DIEP 2014

Lovetoteach - Please call your PS.  If you have a seroma, it will need to be drained by the PS before the PT begins work.  With a swollen, hard abdomen you may also have a seroma.  Not unusual with increased activity or drains that may have been removed before the body was really ready.  Most of us have swelly belly - but it usually happens late in the day.  If your problem is not time specific, the PS may need to intervene.  The body must develop new pathways for fluids following the surgery and sometimes it needs a bit of help.  At 3 weeks out, you are still in healing in lots of ways.  Please be sure your PS is involved in every way so that situations can be resolved early before they become big problems.  

Happy 4th everybody, and I forgot to say happy Canada Day the other day to our Canadian Friends!!!

I think my belly is the same amount of swollen most of the time.  It looks flatter and there are some things that are looser on me before, and some things that are not.  Whose knows?

Seroma's can be drained fairly easily.  No worries ladies.  I had one after my BMX and I didn't even feel them drain it.  Swelling's below the abdominal scar is fairly normal.  Of course, if anything looks red, hot, hurts, call your doc.

aff, thanks for the update on the silicone strips.  I have some scar away, but they do not stay on during showers, and they are suppose to be washable, which they are, but they don't stick nearly as well afterwards.

Brenda, your emotions must have been overwhelming.  I too felt your joy.  I am very happy for you.  I was never completely flat, except for a month, or so.  I had expanders then implants, so I can't imagine how incredible you must feel.  Show those puppies off!!!  Of course, when you are ready.  You know what has always cracked me up.  When women buy their boobs (boob jobs) and they always want to show them off. They even manage to find sweater's to wear in the winter that have keyhole's at the cleavage.  We are just happy to put on a t-shirt and not look like our Uncle Fred.

Lovetoteach, welcome. Glad you found us. Ask us anything you like.  Nothing is too personal.  Give your tummy some time. But, like I said, anything looks infected make the call. I had to a couple of weeks ago. Luckily, a strong oral antibiotic fixed what ailed me.

No news on Lili.  She is resting and waiting for her next surgery, but it was big excitement to be in Germany today for the soccer win!!!  They said the city, the country came alive like nothing they have ever experienced. 

Hi All –

It has been a few days since I’ve
posted and I hope everyone is doing ok and enjoyed the fourth.

My path report came back. I have a few follow-up questions for the
doctors (ie. No DCIS on the final path report, but found in two preliminary
path reports; one preliminary path report (from biopsy) noted perineural
invasion but it isn’t noted at all in the final, etc), but my nodes are clear
and the oncologist I’m meeting with in a few weeks has already sent a sample
out for oncotyping which I am happy about.
The path report says stage 1c, Grade 2 (but on the cusp of Grade 3).

My night sleeping has been
better…except for tonight and my energy level seems to be a little better. If I do much of anything I’m exhausted and
need a nap, but I can do a little more than before so I’m looking at that as
progress. My arms are still
sore…especially my right arm and I assume that relates to the sentinel node
biopsy. I’m wondering how long it will
take for that to subside. I’m also still
very sore in the breast area…especially the upper breasts and medial chest
area. I’m hoping that will get better
soon as well.

I had a funny thing happen
today. I got out of the shower and was looking
in the mirror…and I saw my scars smiling at me.
The crop circles were eyes, the scar around my belly button was the nose
and the long abdominal scar was a slight smile.
I’m trying to decide how I feel about that….it felt weird.

My Coobie bras arrived. I’m keeping one of the full size bras…and
I’ve been wearing some shelf bra tanks. I’m
wearing the Coobie a little, but my PS said to stay away from any compression
and I find that it is a little tight against the wide part of my breast, under
my arm by my ribcage. I’ve noticed that there is a lot of skin/tissue there ….which
my PS had told me happens to some people.
I guess that will be removed in part 2…and I think that will reduce my
breast size a bit. …and it may still be swollen there as well. I had also been told by others that I would
be perky afterward…but I don’t find that to be the case at all. I’m wondering if that is because I had a
breast reduction almost 30 years ago and they were reusing the breast skin
envelope from that surgery because I don’t have any new external scar on my
breasts other than my crop circles…I’m guessing that I can have my PS lift them
a little in part 2…and of course, fix those huge divots on the outer quadrants
I had mentioned earlier.

I have a few questions for all of
you about sleeping. We got a recliner
while I was in the hospital and it has pretty much been my home base since I
got home. How long will I need to be
sleeping here? I would love to try to
sleep in a bed. My poor hubby has been
sleeping on a mattress on the livingroom floor so that we can be in the same
rom. Also, when can I start sleeping on
my sides? The past two nights I found
that I woke up slightly on my side…and I’m hoping that isn’t a problem for my
flaps.

