DIEP 2014
Comments
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Ladies,
I am so glad to have found all of you. Ì can't tell you how much you have helped me along the way.
I am about to have Phase 2, so if anyone can tell me what to expect I'd appreciate it greatly....I have a wedding to go to 6 days out and have a few questions...how is the pain?...am I going to be able to wear anything?...What kind of binder did you use? Did it show through clothes? Did you bruise a lot on the upper chest?
Funny, but I think I am more nervous about the results of this one....
Thanks for your thoughts, insights, and stories....I read them almost every day, but don't post often.
Terrie
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Oh my its so busy here!
Janet, thanks for your wise words. You know I cant help but think I will look like SpongeBob and think of you each time I see him!
Zen- thank you, glad we have that family trait of passing out..LOL
Cindy- Great advice. I have a double recliner I plan on taking over from my DH and dog. I have a tempurpedic bed I love but after my hysterectomy I couldn't get out of it so I think I will stick to the recliner when I get home. Thanks so much.
Iowagirl- Sending healing thoughts!
Georgie- I am hanging in there today. I was crazy busy at work today so no time to "think".
JMB- I have my Gillian and O Malley jammies, 2 sets. Hoping for some warm weather but its just isn't happening. Thanks for the info on the bra and binder. Were you bandaged or wrapped up or just nothing? Your not pregnant alert was really cute. I hope they just knock me out as I am sure it will be early in the AM anyway and I will have fear all over my face. How long was your surgery? Did your DH stay the whole time waiting? I know I shouldn't be but I am worried about mine.
Teacher- I got my haircut last week. I have thick and I mean THICK hair and it was down to my breasts, out of control! It is now shoulder length. I need to color but I keep putting it off so it will last though my recovery. I used to pluck the grays but now underneath there are just too many. The nurse told me yesterday I can do my nails but one has to be bare, that made me happy.
KatSki- I would love for you all to be in there holding my hands! I know in my mind you all will be. I am very grateful for that.
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Speaking of meals... there are a few websites that make it easy to organize meals. My friend set it up for me on takethemameal.com
I also used Caring Bridge to keep friends and family notified. We were getting so bombarded with e-mails, texts and calls, and it got overwhelming to explain the same thing over and over. When a friend suggested Caring Bridge, I was hesitant, but am so glad I used it. What an easy way to keep people updated. And during my recovery when the questions started up again, I would just send an update, and everyone knew how I was doing. I journaled some of the days I was in the hospital and at home, and it's interesting to go back and read what I wrote while on pain meds. I don't remember some of it. If anyone's interested in reading them, you can message me and I can send you the link.
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What a great find this discussion group is! Thanks to zenful ,Ridley,Janet and all the others who provided such wonderful replies to my first post. Knowing what to expect and hearing so many different experiences is enormously helpful and reassuring. I have read several gals preparing for stage 2. Can someone let me know what this stage consists of?
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lemon, yay for the nail polish! I was told no to any polish... even a clear coat. Told not to do my toes either, so I didn't question. I think the nurse who I had to meet with pre-op didn't know what she was talking about. I see so many ladies post on here that they could at least do their toes. And no, I wasn't bandaged in any way. I was completely naked under my gown.
I had to be to the clinic at 5:00 a.m. on surgery day, and the surgery started around 7:30. It was about 11 hours long. My family got to see me around 8:30 p.m. They had told us to expect 8-12 hours, so when 8 hours came and went, I guess my mom got pretty nervous. My husband finally went and asked if he could get an update and they told him I had just finished. It was awhile longer before the doctor spoke to them. I believe the BS spoke to my husband on the phone, the PS spoke to him in person. He stayed there the whole time, but he did walk to Starbucks and got food with our parents. I believe they gave him a pager, if I remember right, so he didn't have to worry about staying in the waiting room.lemon, you can share this link with friends and family, and they will deliver these e-cards right to your hospital room. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/webcontact/greetingcard.aspx
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rose, I have stage 2 next month. My PS told me that I would have fat grafting. She will do liposuction on my legs and inject the fat into the breasts to improve shape. I will also get nipples during this surgery. I guess the surgery (outpatient) lasts a couple hours, and she said I will feel lousy for about a week.
