DIEP 2013

Thinking of you, Deb.  Lahela, what a cool idea!

Good luck today, Deb.  We are with you.

RHGSR - sorry this is happening. I am not a fan of insurance companies. I thought "pre existing condition" clauses were illegal now. I would think your Dr got pre approval for your surgery. It does not sound right that they could deny claims.

deb- good luck today! 

Insurance aid a pain in the butt. My doctors office is appealing for more money and only got $1500. That was for my DIEP. They have not given her a penny for the 3 surgeries after that. I am lucky that she doesn't balance the bill. I hate dealing with them.

Great news, Deb.

Movie, I wish I had an answer for you but I don't know that I've experienced that. I have had two tries at fat grafting in my upper right boob, fat necrosis both times. It's getting pretty bad. I have a look-see appt. on Jan. 7 unless I start to run a fever, etc. I guess it's more surgery for me to get it out of there, which has lots of risks for me. And taking it out will leave me with what?? It seems silly to try it again if it's failed twice. That boob had a smaller DIEP vessel so the blood supply is not going to change. 

okay ladies... Port placement tomorrow!! Wish me luck :0)

RHGSR, I had a port and I'm glad I did. It did hurt a lot at first so don't worry. Soon you won't feel it. Be sure your doc gives you numbing Lidocaine to glob over it before blood work/chemo. You put it on an hour before and cover it with Saran Wrap.

Hi There, jmb5....I noticed you have jumped in with both feet and started a Diep 2014 thread....good for you! I'm sure many of us will be popping into that thread too, as time goes on, as a number of us still have stages to go in our recons that started in 2013. 

My advice would be to save your hubby's vacation days for when you are home. The nurses will be caring for you in hospital, I should think. The day of surgery is pretty exhausting for your family, so I'd tell them to use the time while you're in hospital to get some rest themselves. Of course, it depends on the hospital you will be in, but mine didn't really encourage anyone to hang around my room, and I certainly was not up to company the first few days. We are all different in our "mobility" once we're home, but there are options that make sure you are more independent, like renting electric recliners, it you are really concerned, or know there will be early need to be independent. You are going to be tired, and you will have lifting restrictions, so being alone for extended periods of time the first week at home isn't a great idea, in my opinion. Button or any kind of front closure tops are going to be your best friend for the first couple weeks. Some people have been able to "sneak" into oversized, loose tops that go over the head, but, most find that too challenging.

Hope that answers a few of your questions....best of luck to you in your surgery!

jmb5 -  I agree with Nihahi, it will be better for your hubby to take time off to be with you once you're home from the hospital.  I would say having him home for the first 3-5 days will be helpful...to help you take a shower, lift things etc. I live by myself and also prepped a lot in advance, I made lots of soup etc and froze it for dinners to eat once I was home from the hospital.  I purchased an electric recliner (you can also rent) and a shower stool.  Both were extremely useful and the recliner was very comfortable for sleeping.  I also have one of those robotic arms to help me reach for things on a high shelves.  Re: clothes, I wore lots of sweat pants, blouses that button in the front and cheap sleeveless T-shirts (I think they're called muscle shirts). Easy to get on and off, I didn't care if drainage leaked on it and I wore it under my ab binder.  Also, I had a supply of Aveeno body soup for sensitive skin. Someone suggested putting that soap in a spray bottle with water to spray on your ab and breasts in the shower. I found that very helpful as it allowed me to gently apply the soap on my incisions without touching them. 

Jmb - Good morning. I agree with the ladies, keep your husband close. Especially the first week or two at home. At the hospital my partner was a frequent visitor, but I was just as happy to be on my own staring out the window, sleeping, or watching movies. Also, the nurses were fabulous so I was never on my own.

But back at home I needed help with everyday tasks. One of the ladies on this board likened herself to a tyrannasurus rex., walking around with stubby little arms sticking out in front of her. Reaching high shelves, opening stick drawers, filling the kettle were all out of the question. And I also needed help navigating the bed for the first week. I never used a recliner, but I did visit a place where they were available for rent, and I had it on standby in case I had to have it delivered. In the end, I was fine with a whole bunch of pillows, including a 'wedge' which was invaluable in bed. 

Lucy is so right about the sweatpants. Picking them up off the bathroom floor and getting into them is a challenging for a T-rex. My surgery was in the summer so I wore a stretchy cotton skirt with an oversized button down blouse. I also wore a cheap cotton cammi every day, to which I attached my drains. It was stretchy enough that I could step into it - rather than put it over my head. 

But if I was to recover in the winter, I'd go for a long nightgown at first, and save the sweats for week two. But everybody is so different in their ranges of motion. I managed to wash my own hair, while standing up in the shower while I was in the hospital. But - I was very slow in standing up straight - that took ages. 

Also - I went on a crazy shopping spree before my surgery. Lots of stretchy lounge wear in many sizes. But I ended up wearing only two or three things, and Jim (my partner) returned everything else. I got a lot of it at Target, because they had the best return policy. 

Best of luck in the coming weeks.  Janet

jmb, looks like we might be in this together!.  I am tentatively scheduled for a DIEP, January 29 on my left side.  I will be at the Cleveland Clinic which is 3 hours from my home.  I was wondering same thing relative to my husbands time off.  It is really nice to be able to go back and read these posts and know what to expect. Any major pointers or advise anyone could give would be so helpful.  I was wondering when the average 1st follow up is after you go home? Being that we are 3 hours away I can stay at my sister's which is only an hour away between getting out and first follow up appt. I just need to be prepared. Looking forward to communicating back and forth. 

jmb...and rachl.....one of the biggest things you will discover, is that everyone, every hospital and every surgeon have different timelines, protocols and techniques. What I found so valuable about this thread, is that I was able to gather all the "what's, when's, how's and why's" together, then I discussed them with my surgeon. I felt better prepared that way, and I had a better idea of what to ask him to get the answers to questions I may not have thought of on my own. 

The stages of recovery can be very short....so I wouldn't spend $$ on something to wear, like a pricey postop camisole...cheap and stretchy worked for me. My last drain was removed 3 days after I came home, (which would make it 10 days post surgery), so that was the time of my first post-op visit. After that, it was 2 weeks until the next one. Having someone with you to folllow-up visits is important, that extra set of ears or shoulder of support is invaluable!

Have you considered renting or borrowing a shower chair/stool? Or do you have a plastic chair or high enough stool to safely use instead? Some women have been fine without them, some of us found showers to be as tiring and awkward as they are amazingly "feel good" wonderful. You can also practice getting out of bed and chairs around your home, without using your arms or much of your abs, to get an idea of how you might manage. 

hey Lucy!......how's the "coffee control" doing???? I'm still at one cup....except, I confess, I had (gasp) THREE CUPS ON CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!!!!!! Just seemed so cozy to sit around feeling happy and holding that warm, cup of coffee in my hands. Back on the wagon for me yesterday though...

hahaha....yep, I likely WAS buzzing...but I think I was able to camouflage it as humming along with the Christmas music we had playing!!! I was doing fine until my son and his fiance arrived. Daniel, who NEVER liked coffee before, announced he was now a "drinker" so of course, we had to brew up another pot, and, of course, I had to join him!!! I swear, my ADHD son is less hyper on caffeine, then he is "off it"....must be the natural form of Ritalin???

My ADHD 22y.o. self medicates with energy drink. After a childhood on meds, he decided to see if he could cope when he was 18... been sucking on energy drinks ever since... he doesn't see the link *rolleyes*