DIEP 2013

Hi ladies, I can't believe I'm on the other side. I am day 2 post DEIP. The surgery was long but all went well. I had a patch behind my ears for nausea and I woke up feeling better than I ever have.



Speaking of aspirin, they gave me an aspirin suppository in the recovery room. Now I'm getting kids aspirin and heparin shots 3 times a day. The shots hurt! I've been running a temperature but it's starting coming down today.



Today, my big excitement was getting into a chair. I did that and then starting dry heaving into a bucket. Not fun!



My flap looks good. He ended up taking away more skin that he planned because there was more radiation damage that he thought. I also ended up with a very tight little stomach because I was too thin. They say that's a good thing, but I have to keep kind of folded all the time for awhile. All the nurses that check on me comment about what a nice job he did, so that makes me feel good.



Time is going very slowing in the hospital.ni sleep for like 15 minutes and wake up thinking hours have passed. I feel the drowsies coming so I better sign off.

Take care.

Mammalou! Welcome to this side! So glad for the update. Sounds like you are doing as you should be. Dry heaves no fun....I was in that boat, too. Thank you for the update.... praying for you and for no more temp!

Yeah Mammalou! Yes, time really does drag on in the hospital- hopefully you get enough naps to make time go faster.



Well, apparently it is true- white fatty cheesy looking stuff in drains is BAD! I just never thought anything of it when it happened over the past few days. oops! So the infection is now going down my leg. I am drawing lines around it every time it grows. I am now on some hefty antibiotics and have to call the doctor if anything at all changes. One thing that made me feel very good was when I called the answering service to have him paged about my infection, he called me within 1 minute. My husband was supposed to go back to work tomorrow night. talk about some bad timing!

Oh ladies, so much to catch up on!

I'm glad all the recent flappers have been checking in and updating.

For those of you experiencing bumps in the road I send you gentle hugs and pray for smoother roads ahead.

Thank you for all of the exercise information. I'm a bit of a bigger girl than most of you sound. I weigh more than I look but am not small at all! I was told not to lose weight before surgery so I guess I've been being lazy! I need to spend the next month trying to get healthier and stronger.

Some mental healing started this afternoon when I left the courthouse. I spent the morning in family court with my ex trying to fight me on everything but left with my head high, nothing out of pocket and a divorce granted. He gets a bit of my pension but I get the house to sell and pay off a huge chunk of debt! The judge actually called him a deadbeat and said if it were up to him alone my ex wouldn't get a thing!

I feel a bit of a weight has lifted and I can begin a new chapter in my life! Wow !

Diep is in 30 days- woo hoo!

Evening ladies-

Thx for the kind thoughts, ended up having to have my incision opened up all the way, breast cleaned out and drain inserted then closed up again. 3rd times a charm, right?? We're praying the TE didn't get infected, my PS didn't seem too confident, I can only hope and pray I don't need yet another surgery to pull out my TE. Has anyone had to get theirs removed? Is it done under general anesthesia or can the PS do it? I so so hate going under....sigh. Now my chemo is pushed back another week. Ugh!! I just want this over!!

Busy, busy day on the thread!!!

First off..sherry....that is SPECTACULAR news....truly, a new start in life for you. Without that stress on you, it cannot help but be a more peaceful, healing journey. Congrats!

I find it odd when people apologize for "rambling" on the thread....to those ladies....we GET IT....no need at all to apologize, getting it out  with no rules or word limit is what we are here for. 

goldie....I'm one who had implants for a looooong time, pre-flap recon. Day one post flap surgery, I knew everything was better emotionally, physically, mentally.....and that was barfing in the bucket time for me.....I still knew having the implant gone was the best thing I'd done. I know there are ladies who are happy with their permanent implants, and I'm happy for them, but...I wonder how long they have had them, and if they'll feel that way, after the 2 or 3rd "replacement/complication" sets in.

bailey...can you up your protein intake?...might help with healing that dang blister. If it is healing by granulating tissue, though, (red, moist, bumpy looking tissue) it will take time.

damiana....yikes...keep a close eye on those areas! You just might need a more intensive antibiotic regime, ie IV. 

dyvgrl...crap...hopefully this sorts things out...sorry you've had so many "potholes" on the road!

not sure who mentioned they were told not to engage their core yet, but swimming was ok.......How does that work??? I can't think of a swimming stroke that wouldn't "engage" your core and also not require full arm movement against resistance, unless you're just holding on to a kickboard and kicking....but still, that will affect your core muscles. What am I missing here?

