DIEP 2013

Goldie,

I have chia seeds, eat them all the time. It doesn't matter if you get the super expensive ones. I know around here Costco has whole chia seeds at the lowest cost per ounce. I put them in my smoothies, or sprinkle them on salads. Goes good with flax seed added to oatmeal. Just cook the seeds with water first, then add them to the oatmeal. Mmmm

Dyvgrl- I have a couple of spots like that, my PS said it was from the skin not getting enough blood flow. Some of my spots got better but I still have two that look black now.

Mammalou...it's late for you to be up, so soon after surgery, but very glad to hear you're feeling good after a shower. Makes such a huge difference, doesn't it! The recliner sounds perfect, especially since you were told to stay flexed. Don't count yourself out of the wedding celebration quite yet, though for sure, you probably won't be up to an extended day of being up and out, but a week can make a huge difference in how you're feeling!!!!! Hope you get some sleep.

Dvygrl.....gosh, sorry about your "discovery"....hang in there, maybe get it checked as soon as you can? Enough with the complications, girl!!! 

Goldie- love chia seeds. they are filling, and help keep me regular. I use them in my smoothies. I am really sorry that you are still so unsure of your surgery. Maybe you do still need to take a step back, get the TEs filled some more (mine felt much better as it got filled more times, except right toward the end when it got overfilled for rads.) Do you still think about doing implants? What is holding you back from Diep? You may not be able to get to a point where you feel great about any decision regarding this but I do hope you feel more sure than you do now. The way you feel is how I felt the whole time that I felt that implants were really my only option. Once I decided to do DIEP, I had an incredible sense of calm because I knew that this was the right choice for me. I don't think you would be unhappy once you got your DIEP, but maybe you need more time? I know time is hard, we want to hurry and get this whole cancer thing behind us as fast as we can.

Sweetpickle- I definately have some side boob- the cantaloupe runneth over! I am still hoping a great deal of that is swelling.

Mammalou- I ended up with a wheelchair last week and was so glad I did. It was comfortable and gave me a lot more freedom to be out than I would have had otherwise.

I'm at the hospital waiting to be checked in- love you guys and thanks for the prayers. I'm still so loaded from the Xanax and emend that I'm just tired and not- thank God freaking out.

We're with you Robin!!!!!!

Damiana.....Hope things get sorted out for you today at the appt. 

dyvgrl.....thinking of you...hope things start heading in the right direction for you soon.

Damiana- Hope you are able to get that drain out soon!

Mamalou, go for the wheelchair! So many advantages, you won't be caught STANDING somewhere talking to someone and wishing you had a chair or seat, you can be comfortable bringing your own. Not missing this important event will overshadow any feeling of weirdness, IMHO.



The black spots/blisters do go away with proper care Rx by your PS. Been there done that, freaked at first too but now in retrospect my PS handled it perfectly and while I was a slow healer, they are all healed! (Had a couple on my glob incision line)



Stage 3 next Thursday! I'm seeing a light at the end of this tunnel!!!

Kad22, thank you for your telling your story and giving us a boost of confidence about our decision.

Can I ask, was your diep done like an immediate reconstruction where you only have the round scar where the nipple should be because you already had the stretched skin from the implants?  The reason I am asking is that I have expander's in right now, and they are starting to fill them.  I am wondering if I should go all the way with the expansion to possibly have a better result with my diep in the end.

Hey, thinking of everybody in surgery today.

Goldie- mine was fully expanded but my PS told me that he could get a better shape and that the look in the end was better and more natural when he did the whole bottom half with the abdominal skin. I was really nervous about that but I let him do the more skin rather than less skin and it looks really good and I think the end result will be a very natural look.

Dyvgrl, I had a blister the size of a quarter, and with silvadene dressing changes twice a day, it healed up in a few weeks.  The process looked just like a deep spot of road-rash (with which I have plenty of painful experience).  

Mammalou, I'm with everyone else; go for the wheelchair.  You can relax and have a good time.

I have no daughters, sadly, and years ago when I shattered my collarbone in a mountain bike crash, my high-school age son became my nurse when my DH wasn't there.  He really threw himself into the task!  And yesterday he started his residency at UCLA in radiology. 

So here's a funny story that has nothing to do with BC.  My sons are twins, and right now my unmarried son is living with my married son and his wife, helping them landscape their yard.  My DIL is VERY preggers--36 weeks.  Last night the unmarried son was on a date with a lovely new friend, and the married son and his wife cooked up a plan for the pregnant DIL to march into the restaurant, storm up to the table, and demand, "What are you doing here?  And with her?  You said you'd be home for dinner tonight!"

Ha ha ha ha...I haven't yet heard how that went, but I'll keep you posted.  Brothers.  What fun they are.

SheChirlpe. I had that happen after lumpectomy. It drained on and off until they did my MX 3 months later.

In other news...yesterday evening, for the first time in two years, I put on a swimsuit and went swimming.  It almost made me cry.  I love to swim, but at the beginning of this whole fandango and all the body weirdness involved, I guess I'd just decided I'd never wear a swimsuit again.

With two soft foobies in the right place, and a tight, flat tummy, I have to say I looked pretty normal.  And the swim was beyond heavenly.  Quiet, warm evening, clear aqua water, moving my sore shoulder and feeling weightless. 

Of course, when I climbed out of the pool you can see my biker tan.  My legs are trout-belly white to mid-thigh, then island-girl brown.  Oh, well.

Wow! So many posts, and I can't keep up with kids visiting, but here goes.

Nihahi, yes, return to the gym was the plan, but I forgot about kids being home. Not sacrificing precious time with them - no way! It is a 20 min. drive to the gym, and it will take just too long there and back. So we are walking and swimming. DH and boys out waterskiing as we speak, but I won't attempt that . . . not yet - just joking. Six weeks out and I'm amazed at how tired I get from exercise. Maybe the heat has something to do with it, but I thought by now I would almost be back to normal being so fit before surgery. Working hard in the kitchen too spoiling boys - love that. Return of stamina seems to take its own sweet time, and won't be hurried.

Mammalou, go in the wheelchair. You do not have to stay in in the whole time, but that way you can share in the fun, and celebrate with the rest.

Those in surgery today, all the best to you.

Everybody else, a very good day to you. Skiers just pulled in, and will be hungry - LOL.

Good afternoon, ladies! I am on the rehab/fitness week 2 as well. Will head to the gym later today. I am slow (week 6 now) but slowly gaining. Working on being able to return to work July 14ish.



Flap is finally decreasing in size......although not the instant relief you got Shechirple! That would be freaky! And part of me wishes for it lol! I had similar experience after hysterectomy with a drain hole (from prior seroma) that wouldn't heal. They pumped me so full of fluids after surgery that my hands were like balloons and the drain hole was practically pouring. Silliness tried to tell me it was good to be that full of fluid. That was the time I called the doctor's office from my cell phone in the hospital and asked him to call me back......got those fluids turned off!



So at week six, with swelling, I can see where the noob is headed...I am not in love with it....yet....but know that it's not done and I can see that it's going to be really good and exactly what I hoped for. I still have the area underneath that is slowly healing and still some bruising/dark areas on top side and three very hard areas. It's pointing to the left too much....too much under my arm. These are all normal things and can be corrected in stage 2. The important thing is that it is alive and healthy....and that I am in love with!



My tummy is amazing.....love it.



Bought a new swimming suit too! It looks awesome. I've worn swim skirts for years but new tummy made me feel confident enough to get regular tankini bottom....So happy. Now if I would just heal up so I can get in the pool!!!



Have a happy day, ladies. Prayers for our two who are about half way through sx right now.