DIEP 2014

donna....my PS doesn't do binders either. He left it up to me, if I wanted some compression. I went to Walmart after my drains were all out, and found some "off the rack" one piece "shapewear" that had a built in boyshort style panty. That kept it from riding up, the compression area started below my tummy incision and ended just below my breasts. It really, really helped my back feel much better, and I think helped to resolve the post surgical swelling. I wore it 24/7, for about 2 months, then tapered off. 

jenjenl....no driving AT ALL if you are taking pain meds, for obvious reasons. There are various opinions on what else signifies you're ready to get behind the wheel....can you react quickly and forcefully with your arm and legs in an emergency situation. Could you handle the impact of a sudden jolt or pressure of a seatbelt, should something happen? Remember, it's not just can you drive slowly and safely, but, can you deal with what the other drivers around you may or may not do? 

I went to go and get my BRCA1/2 genetic test today at by SaveNewaAppz" in_rurl="http://i.txtsrving.info/click?v=Q0E6NTQzMjU6MzMxODpjcmVkaXQ6Y2U2YjY3ZDczMDYzYzQ3NDVhYWQwM2RjMWJlZWZhOTI6ei0xNTQ2LTI4NzYwOTpjb21tdW5pdHkuYnJlYXN0Y2FuY2VyLm9yZzoxMTA5NTE6YTA5YzU4ODc2MmQzNjRlZjYyN2QyNjZhN2NjYWQ0NTU6N2UxMDlkMDA2OTM5NGM2NGJjNmM0NTU3OWUyZGQzYmU" id="_GPLITA_1" href="#">Credit Valley Hospital...results should be available in a few months.

I also took a stop into by SaveNewaAppz" in_rurl="http://i.txtsrving.info/click?v=Q0E6MzE0NzI6MTIyMDp3b3JrOjJiN2NkMTZlN2VlYTIyMDA0MmU4MTlmMTRjMTg3MTI1OnotMTU0Ni0yODc2MDk6Y29tbXVuaXR5LmJyZWFzdGNhbmNlci5vcmc6Mjk3MjU6MDhmZmQ5ODc4OGVjMjZjYWIzMWUwODdmYWUzYjgyMzQ6NjVhODM2NDY0YzRkNDMzYzliZmIzYjJlMWIyMTcxOTg" id="_GPLITA_0" href="#">work to get some medical forms and another short term by SaveNewaAppz" in_rurl="http://i.txtsrving.info/click?v=Q0E6NDczNTA6MTMwNDpkaXNhYmlsaXR5IGZvcm06MGI2NzdlMzQ5MzkzYWQ5YTdhYzVhOGZjY2YyMTUyZmQ6ei0xNTQ2LTI4NzYwOTpjb21tdW5pdHkuYnJlYXN0Y2FuY2VyLm9yZzoxMTY3NjM6MDpjNDE5MDdjN2UzNzE0NjRhYWM3NjVhMjc0Y2MxZTc0OA" id="_GPLITA_0" href="#">disability form as I will be off by SaveNewaAppz" in_rurl="http://i.txtsrving.info/click?v=Q0E6MzE0NzI6MTIyMDp3b3JrOjAwNzhkNzkwZjFmM2E1ODNmZjMwMjI3ZWNhNzkwMjYwOnotMTU0Ni0yODc2MDk6Y29tbXVuaXR5LmJyZWFzdGNhbmNlci5vcmc6Mjk3MjU6MDhmZmQ5ODc4OGVjMjZjYWIzMWUwODdmYWUzYjgyMzQ6YWQ2Mjc5NWMyNThjNGI4YTk1NTE1MDRlMGYzNWU5MjI" id="_GPLITA_1" href="#">work longer during my chemo and recuperation afterwards. It was nice to see my coworkers, got lots and lots of hugs and encouragement.  The general manager said to me to take care of me and he will see me back at work when I feel I am ready to come back. 
He has always been an amazing GM.

Tomorrow is a busy day, filled with appointments at the hospital in preparation for the start of the joyful chemo next Tuesday.  I have a bone scan with dye, pic line insertion and a CT scan.  Thursday I have chemo teaching class that I would rather avoid - that's where they tell you that you are going to turn into a science experiment and all the side effects that could possibly happen to you.  I remember the first time I did chemo in 2005 being absolutely horrified and just wanting to escape someone!LOL

Donna - the driving question depends on how you are able to twist your body - remember you have to be able to back up the car too or swerve out of someone's way quickly.  I didnt drive till about 4 weeks out.  I am still not able to back my car into my garage way too much twisting around so leave it in the driveway for hubby to back in.LOL

Dont rush the exercise please, I know you are anxious and feel like you are contributing nothing right now, probably bored stiff and just wanting to get moving.  You will do more harm than good!

Getting the drains removed is so amazing, I had mine for a total of 10 days and was oh so happy when they went bye, bye:)

Jmb - binders, I had one from the moment I woke up from surgery...hated it! But I wore it 24/7 for the first 4 weeks and then switched it out for a spanx which is alot more comfortable and still provides compression.  Binders help with reducing the buildup of fluid in your tummy and prevent seramoas and also help support your back.  I am 7 weeks out and was told to wear my spanx for another 5 weeks.  To be honest without, it feels alot better with the compression than without.

