DIEP 2013

Ok, I'm finally up after a night of partying! Felt so good to sleep on this morning.

Tammy, I don't know if I would return the foobs for being defective, lol. Maybe you didn't position the flashlight right up against your skin?

Nihahi, nobody touches my elliptical! But just in case it happens I can always use my neighbors:)

Damiana, take it easy on the food. I woke up starving after surgery and asked for food. They didn't give me anything until morning when I complained about being hungry again. They put me on a liquid diet. After I finished it I told the nurse that I was fine and I never puke. So they brought me a real breakfast. Bad idea!!! I was puking my brains out and it hurt so bad. So....., I went back to liquid diet until right before I left the hospital.

Nihahi, remember I was born in South Africa, way down there . . . LOLOLOLOL!!!

Wow, you ladies make me laugh! I so needed that.

Janet, you sound like you are doing great.

Kuka, sorry about your knee but take the time to help you heal!

I can't wait to try the glowing foobs! Only 43 days till surgery!

Ok off to cut the grass and weed the garden. I have 2 showings tomorrow and one on Monday. Maybe this will be it!

Cheers,

Sherry

That's it, Sweetpickle, chin up, you are doing great! Cyber hug back at you!

Hi McCrimmon

You came to the right place.  There are plenty of ladies her going through, or have just finished going through what you are.  You are one step ahead of the game as you are not worried about immediate cancer scare, and you are being proactive and taking control of the rest of your life, as far as breast cancer.  You should be very proud of yourself for that, and know that you are doing the right thing.  Maybe somebody else on the forum knows your PS, or has some info on him.  In the meantime, research, research, research.  The internet is a wealth of info.  Stick with us.  We will help you through, just like we are all helping each other.  I had my bmx on April 1st, but my expander/implant reconstruction failed.  I am having my DIEP sometime in July.  Who knows, maybe we will be going through the surgery at the same time. 

Do dark closet didn't work but this evening tried dark bedroom, big flashlight 😏- both SGAP, PAP glowed - but so did my midriff, between my fingers and every wear I put the flashlight - either I'm doing it wrong or my very fair skin is see through! Kind of like at a campfire and you put a flashlight under your chin to tell spooky ghost stories - that glow your chin gets? Well, everywhere I put the flashlight glowed. Maybe too many surgeries in one year and the anesthesia is making us glow!

McCrimmon welcome! So glad you joined us! Sorry, I am not familiar with your doctor or center.



These ladies are a wealth of info on flap surgery, and life and fun to hang out with....and very understanding of the ups and downs we go through! You will find great info and support.



Do you have a date for surgery that you want to share?

Sorry Heather, I have no info on your doc either. Like Goldie said try to do a lot of research online. Also go to the hospital you're having it done and ask the nurses about the ps and his work. They should be able to tell you better than anybody else. Good luck and keep us updated!

Hi ladies.....just checking in.......slept in this morning.....had quite the evening last night.....this board was hoppin'.......lots of gloob talk......and mine were fantastic.....hubby was NOT amused......oh well.....I always have you ladies!



Welcome, McCrimmon...this is the place to hang out for past-flappers, and soon-to-be flappers. I know that one of us, TammyT, had her surgery in PA, but I am not sure where....I would not spend much time on the general Internet, but BreastCancer.Org has lots and lots of pertinent info for women facing surgery. I would also request names of women who have used your PS for the DIEP surgery and ask to see photos of his work as well.



Sweet pickle, hope you are doing a little better today.....Janet? How did today go? I hope you are doing okay, too.



Spent the afternoon at a MLS game ( Portland Timbers vs. Dallas ).......voice is GONE....good thing I don't need it to post here! (Portland won......yay!) Exhausted....going to bed...no glowing boobs (gloobs) for me!!!



(((Hugs)))



Namaste and God bless - Jackie

Okay, off to try for glow in the dark boobs.

I had nothing but small sips of water by mouth for 48 hrs. The explanation to me was that IF they had to go back in to correct circulation, I had to have empty stomach. Once we were in the clear, I could slowy increase to anything I wanted.  I only wanted soft foods, though.

Damiana, good luck, you are apparently up next.

Janet, deoing well.