Teacher64
–I have been doing my shrugs and my little chicken movements. I find it hurts to move my arms away from my
body laterally, which is keeping the chicken movements small. I am impressed again at all of the exercise
you are doing. I look forward to being
able to get back to the gym at some point.

How far out from surgery were you
when you were able to start the ab routine and working with a trainer?

naiviv
– Vivian – Congratulations on the one year mark!! Each milestone is important and I hope you
can celebrate!!

I need to remind myself that I am
a thriver…as I just don’t feel that way right now. I’m still wrestling with the cancer
diagnosis. In so many ways I still
haven’t accepted it…even with all of the tests I’ve had, the surgery, the path
reports…the cancer part feels less real…or maybe I feel less connected to
it. I’m not sure that I’m explaining
what I’m feeling and wrestling with, but I’m hoping that folks here will
understand.

…and I hope you are doing well
with your eating re-focus, but be kind to yourself!!

HeidiToo – I’m sorry that you are back here,
but that is great news on your path…and it sounds like you are doing great with
your recovery!!

GeorgieGirlKC
– It sounds like you are doing very well…thanks for the update…and congrats on
your almost one year milestone.

goldie4040—First,
I am SO glad that Lily is doing well!!!

I like the door frame stretch
concept. Does anyone know when it would
be safe to start that type of stretch? I
will be three weeks from surgery on Monday.

I hadn’t thought about the
shoulder bag issue. I’m still not
lifting very much but assumed that would get better over the next few
weeks. Thanks for the link…although I am
hoping that I will be able to go back to carrying a shoulder tote, especially
for work. I’m just curious how many
folks have trouble carrying a shoulder bag after surgery. Is this common?

jbdayton
and goldie4040 -- thinking of both of you as you deal with the
wound care!!

aff – congrats on
climbing up and down the monument!! You
go girl!!....and I’m both jealous and inspired that you can do lat
pulldowns. I can’t lift my right arm much
yet and don’t have strength to handle the weight. I know that will come back, but for now I’m
just waiting…

lahela – I’m sorry
that of all people your mom is competitive about your surgery and BC.

JerseyMomOf3 –
Glad you are doing so well!! Good luck
with the transition back to full time!!

DeeW29 – Congrats
on getting the drains out!!

brendarj – I am so excited for you trying on your clothes
and feeling good!!! I am also thinking
of you as you deal with the wounds…and I am sorry to hear about your body
rejecting the stitches. I love that your
daughter shaved your legs!! That is
truly an indication of what an amazing mom you are!!

…and thanks for the babywipes
idea. I will go get some today!!

trish01254 –
congratulations on being drain free!!

pzercher -- I’m so sorry that you are not feeling
emotionally supported by your family!! I
also kept my pre-surgery anxiety in check (well, as much in check as I could) by
deciding about a week before surgery that I needed to reclaim our office which
had basically become a storage room. We ditched lots of stuff…I think it drove
my husband a little nuts, but I finished working on that project about 10pm the
night before my surgery…just in time for a snack before I went to no foods or
drinks. I did have some of those same
thoughts about clearing out papers, but for me dealing with the project helped
keep my mind off of the surgery…I basically distracted myself. So you
are not alone in clearing through stuff pre-surgery and this group will be here
for emotional support for you both now and after Monday…and we will have you in
our thoughts on Monday!!

lemon68—I’m SO sorry to hear about your lymphadema and that you can’t
yet get into your pool. That stinks!!

JuicyJackie –
welcome to the group…although I’m sorry you had to join us.

Ridley—SO
glad you are doing well…walkng 2-3 hours a day is inspirational!!

jmb5
– The key is so meaningful…and I love that your niece gave it to you. You must have a very special relationship!!

LiLi-RI
– Cancer and drain free – Excellent!!!

pollyanna5
– What great words to hear from your oncologist “cancer free”!!! I hope you are celebrating!!

Lovetoteach88
– I’m sorry that you are having to join us, but
welcome. You will find lots of good
support here!

JerseyMomOf3
– I’m sorry about the possible need for draining. :-( Do
you have more of a desk job or are you up on your feet a lot? I’m asking since I’m wondering when I should
be thinking that I will be heading back to work too. 

Andrea623 -- Welcome to the group.  I'm sorry you are having to join us but I'm sure you will find lots of information and support here.  I'm 2+ weeks out at this point and folks here told me that the hardest part was the time before the surgery.  They also said the only I had to do was show up…my medical team would do the rest.  …and they were right.  Hang in there as best as you can!!  Oh, and swelly belly is what we call our bellies when they are swollen from too much activity or just the difference between how they are in the morning vs the end of the day.

