DIEP 2014

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

    curly.....truth be told, I'd probably be balling my eyes out at the thought of chemo again. But, hopefully the love of family and friends, and the hard earned knowledge that chemo DOES have an end, and there is life after chemo, would put some starch in my backbone and get my ass out the door and on to getting it done and dusted. I too hate cancer. Cancer does not play by the rules, Cancer is a bully, but....it does not have to win!!!! Hugs, big, giant, compassionate hugs to you tonight.

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

    Michele, right there with you! I wish I could give you a big hug. ((((((Michele)))))) You are never alone with all of us in your pockets. Maybe this will make you smile---I saved it and came across it today.  Page 167:  "I am officially a flapper! Everyone says my doc did a fantastic have been jnnt fit the block. I can't dibs both Wilbur grgvsimecgungrt."

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  • niknak11
    niknak11 Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2014

    Movie-

    Yep, I see your PS on Monday.  I'm looking forward to meeting him.  The Oncologist said they should be able to taper me off the blood thinners and it should be safe to do the procedure immediately.  I guess it comes down to what the PS is comfortable with.

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  • Moviemaniac
    Moviemaniac Member Posts: 949
    edited January 2014

    Jeannie...thanks for the memories!........  I've had MY laugh for the night....

    Curly, I hope you have room for one more in your "pity party" tonight...because I want in!   I have been learning a new language and I have finally learned a complete phrase.......".uckfay ancercay" ........and that about says it all.  Sending you cyber (((hugs)))...and the war cry:  "TOWANDA"!!!!!

    Donna....truly not picking on you, and you DO sound like you are doing everything right...I just don't want anyone to have to deal with open ab wounds....they aren't pretty, and they do tend to cramp your style......keep on keeping on!

    Nik....I hope Dr. C will have good news for you......he is SO good at these....hope he's able to make YOU a pair, too!

    XO

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  • niknak11
    niknak11 Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2014

    Jeanie,

    Thank you for the kind words.  I will be needing the support, I'm sure. Its nice to hear everyone's experiences and advice.  I'll be picking brains soon.  Hope everyone is feeling a little better than the day before.  Happy healing.

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  • lahela
    lahela Member Posts: 515
    edited January 2014

    The penguins are huddling (huggling?) around you Curly! xxxooo

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  • Ridley
    Ridley Member Posts: 634
    edited January 2014

    Curly - glad you have a plan - sorry it turned out to be what you thought it would be.  It is great news that your PS doesn't need to see you again for 6 months.  I think by then your chemo will be over - done and dusted - right?  Sounds like great timing in .... (using Movie's lingo) ... an  "ittyshay" situation. 

    Hugs - Ridley 

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  • kelleyb
    kelleyb Member Posts: 94
    edited January 2014

    Michele, I'm really sorry you're facing chemo again.  IFHC so much.  Hugs to you sweet lady.

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

    lahela.....you called it girl....PENGUIN HUGGLE!!!!!

    We're a big flock, we've got room in the middle for curly, YOU, kelley, zoemom....and anyone else I haven't mentioned! Huggle up, friends, we'll get everyone through the latest bc/recon vortex.

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    I finally got on here and an reading your replies about my bowel issues. I don't feel like I need to go, but haven't gone since last Thursday I started taking the colace and miralax once a day when I got home on Tuesday, because that's what the package said. So I should double that? I don't have much of an appetite so choking down these meds sucks. Is there any juice that would help? Pretty ticked at all those nurses I kept asking about the bowels. 

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

    jmb5, it may be time for mag citrate followed by a chaser of a quart of water. You can double the colace, add Metamucil, drink prune juice. Stay well-hydrated. Call your doctor. You don't want to end up in the hospital like I did. I really hope you have success soon!!

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  • Curlylocks
    Curlylocks Member Posts: 1,060
    edited January 2014

    by safesaver" in_rurl="http://i.txtsrving.info/click?v=Q0E6NTY4MDA6MTE0NTp0aGFuazo5ZjQ2MTg1ZjJmZWJiODMxZjRlODJiNmRjNDlhZGJjNzp6LTE1NDYtMjg3NjA5OmNvbW11bml0eS5icmVhc3RjYW5jZXIub3JnOjExMDkyODphMDljNTg4NzYyZDM2NGVmNjI3ZDI2NmE3Y2NhZDQ1NTozZTE0ZTE1NmM1YWE0MTQwOTU3OWRlYmQ3ZGQyZTY1ZQ" id="_GPLITA_16" href="#">Thankimage you all my sweet friends, I feel your love!  I went and got my hair cut off short today as I wanted to take some control on when I cut my hair and tell cancer to go to hell!!!!  It's still curly despite being short.  I came home and my hubby said he loved it and then the waterworks started, I hate, hate....having to do chemo again:( But I am putting my BIG girl Spanx on and kicking this bastard to the curb!

    Here is a picture of my new cancer cut:

    image

    Jmb - dont allow the constipation to go on any longer, you dont want to end up with a bowel obstruction.  Try what Jeanie said.

    Movie - I like your new phrase -".uckfay ancercay".LOL

    Donna - glad to hear that you are not pushing yourself.  I am 6.5 weeks out today and had my final wound clinic by safesaver" in_rurl="http://i.txtsrving.info/click?v=Q0E6NTkwODM6MzI4NTphcHBvaW50bWVudDo1YjkyZTYwY2VkOTc1YzI0ZjZlZTY0OTAyNmI0YTM2NTp6LTE1NDYtMjg3NjA5OmNvbW11bml0eS5icmVhc3RjYW5jZXIub3JnOjE4MTg5NzpmODM3ZDc3ODYzYzIyM2FjNTY4MDNjZDMzNDVmMTU2YTo4ZWU4ZDQwYWFjYjQ0NWI0OTk3ZWRjM2NjYTQyN2UzYQ" id="_GPLITA_1" href="#">appointmentimage for my DIEP surgery.  The nurse was amazed that I was only 6.5 weeks out and said WOW you have healed so well.  I said that is because I have done nothing for this time frame.  It certainly makes a difference in healing, your body needs rest to heal.

