DIEP 2014

Marianne, that doesn't sound right to me, unless they already have recent blood work and EKG for you. That scheduler doesn't sound very helpful. I'll be interested to see other comments on this. Whatever the case, I wouldn't go in for the procedure until all your concerns are addressed.

gila - I'm so very sorry. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. 

kat - I will pray for your husband. 

katski, that's great news! I hope he is able to recover quickly!

Been reading everyone's posts, just too scatterbrained right now to post much.

I'm going in for my hysterectomy on Thursday, so only 2 more days. Getting nervous, it's my first surgery ever. I'm hoping the recovery will be quick, so I can get back to work. 

For those of you getting ready for surgery, here's an idea that I've always used--bake a BIG batch of cookies, arrange all of them on paper plates or a disposable container, and bring them with you to the pre-op area.  Give them to your nurse there and ask him/her to put them in the break room for you, as a thank-you for everyone.

Also (and this part I really love doing), write a short note of thanks that includes your surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurses, registration people, everyone.  Get creative--include a photo of your kids or grandkids.  Tape it to your tummy, where they'll find it after you're asleep. 

Our surgical teams work hard, long hours, and bring many years of experience and skill to the operating room just for us.  A nice thank-you is always very much appreciated.

Sorry to say, it's been nearly six months and I still get swelly belly. I know it will go away eventually. I do take quiet satisfaction in my new pretty bras though. It took me a couple of hours of shopping to get comfortable pretties. Yeah.

Kat-ski. Wonderful news for you and your husband.

Sarahbb - you will do great Thursday. Heal well.

Sbelizabeth - I gave my team cards and they were so appreciative. I also take cookies or a treat to my PS's office. Hey are such fun people.

Vballmom - take it easy, almost a month isn't enough time. Take it easy?

Today I'm rockin' the eye patch after my cataract surgery. Woo, a surgery with no visible scar. Now, I just need a parrot to add to my pirate look.

Oh, gila, I am so, so sorry.  Sending you love and healing prayers...

Just an update, even though my DIEP didn't happen. Still groggy from anesthesia and pain meds, but I think I'm pretty coherent. Surgery went well and took about 4 hours. I am hoping this will be my last but my new PS, who I completely trust and love, said there's a lot of internal damage from radiation treatments. If I don't heal well or get an infection, my only option is the lat flap. I have two drains, the rads side is producing some, but the other side isn't. I'm pretty comfortable right now, but maybe that's the Norco? Barring any complications, he wants me to wait a year before any more surgery, so I can completely heal and bounce back, something I haven't done well. Love to all, and it wish you all continued good healing. 

Gila, I have not been on this board for a while and just learned about your loss, so sorry.  My Mom died at 75 and it sounds probably weird but I wasn't ready and felt she was too young.... so I am sure you did not expect to lose her at 71.  So glad your gran has been set up in the nursing home, that is one less worry.  Praying for you all who are going through so much....

Teacher so glad you got the cataract surgery over with, would pay big money to see you with your patch.  Arrrrgh!  Also glad the other issue is softening up.  And that you got new pretties!  

pzercher, congrats on being one year out!  Nice! I don't take anything for granted any more.

Andrea, glad things went well and you get a year "off" from more surgeries.  Much as we all want to get back to the "new normal" sometimes things just have to take their own time.

Sbelizabeth, what a thoughtful idea.  I am 6 months out but should I ever need another surgery then I will do that.  

I am so sorry to hear about your cells Lemon, there is supposedly only 10% isn't it of our old tissue left in there, even those who go flat have a teeny bit too.  The whole thing boggles the mind.  I am glad they figured it out and did a biopsy and I will be praying for your emotions and of course physically for complete healing and recovery.  

Couldn't sleep so here I am on the computer.  Will be a long day at work.... Hugs to everyone else...

Gila, I am so sorry to hear about all you have been through. I lost my mom when she was 49, so I understand how very hard it is to be without ones mother. My thoughts and prayers going out to you today. 

Kat, thinking of you and your husband, Are you guys home yet?

Vballmom, Thanks for the inspiring words! I am definitely going to take it easy. It's going to be time for hubby to pick up the slack. I have been racing around here like a mad woman, cleaning, and trying to get the kids to keep some semblance of cleanliness in their rooms. It took about two hours yesterday to go through my daughters room with them, we ended up with a huge bag to donate to Goodwill. It's been a month already! I am sorry to hear that you are still leaky, and really surprised that you went back to work already! Maybe a couple more weeks to recover at home! That's what I am hoping to be able to do, when my DIEP comes around. but I know it's easier said than done, especially when you know you could be making money!

Sbelizabeth, that's a very sweet idea. And a note sounds very cute!

Teacher, Thanks for the kind words! So, you're a pirate now! Arghhh swab the deck. 

Pzercher, Thanks for thinking of me! I am feeling a little calmer about the hysterectomy today. But who knows how I will feel tomorrow! Hopefully the anesthesiologist will allow me to take a zanax the morning of the surgery! What does one say on the cancer-versary? I'm happy you are here to share that with me!