OH, and I finally slept halfway decent.  I, uh, don't tell my PS, I slept without the damned binder. Virtually nekked.  It felt so good I felt free!  I slept almost 4 hrs!!! Then again another 3 hrs.  Hubby says I woke up a few times to pee during the night, but I don't remember it.  LOL.  I'm on auto "p"ilot.

I went shopping today, about 3 hrs.  Went to the outlet mall to pick up father's day gifts.  Unfortunately, the store I was headed for closed last month!!! Now I'm screwed.  Oh well.  We've got it covered.

I'm not eating right, I know that, as I have sour stomach to show for it. So, tomorrow I'm back on planned foods only.

Thanks for the welcome ladies. We live in warrington Pa now, about a 1/2 hour outside of Philly. After initial consult hubby did some rasearch on dr and it looked impressive but I was really hoping for first hand experience. Don't know why I never thought to ask for a patient referal. I suppose anywhere else this question might seem strange but is there a thread on bco where I can find after pics? One of the nurses at FCCC was kind enough to show me her diep she had just gotten nipples and I have to admit I was surprised at how natural they looked. That was back in Dec and now all I can find on the web are surgeries gone wrong.



Thanks again, and hope everyone is enjoying fathers day.

Heather, you can see before and after pictures at breastreconstruction.org. Sorry listed. Com in previous post. Click on photos

Oh Tammy, you beat Movie to the PS! So funny think I have tears running down my leg!



Sweetpickle - do your arms hurt? Do you remember several of us saying a few weeks ago how much our arms hurt post surgery? It's from positioning during surgery for such a long period of time. Maybe that is part of the reason why you can't use your arms to get up from the chair alone just yet? I am still having ROM problems at elbow 3 weeks later! Congrats on your "change of address" goal....you go girl! I sat in my chair and folded laundry and matched socks at about your point and helped me feel a bit useful. I also clipped coupons and made a very organized grocery list for DH.



McCrimmon - going back to the beginning of this thread and reading through it will give you loads of information on the varying real life experiences of the women on the thread as we go through our surgeries. Lots of information on what people do to prepare and varying information on our post surgery protocols. Will give you a good list of questions to ask your PS as you go forward.

sweetpickle....by many protocols (my ps's included) you're waaaay too early to be using your arms to push or pull. Also your tummy.......tooooo soooooon!!!!! If the recliner isn't one of the electric/lift type....of course you need help getting in and out. Use the help you have, and save your "determination" for your walks. Sounds like your walking goals are perfect. Chair to BR, BR to living room, living room to recliner, etc. etc. As your walking stamina increases, you'll start to see some progress you can measure. Yep, drains are a pain....but when you get to the "drain pain" mindset....you're also making progress....patience, kiddo. Without you likely realizing it, you are sounding more like a recovering veteran with each post.

Transillumination is just too funny!!!! Tammy, your PS sounds wonderful!!!! I too, sadly, appear to have mostly defective gloobs, or else the wattage is too low. Slight glow, not enough to excite anyone it appears.

Movie...so glad you got out to a game...sounds like you had a great time. 

Kuka.... when is your knee MRI? 

shechirple....I bet there are few ladies who NEVER have a moment of compression cheating...don't let it become a habit though.....glad you were able to sneak in some sleep.

sherry.....I'm crossing everything I can cross that this weekend will bring you that much awaited house offer.

Have good days, ladies.

Hi girls - well they came and took my catheter out today - they practically had to wrestle it away form me. Didn't think I'd ever love a pee tube so much , but I was pretty happy in bed last night watching movies.



This morning I made it to the washroom on my own, and they set up a commode so I wouldn't have to squat too low. It worked out pretty well, apart from completely missing the toilet bowl, and I managed to get back into bed in a most unelegant fashion.



The doctors are telling me that everything looks great, but I've yet to see my scars. When did doctors get so young ? They all look like they 're going out trick or treating in OR scrubs.



Damiana- it looks like you're up next. It really is manageable and the waiting is the hardest part. I went a bit crazy buying stuff, and I'll probably return everything except for my loose yoga pants. The hospital gives you everything you need. I think the most important thing is moist towelettes, and I'm also using lip balm - which my sister grabbed in the drugstore downstairs. Stay calm, if you can. And if not, know that you're in good hands and doing the right thing