Thanks for the explanation, lilyun! Glad that it has been corrected!

HHCats - You are incrediblly strong!  You are also human and a mom.  Moms don't want to worry about being sick; they want to take care of their sick family!  We would drive ourselves crazy if we did everything everyone says will prevent recurrence.  Do the best for you!  You are doing good things for your health and your family!  Chin up - you are awesome!!!!

I love the motivation song idea!  Please everyone add theirs!  I'm drawing a blank right now.  I'll have to check my iphone.  

I love "This Girl is On Fire" and "Stronger" too.  Have you seen this video from the children's hospital in Seattle?  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihGCj5mfCk8

It really helped me through chemo.  I can fight if they can too!  

My belly button is still crusty with black scabs and a little gooey.  The OCD in me would like to get in there and scrub it clean, but I know that would irritate the new sutures and I don't want a navel infection that I'd have to explain to my PS.  I had made the assumption that it was a "created" belly button, but the PS said, no, it's yours, just in a different place.

I haven't used compression at all up to this point, but I had decided last night to pull out my old spanx and see how they felt.  Is there a garment that isn't industrial strength that you all particularly like?  I can go to Macy's or Kohls or anywhere and pick up something.  I'd like to encourage the swelling above the suture line to go down.

Nihahi, for me, bike riding is actually cheating a little.  It's easier than walking, with the bent-over posture and the fact that I'm so used to it.  I should probably change it up some and actually get out there and walk--it might help even more with getting back to a normal posture.

I'm trying to imagine myself sitting nekkid in a Japanese hot spring.  It would take a boatload of sake to make that happen.

You are sooooo funny, sbelizabeth. My computer screen is all spotty from reading your lines.

Well, I actually have something to report. I found the belly button irritated with a small bump midnight Friday. emailed ps and he called in a prescription for antibiotic for me Saturday. By Monday, the redness subsided, the bump was still there. Ps saw me Tuesday and drained the fluid from the bump. Now I have a pea size opening that I have put dressing on, an inconvenience getting ready for work every day. Other than that, I am back on the tennis court and feeling almost like my old self after 3 and half months.

Good day everyone!

TOWANDA

sbelizabeth



It surprises me that, given the long anesthesia with this surgery, they don't take adequate precautions to avoid pressure related damage.



Oh wait, I work in healthcare, it doesn't actually surprise me at all! I actually saw a head/neck cancer patient who developed a 2 inch open pressure sore on the back of his head after his surgery!



Hope it'll soon recover.



Rose

Nice description, Betsy!



My pressure alopecia was caused by the little "doughnut" my head was resting on, supposedly. He said they do take precautions to move you around, but apparently not enough in my case. I remember waking up feeling very numb on the back of my head and it lasted for several days. Did not see the hair loss until 2 weeks later.

Hey girls- I am having my DIEP on June 19th.  Dr. Duffy in Dallas will be doing the procedure.  I am so excited!!! I have a TE in, and was hoping the idea of having a foreign object in my body would grow on my, but I hate it so bad and I am thrilled that I will have my own tissue used.    I am only having one done- the other will be lifted during stage 2.

Morwenna..Gosh it's so good to hear from you! I did get the physio exercises, and have been following them (sort of ). You're right, I guess I am pushing it abit, but will actually be 4 weeks post on Saturday, so delusionally thought...oh goodie....it's time....up goes the arm! Patience....I'll have to look that up in the dictionary! Since I had pre-diep shoulder issues, it feels like it's been FOREVER that I've had limited range, I'm just frustrated and impatient, I guess.

Damiana9....welcome, glad to meet you. I'll get you on the list....hope we can be of help and support!

OMG....you guys just slay me.....I did a 7 km walk today, kept busy after, planned on laying down for a nap, but of course, had to check in here first. Now laughing so hard at some of you that I couldn't sleep if I had too!

"Nekkid" in the communal bath.....I'm thinking they'll be doing the traditional bowing so low to honour your courage, they're gonna need snorkles!!!!

sbelizabeth...I got my tummy shaper at Walmart. They have "boyshorts" built in, which eliminates the need for panties, and keeps it from riding up into the new girls. Really quite comfie, and I think just enough support without making my eyes bulge! I turned over in bed last night....thought I was gonna scream, cause it felt like I had ripped apart something inside! After making sure nothing was gushing out, I got up and put on the pressure garment, cause I had taken it off to sleep, felt so much better with the pressure. Think it cost about $24, canadian, which means you'll probably pay about $5 in the states! I'm going to try wearing it 24/7 for a few days, to see if it helps to flatten the tummy scar even more. It sure helps to flatten it during the day!

