Author: mydiepflapjourney

I was able to take a shower completely by myself this morning.  I felt so great about that.  I guess small accomplishments added up make the recovery easier.  I am now able to completely stand up straight and I have started massaging the tummy scar.  I know it will take awhile to break down the scar tissue, but actively doing it makes me feel like I am headed in the right direction.

I compared pictures of my left breast from yesterday morning and last night and there was such a difference, and then this morning it looked worse.  I need to realize that it will take some time for my skin to heal and I need to stay positive about it.  Patience is not a strong suit of mine but I am trying to work on that.

I am making lanyards, for JP drain holding, and I received my pink ribbon yesterday.  This weekend I hope to make 50 of them and bring them to the hospital for DIEP Flap surgery patients to use.  Something so simple really made a difference when walking around or using the bathroom.

I have been stretching my arms and can now reach almost over my head.  It really pulls so I have been going slowly at it.

Well everyone have a great day and remember that time will heal everything.

Pictures are below.

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Today I had my followup with Dr Jennifer Snow.  She is so pleased with my progress, even with the wound healing.  She said that the wound is healing, and you can tell because of how pink the tissue is.  She also delivered the best news, that the pathology came back on my breast tissue with no cancerous or precancerous tissue at all.  Best news ever.

I will be seeing her in 3 months and she expects to release me then.  I will have a check up every 6 months so she can do a manual check of my breasts since there could still be some missed breast tissue cells but she would be able to detect if there was anything.   Not too worried about dense breast tissue anymore so manual checks are great.

Back home now to lunch and I am starting to walk on the tread mill today.  Hopefully a mile or 2.

Pictures are below.

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Well today I got to drive for the first time today since surgery.  My husband had an eye appointment and they had to dilate them and he could not drive home.  I had no trouble and we stopped at the store also.  It was nice to actually help him today instead of the other way around.  He has been my rock through all of this.

No pictures today.

Nice quiet day today.  Just walked and made some more Lanyards for the hospital.

Pictures today are of my stomach incision and belly button.  

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Today we took a trip to Walmart to buy some “Danskin” workout bras.  I have found that these work so much better due to the fact that they do not come up as high under my arm.  My skin is so sensitive that the higher ones irritate my underarm.  Also they are a lot cheaper.  They zip down the front and are easy to put on.  Firm holding of the new girls.

I have started doing some desensitizing rubbing on the upper part of my breasts to help with the constant feeling of needles on my skin.  It is very common for the skin to be hypersensitive after a surgery like this.  It does not actually hurt but a constant irritation feeling.  Hopefully this will work.

I have no pain what so ever on any incision, which I am grateful for.  They are still just as swollen and I am sure it will take months for them to be their final size.

I have started doing some simple arm “exercising” and also leg movements.  Nothing with my arms over my head or full use of my stomach muscles.  Feels good to be able to move more.

More tomorrow.  Have a good night.

Pictures are below.  The left breast still looks pretty bad but actually is doing better.  

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Happy Veteran’s Day to all past and present Military people.  Also it is my late Mother’s Birthday.  In times like this, during this recovery, I really miss my Mom.  She was such a strong person and I am trying to channel that strength through this process.  My healing is going very well.  The tummy scar is now partially  uncovered and looks good.  There will be lots of scar massaging when I am able to do it to soften the scar, but I am very pleased with how it is looking.  My belly button is starting to loose its strips also.

I took my first out of the house trip today, (other than Dr visits).  I felt so good and we took off to JoAnn’s Fabric to buy material to make the JP drain holder lanyards.  I am going to make 50 of them and donate them to the 5th floor nurses at Harris SW Hospital.  They worked so well for me that I want to share some with the next DIEP Flap patients there.  After waiting in line for velcro cutting I was wiped out.  Funny how you feel so strong at first and then go down hill so fast.  We came home and a short nap revived my energy.  “Take it Slow” is so hard for me, but my body tells me when to stop.

Well I hope everyone has a great holiday and I will post again.

Pictures are below.

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I had my post op visit with Dr Nabil Habash today.  Everything is going good except for my left breast.  We are now in “Wound Care” mode due to the thinness of my breast tissue.  We knew this was a possibility and will be working closely with Dr Habash to get this healed.  I have some cream to put on twice a day and just try to eat right with lots of protein and some prayers from all.   The pictures will show the problem, with the blistering skin by my left ring finger.  Other than my right breast everything looks good.  The steri strips are coming off on my tummy incision also.  Very happy with the way things are going.

Pictures are below

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