DIEP 2013

Morning Ladies,

Cherrie...maybe youcan take some comfort in knowing you raised two children into successful adults, able to "go forth" and live their lives full of confidence and adventure?????

Janet...your anesthesia man is totally spot on....it is "superficial" surgery for them, even though it sure doesn't seem like it to us. You'll do great. I have had lots of laughs with my PS too, along with some good heart to heart moments. I'm so happy you have found a team that sounds like a good fit for you. Feel free to "make it to your mountain" anytime....they belong to everyone!

damiana9....Sounds like you're pretty well prepared! Ask your PS anything that seems to be "sticking" in your mind, or on your list of concerns. I found two other things extrememly helpful at home. A raised toilet seat/commode chair and my longest used aid was a shower seat. Do you have some comfy, soft, adjustable and loose pants? For a couple weeks, and certainly at time of discharge, I was at least a size larger in the waist, from swelling.

sbelizabeth....wow, stage 2 in August!!! I'm seeing my PS next in mid-July, and am hoping not to do my stage 2 until  late October/November. ("shoulder season" - can't hike, can't ski, can't snowshoe) !!!!!

Heavenschild....great to hear from you. Sounds like things went well, and you're happy with things!!!! That's just awesome! Also, sounds like no drains???? Yippee!

Yep, that is me, and I am standing on the Nihahi Ridge Trail. Nihahi is basically where the foothills end and the eastern slope of the Rockies begin in my part of the world....LOVE THOSE MOUNTAINS!!!!!!! I've been aching to get back there for many months....felt soooo good to finally stand there again. 

Movie.....still sleeping????

Two weeks out and I am still very grateful for my shower chair, raised toilet seat and recliner. First week I was grateful for wedge pillow and two small pillows to put under my very sore elbows.



Speaking of elbows...I still cannot fully extend without pain. I am starting to exercise and massage on arms to try to work that out.

Ladies today I'm at the AK Run for Women to support breast cancer and finished the 1 mile walk 2 weeks post UMX. Was afraid the 5 mile would be too much but I shoulda done it! Over 300 survivors here today. Been an emotional day for some reason. Nice to see all the support and know we are truly not alone. Spoke with a 20 year survivor. Made me feel good knowing someday this can truly be over!!

It seems I'm having a sleepfest lately. Slept till ten yesterday morning, and slept till nine this morning. I'll take it!

Heavenschild, good to hear you are doing so well post Stage 2 - keep it up!

Nihahi, beautiful photo, and so happy you could hike there again. Must have felt so good, eh? You are doing really well!

Bailey, I hope those arms will begin to feel better soon.

I've been chuckling about all the 'advice' you girls have been giving your surgeons. Mine was 7 months pregnant 3 weeks ago, and I was wondering about her standing on her feet for so long, but she's young and strong, and I guess they get 'fit', and used to doing these long surgeries. It's her first baby, and due in July. Will be seeing her in f/u next week, and plan to get her something cute for the baby.

Cherrie, I so hear you about your kids being so far away. My middle child turns 29 today - a towering 6 ft 4  young man - where did the time go? His two siblings are visiting him for the weekend. This has become sort of a tradition for the three to celebrate their birthdays together since they left home. We phoned earlier to congratulate him, and heard them lauging and having fun together. Like Nihahi said, it is an accomplishment when they finally become independant, but at times like these it is just hard not to be there. Will have to keep myself very busy today . . . DH just had a truckload of topsoil delivered to keep himself busy - LOL.

As for stage 2, will discuss it with PS next week, but I just don't have the courage for it anytime soon. After 3 major surgeries in the last 17 months I am just weary. She won't be back from mat leave till October, and then it's getting very close to my son's wedding date in November . . . so we'll see.

Have a lovely day everybody! Nihahi, I think I'm going to try your lovely bread recipe. Will report back.

Nihahi, unfortunately could not find multigrain yesterday, so will have to make do with what I have . . . will still be nice enough, I'm sure.

Bailey, which Coobie did you get? I need the wide strap at the bottom. Just wondering how you get these suckers on with bad arm? Is it soft and stretchy?

