DIEP 2013

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited October 2013


    I know it's weird but my PS insists on wearing the compression through showers for the first two weeks for the best result. I can alternate the garments once two weeks has passed.


    I keep falling asleep as I type...Wilbur?????

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  • Moviemaniac
    Moviemaniac Member Posts: 949
    edited October 2013


    I am sitting here in Tsawwaasen waiting for the ferry to Nanaimo.....(yes, Liefie, DH decided he wanted to get to Van Island a different way.....) and I am confuzzled as well, Nihahi......I got the impression that you had to stay in the 1st compression garment 24/7, Jeannie.....or CAN you take it off? To Shower? I am so not looking forward to the lipo/fat grafting/fat necrosis-breaking up I am sure to experience in stage 2b.......however, I will say you sound pretty chipper after less than 24 hours Jeannie!


    Curly, glad your Mom finally got to go home......maybe the lead-up to your surgery will be a LITTLE less stressful!


    Well, I didn't get such good sleep last night.....only place in Bellingham was a $69 dive......bad mattress .....and I am paying for it today.....I have a half an hour till the ferry leaves......better get walking!


    Love you ladies!

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited October 2013


    jeannie....I totally get the "wear the compression while showering".....it's the having to stay in a damp garment afterwards that I don't get. Are you sure the instructions are to do that? Are you remembering verbal instructions or reading written instructions???

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  • Moviemaniac
    Moviemaniac Member Posts: 949
    edited October 2013


    Jeannie, our posts crossed......let Wilbur free! :)

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited October 2013


    movie...hmmm......xxx amount of hours on a ferry and land in Nanaimo vs. x amount of hours on a ferry and land in beautiful Victoria to drive up the beautiful island.....hmmmmm.... Tell Dave I'm not impressed! Oh well, maybe you'll spot some orcas, at least.

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  • Moviemaniac
    Moviemaniac Member Posts: 949
    edited October 2013


    Nihahi , you know Dave, and he told me to tell you he "followed" some young women to the Tsawwaasen Ferry.....(is there a "rolls eyes" icon????)


    :D

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited October 2013


    hahahahahahaha......sadly, it could be true!!!!! I bet he thinks he's made a deal with the captain to let him drive the boat....won't he be surprised when the "captain" turns out to be the janitor!!!!

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited October 2013


    Really,, both Tom and I heard the PS and his nurse correctly. 24/7 the first two weeks. I was told the garment dries fast?


    Movie, I know you'll have a fabulous time with Liefie and vice-versa. We're all jealous.


    I am chipper but I am in a lot of pain when I move about.

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited October 2013


    then you're good to go jeannie....camping can be fun!!! At least you won't have to build a fire to cook breakfast!!! Stay on top of the pain meds! People like marty (who have experience with it) have said the lipo pain isn't fun, but gets better quickly....hope the same happens for you.

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  • MartyJ
    MartyJ Member Posts: 1,859
    edited October 2013


    When I was researching compression, I found some docs that have Jeannie's doctor's approach - 2 weeks, same garment, shower in it. I have noticed that they all seem to be men. There can be something to say for a female who gets what you will have to go through wearing a wet garment- won't be comfortable. If the second garment has zippers, you can change quickly. Word of warning - some women get a bit light headed the first time the compression comes off, so be careful. If the second garment doesn't have zippers, then you won't be able to use it for the first 2 weeks.


    Stop moving - the lipo is the worst of it all. Just give yourself about 2 more days and you will be sooooooo much more comfortable.

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited October 2013


    Thanks, Marty, for the advice and encouragement.!

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  • krissy42
    krissy42 Member Posts: 40
    edited October 2013

    What's up with the ab swelling? Hello ladies. I'm 3 weeks out of my surgery and the bloating / swelling in the space between my belly button and top of pubic area is weird. I think I  look like a Ken doll. The incisions also swells up and down at different times of the day. What is that? What causes that? And does it have anything to do with intestinal bloating too? I'm sure its the meds, but I have been uncomfortable intestinally as well. I'd love to hear from anyone who has had this.

