Right MX with DIEP My Story

I wanted to share my story about my surgery, I remember while waiting for my surgery date to come I was on line reading everything I could about MX and DIEP. I hope I can help ease some ones worries who is about to go on this journey.  I was DX with DCIS of the right breast back in October. On January 4th I had my Right MX with immediate reconstruction (DIEP) I went in at 6:00 a.m. they checked me in and I was in my gown and hooked to and IV within an hour. My surgery was suppose to start at 7:30 we ran 15 min late. What calmed me down and kept my peace,I had little note cards and they had my favorite scriptures from the Bible, I kept reading them over and over again until it was time to go to the O.R.  I kissed my family good-bye (thats when I started to cry) and I was on my way. Once I got to the O.R. everyone was waiting for me they helped me move on to the operating table. I remember laying there and they told me to breath in the mask three times, thats all I remember. My MX took and hour and a half, the doctor came down and talked with my family everything was going good, she told my family the reconstruction begun. It usually takes 6 to 8 hours for my surgery for everything, but mine took 12 hours. I found out later that when the doc finished my DIEP up, he did not like the oxygen level on my new breast so he went back in and rerouted some blood vessels. I remember coming to and all these nurses were around me, i did not get sick , I just moaned, I did not really feel that much pain, I had a pain ball that was connected in my stomach so I felt nothing there, and my breast was not too bad. I was very swollen all over for the first couple days. I stayed in PACU unit for a day and they transfered me to my room. On day three, they got me out of bed and i walked very slowly around my room.  I was in the hospital for 5 days. I came home and the whole car ride wiped me out. I made sure my husband brought my pillow so I could lay it on my belly so the seat belt would not hurt. I came home with three drains, two for my stomach and one for my breast, they are a pain but I am dealing well with them. When I take a shower, my PS gave me a fanny pack type purse that I put my drains in and I zip them up hang it around my neck and I shower. It is not too bad. My pain has not been too bad at home, I am down to one pain pill every six hours. Everyone talks about constipation problems after a big surgery, Right from the start when I was allowed, I drank lots of water and in the hospital I ate everything healthy with bran, fruits, vegetables, salads, chicken, yogart I did not feel like eating much but I made myself. I came home and I continued and thankfully, it worked for me. I also drank a couple glasses of apple juice a day. Its almost two weeks since my surgery and I am feeling better each day. I get my drains out in five more days, I try to rest as much as possible and I am not doing anything like cooking cleaning washing clothes until I get the okay. I sleep in a recliner thats the most comfortable place for me. I did have a hard time sleeping in the beginning but its getting better as each night goes by.   I hoped I helped someone out there ease there mind.  It is amazing how your body can recover! 

Giselle