DIEP 2013

Options
1…129130132134135…421

Comments

  • Cherrie
    Cherrie Member Posts: 1,423
    edited June 2013

    Sharon- welcome back! Give doctor M a hug for me. Doesn't she look great. She has lost a lot of weight through good eating and exercising.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lhw
    lhw Member Posts: 11
    edited June 2013

    Hi there. I'm 3+ weeks post op from stage 1 DIEP. My take on the headaches (I've had some also) is your body is detoxing from the anesthesia and meds. Think hangover. With all that has been pumped into your system as well as what you are taking by mouth, the liver needs time to move it all out. Drink lots of water; move around, walk a bit if you can. Take a good multivitamin, eat good food and avoid processed foods with chemicals that could add to the overload. Consider the pain meds, and if they are actually helping. I think a lot of the discomfort I felt initially was from lying on that table for so many hours. My body felt like it was tossed under a bus, which could be contributing to headaches also. The incisions really didn't hurt. They gave me morphine and percocet in the hospital, and honestly neither really made a difference in how I felt so I gave up on the major pain meds when I got home. Currently, I can get pretty achey depending on how much I do, and as the swelling is going down and nerve endings are waking up, I'll take tylenol, ibuprophen or aspirin. They take the edge off, especially if I rest, and aren't majorly adding to the work my body is doing to heal itself. Hope this helps!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 1,068
    edited June 2013

    Damiana,

    Slow down sister! I know the temptation is to grease the squeaky wheel, which in this case is your restlessness and your muscles, and your feisty spirit. But don't ignore those little arteries that need time to heal. They are going through a major adjustment.

    At the very least, make sure that someone else is pushing your wheelchair. Even getting in and out of a car can make us fall into bad habits.

    I forced Jim (dh) to take me out for ice-cream last night, and had to stop myself from hopping out of the Jeep. I'd put a pillow in front of me so I coiuld weara seat belt, and I was wearing a short jersey skirt (skirts rock!) that I love cus I can slip in on, and I don't need to wear underpants so peeing is a breeze.

    However, having no panties is not the best idea when you have to lean sideways and slide out of the passenger seat. I'm hoping none of the kiddies in the shop caught a glimpse of my big pale arse.

    I know everybody has their own limitations, but please take care.

    Goldie - lifting my arms over my head was pretty manageable. I had to bend my head, and my arms stretched only part way, so I looked like a giant baby, but it went better
    than expected. And it felt SO good

    Janet

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Catie2013
    Catie2013 Member Posts: 1,023
    edited June 2013

    Marty, I believe Sherry's surgery is in Ontario? Might have different 'what they give' to the patients to take home from the hospital. Not sure, but maybe Sherry can check with the Dr or hospital?



    Marty and I were in different hospitals in the same city, Charleston, SC but both hospitals there gave us the compression garments and a spare and the surgical bras (and a spare or two for me, not sure how many for Marty). They also gave me several cammie's to put the drains. Again, not sure how many for Marty. But different hospitals differ in what they give or don't give.



    I'm going in 2 weeks for my stage 2b - packing will be so different this time as I didn't use a lot of the stuff I had brought before. I may bring one of the compression garments from stage 2a, and a few of the surgical bras (which I am not supposed to wear a bra at all now until my surgery 7/11) and some skirts and tops and a robe. That's it! Oh, ya, make up, shampoo, etc. My reacher/grabber and backscratcher! Just as I will be done with all of this some day, I will have my packing down to a toothbrush!!!! LOL



    I agree, Janet, that skirts are the way to go. I tend to look like a Polygamist in my choice of skirts though, but so much easier to deal with whatever the Dr has you fitted out to wear. Target has a good selection if you are in the hospital or just home and send DH out to get them for you - mine did well!



    So, this is the 7th surgery in 15 months for me, and the 'what ifs' still come into play the closer it gets - but its getting easier and easier to just focus on the 'almost over' part and move on!



