DIEP 2013

Goodie

HHCat - Doing something fun with the kids is awesome!  Yes, when you wake up and from then on it will just keep getting better and better!

Kuka21 - Hope you have a good weekend too!

Patty - I had my BMX 22 days after my last chemo treatment.  I would go with your gut on your doctor.

HHCats

Pattysmiles - I know what you are going through, too.  I cut my shoulder length hair into a severe pixie cut on December 30th.  My hairdresser came to our house and my three kids (5,5, and 8) all "helped".  I cut it short so when it fell out - it was a bit more controlled.  I wore a hat most of the time - it was winter here in Canada - and no one knew.  It helped at the time that school was on Christmas Break - so no kindergarten fence to socialize at . . .

Once school started up - I started with my wig.  My hair was falling out by then, too.  I took it hard at first - then I sort of got used to it but never completely.  So whenever I am out and about - I wear the wig.  Especially at school (my kids demand it) and the wig looks so much like my old hair no one really knows unless they "know about me".   I wear bandanas at home and as I type - I have one on.  My hair is coming back - but not enough to attempt anything in public and not for a long time to come, I am assuming.  However, I am SICK OF THE WIG.  And I have a good one and it doesn't itch and it looks like my hair.  It might be because this is the windiest spring in the history of my life . . .LOL

Tuesday was a pivotal day for me in three ways.  1) I had my DIEP pre-op and 2) I wore my bandana to the hospital.  Everyone "knew" as soon as they saw me - but I just didn't care.  3) The bandana opened up a good conversation with this woman who was having a lumpectomy.  Her mother told me that she was totally overwhelmed and freaked out.  So she and I chatted and I told her about me - I'm cancer-free (another first for me - to admit that out loud) and done with chemo.  They cut it all out, got clear margins, I was node negative and my scans were all clear. She really seemed relieved to talk to someone who had gone through it.  I hope I helped her.  

That morning when I left, I thought I would want to whip off the bandana and say "look it's coming back" whenever I got a glance - but everyone was all in the same boat to some extent - worried, nervous, and tired - whether they were getting a knee replaced or a lumpectomy.  We were all just people.  

A lot of people at school know and some don't.  People don't know what to say.  It's scary for them because if it can happen to you - well, it can happen to them.  At our school, it hit a lot of those who found out hard because I am usually a fixture at the school - and I have three young kids.  I volunteer in a bunch of ways and I run the end of year BBQ - a big event.  So if Robin can get cancer and she's the picture of health and like the Energizer Bunny - what can happen to them?  I am always completely open when someone approaches me and it seemed to work for me.  

Hold your head up proudly, wig or not.  You could run and hide but you are at the school being a good mom just like you always are, right?  It's not defining you - and your hair never really did.  My goal was to still be "the mom" despite what cancer was putting our family through.  I knew if I could do that - then it would stay a little bit normal around here and it seemed to work.

Just my two cents . . .and now I go and complete my panic attack about surgery on Monday!!!!  [See we are all human and this is scary and hard.] 

Robin

liefie

Pattysmiles, I don't want to rain on your parade, but I just cannot see how you can get into shape in the four weeks after chemo. I see you will be getting T/C, the same as me. I had four cycles. For about six weeks after chemo ended my leg muscles were stiff, sore and weak, and I was breathless with low bloodcounts and no energy at all. Many women on that regimen report the same. During chemo I was too weak to go to the gym, and the most I could manage was a short walk now and then. I was fit and strong before chemo, but T/C really wiped me out. It took me months to get back into shape afterwards. I don't think that lady PS has any idea what chemo does to you, and that its effects can linger for months afterwards.

nihahi

Made it home today. Exhausted, but just wanted to check in. TOWANDA!!!!

MartyJ

Welcome Home Nihahi!  Rest, sleep, tend to yourself with love and patience.

liefie

Hi Hihahi!!! So good to hear from you!!! Sleep well, and rest lots!

