Diep 2012

Yes that was a smiley

we went to chicago to consult with Block Center. I think I may also be able to get him to do massage now-sex and massage were doctors orders. its been so hard to be intimate again. he is a bit squimish-can't look at scars etc

I am transitioning into vegan-had steak and deep dish pizza in chicago.

The block center emphasizes diet and exercize. reducing stress. my supplement list got bigger. they are so expenesive though. not sure if I can do them all.

chachamom-which vegan cookbooks are best? I want to learn to make my own cheese and yogurt/icecream.

I am going to miss real cheese the most. I need to learn how to make my own.

Fredntan, there are substitutions for the cheese and yogurts....some better than others. I'll PM you with my recommendations. I TOO thought giving up the cheese would be my downfall.....but your appetite does change and its no longer a craving for me. I just sent off a PM to another inquirer, so I'll copy that to you (long post :-)

Please PM me with good substitutes and your favorites. Thanks )

Just curious as to whether you're able to get enough protein on a vegan diet?  I know so little about the diet (being a farmer/rancher's daughter), but I'm finding I don't really care about meat/cheese, etc anymore, so I probably should research it. I just know that protein is such an important component of healing after surgery.

Ruby...re: healing!  It's so easy to say be patient, it will get better, you'll feel normal again...but when you're living through it (or feel like you're not really LIVING through it), it seems as though it will never happen!  Yesterday at work (5 1/2 months out), as I fondled my breasts (which I do a lot as I still check them out...I don't know what I'm expecting to feel), I said out loud to my co-worker (a great friend and there are only the two of us in the office, thank heavens), I feel so normal!!!  It was truly an AHA moment.  You will feel whole again...the scars will fade...and maybe we'll embrace our bodies as normal.  It does matter that cancer is gone.  Stay strong sister...love to all!

Thank you Chachamom. Great info!!!!!

CG,

All I had done was nipple recon.

Initially regretted having it done as the graft wasn't looking quite pink and healthy.

My PS took part of my (ample) left nipple and shared with the right. (I had an MRI and biopsies of leftie, therefore, felt safe to share as there is no evidence of disease after having the heck tested out of my unaffected breast)

Now....2 weeks later, happy to report a pink and healthy looking nipple graft.

Still healing and doing a small bit of xeroform and bandage to cover until it is no longer moist.

I do let it air dry after my shower.

Had a tank on and for the first time in 5 months...I have bilateral nippage!!!!

Who knew having a matching headlight could be so significant after all we go through.

I could have done without it, but do like the smaller left-which I have full feeling in btw. (There is a chance some women can lose some feeling in the donor site).

Here's the strange and wonderful part.......I have had no feeling in rightie AT ALL!.......................until

I began having some sensations in rightie after my graft and now have an area on the "popsicle stick" that when brushed up against gives me nipple sensation in the graft. Did I explain that correctly?

Anyhow, I keep testing it to see of it is a phantom or fleeting feeling and sure enough it is one spot on the side of the breast that gives me sensation in the new nipple.

Don't know if it will last but really very cool.

I was depressed over having a numb chest. For whatever reason the numbness was getting on my nerves over the last month.

I will let you all know how it proceeds.

A stray suture came out of my abdomen last week! PS was able to snip it off and now that bothersome spot is closed and healed as well.

I'm pretty happy overall with everything.

I did not expect a body overhaul with this surgery, just a nice replacement for rightie.

I told ps I need a break and asked for the next 6 weeks off from appointments. Our time is coming to an end anyhow and all we will need to do is an areola tat if I feel feel so inclined when I see him in Feb. Then we should be done!

Ahh, back to drains again, only two but what a royal PITA!  This pain ball is nice but bulky.  I didn't think I'd be able to sleep on my back but I"m doing great. The surgery was Thursday and I came home on Friday.  Now it's Monday and I'm feeling pretty good, I'm loving the flat chest look ... tissue expanders but still pretty flat.  Dr. C did add some saline to get me started.  I might be going back to Baltimore at the end of the week to get the pain ball removed. I can't believe how quickly my drains are filling up. 

Thanks for your good thoughts and prayers. 

Peace and healing hugs to you all!

Hugs...Jackie

Florafarm -- good to see you again! I thought you were going to Chicago, or did you already and need a touch-up? My stage 2 is tomorrow in NOLA. Dr. S said my recovery will be 4 weeks. I don't know the answers to your other questions -- I think a lot of it is individual with need for meds, etc. Praying you'll have a good experience Wednesday, and speedy recovery.

