DIEP 2011
Comments
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Southampton omnipresent went to dr Wu because I asked my onc's np who I should go to and she said if she was getting it done she'd go to dr Wu. Also my bs dr. Tchou works with dr. Wu a lot. They are a good team. She is quite young, but very confident and capable.
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I too have been a lurker for awhile. My uni DIEP will be on Tuesday in Milwaukee with Dr. Hijjawi. Love him already for his honesty, skill and positive encouragement.
Looking forward to being "on the other side" with a noob. It's been 3 1/2 yrs with a fake girl, and I'm really ready to pack her away. Thanks to all of you who have gone before and the priceless info and positive outlook about the process. You have shared so much that has made me feel ready to do this. Finishing a bit of cleaning and away we go.
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"Lifeisgreat,".....my surgeon was Dr. Hijjawi, also. He did a fabulous job on me. I had delayed, bilateral DIEP in June of 2008. Three years after my initial diagnosis. I was "breastless" for almost 3 years and woke to beautiful "mounds" that I now consider ...me.....like I was born with them. Tell him Mary Jo Cyr (pronounced 'sear') said hello, would you? Good luck to you. Praying all goes well.
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I had Dr Hijjawi for Diep in December 2010.
LifeIsGreat, you really summed up his character well, his is such a wonderful man. I have some more reconstruction to go, but I am always so comfortable in his care. Here's hoping all goes well for you next week. Let others take care of you and rest, rest, rest.
Keep us posted, hugs....
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Southhamp Dr. Wu... Does magnificent work... I have before and after pics
that I can show you... Amazing...
I seen Kay, she looks great...
The tightness is setting in... I walked the unit without walker
three times today... Preparing to go home tomorrow evening... -
Sohard and Kay, I am so glad to hear you are both doing well!!
LifeisGreat, we will all be pulling for you and sending positive vibes and hugs your way. The first couple of days are hard because it's so hard to do anything for yourself. They really do a great job of controlling the pain. The thing that surprised me most was that on day 4 I felt so much better, was able to do more for myself and get around so much better. It is truly amazing how much better you feel every single day.
Betsy, just know we are all sending triple hugs, prayers and positive vibes your way!!! You have had more than your share of the tough parts and it's time for you to catch a break. Again, the first couple of days are hard but you will feel amazingly better so, so soon! I am happy your doctors are so compassionate about your needs. It was hard for me to be away from home for two weeks too. My DH used all of his vacation time caring for me and it would be really hard if I had to go back. I think of you daily and hope things are going your way!
Susan
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Sohard and Kay, so great to hear that everything went well with your surgeries and that you are recovering smoothly. We are truly blessed to have this remarkable DIEP option. Would love to see your Before and After photos, Sohardbnme. If I get up enough nerve, I'll post some when I get them together.
Betsy-you are going to be fabulous once they get these 'bumps in the road' (no pun intended) out of the way. They will be sure to make it perfect this go round. Wishing you all the best.
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3 things that got me through 4 days in icu and 1 day in reg room, noise cancelling headphones Bose not the real expensive ones but the 100 ones at best buy and a small and easy mp3 player with hours of non stop almost newage kind of ambient music, no words, just continuous mellow soothing healing sound, my husband would come in everyday to make sure it was recharged because i tended to be awake during the night and tv doesnt cut it for me while dopedup on morphene but music was perfect, also, they would not letme have lots of liquid in the first 48 hours in case i had to go back into surgery, so i specifically asked the nurse if i could have this little sponge on a stick and a cup of ice chips and a little water to soak the sponge stick in, that became my life saver. my husband thought he was supposed to rub it on my lips like chap stick. he was promptly advised that my number 3 most necessary items that had to be located next to me at all times was my chapstick and that my little sponge friend was just to knock of the dryness in my mouth. but the best thing of all was day five when they let my best friend who also had breast cancer 2 years prior rub lotion on my legs and feet, even the nurses thought that was nice because they dont see alot of visitors making much physical contact with the people in the hospital besides a kiss or hand hold....so definately find a friend or familiy member for a good leg and foot lotion rub
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So.. Here's a question... Tuesday i am having a diep flap to supplement a partial loss on my right breast... I will fly home one week later. I am then planning on taking my daughter to college the very next day... That would be 8 days post op... Sitting in a car, not driving for 8 hours, and then spending the next two days in the car for two 4 hour days, with my mom driving. Soooo... Will i be up for this? I would be travelling from NJ to Ohio, no driving, no lifting, just going along for the ride, and to be in the car with me mom...