    Krissy

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited October 2013


    Jeannie, I am with Nihani on this one, and I don't think keeping your skin damp that long is good for you either. Setting yourself up for bacteria, yeast, etc.


    Otherwise, I am so glad you are doing so well, and have a nice flat FUPA too! LOL.

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited October 2013


    Krissy


    Everybody that has had the surgery has similiar issues with their tummies. This too shall pass. Some people have "swelly belly", a term I learned from having my hysterectomy for months afterwards. Not as bad as it is now, but to some degree you will swell for months. When you are able to move around more the swelling will get better, but if you over do, it can get worse. I am sure the ones who have been through it will chime in soon. I

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited October 2013


    Hi, girls! When I come home from work, the first thing I do is crank up the 'puter to see everyone's haps for the day. I sure look forward to it.


    Jeannie, I'm thrilled you're finished and home. And yeah, stop moving around. What's there to move for? Take your pain meds, lie there like a damp log and let everyone else wait on you. The leakiness must be annoying. Send someone out to buy a big box of sanitary pads and a couple of wide ace wraps to hold them on.


    I taught CPR this morning, something I rarely do, but it was kind of a fill-in. I demonstrated chest compressions for a couple of hours and noticed my PICC line dressing was totally soaked with blood. Something about all that muscular activity made the tiny little hole in my arm bleed like crazy. So it was off to the dr's office to get the dressing changed. I can't wait to get this thing out next week!


    I feel kind of left out. My PS never had me in compression, ever. He mentioned I might want to buy some "shapewear" but was very low-key about it. I'm wondering if my swelly belly, which has persisted since my original DIEP last April, might be improved with some firmer compression.


    Curlylocks, how nice to have your momma home and feeling better. You're a loving daughter and a good person. I hope things continue to improve.


    Later, my sisters--Katy

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  • sweetpickle
    sweetpickle Member Posts: 749
    edited October 2013

    Ahhhhh the dreaded swelling! Bain of my existance for the past four months however it has recently stopped in the last week.  I dont know what she did but the PA I saw last week at BS office did a lot of poking and pushing on my torso as she checked me out.  It nurt so bad I was in tears, however since then I havent swollen up.  Its weird but Im darn grateful!  Still sligtly sore and numb in spots but night and day better than it was.

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited October 2013


    oh, my, Wilbur is alive and well. I've been falling asleep mid-sentence all day. I just had to delete a post that said," yes, Katy, I have lots of inexpensive jewelry.?...????? I am planning to ease my self off the Dilaudid as soon as I can!

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited October 2013


    sweet....that is great news....bizarre, but great news, nonetheless!!!!!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2013

    I love you, Jeannie.

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited October 2013


    jeannie....stop deleting!!!! We love both you AND Wilbur. It's likely been a loooong day for you, but it's almost behind you. Hope tomorrow is a bit easier, and the start of easier yet days to come. Hope I didn't "overstep" with my questioning about the "wet wrapper".....


    sbe...I thought your swelling had mostly resolved....sorry to hear that's not the case. I bet you teach one heck of a CPR class. How did the unhealed gloob like all that "activity"?

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited October 2013


    oh, no. Icannimproving things for mybßugy


    Ok, this just happened: I wouldn't want you to be disappointed if I didn't hear from Wilbur..


    Sbel, I am sitting on a large chux pad and actually have been ace bandaging pads as well.


    Gotta go before I go sideways again....

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited October 2013


    HI WILBUR!!!!!! Give jeannie a hug!!!!

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  • Ridley
    Ridley Member Posts: 634
    edited October 2013

    Sweet -- glad to hear that your swelling is resolving. Hope you adjust to the synthroid soon.

