DIEP 2014

The1toC

Goldie I am so sorry you are having such a rough time through recovery and send strong healing thoughts your way.

If you are keeping hydrated and eating fairly well with protein then there is something else going on I think. Maybe the ABx you are on aren't effective for the type of bladder infection? 

Your doc needs to address this TODAY.

Hope you feel better reaaly soon!

brendarj

Purchased 3 really cute button down, sleeveless blouses in a size larger than normal at Target today while waiting for my pedi. If they're too big later on they will look great with a cami. My list is getting smaller. 12days to go

 I also used aloe vera after every rad treatment . Got a bottle of 99% pure at health food store. I had two spots really burn along underarm scar and it was the only thing that gave relief.

AnnBR

Goldie I am worried about you. Hope you get answers soon and can get back on the road to recovery. Thanks ladies for the recommendations on what to use after rad treatments. I appreciate it!

JerseyMomOf3

Thanks Teacher and Lahela, Janet and The1- he removed two of the remaining three, including the one under my right breast which has been really bothering me,hooray! You are right - it did not hurt at all. Just the snpping of the sutures pulled the skin a little which hurt but it was not bad. I have one left, and my Dr said we could pull it ourselves tomorrow if output was less than 50 ml over 24 hours. Yippee!! Now I need a nap.

Goldie I am worried about you too. I hope you get this addressed right away. Best wishes to you, you deserve to have some relief!!

Aff - congratulations on your liberating day!

goldie4040

PS called in meds for bladder infection.  He wants me to see my PC doc if it doesn't go away.  I get that. 

Thanks for worrying.  Bladder infection should just be a minor problem, I hope. 

Jersey, getting drains pulled is such a relief.  Glad you got most of them out. Don't be surprised if you have minor leaking from them the holes for a day or two. 

Brenda, glad you had a nice little shopping spree. Being prepared makes you feel empowered.

JMB, you are doing great.  Thank you for being the keeper of the list.  It's much appreciated.  Hope all is well with you. I was thinking about yesterday.  I was trying to style by hair, and I was jealous of your arrangement you had with your niece? was it?  She would do your hair twice a week at her salon.

lemon68

Goldie I hope the meds help quickly, you don't need anything else happening while you are trying to heal.

Jerseymom- You are almost free! It feels so good to have them out, hope the last one comes out tomorrow. I had my last one taken out yesterday, it leaked all afternoon and last night. Seems tonight it is finally clotting up.

I got my dresses from Walmart. Both short to the knee and cute! They were under $10 each, not sure how they will wash up but for $10 its a great deal. I ordered them off the website. I am 5'5 but have never tried the long dresses.

I have an area on my left breast near nipple that looks bad. It seems like it is oozing and the skin is yellow. I cant feel it but if I could I think it would hurt.  I will take a pic tomorrow and email PS but just wondered if this is a wound? Anyone have this happen in breast or tummy? I use the Silverdene cream, what are you or did you use on your incisions?

Thanks

goldie4040

Lemon, I wouldn't put the silverdene on till you get okay from PS.  I am sure the oozy area is probably nothing, but wait till he sees it. I had an area on tummy that was leaking fluid and they had me put gauze over it till it stopped and I left it open to the air as much as possible.  Now it is hard scab.  Might take forever to come off, but it dried up, thank goodness.  It's weird, sometimes they want things to dry out, and other times they want you to keep things moist.  The dresses sound cute. 

I already feel better.  I asked for the UTI numbing med to help me through the pain. 

naiviv

Surgery 5/21.

Second night in ICU, very long surgery. I was finished at 4:30 but my left flap started failing. back to surgery. It could not be saved. I am rather bummed out. I have not even looked at right one. Going to take me awhile to process this.

Not very happy now,

V

Dyvgrl

Naiviv,

So sorry for the failed flap. Big big hugs for you. Hopefully they can find a flap from somewhere else for you. You're in my prayers sweety.

goldie4040

Oh no, Naiviv.  I am so sorry.  My heart is breaking for you.  Sending prayers and strength to get through.  Like Dvygirl said, they will find a way to make this right.  Hang in there.  Keep us posted. 

lahela

Naiviv, just focus on healing now and know that nothing is impossible for the future. We're here whenever you need us. {{{{{hugs}}}}}

jmb5

naiviv, I'm so sorry! 

Ridley

Naiviv - so sorry to hear that - sending positive healing thoughts to you.

AnnBR

naiviv, I am so sorry to hear this. Please keep us posted. My prayers are with you.

aff

naiviv - I am so sorry. My prayers are with you.

JerseyMomOf3

Naiviv, I am so sorry to hear this. You are in my thoughts and prayers. We are here for you!

Teacher64

Naiviv, so sorry to hear about your result. Keep getting stronger each day. So much has been done for all of us that I know brighter days will be ahead of you. Keep us updated. We are thinking of you.

brendarj

Naiviv - So sorry to hear this. You are in my thoughts and prayers

 

TinaHoff

naiviv, I am so sorry to hear this!  After all you've been through, too...

Tina

GeorgieGirlKC

Naiviv, thinking about you and saying prayers.

The1toC

Naiviv sorry to hear about the flap. I hope the remaining flap is the best ever! Wishing you a speedy and comfortable recovery.