Moviemaniac

"TOWANDA"!   Nihahi-SO glad to hear your "voice"!    Take good care of yourself........check in when you can. Gentle post-DIEP (((Hugs)))

Namaste and God Bless - Jackie

faith729

Nihahi welcome back !! Rest easy healing thoughts your way . ((Hugs))

Cuetang

Hi Nihahi!! TOWANDA!!

Pattysmiles

Thank you Robin, you go girl! You are inspiring. I am also considered to be an energizer bunny! Lol. One day at a time I guess. Thank you for your kind words.



liefie- thank you for your input...I've been reading the T/C board and it did not look like I would be in good condition! I did note some people tried pushing through chemo, but it seemed the majority could not.



Perhaps this will become more clear after I speak with the oncologist on Monday. I was kind of hoping that my short hair cut would suddenly change their minds and they would say "no chemo for you". Lol. (Because that is the irony in my life!-bought 6 brand new beautiful bras for myself and was diagnosed with breast cancer, why not!)



Pat

seagan

Yay, nihahi's home!! Soooo good to hear from you. Can't wait to hear more but we'll be patient while you rest!

lilyun

Yea nihahi! We were all thinking of you and so glad that you are now on the other side of the "mountain." Rest and we will be eager to hear your story when you are up to it.

faith729

Hey ladies HELP !

Has anyone who has already had DIEP surgery gotten a blister on one of the noobs ? I found a small one just now where the nipple will go later on and I'm really worried.

Del11

How far out are you from surgery? It could be a dissolvable stitch working it's way out of your body. That's called "spitting stitches". If that's what it is it's nothing to worry about, especially if the rest of the incision is healed.

faith729

Thanks for responding! I'm almost 3 weeks post op but it's actually not on an incision it's close though. It's actually on the circle where my new nipple will end up eventually.

bdavis

After my MX, I had some blisters... My understanding is that if the skin was a little thin from the MX, blisters can form. Just use ointment and it will heal.

kuka21174923

Welcome back nihahi. I'm so glad you checked in. We were all so worried about you, but please rest and take time to recuperate.

We all love you!

BeezusComplex

Hi Pat, someone else may have already responded with this info, and if so, I apologize for repeating, but I wanted to make sure you got the info and don't have time to read everyone else's responses.  When I found out I had breast cancer, I bought a book called The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook.  It's a little out of date (2007), but it has a lot of info that can help.  I had to have radiation after surgery, and I did chemo first, so I had a lot of time to research and plan my questions for the plastic surgeon.  After reading this book, I pretty much had my mind made up about which reconstruction option was right for me.  When I met with the PS, he went through what the general options and then what options applied to me specifically.  I felt very informed and knew it was going to be a good fit with him because he went through everything just like in the book.  I would highly recommend this book (by Kathy Steligo) to anyone who is going to have a mastectomy.  I believe that one of the NOLA surgeons helped Kathy Steligo, as he also wrote the foreword.

Morningsun1

TOWANDA! nihahi!

faith729

Thank you bdavis !

sbelizabeth

Good morning, sisters!

I made it home yesterday afternoon.  What an experience.  I haven't been an inpatient since 1983, and never been in the ICU except as a nurse.  This has given me a huge sense of gratefulness for nurses who come to work day after day and cheerfully slog through patient care with compassion.

The new girls are...weird.  My PS assures me this step was mostly to get the flaps moved north and secure their blood supply, but, wow, I look strange.  I'm bruised and swollen everywhere, but grateful to be on the other side now and looking forward to a relaxing recovery!

More later.  Have a great weekend, everyone.

MartyJ

Katie - welcome to the other side. You are sounding great. Rest, relax, heal!

Cherrie

Pattysmiles- I think sometimes people feel they don't have the right words and they stay quiet. I found when I opened up and was not scared to talk about it, it helped to relax some. Breast cancer becomes the center of our world, that other just can't understand unless they have been there. This site has helped me so much. Hang on to this.