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The hospital where I had surgery, posted updates on a screen by patient number, so my DH got info every hour or so. Someone in the OR did the updating. It helped him feel less stressed. There was also a nice, according to him, cafe where he got lunch and dinner since we had arrived at 5 for the 7:30 surgery. They had told him about 10-11 hours. I do not remember being moved to ICU or even seeing anyone although my DH said he talked to me before he left!! I was out til about 1 am when I became aware of Doppler checks. I was bandaged across my chest and belly. The day after surgery they had to take the bandages off my breasts due to blistering. Penmanship in my journal was strange and words were a bit bizarre. Maybe Wilbur was doing the writing!
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jmb- I appreciate the info. My mom had surgery at the clinic and we did have a pager and there was also a board to look to see progress. It was still a long day and it was only 7 hours. I am glad I will be asleep..lol I looked at the paper yesterday when the nurse left the room and it said surgery was at 7:30 but I still have to call on 5/2 to find out. I am guessing it will be 5 AM same as you.
Thanks for the link, I will definitely share it with my work colleagues. I work at home and my girlfriends are spread out all over the country, this will be nice for them and ME!
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Stage 2 is a much easier recovery. I was able to go back to work after two weeks. It's pretty sore for a week on the thighs if they do lipo there, but I don't recall any bruising on the chest.
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Goodness, this thread is getting hard to keep up with. All of you have so many wonderful contributions to the cause!! Thank you.
I am drawing my strength from those that have gone before me...lol. Truly, you are all an inspiration.
I am glad my surgery is going to be when it is warm. I live in sundresses most summers anyway because of the heat in Texas, so I won't worry about pants for a while. Not till next October, anyway.
Tomorrow lunch with some friends, and then I get on with the business of getting ready. Pre-op at hospital, cleaning the house, spending time with grandkids, some quality time in the garden, and then I will be ready to go. It's all going too fast. I am not really that worried about what I am going to bring with me to the hospital. I seemed to have it covered pretty good for my bmx, so this time I think I got it covered. The only think this time is the going home outfit. Last time I just worn my comfy jeans and a zip up hoodie to go home. This time I won't be wearing jeans.
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hi I am looking for some ladies that used Rebecca Studinger In Michigan. I know
someone did email me a while ago.... saying they used her- but, I must have deleted their message on accident
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Today is my day. Not sleeping haha! I've been very busy this month. I went to Tennessee and enjoyed listening to and meeting face to face one of my favorite author-speakers. It was a total girls weekend with my Mom and Aunt. My birthday was on Easter so my three sisters and their families descended on my parents. 15 adults and 10 kids it's blissful chaos. Now I am ready for surgery. T-2 hours to check-in. I'll let you know when I've regained consciousness.
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TBerg - everyone's stage 2 is different. This is where things vary even more than Stage 1. If one or the other needs repositioning, you could have drains. If you ab incision needs re-opening to remove ropey lumps or to be lowered, you could have drains. Lipo for fat grafting - ouch! Depending where the fat comes from during the lipo, a post-surgical girdle might be used. Mine went from under the boobs to the top of the knees (had zippers and hooks on the side and an open crotch). Bruising is dependent on what is worked on. Has your PS shared the plans? Some are fortunate and can be back at work in 2 weeks. At 6 days out, I would not have been happy at a wedding.
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Fujimama, sleep well. Look forward to your updates.
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Marty, Where all did they lipo at your stage 2? I have a feeling I'm going to be in the same boat with the girdle from under the boobs to the knees. How long did you wear that, and how soon was the swelling gone? I feel almost more nervous about the lipo then I did the stage 1. Maybe because it will be summer and I don't want to be all swollen.
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Friends, I have a milestone to share. I got brave and got out my new electric razor and shaved my pits for the first time in 7 weeks. Bye bye hairy sasquatch!