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Sohard, glad to hear you are doing well. You really do start feeling better as you mover around.
Kay, sounds like you are doing good as well. Hang in there it gets better.
I just putzed around the house yesterday but tried not to over do it. I was either moving around or passed out in my chair. I slept all night last night. A little stiff when you first start moving around in the morning but otherwise okay. We went to the store, me in the power cart. It felt good to get out of the house. The worst thing that just happened is I sneezed. I thought I was going to DIE. That hurt beyond belief!!!!
Happy to report my puppy is back to her old self again, she really scared me. I thought we were losing her. I just couldn't stand that after everything I've been through. We only had her 5 months & she is so adorable.
Betsy, glad to hear your doctors are taking such good care of you.
The girls look good over all especially considering I had nothing before. I am looking really bruised above the right flap & it's a little firmer than it was in the hospital. But that the radiated side. I have extra fat on the bottom side of the left that hopefully we can deal with later but other than that they are pretty much the same size. I really didn't expect that. I think this gal is amazing & I couldn't be happier at this point. I go back tuesday & hopefully get a drain or two out!
I get full fast too! That is okay because I was beginning to eat too much but I think in a way my body was preparing me for what was coming.
For those coming up, you will on the other side with the rest of us!
Blessings to everyone! NJ
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Because my body doesn't like tape I have sores everywhere from where things were attached. Needless to say the bra I have to wear is driving me nuts!!!! (I haven't wore a bra in 3 years
)I've been putting lotion & ointment on the sores but between that & the drains they hurt so much. Today I got inspired & put a soft cami under the bra. It has helped so much!!! It can cover the foobs yet not have pressure on them and give me a little padding between me & the bra.
So hoping when I am healed I can find comfortable bras.
NJ -
Hi NJ - hoping your tape sores heal soon.
In reference to not wearing a bra for 3 years. I still don't because I can't. For starters, there isn't a bra cup that fits me. I've tried them all. Either too big or too small. Not to mention I am super uncomfortable with a band around me now. SO - I wear a Barely There Camisole. Plenty of support and no band around to cause me discomfort. The plus to all this........I have no bulging ... Just a smooth shape because of the cami. I would recommend. -
@marejo ~ do the Barely There camisoles you like have a cup or shelf area or are they just smooth? Are they hot? Where do you get them? My noobs are still a work in progress (Stage 2 next month) so I just want stretch comfort right now. I'm small so at this point, I mainly go braless (at home) and wear sports bras or stretch bras from Shimera or Barely There sleep bras for modesty coverage and comfort. Once I get done with all this and my noobs are where they are going to end up, maybe I'll get a fitting from Nordstrom or something. It'll be interesting to say the least. Thanks for the recommendation.
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marejo, I really like the idea of the Barely There Camisoles, I will definitely look into them. I can't stand a band around me before the surgery & I'm sure it won't change much after.
So much for Drain #2, it wasn't keeping a suction, so I called the doctor. She said to empty it often, when I went to check it, it fell out! It was the one putting out the least. So hopefully it won't cause any complications.
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Norma June (mrsnjband) You are so right about that first sneeze!!! It caught me by surprise and it DID really hurt. Be prepared ladies
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@mrsnj ~ oh, Lord, you are so right about the pain of sneezing. It also applies to coughing and laughing. I can't even imagine the pain those of you who had vomiting had to experience those first two days or so.
TMI alert: I had a blood clot in the way back of my nasal passage almost in my throat, kinda like a hardened loogy, that I tried to cough, snort, blow out. They used some kind of steamer gadget I had to breath in to loosen it up and it finally came out. But the pain from trying to cough, snort and hack that thing out really was hard on the abdominal incisions. Take those pain meds religiously during those first days post surgery.
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Norma June, ask for paper tape if you have any other bandaging done. I went through the same thing with the regular tape at mx but had the paper tape at chemo and for the DIEP.