LoveAMB - I had no sleeping restrictions ( I know some surgeons don't want you to sleep on your side or stomach), so after a couple of weeks of sleeping in a recliner, I moved to a couch with the back of the couch behind my back.  I wasn't quite on my side, but not on my back either.  That was comfy for another week or so.  I then moved to a bed, but had a harder time sleeping there,  I had one of those wedge pillows, but unlike so many here, didn't find it comfortable. That might be an option for you now if you can get yourself arranged comfortably.  It's sweet of your husband to sleep in the same room as you.

LiLi - I hope you don't need more surgery to deal with the blood blister.  I found that showers took a lot out of me as well.  I always had a rest while I let things "air-dry"!  Of course, at the beginning all I seemed to be doing was resting or sleeping.  I guess our bodies need that to heal.  

Ridley

Andrea, swelly belly in the nickname given to your belly after the DIEP.  It swells at times, which is why many of us where binders per the PS instructions.  It seems to vary from person to person, perhaps more people with more experience can chime in, but I find mine gets worse, when I forget my binder for a bit, and/or I do too much.  Since yesterday, I've taken it easy, worn my binder and it's way down.  I think it is fluid? tissue swelling? from all the manipulation of surgery.  It's not bad, but I find it frustrating, as I looked flatter after surgery, and boom it wasn't too flat yesterday, or other times, when it flares up!

lemon - I am very sorry about your friend

Lemon, I am so sorry about your friend.  It's hard because of all the mixed emotions when somebody dies of the same thing you are moving on from.  My thoughts go out to her family, and to her.  I know what you mean about the exercising, and trying to get back to normal, but I am trying to be careful. I remember when I thought I was going to be the most fit 60 year old anybody ever saw...lmaoooo.  Now, I feel lucky to have energy left after showering, and getting dressed for the day.  I know things will get better every day, which they are.  Where you a sweller before surgery. I guess what I mean is are you a person who retains fluid by nature, like if you eat too much salt, sit on an airplane too long, etc.  I have that issue sometimes, and I find if I lower my carb intake it helps a lot.  Not carb free, but try to cut out the bread, pasta, potatoes, etc  You know the drill.  I might start that tomorrow to see if it helps swelly belly.

Optomi, sorry about your swelling too.  You might consider the lower carb diet too, and if you are up to it, some walking.  Get your circulation moving a bit.  You mom sounds like a God send.

Lili, good work taking your shower on your own.  It sure does take it out of you, but the more independent I became the better I felt.  Baby steps.  Sorry about your blister.  Maybe it will be something you can dealt with easily.  I am doing wound dressing twice daily on my ad incision.  I am starting to see results.

Andrea, welcome.  Glad you found us.  If you are not happy with getting only the one implant out there are other options.  Have you talked to your surgeon about other flaps sites that can be used, or gotten a second option from another surgeon who is skilled with other flaps than only dieps?  Look around the thread for Zenful and Bdavis.  Both women had other flaps surgeries and are very happy.  And, both look awesome!!!!

As always, thanks for the good thoughts about our Lily. We don't know how many surgeries she will need.  At this point we want her wounds to be covered and save enough to get her back to the states.  Then it's the search for the best possible place to get treatment back here.  Anybody have any ideas?  We are open to all possibilities.  Her parents both are professors at Kansas State.  I don't know if there are great places in that area for what she will need. Her grandparents live in NYC and they might be a better bet. 

I baby sat my 5 year old grandson tonight.  We were watching TV and I left the room to get snacks.  When I got back he said, "Grandma, you missed it.  There is a thing called a NoNo Pro, and if you get one you will never have to shave again."  Lmaooooo.  He was so serious, I had to thank him and try to keep a straight face. 

Andrea - I think that conflicting emotions is par for the course. The moment my PS explained   the DIEP surgery, I had a gut feeling that it was the right thing for me.  Then I  spent the next six months waffling, and  finding arguments for it, and against it. I was scheduled for a BMX with immediate recon, and right up until the days before surgery I had moment of panic, and moments of fear. Not to mention feeling of disbelief that this was actually going to happen. 

Also, I found the whole thing so confusing. There was just too much too absorb. But that was a year ago and today I look back and recognize that my gut feeling was right, and that it was the right choice for me. My boobs feel like my own (except for the weird lack of nipples) and I like knowing I was rebuilt with my own stuff. 

Making decisions when you're scared is tough. So it's important to have faith in you PS, and your support team , and faith in your own reasons for doing something. In as much as there is no normal - being scared happens all the time. 

