Lol - that’s funny. But how great that you have that communication channel. Mind you, I think I was quite happy to sleep for the first day haha. Anything for a rest 
Another piece of advice, which they may have told you already, but at some point, you will need to cough/sneeze, etc. If you roll up a towel and press it against your tummy, it helps. No, I didn’t believe them at first either, but it does actually help.
I don’t blame you for keeping the catheter in. Try to get as much rest as possible. It really will help with your recovery.
x
I was given one on the first night as i had a tickle in my throat from the tubes and kept needing to clear my throat- it works!
Look at you Duffer56, great to read the updates and now on the other side. Well done and I’m so pleased for you bucause I think you are doing great!!
Skigirl, I get a kick out of knowing you have a heart shaped tummy button.
I am still waiting to see exactly where my belly button is!
Catheter out this morning - unfortunately that meant i had to get the Bridget Jones knickers on! I was NOT looking forward to that! as i have had the DIEP flap they use the knickers like compresion bandages - once they’re on they are lovely and comfortable but getting them on and off is a two person job - especially as i still have a drain from my tummy that they haven’t removed yet - dignified or what??
i was panicking before i came in as to what size to get - as they are quote snug i have ended up with 2 sizes larger that before the operation becasue of the swelling.
like an idiot - i bought myself a new pair of slippers to bring into hospital - didn’t take into account that everything swells after a lot of anaesthetic - couldnt get them on so got my other half to bring in my tatty old ones - problem solved!
the other benefit of wearing them is that it makes it easier to cope with a cough or sneeze and moving on and off the bed etc. - I am not afraid of asking for help - however undignified it may be!
I can just imagine!!! I never had to wear any compression knickers - I guess each health authority does things differently. Apparently, they only make you wear them here if you have any form of liposuction. I did find that the clothes that I brought in to go home with didn’t fit round my tummy though - you do swell up quite a lot!! I kind of assumed that because they had removed my ‘mummy tummy’ then I would be thinner than before, but ended up walking out of the hospital with my trousers half way round my backside haha!! As you say, not very dignified. But, I don’t seem to recall that I cared that much as the walk to the main entrance was quite a way and me, being me, decided that it wasn’t that far and I could walk myself. If they offer you a wheelchair - accept it lol
Are you getting around ok now? Or still struggling? I remember one of the health care assistants being really strict with me and me getting cross with her. She was adamant that I could stand up straigher than I was doing. I’m not usually a rude person, but I seem to think that I had something to say about it!! Even now, it can seem as though my skin is really quite tight around my stomach. I think my skin was so stretched from pregnancy, there wasnn’t much left to stretch any further. It was weeks before I could stand straight upright.
You sound as though you’re progressing really well. Try not to push yourself too hard though
Take care xxx
Morning Day 3. OMG has it really been three days?? Talk about baby steps - I have come such a long way in a relatively short space of time. Each tiny achievement is really a massive step forward! getting the ‘Bridget Jones’ on for the first time - i had wound myself up to the point of panic but I got through it and it was nowhere near as bad as I had imagined. The breast care nurse helped me on with them the first time and I held them away from my front whilst she pulled them up over by bottom. Once you’re through that bit it’s easy. The next milestone was going to the loo and having to take them off again to go and putting them back on again. The nurses are great but not all of them are used to the drawers and so look at me a bit blankly when I ask them to help me on with them. Then when they do they think that I have got a size too small as they are such a chore to get on. It hasn’t been painfull just my anticipation causing me stress. I have been to the loo half a dozen times yesterday (and this morning) and each time it has got easier. With the drawers on I can stand up straight and get on and off the bed easier - baby steps but sheer joy!
i am taking it easy but i may venture down to the TV lounge later today - a change of scenery would be nice and I feel up to it.
Blimey! Is it really only day three??!!
Duffer56, you are up early and posting early. I too thought the early days in hospital went by quickly and your posting each days new change is giving woman who are waiting an insight into the moment. If I were to have a diep, I’d be reading this thread. I would pull the crotch over since there was some give in those big knickers rather than pull it down. The shapewear knickers I have in three different sizes and I changed them get the proper compression as the swelling went down. Those knickers can be bought with a closures at the crotch and those cost a fourtune compared to my Matalans bought online day four of my hospital stay. I glad I did that because on phase 2, six months later, I had scar revision onmy hips and out came the graduated sizes once again. I could not stand upright until about 9 days and I had to force myself. That I looked up online and what I found it that it’s pretty much the norm to walk the hunched over stoop for up to two weeks, so you are doing great! I too would like t hear your tummy button report. 
