DIEP 2013

MartyJ thank your husband for me! that saying is great I thought of it this morning while rushing around and it is very grounding.



Nihahi so jealous of that view! Truly Amazing!! I wish I had a place like that to hike around here. So beautiful. Can you nap during the day or on weekends to sort of balance things out a bit? I usually dont because I won't sleep at night if I do but heck if your not sleeping at night anyway making time for an afternoon siesta might help

Emily-- like MartyJ's advice, it's all about the pillows! I slept my first week in my recliner because it was easier to get up and it prevented me from turning on my side (I'm a big side sleeper). I moved to my bed the second week and did what MartyJ indicated... Pillow under my knees and lots of pillows on top of a wedge pillow underneath my head so I was not really "flat". I have a long body pillow in the middle of the bed that prevents me from rolling on my side or my hubby from accidentally getting me in his sleep too. I'm slowly getting rid of some pillows as I feel more comfortable "stretching" out that abdominal incision.



Nihahi-- awesome pictures! So sorry about the sleep aspect, it's amazing how anxiety and thoughts can wreak so much havoc on our minds and bodies. Too bad we can't be there hiking those trails with you to take your mind off things! Hopefully you can get some rest tonight.

selizabeth congrads so glad you are in the clear and ready to go! Nihahi those pics are wonderful. You have to try not too worry so much if you can't sleep. I am not a very good sleeper and occasionally take a behind the counter pill , like spleep eze. I put on my ipod and listen to relaxation music, which helps. Selizbeth has some good advice. Just let it go. If you can't sleep, read, write but don't worry. That can make it worse. Just stare at those pictures you took , so relaxing.  

Hi Ladies.....Really had to struggle to get out of bed this morning. I don't know how much longer I'm going to pursue these sleep pills, as they certainly don't seem to be helping, and I really dislike that morning "fuzzy" feeling. I'm going to "go without" tonight, as I want to feel "normal" for the pre-op clinic tomorrow, and it is a really early wakeup and drive into town scenario as well.

I have always been a poor sleeper, even if I have been having a wonderful stretch of active, happy days. Just how I'm wired. I truly do not think I am overly anxious about the surgery, as I look at it as the final solution to the painful "alien boob", so it is not fear that is contributing to this. I do feel the alien is playing a big part in the nightime story. My goal was to go into this surgery as rested as possible, but I am not willing to be drug dependent to do that. I will try a few more times over the weekend, when functioning in the morning isn't as critical, then decide. I am going to see if I can get hold of the relaxation/ healing after surgery cd by Belle napperstack (sp), in enough time before hand to help. 

Hope everyone had a good day, and will have a good night. Glad you liked the photos. This beautiful world is to be shared and cared for by all of us!

Yeah, me too.  I'm whispering in case she's taking a nap.  Where on earth do you think Okotoks, Alberta is?  I'm going to google it.  I bet it's somewhere that has polar bears.

Emilyj67-- I am 3 weeks out from my DIEP. I slept in my recliner for two weeks and then said" no more". It is in the family room and I found it hard to sleep with the refrigerator noise, cable box lights, you name it. Plus, I'm not a back sleeper.But my PS nurse said I could not transition to a bed until the 2nd week due to a small area in my abdominal incision that was not closed well (this was earlier than they wanted). So last Monday I went to a bed with a wedge with one pillow, two pillows under my knees, and one under each arm. I'm sleeping better, but I take Tylenol PM to help as well.

Right now,I just want to get back into my own bed with my hubby. I do not want to disturb him with my getting up and down during the night, readjustment of the pillows, etc, so I am sleeping in another roomfor now. I just miss the closeness of sleeping with him and want things to be "normal" again.

MartyJ, for optimal healing, how many grams of protein per day do you try to eat?  And besides my green leafy stuff, dark fruits, high-fiber, whole-grain stuff, what else do you think helps with post-surgical recovery?

sbelizabeth - I try to get 50 - 60 grams of protein per day, minimum on a normal day.  Pre & post surgery I want to push that to 75-90.  Believe me, it is hard to do.  A 3 oz 96% lean burger for breakfast with 2 eggs, half grapefruit and half avacado.  Mid morning snack - a few ounces of smoked salmon.  Maybe protein shakes for mid afternoon.  I don't eat grains (whole or otherwise), but if I still did I would give them up to make room for more protein, fresh veggies & fruit.  Because I am now 2 weeks out from my Stage 2, I need to begin pumping up my protein.  Also, lots of water for good hydration.

Nihahi - glad you had a good pre-op visit.  Hope that the new sleep med works for you.

Cherrie... I still take the probiotic... Align..

Marty, I didn't follow the rule of of taking my probiotics hours before or after antibiotic. Why is that?

Cherrie - several years ago I was taking an anti that was giving me problems.  I did a bunch of reading on it and found several suggestions that because the anti kills the gut & vaginal bacteria it is better to wait several hours before putting the good stuff (probiotics) in.  Now, I guess that theory doesn't take into account the ongoing effects of the anti, but it made sense to me.  

Kimdy - while taking pain killers and antibiotics following the surgery is essential, they can mess with your intestional tract.  Taking probiotics helps ensure that there are some gut bacteria available to do their job.  To help with the elimination factor.  I don't eat dairy (yogurt) so the probiotics take their place.  It would take several yogurts to get as much probiotics as a little pill.

Nihahi, this is a thread for us to connect.  Insomnia is an issue that affects a lot of us, especially during stressful times (anyone here pre-op or post-op?), so I'm glad you shared.  And I'm glad you got some sleep last night!

MartyJ, thanks for the tips.  I love all things protein, although I don't eat much red meat, but I can get protein from other sources.  Why no dairy?  I drink skim milk and eat Greek yogurt and lowfat cottage cheese, and get about 1/4 of my protein from these.

I came up with a colace and Miralax formula during chemo.  After my first treatment, which was on a Wednesday, I didn't experience the "miracle of the loo" until the following Tuesday, at which point I thought bc was no longer a concern; I would die of constipation.  Beginning three days before the next treatment, I took colace morning and night, with Miralax and Metamucil at night.  Voila.  Thanks for reminding me--I'll start it again three days before surgery!

Going to the Costco today and looking for a probiotic.  I've never taken it but it sounds like a very good idea.  

It's my DIL's birthday today and she's 22 weeks preggers with our first grandbaby.  Gotta go make a cake!

Hi Marty....I definitely don't mean I feel the need to start a new thread. I just have found it helpful to have an awareness of those ladies who are having their surgery around the time of mine, as it seems we share similar "thoughts and questions". It isn't necessary to know other ladies "dates", and I agree good support comes with or without the info, but I would like to be able to give a message of support to ladies when I see their date coming up. This updated info seems to be common practice on the other threads that are "surgery, tx" themed. 

What do other ladies think????? I'll not pursue it if no one else would find it beneficial!

I hope BleuGirl is ok. She has not been around for a while. When I stayed away, it was because I was hitting a rough patch. Maybe she is just too busy.

I agree with nihahi, it would be so much better to have the dates of everyone on top. Also would be good to know how BleuGirl is doing. nihahi, would you mind contact her?

Faith, I don't know about post-op DIEP; your PS may want you to wear something with compression, but when I had my MX anything I wanted to wear was OK.  I found it easiest to wear one of my husby's loose button-button up shirts and I safety-pinned the drain to the waistband of a loose pair of pants.  

Your insurance may cover the cost of a post-op camisole.  Wouldn't hurt to check.