DIEP 2014

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited January 2014

    Jeannie, you are so right.  I didn't even think about stage 2 timing.  I would want it in cold weather, which will work out great.  It will be fall when I am ready.  I know I am naïve, but I am really hoping he gets my tummy done the first time, which he kind of said he could, and then all I might need is some tweaking of the foobs and nips. 

    LOL, absolutely get some wine to go with those nips, Jeannie.  Just wait a week for two after your surgery. 

    I hope you are all still around when I can say I am getting my nips. 

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    Well, it looks like January 24th is the big day. No one has called me yet, but I got a bunch of appointment notifications on the My Chart account that the Cleveland Clinic uses to keep track of my appointments, test results, etc. I have a full day of tests and lab work on the 15th and surgery the 24th. I'm glad to have it scheduled finally, but I kind of have this sick feeling in my stomach. Scared

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  • Cherrie
    Cherrie Member Posts: 1,423
    edited January 2014

    jmb5-Those feelings are normal. Make your lists to prepare. Just show up and let them do the thing they are so skilled at. You are in good hands and will do just fine. You have all of us to lean. 

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited January 2014

    kelley and maggie.......you're safe in the hands of your surgeons now....you've got this ladies!!!!!!!!

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    I have a friend who is going to set up meals for my family after surgery. For those of you who have been through DIEP surgery, how many weeks of meals should she set up? and how many days a week? I was thinking Monday-Friday every day for 3 weeks. Or should I do 2 weeks? I have a large church family and a lot of friends who I think will want to help.

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited January 2014

    JMB, how big is your family.  It was just me and my husband, and a week of meals was plenty.  I was very hungry anyway, but if you have kids in the house then that's a different story.

    No word for our surgery girls yet?

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    There are 5 in my family. 2 teenage daughters and 1 preteen daughter. I would have them start meals the week I'm in the hospital. (Hubby can grill and make tacos. That's about it.) So maybe just the next week too? I can't imagine I'm going to want to cook before that. I don't like to cook on a good day. Lol!

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  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited January 2014

    I have found that 80% of the time, there are left overs. So maybe 4 days a week (M, T. Th, F) for 2 weeks?

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited January 2014

    Yep, you need meals. Betsy is right, about two weeks, at least.

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  • Cherrie
    Cherrie Member Posts: 1,423
    edited January 2014

    if they are willing to do for 3 weeks do it. We all seem to hit a wall in week 2to 3. It may be nice to not have to deal with food planning. I had a week of meals and then lived on hubby's cooking. 

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  • Donna2012
    Donna2012 Member Posts: 201
    edited January 2014

    I love to cook & have been cooking up a storm this week in preparation for my surgery.  I am not working now & have 2 teenagers in school all day, so this keeps me busy & makes me feel like I am doing something to prepare.   Also, we eat only whole non-processed foods, so I like knowing what I will be eating.  I am cooking more meals with meat for the protein, than I normally eat.  

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  • Donna2012
    Donna2012 Member Posts: 201
    edited January 2014

    I am also going to schedule a brow waxing, pedicure, manicure & possibly a trim for next week.  I have about 3 1/2" of hair growth since chemo.  I thought that having this done may make me feel better while recovering, and I don't know how long it will be until I am able to get out of the house again.  

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    Donna, you rock! I wish I enjoyed cooking more, but I really don't. My kids are excited about all the meals we're going to get. Lol!

    I was thinking about getting my armpits waxed before surgery. I'm assuming it will be awhile before I can shave there. My niece owns a salon, and could do it for me. Luckily my next hair appt. is the day before surgery, so at least my hair will look good. :) Are you allowed to wear polish on your fingers and/or toes during surgery?

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  • Donna2012
    Donna2012 Member Posts: 201
    edited January 2014

    Polish on toes is fine.  Polish on fingers, as long as it is not real dark, is fine.  They put the clip on your finger to measure your pulse & very dark (black) polishes will make it not register.  

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  • Donna2012
    Donna2012 Member Posts: 201
    edited January 2014

    jmb5 - just noticed that we are the same day!  Are you immediate diep or delayed?  1 breast or both?

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    Donna, I am immediate... both.

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  • Donna2012
    Donna2012 Member Posts: 201
    edited January 2014

    I am uni-delayed.  I am going this fri to have all of my pre-op testing done.  

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited January 2014

    I did all those things before each surgery, except the armpit waxing..ouch!!  What cracked me up was, you know how you get that perfect haircut like every 6 months, and the rest are just so so.  Well, 2 days before my bmx she gives me the haircut of my life!!!! Well, didn't get to enjoy it because I couldn't wash my hair for days, and then couldn't style it for a couple of weeks.  But, blow drying is a great exercise to get your arms back up over your head, and strong again.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2014

    Some docs and/or hospitals still won't let you have nail polish on your hands, so ask first! When I started treatment in June, 2011, the hospital registration nurses always said NO NAIL POLISH. (But I talked my B.S. into polish on 9 fingers and left her one "blank" lol!!!) Now, 3 1/2 years later they never say anything about polish anymore. I always get a French and do the shellac. That way it lasts and doesn't show as much as it grows out until I feel well enough to go back to the salon.

    My other preop treat is a massage the night before....does wonders for me!

    Thinking of those who had surgery today! 

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited January 2014

    Be careful with the armpit waxing. I remember something about not shaving before surgery. You don't want any cuts or irritations that could let infection in.

    I had meals every other day for a few weeks and even sometimes during chemo.  My DD found an online scheduling site where people could sign up for various tasks. It was great! People want to help and that way they could decide what they wanted to do. Sometimes it was just playing fetch with my dog.

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  • Kat-ski
    Kat-ski Member Posts: 212
    edited January 2014

    Hi all!    My daughter (35) is having a biopsy done on Jan. 31st.  It is for her breast.  She was ready to get a breast reduction done(disagree but her body) and the mammogram showed something, the ultrasound backed it up, so she is waiting on this.  She is madder than a wet hen b/c she can't get her breasts done as scheduled.  She is on medicaid(paying for breast reduction out of her pocket) and the clinic dr. said do a MRI but she said she didn't want to wait.  I suggested the wired biopsy if they knew where to go in the breast.  I am praying so hard that it isn't anything.  Am I making any sense lately?  I feel like I am hopelessly going crazy.  (Sleepless night last night and that was with 20 mg. of ambiem)

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited January 2014

    Kat-ski, so sorry to hear this. I can only imagine how you feel. 

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  • jbdayton
    jbdayton Member Posts: 700
    edited January 2014

    DIEP in March.  I saw my PS today and he decided I will be ready to go for March.  Will know the date next week.  I have healed very nicely from radiation and am so excited to finally begin the final steps in this journey.  In fact I saw my PCP last year Jan 7 when I first found my lump.  What a year can bring!!  

    Hope everyone who had procedures this week are recovering well.  To those preparing for upcoming procedures relax and take a deep breath, just show up.

    Praying for a great 2014 for all.

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited January 2014

    Kat, I am keeping your daughter in my prayers and hope it's just a scare. Don't forget 80 percent of lumps found on mammo and sonogram are benign.

    Jbdayton, congrats on getting a date for surgery.  I can imagine how ready you are to get things going.

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  • lahela
    lahela Member Posts: 515
    edited January 2014

    They always tell me no polish of any kind on fingers or toes, but everything's different in my corner of the world! I shaved my armpits a couple of days before surgery (electric razor) and the PS told me to shave an inch across the top of my pubic hair because she was cutting right along it. (I laughed while typing that... the things we share on here!!!)

    Kat, positive thoughts for your DD!!!  {{{hugs to you both}}}

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  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 2,280
    edited January 2014

    Lahela, I love that we can share it all.  It makes this so much more fun.  When I talk to my friends that are not sick I can't even talk about the constipation from the pain pills because I feel like its TMI...lol.  This place is a breath of fresh air.

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  • Zenful
    Zenful Member Posts: 599
    edited January 2014

    I  rarely have to shave my armpits since chemo.  It's really weird, after chemo, all my hair came back with a vengeance, but after shaving my armpits a few times, it didn't come back.  Now if that were the case with my legs, chin hairs, and arm hair ( but leaving me with lush eyelashes and eyebrows) I would be in heaven!  Do you think that's asking too much? lol 

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    goldie, I am hoping for a perfect haircut/color the day before surgery. :) Since my niece is a hairdresser, and my mom a retired hairdresser, I'm hoping they will take pity on me and wash and blow dry my hair and make me look fabulous during recovery. lol!

    bailey, I was thinking shellac too, if they'll let me, and I love the massage idea!

    Jeannie, I thought about that last night... the armpit waxing might irritate my skin, and I don't want to show up for surgery with a rash or something. I've never had them waxed before, so I should probably skip that part. I had one very manly armpit during radiation, so I know I can live with it for a few weeks.

    Kat, sorry to hear about your daughter. We all know how scary the biopsy waiting game is. Keep us posted.

    Zen, that made me laugh. I don't think it's asking too much at all.

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  • beck0806
    beck0806 Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2014

    Hi ladies. I"m having a left diep on Jan. 20. Unless I chicken out. I'm very nervous about this because of my age. I'm 67. I'm sure that I'm the oldest person to have this. Is there anyone here close to my age? I'm afraid there will be more complications because of my age. My PS said I would be ok since I'm in good health. I feel just as nervous when I think about going the rest of my life not having it. My friends don't understand.  They say it's my decision but I can tell they don't agree. I see my PS on the 16 and I'm trying to think of questions for him. I've been working out and doing yoga to hopefully help get stronger for this.

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  • LucyV
    LucyV Member Posts: 177
    edited January 2014

    jmb5- I think having someone wash and dry your hair during recovery would be heaven! Just makes you instantly feel better I think. The meal delivery will be great. I am part of a group that does meal delivery for families in our town and what we find is that mon-wed-fri works best. People always seem to make a lot and if we dropped off food more often it was going to waste. Also if possible I would see if they could deliver maybe twice a week after the three week mark. I still couldn't go grocery shopping or cook because of the 5 pound weight lifting restriction!

    Lahela- I asked the nurse about shaving my FUPA and she said don't worry about it...when I woke up it was all gone haha

    I carefully shaved my armpits and legs the night before. I didn't have nail polish on my fingers and had a light pink on my toes! I would love to ask any one working in an OR if they notice these things! I didn't want to have ugly toes lying there for ten hours! The things we worry about.

    Hope all the ladies having procedures yesterday are doing well. Don't know if I should have nihahi's coffee again today....

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