SummerRose2014

Hi all,

I'm over a month out from Stage 1 bilateral DIEP flap (immediate reconstruction) done in Singapore.

Still have quite a lot of swelling. It's worse on the right side which had axillary LN clearance. Is this normal post-op swelling or the start of lymphedema?

My PS did a fantastic job and I'm not keen on any more surgery. Anyone else planning to stop at Stage 1, and not do Stage 2-3?

MsW2012

Dyvgirl, I couldn't agree more! Sometimes I feel the greatest lesson I have learned in this whole cancer journey has been to follow my own instinct and not take anyone's advice blindly, not even from people you hold in very high regard. Rad oncs are very knowledgeable and trustworthy. So are some of our friends. But every case is different and we all need to make the decisions we can live with later. Long story short I finally got a second opinion after the fact and he felt the boost portion of my rads, which was electron radiation, was completely unnecessary - accomplished absolutely nothing on top of the 28 days of x-radiation I had already had. That boost left that portion of my skin like a 1/4-inch thick swath of cartilage in about a 3" diameter circle on the side of my breast.

Oh, I could go on! But we need to make our own decisions based on the best information available to us.

Naiviv, I am so sorry about your surgery. Setbacks are so hard. Sending healing thoughts and prayers your way.

tlbradyful I never did ask about percentages with my rads but that is a very good question to ask! Even the most scrupulous Rad Oncs want to use their expensive equipment. They want to sell you on the benefits - but I believe most would also be completely forthcoming about weighing risks and benefits.

Right now I am considering DIEP to improve on the awful result from my implant recon. I visited one surgeon I totally didn't connect with so I will see one or two more before I decide. (Any recommendations for the San Francisco/East Bay area?)

Thanks everyone for being here. This is a wonderful place for us to support each other! Hugs.

LiLi-RI

Naivi:

So sorry to hear your news. You must not get too discouraged. I am sure your surgeon has a back-up plan already in place. Stay strong - and know that we are all thinking of you! 

Lisa

optimi

Naiviv, I am so sorry!! You are in my thoughts and prayers!! Please keep us posted!

Goldie, I hope you are getting some relief! I can't imagine recovering from surgery and dealing with a bladder infection!

Dyvgrl,
AnnBr, tlbradyful and others, thank you so much for the article and
your input on rads! I have read a lot about it and seen different rad
oncologists but in my case there seems to be no question that I will
need it and yes, they mentioned that the effect on heart and lung would
be minimal. I didn't know that I needed rads until I was almost done
with chemo thus it came as a bit of a surprise to me. But I am willing
to do whatever necessary to minimize chance of recurrence.

LiLi-Ri,
hang in there! Staying busy definitely helps dealing with the anxiety....I wish all of us uneventful and smooth surgeries and recovery periods!!

lemon68

Naiviv, Rest, sleep and know they will get this fixed for you. I am sorry ((hugs)) we are here for you.

Kat-ski

Naiviv,  aww, so sorry about your flap loss.  Please get strong and healed.  You will be in my prayers.  Kat

Teacher64

PS said it's ok, even good, to workout in moderation because it will loosen scar tissue but to expect swelling. I don't know about the burning sensation across the belly though. Told my trainer about it and he told me to just walk today and we'd get back to workout next week when this "flair up" has subsided. He's worked with other BC ladies but no one who's had DIEP so we are both being cautious. Trainer said days and weeks are just marks on the calendar and we're in this for the long haul. So I really am lucky that my healing has been so uneventful although I still have to roll to get out of bed and sometimes have breath-stopping pain on the left side where muscle was taken. Every day is a new day.

Binney4

SummerRose, hello!

Good question about the possible lymphedema, and not real easy to answer. Always a good idea to request an evaluation by a well-qualified lymphedema therapist. Besides answering your question, s/he will also be able to do some baseline arm measurements for future reference, give you personalized lymphedema risk reduction tips, teach you a gentle lymphatic massage, and possibly fit you for compression sleeves and gloves to use prophylactically for travel, exercise, or any unusual activities. Here's information about what to look for in a therapist and how to find one near you (even in Singapore!):

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified...

Here's a page with a lot of fully-trained therapists in Singapore, just to get you started:
http://www.vodderschool.com/find_a_therapist/searc...

If it is lymphedema that you're dealing with, prompt treatment makes it easier to get under control and to manage on-goiing.

Be well!
Binney

cammie4

I had the DIEP flap surgery on May 7th. The Plastic Surgeon had me in ICU for 2 days so that they could monitor the flap every hour on the hour. The hospital and nurses were great.

Did anyone else have problems with extreme swelling under one armpit? The PS said it would go away in a few months (wow, months - really)....Also, I can't walk without extreme backpain....The drains are painful......The big question I have is that I'm scared to pull myself up out of bed. I'm afraid of pushing with my arms or using too much of abdominal muscles (since the stitch looks like it split a little). I want to be independent and be able to get out of bed on my own. It's been 16 days since surgery, but need advice.....Please send any advice!

Also - so sorry Naiviv about the flap. The post-surgery in the hospital is hard - hoping everything works out. Best wishes!