Baby steps down the hall to the tv lounge today is a huge day 3 recovery progression. I’m so pleased to read it was not nearly as bad as you had thought! Well done and you are doing so well…kudos to you Duffer56!! LB, xox
Yeah! Just seen surgeon and not only is drip coming out today but he has given me the ok to go home!
That’s fantastic news!! Absolutely well done you. 
Xx
came home yesterday (Saturday) which is amazing considering 11 hours in surgery on Wednesday and out on day 3!. Am still a little sore around tummy scar but eased with normal painkillers (paracetamol and Ibuprofen). So nice to be in my own bed last night - I actually felt that I got some restful sleep. My boob (or flap as it is now known) has given me no problems whatsoever. Just before I left the hospital they asked if they had taken the last stitch out and they hadn’t so I was a little wary as I was thinking that the stitch was around the nipple so would hurt to take out. Took me a minute or two to realise I don’t actually have a nipple anymore so it was painless!
Am moving around very slowly and tire easily but I don’t think that’s bad for day 4! My partner is helping me with the Bridget’s - he is more used to working on his allotment than hoisting up ladies drawers but he’s getting the hang of it! The first time he helped me pull them down he commented “blimey! It’s like skinning a rabbit!”. He’s doing ok though he gas cooked be breakfast and keeps me topped up with tea and coffee (and chocolate biscuits which, of course are compulsory when taking Iboprofen)!
all in all - I can honestly say I have experienced no pain - only discomfort!
Hi Duffer56
It is lovely to get home again, isn’t it? Everything just seems so much better, despite any pain or discomfort. Just remember to take it easy. You may not be in pain, but your body has a lot of healing to do.
Take care xx
Duffer56, that is amazing! Do take it easy, go slow and I’m so impressed with your progress.
Gentle hugs, LB, x
Thank you ladies - it does feel good to be home! I am taking it very, very slowly. One step at a time (literally this time, it takes me an age to get up and down the stairs).
district nurse came round today to give me the blood thinning injection. I didnt realise that they send you home with seven days worth and expect you to inject yourself. I used to be a blood doner so i dont mind needles but i would never look at the needle and i certainly couldnt handle injecting myself. Once i explained my concern the hospital arranged for the district nurse to call in to do it - phew!
still a palaver getting in and out of the Bridget’s but oh so comfortable when they are on - they hold everything nicely in place - i sneezed earlier today and it wasnt too bad at all!
am only awake this time of night because i have been dozingon and off all day - am going to venture up the stairs and get myself off to bed
xx
Hi Duffer gosh I which I had seen your posts earlier. Have come off this forum for a bit before my DIEP. I had my MX (left) with immediate DIEP down at East Grinstead too the week before you. I went in for surgery on 7th May. I had a few complications though. All scans and pre-assessment checks went well. Advised tummy veins looked good. I had chemo first which I finished last Dec then a WLE and full node clearance Feb and re-excision March before advised multi-focal and needed MX. I had first surgery Tues 7th May which was mx and diep and appeared to go well. But blood supply to flap failed so went back in a further 3x and in the end had a vein taken from left arm which has left me with a scar of epic proportions. Having said that, despite all the problems, the staff were brilliant. The plastic surgeon team were amazing and really determined to fix things and the nursing and aftercare were fantastic. I was discharged Monday 13 so I just missed you! I have been down to dressing clinic on Fri 17 and all looking good. I am in the Big pants and have ordered some more “pretty” ones off M+St website as think we have to wear them for a while! Still quite tired but up and about and desperately trying to resist the urge to do housework. Also have youngish children so find looking after them tiring. But so far so good. finished my last Heprin shot last night (had to inject myself whilst on chemo too so used to it although I still hate doing it) but am still wearing the fab surgical stockings. Look after yourself and hope things continue to go well post op for you. Em x
Spookymoo - Em, You have been through the mill - that all is good now and I’m sorry to read that your arm vein was offered up in the end and left you with quite a scar. It’s hard but forget that housework, it’s not worth the reach and pull that can come with it. You have come so far and, I admire your additude under all the stressful conditions of getting to where you are now. Kudos to you and I’m tracking your progress as well. You are doing great!
Duffer56, I did stairs before going home and having had a prior cesarean section (13 years earlier), it was easier without stomach muscles cut. I stayed in 6 days and I needed no blood thinning and I was a cow and did not wear the compression socks, my bad. Hope you were able to to get much needed sleep.