Tammy...tennis....geez, I envy your obvious arm range of movement!

OR head pressure.....I had more than a doughnut, it looked like a small pillow, but I could feel as I laid my head on it, that it had pressure sensitive foam in it, like a tempurpedic mattress. No bald spot here.

So,here's a sample of my music fav's. Changes often, and it's a pretty eclectic list, but remember, I'm an old, abnormal lady!

Aad Guray by Deva Premal (to calm the mind, feel peaceful)

Stand Back Up by Sugarland (for courage)

I Run For Life by Melissa Etheridge (to get going)

I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz (for all my bc sisters)

Rocky Mountain High by John Denver (need I say anymore! The rockies are where I go to play!)

Living In The Moment by Jason Mraz (to remind me to "look forward" and get on with life)

Later Ladies....TOWANDA!

Nihahi - 7k walk at 4 weeks.  I am so jealous.  I got 3 mi in yesterday, but only 2 today.  Aargh!  Gotta get on it.  And yes, I am wearing compression 24/7.  It really, really helps.  Especially for women with lower back issues.  A garment with an open or snap crotch is best so you don't have to haul it up and down all day.

Movie- I'm with you re dentists - my first baby was 12 pounds 14 oz. and I delivered vaginally but swear that I would have a baby any day rather than have dental drills! Have you tried nitrous ? Only way I can do it! Ouch just thinking about it!



How about 'I will survive' ?

sbelizabeth.....are you sleeping flat yet, or still keeping knees a bit bent with pillows? I certainly feel "tightness", especially after sitting for any length of time, but have been quite surprised at how quickly I could sleep flat and stand up straight, without alot of effort. Mind you, I was highly motivated by back pain when in the bent over postition!!!! I think Marty is spot on, saying compression helps support the back, and I also think compression becomes an alternative to using your core muscles, when they are a bit compromised post surgery. You're probably spot on too, by realizing that "bent" is a natural position for you due to your biking, so getting straightened up might have to be more of a "focus" for you. 

Marty....I've got "thinner" air than you down there at sea level...maybe you're fighting through more resistance when you're walking ! It's a theory!!!!

Kuka...My new boob, was only a little firmer than my "lifted" real one, immediately post op. Now, I have to say, they are a pretty good match, softness wise. Never had any hard spots on the Diep boob. I did have a hard lump in my normal skin, above the boob, but that was because of the excavating they did to get the implant and capsular contracture sorted out. Now that is pretty much gone too. Sounds like good news re: the blisters, bet you are mighty relieved!

Wow. I haven't been on for a day and there is a lot to read. I am at the hotel and reporting to the hospital at 9:00 AM. Talk to you in a day or two.

Phew just caught up on all the posts !

I have been trying not to literally lol since dh is asleep next to me as I read but I let out a few chuckles especially regarding the hot spring spa images and Nihahi the grasshopper !

Thanks ladies for some good fun tonight !



Not sure who mentioned the belly button first but I had to add to that. My ps said he would be constructing a nice new one for me. He said that after I looked at him completely confused when he told me how they pull the skin on the abdomen down so tight.. I had weird images in my mind that it would oddly be relocated directly over my lady bits or gone all together I had a bunch of dried blood and glue in there but now that it has come off I really like the new one .



Kuka a few days back i mentioned that I was going down a few steps and noticed that I had some bounce back in the noobs ! I was pretty firm at first but now at almost 6 weeks they have softened up quite a bit. Since my ps doesn't allow bras till 6 weeks post op Im ok with that.



Love all the song posts !

Good night ladies...

Cherrie, blessings tomorrow.  You'll be on the other side of the DIEP before you know it.  We're in your pocket all day, sister!

Glue!  So that's what looks whitish and opaque in my belly button!  Never thought of that.  Even more of a reason to leave it alone and let it heal in peace.  

I went to the Costco today and bought some Maidenform compression panties.  I haven't tried them on yet, but if they don't feel 100% right, I'll wander over to Macy's and see what they can offer.  I also bought some spaghetti strap tanks, and I'm thrilled that I'll be able to wear them soon.  I have never worn spaghetti strap anything in my whole life.  Big boobs that required big brassieres when I was younger, and saggy boobs that required substantial support later on, prevented that look.  

Nihahi, I'm still sleeping on my back with a pillow under my knees.  It's partly for my long-standing lumbar back pain, but it's also more comfortable for the tummy still.  So yes, it's time to work on losing the knuckle-dragging posture and work on the upright, shoulders back, approach.  I'm almost four weeks post-op--when can I sleep on my side?