You are right to stay positive and hold your head high. You are a warrior! 💪

Cherrie

Nahahi and SBElizabeth- it is so nice to hear from you. Now rest and take care of yourselves. Take things slow and let the healing continue.

seagan

Thank you, sbelizabeth, for letting us know you're home & ok!! Even though I know we'll all come out of these experiences ok, I still find great relief and gratitude when I "see" you all on the other side.



Give the new girls some time, and remember things will change as healing and time do their thing. And there are always revision options, as I keep reminding myself too (even as I realize I am sooo not ready to undertake them...yet).



For now, I wish you the great trio of recovery activities: rest, walk, hydrate. Rinse & repeat!

m1970

sbelizabeth -- Hope you have an uneventful and speedy recovery! 

nihahi-- welcome home!  Relax and heal.

Pattysmiles:

Not sure if you have made a choice between doctors, but here's my thoughts.

Go with the doctor with more experience.  Ask to see photos.  Take your time deciding.  Unless you have active cancer there is no rush to schedule anyway.

Usually there is someone on staff that handles the money and insurance, the doctor isn't going to have those answers.  Also they will have a scheduler, but I've learned that surgeons decide if they will fit you in or not.  If you ask them directly suddenly things become available that the schedulers never offered to you.

It sounds like the female doctor is looking for business and hoping to close the deal, answer any questions you have.  She didn't say "I have only one opening so you better take it quick!" did she?  I think the insurance thing is BS, unless in addition to her inexperience her staff is also not experienced in working with insurance companies to get paid.  (Red Flag)

I like that that male surgeon will work with your breast surgeon.  Not sure why he doesn't want to do his own followup, maybe he is suggesting that you work with the female doctor for wound care?  They need to work out who makes what decisions.  I am doing something similar -- having my DIEP done at Nola and doing wound care at home in VA.  VA PS said they would have to work out roles but was willing to do it.  Obviously I can't get on a plane to do that so I'm glad she will work with me and more importantly, work with my PS who needs to make certain decisions. 

Sounds like if these doctors have worked together in the past she would have no problem doing just wound care, but obviously she wants the whole job.

When it comes to surgeons, I would always go with more experience personally.  Even if that surgeon had a huge ego and poor bedside manner. 

This is not the kind of thing you need to be worried about hurting anyone's feelings.  You got to do what is best for you and everyone else will get over it.

Marsha

Gini23

Tammy T - thanks for your input on the binder.  Washed mine yesterday.  I did put it in a delicates bag, ran it on delicate with other items, and hung it dry.  In the meantime, I wore a "girdle" like shaper I bought awhile back.  I looked much better with my clothes on with that! 

Welcome aboard Cynthia!  I do think you will eventually be able to go back to weight-lifting with DIEP.  Just not right away.  I agree with Faith that I really like Dr. Carty.  He and Caterson did my surgery together.  One morning during rounds after they exited my hospital room, my favorite nurse came in and asked if I had both of them together.  When I confirmed, she was ecstatic for me!  "The Dream Team!"  "The Dynamic Duo!"  I concur with Betsy - choose the surgeon, not the schedule.

Gentle hugs Lilyun & Geralyn - we all have our ups and downs through this process.  Nice to have a place to come and be understood.  I love Marty's image of the warm breeze & the hot-pink-shoes!  Marty you mentioned bruising - do you use Arnica?  They have cream and pills.  I think someone mentioned it on here awhile back.  My naturopath recommended it to me.

Kuka - my DH did a high protein, no sugars/carbs diet and lost lots of weight very quickly a few months ago.  He loved it, and reverts back whenever he feels he is gaining again.  If you believe in the "Blood Type Diet" - he is an O, which lines up precisely.  Be sure you include lots of veggies. Happy to hear your pre-ops went well and you're almost there!  We're with you all the way!

HHCats -  Loved your comment about Robin the energizer-bunny - because I have been described that way, myself!  I am a teacher at my daughter's school and involved in a lot - living and working in the same community there is nowhere to hide - lol - so I was very open about everything right from the start.  Glad you are "letting go" of some things and focusing on YOU!  You've got this.  We are with you!  Enjoy your slide down the other side of the mountain.

