DIEP 2013

Zenful- Wow is all I can say. You look beautiful and I am so happy you posted this. It is amazing what we have all been through, but we come back. Stunning!!!!

Goldie, I take 2,000 ius of Vitamin D3 morning and night. I started on high doses because my least vels were so low when I had my oncologist test them, and low levels have proven to be associated with cancer. I need to have another blood test to test my levels again. I believe 400 ius is the daily recommended dosage. VitD helps with absorption of calcium, which is why many calcium supplements add it to the mix. I, like you, do not take calcium supplements and I am trying to get it from foods.

Betsy, thanks for the seroma advice. Your advice has always been helpful, and since we share a doctor, I feel like I am getting his advice at the same time!

Thanks, ladies, for all your compliments. Your words are very special to me because each one of you have shared the same fears going into surgery, wondering how things will turn out, wondering if we will ever feel "normal", and stuffing drains and compression garments under our clothes for months. Goldie, I only had aspiration, so currently I am drain free! I have been to this party for the last three years. In the past, I looked at it as something I needed to attend as sort of a duty. This year, I wanted to attend and dress up and spread my wings like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon. It's the new me, and I am going to embrace every scarred part of me. The beauty of it is that we have wonderful doctors that can make us look very good in clothes, and although I'm not there yet, maybe even make us look fairly good naked. I am so thankful to be given this second chance at life, and it plan on making the most of it. I stopped wearing my wig the moment my hair started growing. That's part of the new me that I am embracing, too. One women commented that I looked "very Paris" with my short hair. Ha!

Zenful, only one thing to say... WOW! 

Vitamin D3 is more potent. I take 400 twice a day. But don’t overdo it; excessive vitamin D, can cause a buildup of calcium in tissues. The tolerable upper limit is 2,000 IU per day. I also take a calcium magnesium zinc combo vitamin. I can't take calcium without magnesium or it binds me up.

Lahela, I'm with you sister. Can't say I've ever had good body image. It's something I've struggled with my whole life. Talking about 80s fashions, when I was a teen I always felt huge and ugly. I look back at those photos and I was a skinny  stick! Stirrup pants, leg warmers and all. Lol!

I'm determined to finally reach my happy place with body image. I will never be svelte, and no matter how toned or nipped and tucked, I will always have my warrior scars. And that's okay. I'm alive and have been given another chance to become a better person on the inside. Next year I hope to work on improving my fitness and regaining ny strength. But at the same time I need to work on loving me and this beat-up, broken down body that carried me faithfully through the worst year of my life.

I take 10,000 IU of D3 but I have extremely low levels and it's AK in the dead of winter so... Everyone here is crazy low on D. My doc checks it every few months to make sure it's not too high. Never been a problem for me but there are days when I skip it too.

hi,i had diep falp surgery for both breast ,i had 4 tubes ,but i am still feeling tired and cant stand for even 20 mins my back hurst i want to ask how much is the recovery time after that surgery .this was my third surgery in a year may b that is tha one factor it is taking long.i am tired of sitting on bed

Zenful, you look fabulous and so classy! Love the shoes too!!!

goldie, how sweet of you to sit with your mother's friend. Lung cancer can be brutal, my heart goes out to her.

Having said that, Ms. Goldie - don't you be knocking the 80's!!! I love the 80's!!! lol

lahela, obviously I have no idea how you look nude. But IMO no one is a harsher critic of our bodies than we are. I bet you look better than you perceive yourself to. Frankly after having only one breast for an entire year, the scars don't bother me too much.

Krissy, everyone's stage 2 is so different, so it's hard to compare. I just had some lipo and fat grafting. It was under general anesthesia. I had it on a Friday and I was back to work on Tuesday. Probably could have gone back on Monday if I had pushed myself but I'd taken the day off at my PS's suggestion, so I just stayed home and rested.

nihahi, thank you for facilitating this thread all this time. It's been such a huge source of support to me. I appreciate the time and commitment you've put into it.