    Hugs to all

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sweetpickle
    sweetpickle Member Posts: 749
    edited June 2013

    Did anyone else have black spots on their incision? I have them all the way around my right side. PS didn't seem to concerned about it and told me to put silverdene cream on them. What are they?

    Is it dying skin? Thanks.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited June 2013

    Damiana,



    I'm surprised you were not given instructions about exercises and moving your arms before leaving the hospital. Although where I worked, the occasional lady had no recollection of seeing a physiotherapist, even though I knew I'd seen them and given them instructions! It's the long anesthetic and the drugs!



    Anyway, broadly the exercises are similar to your post lumpectomy/mastectomy exercises, but our ladies were not allowed to raise their elbows higher than shoulder height for the first three weeks, so be very careful reaching your head etc.

    You should also practise gentle neck stretches. Don't do core (tummy) exercises for six weeks unless your surgeon tells you too. If in doubt, check with your surgeon. They are THE LAW when it comes down to it!!



    Start gently, do not push yourself through pain. Listen to your body.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited June 2013

    Morwenna....hoping your Monday went ok?????? Stay away from those mozzies. I've been busy with "flood stuff" so haven't been posting as much, but am trying to stay caught up reading wise. Thinking of you though!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • liefie
    liefie Member Posts: 2,440
    edited June 2013

    Just a quick question. 6 weeks out from DIEP the new breast has softened considerably, but there is still one really hard part all along the side closest to the breastbone. Anybody with the same experience, and maybe a time frame of how long that will take to soften up?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moviemaniac
    Moviemaniac Member Posts: 949
    edited June 2013

    lhw-welcome!  Even though you are post-op (I, too joined after DIEP stage 1), would you like to be added to our date/place board? (It could possibly help someome else from your neck of the woods.  If so, please pm Nihahi, as she is the keeper of the thread, and she will get you added.  Stick around.....we're the funniest bunch on the boards, and you learn all sorts of stuff (did you know your foob can glow in the dark if a flashlight is held up to it?)none of us did either!

    Ladies, I am headed to PS today....discussion of stage 2 on the docket....will have to be postponed due to conflict with DD#4's endo. surgery....meh....I am okay with it.....didn't particularly want to go throught the hottest months up here in Oregon all "compressed-up" anyway.  Will DEFINITELY be bringing up the glowing foob (aka gloob)...will report back with reaction of PS up close and personal......    :)

    Mammalou...thinking of you today....sweet DIEP dreams, and an uneventful recovery.......

    Oops....got to dash.....PS awaits!  :)

    X's and O's

    Namaste and God bless - Jackie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Typewriterjenny
    Typewriterjenny Member Posts: 52
    edited June 2013

    Thanks so much Marty- I guess what I'm most concerned about is securing the drains so I don't pull them out by accident-OUCH! I had a partial lumpectomy in May, and woke up with a compression bra-and it was the zip front kind, with velcro over my shoulders. It was very comfortable, but It went into the dryer by accident-still wearable, but a bit more snug and some of the lace unraveled. That was from a surgeon I have since moved on from as well, so I'm not sure that the new surgeon would provide the same type etc. So, I was looking to get another for backup.

    I'll definitely give a call to my surgeon's office. If they can provide me with what I need, I'd rather not have to buy one. I was just nervous because some of the threads say the hospital one was uncomfortable, so they bought their own and it felt better. 

    I'm an over-preparer too-I have a hard time asking people to do things for me, so I'm trying to cover as many bases as I can prior to all of this. I will have great support, but I'd still feel better knowing I was prepared.

    Now a few more questions for the veterans-

    What do you do for the scar the first few weeks while it begins to heal?

    How long is it supposed to be covered?

    How long until you can eat and then what is the diet like?

    Did you drop a pants size?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gini23
    Gini23 Member Posts: 183
    edited June 2013

    lhw - You might want to check with your doc about Advil & aspirin.  I was told not to take them before & after all 3 surgeries - BMX, DIEP 1 and DIEP 2 because of blood thinning issues.

