DIEP 2013

Seacretgardn, I can understand not wanting to have another surgery. It all gets so tiring. I'm not sure what to do about nipples, either. I have heard they can flatten out. Do I really want to go to the trouble of making them if they flatten out anyway? That is down the road for me. I wish I had experience to share with you but I don't. Good luck!

Whoa, Nihahi, I'm glad you're in my corner! I wish you could keep the residents and nurses from doing dumb things to me next time!

Nihahi I am with you girlfriend. Although I have no medical training, caring for 3 elders for 10 years gave me new perspective. Like whe the gerontologist diagnosed one with end stage renal failure. When I asked where the tests were that validated the diagnosis, he simply stated that all people have a bit of ESRD late in life. Really??? Sure didn't show up on any of her blood work or urinalysis.

Hi all, been lurking here and there and not posted, but was suggested by Cherrie to post this thought I had on this site as well as NOLA - so here goes (a little background, my dad just passed away 2 weeks ago from brain mets from melanoma - he had a total of 5 melanomas in his life - so not to worry, but miss him dearly and wanted to do something positive. The tree planting, while nice, won't guarantee I'll live in the same house to see the tree grow, but this thought intrigued me so thought you might like to hear about it and maybe do it yourself?



Just a thought - I was listening to Dr. radio on Sirius on the way home from church and heard a woman talking on the oncology show about a letter writing campaign to write a letter of encouragment to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Who better than us?



We've been there and can certainly lend encouragement (as shown by your so many encouraging words to me!) to those recently diagnosed!!!!



The website is www.girlslovemail.com - if you are interested, go and see what it's about and check it out for yourself. They are trying to get a goal of a mile of letters in a year. I personally checked off once a week, but you can do it only once, once a week, month, or just thinking about it in case you want to do more.



After just losing my dad 2 weeks ago from brain mets, I am thinking this might be something for me to do in his honor (of course there are guide lines and not mentioning someone passing b/c of BC!!!!!). The letters need to be handwritten but not necessarily terrifically long or specific. The guidelines tell it all.



Just a thought!

Oh, Cherrie, I'm so sorry.  What a nasty thing to have this new worry.  Please come here and rant all you want.  We're here for you.  Have you asked for ativan or valium or something for the MRI?

I won't be 58 until October 14.  Apparently you're all much, much older than I am.

Yay, Goldie!  Of course you're a very, very, very unique and rare person!  When will you talk to your PS about getting the DIEP on the books?

Wow, Nihahi...I want you in my purse whenever I have a medical something or other.  Like taking a wolverine along.  Absolutely medical people make mistakes and dumb assumptions and can be arrogant and ignorant.  I trust my team, but I sure keep my eyes open!

The home care nurse was just here to change my wound vac dressing.  She and I hit it off right away.  She's been doing this for a gazillion years and really knows what she's doing (so far as this trauma nurse can tell!).  She'll be the only one to provide my care and will come three times a week.  I looked at the wound with a magnifying mirror and I'm amazed at how well it's healing.  Last Monday it was sort of dark with some yellowish, goopy areas.  Now it's nice and pink, with fresh pink granulation tissue.  Healing!

hahaha...got your backs, gals. My hubby says when he sees my eyes change colour....he knows it means the "target has been locked onto"....

sbe....that sounds like wonderful progress for you!!! Hope the granulation tissue isn't too "ouchy".

Hey ladies - long time no talk! I've done 6 rounds of chemo and decided I've had enough poison so am ending my treatment. Anyone here done that? My doc wants me on a vegetarian diet - pushing me towards vegan (not sure if I can go that far) and taking natural supplements. Was wondering if anyone here has gone the au naturale route before recon. My PS seemed fine with it and wants me to drop some weight prior to surgery. Thanks the the steroids I've gained another unwanted 20 lbs! Ugh! Thankfully - 1 week without chemo and I've dropped 8 of it so hoping the rest comes off as easily. Think it will be awhile before I can exercise much as I get winded and lightheaded just going up the stairs. Hope everyone is doing well!

Hi, Dyvgrl, nice to hear from you.  My chemo was similar to yours, with the exception of the taxol.  They gave me adriamycin, cytoxan, and taxotere (a similar drug to taxol, I think).  How many rounds did they want you to do?  I did six rounds of this cocktail and that was it.

