DIEP 2014

TinaHoff

Dee, I think your oncologist is spot on, being ultimately thankful you had the surgery, versus wishing you had.  My first two weeks, when I was so uncomfortable, constipated, and out of it from the pain meds, I wasn't so sure.  Yesterday I put on a cami, and was so pleased to see TWO boobs again, that I started looking at sexy tops and dresses to wear once I'm healed again.  Haven't wanted to look at clothes for over a year.

jmb, you have a beautiful family!

trish, you said the belly surgery was for the strong women, and you didn't feel you were one of those?  And you had a bmx at the same time as your reconstruction - my dear, you are much stronger than I.  I had a single mastectomy more than a year ago, and I thought I was going to die.  You had your surgeries all in one go - I'd say you are pretty darn strong, and could kick my butt any day.  I pray that your doctors are soon able to find consistent pain relief for you, and soon.

dvygrl, I remember your posts when you were recovering right after surgery.  I remember the difficult things you had to put up with, and it makes me so happy to see you cracking jokes now.

Tina

tlbradyful

JerseyMomOf3

great post- DIEP bra find, ladies!

Was at Walmart to pick up shorts for my son and spotted the Simply Basic wireless bra with remove able foam cups. The bra is like a coobie bra- just stretchy, very comfy, and a great feature are the foam cups which make my noobs look much better in clothes- evens them out and gives a nice shape! All that for $5.98! Going back to get a few more!

rose111

Hi everyone

Thanks for all the good wishes.  Friday is coming soon and I am still  frantically cleaning, and stocking up.    Hope today went well for  Heidi and love all my boys..  Lilli, hope all goes well for you.    One of my  husbands co workers sent a beautiful prayer blanket and card from his church.  I was very touched by this thoughtful gift and of course burst into tears.

I love the new mottos!    I will also need to write  them down so that I can remember them when needed.

thinkpink4ever

TLeigh, you're right behind me - my surgery was on the 5th of June.  Welcome to the other side; you are officially a flapper and I'm sure it feels good to have the surgery behind you.  Great advice, and it appears as if you're healing well so far...

One love,

tp4ever

k79miller

gosley...I had to travel 8 hrs for my surgery.  I was in the hospital for 5 days & had to stay in town for almost 2.5 wks after I got out of the hospital.  I was nervous too about being so far away from my PS but it all went good.  I ended up back in the hospital my first night home with cellulitis below my stomach incision.  I was admitted on Friday evening so the PS's office was already closed for the weekend so I had my dr here call the night service to talk to someone in the PS's office.  All ended up going well but got to spend 3 nights in the hospital here.  BOO!!!  I returned to my desk job exactly 4 wks after my surgery & have never looked back.  I don't think flying would have been a problem after the surgery.  We chose to drive since we were going to be there so long & didn't want to be without a car that long.

The1toC

TLeighMD thanks for the photos. You will love watching your healing progress throught the photodiary.

Jmb nice photo beautiful family. Our Relay also this past wkd. Was fun. Also I was the invited speaker for the Survivor Lap. Great weather. My third Relay but first seeing the Luminaria (usually they are rain/winded down). Very moving.

Jersey thanks for the bra tip. I am eager to check these out! Feeling the need for bra now after DIEP but not worn one since bmx. Don't own any except for prosthesis. I am concerned that the compression of the lower band below the axilla will back up lymph and make arm swell....but gonna try it.

Gosleyj this is not something you want to rush. Your plan could work IF everything goes perfectly which it probably will.  Usually flights can be credited for medical reasons with a doctor note and without penalty. You have no control over a hospital's surgery schedule. Or could you have surgery after your trip and at your surgeon's new location?

Trish know that each day will get better. We are thinking of you and sending healingnthoughts.

Pollyanna WOW you are doing so well! Take it easy. Rest while you can. Don't hurry the healing. I love that all those kids are involved and sending you well wishes!

The1toC

k79miller my journey also 8 hr by car but only 52 min flight. My PS said no flying for risk of clot and car journey not til 2 wk after and even then ASA, support hose and get out for a walk every 1.5hr. It was a long rode but fortunately clot free. I hope I can fly after stage 2! It s scary to have complications so far from the PS. Hope your healing well!

goldie4040

Wow, 1toC, you PS was super cautious. I got out of my recliner and moved around less often than every 1.5 hours when I got home.  I slept a lot the first week.  The flying still scares me. 

JMB, you have a beautiful family, and you look great, compression garments and all.  Congrats.

