DIEP 2014

Optimi - My first PS said no way to make As from my tummy. I am 5 days post extended DIEP with Dr. Massey and, assuming there is some swelling, these are solid B-Cs. I think it is in the technique the surgeon uses. 

I can't catch up with all of the posts. I am setting aside this afternoon to catch up on everyone.

also, anyone here have any experience with Calhoun or Louie in Seattle?

Although you will be "able" to stretch following DIEP, be sure to check with your PS on what their recommendation is. Most like you to use T-Rex arms for a week or 10 days.  As with all other things, each PS is different , so be sure to ask. 

dyvgrl, my friend loves Dr. Louie, just had an adjustment to her implant.

Quick Drive by cause this girl is exhausted.....

Had my last chemo today, picc line removed and came home and crashed for 2 hours.

It has been a challenging week - had to have surgery for a kidney stone in my right kidney that was 8mm (too big to pass on its own).  Had my first attack on Sunday night while at Mother in Law's - went to her ER - they did ultrasound, bloodwork, urine and said that the ultrasound showed the stone had moved and was irritating the tube thus blood in my urine.  They gave me naproxen (anti inflammatory) and Flomax (suppose to help stone pass, not sure why they gave me this as my stone was too huge for this?).  Told me to make appt with regular doctor for referral to urologist.  I had another bad attack Sunday night, had to take a percoet to get rid of pain.

Called doctor's office on Monday - couldnt get appt until Thursday afternoon.

Monday, Tuesday no pain or issues.  Wednesday all hell broke loose at 3:00 am. in the morning.  I woke up with severe pain in my kidney radiating into my back, felt like someone was standing on my kidney and squeezing it.  Went to the ER, they hooked me up to IV pain meds and hydrated me.  Had a CT scan, ER doctor said he was paging urologist to come and consult with him at hospital and then speak to me.  Urologist came in about 3:00 pm. and said I had two options - 1) wait and see for a few weeks to see if things get better or 2) he would do a small surgical procedure that he would have to put me under anasetetic and use a wire thing with a camera and lazer attached to it, lazer the stone to break it up to tiny pieces and they insert a stent for a week.  I had enough pain last week to last a lifetime so I said I wanted the surgery done.  Had surgery on Thursday afternoon, released from hospital at 6:30 pm. Thursday.

I am on 1000mg of Cipro (antibotics) which is also wiping the crap out of me.  They dont want me to get an infection from the stent and knew that I was doing chemo today.

Thursday night around 9:30 p.m. I started having severe pain in my front down near my bladder (even worse than kidney stone pain).  It got so bad that I vomitted my dinner at 10:00 pm.  Tried taking percoet, didnt even touch the pain so after an hour it was back to the hospital ER.  They tried using my picc line to administer iv morphine, guess what? The picc line stopped working....grrrrrrrr! They had to shove an IV in my right hand which hurt like hell.  They kept me overnight in ER in a room as they wanted to do a CT scan of my abdomen, ER doc thought I had appendecitis.  Had CT scan, it was normal.  Day shift ER doctor called my urologist and he said the pain was my bladder spasming from the stent so he prescribed vesicare which relaxes your bladder.  Released from hospital on Friday at 3:00 pm.

The stent has been very hard to deal with as it feels like I constantly have to go pee, it also causes pain in my back and bladder so have to keep pain in check with pain meds.  Thankfully it is being removed tomorrow at 1:20 pm.

The oncology nurse had to use my poor vein in my right hand to do my bloodwork yesterday. It still hurts like hell from having the IV in there for over 24 hours, she was taping it to get the vein to pop...holy crap...pain:)  I had to go to angio to have my old picc line removed for treatment today and a new one inserted.  Didnt hurt thankfully.

I will be back on when I feel a little more human....just wanted to let you ladies know I am still here and working my way back to the land of the living:)

Love

Michele

good lord, curly!!!!! If the saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"....is true.....you must be the strongest woman in the history of women!!!!!!!! Hope your have finally reached your quota of complications. Congrats, big time, on the final chemo!!!! Happy dance for you!!!!

Curlylocks, you must have the strength of a dozen of us. Hope your healing is fast.

Crap Curly, you have been through the wringer.  I hope that ER has seen the last of you for a while.

Congratulations on being done with chemo!  Maybe the snow today was to celebrate with you....

Sending lots of positive vibes for your body to heal from all the torment it's been through.

Ridley 

Wow Michele, First thing Congratulations on your last chemo treatment!, Just in time for Spring.

I am sorry to hear all you have been though lately. It all sounds painful. I have not had a stone but I have heard its horrible. My dad has had the bladder spasms and was on the floor in tears. I hope all of this is over now and you can get some much needed rest. Take care.

Michelle- sorry you had to go through all of that, but happy that you are done with chemo.

Lemon- thanks for asking, yes, I am feeling great!  So happy to feel like I am finally getting my life back.  Just waiting for phase 2.  Started walking this week and have had more pain in my belly, but nothing like it was before.

I hope everyone is doing well.  I am here every day reading, but I don't post a lot because I get overwhelmed and it's hard responding to everyone that I want to.  Just know I am glad you are all here!

Curly sending you healing prayers. Congratulations on being done with chemo! Hope you can find a peaceful place in your home to rest and get comfortable. Sorry you have had that added stress to your situation. Hugs.

Curlyocks - Damn, you've been through a lot. 

I'm so glad you've finished chemo, and I'm starting the countdown to getting rid of that stent, and I'm willing you calm sleeps and pain free days ahead. 

Went to my pre op appt with my PS today.  He made it all sound so easy.  A walk in the park.  No problem.  So I am choosing to believe him.  He is very hopeful he will get me out of this pain I have with the implants.  He will put all my muscles back where they belong, and I will have crop circle's just like an immediate recon, which will later be my nipples.  As long as everything goes well I will spend three nights I the hospital.  Surgery will be Monday, and I should go home on Thursday.  He hopes to pull my breast drains before I leave that day, and I should go home with one abdominal drain, and that should come out around day 10.  No binder.  I think I love this guy. His timeline for my recovery is very optimistic.  I will take things at my own pace, and hope his timeline is even close to how I do. 

Teacher, you crack me up.  I am height challenged too, and I am known to stand of the bottom shelf to reach things higher up.  I might start taking my pic-stick with me to the grocery.  Now, there is a idea.  LOL.  Bad enough I plan to use the electric wheel chair at Costco after this surgery.  I did it after my hysterectomy, and my husband was mortified.  LOL.  I think it was mostly my bad driving and almost running people down. 

Lemon and Georgie.....it's going too fast!!!   We can do this. 

Hi 1toC, you found the right place. I have not had my diep yet.  It is scheduled for May 5th, so I can't speak to my experience with diep at this time, but I can tell you that I am having it done to get rid of very uncomfortable implants, and extreme tightness on both sides.  My PS has almost promised me I will feel much better after surgery.  I once posed the question to the whole thread about "iron bra" feeling, and did anybody feel better after diep.  I had many women answer, that "yes" indeed they did feel better.  I hope that it works for me, and for you. 

A little smile for the day, Easter Egg Cats!