Betsy, it won't be great for you sitting like that for so long. I think you should ask your doctor or his nurse. I know some of you had to travel for the sx, so maybe it is not different and you will have the meds, but you will also have drains. I felt it when I went back to my desk at work, it felt hard to straighten up. And that was after 8 wks, not 8 days. I totally understand your desire to see your daughter off to college and maybe with a reclining car seat and couple of stops to get up and get your circulation going it will be OK. Your Dr. might recommend you wear the ted stockings while in the car.
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Alex... They say its probably fine... To wear the stockings and stop every hour to walk around the car... So they say ok... But is it a smart idea? Can you all imagine 16 hours in a car at days 8-10 post op? I would hate to get 4 hours in, and realize i've made a big mistake.
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Betsy, I am almost afraid to post this because I am so afraid I am going to brag and then something will go wrong. It seems like you and I are alike and, in our normal life, we don't lay around a lot. My DH and I are very active. After 5 days in the hospital we were stir crazy! So . . . we asked around and managed to borrow a wheel chair. On day 6 we went to the South Carolina Aquarium. Day 7 we went to the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier. Day 8 we went on an 80's harbour cruise. After day 4 I have honestly had very little pain. Now, I know you have been through a LOT more than I have. You may not recover as quickly. My two tips for your schedule are see if you are able to borrow a wheelchair from somewhere. Once you get to where you are going you may not feel up to walking around a lot, especially when you consider all you have been through. My second tip is that if I take a Percocet for pain, it knocks me out. However, taking 1/2 of a Valium, which is a muscle relaxer, is just enough to keep me out of pain without making me sleepy. If you don't have any other bumps in the road, if you get out at least every hour to walk and stretch and you don't do any of the driving I think you will be fine. I really and truly do recommend a wheelchair though as I couldn't walk far. Actually, I still can't walk very far, especially when I am tired.
I hope your plan works. Your daughter leaving for college is a huge milestone!
Susan
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I AM UP WALKING AROUND... READY FOR DISCHARGE...
THE CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE GETTING OUT OF BED...
I'M GLAD I HAVE THAT RECLINER... I BELIEVE THIS CHAPTER...
IS COMING TO A CLOSE...
TY ALL FOR THE PRAYERS ... I FEEL THE LOVE...
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SEE PICS...PM ME... I KNOW I WANTED
TO SEE PICS WHILE WAITING... -
@c8ndy....the Barely There Camisoles are very snug.......I like how they feel. I've worn them for so long now, I almost feel naked without them. I don't think they are hot. There isn't a shelf or cup but they are very "secure" feeling...plenty of support. I used to buy them at Kohl's. Now I can't find them at Kohl's so I bought my last couple through ebay. Good luck.
Mary Jo
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Thanks susan... My daughter will be a sophomore so i don't have any of those "welcome to campus picnics" so when we arrive i can just sit in her room and watch her unload the car and unpack... Then dinner and bed... My 80 year old mom also isn't going to walk around... I am concerned about car comfort... One position for 8 hours, even with stopping every hour to walk around the car...
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Southampton: I had my surgery with Dr Wu in May. My BS recommended Serletti and Wu. Then she added that Wu was one of the most talented surgeons she had ever worked with. That did it for me. No regrets. At. All.
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betsy--i did a roadtrip the week after. had my drugs, something to drink & pitstops as needed. wasn't much different to me than being in the recliner at home, cause i couldn't lay down anyway.
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Those of you who are 5+ weeks on the other side, how soon after the DIEP were you able to "pass for" not being post-op?
I'm thinking ahead to my Nov 24 date and trying to figure out if I'll be able to keep it under wraps at the holidays. Some family know but I need to avoid stressing others, and THAT's stressing me.
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@goldlining ~ for me, it was about 4 weeks post-op. That was when I wasn't walking hunched over anymore.
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Alex, are you massaging your breast? I have heard that helps.
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Dutchy, yes I massage around the edges. The center is still has skin with open wounds.
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goldlining--my daughter got married not quite 4 weeks after--majority of people had no idea of what i had been through & no questions were asked, so quess i managed to appear 'normal'. you should be fine, especially if you plan accordingly & have your 'excuses' ready if you need to cut out early. we pled the dogs needing to be let out. handy that.
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Sohard, woohoo for going home!!! I am so happy for you. I have been taking pictures every week too. I am amazed at how much I have changed from week to week!
Goldling, I can't help you there. At 2 1/2 weeks post op I am definitely still a surgerical patient and still need to take breaks and to take things slowly.
Susan
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