Florafam... Initially, it is very uncomfortable, like being hit by a bus, bruised feeling... like going to the gym and WAY overdoing it.. But I had a lot of work. I had had GAP and DIEP, so everything was revised, but the most painful was the butt lift.. But even still, I am going back for a second butt lift in January.

So painful for first 3 days, then much better, and a week out almost all gone.

Good luck with stage 2 ladies!! Mine is in 10 days. Let us know how it goes.

12 months???? I was told 6 weeks I could do whatever I wanted. Physiotherapist has had me doing Pilates abs since then.  Really?

Cg1234 - My ps is conservative as well.  He said he didn't want me doing major stomach exercises for 6 months (that'll be the end of December!). It doesn't mean I haven't exerted myself, but I've wanted to make sure I was completely healed and follow his orders.  Exercise has mostly been walking so I'll be excited to get more physical now. 

I'm amazed that sisters are getting feeling back in their breasts!  I'm still totally numb and it's feels odd when I hug people.

Flora..I had my stage 2 on a Thursday and took the next week off from work.  When I went back (10 days later), I felt fine.  The pain was mostly from bruising from the lipo in my thighs/pelvis...I was really surprised how little the dog ears/scar revision bothered me.  I was a bit sore under my arms where they took the fat/hard spots and I had fat grafting in one breast, but never really needed pain pills...a tylenol did the trick.

I wonder about the difference in "sculpting" at different centers.  My surgery was at a medical center so there was not really much that was planned in stage 2 other than "refining" what had been done.  If you go to a center that's specific to diep - such as NOLA, are you offered more sculpting options?  When I was excited about what they'd done in my thigh area, I expressed that I wish they'd have done more...my husband said it was about fine tuning my breasts, not resculpting my body.  Bummer..LOL.

Chacha...I definitely will look into the China diet.  I think of my dad's whole side of the family that were farmers and ranchers.  We ate all fresh veggies and fruit and ate home grown animals...who ate grains that were immersed in DDT.  Almost all of them died of some type of cancer.  But out of all my cousins (over 70 first cousins as both my parents were 1 of 12), 3 of us have had cancer..of course almost all of us moved away   So thanks for the info!

Hope you're home and doing great Ann!

Last day of "school" tomorrow...then ready to finish holiday prep.  Prayers to all for a New Year that finds a peaceful world and love and hope to all of our fellow beings who have had unbelievably hard tragedies touch their lives.  XOXO

Sorry to confuse...the vertical incisions are only in muscle. I have the same hip to hip external scar. So, maybe I would have realized this had I watched those surgery videos Ronniekay mentioned weeks ago! :-) I still don't think I'm ready to watch though. Btw, so glad you're doing well with stage 2 Ronniekay. I had the same q about sculpting.

I second the hope for a peaceful new year. It's been such a sad, sad week. With my little one at home I can't even imagine it or watch the news right now without crying.

Jackie--good to hear from you and hope you have a smooth recovery--not sure what recovery is like with expanders.

goldlining,I too can start ab exercises at 6 weeks--pretty mild--sound somewhat similar to yours--so i have another couple of weeks to go. I am still feeling a bit stretched in the abdomen and just came home from a long walk--realizing i am not yet fully upright--but almost there--so back and hips were sore. Most of my arm mobility is back thanks to daily exercises--I am hoping to feel more normal in the next two weeks. I am still sleeping on my back with a couple of pillowsunder my knees--so haven't resumed my old sleeiping position quite yet--all in due course. My appetitie has definitely come back--so i have to watch that i don't put on weight to further stretch things--not an easy goal this time of year. (but i haven't bought eggnog yet)

Hi.  I am new to this site. I had my right side DEIP flap surgery at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore exactly one month ago today.  The new breast took after some initial concern right after surgery. Apparently I have very tiny blood vessels. Dr. Chang, my plastic surgeon was wonderful and everything turned out fine.  Mostly just still having pain in the abdominal incision as it has separated slightly but is healing. I will have revision surgery on March 28, 2013. I will get some liposuction around my middle and he will use some of the fat to shape and form the new breast to better match the left one. The Breast Cancer boutique at Mercy fitted me with a new silicone form to make things look more even in the meantime. Id love to hear others' experiences.