Lemon - I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.  That must be a terrible blow. So many wonderful people. Such a stupid disease. 

Janet

Thank you for caring about my friend here, feel better today. Her whole journey is posted on this site, last message was to say she loved everyone on the thread. It helps to see that.

Goldie, I didn't think I was a sweller previously. My hysterectomy incision (which is now gone bonus) seemed to heal fast without a lot of swelling. But my SNB underarm area is just always huge, looks like a roll of baby fat. But oddly its the other side that is so swollen on. I have been doing my weight exercises every other day. I feel it in my arms but so far I don't think it is helping the swelling. My right hand, fingers are really swollen. So its the right arm, hand but the left boob. I will try to cut back on the carbs but I have been doing pretty good lately, I don't feel like my appetite has returned. And I don't know about you but if I eat too much I am very uncomfortable in the tummy. Same?

1toC, I will give that a try. It swelled before but originally only 2 nodes were taken, they took 1 during the MX but still I just didn't think I was going to have these issues. Its not like pain in the arm but more of a discomfort, I cant reach up to shut the ceiling fan etc.. and it just looks bad. Maybe its worse now that I am doing the 2 and 5 lb weights, here I am trying to get help and might be making it worse? ugh..

AllMB, I slept on the couch after surgery with a zillion pillows, since I tried to graduate to the bed too soon.  That is so sweet of your hubby to be there for you.  It took quite a while for me to be able to sleep on my side.  The first few times I woke up on my side because it was uncomfortable.  My biggest struggle was I really had to force myself to use the incentive spirometer, I breathed so shallowly.  Hang in there I know some of this will feel so much better soon.  

As far as the incision on people's abdomen, my tummy was more swollen on one side and initially at hospital I had MRSA but it cleared right up, mine never opened up and I seriously never thought it would absorb!  I saw my PS a lot so in my case it wasn't a seroma but she did bring me back a lot so I was grateful!

Lemon, my eyes filled up hearing about your friend from Rads board.  I am sorry for your loss, we get to say things to each other sometimes here that we can't share with well-meaning relatives, so I am sure she will be missed.  

Andrea, welcome!  When you post a question, we all really do care and try to help, sometimes it takes a second for us to respond, it really is a wonderful group of ladies.  I had lost 40 lbs before getting cancer and the surgeon said that to me but I ended up with B cups and couldn't be happier.  Everyone is different, but you may be pleasantly surprised.  I think it is hard for them to know for sure.  Some have said with less fat that they felt they had perhaps some tighter pulling abdominally as a result but all seem to be doing better so far from what is said.  Best wishes with it!

Recovering from my family reunion, first I saw many of them since last year so they all applauded my weight loss, which was actually accomplished by January, but everyone thinks it is "the cancer" and I just let it go.  I am still up three pounds since pre surgery but didn't bother explaining things.  

I picked up a "real" bra at Target yesterday.  The pullover stretchy support bras seemed like they were flattening things out in the middle.  That might just be normal settling, but I didn't like it!  I tried on a few soft cups, and just picked up one bali soft cup.  It's nice to have normal looking girls, albeit much smaller then I'm used to.  Before reduction I was  GG(G- it varied depending on bra), after he said I was a c, but more likely a D.  I am much smaller now.  I tried on a b cup, it was too small, but the c is just a bit too big.   But today, it's a bit bigger.  I am finding the girls seem to change shape a lot as things settling out, or swelling comes back and goes again.  Thankfully, it was a cheap one, but it feels better to have a more normal breast profile today, even if some of it is air in there.  tomorrow, I'll probably be bigger again, I suspect this will change over the months.  But again, I feel more feminine today after a month of frankenboobs.  

It was a busy weekend, so I'm a bit sore today and tired, but not too bad.  

Also, having a bit of survivor guilt?.  Hearing and reading stories of women who have died of bc, makes me feel unfairly lucky (not sure if that's the right word?).  It's a big deal to go through a BMX and reconstruction, but to hear/read of others, just made me feel a bit shallow?sad? Not sure.  No one has said anything, it's all in my mind.  What is a big deal for me, would probably be a scenario someone else with more advanced bc would be thrilled to deal with. 

Too much deep thinking today I think. 

pzercher- Unbelievable...who would have thunk it???  That just stinks.  Like you said, even though it is the right call, it still just stinks.  To be that far into the process then have it halted.  Ugh!!  Hopefullly they will get you in soon.  Do you know how long it takes for the "bug bites" to no longer be an issue?  Here's to fast healing and a new surgery date in the near future!!

Ally