    Glowing boobs??  I MUST read back and catchu up!

    Faith - I was happily surprised to see that Dr. Carty did indeed do some lipo up the sides.  That is what he used for the fat-grafting to even out my breasts and fill the divot on one side.  No more love handles!!!  Laughing

    Hugs,

    =)  Jeannie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gini23
    Gini23 Member Posts: 183
    edited June 2013

    Typewriter Jenny -

    What do you do for the scar the first few weeks while it begins to heal?

    Nothing at all according to my PS.  Later on he said scar massage was ok - I used Bio-Oil sometimes, Aquaphor sometimes, and this other special cream I can't even explain...  As Nihahi explained awhile back, to work, you really have to do the massaging several times a day for awhile each time.  Was it at least 5 minutes?

    How long is it supposed to be covered?


    Mine was not covered at all.  Now they are after Stage 2 - Tegaderm & cotton pads covering my new nipples (don't even know yet what they look like!) and where he removed the "dog ears" at my waist from the drains.  They come off next week when I go for my follow-up.

    How long until you can eat and then what is the diet like?

    I was on clear broths only the first day or 2 post-op from Stage 1.  then it was just whatever I could tolerate/was in the mood for, which wasn't much in the beginning.

    Did you drop a pants size?

    Not yet because I've been continuing to wear a binder. But now that my love handles are gone and my tummy is pretty flat, I think i will!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 1,068
    edited June 2013

    Typewriter Jenny - 

    I'm two week post-DEIP. Does that qualify me a a veteran?

    I'm not doing anything for the scar. Docs said I could be bandage free after a week. That said, I choose to wear guaze/tape over the wounds so they don't rub against my clothing.

    I too was on clear broths for 48 hours. Then I was on clear by choice, and started solids on days 4. I had no dietary restrictions as all  - it was all dictated by my palate. On day 9 I had sushi, and most other days I'm craving pretty clean foods like chicken & salads. Last night I went out for ice-cream (espresso/toffee), and it was delicious. Oh - and I had a tiny glass of wine last night as well.

    My pants are definatey looser, but I don't think I've gone down a size. I gained weight for this surgery, and was cramming by big belly into too-small pants. Now they're loose, and it feel fabulous. 

    I'm an over-preparer as well - and  next week I'll return most of the clothes/health aids that I bought for this surgery. The only think I couldn't live without is my big wedge pillow, and my six smaller ones.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gini23
    Gini23 Member Posts: 183
    edited June 2013

    Agree on the wedge pillow, Janet!  Pulled it back out for my post-stage 2 sleeping.  Leaning on it now, covered with my big fluffy bed pillows.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited June 2013

    liefie...I had a large area more above and to the side that was very firm. I ended up having it removed during my Stage 2. I am assuming my surgeon filled in the area with fat after lipo. My Stage 2 was 3 months after Stage 1. The area never softened up during that time, though other smaller areas did!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Morningsun1
    Morningsun1 Member Posts: 649
    edited June 2013

    Movie, I am anxiously waiting for your report of the "reaction of PS up close and personal" about the gloobs..... Hope you get a new date set.

    liefie, I have had a couple of areas that are hard for a very long time, but as of now (more than 21 weeks post stage 1) they are all soft. There was definitely still one hard area a month ago. This is just me, my understanding is that it really varies from person to person.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Typewriterjenny
    Typewriterjenny Member Posts: 52
    edited June 2013

    Gini-

    Ok, I can handle that. Re: unexplainable cream- uh ohhh! yikers! :)))) I LOVE lipton's Thai coconut broth. That will be a good one to have on hand methinks.

    Janet-

    Absolutely you are a veteran! :) Thanks so much. I do have a wedge pillow and many other different sized pillows.  I've always loved the comfort of pillows, haha, so I'm good on them at least!

    How come you gained weight for the surgery? Just curious what your situation is. I'm 33, 5'4", 170. Most of my weight is my upper inner thigh area, and my "pouch". I have never had a flat pouch area, but my tummy has never been that big-so I'm hoping that the pouch area will finally be flat!

