DIEP 2013

Soooo glad to hear the GTA gals have heat, lights and all things electric again! Ridley...you've been off the grid (literally!)....hope you're not stuck again in that recliner! Curly....exhaustion was the norm for me after surgery, I bet it's going to take you a bit extra time to "re-fill" your energy tank after the added struggle you've been through. Hope hubby had a quiet, CPAP assisted night.

mammalou....I thought I was well past the swelly belly stage. When I skied for the first time....there it was again, but, it resolved much quicker than in early times. I'm thinking it was just because I was using different muscles in different ways???? I haven't skied since (dang weather), but I am curious to see if it will happen again. Has anything changed in your routine since your swelling returned?

sbe....listen to your surgeon....the time for "action" will come. Next year.....you'll be putting the star on top of the tree with "that" arm....RIGHT!!

Hope all the "banished or psdeuo-banished" ladies took the plate of Christmas cookies with them into their rooms....That'll teach those youngun's eh! 

Zoemom, how much bleeding, and is it all over your incision, or in one specific spot?  Your description of the blood is VERY similar to what my back incision was "leaking," and my PS said it's nothing to worry about.  It's like the drainage that would have gone into the bulb drain is now leaking out of the incision.  

It the bleeding was dark or bright actual blood, that's something else. If it's blood-tinged "juice," not pus-like, and you're not feverish, your PS will probably be OK with it.  My back incision is still leaking a bit, but it's gradually getting less and less each day.

BUT...your PS can best advise you!  Good luck!

Jeannie, I think you mixed my Deb's comment up with mine.  I was the one who heard about getting the port in your arm, Deb is the one who talked about her doc's not believing in the old rules about lymphedema. 

Deb, that really stinks about your veins.  I wonder if they are shot forever, or if they will get better and usable again?  I had a bad IV experience in my hand after my bmx and I had a hard nodule in the vein (showed on the top on my hand) for a long time, and I just realized as I am typing this that the nodule is gone, and the vein looks pump and healthy again. 

Zoe, hope the PS returns your call and everything is okay.  Hope you have a nice holiday

ok, Goldie. I wouldn't get the port in my arm if I'd any # of nodes removed on that side.

Ridley, good to hear you're safe, sound and reasonably comfortable.

I'm waiting for a phone call from my PS's nurse re: my fat necrosis/pink area. Not thinking it's necessary....I just need it to be seen soon and I have an appt. for that already.

Flapper sisters.....have been absent for a few days.....dear friend (and hiking buddy) suddenly lost her DH(on his 60th birthday, no less) and I have been trying to be"there" for her........

I am not going to respond to specific posts, except for the one about rotated vs. rotational flaps....both of mine were rotated at stage two, to lift the breast line, give better definition, and some cleavage.......the process did cause the girls some anxiety for a few months, and they were a little firm to the touch....but they have since relaxed, and assumed the "position" PS intended for them, so all is well.....nips were just the "cherry on top", so to speak!

I just want to say that the best Christmas present I will receive this year is the privilege of knowing all of you fantastic, wonderful, creative, funny, courageous, and beautiful women....thank you for your encouragement, knowledge, concern, wisdom....and last but not least, humor.    I love that we can laugh and cry together.....and that through all of you, I can find my strength.  

I hope you all have a wonderful, very Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays), and that the new year brings EACH of you joy, peace, and most of all.......GOOD HEALTH.......

Sending you all my love and best wishes.......XO  Jackie

so glad to hear curlylocks and Ridley have power! You guys are real troopers! 

Sbe and nihahi- my shoulder is killing me and I didn't think it had anything to do with the surgery! I keep asking myself " why would my shoulder hurt?" I think what exacerbated it more was the way I was getting out of bed....basically pushing myself up with my shoulder. I am doing the exercises on the American cancer society website and I was re reading them and basically they are all "shoulder stretches". All starting to make sense now. I think I am going to put a heating pad on it and continue with the stretches.

Jeannie- hope the pink area is nothing.

Zoemom- wth! You have been through enough. Praying it isn't anything serious.

Hope everyone is all settled in and able to relax and enjoy the holiday. I sent my girls on an emergency mission. We made onion dip but someone ate the wavy chips....dip with no chips is just not acceptable!

Cherrie, mine feel like I have constant bursitis, also more in one than the other.  Ugh.  It has to be nerve damage.  I know they kept us in one position for a long time, but it would seem that the effects of that would wear off eventually. 

Merry Christmas everyone.  I hope it's a happy and healthy New Year for everyone.  For those who didn't get their nipples as requested, they are on back order, and will be in sometime in the New Year.

I'll have to read later.....about to get busy with Christmas Eve dinner stuff. Just wanted to wish one and all a Merry Christmas, full of light, love and happiness.

Phoned the on-call PS and he said I could go in today to have the drain pulled, but asked if it could wait until tomorrow - it's Christmas day and I don't want to spend it at the hospital! Got my DH and kids doing all the cooking and I'm planning on one very small glass of bubbly later. Paracetamol is keeping the pain at a minimum and the probiotics are keeping the tummy settled.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. I am so grateful for all of you. Sending all my love.

Merry Christmas to everyone, hope you have a wonderful day with your family and friends!

Hubby is making a spiral ham with all the fixings, apple pie and ice cream for desert.  What is really weird is I cant eat as much as I use to otherwise my stomach feels like a bloated beach ball.  May be good as I will loose my weight than I already have the first week post op:)

Michele

Merry, Merry Christmas!  

The pecan pie is in the oven on the lowest rack.  The garlic is roasting in a rack above it, in its own little dish, so we won't have garlic-infused pecan pie.  The cinnamon bread will go in 1/2 hr before the pie is finished.  Mash the yams, peel the 'taties, probe the ham.  This Christmas cooking demands a drill sergeant for organization. 

For those of us who celebrate the first Christmas 2000 years ago...wouldn't it have been wonderful to have been a witness to the young girl gasping in labor, the cry of the wet newborn, and God entering the world.  Emmanuel.  God with us.  

Blessings for today!  

hi ladies! I pray everyone is enjoying this Christmas Day. I wanted to share a gift my husband surprised me with. It was his sentiment more than the gift that meant so much. He told me he was proud of me and wanted me to wear these so I can kick cancer's butt!! I'm going to wear these on Monday for my first chemo infusion. 

Merry Christmas!

Wear 'em proud and kick hard, RHGSR!

RHG......and with each kick, we're all cheering a loud TOWANDA!!! Yes, indeed, kick, stomp, destroy each and every cancer cell in your path, and then turn your back to it and leave the whole pile of "c**p" in the ditch on the side of the road, and stride away from it forever!!!!! What a lovely, supportive and positive gift from hubby.

Christmas is a time when I realize we each are given some special, important gifts in life. Not all of them are of our choosing, but, each holds the opportunity for us to share, appreciate, enjoy or sometimes, "learn something important about ourselves". The "gift" of these threads, has given me much more than I could ever explain to anyone.....but....like we say to each....."you ladies "get it"....like no one else. 

It's still the "holiday season"....hope everyone continues to find healing of all kinds.

Best of luck, Deb! In your pocket today.

I got my drain out    Hurts like heck, and I'm bandaged beyond belief (the incision is about 6cm long, a bit over 2") but life is so much easier without the drain.

So as 2013 draws to a close, I'm taking my sister-in-law's advice. She's also a BC survivor and said the thing that kept her moving forward was planning a dream vacation, so I've started planning a trip next Christmas to Iceland to see the Northern lights. The plan is to flash my finished noobs (complete with nipples and tattoos) at the sky! Still a long way to go, but I have my own finish line to aim for. Feel's good.