DIEP 2014

jmb- I had six drains all removed the same day. The four near the breasts didn't hurt at all. Just a weird sensation. For the two in my FUPA he had me take a deep breath in and exhale out three times and then pulled it.  Just a little discomfort. The joy of getting them out surpasses any pain! Like childbirth right! You will be fine.

Ridley - I'm really sorry to hear about your cousin.  She was too young.

I never knew what FBC meant either, until today. An abbreviation is probably the most polite thing to do, but I have no problem swearing when it comes to such things. F*cking cancer.

Shantab - Standing up straight will happen. I second what Bailey said. DIEP is an exercise in patience, and you can't rush healing. 

Ladies,

I've just spent most of yesterday reading the thread, and catching up with how everyone is doing. I am  amazed by all of you....I get the fact that we don't have to be brave, we just have to show up. ( I was practically reciting that as my mantra on the way to the surgery.lol) But I've decided that it still requires "guts", for lack of a better term, so I just want to tell all of my flappers that I am proud of all of us, even me! ; )

So, my surgery was on Monday. The main thing that I dìdn't expect was the amount of thirst I had, for the next 3-4 days. I was soooo thirsty, and I only wanted ice water. Then, I would be full because of my newly tightened tummy, and they'd bring in my lunch...lol. Well, I suppose I managed to eat enough...I thought I must have lost about 10 lbs. with less eating and with drinking tons of water...but I didn't yet. Since I still can't eat very much, I expect that will change. I'm not "trying" to slose weight yet, but wouldn't it be nice if it was a cool side benefit?...Just sayin'... 

My surgery seemed to go very well. My PS was phenominal. Dr. Bluebond-Langner usually does her surgeries at the University of Maryland, but I have gone through all of my treatment at St. Josephs, so I wanted to continue to go there. She had done some there before so she arranged it, and since the staff was a bit less familiar with the surgery and the care I needed after the surgery, she gave the staff an in-service on the surgery and a binder with pics describing what it entailed, and the after I needed, and why. It was amazing...the staff in ICU showed it to my husband, and he thought it was very interesting. The staff all seemed to think she was great, and carefully explained the care instructions and why, and I got the impression that this was something they weren't very usd to.

Like you all, I am feeling beat up...my back hurts from being hunched over, and my stomach hurts when I cough, or get up, and my thighs hurt from trying to take the place of my stomach muscles!! I do feel better each day, though, and am looking forward to getting a few drains taken out...maybe on Tuesday...

EVERYONE keep on hanging in there. I know you are all going through slightly different versions of the same thing, but I can't thank you enough for sharing your thoughts, feelings, and stories. It certainly makes me feel like I am  not going through this alone...

thanks Goldie for those sweet words.  I am going to go just for a little bit, mainly because my family made some extra food for me to take home so I won't have to cook.  I am coughing a lot today and wondering if my funk has to do with something respiratory.  Oh well, this too shall pass.

When my drains were removed it was a quick tug, just a little discomfort and it was over. I think my drains were removed too soon (three days post surgery) so im dealing with padding with gauze and tape over my now opening incision that's still draining and making a mess over everything I wear. **Deep breath,  baby steps**, I see my PS on the 7th hopefully he can just aspirate the area, then maybe that will cure my drainage iss

Shantab, when I had my drains out after my bmx it was a relief, and no pain involved at all.  I am sorry you are having drainage, but better than it building up inside.  I had a small seroma aspirated about a week after my drains came out, and then they had me put compression on the area, but with the diep I don't know if compression is a good idea.  Totally different scenario than just bmx

Thinking of this week's ladies.....in your pockets! 

Hey Jeannie,

Nipples!!!!!  Yeah.  Who has the finish line pic? 

Yay, Jeannie!

jmb...about the drain output and consistency...Its possible you had a seroma or hematoma that loosened up and then needed draining. This happened to me this last surgery. My output was low and then the next day I had about 15cc more than the day before. My PS said since it was thicker and unexpected, it was most likely a hematoma. Hematomas are very common after surgery and initially are too thick to drain through the tubing. So after a week or two, they loosen up and then drain.

Thanks, Zenful.  I knew somebody said they were saving the finish line pic. 

Jeannie, that's from all of us. 

I use Poise panty liners since my hysterectomy. Gosh, if I counted all the little annoying things that were wrong with me I would get very sad, but anyway, not the point.  The Poise pads are much more absorbent than the normal panty liner. So, if you are using panty liner's to help with drainage and they are not dong the job, buy a small pack of Poise (they come in different thickness), but the panty liner works well for my problem, and I bet they would hold quite a bit of drainage. If somebody starts me laughing and I have a full bladder I feel so blessed to know my Poise is with me...ugh. 

It's hard to believe the finish line is near. When I get tattoos I'm sure I will finally let out a sigh of relief. Thank you! A lot of you are right behind me! And Movie's nips look fantastic, it's true!!!

Shantab

We are so glad that you are feeling more relaxed about your recovery. You will get better and better.

Greetings, I'm wanting to introduce myself to the many of you who I've been following for these past few months as I've been gathering the courage to walk this journey. Your support for one another has served as a comfort to me, even though we haven't met! I'm on the surgery list for April and will be traveling to SC for Doctor Kline. If any of you have experience with his practice, I would love to know more. Also, I would like access to the picture forum. With 2/4 chemo treatments done 

(:-)) I feel ready to face the reality of surgery and would appreciate more of a clue about what to expect. I have PM'd nowhere girl based on something that I saw elsewhere, but haven't received a reply. Any advice ?

Many thanks.  

Ashira

This appears sideways for me, don't know why. It was a brief time of warm sunshine this morning before we get some cold (for us) Canadian air. You know how it feels when the sunshine warms your jeans? Seahawks win, warm sunshine, Starbucks, hubs....a moment to Love Life.