DIEP 2013

ohhh goldie.....you're too funny.. I always just want the bathing suit to stay on while I do laps!!! Tankini is a risque as I ever get! Mind you, my PS said the fact that my tummy skin hadn't seen the sunlight for years (decades actually) helped give me a better match, skin tone wise. Stage 2 besides the flap shaping was just extending the hip incisions a bit on either side, to resolve/blend in some minimal dog ears. That's all I asked for. I'm sure you're going to have a wonderful result too. 

Did you try the muscle relaxant??

Sweet, the ONLY way to drink mag citrate is to close your eyes and just chugg it.  Too late now, though!

I chugged my own bottle of mag citrate in December and the PS didn't even get to my abdominal stuff.  He was too busy digging out radiation from my back.  What a waste of mag citrate!  Although now I get to try a new flavor in June...lemon-lime?  Grape?  

ok....stop now, I'm blushing!!!

debdylan....those were my PS's exact words, the first time we met...I was explaining that the two most important things to me, (other than "life" obviously) were 1. Flap survival and 2. Symmetry. He said.."they will never look the same".....At this point....things are certainly close enough to "same" to me, that when I see him again, I'm going to tell him he needs to rethink those words!!

I will be honest and admit....that after 20+ years of tears, avoidance, resignation and pain, it does feel pretty amazing to feel happy enough to "share the view"....again, though....I give the credit to my PS, my hubby, a few special friends for putting up with me through the journey...and my bco "sisters". 

shaving my head tomorrow ladies. 14 days out from first AC and I'm coming up with handfuls of hair.  My hubby surprised me when he got home today... He shaved his head!! I love him so much!!

Deb, I'm not such a fan of the Penn plastics team.  Kind of wish I went with Wu, but oh well. Hindsight is 20/20.

RHG, you are a rockstar! Of course hubby wants to be in your fan club!  Seriously though, how wonderful that he is supportive. Losing your hair can be really tough to take, but it will come back!  Rock the scarf, hat, wigs, look - whatever your choose! 

debdylan- round one went ok. Was laid up about 3 days.  Then nausea got better. Felt like I had a severe stomach bug plus the flu. About 10 days later my sister commented that I looked "Clearer ". And she was right... The fog had lifted. So I feel pretty good right now. Just battling fatigue. It's crazy the fatigue. Round 2 is next week. I have 4 rounds (3 left) of AC -once every 3 weeks then Taxol once a week for 12 weeks. 

bluebird & deb,

My diep is with dr. Wu on 1/24.  I did lots of research and am happy with my decision.   Anxious to get it over with!!

Sweetpickle....hugs girl....see you on the flip side!

Dr. Wu is awesome. I met her at a breast cancer conference. I debated on switching to her, (you absolutely can switch doctors) but at this point for me the devil I know is better than starting over.   I picked Serletti because I've seen his work so I'm trying to keep the faith.  I still have issues with the practice (rated very poorly on every website) but hoping I can get through this next phase. I'm sure his nurse will enjoy her revenge on me by sticking large needles into me this next round.

Debdylan- I am fine. Back to work this week and my dad had his surgery in Germany yesterday (that story is over on the "after the flap" board). So tired and busy....but doing ok. I have to say, after having done it, I wouldn't do a surgery a week before Christmas again! Yikes!

Sweetpickle - hope you're doing the Wilbur ok.

RHG - hugs, honey, sorry about the hair. Lots of people joke on bad hair days that they are just going to "shave it off" (I used to) but it's a whole different ball game when it's really real. I'm a "pull the bandaid off quick" kind of girl so as soon as I got my first small brushful it was off to my girlfriend's hair salon to shave it off. One other friend came with me. We all did a shot if tequila and then she cut it super short and then she shaved it all off. I had planned on watching in the mirror while she did it, but when it was time I couldn't watch. I didn't cry while she did it. She bawled her eyes out, though,and I was comforting her. She went in the other room to get me a glass of water when she was done and I reached up and touched my head and it was shocking. After a few minutes of all of us crying and hugging I asked her to turn me around. That was less shocking, somehow. I was still me, even without hair, I still felt like myself. I had brought my wigs and scarves and hats friends had given me so we played with those for a long while. I went home in my bandana under ball cap (that was the look I rocked most of the time away from work). My head always got cold lol...especially at night, so I had soft cotton caps I wore to bed (got them at the gift shop at the cancer center and from tlcdirect.com)

You will be okay. Thinking of you and saying prayers. Put your pink runners on!

nihahi, your photos are great, congrats on the results! And I know we're all about the boobs here, but your tummy is amazing. You are so going to rock a bikini this summer.

RHGSR - sorry about the hair... I shaved my head too. I knew I couldn't bear to watch it fall out. I hope today went well for you.

sweetpickle, I hope everything went okay for you today.

sweet...just checked in to see how you might be doing...Wilbur had better behave with you!!!!!

christina....waiting, waiting and more waiting for medical stuff like surgical dates are a fact of life up here. I can't say as I'd vote for the "Ben Franklin" approach, but maybe checking with the "list" person on a regular basis might help. Maybe (if it applies to you) telling them you are available even on extremely short notice might help? That's how I got my date for my Stage 1....otherwise, I may STILL be waiting, even at this point!!!!

RHGSR, rock the bald head, sister.  I learned to love not spending time on my hair.  And your husband is the biggest sweetheart.  I'm sure you are happy to be through the first treatment.  It's nice to get the first one under your belt.  

Sweet, we are all thinking of you.  

Big penguin hugs!

RHG Darlin' you look MAHHHHH-VEL-US

I always had some stubble over my ears where it was always trying to grow back...I just hit it with DH'S trimmer every once in a while if it was bugging me. 

I did enjoy the "20 minutes from shower to ready to go out the door" advantage that being bare headed gave me.....gave me extra sleep time lol!!!

RHG -  beeeeuutiful!!!