    Jeannie -- congrats on completing stage 2 -- all of the compression discussion is interesting to me too -- I don't think my surgeon recommends any -- I'll have to ask him.

    Question for you guys -- I'm having bilat recon.  Already had a lumpectomy on the cancer side with an SNB.  Had a discussion with my breast surgeon today about whether to do an SNB on the other side.  Weighing the risks of lymphedema with the risk of not checking nodes when there are some suspcious areas on that side that we've been watching.  I read about a procedure that Jolie's surgeon used -- they used blue dye at the time of surgery to locate the sentinel node, but didn't remove it.  The plan was to remove it if the pathology came back with any cancer.  So my question --- would it be crazy to go back in for surgery a week after bilat recon to remove the sentinel nodes if necessary?  I'm not sure the surgeon will go for it anyway, but wanted to see if you think you would regret having to have more surgery that close to recon.

    Ridley

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited October 2013

    Ridley.  I would have the biopsy and if they need to take it, it's not big procedure. I had the blue radioactive dye the day before my bmx. Then I had the gamma ray scan to locate my sentinel nodes. A few days before my bmx they found something suspcious on my breast MRI. At that point I opted for both sentinel nodes to be removed.  Nobody warned me about the huge inconvenience of watching both arms for lymphedema.  If you can avoid removal of both, I would. I had my flu shot in my butt because I always have to be careful. I had to buy wrist blood pressure monitor since only my breast surgeon's office has a leg one. I have to take it with me whenever I go to any doc appt. 


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  • ladypirate13
    ladypirate13 Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2013


    compression 24/7? Had NO idea! Pads? What's leaking? So much to learn but have time. Surgery date is now not until 12/12!

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited October 2013


    Ridley, I would not want surgery a week after DIEP. My bilateral DIEP took twelve hours. Your body will be so busy healing from that and pushing all the drugs out that you were given. Like with most things DIEP , surgeons have their own opinions and protocols. I didn't have compression after DIEP but the fat grafting this time "sticks" to the body when compressed. Doing your best to avoid LE sounds good but your life is what counts. I have LE in both arms.

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  • mammalou
    mammalou Member Posts: 823
    edited October 2013


    now I'm very nervous for Stage 2! The idea of all that compression is the worst part. I don't care if they cut me open, just make me wear those garments! Uggg! I think I better book another day off work!

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited October 2013


    Mammalou, so far the compression isn't too bad except for the crotch part. It's kind of tight down there. I would probably feel worse without it.

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  • Curlylocks
    Curlylocks Member Posts: 1,060
    edited October 2013


    Ridley,


    I agree with Jeannie. If there are suspicious nodes I would have them checked out. Trying to avoid LE is important but your life is more valuable.


    I had 23 nodes removed from my left side, 3 were positive. I have LE and wear a custom compression sleeve and gauntlet.


    Do you have a surgery date?


    Michele

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  • mrtw43
    mrtw43 Member Posts: 198
    edited October 2013


    Jeannie I am glad to hear you are doing so well although it doesn't sound like the compression garment is all that comfortable.


    Sweets glad to hear your swelling is finally getting taken care of.


    I met with my PS yesterday for my stage 2 pre-op assessment. I am not having any fat grafting done, just the nipple and areoloa recon. I am happy with the current sizing (pretty much the same as my old size, just slightly a different shape and lifted) i dont seem to have any areas that needed retouching. He said after surgery I would have the nipples taped up for a week so no peeking but after that, I would just have small pads to protect them for another few weeks and I then i would be good to go. To do the proceedure (I have the lollipop incisions) he will cut the circle part into a star and twist to make the nipples, he will also use some do the material from the ends of the belly scar to make the areoloa. He will extend my existing belly scar on both sides about an inch but those incisions would be minor (no drains) and they will just be bandadged up. According to my Dr I won't have to wear a compression garment around the belly. I hope that was not too much info.


    I am really looking forward to moving forward.

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