Diep 2012

Well,FRED has left my body, (my last drain). When the PS removed it, had a mini flood of fluid, the doc said that something was stuck so it wouldn't drain but after an hour or so it stopped. Better out than still in me!



Happily, I was able to sleep on my side at last.



My next post op is in two weeks, the 29th, and as of now, back to work on the 27th, so need to see I'd PS will clear me before the appt. I still have some do the incision open under the breast, hope it will be closed soon.



Wishing everyone is well.

Yeah, say hello to my nurses

Hi, ladies! Ymac you and I were on the same tract! I was told I'd probably be in the hospital until Thursday (maybe because of my age? 58).,,,but all the ICU nurses, drs and my plastic surgeon were amazed I seemed to be doing so well, so I came home yesterday afternoon too! I love the nurses & drs at Fontana Kaiser, but they DEFINITELY need a update for the hospital (in the works now) . 3 days in ICU and one in a reg room. I haven't seen my boobs yet without the padding....but I know I didn't get the C's I was hoping for.......in fact they may be A's.......lol! DH is disappointed but I'm soooooooo happy I chose this surgery. My tummy bulge is definitely gone :-)

I haven't had too much pain...just when I get a coughing jag. My DH has been sleeping on the recliner couchwithme so I'm happy! He's cooking me vegan meals, too! What a doll!

Best wishes to all that are entering the stage one surgery! I have to admit that I DID have some reservations and fear prior to the surgery but you ladies kept me focused and it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected.

Mena, I have the same sensations and a little phantom itching. I used the same term (sandpaper) to describe the irritation/rawness felt but funny how my skin can still be numb to touch and look fine. I think it all goes away with time or at least I hope!



Thanks to all about shape issues. I tried a regular bra today but I hope

they'll feel less flat and wide eventually.



Yvonne and Jill, if it helps, my back only hurt the first week home then I got a little straighter. Bend your knees a bit when standing and if you have stairs it helps to go down

backwards. You'll be feeling better soon!

OMG! the itching & sandpaper feeling is isolated to my upper chest. Partly in the numb zone/ partly in the feeling zone. Therefore I know it is not a phantom itch entirely. Assuming this is one area they stitched part of my new girl in. I had it along the sternum area until a few weeks ago. The phantom itches are totally different for me at least. My tummy at 4 months feels a lot better since I was cleared at 3 months to do more involved core/abdominal exercises. PS was very guarded with the tummy as It was a very snug surgery. OR report actually States I was placed in the semi fowler's position to close. Feeling markedly better. Occasional pulling at sides of abdomen. Nothing bad. Nipple recon in 2 weeks. YEAH! Tamoxifen kicking my butt. Fatigue & teary. But forcing myself to maintain my walking. Actually did 5 miles in 1 hour today. Cheaper than therapy. Since I am short on birth control options these days I am also having the essure coils placed for permanent sterilization. Easier than trying to figure out how to do lap surgery or even wait. I can't wait for the proverbial medical vacation. (Sometime between Feb & May). So glad everyone is coming along with pre and post op. Feeling a year end celebration coming on................

On a very positive note........my mother is now 76yo. Says she really didn't start feeling a little older til last year. Says she still felt quite spry & young at 62. Girls.......apparently my mom....a 15 year breast cancer-vivor......says she may be living in an older body but she still feels young at heart..........Refreshing to hear her words tonight

I agree cha cha. We know our body best. I have been walking since day after surgery. I also did the wall trick. Ps wanted me hunched over. Trust me I knew what level of straightening or curling I needed. Ps team came in day 2 & found me sitting recliñed with crossed legs under me. Asked if I felt comfy. Said yes. "Why? Is there a problem?" Anywho.......never given rec for recliner or got one. Slept in bed after 1 nigyt propped on a couch. Against advice.....slept on my side before the week was out. I cannot sleep on my back. Ps relented & said I could tilt a little. I sleepn on the opposite side of breast surgery. Just used a ton of pillows.

The coughing & sneezing stink but always splint the abdomen even now.

I kind of felt aged with this process. More now at the end than before. Guess why my mom told me I'll get my groove back. She said to give it time.

I'm just not very patient. Just my personality really. A girl at work was just diagnosed too. This disease Stinks!!!!!!!

