DIEP 2014

Goldie, here's an echo. It takes time to stop walking like a lowland gorilla. I've already forgotten but it was between week 2 and 3. I slept with pillows under my knees for much longer. Having warm water flow over my back in the shower helped the backache. It won't bee too long and you will be upright enjoying your new flat belly.

Just a quick "drive by" today.....

goldie...good to "hear" from you. Listen to the advice, and remember all you've read on the threads. You are so early in the whole process and things will be different each day. Do NOT try to back off the pain meds until the pain isn't such an issue for you. Everyone has different pain tolerance and experiences. You will not spend the rest of your life bent over, either. I'm guessing you're not doing a whole lot of walking yet, which could explain the low output of the drain? Or maybe you're just not "juicy".  Rest....hydrate....little walks.....repeat. Hope today is a better day for you. I bet the shower felt great, but exhausting. 

Hope it's a good day for everyone.

Dyvgrl - so glad you are on the other side.  Don't count on one being bigger than the other for long as sometimes this resolves as the swelling changes over the next couple of months.  

I feel like a stay puff marshmallow all over. Super puffy. A lot less tubes now.Yay! I declined the oxy for Vicodin so hopefully I won't have too much bowel trouble. Brought some prunes with and  gonna eat those after my salad. Doc said he'd fix my righty in Stage 2. The last doc didn't remove enough breast tissue so that flap is bigger. Kinda pissed about. Who's to say I won't get cancer there??

dyvgrl....I can sooooo identify with your "marshmallow" feeling. I was so swollen in hospital, I could barely bend my fingers, and barely fit into my pants and shoes on discharge day. It sorts itself out, but if you're concerned...talk to your doc about it. 

Hope it has been a bit better day for the newbies. 

rose....I agree...try to communicate your need for a bit more "structure" to the date. I'm sure they're not shifting things around like that to torment you, but it certainly can feel like it. 

Donna, 6 to 8 weeks?  That is a long time.  How did your back hold up?  I have to say this is the hardest thing I have ever done.  To the ones that have gone before me I give you a lot more credit than I did before.  Do not judge unless you have walked in somebodies shoes. Amen.

Dvygirl, I was shocked how blown up I was.  They super hydrate you through the IV during the surgery.  My PS had them turn it down when I said something, and by the next day most of the swelling was gone.  I am glad you are on the other side.  Yes, I agree, the pain is more than I expected too.  Hang in there.  We can do this!!!

Thanks to Janet, Bailey and nihahli for your kind words of wisdom and encouragement.    I will take your advice and contract the office tomorrow.

Hope all of the moms in our group have a happy mothers day

Happy Mother's Day, friends!

Just want to say Happy Mother's Day to one and all.

Hope it's a day of gentle healing for the newbies, calmness for the "waiting" ones, and for us veterans, a day of thankfulness and looking forward to the future.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone.

Iowagirl, I had some leakage and was told to make sure there was suction on the drain. I don't know if the circumstances are the same. Go with what dr said. Hope all is resolved.

I had bilateral DIEP at MD Anderson on July 29th 2013. I had failed breast reconstruction with implants because of radical on L and simple on Right. They did not match. I have matching breast now, Clothes rest correctly on my body no more twisting and looking funny. I was very frightened about this surgery but as of so far it was the best choice I ever did. Currently had nipple reconstruction
, right side is beautiful, Left has some necrosis and sighs of failure. May end up with a re do on that nipple (the radiated side is a greater risk for complications). I highly recommend Dr, Klein at MD Anderson Orlando. He is also doing successful lymph node transplants for those with lymphedema. I personally talk to 2 very happy patients.  

Hi Everyone.

Happy Mothers day to you all.

This is my first time logging into my computer and I have so much catching up to do! Wow, what a week. A lot worse than I imagined in some ways and not so bad in others.

I am going to get this all out- 1st thing I had to literally walk undrugged into the OR. This shocked me I even climbed up to the board myself. I also was awoken by my PS while still in the OR, didn't think that would happen either. 12.5 hours total. Had some belly muscle issues so he had to put in mesh, I will ask him more about it on Tuesday. My worst thing was I thought I was having a heart attack the pain was unbearable. The nurses kept telling me they had to stretch and pull etc.. He came to see me the next morning and said they had to crush and file down my ribs and that was what the pain was from.. I think I had read about it but had forgotten, I was just happy I was not having a heart attack. I was and still am having breathing issues, I can barely take deep breath so they held up my coming home. Yesterday I had an episode upon waking from a nap and there was no breath for me to take which of course caused me to panic. Since then I have been okay, some coughing and I think that has helped. I am using my little machine and doing a lot better with it so I think things are looking better with that.

I have 4 drains, the ones in my belly don't bother me at all, the 2 in my sides hurt all the time. I hate them. I also have a 'leaker' my rads side near the nipple is constantly leaking fluid. They said it is normal. I am having what was called a small surgery on Tuesday @6 AM. He will remove the banked skin saved just in case under the nipple as my nipples so far are living. He said that will also stop the leaking. They look huge but they look good. a little bumpy in areas and a little bumpy on the sides but I look like ME.  Belly incision is low and my hysterectomy scar is gone I have a lump of fat (dog ear?) on the left but not on the right. I cant believe that fat is gone! That does make me happy. From all my reading here I know things will evolve but so far so good.

Taking a shower? HELL!! is there a trick? A better way? Oh my goodness its these drains, I am learning new skills and feel like once I am done I need to go back to sleep! Exhausting.

Pain- I am good at about a 4 but if I don't take my pills on time I am a 8 and really in bad shape. I didn't use the pump at the hospital for the break though pain it was making me nauseous. I also on night 2 pulled out my Q ball pain pump in my belly that sucked because it was keeping things numb. Once out they cant put it back in. I was all tangled up and don't know what happened. So for now its 2 Percocet's every 4 hours as needed and they are needed.

I don't know what I would have done without all of you. As I laid there I thought of you all many times. For those of you getting ready, I send you strength and love.

Dyrlgrl- I know I missed wishing you well, I am so sorry but you were in my thoughts as I knew you were following the Cinco girls. Hope you are doing well. I need to go and read a few pages.

Much love to you all. XO

lemon...I used it to help the healing when I had my BMX because there were a couple places that opened up.  Once I started using it they healed in a couple of days

Lemon - you sound wonderful!  I bet those breast drains go with your surgery on Tuesday - the timing will be right.  Hips a bit later.  I promise you will feel like a whole different person once all of the drains are gone.  I always think of them as alien invaders.  Keep taking those drugs - that's what they are for - your comfort and happiness!  Welcome to the other side.

Hi, Lemon! I'm so glad you are on the other side. You will slowly continue to improve! Happy and safe healing.