Pat - I did chemo before anything.  My MO wanted me to wait at least 3 weeks post chemo, no more than 6 before having my BMX with Tissue Expander placement.  I cut it very close to the 3 week mark, due to BS/PS schedules and our own vacation schedule as it was July.  I had an every-other-week schedule for chemo treatments.  On the off week, I felt great, and did lots of walking, a little "other stuff" but was not at your level of working out prior to starting.  Lots of women say they can still do it through chemo, but pace yourself and let your body decide.  You will be tired, and your body will feel different throughout the process.  I also cut short - into a bob - before losing my hair - it was only about a week, really.  Like Robin I also used bandanas in the house and to dr appts, but always wore the wig in public - my daughters really wanted me to keep wearing it.  I also had a baseball cap that I had a hair piece sewed into.  It was great for grocery trips and soccer games!  (And windy days!)  I recently "took my wig off" in public, with a short curly white-girl afro going, just after I went on medical leave for my surgery.  I am surprised at how many people don't say anything at all.  My hair before and with wig was long, sometimes straight sometimes curly (wig was straight). This is such a departure for me...  I think some of them are just thinking "thank goodness she fiinally took that thing off!"  Others might be thinking, "oh - she WAS wearing a wig!"  Because really I had a great one and some people came right out and asked me if I had lost my hair.  Really most people just don't know what to say, I think.  They don't want to keep bringing it to your attention, or they are too nervous to bring it up at all.  You'll get through it.  It sucks - won't lie - but it does grow back!  (As my bald male friend keeps reminding me....)  Keep holding onto the positives!

Faith - oh gosh you were in lockdown!  Soooo happy for you all that this nightmare has ended.  I was glued to the TV/phone all day....  No clue about blisters.  I would call the office.  Probably nothing to get too worried about, but to let them know.

So glad to hear from you, Nihahi & sbelizabeth!!  Take good care of yourselves, rest, heal, and take whatever help comes your way!  ((hugs))!  TOWANDA!

Great analogy, Seagan!  

 Jeannie

nihahi

Hi Ladies,

Sbelizabeth, good to hear from you, you sound great. Still not caught up on reading, and currently have the concentration span of tadpole. Adjusting to life at home was exhausting yesterday, and even with all the "prep" in place, my back was screaming by the end of the day. But doing better today. Biggest issue for me at this point, really is the back......it just isn't tolerating the "non upright" posture. Biggest issues in hospital were unrelenting nausea.....couldn't keep anything down until 5 days post op, and swelling. Have just recently been able to make a closed fist. Hip drains came out predischarge, flap drain is still pumping out like crazy. PS says it's because of what they discovered at the implant site. ANYWAYS, at this point, I still am convinced diep was the right choice for me and from what I can see, LOVE the new sisters. Catch you later.

Cherrie

Nahahi- sorry to hear of nausea and swelling. It seems like this is common, but troublesome. The back issue is not fun. I had to add Flexeril to my list of drugs for this. It helped some.



Go slow and be patient with yourself.

liefie

YAYYY, Nihahi! So good to hear from you! Sounds like you had a bit of a rough ride with the nausea and swelling, but just glad you're over that now. Good for you on getting those hip drains out so fast - less hassle for you at home. You just rest, and have a wonderful day. Hope you can tame the back with something. Can't be pleasant.

Sbelizabeth, just read your blog, and was moved to tears. What a trouper you are, and what a good writer! It is so weird that we have to get something like bc to bring out our strength, and our inner beauty. Best wishes for an uneventful recovery!

So I got my letter from my PS yesterday confirming my DIEP surgery on May 21. Have to check in at 6 am, scrubbed, washed and ready for battle. It is only four weeks from this Tuesday, and I cannot believe how fast the time had flown. Beginning to feel a little apprehensive now. I am more scared of the tummy surgery than the boob. It took me so long to get back my strength and fitness after treatments were done, and now I will not be able to do anything for weeks and possibly months afterwards. Well, no turning back now. Will meet it head-on, and endure once more. If I can get through chemo, I can get through this, right?