Nihani, there is a swim stroke I do on my back where I do a frog kick with my legs, and my arms are bascially doing the same movement and they never come higher than shoulder level.  What is the name of the swim stroke.  I have always loved doing it because it was easy.  I am not a strong swimmer. I can't think of anything we do that does not engage our core, except sitting in a recliner.

Sherry, yay for you!! Now concentrate on just you and your health!

Damiana, keep a close eye on that infection. Hoping it doesn't spread anymore!

Dvrgrl, that really stinks!! Please keep us updated!

Bailey, the blister takes time. I'm almost 10 weeks out and my blister is almost closed all the way. I'm thinking a couple more days and it'll be gone!! Make sure you send pics to your ps so that he can see how is progressing. I almost had to do skin graft to fix it. And it will delay your stage 2 if you plan on having one. Make sure your ps is aggressive with it!

Goldie, how did your CT go? Did you get any results on the blood vessels?

Thank you to everybody that shared with me their knowledge on dieting. Never thought that trying to eat healthier would be so complicated! Really! I don't even know what I'm supposed to eat anymore! Went to the gym tonight again and started to get leg cramps while running on treadmill. So I decided I'm going to get fitted tomorrow and get me a good pair of running shoes.

Hoping all of you ladies get some good sleep tonight.

kuka.....seriously.....you don't already have a good pair of runners????? You're killing me kiddo!!!!!! Re: food....google "clean eating".....it's a good place to start, but imho, every food plan needs some personal tweaking.

I have tons of tennis shoes. Are they good running shoes? I don't know. I usually get them because they're cute. Now I actually need ones that are going to do their job! And bananas!!

Sbeluzabeth, can't take gatorate or anything like that. It will make me produce more kidney stones:(

Kuka - I have gone to the professional sporting goods/shoe store and had my gait analyzed and have them recommend a shoe...Then I get last year's model of same shoe on clearance if I can!



As far as food...yes I could increAse protein intake. Might have to decrease the licorice intake....but I think I can, I think I can. And yes it's granulating and taking its sweet time.





I love the Sonoma Diet and food plan. My kids will eat most of it too, which is awesome. I lost 40 lbs on Sonoma 2 years ago! Food is delish.



I have friends running a Tough Mudder tomorrow....So jealous! I look forward to participating in 2014!

Just thought I'd share a bit of a conversation I'm having on another thread. Any other veterans feel the same???? Not at all implying dissatisfaction or unhappiness with recon, just to be clear.

I think I've also had a bit of the "adrenaline-hyper" letdown, post recon surgery. Trying to find that "level place in life" after months of anticipation, then surgery, then recovery. Just feeling somewhat "unanchored" which isn't helped by the disaster stuff around here, and the "loss" of my mountain access. OK, I AM NOW GOING TO BED.......ZZZZZzzzzzz!

Good Morning!

I've been up since 3:30 this morning, at the beck and call of my basset hound, who had a tummy ache and needed to go outside. Thank God for you ladies who share their stories at all hours of the day. I got in some good reading!

Mammalou - Welcome to the other side.  So great to hear from you - dry heaves and all. I found that the nausea was the worst part, and once that passed, it was a nice slow steady marathon uphill. I also had the bear huggers for 24 hours post surgery, and I found the swoosh-swoosh of the air to be very soothing and meditative.  I wish you well on your uphill climb. (Don't you have a wedding to attend?)

Dyvgirl - F*ck! That's all I can think right now. Your setback sounds so frustrating. No choice I guess, except to roll with it, since we can't control the rest. I'm glad it's been closed up properly, and hopefully you can get back on track. Good luck.

Damiana - Sorry about the crappy infection, I hope it's under control. It's great that your PS gets back to you so quickly - glad your being looked after.

Sherry 35 - Damn right you should be walking with your head held high! Congratulations on finishing up that chapter of your life and putting your ex behind you (where he belongs). You've got a month to start healing and mental healing is the best kind. You must be feeling lighter in your heart - how wonderful.