Tleigh, congrats being on the other side.  Looks like you got a great recon.  Keep us posted on your recovery. I don't think moderators have a problem with real pics of recon as long as we don't have a problem seeing them.  I have seen many recon posts on other threads. 

trish01254

Hey Ladies - 6 days - Home and happy.  What a difference from being in the hospital.  Once I put on my street  clothes i felt sexy and beautiful (even though I looked tired, underneatch frankensteinish and bent over).  I am walking lots at home and trying not to lie down too much.  I slept in reclinder chair last night for 5 hour stretch which is my longest uninterrupted sleep thus far.  I had the back reclined pretty far back and it actually helped with walking straighter this morning.  Not as much lower back pain as yesterday.  I feel as though I have turned a corner.  My next goal is to be able to attend a family party on the 28th.  thanks for the kind words and wishing everyone positive progressions.  Only on the tylenol, baby aspirin, antibiotics.  Oh and no trex arm.  I'm really surprised that my range of motion doesnt appear to be too restricted. I have no breast pain other than the occassional drain sites.  THe belly pain in manageable.  I'm getting used to the pulling sensation being ever present.

PS discharge:  requires binder except for sleeping, no special dressings, regular diet, walking as much as tolerable.  Even helped DH pick up the house a little.  I was in charge of table clutter.    Visiting nurse is coming today.

Thanks for all the kind words and wishing everyone positive progressions.

Question - did anyone experience dry sections of their throat that resulted in hving to cough?  That happened to me a couple times in hospital and twice last night.  It's like even though you are sipping water the spot does not get quench.  If so, what did you do about it?  really hurts to cough as you know.

TLeighMD

...and the belly flap site, day 4.5.  All well, going to a hotel today to chill for a week. 

Edited by Mods to remove photo.

MartyJ

TLeigh - you do know that anyone on the internet can see these photos.  Perhaps you need to join and post to the picture forum.

Teacher64

It's been 3 months. I feel really good. I've been able to go to sleep on my side but usually wake up on my back with heaviness and pressure cross the tops of my breasts. It goes away after I get up and walk around. Does anybody else experience this?

Dyvgrl

I have that problem every night. I usually can't sleep flat on my back for more than 30 mins at a time because of that and certainly can't sleep on my side yet. I'm only 5 weeks out but I do know that weird feeling. It's like extra weight pushing and pulling on your chest because of the foreign tissue that was placed there. Like it's not totally attached to the chest wall all the way. Hopefully time fixes that!

Trinity0723

Well they postponed my surgery until my pain is under control. 

jbdayton

Trinity, so sorry to hear of the delay.  I will pray you get your pain within limits to allow your surgery to be done.

(((((HUGS)))))

pollyanna5

Today is not such a good day, things hurt   The pain meds get it for 2 hours and the next 2 hours until I can take the next pill are rough.  And I feel tired.  And my breasts feel really weird.  I can feel the skin but underneath it is just numb, but strange.  I don't know if that is normal.  The colour is still normal (while with bruising), they are warm (not cold like they said with necrosis).  My abdomen feels numb, I'm guessing with the nerves regenerating.  There is a definite difference between the reduction post-op feeling, and this.  There it was very tingly all the time, this is nothing.  I think it's just that they don't feel like breasts.  I knew that, but the experience is difference.  I think it is just bothering me. They look sort of like breasts, but they are not.

Any of this make sense?

I miss my kids.  They are with my mom this week.  Also in a custody dispute, which I found out is going to be expensive, and so beyond impossible right now.  And I can't deal with it right now, but it's stressing me out.  Not good for healing.

Just bummed feeling today. 

Trinity0723

jdayton. Thank you very much. Needless to say I'm pretty upset about it. 

pollyanna5

Sorry to hear about your surgery delay Trinity.    THis all such an emotional experience,  I can't imagine having delays imposed.

pollyanna5

I apparently was funny when I woke up.  Anathesia does weird things to you.  There was no room in recovery, so they kept me in the OR for a bit until room was available.  I remember waking up with bright lights, and all these people and looking up and asking if I Was dead.  One of the doctors who was very good looking and young, said something along the lines of "Dear, I'm good looking , but not angelically good looking" or something like that.  I apparently didn't stop talking.  I only remember that.  

When I got to recovery my mom and brother came in, and I looked pretty rough.  Especially my mouth and lips.  From the intubation and they wouldn't let me drink.  They were allowed to use a sponge to wet my lips, and left a glass on the table in front of me, with the sponge in the cup.  I kept asking for more, and my mom said I'd had enough.  She and my brother went for the evening as it was late.  The ICU nurses caught me, sucking the sponges dry, I was essentially drinking through the sponge, so no more for me.  I had to have them do it.  I guess if the flap fails, it can fail quickly, so I wasn't allowed to eat or drink.  

goldie4040

Polly, sounds like you had a visit from our friend Wilbur.  Nothing like saying silly things when we wake up from surgery.  I went with my husband for his colonoscopy a few years ago (very light sedation), and he woke up, looked at me and said, " has anybody told you how nice you look today?"  I said, "no."  He said, " that's because you don't."  LOL.  He was kidding, and promptly apologized.  It was his attempt at humor under the influence.

Trinity, I am so sorry about your surgery being postponed.  I guess no new date till you get things settled?  I hope that happens soon.

