Preparing for mastectomy and DIEP

[ShazzaJ]

Hi Craftyj, 

wishing you all the best of luck for your surgery. 
I am laying in my hospital bed after having my mastectomy and DIEP on Thursday. Operation was successful and I am having catheter removed this morning and getting me more mobile today. 
thank you to all the tips from other ladies on here, it has really helped and for when I leave hospital too. 
Take care in your recovery 

ShazzaJ xx 

[Craftyj]

thank you for your reply xx

[meebie]

Hi Craftyj,

I am 6 weeks post DIEP now so I can really understand how you feel right now. It’s a scary time. However, this is you being one step closer to being cancer free. You are going to be absolutely fine 🙂

So, in my bag I packed button up Pj’s. I didn’t need these until day 4 as you will have your hospital gown permanently undone as they have to check the flap regularly for a blood supply. I wasn’t hungry at all so you don’t really need to worry about snacks. I took some squash though as I don’t like water and believe me they will make you drink lots!
I took a hand held fan as someone else had said I would get hot with the bear hugger. I didn’t need the fan but still an idea. I took my earphones and a long charger for my phone so I could keep my phone near me. You will feel numb on your stomach so don’t worry about that, you won’t be in pain as they use a local anaesthetic that releases onto your incision for 2-3 days after your op.

You’ll need a good pair of slippers with grip that are easy to put on for when the physio’s visit. Also a light dressing gown.

I took a book but couldn’t really hold it for any length of time as I was so tired. You’ll sleep loads in the 1st few days.

To be honest, you’ll need very little in hospital. What I wish I had when I came out was

1. A shower seat of some kind as I ended up sat in the bath with the shower on. It was a struggle so a seat would have been great for the 1st week.

2. Sleeping in your own bed is hard. You need lots of pillows. I wish I’d had a large V pillow. If you have a reclining chair, this will be better to sleep in for at least the 1st week.

3. You will be hunched over and it will hurt your back. Try laying on the floor with your knees bent and gently rock your legs side to side, just a little. It does help.

Overall, the whole thing does go quick. The best advice I can give you is be kind to yourself. Take one day at a time and accept any help that you’re given. Be honest with your children, they’ll worry more if you’re not. You are going to be absolutely fine. The doctors, surgeons and nurses are great and will look after you.

If you have any other question I will do my best to answer them.

Mia x

[Craftyj]

So my surgery has been moved forward to Saturday and I will go into hospital tomorrow at 6pm, I’m so scared of it all

does anyone have any helpful hospital bag suggestions please?

xx

[Craftyj]

Thank you so much for your reply

my 16 yo starts GCSEs next week hence why we are keeping it quiet

ive requested a medical letter from GP to pass to the school for consideration to be given

appointment today with plastics went well and all seems to be moving on at pace, scary times ahead

thanks again tho

[MissRST]

@Craftyj 

Including your username so you get the alert

x

[MissRST]

Hi Craftyj

So sorry to hear you're on the same journey as we here are. No one would wish it for anyone. BUT - please know it does get better/easier/ more bearable. I know you won't believe that right now; I didn't either.

I also didn't tell anyone at home (except my partner) - we only told our two sons (28 and 31) two weeks before the surgery. I then told my sisters and mum.

I also didn't tell anyone at work except my manager. I told my team on the Thursday and finished on the Friday. 

I told myself I didn't want pity, or anyone feeling sorry for me. I rationalised that if it had been toe cancer (doesn't exist) or finger cancer (same), I'd have told them, but telling them it was BC made me feel weak and vulnerable, which I couldn't handle. I also told myself I needed time to get my own head around it.

Having reflected on things (I've had 7 weeks to do so 🙂), I know i ought to have done things differently and told people much sooner. They were very supportive, and that does help. There was no pity, no avoidance, no awkward questions - it was actually good to talk about it when one of the team asked me about it on that Friday. 

It is a very heavy burden to carry around alone. Think about sharing that load if you can xx 

I'm 7 weeks on from surgery today and things are very ok. I went to Leeds last weekend on the train and we did a bit of shopping and had a meal and a few drinks, and we went to Manchester this week and did the same. Normality will return. Life will continue and you WILL recover. 

