DIEP 2014

Aff, I am glad you explained the difference between PICC line and Port.  I knew they were different, but wasn't sure how.  I do know that my MIL, who did not have bc, but other issues and was in the hospital a lot the last few months of her life had a PICC line put in every time she was admitted because her veins were bad.  They used it for blood draws, administering antibiotics, etc. 

Trish, I am really sorry about your tummy pain.  My is just stiff and hard, and it might smart a bit if I sneeze, but no real pain anymore.  I wish they could figure out why you are having this issue.  When I do sneeze, or cough sometimes I feel like I could blow the whole thing open. 

Goldie - You are so welcome. Such wonderful women here, and I think we are all so much braver than we know. 

rhgsr, yes...I remember you.  As a matter of fact, I thought of you not to long ago and hoped you were doing okay.  It sounds like you are, although you have had a long haul.  Welcome back.  How did your flap hold up to the rads?  What will they be doing for your stage 2a?

JMB, sending many prayer's to Kayla and her family.  It's amazing what they can do these days, and if they get that whole tumor her liver will regenerate and she will live a long and happy life.  It will happen. 

Janet, you are right.  There are so many brave women here, and they are all inspirations to me too.

Hi Goldie!! Thank you for thinking of me. I burned so bad during radiation. My under arm turned black, then gray, then kind of melted off and oozed. It was so gross. But I'm healing up well. My radiated side shrunk considerably. Plus there is an indention kind of where the underarm and breast meet. So this week he is going to do a fat graft to work on the indentation and I'm assuming to help keep the breast from shrinking more, to keep it as supple as possible?? Then in about two months my PS wants to lift and shape, fix my abdomen, and revise my scar. Then hopefully nipples!!  Never thought I'd get excited over getting nipples. :0)

RHGSR nice to meet you I think you started before me.  

To those contemplating, it is amazing how you get this gut feeling of what to do sometimes only just as you need to decide.  I do not miss those days, but at the time I just did it one step at a time as everyone else has told you.  Best wishes to each of you. 

My PS office has rescheduled my stage 2 for August 6.  Unfortunately I still cannot get tattooing done by Vinnie this calendar year since he requires 5 months from nipple surgery.  That is ok, the artist at my hospital has done a nice job on many people.  I see them for pre-op on July 30 so it is coming up soon.

JMB praying for your friends daughter

My sister in law just went on hospice I will be caring for her granddaughter a lot so that my niece can spend her time with her Mom so I might not be on here as much for a while.  (I know, how will the world keep on spinnin' without me on here hahahaha).  Makes me feel good to do something practical to help.

Agree with you teacher, I think we are certainly not the drama queens at all.  We just keep pushing on and making life work, big time.

Rose, the wet to dry will not work if the scab is there.  If you have a good healthy scab and you are healing underneath it then there is no problem, but I did not have that situation and that is why I had to have it debrided and do the wet to dry.

jmb praying for Kayla that surgery goes well and outcome is long healthy life!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Those with stubborn wounds I hope they are healing well and marching right along. 

And to everyone embarking on a procedure whether stage 1 or 2 (a or b...) sending supportive strengthening thoughts your way.

praying for Kayla

Hi Goldie,  I called the Ps last week because I had an area of skin that fell off and was  yellow underneath.  I was afraid that I had an infection.  Over the phone, they said that the yellow was fat, not infection.  They had me start the wet/dry then.   Looking back, I wish I had asked to be seen, but did not feel up to the 90 min trip.  Hopefully, the wet dry is helping, but the wet gauze is constantly falling off and we are finding my wet gauze in odd places throughout the house!  I am anxious to see the Ps later this week.   

I hope your treatment works and resolves your issues ASAP.  Thanks again For all the good info.   

Goldie - I am having same issues. I tape the dry gauze which lies on top of wet. My PS indicated to do this for 2 wks 2 times per day! It is gross, but if it is not healed by August 5th, skin graft surgery. Lisa

jenjenl-  Sometimes it is hard to talk to PS but your procedure is about YOU!!  Just tell him your preference is to take it from the hips/thighs and is there any reason it can not be taken from there.  Easier said then done, I know.  Good luck tomorrow!

Ally

My doc removed the yellow stuff (sorry to be gross) because he said it would hinder the healing.  Since he took it out it seems to be closing up faster.  It did not say it was fat, but the stuff that is under a scab, or the stuff that becomes the scab eventually, which is what they don't want.  Hence, keeping it wet.  Remember when you were a kid and you had a scraped knee and you went to the ocean?  By the end of the day the scab was gone and the scrape was looking so much better.  I guess it's a similar principle.  Get that scab off, and keep it wet with salt water. 

DeeW, are you a dancer? I forget, which surgeon did you use,  Dr. Meade?

Jenjen, lots of women get their hips and thighs lipo suctioned after diep to balance things out.  My mother had a saying, "it doesn't hurt to ask, the worst they can say is no."  

jenjenl - It can't hurt to ask your PS for what you want.  You've earned the right, in my humble opinion!  He can always advise against it, if he's worried about it.

jmb5 - Prayers for Kayla.  She has youth on her side, as Teacher has mentioned in the past.

Jmb - praying for Kayla

Goldie - keeping your niece in my prayers

Janet, I have to echo goldie's comment about your posts being so encouraging, and your being a bright light in the dark.  It's all very true.  Your posts make me laugh, they make me smile, and they give me just the boost to get up and keep moving forward when I'm having a bad day.

I also wanted to say THANK YOU so much for your kind words on my last post.  That means a lot to me, truly.  Bless you.

I am also SO grateful to you for sharing your experience on guided imagery, and I am grateful to ggtexs for bringing the subject up!  I've heard of guided imagery, but I never knew what the term meant.  It sounds like something I could use, so I will be checking into getting a CD, not only for this experience, but for other stressful times of my life.  Visualizing everyone I love, and who loves me, smiling and nodding approval before the surgery, as Janet describes, makes a ton of sense to me.

Bless you both!

Tina