    Kelly - thinking of you and hoping you got your abdomen incision taken care of today.  Hang in there, this is a bump in the road to recovery.

    Michele

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  • Ridley
    Ridley Member Posts: 634
    edited January 2014

    Jmb. I agree with the others on solving the constipation issue ASAP.  I'm wondering if tightness in your stomach is confusing your feelings of having to go?  Maybe TMI, but i have some different sensations in my digestive tract since surgery ( e.g. Feeling hungry, full, etc) and thought it might be related to how tight my stomach was.  I really have no idea, so just throwing  it out there.

    Also, keep well hydrated - as for a juice - can you drink prune juice?

    Curly - your new haircut is really cute!

    Ridley

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  • LucyV
    LucyV Member Posts: 177
    edited January 2014

    curlylocks- you are and look mahvalous!

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  • Donna2012
    Donna2012 Member Posts: 201
    edited January 2014

    2 of my 4 drains came out today!  Feels great to have them gone!  The other 2 should come out Monday.    My stomach is so bloated & swollen - they said it is all normal & that I look really good.   It is sooo tight - I asked if I'd ever be able to do a back bend one day (not that I plan to).  They said "absolutely".  

    curly - you look great in your pic!

    Jmb5 - I was told that movement really helps with constipation.  So, if you are allowed to, walk around as much as possible.  The day before I actually "went", I had lots of gas pains & gurgling sounds.  

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

    Curly, you look GREAT! I know you will kick, stomp, beat FC to the curb and beyond! 

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  • Zoemom
    Zoemom Member Posts: 50
    edited January 2014

    Curly, a big penguin hug to you and your haircut is beautiful. 

    JMB, take 2 colace a day at a minimum.  Take a full capful of Miralax.  That should help. 

    Kelleyb, good luck with your abdomen sweetie. I can relate. Hugs to you too.  

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  • Zenful
    Zenful Member Posts: 599
    edited January 2014

    Curly, I love your haircut.  Keep smiling, you are beautiful. uckfay ancercay.  Penguin Huggle!!

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    I'm happy to report I finally had a bowel movement today. Thanks for the meds advice. It helped. Wish I felt better though. Still have pain and no appetite. Some mild heartburn too. Went from being hot and sweaty to cold a lot today. Took my temp to be safe and it was 99.6. I hate feeling so crappy. 

    Curly, I love the new do. You look beautiful!

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

    TOWANDA, Curly.....there's a light in your eyes that shows bc it may try, but it "ain't gonna get the better of YOU!!!!!". It may not have been what you wanted, but I agree with the others....your haircut now is cute and sassy, and it will be that way again in the future. 

    Kelley....hope all goes well tomorrow....and you get yourself back on the road to healing

    donna....2 drains down.....progress girl!

    jmb......good to go! Congrats! Hope you're feeling a bit better tomorrow...keep yourself well hydrated, you're probably still metabolizing a lot of meds/anesthesia....it takes time to reset all your systems.

    Have good nights, everyone..... huggles

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  • Donna2012
    Donna2012 Member Posts: 201
    edited January 2014

    jmb5,  when I was in the hospital there was a day when I also felt warm & had a temp slightly under 100.  It lasted about a day and the nurse told me to keep using the plastic thing that you blow air into (can't think of the name) because by expanding your lungs with it, will decrease your temp.  Not sure why - but it seemed to work and my temp went back to normal.  Also, I had little pain from diep - had much more pain from mastectomy & node removal. You just had both surgeries at once, so it may take more time.  

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

    That's the incentive spirameter. I too had a fever because my lungs weren't fully inflated...

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

    I developed pleural effusion after I got home from DIEP and had to be readmitted. That blowy thing is your best friend.

    Yay, jmb5!

    Kelley, thinking of you tomorrow!!

    Donna, glad things are going in the right direction for you.

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  • iowagirl1
    iowagirl1 Member Posts: 130
    edited January 2014

    Curly, I'm so sorry about this setback.  You've got lots of support here and you seem to have lots of inner strength to draw on.  Your haircut is adorable.  Love the curls.  

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    I noticed last night that my left breast on the top almost toward my armpit, got harder and more sore. It's still feeling like that today. It feels pretty numb also. Is that okay for it to get hard?

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  • Ridley
    Ridley Member Posts: 634
    edited January 2014

    Jmb - when did you have your drain out on that side, if it is out.  I noticed that I had an area become harder for a little while after the drain came out.  Re the numbness, that is the same side as your sentinel node biopsy, right?  I had/have a bit of numbness in both armpits from the SNBs.  My understanding is that the numbness is from the disruption to the nerves.  Mine has mostly resolved.  The only time I notice it now is when I'm having a shower and lathering up or shaving,

    As always, when in doubt, call your PS:)

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    None of my drains are out yet. I do have a call in just to make sure. Is the sentinel node actually under the armpit? The hardness is actually above the breast, a couple inches below my collar bone. 

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  • jenjenl
    jenjenl Member Posts: 948
    edited January 2014

    Jmb. This happened to me and my surgeon said it was scar tissue from the mx and radiation.   I have hardness above my flap near my armpit.   They will remove it in stage 2.  They made my radiated side a little bigger in case.

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2014

    I guess that would make sense. This is on the side that was radiated 4 years ago 

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  • Ridley
    Ridley Member Posts: 634
    edited January 2014

    Yes, for me sentinel nodes were in my armpits - sorry misread your post.  Hope everything is fine.

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