretty clean eating vegetarian for 30 of my 48 years. I got cancer.