Tleigh, your incision's look good.  Where are you staying? What city are you in? I think what MartyJ and some other's have mentioned is that you might be sorry later (when you are not full of meds) that you posted these photos.  You might want to crop out the private parts and just show us the incisions.  There is a picture of forum associated with BCO, but you need to be a member in good standing on BCO before they allow admittance.

Trinity0723

Pollyanna - your story was wonderful. It put a smile on my face :-)

On the surgery note. In addition to the pain issue, he said that my insurance hadn't approved it yet so I called the insurance company this afternoon and I think I've got that under control. Or at least I think I can fix it. Plus I'm thinking this gives me more time to find a BS for the prophylactic on the other side. So maybe there's a positive to all this. 

pollyanna5

IS wilbur, the spacey feeling after anathesia or the drugs? Then definitely a few visits.  I had to talk myself out of driving this friday to my appt which is 2 hours away.  I'm still pretty spacey on the tramacet and mobility impaired from the abdomen incision.  I have a friend driving me as mom is worn out from the driving last week.

I posted a few posts ago how my breast flaps are feeling, is this normal? (I copied it again)

Emotionally a bit rough today.

.

6 hours ago
pollyanna5 wrote:

Today is not such a good day, things hurt The pain meds get
it for 2 hours and the next 2 hours until I can take the next pill are
rough. And I feel tired. And my breasts feel really weird. I can feel
the skin but underneath it is just numb, but strange. I don't know if
that is normal. The colour is still normal (while with bruising), they
are warm (not cold like they said with necrosis). My abdomen feels
numb, I'm guessing with the nerves regenerating. There is a definite
difference between the reduction post-op feeling, and this. There it
was very tingly all the time, this is nothing. I think it's just that
they don't feel like breasts. I knew that, but the experience is
difference. I think it is just bothering me. They look sort of like
breasts, but they are not.

Any of this make sense?

lemon68

Trinity, sorry for the delay but I am a firm believer it all happens for a reason, in your case hopefully one that will make you very happy! You need to have done what you want, not what they think you should do. I hope they can get this pain under control. I took pain meds before surgery for a bad disc in my back. I was so scared I wouldn't be able to get relief after surgery. If you ever want to talk just PM me.

Pollyanna, cute story upon waking up. I am glad you are doing alright. I think you are feeling just what you should be at this time. My breasts and my tummy are still numb, I kept thinking for something that is so numb it sure hurts! I had the same trouble with the pain meds, by 2 hours I was hurting. I started taking 1 1/2 and then at the 2 hour mark I took the other half that seemed to help. My tummy on the right side tingles like when your hand or foot is asleep, its kind of cool is that what you are feeling? I am proud of you, you DID it. Its natural to feel a bit emotional you have been though a lot and just had major surgery. Rest and treat yourself. Know that the way they look today isn't how they will look a week from now. I have taken pics each week and I promise it will get better. I have issues but faith they will fix the issues and many of them are resolving on their own. XO

Cherrie

For those of you who know Kat Ski on this site, she is too tired to post, as she has two blood lots in her chest and one in her right lung. She is resting. I know she would love words of encouragement as she deals with this. Kat has been through a lot. She visited Dr. Massey in Chicago and both she and her husband liked her very much. She has scheduled a Stage 2a in the fall. Her stage 1 was done in Texas.

lemon68

Cherrie, thank you for the information on Kat-Ski. I am sorry to hear this is happening to her. Please send her my love and let her know she is in my thoughts. Sending lots of prayer for a speedy resolution to the clots. Is this from the surgery?

Kat if you are reading this know that we are all here for you. Your encouragement and well wishes shared with us all though these times has helped in many ways. You are in my thoughts. You beat the big C and now you will get over this too. Stay strong as I know you are, much love to you. ((hugs))

goldie4040

Oh, Kat.  So sorry to hear what has happened.  I thought we hadn't heard from you because you got so busy with your family moving in, etc.  I hope that a new PS and a new perspective on your treatment course will work out for you.  Keeping you in my prayers.

gila4936

I saw the PS today and got the last two drains removed. Oh, happy day! I'm two weeks post-op and the PS is loving the way my breasts look. He's pretty pleased with himself. haha! But my stomach incision has come open in the center. It's really gross but PS says not infected. We just have to pack it with gauze so it will heal.

Now is when I need to be careful. It was super easy not to overdo anything while the drains were in but now that I feel human again I can see myself pushing the limits. PS said I need to be "lazy but active."

Tomorrow I have a follow up with the BS.

Zenful

Sending prayers and positive vibes your way, Kat. Get better soon!  We miss your spunky posts!

goldie4040

Gila, so sorry about your incision.  I am 6 weeks out and I have been babying my tummy incisision from the beginning.  The last week I have been trying to be fairly normal.  Go to the store, drive, do a little housework, etc.  and all of a sudden mine doesn't look so good either.  I symphatize.  Lazy, but active.  If you learn the trick to that let me know.