DIEP 2013

Lynda- I had the pain on the inside of my elbows elbows badly after surgery, too. It was actually my greatest pain the first few days! I was told it was from positioning during the 10 hours of surgery. It is much better now two weeks later but it is still uncomfortable if I extend all the way.

Sherry: so sorry for all you are going through. divorce/separation is hell.  No two bits about it. I have no specific words of support except ((HUGS))

Brussel Sprouts:  hubby has always hated them.  Wont even make the kids eat them.  AWESOME recipe, they now all eat them, with glee:  1 lbs raw brussel sprouts, 1/2 lb of bacon, 1/2 medium onion, 4 TBS butter.  Cook the bacon to crispy, remove.  Cooked the chopped onion in the bacon grease, with the butter until golden brown, add the brussel sprouts (cut each in half). 8-10 minutes.  Salt and pepper to taste, add the bacon back in and serve warm.

PS update.  PS removed all bandages, checked all wounds and gave me the all clear to bathe, shower, etc...  Drains will remain until next wednesday as they are still flowing at a high rate, up to 100 ml per day! but, it is all tissue fluid, so good. He did tell me to slow down and be a couch potato, apparently I'm doing too much if I have that much fluid.  Hubby just shook his finger at me and said "see....." True. 

So, I have resigned myself to the next 7 days of 'get me a glass of water, bring me a, bring me b, take away this/that, etc..'  I have chosen a TV show with 3 seasons in the bag to watch, Downton Abbey.  I have all seasons and will be watching back to back.

He also confirmed got a lot of good transplant tissue, showed me where he will do Stage II lift and push together (so the boobies will no longer be in my armpits), and some of the nip tuck stuff, too.  He sounded really optimistic.  The incisions look great.  Asked me to keep wearing the binder, go ahead and wash it, wear a tank top or something under it to protect my skin, and did I mention I can now bathe?  He said I can wear my own soft cotton sports bra, instead of the nasty mesh surgical bra that makes me itch.

So, tonight, warm/hot shower, shave legs, wash hair, scrub it all, fresh clean undies, cotton bra and loose PJ top.  I'm sleeping in my own bed and should finally get a good nights sleep.

 I will feel like a girl.

Speaking of drains- had one freaky incident where I thought one of two things were inside the drain!



1. Part of something from surgery that was left inside my body (and now telling about it - how the heck something the size of my pinky finger last digit made it through the tubing should have made me think not)(but pain meds play tricks with your mind )



2. Someone's last digit of their pinky finger minus the nail and no blood.



Luckily PS gave me his cell and email address. It was a Sunday a.m. - of course. Can only imagine his reaction seeing the JP drain bulb with this foreign object in it with my inquiry as to what it was? Could it be from surgery???



His reply: Looks like the inner part of the drain that prevents back wash back into the drain. Somehow it got unconnected and truly crazy looking floating around in their with all the drain sludge!



I'm sure he thought twice about giving me a means to contact him on a Sunday a.m.

Dyvgrl - absolutely - you got it, prayers and hoping it isn't in your batch! Good golly!

Dyvgrl- you got this! Positive thoughts and prayers your way!

SheChirpie, enjoy that first shower and hairwashing tonight!

Dvygirl and others who have eaten Costco frozen berries, I hope you will all be fine. Just thanking my lucky stars that I did not buy some from Costco recently.

Catie, eeuw on that drain story! Must have been upsetting to say the least . . .

Goldie, good luck with your PS choice. Do what feels right for you.

Off to make sbelizabeth's farty-smelly Brussel sprout dish - lol.

Dvygrl- we got your back (covered in prayer).



As far as drains go.....I grow weary of seeing my body fluids. Really getting to me today. Sigh. And I have until at least the 14th. They are necessary evil...they are necessary evil....the are necessary evil....repeat as needed.



I am all crampy in my midsection today.....too much sitting at the sewing table??



Heavenschild, Sherbab and Sweetpickle - how are you doing? Thinking of you!

Bailey, I'm holding my spoiled Siamese cat, Suki. Must get a better picture - this one is really not very clear.

Just popped a Costco chicken into the oven. Hope it's okay . . . lol.

SheChirple - you are gonna have so much fun tonight.  You will probably wear yourself out.  Even though you are planning 7 days of laying low, do walk a bit.  Maybe slowly around the block?  Just to keep all systems moving.

Goldie - are you okay?  Can we help you at all with your PS problem?

Made a quinoa salad tonight with strawberries, spinach and feta.  It was so delish I forgot there were veggies in there.

Comforting to hear that the arm thing is normal!

SheChirple - enjoy your evening!! I have been wanting to watch Downton Abbey. I have heard great things about it. Maybe that will be on my agenda over the weekend. My DH is taking all three kids to Cub Scout Family Camp and I am crashing at home by myself. Peace and Quiet.... Heaven... Maybe I will figure out getting DA for over the weekend...

Dyvgrl - prayers for no Hep! I have frozen strawberries and blueberries from costco [for my near daily smoothies] but no mixed berries.

Catie - that would totally freak me out!

This thread makes me crave brusselsprouts. I love them.

I think I am going to get my neighbor to take me for a walk. She is quite athletic and agrees to walk me like you would walk an old dog, slowly and not too far. She walked me through chemo last summer too!

Goldie, maybe ask to see photo's of their work - that should help in your decision.

Lynda- what a nice neighbor to have.

Although I am going to be a couch potato for a week, understand that for me, that means spending at least 1/2 of my time on the couch.  If I could sit still through a hour episode of anything, I would not have any problems.  I just can't!

It's a good thing I love spending time with my hubby.  He has not left my side since I came home from the hospital. 24/7.

Question for you ladies:

For those that have had a DIEP and a previous MSX surgery, was it harder to recover from the longer diep surgery?  I'm going this friday and still freaking out about how long it takes to do the surgery.  Will I feel different than I did when I woke up from MSX?  Thanks!

sweetpickle, I believe the diep flap done after mastectomy is no picnic, but nothing like having it with the mx at the same time.  I hear women go home with no pain meds.  I know you are going to be fine, and so happy when it's over.  You will be whole again.  Who could ask for more than that? All our thoughts are with you.  Hang in there.