DIEP 2011

Hi Ladies, I had a long busy day but endured it great. This am I had last 2 drains out, YEA!!!! Week and a half out and I feel almost normal. 1:00 to 3:00  today I had herceptin, then grocery shopping, out to eat and wal mart I had then energy for all this and more. Keep in mind I never nap. I even slept pretty good last night. My post op Wed. the ps said I was doing perfect and it looks like I'm a good healer ( thanks to all the fresh pineapple I eat) . I have slept in my bed which is high since I got home. LOL imagine this the 1st night 1st I tried our bed, wasn't comfortable then I tried the spare room which the bed was lower and this didn't work next I went to the recliner this was the most uncomfortable so back to our bed I went and have been there since LOL yes is was a circus. At 1st I used 4 reg. pillow stacked in different ways now I am using 3. For me it is laying on my back, I am just not a back sleeper.

I have had very little pain.I have taken tylenol only since the 3rd day anything stronger gives me a stomach ache and makes me nausea. I never rated my pain at anything more than a 3.

I too was walking the day after surgery, I'm pretty sure the expect you to, just to keep the blood clots away. Speaking of bloood clots. Does eveyone get 2 shots a day of heperen (blood thinner)while in the hopital I assume this too is standard. I have said before The one thing I didn't expext was the amount of fluid they fill you up with. The 3 rd day in the hosp. they weighted me and the nurse said I wt. 20lb more than before surgery. Wow just what I wanted. Anyway it is gone now.

Hope each of you is feeling well and doing great!! Have a good week end, supose to rain here.

Sue you are really getting out there. I hope to get rid of my drains on Tuesday.Maybe I will feel like picking up the pace.

ladym: I think that my pain is equally distributed. My breast is very sore and swolled above the incision where there is feeling. My belly line kind of hurt all the way around.

I did get 2 shots of heprarin daily and had to take a baby aspirin daily to keep the blood flowing.After those shots i just skipped the one for pain.

Ladym, I am with you and Sue and Mscal are doing AWESOME!!!!  I really can't believe how quickly they have rebounded.  Are either of you in any type of compression?

Susan

mscal02 & Sue- You are such an inspiration!! My bed is high and l don't have a recliner so l will get the pillows ready.  2 weeks to go!! Nervous but ready to get this over with.

 Good night!

 Susan

ladym13 - I know you have had a LONG wait, and I am so glad that it is only a few weeks away for you now. Believe me it is all worth it!!!!

blondie45...THANK YOU....yes I feel like I've been anticipating this for AGES...

remind me, did you have delayed or immediate  DIEP-bilateral or Uni? oooohhhh stage 2 is so soon...how long a wait since stage 1?

@blondie45 I am scheduled for exactly the DIEP you had, (very) delayed on the right , and immediate on the left after a PMX. I cannot count the number of odd looks that I get from people who think I am CrAzY for having a PMX of the left side when I have no evidence of BC in it, and tested neg. on the BRCA tests. I try to explain that a DIEP can only be done once, and the entire abdominal tissue is removed anyway, so if only half is used, the other half is wasted. I'm doing this to (hopefully) lower my chance of another BC to 1-2 %, regardless of my BRCA status, and feel my PS can achieve better symmetry on me by doing a bilateral. I would need the other side lifted anyhow, so it's not as though I will be having a DIEP and be done. I will still need revisions and a "stage II", and whatever that is comprised of. It sure is a good thing that I don't take poeple's odd looks and comments to heart or I would have just said "forget it" a long time ago. The way I look at it is, I had BC and all decisions regarding it are MINE, with DH's opinion counting of course, but the ultimate decision is mine. Unless someone takes a stroll in my shoes, they couldn't possibly know what route they would take. Does that make sense ???

9 days and counting (YES, I'm counting) and not nervous ...yet  

blondie45- I'm having delayed Unilateral (left side) DIEP and then hopefully a lift at stage 2 on my natural breast. I am SO happy and relieved to hear that you are happy with the results.

exray- OMG 9 days....eeeeek, I'll be thinking of you

So I'm not sure what they all do with phase 2. Can you ladies tell me? I didn't ask I know they said something about tat and nipples if I want and they can do contouring. So do they put you under for all this? I'm pretty sure they told me it would be done in their office.

IowaSue and MSCal - up and walking the next day is amazing to me!

I really am finding that this surgery sounds a LOT worse than it actually is.

 XRAYestInMA: I chose BMX/DIEP even thought I was BRCA- and only had current DCIS BC on the left.  HOWEVER, I had it in 2 known places (it was actually 3 with one invasive following path) and I had had DCIS on the right 7 years prior.  My attitude was that 1) I was obviously a cancer producing machine and 2) I'd rather have the threat of BC removed BEFORE it got to the point where I needed chemo or more rads.  Plus, how often did I really want them slicing and dicing?  

I know there were some that thought I was being dramatic and overreacting, but even they shut up when pathology found a 3rd area of cancer and that it was invasive.  

