DIEP 2013

bailey, sbe....that is the way I'm leaning...re: not limited to Diep (after all, I'm not one either), and I have no problem starting that kind of thread...a "flapper veteran's lounge" idea. I get the "relevance" of surgery dates, it meant alot to me around my own initial "time". I thought it important to try to bring awareness to where people were having their surgeries done, also. I will definitely still contribute to discussions on a future thread like that. But I'm feeling more and more like wanting to maintain connections made here, while "moving on" with life in general. There are more and more moments, when I almost feel "disrespectful" to the fresh flappers, when talking about minor tweaks or my adventures of the day, but, still, I want to share those things with my "friends" here. 

ok....this has been like "journaling". It has helped me to decide....I (of course) will continue as is, through the rest of 2013, which means, I will gladly ask the mods to add ANY dates, 2014 included. What happens for 2014, re: a "list oriented" thread will be someone else's decision. 

I am going to start a new thread today.....(keeping it in the recon forum) and I will name it "Moving On...After the Flap". There will be no list, no dates...it will become whatever it is meant to be.

Love to you all.

Lahela, so good to hear from you. We were worried. I'm so, so sorry for what you are going through. You ---and your noob---are in my thoughts and prayers.

Lahela hugs, honey...no words....just hugs and prayers. Way to call it.



Nihahi....works for me! If there are 2014 folks who want to start a thread we can chime in there every once in a while to get them started, for sure.

Nihahi, excellent idea about a different 'Moving on' forum. Will go there, and check it out. Want to join Sharon in thanking you for doing this for so long, and for your caring, compassionate posts to everybody. You are a gift to us!

Lahela, I cringed for your sake, but I'm sooo happy you got help fast. Hang in there, girl! Glad you got them to speak English. Many people in Europe know English, but are just lazy to speak it.

Cherrie, I don't know what to think of this deafness theory. My dad got Alzheimers at 69, but never had a hearing problem. I've been slightly deaf for many years now. To me it seems that it is a random thing, and my thinking is that we should not get hung up on this. We have enough on our plates as it is . . . best wishes to you!

Sun is just peeking through - will grab dog for a walk. See you all later!

I have had tears in my eyes many time while reading posts on this site, mostly because somebody was sad, or suffering.  This time they are bitter sweet tears, because some of you are moving on, and I become attached and like things to remain comfortable, and the same.  Nihani, the "moving on" forum is a great idea.  Sharon, I am so happy for you too.  It's hard to believe how much we learn about each other while we plow through everything.  Everybody has a story, and they are all fasinating. This particular forum is very special.  Who will take care of the list here, etc.? Who will the torch be passed to?

On another note, I met a woman yesterday that found her cancer around the same time as me.  We sat and talked for quite a while.  She had missed her mammo for several years, but something told her to go.  She was diagnosed with stage 4 bc.  She had 16 rounds of chemo.  I didn't think that was humanly possible.  Her hair is about an inch long now, and she looks pretty darn good considering what she has gone through, and her husband is taking her on a cruise.  Her spirit was so bright, and her outlook so positive. Oh, and she is 58 too!!! She has no plans for reconstruction at this time, but we are going to keep in touch.  She feels good right now, and she doesn't want to rock the boat.  But, I do have a question for anybody who has had chemo.  Her only complaint was chemo brain.  Does that ever get better?  

I know not everyone hates pink...or pinktober...but for those that do, the salon/day spa near my house has this:

Join us "as we honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month with our Pretty n Pink open house event. Bring yourself, a guest and your bedazzled bra (see below). For every guest we have in attendance for Pretty n Pink,... will donate $$. Donations will assist in sponsoring local Susan G Komen Race for a Cure participants."

Bedazzled bra contest - I mean, REALLY??? I guess we are not aware enough until we have all bedazzled our bras.

Momof 5, that is tacky.  My salon does a Pink thing too, but I deleted the email when it came, but I really don't think it had anything to do with bras.  

So, being that it is so close to the end of the year, I am assuming any flap procedure that I have will be late this year or January....do I stay here, or jump onto the 2014 thread?

Momof5, stick around here till 2014 gets started, then you can check in both places.  I went back to read the 2012 thread, and hardly anybody checks in there anymore.  Some of come over here, but those women have moved on.  Which is a great thing. 

I started here in May, was supposed to have diep in July, didn't happen for various reasons which is too long of a story right now, but I have seen women come in here just for the time they are home recuperating, and then move on.  God bless them!!!  That's what it should be like for everybody, and I hope it is like for you.  You have had enough grief with the implant saga. 

Goldie, for me chemo brain got better, but Tamoxifen defo causes memory issues for me too. It is not too bad, but some days are worse than others. 16 rounds of chemo must have a huge effect, but as time goes by, she will get better. I am blown away by how many women here were diagnosed with bc in their late fifties -  I was 57, and turned 59 in July. Seems somehow significant to me.

Hi Patty, welcome to Flapperland! Unfortuntely I have no advice re: coughing - ouch! Maybe one of the other veterans will have a tip for you. Best wishes for a speedy, boring recovery!

Liefie, I think the age thing is very significant.  I would guess that age group is the largest for diagnosis of BC.  My mom, my aunt, my grandma, and me all in our late fifties.  I was a time bomb, no doubt. They keep giving these stats, and poo poo family history as only 10 percent indicator you will get it.  I don't believe that.  BRCA postive, or not I think the incidence is much higher when it runs in families.  

I have a friend whose father, and both brother's had prostate cancer. Docs say is a coincidence. I don't think so.  There is something else in play here besides just BRCA and they will figure it out eventually.  

When I was not doing the breathing thingy, I kept a Ricola in my mouth so I wouldn't cough. Pat, you could try to keep a cough drop on the side of your mouth in between your cheek and gum when you do it.

Marty, how do you get in touch with the moderator's do the list can be updated?  I love that list.  I refer to it once in a while to get an idea how far somebody is out from their surgery, etc.  

Cherrie (I think it was you.)  - here's my recipe for black bean burgers.  

Nihani, glad you are not going anywhere soon.  I never noticed any issues with this thread.  Did miss something?  Everything seemed to run just fine, and you never seemed to miss posting a surgery date, that I know of.  What's the new thread that you started called?