DIEP 2011

My DIEP is May 17th, refresh my memory, what should or shouldn't I be doing to prepare for surgery?  I'm sure no aspirin , no pain reliever except tylenol.My consultation was way back in Jan. and I was just a month out from chemo. Don't remember what all PS told me. Maybe I should call there and have them refresh my memory. Less than 2 weeks now!

Hoo Rah Sue!

Things I brought that worked for me:

Comfy yoga pants(wore them to and from hospital)

Slip on shoes

Button down shirt to leave hospital in

2 men's wife beaters to pin drains to when leaving the hospital (they really worked great cause I could pin the drains anywhere that was comfortable and move them around)

Refillable water bottle (kept it right in bed with me)

iPhone, iPad with books on tape, movies and music and comfy headphones ( I didn't watch any tv and hospital had wifi so I could email and surf the web. I found texting with friends and relatives better than talking on the phone.)

Low rise underwear and you don't need a bra

Chapstick, throat lozenges, hand lotion.

A hair dryer (no hair dryer at the hospital and I have long hair which I can't tolerate wet when I'm in bed. I made my DH go buy one and he dried my hair)

A couple of small squishy pillows for under the seatbelt straps in the car when we left.



Hope everything goes well for you. Good Luck!

I was thinking of maternity undies and pants, as well. If we have low rise panties won't our bare tummies be exposed to the rougher fabric of our pants?  Or will we be heavily bandaged?

 I did buy some men's XL "sleep pants" in Target, that have a drawstring.  They were cheap and lightweight knit.  I figure I can wear them around the house.  They are plain black so I could probably get away with wearing them out too.  Will raising the arms to put on shirts (like a wife beater) be a problem?  Or should I search for button down or zip shirts?

I guess if we over prepare we could end up with a lot of stuff we have no use for but I live in the country and the nearest store is at least 20 minutes away.

I had low rise undies and fold over yoga pants so there was no rubbing of anything on the ab incisions. Worked for me as I didn't want anything gripping me above the incision line. The yoga pants were stretchy, thick cotton knit with flared bottoms in black and I could wear them like dress pants. The wife beat T - shirt had large armholes I had a size Large, no problem getting it over my head and arms at all. I thought I would throw them away when I was done except now I use them for night shirts. Keeps me cool during hot flashes and night sweats of menopause. I had large diaper safety pins to pin my drains to the T-shirt up high under my new Foobs to keep the tubing from dropping into the toilet. I wore my husbands button down shirts loose over my pants so the only fabric against my incisions was the T- shirt.

ladym: No raised toilet seat needed, but I had only one side done. I did need some help getting up the first day or two, so I can see where it might be useful. 

I needed very little at the hospital; they supplied almost everything except a hair dryer; I was really glad to have my little notebook computer. After getting out of the hospital, I wanted the compression undies within a day or two and the undershirts work great -- I got great stretchy ones in the womens dept. at Target. I also wanted the shelf camis and the XL zip front hoodie with the inside pockets; my husband and I made a store run for the hoodie. I used the cart to lean on and had to take rest breaks; I'm sure I looked crazy all bent over, but I didn't care. 

I asked most everyone to give me space except for my closest friends; I wanted to sleep & rest as much as possible.I sent out group email updates; that keep the incoming calls to a minimum.

Marciroberts: You are little ahead of me - do you feel like your tummy scar is stuck? I tried massage a couple of weeks ago, but it looked like it was irritating the scar, so waited and now I wonder if I have scar tissue adhering the scar to the underneath tissue. It is only 'stuck' in the middle. I think I also have some scar tissue holding the underneath part of my breast incision - it pulls when I move my arm. I see my PT tomorrow.

