Reconstruction Booked (DIEP flap)

Hi Maria

Good to hear from you.  How are you going after surgery? If my calculations are right you must be 6 days post op. I hope all went well for you.  

I will keep the effexor in my mind if the hot flushes get worse when I start on Tamoxifen (which will begin a couple of weeks after surgery).

Take care

Ann-Marie x

Oh geee thanx Ann-Marie, 

Yes I am doing pretty well post-op of only 2 and a bit weeks. Cannot believe how well I am doing. My brains functioning a little bit better too :) About bloody time lol... Also helps not working at the moment (having 6 weeks off post-op as my job involves lifting and no lifting for me,) My job stresses me out a bit (in desperate need of a career change once im well enough, after my next surgery) 

Jo is doing well I saw her yesterday, her hair is growing back she's very excited!!!! :) Radiation & Hercepton drip is next for her & lets wish she doesnt react badly to that. She needs a break lol... But bring on Pinktober!!! We have heaps planned, its strange to think this time last yr I was finalising everything for my wedding last October now Im preparing again for another big October. lol...

Hi Ann-Marie, I'm having my surgery at th Sydney Adventist Hospital in Sydney. My breast surgeon is Trevor Currer and my plastic surgeon is Charles Cope. Only 3 more sleeps now. Chris xxx

Hi Tonya

I have started my Christmas shopping list. This will be my most organised Christmas ever.  My problem is that my kids will probably change their minds 5 times between now and then. My youngest in particular will really confuse santa!  

Ann-Marie xx

Hi Tonya

I have started my Christmas shopping list. This will be my most organised Christmas ever.  My problem is that my kids will probably change their minds 5 times between now and then. My youngest in particular will really confuse santa!  

Ann-Marie xx

Hi Chris

I just read you blog.  We have all had to make so many major decisions during this crappy time it can be really scary.  But you are so right, once the decision is made you feel a sense of relief.  It must be extra hard on you being a nurse as you would have seen a lot in your work.  Although I spent a lot of time weighing up all the pros and cons, I am still fairly naive in this area - not sure if that's a good thing or not.

I am having my surgery at Frances Perry House in Melbourne.  Bruce Mann is my breast surgeon and Dean Trotter is my plastic surgeon.  What about you?

Good luck with your operation on Wednesday.  I will be thinking of you.

Love 

Ann-Marie x

Hi Merylee

Good to hear from you.  You sound like you are doing really well, good on you for joining the gym.  Ohh how I long for a good night sleep without the tissue expander bothering me every time I try and roll over.

You should have called yourself skinnysam (LOL).  For once I am grateful for the spare tyre I have around the middle.  No dieting for me at the moment, I obviously need to stay healthy but for the next few weeks I don't have to feel guilty if I have a 'pig out' now and then because I actually need the fat that's on my tummy.  After I recover I will be on a big fitness kick - at the moment it's just walking for me.  I can't wait to get back into swimming and pilates, I'd also like to take up yoga and go on some family bike rides.  We have a great bike track nearby that goes into Docklands, my kids love it.

Looking forward to the Circle and catching up.  How is Jo going after finishing chemo?

Ann-Marie xx

Hi Ann-Marie, I understand what you are saying about feeling good about making your decision. Like you I spent ages analysing everything there was to know about all the different procedures, and even saw 3 different plastic surgeons. I just kept walking around in circles and felt I needed to make a decision in order to be able to move forward. I think the DIEP procedure gives the more natural type of breast, and I was really keen on that, but in the end have opted for the implants and tissue expanders, as I'm a bit of a chicken at the thought of such a long anaesthetic. I'm only a size B cup and like you, will be also having my other breast off at the same time. The relief I felt at finally deciding to do something and then booking it was amazing. I have my operation this Wednesday, and whilst part of me is scared, the other part is really glad that I am now doing something. For me it has been 9 months since diagnosis, and 6 months since chemo finished. Where will you be having your surgery, and who is your plastic surgeon? Love Chris xxx

Hi Ann-Marie, 

nice to see u back :) Jo & I were just speaking about you yesterday. Cant wait to see you at the Circle! :) 

WOW you have made some big decisions. Sounds like the right one though :) Oh yes the tissue expander is pretty irritating, implant is much better, but if i had some tissue to make my breast I wouldve chosen that too, i think :) Yours is a longer operation and a little longer to recover but it is just 1 operation instead of like 3 lol... yours will be over by xmas where mines taken like 9 months, so yes i think u made the right decision. 

But everyone does have to do whats best for them and what they feel is right. I had no choice. but like i said implant is soooooo much better, I still have 1 more surgery this year, hopefully December, where they do the nipple reconstruction and depending on how the implant drops and shapes over the next few months is depending if they play around with my remaining breast. 

My fatigue has gotten a little better, pace myself alot, daily walks & I've joined a gym :) and I think im sleeping a whole lot better because the tissue expander is out!!!! :) 

Anyway Chat soon, and what a great xmas present to get!!! 

Merylee