DIEP 2013

ditto for me too, kelley....showering was the most exhausting yet comforting thing for quite awhile. The shower seat is the last thing I "gave up" of all the aids I rented. It made me safe, and made me FEEL safe. Important issues during recovery. How things feel will likely change daily, as the swelling changes and things start to settle. Glad to hear you're pleased with your results! Lots of naps at this point, girl, you cannot push yourself to heal quicker than your body can manage.

jeannie....some day you be looking for things to do, when you don't have so many appts to fill your calendar! Hang in there.

lahela....glad to hear a scan is booked....get that dang foot sorted out!

goldie....too funny...("he looked at me a little scared")...keep those docs on their toes! You haven't asked, but my opinion is what have you got to lose with trying the muscle relaxation and some biofeedback. Could you do one or two PT sessions, then do a home program??? 

Jeannie, I hope your appointments go well this week, and next week.

Nihani, I think it was the way I said it.  I said, "pissed off." I was being so demur and lady like till that point, and I think I startled him.  Yes, I think I will try a session, or two just like I did for my back PT and come home and try it myself.  Biofeedback is pretty cool stuff if you can do it.  The little gizmo we have has a faint buzzing sound that gets faster,, or slower depending on how relaxed you can get yourself.  It takes practice, but after that you should be able to do it without the machine. 

Marcie, it stands for Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome, and it happens (so they say in the pamphlet I was given ) in about 30 percent of mastectomy patients.  It is more prevalent in women who had more than several nodes removed, which are attached to nerves, etc.  The burning skin sensation and the nerve pain usually subsides over time (mine took about 2 months), but sometimes it becomes chronic, and women seek help.  I have heard of women ending up on neuroton and lyrica for the pain.  It's no fun.  But, he knows that is not what I have now.  Almost everybody I talked to had similar symptoms immediately after their mastectomies.  How far out are you from yours?

Cherrie, you have a full fun schedule coming up!!!  Good for you.

jeannie....it's always good to hear from you...."where ever that may be" .

Kelley... Glad you are feeling better... The boobs will feel swollen and you'll feel ridges, but that will go away. And yes, showering is EXHAUSTING... that lasted for me for about 3-4 weeks.

Cherrie, sounds like a wonderful trip.  And more time with your granddaughter!

Jeannie, sending prayers for your husband's job search.  You are due for some good news.

Sweet....in your pockets girl....you're gonna to be fine this time around...!!!!! fyi....I totally get the "more nervous" thing too.

Yeah, Sweet.  You made it!!!!  You are going to do fine.  I can't think of one person who hasn't been happier after stage 2.  How have you been?  I hope all is well.

my FIL is going in for open heart surgery this morning. This afternoon I have pre-op and surgery on Fri. My family could use some prayers this week! Thx

So excited for you sweetpickle!

Dyvgrl, all the best for your family during this turbulent time.

Jeannie, fingers all firmly crossed for your DH and his job hunt.

Kelley, glad to hear things are looking brighter today. It is surprising to hear your bad experience at NOLA. Most nola people rave about it there, which personally I have to wonder about. I guess the final outcome is the only thing that matters. But I'd be having a fit if I traveled there and had sub-par nursing care!

I don't think I ever talked about my horrible haunted hospital experience at Penn. First I was in a room with a woman who was glued to her cell phone. She yacked 24/7 all hours of the day and night. I begged to be moved to a private room since I could get no rest. Then I finally got my private room. It was bliss until 2 am in the morning. It was pouring rain outside. I went into the bathroom and was very proud of myself for navigating there with my walker albeit slowly. While sitting on the toilet, I heard a very scary rumbly noise. It was a low deep ominous sound. I wasn't sure if I was having delusions from the pain meds or what! I got scared and went back to my hospital bed. No sooner than I got in bed and an extremely loud rushing noise came from the bathroom. I carefully got back out of bed and slowly opened the bathroom door just a crack to peek in.  It was like something out of a horror film! A geyser of water was shooting straight up to the ceiling from the floor drain like a fire hydrant!  I shut the door and ran out into the hall to the nurses station. ( well, as fast as a new surgery patient could move) The nurses were all in a panic because their call lights were all going off at the same time.  I told them what was happening and they came to my room and couldn't believe it either. Now the sink drain was also shooting water straight up!  It was like a scene from the Three Stooges. 

Luckily the hospital had an emergency drill plan in place and quickly moved all of us up to higher floors. I was later told that the main sewer drain pipe backed up from all the rain.  What a crazy night that was!

Bluebird, you have really been through it! Wow!

Thanks for the good wishes for us.

Sweet, you will be fine! I don't know exactly what you're having done but recovery is so much faster than DIEP. 

Dyvgrl, you got it!

nihahi, saw your pics, you look great. When is the fipple date? Best wishes to dyvgrl and family. In your pocket tomorrow, sweet. Looking forward to hearing from you on the other side. blue, that sounds like part of the nightmare I had on vicodin. Like many of you, I read more and don't post much, you are all on my thoughts a great deal. cherrie mentioned measuring the size of her numb area, so I did my measurement. Mine is like an upsidedown T. It's definitely getting smaller as time goes on. My last pt put me on electric stimi to wake up my obliques. I am following up with it on my own and it might have contributed to "waking up" surface tissues too.

oh, weight loss, I put on a good 10 lb. between bc dx and DIEP surgery. ps put all the tummy fat into good use. I was able to lose all of those plus a few more. It's doable. fitbit helps me to move and get my steps, miles, ... in everyday.

jeannie, hope your dh finds a job.

Dyvgrl....I will add your FIL to Bailey's dad........prayers going up!  (For him, and for YOU!)

Blue....that story is hilarious (now)!  I was laughing until I started to cough (again).   I am just glad you vacated the throne before the backwash!

Jeannie...think of you and DH every day.....praying he finds something....XO

Nihahi, I haven't checked out your pics...but I will.....I have to look up info to log on to pic site.....XO

Tammy, I am with you....I am SURE I am gaining weight....I can't exercise!

Had appt. with PS yesterday re: nipples.  He cleaned them up, and took photos for a symposium this week about DIEP  surgery, and the time investment needed to achieve good results. Aid to come back in two months, and then he'll write a referral for tattoos.....can't believe I am this close to the finish line!  Woohoo!

back to bed....all this typing has made me tired.......I need a nap!

XO

Bluebird, great story about the hospital.  Geez.  Running for you life immediately after surgery couldn't have been any fun.

Nihani. Thanks for sharing pics.  You look wonderful.  Could your tummy be any flatter?  I hope mine looks that perfect when I am done.  

Movie, you have been sick too long now.  Wish there was more they could do for you.  Keep taking good care of yourself.