Hi,
I haven’t been on here for a while now but I just got my date for Diep Reconstruction on January 30th.
Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘new year, a new me’
I got quiet emotional about it as I had been led to expect it May June so it came as a bit of a shock.
I just celebrated my first year anniversary of my mastectomy last weekend.
I am at the Royal Free, London
If you have any advice as to what to expect, what to pack, any hot tips or know please reply. I could ask the doctors but you girls will know far more about the nitty gritty.
Thank you
Clusymoo
X
Congratulations!!!
I’ve just had a mx and immediate DIEP…two and a half weeks on now. I was treated in bham at the QE…I’d waited for the surgeon and n the meantime got together what I thought I’d need.
I ws just telling someone today that I ws so glad of some of the things…
A large sandwich box to keep bits in so i could reach them but they didnt fall off the table
Small pack of cucumber face wipes to cool me down in the heated period …couldn’t have managed a large pack one handed…
Pack of big general wet wipes for when I could manage them! A wash down when ever you want.
Femfreshwipes
Neck pillow only slightly inflated …it’s hard to sleep propped up as your head lolls
Eye masks that fit comfortably and not tight
Ear plugs
Small mini size bottle of squash so I could pour it myself…
A plastic glass, easier than disposable cups for water
A mug cos can’t have drinks ful when lying down so with a cup you dont get much!!!
a tea spoon as they don’t always give to you
Pack of mint teas, have whenever you can get hot water as it gets rid of the post op wind/ gas
Apple juices cartons as stay down better thanvwater after GA
A thin light book or mag
Lipsil for cracked lips after GA
Soothers if throat is sore
Mints for breath
Ginger biscuits
Prunes !
Those disposable Mini toothbrushes to use in bed
A mini mp3 player to use one handed!!!
Chargers for things
writing pad and pens
My own mini headphones to use in mp3 and bedside tv
Soft cotton pants
Front opening nightie ( got a maternity one from m and s which had buttons all down front and short sleeves)
Small hairbrush you can manage yourself
Small mirror!
Make up
Hair tie without metal if you have long hair (for the op)
Small moisturiser for arms and legs
Get nurse to put moisturiser on legs before TEDS each day
Slippers you can put on without using Yr hands
A fancy paper gift bag if good for carrying your drains, then chuck away!
Dry shampoo
Small shampoo and cmditner
Shower cap
The things attop of my list were the essentials!! Honestly, mint tea and prunes cannot be under estimated, I had no problems at all as a result!
A bag that will hang uo, to put toiletries in
I didn’t know till afterwards that I needed to have high waisted support pants, if you can get something that opens at the gusset it will be a lot easier to get over Yr tummy wounds and for the loo…marks do a bra less body which I’m wearing now…
M and S were brilliant, myndaughter ordered a bag of various sizes and shapes of pants and bras and it was delivered before lunch next day. there’s a company called Macom in London or on line which does proper compression garments which open down the front, wish I’d known about them before!!!
I wish I had done more exercising to prep, tho I’m fairly fit. Strengthening your legs and thighs with squats and lunges will help getting out of bed afterwards…they recommend pelvic tilts too…really importnt!!
I was on a ripple mattress for four days, but as I’m short, made it hard to get into and ut of bed on my own…I got a proper mattress ASAP which made me more independent. Likewise, get the bed control if you can as that helps your independence and comfort.
Happy to answer any queries…
It’s really exciting for you and will make a massive difference, no gain without pain I guess!!! A new year pressie!!
Nonsuch,
You are a gem. That was excatly what I needed and really useful.
I guess I have a shopping trip to look forward to. (luckily Xmas is all wrapped up)I’ll definately have a look at Macom
This heated period, how do they do that. Heated blankets? Glad I’m not having it done in june now!
I will get back into my physio and make sure I am as strong as possible. I had a ligament reconstruction on my knee last year too. Never rains eh!
Congratulations on your succesful op.
I’m glad you are getting back on your feet.
Thank you
x
Glad to have been of some help, pm me if you’d like to exchange email adds? You have so many experiences in this sort of thing, that it’s hard to know what will be useful to other people. I’ve also discovered that hosps and even surgens do the same op very differently!
Some hosps have you in ITU or HDU for two/ three days when monitoring the flap is critical…one hosp near here was totally different to mine, a friend was in the HDU for the whole time she was in…not allowed to use the loo or anything,
I was lucky to have a single room with it’s own wet room. And right from the start I was nursed on the ward, initially I was checked hourly for eight hours, then two hourly, then four hourly. I didn’t have a PDA as morphine lowers Bp, but many people have PDAsa for pain relief.
I was terrified of a catheter but had no trouble at all, it was in Wed to Saturday morning, and after that I managed to shuffle to the loo. Initially every two hours arghhh! It’s important to drink lots of fluids so of course, it flows out!!
When got back from theatre I was on a ripple bed, with nasal oxygen and a fluids drip. Two tum drains and one boob drain round the side under my arm. The gown was just placed over me, I wasn’t in it, and there was a light wadding pad on my chest under the gown. on top of that, there was a sort of full length paper blanket with a pattern of holes, this was attached to a pump which filled it with hot air, so it was featherlight, but warm. This then covered with a sheet and two light blankets!! I was allowed to have my arms out so i could reach things. Tell your OH or visitors the room will be baking!! Having my facial wipes made all the difference when I couldn’t do anything else for myself!!!
Only a little thing but you need to be on the ball when people move your table to get to you, as drinks etc can become out of reach until someone comes back…and they need to alter the table height for you, depending if you are trying to eat or drink!!! The water jug was too heavy for me to lift to start with, so had to ask people to pour - i kept 2 glasses filled to make sure I had it available. Whilst i was lying down I was sometimes offered help to eat, but not routinely, so if a relative can come at mealtimes to help you, it’s worth asking the sister.