    So, I'll be breaking out the "hippie skirts" and peasant gauzy blouses I'm thinking! :)))

    Anyone have pups? My dog is named Django. He is a 1 1/2 year old corgi and soooo loving. But I'm worried he will try to jump on me and lick the drains. He's going to most likely have to be penned out of the room I'm in for the most part at least at first. :(

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Typewriterjenny
    Typewriterjenny Member Posts: 52
    edited June 2013

    ....also,  "GLOOBS.".....heh, heh heh heh. (Beavis)---so cheezy-SORRY! had to do it!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • liefie
    liefie Member Posts: 2,440
    edited June 2013

    Jacee, not what I wanted to hear, but thanks for addressing the question. If it does not soften up some, I will have to do something. It is also the same area where I had the most discomfort after DIEP.

    Tammy, thanks - that sounds more encouraging!

    Typewriter, I had to ban my cats from my bedroom for some time. Was too scared that they would jump on my new boob or tummy while I had to sleep on my back. They were not impressed at all, but I could not take that chance.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 1,068
    edited June 2013

    Tywriter Jenny -

    I'm 5' 6", 50 yrs, 145 lbs. Didn't carry a lot of excess weight in my gut - but I sure fixed that! I got up to  to 155 lbs. pre-surgery, and I kind of hung over my jeans. 

    As far as pets - I've got a basett hound and two cats. We put Jed in boarding for the first two days I was home, just so I could navigate the house without interference. When he came home, he jumped up on everybody except me. But he's older - he's nine - and I think he's a genius. He's spends most of the time curled up at my feet, or beside me, in bed.

    The cats haven't been a problem. I bought a bed tray to put over me for protection, but like everything elese it's still in the box. I think that closing the bedroom door is an excellent idea - even though I don't practice what I preach.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited June 2013

    I am in desperate need of a wedge pillow! Spent most of my time in the recliner, but with the raging temps, sent me to the AC'd bedroom. Plus I miss my hubs. So been trying to sleep propped up with pillows but can't ever get them right and I don't sleep well. A wedge would be wonderful!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gini23
    Gini23 Member Posts: 183
    edited June 2013

    Vball Mom - have you chosen a doc/hospital for your surgery?  I am from the Hartford area, and have been going to Boston for my surgeries.  Great BS from Dana Farber - Dr Golshan - who hooked me up with a great PS - Dr. Carty (as Faith mentioned) out of Faulkner/Brigham & Womens.

    I'm loving reading about the kids waking parents up.  We have a teen and tween in our house - so rarely do they come to our room in the morning, and typically sleep later than us on the weekends.  So there is light at the end of the tunnel!

    When our older was a toddler and still in the crib, she would wake us up by crying for us.  My DH (Dear in this case!) finally told her just to say, "Mommy, Daddy, I'm awake!" And we'd come get her without needing to cry.  I can still here that little voice...  *sigh*

    Nihahi, I'm sorry to hear about skin cancer...  you seem to be handling it with the same grace and peace you've shared your BC journey.  You are in my prayers.

    BTW - my PS has a great analogy on the Stage 2 where you're doing several different things at once... He called it the Pupu platter!  Funny I'm now in the mood for Chinese food....

    Ok the cream that's hard to explain... through my primary care office, which is an "integrative health center," I saw a "spiritual healer."  She had some pruducts that are very quantum-physics.  I bought some Jade Oinment from her,nalong with an LED redlight.  I have no clue if it helped my tumor-breakdown process while I used them through chemo, but I figured it couldn't hurt!

    More info on the products here....http://www.enerpathic.com/product-testimonials.html

    A lot of the links seem broken now....

    Dyvgrl - my wedge pillow came from a local drug store, but I know they are also available from Bed, Bath & Beyond in store & online.  And so easy to get a coupon for BBB!