Speaking of mental healing, Nihahi  - how soon can you find a mountain? Will the trails be opening up anytime soon? I'm following the progress from Ontario, but sometimes it's just broad strokes. I'm sending you a mental ride-able mountain right now.                           

Goldie - When I have to make a decision, I try to listen to my gut the seconds before I'm awake. That's when I'm the most clear. I know you're facing a tough decision, and that it just got tougher by having more options. I never had implants, so I'm throwing in my two cents with only one cent worth of knowledge, but here goes. The one thing I've know since I was diagnosis was that I never wanted to have anything foreign in my body. Implants were never an option for me, but every other decision was brutal. I went into the DIEP waffling until that very last week. I'd committed to it a full year earlier when it was just an idea, but as it grew closer and reality set in, I could think of lots of reasons why it wasn't the right choice. 

I'm two weeks out, and feel like an old turtle with a very bad sunburn, and flesh circles where my nipples used to be. My back hurts and I can't walk my dog. And I've had to take another big chunk of time off work, which is a big sacrifice for a freelancer like me. And, even though I knew what to expect, I almost fainted when I saw the scar on my belly.  But in my quiet clear moments I am washed over with a feeling of contentment that my new breasts are built from my own body, and that bodies are built to heal. Shape-wise, they are a work in progress, but I feel so at peace knowing that tissue is pure, and clean, and familiar, and untouched by disease. And ten years down the road I expect them to still be pure, and clean, without the chance of any more surgery. The belly scar will eventually become a part of me too, and it won't be important. 

Janet

PS I have a  concern. I have a very strange body odour. A really weird pungent smell. It's not the wounds - because according to yesterday's nurse, everythings is healing well. I think it's coming through my skin. I can smell it on the pillows too. Could it be my body just getting rid of toxins? I'm gross!

Good morning, all!  It's going to be in the 100's here in So Cal, so I will be found hiding here in the AC.  If I get a bike ride in before 8:00 it should be OK.

Janet, a friend of mine had an elective tummy tuck ten years ago, and she showed me her scar.  It was just a flesh colored, thin line.  You could see the scar, of course, but it blended in so well with her skin it was no big deal.  For the strange body odor (you spelled it wrong, you Canadian, you)--have you eaten anything like onions or cruciferous veggies lately?  

Nihahi, this whole fandango must be like being pregnant.  All the attention is on me, and then...pop!...it's back to life as usual. (Well, sort of, but no one gave me a baby to take home after my DIEP.  Thank goodness.)  My whole being isn't concentrated on first surviving the cancer, and then working toward the best recon I can do.  You're right, it does involve a kind of adrift, "well...now what?" kind of feeling.

Gah.  Leg cramps again last night, and I didn't even ride yesterday.  Sorry you can't hydrate with electrolytes, Kuka, but a kidney stone is even less fun than a leg cramp!

So here's something to Google.  I bought a pair of Fluevog "Curie" sandals, on sale, for $57.  What a steal!  Look at those great heels!  And I wasn't even on Percocet at the time!

Have a Fluevog day, gloobies! Stay cool--Katy

Can't comment on everything - too much going on! You are one busy group of ladies!

Goldie, Janet said it beautifully. An implant is a foreign object in your body. DIEP breasts are you own fat and tissue, and over time it becomes part of you just like your breasts were before. DIEP was the only choice available for me because of rads damage, but I would have chosen it anyway. It is not an invasive surgery, they do not cut through muscles, and for that reason the anaesthesia is not as heavy as for other surgeries. I'm 6 weeks out, had very little pain and no complications, I'm doing everything in my house that I did before, and I am really pleased with the new boobie and flat tummy. That's just my two cents.

Nihahi, as said on the other thread, I have defo had that 'unsettled' feeling too for the last week or two. Lost my focus, ate badly and exercised very little. Rainy, dreary, cold weather did not help either. As of yesterday I'm back in charge. No more excuses, and being fully aware what goes into my mouth. Mindless eating is so easy . . . just a bad habit.

sbelizabeth, you have a real penchant for high heels, don't you? Never heard of those shoes, but enjoy! I bought a pair of strappy silver sandals for my son's wedding, but will probably switch to something lower later in the evening. Have the shoes, now for the outfit . . .LOL.