DIEP 2013

Butterfleyez that is fantastic news. I love to hear that sentence. Make sure to get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and get moving.

Butterfly--yay for cancer free!!! I second your opinion about constipation avoidance. My formula included doubling up on the colace, with Miralax and Metamucil every night. When I was doing chemo I began to wonder if someone could go into a constipation-induced coma. And are you aware that you need a license to purchase dynamite? I'm just sayin...

The finger-tingling, I'm almost 100% sure, is because of the positioning of your arms, along with their motionlessness, during that long, long surgery. When I woke up not only were my fingers tingly and numb, my elbows hurt too. It passed quickly for me.

The open area of the incision under my noob is officially closed this morning! All healed up! So we got Stage IIB on the books before the year ends and my out-of-pocket insurance maximum starts over in January. Surgery is December 6. They better not wake me up until I look exactly like Angelina Jolie.

I have to drive a couple of hours in So Cal traffic for a meeting today. Urgh.

Have not posted in a while, and so far behind! Seems many good, positive things have been happening here! Curly, yayyyyy for the 8 years! I pray I will be able to say that too one day. Christina, you are the poster child for sensible weight loss - way to go! Butterfleye, happy for your good news, and Sbel, you've reached a milestone with that last area being closed now - look out Angelina!

hrf, I also have one puffy dog ear, and Curly says it is covered, so will go for it. Good for you on being painfree too - how nice is that?

Sheri47, I'm also getting a lift of the right breast, but don't like hearing it will sag again after 10 years. Then again, in 10 years I will be 69 years old, and one has to be realistic - lol. Act your age, liefie! You're not 16 any more!

Lahela, happpy for the good news re: ovaries, and hoping it will be a laparascopic procedure - recovery is so much quicker too. I had a hysterectomy and gallbladder removed laparoscopically, and recovered within a few weeks.

Can't comment on everybody, but best wishes to those in recovery, and to those getting surgery soon, whether it is DIEP or a next stage.

thanks all for the congrats! Sbe the doc confirmed you are right they had me positioned for 14hrs and it should get better. I got the last of my drains out today.. Things are looking up!

Called me FRUSTRATED....my surgery date got changed again today for the 3rd TIME since September. It is now Dec 16/13....not happy at all with it being so close to Christmas. I am not gonna mess with it because who the heck knows when they might reschedule me...if it gets changed again it will be in 2014....ARGH>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nihahi - will you kindly change the surgery date on the list above? Thanks so much...

Michele

HRF - my PS books surgeries in two month block intervals and generally advises of the date around 6-7 weeks prior. I spoke to the PS's assistant today and she apologized prefusely, she said for some reason this happens alot at this time of the year:( Its hard when you get geared up...saying I can do this..especially in my case as it is a prophy mast, although for a very valid reason and they it goes down the toilet. I was told that active cancer patients get first priority which I TOTALLY agree with. It was also my understanding that they normally dont do immediate reconstruction for active cancer patients at Hamilton General, women have to wait for this...they get rid of the active cancer first.

If it wasnt such a hassle getting the time arranged off for my hubby who is the only one that can take on the duties of caring for me the week after surgery, I wouldnt be so pissed!

Michele

Curly, even though yours is prophylactic, it is still very important to get it done and I understand the need to organize and plan. You will definitely need someone with you for a few days. My sister came for a few days to help me out. In Toronto, they will do immediate recon for active cancer patients ONLY if they are sure that the patient won't need ongoing tx. So likely, very few get that opportunity. I do hope your December date sticks and that you will get to enjoy a lovely Christmas with your family. Keeping my fingers crossed for you. In the meantime, try to do things that make you happy.

Lahela,

I never thought about the issue of expanding for laproscopic surgery. I had my hysterectomy that way, pre BC, and never even realized they inflate you. You GYN's reaction to where you stuff use to be is hysterical!

Curly, I am keeping my finger's crossed this date sticks.

I had not even considered that a DIEP would interfere with an oopherectomy down the road. Yikes.



I'm researching doctors for a DIEP right now and the whole thing makes me anxious. My employer is changing our insurance company, so the doctors that are in network for me now may not be come January. It adds a whole new layer of complication it. I'm worried that my new insurance isn't going to cover everything and stressing about how I'm going to be able to afford it all.

My physician at PRMA Dr. C communicated more than once with my gynecologist regarding my future oophorectomy. I had my bilateral DIEP 9/25 and will have a complete hysterectomy 12/19. I was so grateful that they were willing to communicate and figure out the best course of treatment to allow me to achieve the best results safely.

The concern was that if I had the oophorectomy/hysterectomy first it could damage a vessel I would need for the bilateral DIEP.

My gynecologist was thorough to monitor my ovaries via pelvic ultrasound.

Philomene

Everything will fall into place. As long as you find a PS you are completely confident in more than half the battle is won. Will you be having you mastectomy at the time of reconstruction, or is this a delayed recon?

Kimdy, I hear more and more good things about PRMA, and that is just one more thing to add to the list.

Thanks, Lahela. I can't say these TE's are fun, but I will get through it. I have a Dec 3rd exchange date. I am counting every minute....LOL.

It had been a quiet weekend around here, which is good. it means everybody is well, and healing nicely.

We went to a nice party last night. This morning I am feeling the one glass of wine I had....lol

hey bluebird... Happy to hear about the wound closure! Mine closed about 3 weeks ago. I still get lots of swelling and I have a big scar. I am scheduled for stage 2 on nov. 12th. My DH thinks I shouldn't put my body thru anymore right now, but I just want it done. I'm tired of waiting for every summer for surgery. I have my pre op thuis Thursday, so I will find out what he has planned for sure. Last I heard he was planning lipo to fill some spots, a small implant, and the nipple. I have a feeling he won't want to touch my ab area.

I have a hard lump on the edge of my foob and armpit. It's kind of worrying me, but I'm thinking it is probably from the DEIP. Anyone else have something like this? I'm worried it could be node because there isn't any breast tissue left in there, is there?

Mammalou - I have the same thing....very hard, large lump. Mine is movable (I can put my fingers on one end and thumb on the other and can slide it around). My MO, PS and I were all SURE it was fat necrosis. However, nobody wanted to be wrong, of course. So, the did an US a few weeks ago. Yup, fat necrosis. PS says it's because there was lack of good blood flow to that area for some reason and it died. They will remove at stage II in December.

You can ask to have it looked at. That way everybody knows for sure and your mind is at ease. You've had enough to worry about.

Mammalou, being the abscess-obsessive that I am right now, I would say that if it's not painful, then it's probably fat necrosis, but if it's painful or red, it could be an abscess and should be checked out.

So good to hear that you and Bluebird are closed up. You have both been to hell and back with this surgery and deserve good things now.