 MartyJ, Curlylocks, bailey6760, Sharon1942 - good luck this week. Sharon, so happy that you are at the end of this!!!

milkyway, ugh, you poor thing. Recovering from DIEP is rough. It will get better though. Seems like 3-4 weeks out is when many of us starting to feel - not great, but at least in the realm of normal. Hang in there!

Finally got my post - stage 2 photo up on the photo forum. It's so weird to see myself in a photo, but seeing the progression and results over time feels so good!

congratulations on your progress pictures Christina! So happy for you!

Milkyway- first two weeks were tough then every week gets better and better. Hang in there. Try to rest as much as you can.

Nihahi- here's to a great 2014 for all!

How was the prep weekend bailey? Hope you got lots done.

Sending healing vibes to martyj, curlylocks, Bailey and Sharon.

Loving, healing energy for Marty, Bailey, Curly and Sharon. One more step toward fabulous!

Whew, what a night. I can't believe I am prepping once again. My goal is to leave this house in the morning in the clothes I will wear to and from the hospital, my insurance cards, sunglasses and my mascara. I'm pretty sure my DH can handle that. I had a brief panic for a couple of days about breast size - up a cup or not. So, yesterday I went on a dreaded bra shopping trip. I found several that I liked and reconfirmed that I do need some more umph. Answered my question and calmed the panic. Up a bit on both right and a bit more on left. Clean sheets on the bed. Wash done. House tidied (sort of).

Y'all have a wonderful Monday. I will be holding Curly's hand in the ether. She is gonna be just fine! Bailey, it is gonna be so much easier than the last time. Sharon - tats and done! Yippee!!!

Nihahi - Thank you!! For taking this thread and running with it. For the past year you have nudged us along, tracked surgery dates and shared your wealth of knowledge. With 2013 drawing to a close, so do the names added to this list. We can keep chatting and helping as needed. But, you now get a well deserved rest!

Happy Christmas! Happy New Year! Happy LIFE!!!

LOL, Christina....so, you were a little Madonna fan? Love it!!!!!

Ugh, I guess I will be back. My DH is calling me from the other room. Time to watch the season finale of Son's of Anarchy.

Sheri, glad to hear everything went well for you. I hope you heal quickly and without any troubles.

I feel like singing Auld Lang Syne. It's the end of a year and Nihani did an awesome job keeping us all together, calm, and feeling safe. Janet, I know what you mean about stopping in everyday, and checking on where everybody is at. It gives me a sense of security. I know you are all there for me, and I try to pay to forward, and be there for all of you. Just because the new year is starting does not mean anything has to change. I feel this has been an exceptional group of women. There is a strong core group, and there are a lot that pass through, and a lot that stick around even when they are done. Emotionally, I couldn't leave when I found out my DIEP wasn't going to happen, and you let me hang around, and I love you all for that. Who knows, maybe, if things work out the way I hope, I will still have my DIEP someday. Right now, getting use to these gummy bears has been pretty funny.

Everybody coming up for their visit with Wilbur this week..Good luck!!! Sharon, you will not see Wilbur, but hello "nipple." Yeah!!! I wonder if you will even feel the tattoo being done?

okay ladies ... Please don't tell me that just because the year is ending everyone will be leaving this thread. I can see myself coming to post here and "hearing" nothing but crickets and my own echoes. I know I've just. "Met " y'all but I'm not ready to be without y'all yet!! Finding this site has made me feel less alone in all of this. I still have a long way to go...

milkway, recovery time varies so much. If you were pulled very tight it can mean a long time before you're upright and that leads to back pain. You're only three weeks out, so be patient. {{{{{gentle hugs}}}}}



Goldie - still lots of chest and shoulder pain from the gas and I'm hunched up again, but it's getting a little better every day. Not sneezing or coughing is the hardest!



Christina, you are so right about us being our own harshest critics. I get cross with myself sometimes (and so does DH) because I put myself down more than I should. Bluebird's right - we need to embrace the body we've got because, if for no other reason, it's the one we're alive in!



Marty, Curly, Bailey, Sharon... the end of the list! So many women have been through so much this year - I hope your procedures are all easy and smooth and pain free.



RHGSR, I still have lots of things to come so I'll be here - I'm sure there'll be a 2014 thread eventually, but I know you all here!