Yes, it's hard for the first few weeks, but that time will pass and you will get better. The body is an amazing machine. And - the surgeons do this day in and day out; the finished result will be marvellous.

xx 

[Craftyj]

What great tips to share, I’m recently diagnosed and waiting the surgery 

how blasé was I about the lump I had, I’m in a complete rollercoaster emotionally and physically whilst keeping it quiet at home

thanks again 

[ShazzaJ]

Thank you these great tips, I’m anxiously waiting for a surgery date. 
hope you have recovered well x 

[meebie]

That’s great to hear 👌🏼

I’m laying here wondering if I’ll ever walk again! It seems like a big mountain to climb. It’s reassuring to know you’re doing all those things in week 3. I guess it’s just one day at a time 🤞🏼

x

[MissRST]

Hi Mia

Don't worry about only being able to sit on the edge of the bed at day 3 - you are exactly where we all were at that point! It'll be difficult to vision a place where you can begin to function anywhere near normally again, but it will come. I'm 3 weeks and 5 days post-op and can shower and dress independently, and yesterday I walked 5k (over 2 walks). 

You'll be anxious when you get home because you won't have nurses on hand, but you'll soon find your groove, and work out how to do things. 

Slowly slowly, but you will get there 🙂 

xx

[meebie]

That is so helpful. I am day 3 post DIEP. I will definitely contact my local council about some support. I didn’t realise it would be this tough. I’ve only managed to sit on the side of the bed so far. Mind you, I’m super pleased with the results 😀. At least now it’s over. Having some equipment at home will definitely make things easier so thank you very much for the advice.

Mia

[MissRST]

Just a little more advice for the return home following DIEP - I rang my local council the day after I got home, and asked if there was any equipment available to help with getting about in the home. They arranged for an OT to visit the following morning, and that afternoon I had two toilet-seat risers delivered, along with a toilet frame, a perching stool, a small chair for the shower, and a bed rail to help pull myself up out of bed.  All of these items have been an ABSOLUTE godsend. All are on loan for as long as I need them, and there is no charge - I just ring when they are no longer needed and they will be collected.

Hope that helps someone.

[Diamond.1]

Thats so helpful as I have no idea what to expect ☺️

[meebie]

I’m waiting for a date for mastectomy and DIEP. This information is really useful, thankyou.

[Fiveoclocksomewhere]

I’m just waiting for a date for my surgery so this is really helpful - thank you. Hope you’re very much on the mend now that this is behind you. 

xx

[Scotdoll]

Hi

i just wanted to share a few tips which a good friend shared after her DIEP and I have recently put into action.

1) do the pre op exercises from the physios

2) buy Bridget Jones knickers ... allow for dressings so maybe a size bigger.

3) a sip flask for water as you may not be able to sit up to drink from a glass and you need to drink plenty water

4) instant ice packs (used for sports injuries) to help cool down other parts of your body whilst they “baste you like a Xmas turkey” to keep the breast really warm to promote the healing of the new breast. The room is kept hot... you have additional dressings over the breast... and I was flushing due to letrozole. And you have the dreaded TEDstockings on too.I made a material pocket and got the staff to crack the ice packs and place them between my feet and on my head .... really helped.

5) being a nurse I knew of the sensory overload of being on a ward... they check your new breast every 15 minutes then every 30 mins building up to every couple of hours ... day and night! So rest is almost impossible. I took in ear plugs and eye mask to shut myself away. They just removed my ear plug to take my temperature!

6) sadly they were not very helpful with personal hygiene... and I was hooked up to a variety of tubes (things did not go straightforward!) so having wipes and lovely fresh smelling goodies was essential. Luckily my daughter was allowed in for an hour to help wash me. Dry shampoo... although my hair was like a barristers wig by the time i escaped! First shower at home was MARVELLOUS!

7) Audio books ... 

😎 CALM app or something similar .

9) Get up ASAP and mobilise. Do everything the physios tell you.
10) accept any laxative as the anaesthetic and pain relief may make you constipated and with a abdominal scar you do not want to have to strain!

11) buy Vit C and zinc to promote healing ( do not use pre op)

Hope this is useful. I am 3 weeks post DIEP and feeling more like myself. It is hard work but worth the effort.

XXXX