DIEP 2013

Goldie what is your surgery date? I don't see it listed.

It was fun Lyndia, but it's over now....

Goldie - if you are having bilateral DIEP you really should have 2 surgeons as it shortens the surgical time and gives back up if there are any challenges.

Goldie - all good things must come to an end... :-(



Kuka - great news!



My drain has finally dropped to less than 100cc a day. It seems to be dropping significantly every day. I only have one hip drain but can't wait for it to be gone. Hopefully early next week. My PS said to call when output was closer to 30. I am still around 70 but hope to make that mark early next week!



DH just left with all three kids for cub scout family camp. As a flapper, I get a reprieve this year. Surgery does have its benefits. I have a peaceful house until Sunday.

Lyndamarie, you're so lucky! You get a quite house for a whole weekend! That's exactly what I need and for my 3 year old to come back potty trained;) enjoy the weekend!!!

Kuka, that is great news about your blister!!!!!  You are on your way.  See, good things come those who wait.  Now, get some rest and your shin splints will feel better.  You know 80percent of weight loss is diet....right?  So concentrate on that, and don't over do.

You are right about the PS's.  Now I have more time to make up my mind.

Kuka, I'm so glad to hear your good blister news. I'll bet you are relieved.

LyndaMarie, I'm jealous of your quiet weekend too



Goldie, my surgery is in two weeks. There will be two surgeons. Go with your gut.



Sharon

Lmo, sorry about the chemo.  We are all cheering you on. Stage 2 is right around the corner.

LMO, did your onc tell you the Neulasta would give you bone pain?  For me, it got pretty zingy in some weird areas.  My back and hips I could understand, but the bones in my nose?  On the top of my head?  What REALLY helps is Claritin, or the Costco version of it, which is mondo cheap.  You start taking it the day of the Neulasta shot and keep taking it for a couple of weeks.  Benadryl at night, too.  It helps smooth over the bone pain.  For me, the Neulasta was a huge blessing.  I never missed a chemo because of low blood counts, and with the help of careful handwashing and avoiding germy folks, I never got sick.  Constipated, yes!

TWO legless buzzy reptiles on this evening's ride!  One was just a baby with a little bitty button.  My (dumb, IMHO) husby wanted to move the little guy off the trail so he wouldn't get run over, so he finds two long poles, picks the thing up with them, and moves him, furious and striking at the sticks, to the bushes.  I'm still ahead on the count.  Katy 10, husby 5.  BUT!...he took my bicycle to the shop before I got home from work today and bought me two new tires, so I gave him one of my rattlesnakes.  The score is officially 9 to 5.  

Happy weekend, sisters!  

Thinking of our three new "veterans" today......it'll likely be a tough couple days, but then things get so much better.

LMO..."hugs going out to you"....you'll get through chemo, many of us have gone that route and once you know what the se's will be for you....you'll find things to help you through. 

Goldie....let me know when you have a definite date and I'll "express" you onto the list. I was a uni, and had two PS working on me. I think it's pretty standard for most flap surgeries....

Pretty tired tonight, but really happy......I made it back to my mountains today. Didn't get as high as I'd hoped....but I was there.

Have good nights.....rest easy, newbies....catch you all tomorrow.

ps....sbelizabeth.....pfft....you used the "S" word....bad girl!!!!!!!

I will let you ninahi.  I want the decision made soon, but like I have been trying to convince Kuka, I need to take my time, no more mistakes.  Now that the cancer is out of me I have the luxury of really thinking this over, and over, and over.  My poor DH. 

Lmo45:  I found the best bra for me is the Fruit of the Loom, cross / racer back, front hook closure sports bra at WalMart - $10.  They come in black, white and beige.  100% cotton and very comfy. No cup size to worry about.  Fit just like the post surgical bra the doc puts on you.

godlie: on two surgeons. I grilled my PS about his assistant, make sure you take breaks, a nice long lunch/dinner break , potty breaks, all that good stuff.  Take your time, take a nap even, just be well rested, well fed and have each others' back.  It was the first time I had seen my PS laugh.  He is a very serious type. He said he has never had a patient worry about him.  Well, geesh, he's going to be working on me for 12+ hrs, I want him in his best shape!  I think that is when we really 'connected'.

sherry: goodness, good luck with the house sale.  I hope the timing works out for you.

I had a nce long walk today, good hot shower, nice clean clothes and feeling very good tonight.  Yeah, still can't sleep.  The melatonin did not work well, so I'll be asking PS for something on Wednesday. 

Great picture Nihahi! How did you get that on our site?



Goldie- 2 micro surgeons is standard for free flaps. It is a very delicate surgery with the blood vessels etc. it the ole " two heads are better than one" theory.



I am spending a few days with my son and his wife before they leave for Seattle. I hope I don't cry in front of them. I now will have my two children on each coast. My heart is broken.

Trying to hold it together.

SheChriple - 

I grilled my surgeon as well. For my last surgery, he was one day away from a trip to Columbia. I told him I hop he was packed, bus I didn't want him distracted by thinking of what he's going to bring on vacation. (He almost laughed). Yesterday I had my pre-op for Thursday's Diep. There will be two surgeons. I was asking about lunch breaks, and what they talk about whey're not talking about me. I asked my PS if he gets hungry, and his fellow interjected and said 'He doens't eat'. He's so focused on the task at hand that he doesn't think about food. Then the fellow told me that he himself LOVES to eat, and thinks about food all the time.

Then I talked to the Anaesthesiologist. He said that they number the risk factor of surgeries from 1-4, 4 being the mos risky. He said that I'm a one. And he said that although it is a long surgery, it is a superficial surgery and the length is because it is a micro-surgery and there's a lot to do. Then he said it was boring! Jim and I laughed at that, and he explained that it's a long slow steady dose of anaesthetic and there's not much to do, so he gets bored.

That thought has calmed me up immensely. This morning I woke up all twisted in knots and Jim said, 'Don't worry. Your surgery is boring'.

And here's some other fabulous news. On the floor of the hospital where I will be recovering, they have a pet board. Lots of photos of pets. Jim said he was goign to bring in a photo of Jed, and the nurse said that he could bring in the real thing! They have a pet therapy room where people can bring your pets! Last year they arranged to have someone's hosre transported to the street below so the patieint could look out the window and see him. Amazing.

Nihahi - What a beautiful photo. Hope you don't mind if I borrow what you wrote and use it as my mantra. 'I'm going to make it to my mountain'.

And even thought you didn't climb as high as you hoped - you're on your way up. Congratulations on coming so far.

I am going in for my preop appt on Tuesday.  Getting excited and nervous!  Luckily the week between my preop and surgery I will be at Sea World so I won't have much time to fret.    What questions should I ask my dr?  Also- what will I need at home for my recovery?  I am getting a lift recliner for when I get home (I will use it during the day and to sleep in),  I have a little reacher/grabber thing to pick things up off the ground or high up, I have an abdominal binder from my hysterectomy (if I even need one), I also have some button down tops.   anything else?