Like Nihahi, said, be careful with the rapid weight loss.  It can really bite you in the fanny.  A pound a week is plenty, although if you're coming off steroids you'll lose some of that weight a little faster.  Winded and lightheaded going up the stairs sounds to me like low hemoglobin.  Did you take oral iron supplements after your DIEP?  

I'm ER+ too, and my MO told me natural soy foods like edamame were fine, but processed soy or especially soy supplements were off limits.  

For anybody who's into metabolic/electrolyte stuff, I have a question.  When I was admitted last week for the cellulitis, my potassium was 2.7, which is pretty low.  They gave me oral potassium and hooked me up to a cardiac monitor.  I'm not taking any diuretics, wasn't vomiting, and I eat a pretty standard (although low-ish calorie) diet.  Anybody have a guess as to where my potassium went?  

I want to thank you girls so much. My MRI is Tuesday, the 8th and a follow up with the doc on the 11th. It damn better be good news as my birthday is on the 12th. (59) Also, my son is visiting that weekend.



I should have asked more questions, but all thoughts went out of my head with the mention of dementia. I also tend to be an introvert. I should have brought Katy, Nihahi, and Marty with me. I wonder if stress could account for hearing loss and my eyesight did the same thing.



I did get a script for taking Valium before the MRI. Hope that helps. I have never taken this before.



Goldie- Good news that it wasn't cancer. Now you can move on to other things.

Cherrie, here's the secret to making it through an MRI.  Close your eyes.  Seriously.  If you don't think you can keep them closed, bring along a sleep mask or a scarf to use as a blindfold.

With the valium, it'll be a breeze.  Take yourself mentally to a place you love, like the mountains or the beach, and relax... You can do this.

Nihahi-

I have no doubt there are countless oncologists out there that want nothing more than to cure their patients - I just didn't feel that was the case with mine. I felt like a number being run through a drug mill. The nurses were very nice and good at what they did - but the onc - she was useless. I know the AMA keeps them corralled in a little box, but she shouldn't get a deer in the headlights look when I mention a known SE or a viable tested supplement to aid in my treatment. Literally everyone in that office gave me the same look. I may as well have been talking to a bunch of children. Ridiculous. I want to do what's best for me and treat my WHOLE body - not just some random cells floating around my body. I know far too many people on their second and third trial of cancer - they've all done exactly what the doctors told them - yet here they are yet again. I don't want that to be me - I have to do something different. Call me crazy, but I feel good about my decision and that's all that matters right now. I will check out some of the other boards to see if I can find any natural tx info. STILL looking forward to my DIEP!!

Dyvgrl - You have to do what feels best for you!  I truly admire your courage.  I had chemo first (A/C every two weeks four times and then 12 weeks of Taxol - I actually thought the Taxol was a lot easier than the A/C but I did gain weight with the steroids), BMX, radiation last year and my DIEP this year.  I also started eating more plant based in the last year (I'm probably 95% veganish eating), take low dose aspirin, vit D, and got my regular doctor to prescribe metformin.  I love my way of eating and I feel very healthy.  I also started internal jogging/walking in the past year.  I'm willing to try almost anything to supplement the possibility of bettering my chances.  PM me if you have any questions.

Go for it dvygrl!!!! ......"healthiest me I can be" is a wonderful target we're all aiming for. Do you have any idea when your recon surgery might be scheduled?? You've already got TE don't you???

Cherrie, I think all of us that are in that 58-59 age group have hearing loss because of the loud music in our teenage years.  I'm blaming my dementia on AAADD, age activated attention deficit disorder.  I did the Valium route with my breast MRI and slept through it.

Katy, you youngster!  You are going to catch-up soon.

Goldie, you go girl!

Now do I really have to worry about the Morning Star Farms and Boca that is a big part of my diet?  Please, no!

Ahh girls, I'm only 55!



Cheerie, so sorry for all that you are going thru. Hang in there and feel free to vent here.



Sbe, glad to hear you are healing! My potassium was low when I had the diep. They were giving it to me in the hospital. I have no idea why and I surprisingly didn't look that up.



I thought my wound might close today, so I skipped wearing my girdle. So, I'm standing there teaching in front of 30 6th graders and I feel wet gauze in my pan leg. It slipped out from under my Tegaderm. Well, I caught it as it fell out my pant leg. Geez, it would be nice to be independently wealthy!



I have now earned my 50 mile Fitbit badge in only 9 days!