DIEP 2013

Yay Janet.  Glad you have joined us on the other side.  Perhaps your boobs will glow, too.

Glowing boobs, dishwasher diving.  This thread is really too funny.

Re the Tightness - I think it is part of the healing process and that we may be swollen on the inside even when we think we are not.  I had it til Stage 2 (5 months), then had the plication so am back at it.  My PT tells me that it will take some time to get everything to wake up and start firing properly.  Also, I think that our tummies are a lot like a little girls - taut and that we will be this way for a while.

Re Plication - the way the abdominal muscles are structured allows them to separate in the center.  Often it comes from having a baby.  Sometimes from enlarged uterine fibroids.  Sometimes to athletes who let go.  However it happens, they have to pull the muscles back into place and suture them in place.  I think there are a number of ways to do this, but not being very medically educated this is the extent of my knowledge.  So, for now, my abs are numb so working with my PT and Trainer is rather easy.  All this ab work is not making me sore (some small blessings).  My ROM is getting much better.

Yayyy Janet! You are doing well, and soon you won't have to have morphine for breakfast, eh?

sbelizabeth, I hear you on the world peace, but don't know how long it will last if we all get constipation - the world's laxative stores will be depleted in no time, and it will be WW3, the haves versus the have-nots . . . LOL!

Omg....you guys deserve the BCO "Thread of the Year Award" you are killing me.



Yes, Janet! Good job!

Sitting in the local library, snorting with hilarity as I read......I'm gonna get kicked out soon, and it's raining outside!

Janet....FREAKING AWESOME!!!!?

Bailey...great news on saying goodbye to the most annoying drain....you'll soon not have to go commando unless it's by choice.

Movie....it'd be a whole lot more fun if you were bathing a couple of 2-legged Labradorian's, eh! A whole new version of an Onsen

sweetpickle: I am 3 wks post surgery today and I noticed I am walking 95% upright and without the walker.  The walker became less and less important by the day. I have been mostly w/out for a week.  Walking taller every day.  I was a little 'bitchy', too.  You've been through a lot.  I felt guilty about being so mean to people.  Hubby assured me I was not that bad.  LOL - yes I was.  The worst thing I did was yell at the appt receptionist and told her I was not going to let her make me die for not confirming an appointment time. (long story). It was more like "I'm not going to sit here and die because YOU couldn't be bothered to confirm my appointment with my doctor.  Last year I lost a boob because of an idiot like you, now I'm not letting that happen again".  or something.  Anyway.........

My sister is my "people".  Even though she doesn't 'get it' as far as specifically breast cancer, she is as close as it gets.  She took me to breakfast this morning. I can't even explain how much that meant to me. Silly little thing like breakfast.  But, she knew I needed out, I needed coffee, and I needed no drama.  (btw: when did IHOP get so damned expensive - $10 for eggs?)

Yeah, Janet.  That is great news.  Try to give us a tiny update each day.  Enjoy that broth!

This is probably a question for my PS, but when I was in the hospital having my bmx they figured out in the recovery room I reacted badly to morhphine, and they were flipping out that I was going into a bad allergic reaction to it. I ran a fever, and the vein the started to put it in turned bright red and bulged.  It was all just a big mess.

Anyway, it was trial and error for my pain managment for the next couple of days till they had to take the IV out all together because the vein was compromized.  I still have an ugly lump on the top of my hand from the vein being screwed up.  Anyway, I had to go to oral meds. Several years ago before they stopped using darvocet, that was what worked best for me.  I am getting a little nervous about my pain management for my Diep  Tramadol works just okay.

Goldie- I can't take most narcotics because they make me sick (nauseous) and can't take most anti-nausea meds for bad SE' s from those. I am a problem child. After surgery this time we figured out that compazine for nausea followed an hour later by IV dilaudid worked for me. Ask them now about what they can try and if they are willing to experiment at all in hospital until they find what is right for you!

I agree with Dyvgrl - if you have allergies or med reactions you have to watch them like a hawk. They prescribed me Norco...I am allergic to codeine....fortunately the nurse caught it before before it was administered! Also, if you have lymphedema or could develop it, wear your lymphedema bracelet AND ask them to post it at your door and by your bedside. We have had to make our own signs before (I was taken into ER by ambulance so didn't have my bracelet). DH has threatened to write it on my arm in sharpie marker he got so sick of having to remind people. It was really good this time, though, they had signs and I had my hot pink bracelet.

I have to beg to differ on the lymphedema, Goldie. I see a lymphedema specialist and an OT that specializes in lymphedema. I was told they have yet to find the rhyme or reason to who gets it, who doesn't and when they get it. They have people with all nodes removed who never get it and they even have a few people with NO nodes removed, just mx, who get it. Proceed with caution. I had only two nodes removed at mx and I have had severe truncal lymphedema and minor lymphedema in my upper arm. Keep protecting them!

I was told by my BS that I wasn't at risk for lymphedema. They removed 5 nodes total. It's really hard not to remove any when doing a mx because they're mixed with the breast tissue.

My aunt got lymphedema 2 years after her mx when she got poked with a thorn on her finger. My mom got it 4 years after her mx when she was eating a shrimp and poked her hand with the shell.

Okay more, good info right here on breastcancer.org. Go to the home page, click on Treatment and Side Effects, click on Lymphedema on the left hand side. Lots of subtopics there....like who is at risk and how to help protect yourself.

Here's my two cents. If you had an mx, lymph nodes were ultimately removed with the rest of the breast tissue regardless of axillary dissection or not. If there is any haranguing with the nodes, there is a possibility of Lymphedema. I had both an mx and ax disection so I will not allow blood draw or pressure on my right arm. I will do whatever I need to in order to prevent it. Not fun stuff to deal with.

I'm waiting at care now to have my knee checked out and for some reason I feel like I'm cheating on my ps. I usually just go see him when I need to se a doctor! Will get back with y'all when I get out of here.

Bailey I will be reading all that info as soon as I get home. Thanks😄

kuka.....glad to hear you're getting that knee checked. Hope you get good news.

sbelizabeth....it's tempting, but I'm not gonna ask about the "chewing on elbow" comment!!!!!!!

jakig....hope we hear from you soon

janet.....I'm in awe of your progress.....any doggie visit yet???