I want to thank all of you  responded to my concern about my surgery being postponed because there needed to be two surgeons.  I did realize after it was explained to me why there needed to be two, but I guess I am just so disappointed in having to wait even longer, if I decide to go with this surgeon.  As some know I went for a second opinion to ease my mind about the surgery, and now I like both the docs very much, and I wish I could use them both....heheheheh. 

It is a gorgeous day in Dallas, Texas area, and I have been outside a bit washing patio furniture and just doing general minior maintenance on the yard.  Soon it will be too hot to do even that, so I am enjoying while I can.

Hope you all are having a great weekend. 

I hope all our girls that had their surgeries in the last few are doing great!!!!!! 

I have only two bras that I can wear right now, and neither is very comfortable.  They're leftover from my silicone foobie days.  Which model of Coobie is the most comfortable with our issues?  

I love shopping from my recliner, but watch out after either a pain pill or a glass (or two) of wine.  It's so easy to hit the "buy now!" button!  And now, with my new flat tummy and perky new girls, I'm determined to never dress matronly again, and of course...that means  shopping...

The items I used the most during my first days at home were a low plastic step-stool in the shower (although the non-slip pattern made funny marks on my butt), a big double-wall plastic beverage container to hold an hour's worth of ice water, a basket to hold my phone, meds, timer for meds, nail file, and TV controller, and lots of pillows.  I didn't try the raised toilet seat, but after so much mountain biking before the surgery, I found I could "hover" over the pot without difficulty.  On the trail, I take pride in the fact that I can pee down a gopher hole without disturbing the little plants alongside.  TMI, probably.

Nihahi, are you hoping to put off your Stage II?  I'd like to get this whole shebang over with in a reasonable period of time.  Also, I want all the benefits that my Stage II can give me.  Like Liefie, I'm pretty sick of surgery, but I'm willing to suck it up and breathe the ether.  Not that they use THAT anymore.

Hey, LMO, how ya doin' today?  Has Mr. Pamuk arrived at Downton Abbey yet?  Ha ha ha ha....

I wore the Coobie scoopneck last night and am wearing the Coobie sports bra today. Both equally comfortable. The comfort bra style looks very nice too and very similar to what I have been wearing since mx. I haven't been able to wear a real bra in 18 months....to ill fitting for me with one real and one "pocket breast" and too painful after rads. I've been wearing sports or Coobie type bras (I am a step into it girl too) for a while. The Coobie is seamless....that is what attracted me....don't want any pinchy or scratchy stuff going on....and that wide elastic band underneath. It's not even real elastic....it's a really soft stretchy fabric. I am sold. Looks like a sale through tomorrow....save $20 on 3. oooh they have a half-cami too....that looks comfy.



I walked the grocery store with DH today. Intended to use the cart again but they were all in use. Then about half way through the store we saw two kids about 8 and 10 using one...at the same time...on and off it...messing around. I think I actually saw steam coming out of normally calm, nothing bothers me in the world DH. I just shook my head at him and said I am fine, let it go. Lol.....but DH was showing signs of "aisle rage" (road rage in the store)!

Heavenschild, your Houdini remark made me laugh. Spanx is sure tight enough as it is, but after a shower when your skin is damp, it is nigh impossible to get on as I found out the few times I had worn it. It is as if you are in a fight with a reptile trying to swallow you . . . So your PS took fat from your hips to touch up the breasts, eh? Now that's an interesting thought . . . I've been wondering where they get the fat from when the tummy fat is gone.