I couldn’t feel anything below the waist when I came round, no surgical pain at all and and no idea where my hips were even!!! No pain in my boob either. My main pain was from a terrible headache, made worse by the lights being left full on by one nurse, a knotted muscle above the elbow in the arm that had been stretched out, and bad pain in that shoulder. I don’t know if anything could have been done about it, but it made me miserable. Evidently i could have taken in a v shaped pillow but I didn’t know beforehand.
In terms of testing the flap, they put a little target sticker on the area of my shoulder/armpit where the artery could be picked up, and this was checked with a machine that beeped…a Doppler. Nurses always let me hear the blood whooshing as it’s very reassuring that the flap has taken!!! They alSo feel the temperature and softness of the skin graft and press for a count of five to see if the colour comes back . BP, temp and stats checks each time too.
During the first and second nights junior doctors came in to check me twice, which was reassuring I guess.
Ah, another thing, I’ve been wearing my TEDS now since the night before my op but haven’t had any itching or problems…I did twice a day moisturising for a couple of months before and I have them moisturised before putting them on every day since…I’ve had a poor neighbour coming in daily!! I’m sure there’s more, so ask away if I’ve missed anything. I’d much rather know what to expect !! !!!
Thanks again,
I have my pre op on Jan 18th so will find out some information then.
Your advice will be invaluable.
I hope I am not put on Morphine because it makes me sick. I will have to remember to tell my anethstist to give me anti sickness as anesthetic makes me sick too. Heaving won’t do my stiches much good!
I was thinking about bringing in long socks but thanks for reminding me about the delightful TEDS. The darned things always fall down. I wore suspenders with them to keep them up. Not remotely appealing!
I don’t know if to tell my husband to stay away the day of my surgery. My son has a Physics GCSE that day. STRESSFUL
It sounds like I won’t get back to the ward till early evening and I am sure I’ll be fairly out of it. I know the kids (18&15) will want to see me but it’s quite a shlep on the train and not sure that driving is an option with parking.
My sister lives 15 mins walk away but she is having surgery 2 weeks before me so I’m not sure if she will be on her feet but her and her husband will get to me if I need anything.
I don’t want people to struggle in to see me if I am just dosy and crap companywhich I will be the 1st few days.
I hope I can have my phone with me. I’ll ask on the 18th. Facebook will while away some time!
I had a quick look on Macon. What did you find worked for you. Body stockings, support pants, bras? There is a lot to choose from and all of it expensive.
At £30 a pair of knickers I won’t be getting the days of the week thats for sure!
Hi. I had my diep in Buckinghamshire in September and my experience was very similar to what has been described already. I found a travel hand held fan very useful for when you are kept so warm. A sports bottle works well for drinks until you can sit upright.
I had a delayed diep and the op took eight hours but I didnt have any arm pain.
Check at your pre op appointment about support garments before you spend money. I was given a support bra and abdomen binder by the hospital so that was ok whilst I was in. Once at home I used ordinary bras and m and s support pants.
I told family not to visit on day of op but I was able to text and talk to them on the phone in the evening. I was fine for visitors the next day.
I was driving after three and a half weeks and back to pilates class after six weeks.
Pam x
Thanks Pam,
Again really useful tips. I can start putting my bag together and that makes me feel raedy to face this thing head on and be prepared.
I had my MX a year last Sat and had literaly got off a plane from Berlin at 1 am (we nearly didn’t make it because of the snow) and got my results the following morning Tue and I was in on the Friday.
It was such a shock and so much to take in in 3 days I was just in a daze.
I will be more in control this time thanks to you lovely girls.
XX
Hi mrs moo,
Wow, I can’t believe your mx story…not much time for coming to terms with things beforehand!!! And tho it’s not best timing with your sons exam, he should have learned it all over the hols justclike my girls used to …lol!
Poor OH though!
It’s amazing how timing of these things seems to run against us…one daughter lives 120 miles away and had just started a big new job, the other lives a bit further away and was 8 months pregnant so couldn’t get up…but it’s all for the good in the end.
Pams fan IS a good idea, I’d thought about it but didnt get round to it, had been looking for one that wld stand on the side table…I think I found one at Argos or boots but then forgot to order.
I could send you a pic of me when I came back from surgery and I really was amazingly awake! Went into the GA room at 8.30 and was in recovery at 3.30, on the ward by 6 which would have been earlier but they left me till my friendly nurse was available to collect me! Maybe I was lucky with the GA etc, but i was glad to have my daughter and a friend unpack my things and make sure everything was in reach for the night. They made me up some squash and fed me ginger cake too. I’d set out all my things beforehand but to safeguard things while i was in theatre, everything was packed up and locked up again! I wasnt sleepy you know,mainly bored and uncomfortable as couldn’t get my back in a good position. I suppose if id had morphine on a pda it would have made me more dozy, but I was on paracetamol and occasional ibuprofen so I’m sure they can do similar for you.
I’ve got a bra less body garment from M and S which is good as I dont have to pull it down for the loo, and one pair of high waist control pants which I do have to pull down and wish I didn’t!!! Ive found another website, same srt of price as Macom but makes bespoke… Thinking of treating myself given it’s three months of agony otherwise. Bra extenders are a great idea, pack of three for £5 M and S order…my BCNs insist on a firm support sports bra, one size bigger but the same cup, and they said it mustn’t be the one cup cropped top type cos you want the shaping. As pam says, a few hosps provide them, but not many.
Ahhh, the website i found is Specialsupportwear.com