    One option:  http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=10060850

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gini23
    Gini23 Member Posts: 183
    edited June 2013

    Katy - just read your comment about your issues/blister being on the prophylatic side.  Mine is also lumpy and bumpy compared to its almost perfect sister that had the cancer.  Sometimes I think it's karma or they did it on purposed to convice other women not to take a healthy breast off.  I know that is silly, but it's frustrating!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited June 2013

    Gini23 'I'll have to swing by there on my way home! Will be nice to be comfortable since I start chemo next week!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Catie2013
    Catie2013 Member Posts: 1,023
    edited June 2013

    Dyvgrl - I love my 'boomerang' pillow from Steinmart - do you have one there? $15.00 but well worth it! I bought 2 and use them back to back and asleep in the crook. The look like very padded V's!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited June 2013

    No SteinMarts here. Booo

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gini23
    Gini23 Member Posts: 183
    edited June 2013

    Goldie - Another story about the healthy side causing more issues than the cancer one... yup, it's like payback!

    I was an "immediate/delayed DIEP," meaning that we did the TEs first, then the DIEP 8 months later.  the difference is that I have a horizontal scar going across each breast, in addition to the oval ones that are now going to be covered by the nipple reconstuction and tatooing.  So ideally you do the immediate, but if you can't (was waiting to know if doing rads) this is the next best alternative, IMO.

    SheChirple - I got my period day after my DIEP, too!  Such a pain to work around dangling drains....  thankfully mine were at my waist, not in the pubic zone.  Did they get your flap from the pubic area?  I have a little bit of "belly fuzz" on mine.  I am hoping that with the nipple reconstruction it will be gone.  or maybe i will end up with fuzzy nipples...  :p

    Hot room is for healing of the blood vessels.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gini23
    Gini23 Member Posts: 183
    edited June 2013

    Dyvgirl - where is the "like" button?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited June 2013

    I had another fill today.  For the first time in 3 months I have a very tiny mounds.  LOL.  Feels so tight though, even making me feel some discomfort under my arms and a little down the back of one arm. I can't believe my surgery is less than a month away.  I am getting anxious. 

    I was just with my PS's nurse today, and she is just so nice.  Very easy to talk to.  I told her I was borrowing a walker to keep my back from hurting after diep.  She said, "I don't want to see you walking in here with that!" I told her I had a bit of a bad back anyway, and I didn't want to aggravate it, and she gave in.  But, the most important thing she did say was that I wasn't going to be out of commission as long as I would think.  She feels I will bounce back pretty quickly.  I hope she is right.  She said I could take a valium, or a muscle relaxer for my discomfort tonight, and I will!!!

    Gini23, I have a feeling my scars will be similar from what my PS was explaining to me.  And, darn it...I wish they had a "like" button on here too.  LOL.  

    Janet, they have me gaining weight for surgery too.  Mentally, it goes against every fiber of my body, but so far I am up 6 pounds!!  I was only a full B, so they don't need very much fat.  I was told if I was really unhappy with the size they could stick a very small implant in there at Stage 2, but not under the muscle.  I told him we would see when the time came.  As a matter of fact, I had two PS tell me that same scenario. The problem is I don't have much to take from anywhere, tummy, thighs, butt...so, if I am really unhappy with the size I might consider a small implant.  Besides, the stacking surgeries bother me in that there wouldn't be a spot left on my body with no scars. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kuka21174923
    kuka21174923 Member Posts: 427
    edited June 2013

    Goldie, hoping you get used to the fill soon and it stops bothering you.

    I can't believe you're trying to aging the weight and I'm trying to loose it! If only I could give you some of my leftovers, lol!!

    I talked to ps today and he gave me the ok on the lifting during my work outs. He said as long as I don't have any discomfort I'm good. I need to listen to my body and when it tells me is too much then I need to stop. Meeting with trainer again tonight. He's going to teach me how to stretch and loosen up. That just didn't sound right! I'll update y'all as soon as I get back home😜

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories