DIEP 2014
Comments
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kat-ski- praying for your daughter and hope it is nothing. 20 mg of ambien! Be careful with that stuff! Sleep deprivation is the worst....hoping you are able to get a good rest!
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beck, you sound like a woman with a whole lot of energy, and I bet you'll do great! Your friends can't possibly know what they would do until they go through the same thing. I'm sure a lot of women of all ages think they know what they would do when facing a mastectomy, but it's different when you're actually going through it. I have my surgery in Cleveland 4 days after you.
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Katski....prayers for your daughter....and her mum
please keep us posted. To everyone getting dAtes for surgery, congratulations. It's very exciting. I was delayed uni too...18 months after my mx. It took forever to get there, or so it felt, but here I am 3 weeks after stage II!
Beck - I am so sorry you have to be here because of cancer, but so very happy you found us. You've come to a place of understanding, support, friendship and information.
I am not positive, but I don't think you get the award for "oldest"! We have women on this forum in virtually every decade of their lives (although I don't recall any 80's, but it's possible....and no teens I am aware of....But definitely 20's to 70's.) The largest concentration seems to be in their 50's. Also please remember the women who post here are not the only "members". We have lots of women who come and read and rarely or never post (hello to the lurkers!).
The decision on reconstruction lies with only you. How you feel physically and your ability to be able to do the surgery is between you and your doctors. You are the one that has to live in your body for the rest of your life ....not your friends.....not matter how well meaning they are. If you want reconstruction, and the type you decide on, is your decision.
It sounds like you are in good shape, or working on it, by doing yoga and working out. That is very smart. Strength, flexibility and cardio health are great aids when having a flap procedure....or any kind or recon.
We are here for you. Throw your questions out there and somebody will "come to bat" .
Hugs.
Bailey
Ps ...on hair...some of us have found that 2-4 weeks after surgery we are able to go to the salon, lie back in the chair with our knees pulled up and heels on the chair, and get our hair washed and blown dry. Some women have even said there are salons that will do this for free for women who have had breast surgeries. If you do it just remember, slow and easy!
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bailey, how easy would it be to stand and bend over the shampoo bowl? My mom has a bowl in her basement where she used to do hair. I have some dry shampoo on hand too.
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It's different for all of us, it seems. I am pretty sure it was Sbelizabeth that did exactly that but in the bathroom sink at the hospital! There was no way I could have done that (i was not stable enough on my feet ), though, so my answer is, it depends. My docs let me shower just as soon as I could (about day 3 or 4, in the hospital, sitting on a shower chair with DH'S assistance. I didn't have any problems raising my arms though (uni and delayed...mx was 18 months before). I just needed to sit. My parents had a shower chair that I borrowed for home and, once home, i was able to do my shower all myself....albeit slowly!
Some docs won't let you shower, though. Clean hair makes such a difference in how we feel, though, so we all find a way. There are other creative solutions too....seems to me I recall somebody who wasnt allowed to shower sitting on a shower chair in the tub with a big plastic bag around her body and hubby washing her hair for her!
Dry shampoo is a good option for a bit. Headbands are our friends, too, lol....even if u can get it washed you may not be up for styling it for a week or two.
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Beck, you are not the oldest to have this done. I am friendly with a woman on here who is a bit older than you, and she had a uni done. It looks beautiful, and so does she. If you like I can ask her to contact you privately through an PM. She should be happy to talk to you about her experience. But, really her experience wasn't any different than the rest of ours. In some ways her experience might have been better than some. She just had her nipple reconstruction and she is done.
Zen, I am on board with the body hair thing. LOL. Wouldn't it be nice?
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Hey Ladies....
Didn't get into the OR until sometime after 4:30pm yesterday, didn't get home until after 10. Still feel like I could sleep another 10 days.
Pain isn't too bad, which I expected....but best news of all.....no barfing!!! Being npo for that long may have been the trick for me. The post op shivers and shakes were horrible though, thought I was going to shake right off the bed.
Beck....tomorrow, I'll sound much perkier, I promise. I'm only 4 years younger than you...I get why your doing this.....I have not one regret.
Lucy...couldn't handle coffee this morning...have at it, for me! Nap time again.
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HI!
I am set to have stage 1 DIEP at MD Anderson in Houston on Jan. 21st. This will be my 3rd recon attempt after the traditional expanders failed, followed by a failed LD flap last year. My previous radiation has realIy messed this process up! I have been waiting over a year for this, and now it is just a few weeks away! I have been away from the site for a while, and now I really want to catch up and go back and read thru some previous posts for some tips and suggestions. I look forward to connecting with others going thru some of the same feelings and emotions that I have. Good luck and blessings to all about to have surgery! It's going to be a great 2014!
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I'm so glad that I found this place. I really don't have any support in this. My dh passed away in April of this year, after a 2 year battle with stomach cancer. He was dx right my last chemo. That is why I had to delay my reconstruction. I'm doing this because its what I want. My dh was not supportive of the surgery but realized that it's my choice. I'm really a big chicken for any medical procedure so it was a hard decision. Goldie, yes it would be nice if your friend could PM me, I need all the support I can get. Nihahi, l hope I can say that when I'm finished!
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beck0806, you are in good health and your doc approves so I think you have a green light if it's what you want. Remember, the PS doesn't cut really deep, through muscle, for this surgery. There is pain but it's not usually horrible. You may be bent over for awhile until your tummy loosens up which can affect your back. I didn't have that problem, though. You will be tired and needing lots of rest but you should also be taking short walks every day. I haven't heard of anyone who hasn't had a second surgery to "tidy things up." Ask about that and when you would get a nipple if you want it and how he makes it.
Nobody who hasn't gone through what we have can really understand. Among those of us who have had breast amputations, some women are fine without reconstruction or with implants and some of us want or need something different. Sometimes DIEP or another fat transfer surgery is the only wise reconstruction choice because of radiation damage. I can tell you I feel more like myself with 2 soft, warm, new boobs made from my own tissue. I can even sometimes forget about them now. The tummy tuck is an added bonus. I am only eight years younger than you. You very likely could be in better physical shape than me! You could have another couple of decades with or without a new boob ---totally your choice. If you decide on this surgery it is important, I think, to believe that this is the right decision for you and to go into it with a positive attitude. That's not to say that it isn't scary and sometimes difficult in recovery. So many of us are on the other side and happy with our decision, though. There are no guarantees but I hope that gives you strength and hope. Whatever you decide, if you change your mind, we support you 100%! If you decide to go for it, exercising beforehand is a great idea! I found squats particularly helpful so I could use my legs instead of arms when getting up from a sitting position. Keep checking in with us and let us know how you're doing.
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Hello and Happy New Year to all.
I have received my reconstruction/diep date of 5/21. It could have been sooner, but I finish big chemo TCH on 2/13 and I want time to get into better shape/feel better than I am now. I am trying to work out during chemo, but it isn't happening as often as it should....I'm just too tired or feel yukky. I currently see my PS monthly and I'm sure I'll have more info as I get closer to date.
Thank you all for sharing.
Vivian
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beck, I pm'd you. I am 71 & just finished my breast cancer reconstruction journey. I love my new body!
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Nihahi, happy to hear you sound okay, and no bucket needed either. Rest and get well now!
Beck, I was just going to suggest that you contact Sharon, when she posted that she had contacted you. I will be 60 in July, and just thrilled with the results of the surgery. Just keep up with the fitness routine, and you will be fine. Like Jeannie I did squats and exercises beforehand to strengthen my legs, because for some time after you cannot use your tummy muscles. The fitter you are, the better you will weather the surgery. For me it was not even really painful, and it was totally doable. Good luck with your decision!
Movie, how are you? You are very quiet.
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Kat- My 37 year old niece just had a biopsy this week. She got the news that it is B9. 80% are!! Hang in there girl. I have a 31 year old daughter and it scares me too!
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I'm here, Liefie.......coughing a LOT.......tires me out......
Beck, I am just finishing up my recon journey, which started almost a year ago........I will be 60 this year. I LOVE my new girls, and the flat tummy......I actually have a figure again......I would do it again in a heartbeat.......
Nihahi......happy you checked in......I will not bother you tonight......(I will call you tomorrow) Wilbur has been a huge disappointment......a no-show, or worse, a one-night stand........what's with that, anyway?
Wonder how our NOLA gals are doing, first day post-DIEP?
Okay.....crawling into bed again(after a couple more quick posts!)
XO
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prep done today all set for surgery was told by preop nurse today that I am slotted for 536min that is 9 hrs Oh well I will show up at 6am and go from there now I just wait for the 30th
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Blessings to your niece, Cherrie. That's great news!
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That's right SouthernGirl, just show up!
Hey, I still had some amusing times with Wilbur! ("Time for surgery!" over and over again.....holding my phone in my hand, about to post something, and waking up with my arm still extended, phone in my hand.) I guess I was more amused by him than others, that's all.
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jeannie....you can tell Wilbur where he can go...no need to be polite....he is no friend of mine!!!!!!
Thinking of Kelly and Maggie in NOLA, hope all is well.
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hey girls! I think I've missed a few of you doing stage 2. I'm glad it all went good. I know it is for sure much easier than the first round!! And a lot faster to recover too! Nihahi, I'm so glad you didn't have any throwing up issues. Having been there myself I can understand its no fun.
I'm so tired tonight, so I'm going to try to put myself to bed at same time I do my kids. Will try to check on y'all tomorrow
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Welcome Lea. Wow, travelling from Oklahoma to Texas. I am in Texas, but in the DFW area. I hear they do great things at MD Anderson. I am sorry you have had so many previous recon failures. I believe diep is going to be the answer for you. You will do great. I have not had my diep yet. I had a implant recon that was not an actual failure, but it is so uncomfortable that I consider it a failure. I am seeking a diep too, and after taking a break from recon and cancer I am looking at early June.
Stay in touch. Keep us posted. We are here to help you through this.
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Beck, I am so sorry to hear about all you have been through. You will find plenty of support and encouragement on this board and lots of helpful info, too. You said you have no support in this. Will you have help at home during your recuperation? My folks (in their 80's) are trying to talk me out of reconstruction as they feel they will have to help me at home and they aren't sure they are up to it with the drive time. I think I can do it alone, but then I am very stubborn. I'm sure that when the going gets tough you will be surprised by who all wants to help you get through this. Wishing you a quick and pain free recovery!
Weighing in on the underarm shaving debate. I was told not to, but my hair there never came back after chemo and neither did my hair on my forearms. My legs only have ankle hair and I don't have a lot south of the border. LOL! That postmenopausal downy facial hair disappeared. My eyebrows and eyelashes are thinner than before.
Kat-ski, be careful with Ambien. I would sleep walk and bake (a pie!!). I woke up in bed with blueberries dried on my chin and on the front of my pj's. I thought my liver was failing when i looked in the mirror! Cool whip everywhere and an empty dish in my bed. Never did find a fork so maybe I ate it with my fingers? No memory of it the next day until I saw the carnage I had reeked. I have another good story about Ambien and driving. Some other time... and no, I don't use it anymore.
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thanks iowGirl got a good laugh at your ambien story my mo prescrided Ativan today because my sleep habits post chemo is all over the place don't go to sleep till 2 and that is forcing and laying there for hours before falling to sleep and back up at 7 took one tonight I hope it helps
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I think I have become immune to anything that is supposed to help me sleep. Hydrocodone is like candy. Benadryl does nothing. Ambien gives me a hangover, but I don't sleep. Xanax just makes me nicer, which isn't a bad thing. I am going to ask for Ativan. Maybe that will help.
Southerngirl, where are you having your diep done?
Iowagirl, eating pie in your sleep!? LOL. I heard ambien can do crazy stuff to people.
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iowagirl, that's crazy! I bet that was a weird feeling to wake up to all of that. Lol! Be sure to share the driving story sometime.
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Hey Goldie I am having surgery at St Luke's
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HAPPY NEW YEAR LADIES
I've been busy and have not been able to keep up. I hope everyone with surgery this week is recovering well.
I told PS that I want to have first revision (Stage 2) done in February. He believes that I will need 2 revision surgeries to get the girls where I want them to be. I seem to remember telling him that I wanted to look like a Playboy bunny. He obviously took me serious.
My plan is to have surgery or procedure every 3 months so that I can get tattoos as my 2014 Xmas present to myself.
Since everyone was previously giving their vital statistics, here are mine. I am 57 , 5'3' and weighed about 180 on Oct 5 (surgery date). My surgery was planned for 10 hours but took 12 hours. There was one BS for BMX, one PS plus team for Diep/Tram. My blood vessels on one side were running through muscle tissue. PS had to do TRAM on that side because he had to take more than a small plug of muscle and had to insert a mesh in its place. I am recovering nicely and both sides of my stomach look the same - less fat.
The important factor for me was to build up enough strength after the 6 months of chemo.
Kat - I will keep you and your daughter in my prayer
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/09/obamacare-breast-cancer-drugs_n_4564993.html
I give up. I have been trying to post a link about all anti cancer drugs like Tamoxifen are now free under the Affordable Care Act, but I can't get it to work. Ugh.
Southern Girl, the only two hospitals I know in Houston are MD Anderson from reputation, and St. Joseph's because my DIL worked there for a while. Who is your surgeon?
Gwenny, I am glad you are doing so well. Sounds like you are keeping yourself busy, which is great. Keep us posted on your stage 2's.
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