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JMB- My stage 2 is done in several stages so the first go around I had the left lifted and shifted as she ended up offsides, lipo to the flanks, ab incision lowered, fat grafting. 4 drains, 2 weeks til I was really happy. It was April, but here that can be in the 80s. Wore the Dom for 3 - 4 months, but that is because my Dr. wants us to. Though it really helps with the swelling and to move the fluid. It also helps the skin retract properly. Next stage was in August and she worked on shaping the girls and got the fat from the outer thighs - ouch - standing is fine, laying down is fine - sitting, not so much. Last time she got a tiny bit of fat front the inner thigh. In August we will be finishing up with the nips.
If I can live in the coastal south where the humidity is 95% most of the summer and wear the dang girdle for months, anyone can do it. Just suck it up (forgive the pun). Think about all those women before us from the 1400s to the 1900s that wore corsets. Even our mothers wore girdles that had a lot more control than spanx. This too shall pass, though I gotta say I do still feel swelly in the middle. I am pacing for a trip to NYC and actually through in one of my Doms so I can fit into some clothes that just won't completely zip.
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Thanks for the info., Marty. My PS sounds like she wants to do all the lipo and nipples in one surgery. Knees, inner and outer thigh, flanks, and she said if there's any other torso fat, she could get that too. It seems like too much for one surgery. I'm sure I can survive the compression, but I spend a lot of time in a bathing suit at our pond with my girls, and I'm wondering if I won't be able to do that as much because I'll need to have the compression on. (Won't look so hot in a bathing suit, I'm sure.)
Annajo, congrats on the clean shaven pits! Just in time for summer.
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I go in for my stage 2 tomorrow - exactly 3 mos from my stage 1. I am having a nipple constructed & a small amount of lipo on the reconstructed breast. I will be under general anesthesia. The outside of the new breast is just a little bit bigger, its hard to really notice it unless it is pointed out. She said she will maybe only take out 25ccs. I figured I might as well have everything done that can be done. Nothing is being done to my natural breast or my abdominal incision, so I am hoping this won't be too bad. I have plans to go to a dinner party the next night. I just think I may have to wear something drapey in the front to conceal things. The new nipple will be twice the size as the natural one - it will shrink & should be perfect in a coupl of weeks.
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MartyJ, I'm hoping to have stage 2 in July. I live in Texas, so I will be thankful for AC everywhere.
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Jmb5- it is one summer.think how great you will look in your bathing suit the next summer. You can do this.
Kat- Loved your pics. Hope your wounds are healing.
Going in for my final pictures after 4 surgeries. That's it for me! I am going to miss Dr. Massey terribly. She has done so much for me. Celebration in Chicago this weekend with my appointment on Monday morning. Closure.
You will all get there and it will be great!!
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Lemon...glad I could help & make you feel a little better.
JerseyMom...I got a really tall wedge pillow from Brookstone. It was fantastic. By having that I was able to sleep in the bed
which was nice. It's hard to find a tall wedgepillow. I looked all over the internet for one & couldn't find one.
Ann...lotion! My skin started peeling from being bound up all the time. It was absolute heaven to have lotion rubbed into my back.
Georgie...check Brookstone for a wedge. That's where I bought mine from.It amazes me how it seems like every PS is different about the binders & bras. I had to wear the surgical bra until both chest drains were removed & then I had to wear a bra with an underwire 24/7 until I was 4 wks post-op then I could go without it at night. I had to wear the binder until all stomach drains were removed & then I switched to a tall girdle. I can also go without the girdle at night. Because of the girdle, I was able to wear my jeans immediately. The girdle works as protection between my stomach incision & the jeans. I didn't get my last stomach drain until I was exactly 4 wks post-op. Tomorrow will be a wk since the last drain was removed & the hole still hasn't closed up completely. The girdle also helps protect the bandage from my pants. As far as getting tired, I do good during the day while I'm at work but at night I'm sleepy & ready for bed by 7:00. For those of you who had your surgery a while back, how long did it take you to get over this sleepiness? I'm ready to start feeling normal at night again.
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k79miller- Your body is still healing on the inside. It can take a while. I upped my protein to speed healing and feel this helped. Also, going back to work takes a lot of energy. When you go to bed at 7 are you sleeping through the night? If so, then you are doing the right thing. Did you just go back to work? I worked half days for the first couple of weeks. I know this isn't always an option. Good luck!