My house smells absolutely heavenly with Nihahi's bread in the oven - will be ready soon. Gonna cut me a slice of that crust while still warm, slather it with butter, and slowly enjoy it bite for bite.

sbelizabeth....oh no, I am definitely going for the second stage. After all these past years and years of missing a nipple and off the chart "un"symmetrical, I'm going for the finishing touch. I just really, really want my summer this year, and I know how bored I get in shoulder season so I figure that's the best timing for me. Speaking of shoulders.....I want to be as sorted out as possible this time before "tinkering" on things. With the wait times for surgery in Canada, I'll probably be lucky if I get the timing I want anyway! No system is perfect .

whew...just got back from a long day of errands.  Been saving them up.  Signed my 15 y/o daughter up for driving lessons next week, then to Home Depot for just a few sprinkler heads, and a trellis, and and and, then Walmart for gauze pads/bandages to cusion the areas around the drains, and my daughter needed new bras, and panties, and tshirts and whoa.....hold the horses. Deposited a few old checks into the bank.  Gone for 4 1/2 hrs total and now I'm pretty wiped.  I used my walker, I used the electric carts and I pushed one cart, just to have something to lean on.  Whew. I took a Norco as I just can't handle it.  I know I over did it and will be paying soon.  My right side is quite swolen.

sbelizabeth: armchair shopping! I can't do it.  I can't usualy shop without trying on, but certainly not after this surgery. who knows how anything is going to fit.  I'm going to play it by ear.

Geralyn....it's fine to just be a reader, but it's even nicer to hear from you! No need to "miss us", we're here! So you're having a crappy start to summer too? Not liking the sounds of that, but I bet it's better than the typical east coast humidity....I hated that!

goldie...tough to decide between two good docs, but better than the "lesser of two evils"! Is there one that you just feel more comfortable talking too, getting questions answered, feeling like you're being listened to".....

bailey....I just love your "oh crap" phrase from the devil!!!! Makes me laugh everytime I read it.

Speaking of crap...holy crap, shechirple....sounds like you were outta control.....pace yourself, energizer bunny!

Does anybody know if coobie ships to Canada???? I had a quick look at the website, gosh, their stuff sure looks comfy, without being "completely hard core" sports bra looking.

Were there still pockets of snow up on the ridge Nihahi?



We went up there last year and the summer flowers were out, it was beautiful, but there was still a bit of snow!!



I want to get up to Sunshine Meadows again this summer but not sure if I'll have enough mmmph! My feet are getting sore with the Paclitaxel, and my toenails, and my legs ache really quickly trying to climb up hills, and I'm still a bit short of breath since my PEs. Lord I feel like a wreck!!



Chemo was cancelled this week as I had a bad week last week with tummy issues. Also found new lumps in remaining breast so have to have an ultrasound. And a molar fell apart.



Not my best week ever!

On a brighter note, I went to the beer festival at the Amsterdam Rhino in aid of the burns unit this afternoon! It was great to see everybody again! Abby was AWOL, which was a shame, but I did see her briefly last Monday ...

Hey Morwenna! Good to hear from you.

Crap....the only thing I can say about your week....not a lot of positives, except that it is now behind you????

I was VERY glad to hear that you got out and socialized though...Good on you! Abby....probably late, forgot, got dates mixed up....she is such a sweetie, though. We usually tell her the dinner reservation is an hour earlier that it really is...sometimes she actually gets there close to the real time!!!!

No snow that we found on Nihahi, but we stopped just before the scree saddle slope, so maybe higher up in the shade. Not much flower wise yet, but there were some calypso orchids, clematis, crocus, rock jasmine and a few windflowers. I could tell my shoulder and "core" were getting tired. I have a great backpack with a wide, padded hipbelt, but still, it was the first real "load" on the tummy area so didn't want to push it. Endurance for me is down too, and I could defo feel the altitude starting to kick in. 

OMG, I love Sunshine Meadows....I've been there at the height of summer flowers, and again in the fall for the larches. Part of me would love to go up in spring, to catch the glacier lilies, but......grizzlies also like those lilies, and that area is truly, right in their backyard, so.....maybe not for me! Those meadows aren't going anywhere....you'll get back there some day...maybe we'll do it together with Ade, Wendy and the gang!

Hang in there.....I'll be thinking of you.

Faith....just caught your message. So very sad about your grandfather, it is never easy. He obviously loves you, and try to remember, he will not be "gone forever", but will always be with you.

Diep-wise....sounds like things are going really well for you. I'll get your next stage entered on our list! Congrats on such good recovery! ((((((X)))))))