Sunone - welcome aboard.  Sorry that you are dealing with this beast a third time.  These ladies helped me out greatly when I joined here in August 2013.  I have no regrets about the surgery.  I had a skin sparing, non-nipple sparing Masectomy with
DIEP reconstruction.  I couldnt be happier with the results.  I have been extremely lucky and had no complications or infections.  I am 7 weeks out from surgery.

Maggie - LOL on the clay mounds comment....I posted that awhile ago because I felt the same way.  I am 7 weeks out of surgery and it is getting alot better, not 100% yet but ALOT better. They are starting to loosen up and soften up but still nice and perky!

Nihahi - are you still digging out from the snow this winter?  I am so tired of snow, they are forecasting another 15cm tonight into tomorrow for us.  We have not had this much snow since the 1970's!

Hope all the new ladies are doing well, healing strength to all of you.  The bad days, these two will pass and tomorrow the sun will come out again:)

Michele

Ridley, try the Bali 3484, it has more support than the 3488

I have tried lots of other bras but always end up back in my Bali 3484 - it's really comfortable and the molded cup makes my flat crop circles less obvious.

jmb, my drains hurt when they pulled them!

I am waiting for my Oncotype test. My current breast cancer was sentinel node negative and considered stage 1. ( found on yearly MRI ) as opposed to my tumor in 2005. Anyone else with experience with the Oncotype?

brownie, great to hear you are healing so well.  Sorry about the skin tearing.  You should be okay.  Some people get blisters from the tape, and have to let them heal. It happens, and usually resolves with no problem.

Daylabreak, can't help you with the oncotype.  But, I bet there is a thread just for that.  Do a search for it.  I am sure there is somebody that can help you with your question.  There might even be somebody here that can, not sure.  Glad you caught you bc early!!!

Dayle... You are still really early in the process. I would just wear the black surgical bra they gave you for another 4-6 weeks.... no underwire til then anyway. Dr Sullivan assisted on my GAP flap back in 2011... 

About driving, it is a very individual thing. I was driving post GAP and post DIEP at 2 weeks. As long as I wasn't on meds and felt ok, my doctor was fine with it. I didn't drive marathons, but quick trip here and there. When I was 4 weeks post DIEP I did drive 3 hours to my HS reunion. It was fine.

The phantom itches and nipple sensations are awful, but my noob ones stopped pretty quickly, after a couple of months I guess. I still have lots of belly/hip itches and I can only ease them by pressing hard on the area and kind of pushing it around inside - scratching does nothing, so I guess they are related to nerve regeneration.

TBerg, crop circles are the round scars after skin sparing mx with diep, where they cut around the areola (they call it a donut incision) and scoop out the breast tissue and fill the skin envelope with the flap. Or some women have football-shaped scars, or some have lollipops (where there was also a vertical incision made, too).

Beebop, sorry you're not feeling good. I felt like I had been hit by a truck then run over repeatedly and honestly didn't get any spring back in my step for a couple of months. Tiredness took its toll on me because I couldn't sleep comfortably but once I started getting better sleep I felt a whole lot better. Good luck with your PA visit.

Teacher, so sorry you had to look for us but so glad you've found us! This is a great group of women with lots of experience with tummy flap surgeries. 

I'm guessing the cancerectomy was a double mastectomy (based on your number of drains). Chemo and /or rads, too?

I had chemo first, then single mx, then rads. I was back to work about 10 days after my mx. So I bounced right back, too, after mx. By the end of rads I was pretty worn out.

With my flap recon I was off work 7 weeks. My ps did not want me to raise my bp or heart rate for six weeks (or was it four?) so other than short, slow walks and stretching, no exercise. The reason for that is to allow the new vein connection (s) to fully heal so the flap survives. My flap surgery took the stuffing out of me for a few months. 

However....we have a wide range of women here with a wide range of experiences....others will chime in too.

Your attitude....about not letting cancer stop you from enjoying life..will serve you well. Imho it's the very best way to get through cancer.....or any struggle! Hugs & welcome!

jmb - the same thing happened to me, i would wake up in the morning soaked.  Then when I got to 2 weeks it just stopped. I'm still taking naps...recovering takes a lot out of you! what did you dr say about the hardness you mentioned?

beebop.....could you be anemic from the surgery? I turned out to be, and adding supplemental iron made a BIG difference in how I felt. 

teacher....love, love your attitude. Remember though, there are no medals given out for speed or ease of recovery. There is a significant difference between the healing "demands" on your body after a mx and a flap recon, so expecting to be "training" again at 2 weeks is pretty far off the mark, imho. The objective early on, is to heal....internally and externally. That takes time, different for everyone, but still, time that you can't really "power through". Your PS is the best source of info on what you should be setting as timelines for different activity levels, and each PS has different protocols.

I hope someone has some thoughts on the "night sweats"....sorry, can't help on that one.

Curly....thinking of you. Huggles

jmb - i think it was the body working hard to recover.  I remember hearing we heal faster when sleeping.  I am having the same issue with radiated righty.  she seems to have a hardening starting at the top center of the breast around to the armpit and to the bottom center of the breast....like a C.  The thickening hinders my range of motion - I had to do PT for 2 months after my 1st MX & ALND and I think I am having the same issue.   I hope the flap is not failing and there is something that can be done.  

I do love the way they look in a shirt...it really is amazing!