DIEP 2014

Just checking in - I don't know when I last posted. I was able to come home after my one week appointment. I haven't had any pain pills today. I'm just soooo tired! I get around fine, but have been sleeping/resting in my recliner all day and night. To aIl the ladies waiting on surgery - it was a breeze. I was a delayed reconstruction and it was nothing at all like what I imagined. You can do it.

j1971, you look fabulous in that dress!  I hope you felt extra special that night when you were all dressed up.  I had an event shorty after my Stage 1, and dressing up like that made me feel beautiful again after being through so much "ugliness".  As a matter of fact, I just realized my avatar is from that night...

jmb5, I did have lipo in Stage 2, but it wasn't extensive.  The outer thigh lipo was mainly to make things look more proportionate after having part of my butt removed and placed on my chest.  I had a small rear to begin with, so things really needed to be evened out a bit.  I had some inner thigh lipo too, but not much, and a little on the sides of my trunk so I didn't look so straight up and down (again due to not having much hips/butt).  It's sore for the first 5-7 days, but it's not bad.

Hi there ladies!! I just wanted to stop by and thank you for posting and being so encouraging to those of us who have surgeries coming up. It really helps to read through these threads

It has been 1 year since my bmx and I am hoping to have DIEP reconstruction in the next few months. I had some pretty bad radiation burns so my PS wants me to do Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments (20 of them) prior to scheduling surgery and then 10 more after the surgery. Have any of you had experience with these? 

Teacher, so they did notice!  It must be comforting to know your granddaughters love them as much as you do. Bonus! 

I have a date for the wound care clinic.  I do hope there is something they can do for this open area under the fold of the "mound".  I am a "whirlpool bath" person and these showers are getting old.  I just want to soak as this is the only way I find to relax at the end of the day.  Sigh Sigh

Happy Easter to all or Have a Happy relaxing Sunday!!  Kat

Dayle.... I love that area. We spend a week on Lake Champlain each summer in Vergennes @Basin Harbor Club.

Teacher, just the reaction I was hoping you would get!!!  How great. Happy Easter, grandma!!!!

Tbradyful, glad to hear you are resting comfortably.  Keep up the good work.  Do you like what you see so far?   My day is getting close and I am getting some high anxiety...lol. 

Glad to hear the grandkids have approved your reconstruction.

I'm now 2 weeks post surgery.  The worst part was the night after the operation when I had to keep very still.   I had to ask the nurse to scratch my nose for me!  I kept asking the nurse what the time was and each time it was only about half an hour after the last time.  

After that I generally slept ok at night and relaxed during the day.  The nurses were able to check my reconstruction without waking me up which is very impressive.  

I was out after a week, so I've been home a week now.  The only complication I am having is purple patches and blisters.  My surgeon is keeping an eye on them and taking photos for comparison.  He thinks it is just bruising and bleeding from all the clexane.

The purple seems to be turning red, which hopefully is a good sign.  I am due to seem him again on Wednesday.

Hi All

Yesterday was postop day10 from my Stage 2 with Dr Sullivan in NOLA. I have been wearing my compression garment as advised except to shower. Yesterday I woke up with puffiness in all the liposuction end areas. My hubby said they tole me this would happen but of course I can't say I recall that. In fact my instructions were to wear compression for 2 weeks only and I have been counting down the days. Can others give me some feedback on your experiences. How long can I expect this to last. Thanks and Happy Easter. DK

tbradyful, I'm no doctor and your pain could be from lots of things. It does sound similar to what I had a week out from surgery---pleural effusion, or "fluid on the lung."  Sometimes the docs want to drain it and examine it but I didn't have to do that. It resolved on its own after a week or so. I hope your doc reassures you tonight.

I went to Wal-Mart & got a Flexees girdle.  It really hasn't bothered me at all.  It comes all the way up the edge of my bra.

Wynne...that's interesting that different docs at PRMA have different philosophies.  Dr. Pisano's nurse told me to gradually work down lower when sleeping.  I've laid on my side a little while elevated but it's just not the same.  I got rid of the 24" wedge pillow last week after we pulled the last drain & have been using pillow to prop me a little.  I'll probably try laying flat within the next few nights. I've had a little trouble getting the hole to close up from the last drain.  I worked outside all day yesterday & it drained quite a bit.  I probably over did it but it was so gorgeous out.  It has drained at all day so maybe it's finally closing. 

Today was a day that I actually spent day with my sister's family.  I haven't been any family gatherings since August 2012!!  This is Karley, my grand-niece, and we took the T-Bird for a country road ride!!  My little 3 and a-half grand-niece went up to my husband and asked him for his keys so she could go for another ride(like the 8th time) in the car!!  It was so nice to get out.  I made memories today and enjoyed the ride with the sun and the wind in my face!!

My sister and I going for a ride--Girls just want to have fun!!

Except for the purple/red patches and blisters, I was surprised at how easy and quick my recovery was.  As soon as I got home I wanted to clean the kitchen.  Fortunately I have a robotic vacuum cleaner and floor washer, so all I had to do was set them going.  

It was really hard restraining myself from doing things. I saw my surgeon a couple of days after discharge.  In the interests of taking things easy, I decided to catch the bus there rather than walk, but he thought even catching the bus was overdoing things.  And I thought that walking was good for you....

However I have been avoiding any heavy lifting.

So I've mainly been sitting in the garden for the last 9 days, doing light house housework and wondering when I can start swimming and cycling again.

I have slept far more than normal, so at least I have had a bit of post surgery fatigue. and I am struggling to concentrate which is probably fatigue as well.

Thank you tbrady!  I figured that I was doing too much.  I took it easy yesterday & will do the same all week.  It is so hard to sit and do nothing when it's so pretty outside but if I feel the need to be outside I'll park my rear end in a chair and just sit there. 

Katski...so glad that you got to see and enjoy your family.  That's what holidays are for.

Iowagirl...good luck tomorrow!

Thanks Teacher,  it sounds like these sorts of blisters are not that rare.