Andrea, Happy your surgery went well. Sorry about the radiation damage. I am sure they give you lots of good drugs to keep you comfortable. I hope you are able to heal and bounce back quickly, in the meantime keep letting us know how you are!

Georgie, sorry you are having issues with the nipple! I cant imagine what it will be like to look in the mirror after DIEP, but I want to say that from what I've been reading, things look better the longer you give them to heal. I know it takes a while for scars to fade. I happen to scar pretty easily but luckily eventually the scars all turn white and fade into the skin. I am sure yours will too!

feeling.... Sore, tired and bored in NOLA. 20 hours post-op. Have been walking twice, catheter out, contacts back in and I feel ..ok. Have not needed pain meds yet, but I think after my big two loop walk I might try some with my nap. Feeling content and a bit happy that they were able to spare my nipple and ll 4 biopsies were negative. Looking forward to a few days of healing and hopefully some sleep. Thnx everyone for you thoughts.

Hello. I just had my DIEP surgery last Thursday Sept. 4. I am now home and really feeling like I wish I hadn't chosen this surgery. It is such a long procedure. I just need a little hope right now.

lovesroses:  From your dates, it looks to me like you have been through a tremendous upheaval in a very short time--from cancer diagnosis to double mastectomy to reconstruction. Impossible to wrap your ahead around all of that in just a few months. Home from the hospital now and hopefully recovering with lots of support, you now have time to ponder what it all means. And how it all feels. Which is "not good."  I hope you feel you can share more of your feelings with loving family and friends and with the good ladies here, who truly understand what you might be experiencing. I think most of us have had feelings both positive and negative about every step of our journey and decision-making. Rest, let others pamper you, rage, cry, whatever you need to do. 

I commemorated my cancer-versary with a support group meeting at a local Gilda's Club, which I highly recommend! What a great group of ladies, and how powerful to share experiences. I can't tell you how much better I felt today.

Haven't been here in a while (at least a week!). Had an initial consult today with a PS, which was really very helpful, even though I knew going in that he does not perform the DIEP flap procedure. The doctor and nurse were both extremely likeable, very informative, and genuine. I asked about TRAM flaps, mostly to see if he thought I had enough of a belly--he does think it's plenty to work with, and he went one step further and told me that although he doesn't do DIEP there's a doctor I should consider seeing if I'd like to explore that. What a fantastic surprise! How many doctors refer you to their competition?! I'm highly impressed and am really sorry he doesn't offer what I'm looking for, because I'd love to work with him!
So I think my next step, tomorrow, is to see how it would take to get an appointment with the DIEP doctor. The TRAM doctor suggested that doing a delayed DIEP might be a smart thing, and I got the impression that was possibly due to scheduling difficulties. I'm supposed to see my BS next week and really don't want to put that, or the PBMX, off for long. One of my surgeries in July was for a suspected papilloma in the right breast (papillary cells were detected in aspirated fluid), but no papilloma was detected in the excised tissue. I have a strong suspicion there's something in there, though, as in the past three or four weeks I've noticed a sort of crusting around the nipple, and that has been a sign in the past that a papilloma has been causing nipple discharge. Fingers crossed that whatever it is, it'll still be benign. This just drives home to me how ready I am to just remove these "busy breasts" of mine! Then I can take my time and see if I really dislike the flat look enough to go ahead with DIEP at a later date.

lovesroses - you are early in this process. You and I had about the same time schedule from diagnosis to DIEP. It is a lot to absorb and take in. Up to this point, you were probably on autopilot and moved according to others' schedules. Do not lose hope. Honestly, the next couple of weeks will be challenging as you begin to maneuver more. Take it slow and easy. Allow yourself time to heal. Allow others to help you. You will get through this and move forward. This a journey that none of us wants to travel, but I believe that DIEP is a wonderful choice for those of us who can take this leap. I'm six months out and appreciate my warm breasts more every day. The scars are beginning to fade some. It doesn't happen overnight or in a week. I found it helpful to write in a journal. Pzercher mentioned Gilda's club. I go to meetings at a Cancer Support Community. Talking with others has been very helpful. 

Once you are walking straight, are beyond drains, and can do things for yourself, you will be able to see yourself and life in a more positive light. I kept track of my progress in my journal and after a couple of weeks noticed that I had more positive days and was awake and doing more and more. You are past the most difficult part. Come back here often and let us know how you are doing. 

Lovesroses, it will be amazing to you how things do look better with time and I truly felt kinda Frankensteinish at first too.  So take heart!

Brendarj, I truly was convinced I had permanent preggo belly after my surgery, it wasn't until probably 5 months it got pretty flat, but there is a chance it is a seroma and they can do things to fix it.  Best wishes, hope it is nothing that won't resolve in time.  

Teacher you always make me smile.  The nip story.... hilarious.  Educating those who don't get it, one person at a time..... that is our new role in life hahahaha

Georgie, it will be better!  Sending you hugs!  I don't miss the emotional roller coaster, I just realized the other day how much different I feel now that things have quieted down a bit.  Less appts and less trauma.  Wishing that for everyone.  

Off to bed... zzzzz Take care, everyone!