I would love a vacation but I would have to wait until I could roller coaster. I'm waiting for my stage 2 surgery date; PS says likely July.  I started gentle yoga last week, I'm very tentative and whenever it feels like its pulling too much, I ease off. I feel like I have more range of motion every day. I feel very normal except for the tight places at the two incisions. Good on you for walking daily before work! I've got to get back on a regular schedule at my Y; it is a 4 minute walk from my house, so no good excuse not to and lots of yoga classes.

treesprite:  The only place my tummy scar feels like that is at my hip bone area.  I have been massaging mine with Palmers Cocoa Butter & Vitamin E Massage Creme.  That's what the PT used and recommended during physical therapy after my MX.  It really softens the scar and its a healing creme so I started using it a couple weeks out.  My range of motion is improving daily too, I was afraid I was going to have to go back to PT but everything seems to be loosing up.  Now if I could just get this 25 lbs off that I gained during Chemo & Rads I would be wonderful. 

Ladies when does the wearing of the binder come into play?

Should we buy binders so we have them post op?  Or is this something the doctor will tell us about? Are they typically covered by insurance? Is there a difference between the binder and a compression garment?  Are they made like the compression sleeves (for lymphadema) ? Did some of you use spandex biker shorts instead of the binder or after the binder or what?  I looked on the web site that was mentioned in previous posts but I wouldn't know what I should get.  The reviews didn't seem too hot on the binder but I don't know where else they could be found. 

I like the idea of using a hoodie as a "bed jacket" and to pin the drains to, but I have been so hot since my mx.  I don't know what is up with that.  Is it chemo still in my body do you think?  I am hot and perspiring when the thermostat is set on 62F and poor DH is huddled with a blanket!  I went through menopause long before diagnosis and I never had hot flashes, so that is not it. 

By the way, Bed, Bath, and Beyond does have the pillow wedges.

Hi everyone, because I read so much here about the compression garments, i asked my PS before surgery about special garments or clothing for afterwards and he said no special anything, he did not want anything on me except loose fitting clothing, didnt even get the ok for a soft bra until 4 weeks out.  So I would check with PS, they are all different.

Notafraid  I am so amazed at your strength.  I am 61/2 weeks out and doing all that I used to also, but find that I get tired easily.  Walked a good 3 mile walk the other day, trying to build back up.  I notice that my bones are hurting me a lot!  Dont know if its my arthritis, since we have had nothing but rain and cold for 19 days straight, or its just worse from being unable to move around and work as usual.

Treesprite  I also use the palmers cocoa butter and massage all my scars after showering, sont know if it helps, but sure feels good.  My incisions are looking very good.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL!

@MSCal02 That's pretty exciting that your surgery is moved up.  You certainly have less time to be nervous about it.  My surgery is one month away and I can't stop trying to find information.    I keep wondering what it is going to be like during and after.  I wonder how my tummy will end up.  The tummy tuck is not the purpose of the whole thing but do you think it will be an added benefit? 

Has anyone heard from Charlottesmama?  She was scheduled for her DIEP on 5/3.  She may be just going home from the hospital.

Happy mothers day to all of you lovely Moms out there..I'm looking forward to spending this beautiful day with my two daughters.

mscal02- Good Luck!!! I'll be thinking about you. Please post so we can see how you are recovering

I'm on the coutdown now 5 weeks and 2 days to go ...woot!!

Thanks ladym13: I will keep you all in the loop. I am planning a girls day out back yard party this Saturday if it doesn't rain and we don't get flooded out here. If anyone lives in Memphis, TN, please come by. We will have food fun and games, facials and just enjoy the day.

Sign me up for the conveyor belt!  ~  Daiva

How long did most of you need or anticipate needing someone with you after coming home from the hospital?  My husband works nights and is not a nurturer by any stretch of the imagination.  My daughter and sister are volunteering to coordinate with each other and be with me and my elderly parents live next door, so I am lucky.  My surgery is Wednesday, Jun 8 and my daughter said she is taking vacation Wednesday to Wednesday.  Shouldn't that be more than enough?  I thought after she returns to work, my sister could spend a couple of daytime hours with me.