DIEP 2014

Goldie, thinking of you and sending "zenful" thoughts your way. Try some deep belly breathing and focus only on your breath while you are doing it. It can be very calming. 

Bluefox, my PS said it takes four months for everything to soften and  "settle in". 

I'm counting down the hours until my surgery! I have my woman cave ready, a few meals in the freezer, my bag is packed, and all of my spring house cleaning done. Tomorrow I am getting a pedicure and just taking it easy. Tuesday I have to finish a few things at work and then we'll head to Mayo which is 3 hours away. I am mentally, emotionally and physically prepared for this next phase.

teacher-I'm glad I could give you something to laugh at.  Your comment gave me a good laugh too.  Isn't it funny though how every PS has a different opinion on the binders & the bras.

Thank you ladies!

Just over a week to go before the big day.  Reading your comments certainly helps toward calm for the big unknown (uncertainty for the recovery period).  As I live so very far away from the hospital, I will be staying with an aquaintence who lives nearby the hospital and has graciously agreed to have me there on discharge so to be near the hospital, just in case....I am hoping to make the 9 hour car journey home on the long weekend in may - 18days after the surgery.  (although I live closer to another well renowned PS, it is actually another state and financially not an option.  This place is the closest site with microvascular expert that my insurance would cover.)

Where I am staying after has a tub shower - not a walkin. will I be able to shower this way? I am trying to find a shower stool which I hope will help.

Any advice I can share with my friend?  the protein snack/meal suggestions are great! thanks!

Iowagirl, I am so sorry to hear what you've gone through. My prayers are with you. Maybe we'll have a chance to meet this coming week.

Ann

AnnBr.  You are in the best hands possible there.  I know it will go well for you.  After my difficulties everyone on my team came to my room to check on me.  Including anesthesia and the Dr who did my mastectomy.  Many came more than once.  What an amazing place.  I will be back on the 5th for a checkup if you are still there.

AnnBR, all will be good Wednesday. Take it easy.

Iowagirl, you weathered quite a storm. So glad you had such expert care.

cindybthenp - I have both of these things. I had them after my mastectomy too. They will fade away. First, the sharp, sudden, involuntary intake of breath - use your old incentive spyrometer every once in a while. It will help. I know you feel like you are, but you just aren't getting the same deep  breaths. Be conscious of your deep breathing several times a day. It will fade with time but you can hurry it along. Second, I don't know what the abdominal tightening is. I had it with both surgeries. It is strange and reminds me of when my babies would move when I was pregnant. That too faded in time.

I had drain #3 pulled today. YAY!!!!! I'm down to one. I am going to wear my compression all day every day from now on. Dr. Massey said it was up to me, but that it would get the last drain out sooner if I did wear it. 

I am CCing this from the other discussion board I am on. I know I scoured these boards before I made decisions and want to put this out there for anyone out there looking for direction or suggestions:

For those of you that were told you do not have adequate ab fat for
DIEP, I want to make sure I let you all know about what I had two weeks
ago. Initially, the PS did feel I would be able to have DIEP without
adding a stacked GAP flap. In our pre-surgical appointment, Dr. Marga
Massey wanted to avoid involving both sides of my body if possible. She
told me she would try to get the third flap needed from the front as
well. The blood supply was available and she was able to get all three
flaps from the front incision. It was the first time I had heard this
was possible. I am so grateful she was willing to think outside the box.
I think it speaks so well of her that she is still concerned with the
patient and not just the surgical procedure.

We all support each
other and our various doctors and facilities. I just want to say to
everyone out there that may be looking for a doctor that I have had an
amazing experience with Dr. Massey and her compassion and love for her
patients is only outweighed by her tremendous skill. She and the St.
Charles Surgical Hospital have exceeded my expectations at every turn.

meg,

I waited exactly 6 mos after radiation (which was my last treatment). I wanted to get it done ASAP! 

I think 5 weeks for recovery is a pretty good estimate.

If you work from home & can wear sweats & rest a bit when needed, perhaps you could return sooner than 5 weeks.   Everyone is very different w/ recovery & sometimes there are stumbling blocks w/ healing that you can't predict or foresee.  

I waited just a few days under 6 months.

I'm almost 3 weeks out and wouldn't want to have to put in 20 hours, let alone 40. It's the effort that everything takes that tires me out. Not having to dress will work in your favor.

Cindy, I'm with you at six weeks tomorrow and I would not want to have to go to work because I taught high school students and there was never a down moment, just 25 minutes for lunch and bathroom time. I'm jealous because I can't wear jeans. Anything with a zipper and I need to be peeled off the ceiling. Also had a 3/4" by 3" strip of muscle taken and that's the place that bothers me the most. Will talk to PS about it Thursday. Got a jury summons today but I'm going to see if I can get it delayed because most afternoons I'm worthless. If I were on trial now, I wouldn't want me on the jury.

iowagirl- Sorry you had to go though so much but glad you are doing well. 25 hours, wow..scary!

MEG- I also work at home, lots of phone and computer time. I have my surgery next week. I took off 2 weeks but I have the option of up to 6 weeks. I am hoping even if not full time I can put in some hours and then nap when I need to do so. I will let you know how it goes. My office is off my bedroom so my commute time is short!

6 days till Diep day!! I am feeling pretty calm today, hope it stays this way.

Wow. I am so behind.  I have been busy trying to fix an unfixable situation.  So, I put it in the hands of son, and his lawyer.  My husband told him to leave me alone for a while.  Thank you!!! 

My house will not be as clean as I wanted, and I have no idea what I am bringing to the hospital, but I really don't care as long as I leave with boobs.

I want to thank you all for your kind words and encouragement.  Thank goodness for all of you.  I am save here, and it's because of all of you. 

Iowagirl, that is some really scary stuff.  I have seen the vessels from the arm thing before on another site.  That woman's noobs  survived beautifully, and they even cleaned up the scar on her arms during stage 2.  It's amazing what they can do if they are experienced enough and really care about their patients.  Thank God you had those kind of docs.

Lemon, Georgie......Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!   Get those Margarita's ready.  I think the thing that is freaking me out the most is the central line they are putting in my NECK to avoid IV;s in my arm.  PS told me they put it in while I am asleep. I think they give me the breath and count back from 100 stuff and then put the line in.  OMG!!!!   Maybe I would rather have it in my foot?  But then how do you walk around?   Whatever.  I asked from some Ativan to get me through the rest of the week. 

Ann, you are closing in on the final count down.  We are with you all the way.  Everybody seems to be doing fairly well.  I am glad to see that. 

Teacher, you are doing great for 6 weeks out.  Keep doing what you are doing.  It will get easier every day.  Just fax that juror summons back with "breast cancer" written in the excuse explanation.  I don't think they will bother you again.

Goldie, I had the line in my neck AND foot. The foot is much more painful and sometimes hard to do so they did mine when I was under and my vessels were relaxed. I was conscious for the neck --I've had it several times---and it wasn't that big of a deal for me. You can do this--TOWANDA!

Goldie, I had an IV in my foot - it does make walking complicated, it hurt like hell and one of the nurses messed up when she cut a hole in the pressure stocking for it because it nearly garroted my foot and I have permanent nerve damage, so do try to avoid foot IVs!

jmb - yes, yes, yes! to PT!!! I am 8 months out and still can't wear jeans for more than an hour at a time, still having severe muscle spasms, still can't pinch the skin below belly button height, but the PT is really helping. They told me they cut lengthwise through the long muscles either side of the belly button to access the blood vessels, so even if they didn't remove any muscle it was still affected. The PT has given me loads of stretching exercises to do and I'm seeing her twice a week.