DIEP 2013

what did I do before online shopping? Went on amazon and read a ton of reviews and ordered the pstyle. I am terrified of my back giving out (which it did once when I was getting up from the toilet) so this device might even help during this stage. I drink a lot of water and don't want to not drink to avoid getting up and down. Let's hope this helps! Thanks ladies!

Thanks Goldie. I am doing the BMX with immediate DIEP.

Hi ladies  .................................................................................................................................................................................... ...I survived the surgery.  It started 3 hours late and it lasted 12 hours instead of 10.  I loved using the pump in the hospital.  Percocet not the same.  They sent me home Friday night, because I was doing so well.  I don't know what that means. Doctors and nurses were great at Georgetown.  Med students spacey.  Food was reallllllllllllllllllllllllly bad.   I tried to catch up on posts but all I remember is Wilbur swimming with orcas with crotchless panties.  ............................................I think I should take a nap.

Oh, Wilbur, you dirty dog! Congrats Gwenny.......rest honey!

Gwenny, you had me laughing, I see you've met our adorable mascot, Wilbur.......

Goldie, I am excited for you that you have finally made your plan! This sounds like the best option for you, and when you feel that way, it makes the whole rodeo easier, doesn't it?

Best wishes to all having their surgeries this week....may Wilbur be with you all.....

I am sitting at the BC Ferry terminal in Nanaimo, waiting for the ferry to Vancouver/Tswaassenn......

I had a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL visit with Liefie, who is just ADORABLE! She and her sweet husband could not have been ANY more welcoming than they were....DH and I had a wonderful time (so much so that we stayed an extra night-sorry Liefie!). I can't wait to return here at some time in the future!

Here are a few pics I took......did I already post a pic from Liefie's kitchen window?.......

And here is one of the brave bear fighter......love this dog!

And last, but NOT least.....here is Suki being shooed out of my suitcase......I did NOT want Lieife to never ask me up again, so I made her little darling get out!

Well....it's back to reality for me...... . Hope all have a good Sunday! XO

Thanks for the encouragement, Movie. I need it. I always have had a hard time with making decisions, but for now, I believe this is the right one. Love the pics. What a beautiful place to live!!!!! No wonder you didn't want to leave.

Best wishes to all who are having surgery this week.

I'm going in tomorrow for a revision surgery to get rid of the necrotic tissue. I think I am more nervous than I was going in for the DIEP. I'm worried about how much tissue will be cut away, what it will look like and hoping it heals easily. Also don't like having another general anaesthetic. It's my third in only 6 months.

JEANNIE......NO!!!!!....JUST...NO, NO,NO!!!!!!

hrf.....deep breaths, positive thoughts for you too.

kat-ski...sorry, I have no answer for you.

just a quick note from the other side! It ended up being a 12 hour surgery - felt like a minute to me. I have been feeling better every day and fingers crossed can go home tomorrow - no more endless beeping at 3 am. I've been up walking and once I remembered the roll out of bed, that is getting easier.

Hrf - I've been under general 3 times in less than 3 months. This one was the best despite it being so long. No nausea or dizziness like the other 2. Hope you get the same anesthesiologist as I did.

Jeannie - fingers crossed for you

Patti

hey ladies,

I'm 5 days out if surgery and hoping to beg discharged tomorrow. I haven't been able to go to the bathroom yet like everyone warned me of. Stomach bubbles and general uncomfortableness is keeping me from eating. I am at least up n moving a lil bit each day. Wilbur had me convinced a monster was trying to pull me underground in my sleep. Woke up to find scary compression leg monsters were the culprits. One day at a time

Jeannie, my prayer is that you just have some reddish bruising, NOT cellulitis! Any fever, chills, backache? Still being on your post-op antibiotics is a mark in your favor, too. Good idea about drawing the circle. I did that with mine and we could clearly watch it crawl around. Creepy.

Butterlf, whenever I'm at risk for plumbing back-up, like chemo, anesthesia, pain meds, I have a plan. Twice a day, stool softeners like colace. Every evening, a big glass of cold water with a scoop of Metamucil and a scoop of Miralax (you can get both generic; they're cheaper). I figured this out after my first round of chemo, when I hadn't dropped the kids off at the pool for SIX DAYS. And when I finally experienced the miracle of peristalsis, it was at 2:00 A.M. and I thought I'd need an epidural to push. Then I had to deal with the painful tears in my...outlet...for weeks. Sorry, that's way TMI. But a little prevention goes a long way, and when I was in the hospital the last couple of times for cellulitis, I had Jerry sneak me in my secret weapons of Metamucil and Miralax. "Why, yes, nurse, I HAVE had a bowel movement today, how kind of you to ask."

Goldie, every time I'm in my PS office (which is a lot these days), I play with the implant display there. I'm in love with the new gummy bear implants. They're wonderfully shaped, and soft, and seem to be much safer in that they can't leak silicone into your system. The gummy bears are the way to go. And don't think you're crawling away from our thread just because you've made a brave decision! You're an honorary flapper, sister.

Kat-ski, were you on warfarin just because you had a port? I had a port for 18 months and no one mentioned going on blood thinners. You must have something unique going on?

Butterfly, seriously hoping for some 'movement' for you soon. Have you tried dried prunes or prune juice? Lots of water is helpful too, and some walking. You have all my sympathy here - I almost ended up in the ER with constipation 7 days after my first round of chemo. Mercifully things began to move just in the nick of time . . .

Butter - do whatever you can while you are in hospital to clear the way. Let the professionals deal with it. Sometimes warm prune juice will do it quickly (they should have it). Liquid magnesium citrate is magical.

good to hear from you butterfleye...I hope things start moving soon.

"Hadn't dropped the kids off at the pool " lol ....I have to steal that saying!

Two days before my surgery and the iron is already backing me up. Had miralax this morning. Usually when I'm nervous I have the opposite problem so maybe Wednesday morning I'll clear everything out! Got the colace metamucil and miralax already but may go get some prunes and smooth move tea. Should I just start taking this stuff when I awake from anesthesia!!

LucyV...you might want to wait until you're out of the recovery room...LOL!  All of us have different responses to the anesthesia and narcotics given for pain relief, and some were never constipated, but had the opposite problem.  If you know your body, and know it's a typical problem for you, by all means get your doctor's approval for you to mount a pre-emptive strike.  And Butterfly, let them give you the enema.  It's no big deal, and you'll feel a gazillion percent better. 

Jeannie, how's the red spot?

Ladies in Wilbur-land, so good to hear from you. I had terrible problems with things not moving - 5 days, various "gentle" remedies (fig syrup is a popular one here), suppository which did virtually nothing, other syrups and medications... we got there, eventually.

Goldie, please do stick around. Your words of comfort and wisdom are not limited to DIEP and I don't want to lose you.

Saw my new PS today - abscess is good, but she hacked open the incision to clean it so I bled lots (nurse was horrified when she came to dress it!). She also dug around in my little 2mm belly scar hole and found a bit of suture - she said that's why it wasn't closing. But mostly, I horrified her when I said I didn't want nipples. They only do thigh skin grafts at this hospital and I don't want more scars. She said tattoos would be okay, but is really pushing for the nipples. She also said she would do aspiration reduction from the bigger noob, rather than lipo to the smaller one. I was a bit shocked, given that the bigger one is just a bit smaller than my original size, but the smaller one is quite a bit smaller. It's not like I don't have places they could lipo! I need to process this and decide whether any of it is worth it. I walked out of there thinking the whole thing was a waste of time, effort, money...