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Home at last
I'm home at last after 11 days in Westmead Hospital for what turned out to be more a free tram than diep. They did after all take a little muscle. But I'd never know.
The operation was 14 hrs after a failure a couple of times with the blood supply on the left side, but all is good now. The recovery has been hard so far, especially the first week. Emotions, physical challenges, the environment. I was very up and down till the meds got sorted. I have a kind of allergy to endone so that was a challenge for me throwing up and hallucinating and for them to work out what to give me.
Turns out though its easy to use a bedpan! So that's a plus when it was too hard to get out of bed.
Each day I improved, but I looked like a train wreck. My hubby took photos detailing tubes, drains, connections the bear hugger (warming blanket thingy), the wounds, the scratches and bruises. But it all improved each day.
My turning point came when I realised that yes I was going to be in hospital for another 5 or 6 days. Despite the sponge baths, I really stank. My gorgeous son who was by my side everyday the first week agreed. I had a shower and got into my own pjs and felt better.
Walking was a challenge also, and I had a walker to help. But I walked a few times each day. The last few days my hubby and I had mornings in the lounge area downstairs reading the newspaper and being more normal. Lasted only a few hrs till I was too tired and sore but was so nice.
I'm now home on my first morning, such a beautiful morning, I've been for a walk around the garden, said hello to the animals had my meds now back in bed.
My wounds are doing really well. I never had big dressings, just steristrips. Seems too little for such wounds. I still have swelling in both breasts and tummy but the skin looks great and the newbies look weird but happily perched on my chest. Bigger than I thought, but we'll see in a few weeks when the swelling is gone. Tummy looks flat flat flat. Bit swelled on one side but still settling down.
So after such a massive operation I feel amazingly comfortable, and look remarkably healed.
It's now just the head to get right, and mourning the old body I think is whats happening. This part I have found the hardest. I've been on this bc road for 10 months now, and will continue treatment for some time yet, and sometimes it just all catches up with me how it is all so unfair for us to endure what we do.
Onwards and upwards now though.
I am very apply to share more details with anyone, even photos, as I know it's a very hard op to contemplate and to find aussie info on. Ill be photo documenting the recovery for myself during the next few months.
Cheers Louie
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48 Replies
Thanks for posting Jen. Now I am making a mental note to "expect the unexpected" post surgery next week, and just to TRUST that all will work out fine. Sounds like everything is headed in the right direction for you, aside from that little (scary!) detour. Hope you are feeling better and thanks so much for sharing. It will all be over soon, and you will be home in your own bed before long. Keep going!
Sarah
My god that is one long trail of posts, and like others I was in tears reading about your trip back to hospital today. As much as 5 hours is a long time I am glad it was just a blood blister.
Rest, rest and rest some more, rely on others for just a bit longer and be kind to yourself. After my last surgery I realised my head wasn't where it should be and got a referral to a pschologist, honestly it was a great move, she is wonderful and i feel so much better having just talked it all through with someone. I am sending you love and light.
Take care
Donna
Hooray for you Jen for making it through the surgery, and at least being well enough to post - I'm impressed! Hope you continue to heal well. Keep comfortable (as much as you can!)
Sarah
How are you, you are not giving too much away in your post. You must be still pretty high on pain killers....are you comfortable? How did it go? How are your family coping?
Join our private Breast Reconstruction blog when you are up to it and share some details. http://www.bcna.org.au/group/61026
So great to hear from you so soon after your surgery, i was thinking of you all day and night last Friday.
L:)
- Well here I day three sitting up having lunch ! The staff here have been awesome cant fault them at all .still just having sponges and hair is an issue which I have solved for solved for the time being by just piling it on top of head with a scunchy ! Apart from that doing ok will post again in a few days
You sound like you are in a very good place leading up to the surgery. Yes you are right, the pain was definately the tummy area. You will have a catheter till you can get up. I was up the second day i think but I dont remember it, I have seen the photos though of a physio helping me walk with a walker. I do remember being very keen to get up and moving to get the system working again, i was terrified of becoming constipated, more pain. I recall not too much wound pain, but more hassle trying to get organised to go for a walk even just to the loo. all the drains and monitors, the drip etc.
I cant help you about the hair, because i had had chemo and it was just growing back. I do recall thinking it was very convenient in that sense. i had sponge baths each day, but was really stinky by about day 5. I think if i had long hair it could be quite gross. But just imagine how great it will feel to get under the shower when you can.
I didnt have nanna undies, i wore a boy leg low cut undie which was not interferring with the abdo drains. but i was pretty much naked till day 5, just a hospital gown. it was just too hard to get underwear, or clothes for that matter, on and off. when i could I preferred loose stretchy pj long pants, very loose around the tummy, bought them for $5 Big W.
Your hubby sounds great, nice to have such devoted support,
L:)
Hi all
Thanks so much for your very helpful hints, Diane. I had better get shopping for full briefs then! You are always so kind how you respond so quickly. It really does help to know all of those little bits of info before going in. Anything to make it a little bit easier!
And thanks Louise too for your link. I will follow it up.
I have actually just come across a great book today called "Perfect Scars - an exploration of the emotional and physical impact of breast cancer" by Beverley Corlett, Jill Lacina and Rosemary Paul. It has fantastic first person accounts from 21 breast cancer survivors of all ages and experiences, with beautiful photography (not scary!) as well. So that may be of some help to others too. It's an Australian book just published last year, with proceeds to the national breast cancer foundation. I just find it really helps to hear of other people's journeys too, so that you know you are not alone in all of this. Life does go on!
Many thanks to both of you, and thinking of Jen (above) too because I think it is her surgery today. Sending good vibes to her as well!
Thanks for all of your reassurances, good wishes and helpful tips. And good luck to you to Kim - we are going to be fine!
Sarah
Nice to meet you, your surgery is very close. You have probably found most of my posts by now but I am trying to get a photo story up on a private breast reconstruction blog, see the link.
http://www.bcna.org.au/group/61026
If you are interested follow the link and request membership. I am trying to gather some ladies to answer questions and talk about their experiences and hopefully develop a nice resource to ladies looking for answers on this topic.
cheers Louise
- Hi Sarah I had the double DIEP last year. There's a long post on this site of what to bring to hospital. Just do a search. You'll wear the hospital gown for a few days and that's best as they check you so often. Take a pashmina or cardigan or bed jacket to wear over and a dressing gown and slip on slippers for when you want to walk around the corridors. Slip on because you can't bend over! After a few days I wore yoga pants and loose t shirts. I suggest you bring some singlets like those Supre ones so you can wear them under the binder (it gave me a rash). Granny or full knickers also best as bikini ones will sit on your scar line. It was nice to have visitors but get them to limit it to one hour max. You'll be tired and may want to have a snooze in the arvo or just read or watch TV. Skip the makeup! I brought it but it was the last thing you want. Perfume and hand cream nice. You can't shower for a week so I brought big baby wipes to freshen up, but the hospital should have those. Hope this helps! Oh yes, bring a cloth bag you can put over your shoulder to put all the drains in when you walk around. You'll have 6 to begin with! A shoe or handbag bag would work too. Just need a drawstring. Good luck. You'll be so happy! Diane
- Wow, only 2 weeks to go. You'll be happy to be on the other side I reckon. You must be all organised now, I hope it all goes well for you. I have to say that as hard as it was I don't regret it for a second and now 4 months later I feel really well. And you will too. Loads of love and hugs to you and your family, Louise