I have no donut boob issues. Swelling on side is gone. I only have a b cup tho. But compression leaves marks if bras slip up & cant be felt. Someone mentioned having surgery in Pittsburgh...........was with the same plastics group. Different surgeon and was at Shadyside. Amazing work! So thankful for a PS group in my area that performs microsurgery!!!!!! Nighty all.....hoping everyone has a restful night!

I have been away from boards for a week or so. Welcome to the new gals with DIEP scheduled and welcome to the other side chachamom, ymac, and anyone else I may have forgotten. Everyone's posts sound familiar (except walking so many miles at 2 1/2 weeks....I was a late bloomer for sure!!) I have one that is like the bagel shape and feels firmer. I call it my hamburger bun. I massage it now at the direction of my PS and he will do some fat grafting at stage II.



I have an appointment for a bra fitting with the orthotics dept. Even though we have reconstructed breasts, we qualify for bras. I will let you know what I find out in 2 weeks. I also read somewhere that we can get one free laser treatment on under arms. That would be nice because my left is numb. I have had SN biopsy on both. Has anyone heard of this? Do you shave with regular razor.



Wanted to check in. Hope all is well!!

Xmac i wore binder first few weeks. Then compression garmet. I just wore sweat pant and leggings



I am almost six weeks out. Started pt yest. Developed some cording in my good arm, and have cont issues with my rt arm pit, tightness and pain. The rt boob cont to have dull ache. Its much harder andneeds more massage.



Has anyone had US therapy to break up scar tissue inbreast? My PS mentioned they do this(they in texas i am not in texas). My PT is reluctant to try yet. She showed me better way to massage.

Ymac, I wore soft soma hipsters home under a huge zip up the front robe.......white and fuzzy so I looked like a polar bear! I bought two of these, one pink and not quite as long in XL (I'm usually a sm-med). And wore no undies for the last two days. Today I treated myself to a luxurious sponge bath in the garden tub lol and put on a soft pair of cotton hipsters and button front jammies.



Did anyone get blisters around the buttocks? I got some pretty nasty ones that are bleeding and have to be bandaged...dr said could be the compression garment rubbed them into being with the tubes etc in the heated room in ICU



Sptmm62: I've been getting itchy and goose bumped skin in he butt cheek area. My DH will treat me to a lotion rub on the cheeks when I ask nice :-).

My left hand is constantly tingly too! I wonder if all the invasive pokes and iv and arterial lines they do mess up our nerve connections for a while. I hope it goes away eventually!

Thanks, jeskachi

Backers, please DO keep us updated on the bra issue......I definitely will need a smaller bra!....but I might need smaller underwear too with the loss of my belly pooch!...old that be covered too? LOL! I definitely see new panty and bra sets in my future!.....nice to get some perks (pun intended) out of this journey!

ymac kinda cold for commando today. you know your pic is upside down. but you did better than me. I can't even figure out how to redo my pic.

So, last chemo is next week. Then I can start preparing for Phase II of DIEP reconstruction. However, now I'm struggling with nipples or no nipples.

I had originally thought I would have nipple reconstruction. I mean, why would I have gone to all this trouble to look "normal" again and NOT have nipples.  However, now that I've been nipple-less for three months, I kinda like being able to go braless and not show if I'm cold or not.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has been in my place right now and let me know why you chose what you did.

Thanks!

Ladies, I found the PERFECT BRA!!!!  Well at least I think so, based on our comfortable it is and how it gives a nice round shape to my reconstructed breasts! 

I have been searching for the last 3 months for something that would be easy to wear, since I had to throw away all my beautiful C cup bras.  I did find something pretty good but it would still cause  some discomfort underneath the breast.

Yesterday at Macy's I finally hit the jackpot!  It's from Bali and it is called Bali Comfort Revolution/ Shaping Wirefree!

It looks something like the GENIE BRA, but much better made with hooks in the back and it feels AMAZING! 

I just thought I would mention it.

Mena

sandpiper - I had a UMX as well and have had a lift and reduction on the other side to try to match them. It's still a work in progress, but I hope to match. I too would have probably skipped nipple recon except that lefty still has one. The lift and reduction was the only way the two would be even remotely similar, so I went with it, know nothing about that being archaic. I'll be glad when I'm done with recon though, hoping to not have many more surgeries.