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A beautiful picture taken in an old logging camp in Wexford, MI.
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It looks like there is some skin forming in the fold of the breast but it looks gooey and white. No infection but it does look odd. I still have the two small spots of the abdominal incision leaking. I just wonder what people go through when this just keeps going on. The body is an odd thing. I am not as upset as I was in the beginning but I do want all of this to go away so I can start the next step. I can now wear a bra for the day and have found a brand Cupid for the high waist girdle(doesn't bother me as much as spanx). So, I (for now) am thinking perhaps Sept. for Step II. I might have to do it here in GR b/c money is so tight and PRMA is so far away.(They have not followed up with many phone calls(which the nurse said she would call weekly-not- so they just think things are okay but they are not. I am glad I had a back-up plan so we will see how that develops. I do not trust any doctors except my GP).
I am really okay except the human professionals disappoint me since I started all of this 2+ years ago. All of the monies they have collected and I feel like I was a cash cow. Don't get me wrong, I made a decision to get the first stage done right but perhaps I should have gone to Charleston. Too late for that now! I think when I get all sewn back together, I am going to find me the cuddliest kitten ever born!!
Sunny Day to all!
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Hey Kat-ski -- beautiful picture.
Sorry you are still dealing with wound healing issues. The "hole" in my abdo incision took about 13 weeks to completely close, so hang in there. The other incision issues from stitches that had to be removed healed more quickly. At the end my home care nurses had me using some iodosorb (an antimicrobial) and gauze -- told me to change it every second day if I could (didn't always feel like doing a sponge bath instead of a shower every other day, so sometimes that worked and sometimes it didn't.) My surgeon warned me that it might close and then re-open to drain -
- thankfully it didn't:) As you noted, the body is an odd (but wonderful) thing!!
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Kat-ski.. I'm really sorry about the response from PRMA, or lack thereof. That really bothers me. I have an appointment with my doc there next week. I may just have to mention it to him that I'm concerned about lack of follow up down the road. I have had good luck with the nurse calling me back every time I call. It hasn't been a lot but I have called several times with questions.
Hope things get better for you!
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I am also having some wound issues, but no issues with follow-up from PS office. I have a spot on my abdominal incision that although is not open, is not healing as well as the rest. I also have a quarter-sized "spot" on my prophy side that is not healing well. Dr. Says both would eventually heal but would leave bigger, unattractive scars. I am scheduled for outpatient procedure on Tuesday to fix them both. I also had an issue at the time of my original mx where a revision was required. I guess this is just part of me being me 😊.
My follow-up has been wonderful. Had appointment on Tuesday and my Dad was sick (he is my nurse and was with me). We made it home and he is now in the hospital. The NOLA staff has been checking on him as well as me. They are a wonderful group of people. They told me beforehand they would be checking on me so much I may become annoyed. I'd much rather have an over abundance than few . Sorry you are having such a bad time with that, Kat-ski.
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Kat ski, so sorry about the wound healing issues and very disappointing about the PRMA people not responding like they should. I almost went there, but then found my doc, who so far, I love, but I haven't had my surgery yet.
Well, If I thought I was stressed before, now I really am. My son and his wife are most likely getting a divorce. We don't get divorced in my family!!!! But, her mother has been divorced 3 times and so has her grandmother....ugh. So, marriage is disposable. He is hurting so badly, and you know how it is? I think just about all of us are mothers. If you child hurts, you feel the pain. I keep waking up with anxiety and anger at her!!! And, of course, he is crashing in my guest room. I am looking forward to my surgery just so I can sleep...
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Goldie- That sucks! It is normal to feel the way you are. The timing stinks, but you need to take care of yourself starting this minute. Eat well, hydrate, exercise and treat yourself well. You will heal better. All you can do is be supportive of your son and let that anger go. You may need a sleeping aid to get better sleep. I wouldn't normally suggest this, but in your case I would look into it. Otherwise your mind will spin in circles. My thoughts are with you.
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