You have to do what's right for YOU.  We're talking the difference between immediate discomfort followed by healing and no worries verses living in fear and/or living with the on-going effects of chemo  and rads. 

@SAMayoFL I have seen some awful DIEP photos as well, and they terrify me also. What we don't know is why these flaps did not fare well, and I think there could be many reasons. I'm still going into this thinking that I'm going to do okay and that I will not become a statistic on the failure end of DIEP. I am very confident with my choice of PS. The few women that I have spoke with who have had the same PS that I chose had only positive things to say, and were VERY happy with their results. Very encouraging indeed. IDK if I'm the next one here to have my DIEP - mine is June 6th - so perhaps I am unless someone chimes in that they will be having their's done before then. As far as getting in touch - my DH is not the fastest texter in the world, but he can send one or call you if you prefer, if you'll want to post an update. I don't plan on bringing a laptop to the hospital since I don't think I'll be jonesing for the internet while I am hooked up to IV's and tubes and whatnot.

@ladyM Hopefully I will able to make it home and settle in before your turn has arrived, as I think you are a few days following me. It's weird because when I look down now, I see a little pooch on my lower belly that in a week and a half, will be moved to a new residence. It has been a LONG time since my abdomen was flat. I'm sure I won't even recognize it as mine, haha.

@Notafraid You and I are def. on the same page are far as removing the threat, aka ticking timebomb. According to the breast surgeon that I met, I have "only" a 15 to 20% chance of getting another BC in my left side. With a PMX, that drops to 1-2%. Now I know 15% isn't bad odds, BUT I'll feel much better with them lowered to 2%. I REALLY do not want to go through chemo and being bald again - once was more than enough for me. Been there, done WITH that. When I told my Oncologist what my intentions were as far as the PMX, she was extremely supportive with my decision. I told her I would ask for a copy of the pathology results for her, and she says she wouldn't be surprised if atypical cells were found in my breast. How about that ? Atypical cells of BC just waiting for their opportunity to mess with my life again ! NO way, I say. Truthfully, I'm not very attached to my left breast anyhow...no pun intended. My right one was my favorite one, until it tried to kill me, that is. My abdomen is not very sexy where it is located now, but reformed into two DIEP breasts will give it a whole new role. I am very psyched about having two breasts on my lop-sided chest, cleavage, AND a flat tummy in my near future.

@mscal Hmmm, I wonder if I should pick up a big bottle of Extra-strength Tylenol this week? I have 800mg Motrin in the house that I use for occasional headaches, but that can thin the blood, so I can't take any now as I am 9 days pre-op. I hope to not have to take any hardcore narcotics for longer than a few days so I will be able to drive sooner than later once I am home again. I don't plan on driving anywhere far, but hope I'll at least be able to drive the kids to school and back soon after I get home so I don't have to rely on my IL's help any more that I have to.   

@IowaSue I think there is a new thread about stage 2 DIEP. I read a little of it, but got a little freaked out when some gals talked about leaking all over the place after the procedure. Not sure I want to be leaking, but hey, maybe that's just me.

Have a great holiday week-end all....

~Lori         

Misszed, Just a thought that might work for you. In addition to a recliner I borrowed for my bedroom, I bought an  anti-gravity lounge chair (the kind for the outdoors) for my living room.  Maybe you can find one of those...I have seen them on spring special at several stores ie   Bed Bath & Beyond,  or big box hardware stores, think I saw them on sale at a sporting goods store too.  It is definitely hard to climb in/out of bed at first. I think it uses the stomach and that will be tight.

Best of Luck 

Hope all went well with NoWords who had her surgery on Friday. Anybody hear? 

@NoWords, wishing you a speedy recovery. Let us know how you're doing when you feel up to it. Go girl! You did it!

I am so glad to be showering again. 2 days in a row. I have been getting along good, I really don't need help with anything. I have been doing chores around the house except running the vacuum. I even have been doing the cooking last night I grilled pork chops, hash browns and baked beans. DH was cleaning out the camper because were were going to go to the lake this am and spend the night. The weather decided to stay crappy cool and rainy so we didn't go this am. At my follow up last Wed. I told ps I was have difficulty sleeping on my back and she gave me ambiem and I took one Fri, and had a good 8 hrs. of sleep took one Sat and I slept 10hr. woke up once for restroom. Wow I was amazed. I hope everyone is doing good.

Wishing NoWords speedy recovery prayers and hugs.

Mspradley, I am so sorry to hear you are still having issues with healing.  That totally stinks.  I hope your next surgery goes super smooth and allows things to heal right up!

Sue and Mscal, I am so happy to hear you are doing well and are on your way to recovery.  

You probably already know this, but I am traveling about 8 1/2 hours to Charleston for surgery.  My DH will be with me but he isn't very good at going to a store to buy something specific.  I mean, I could tell him I want orange juice and he could manage that but girl stuff would be a challenge.  What did you wear in the few days after surgery?  Did you pack everything you needed?  Was there anything you wish you had packed?  I know I can't foresee everything but I am trying to cover all my bases.

Susan