Hi Duffer56
its good to hear you are doing so well. its great to read your journey, I’m having DIEP op in October. I had a LD flap done last year but unfortunately it failed so I am very nervous of having the DIEP done.
take care
gillian xx
Hi ladies, Day 5, had a good night’s sleep last night and feeling much better today. Getting a little easier to walk around but still taking it really, really slowly. Took the compression socks off this morning to wash my stinky feet - hat a pallaver getting them back on! That’s going to be my excercise for the day!
Hi Em, sounds like you had a nightmare experience but hopefully you’ve got there in the end - even if you have a horrid scar to go with - as if it’s not bad enough when it works right the first time. My surgery was longer than they anticipated, i was in theatre for close to 11 hours. I had had the CT scan done on my abdomen first to determine where the best bits were for the donor site (sorry, always think of a doner kebab when I think that), but when they did the operation my bits were a different way round and the surgeon said he had only had to deal with that half a dozen times in his career so it took longer than expected. I didnt really take in what he was saying at the time so i will find out more when i speak to him again When i am dealing with a full deck!
Hi Gillian, sorry your LD flap failed nd you’re now faced with the DIEP. i can only comment on my experiences but for me I was so worried about each step of the process that I had worked mself up into a nervous wreck! Everything is alien and you’ve got nothing to compare to or prepare for. It’s one of the reasons that i started posting on the forum - i know it would have helped me if i had got a better idea of all the little things. If you want to PM me please feel free. I was going to try to put all my little baby stps together in case it helps others going through the same thing. I tried to make notes on my phone because what seems really minor now was damn well major at the time! You would not believe how worked up I was at the prospect of putting on the Bridget’s when I still had a drain in - i was petrified. As it tuns out it was nowhere near as bad as my imagination had led me to believe.
if any of you wnt to PM me - please feel free - I think the medical staff are brilliant but thy cnnot understand the silly little worries that we have when we’re caught in the middle of it all!
Duffer
Hi everyone.
Duffer56, you are doing so well. You seem to be doing so much better than I did. I was still taking codeine by your stage of recovery! I remember really suffering with my stomach, but I was never told to wear your Bridget Jones’ knickers - maybe they really are helping. Everyone is different though - I’m perhaps just a bit more of a wimp than the average person lol.
Gillian, I too am sorry to hear that your LD recon failed. That was my biggest worry, and I should imagine everyone’s worry regardless of the type of recon that they have. Even after a year, I still worry about things going wrong, although I realise it’s a bit silly to do so. Especially as I’m not a natural ‘worrier’!!
Em, I agree with LB. Leave the housework! It’s not worth hurting yourself for, especially as you have been through so much already.
At the end of the day, we are all still here to tell our stories, and that is worth celebrating
Take care everyone xxx
Hi Skigirl, I honestly think the Bridget’s have made a significant difference - it’s ironic as that was the thing that I was getting most stressed about. I, like you, never used to be a worrier. I have come to realise that I turned into a 'what if’er about 4 years ago. Exactly at the time I got diagnosed with DCIS the first time. I have turned into a right worrier always dreading the worst. If you could have seen what a wimp I was at every stage you would have thought me a total wimp! I was worried about having a wee, putting the Bridget’s on when I still had a drain in, having the drains taken out, I worried about absolutely everything. I realised over the past few weeks that I changed character when I the abc DCIS before - so much so that I asked for the psychological counsellor to see me in hospital as I realise I need to deal with anxiety issues. She is writing to my doctor so that I can get some counselling locally too. I think sometimes we concentrate so hard on the physical issues connected with the cancer that we forget to take care of the emotional and mental side of it too.
Good evening Duffer56. 1 week on today!! How are you doing this week? You’ve not given us an update for a couple of days, and I was just checking that all is ok with you
You were right with the emotional side of cancer. Unfortunately, my sister was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer the month before me (my poor parents!!!). She absolutely fell to pieces and we all needed to be there for her to support her through the first few weeks. As a result I didn’t really have the time to ‘ponder’ on my own diagnosis and I also felt that I had to be stronger than ever so that my family didn’t go through everything again. It was only at my 6 week check with the consultant when he told me that everything was clear and no further treatment was needed that I just fell to pieces. I hit rock bottom and found it really difficult to pull myself back up again. I think I cried for pretty much a whole week. This also coincided with my impending return to work and I was so self-conscious that I didn’t look ‘normal’. However, with the support of my breast care nurse and a VERY good bra that hides any imperfections I managed to climb out of the emotional hole that I found myself in.
I hope everyone else is ok this evening xx