Charleston Bound, part 2

lbrewer

lbrewer

trying to upload a picture

Catie2013

cute Lbrewer!  Hoping you can make it in October if possible!

Cascader, would be wonderful to finally meet you!  October might work fine if it means finally getting to meet you!  

How about the rest of you all?

Hugs

Catie

PinkHeart

Lbrewer,

At first Dr K was hesitant and I was obstinate. I told him I did not prefer a large areola and wanted skin paddle smaller.  He said if he made it smaller it would flatten my breast. Once I sent him pic of breasts with rub on nips he agreed to do it. It.Looks.Great!  Breast is not smaller but better shaped. Not flat at all. He happy as I was. 

Have 2nd follow up with Dr K tomorrow. Itching rash is milder now. 

Been off pain meds for three days!  So first glass of Wine tonight at Summerville wine bar. It's 100 degrees here!  And drinking alfresco with my pillow!  Love it!

PinkHeart

Catie2013,

Count me in!  Any date works for me!

lbrewer

I sent the email and asked how to get the free sets. We'll see!

PinkHeart

Lbrewer,

Great deal on free temp nips!  I paid $25 for six pair. 

PinkHeart

It's official!

I'M MOVING TO CHARLESTON!  

I accepted a job offer with a firm in Mt. Pleasant.  Got the job offer phone call while still in the hospital. Have no recall of what I said, but I did receive an official offer letter shortly thereafter so all is good. 

I found a condo that is 4 miles to the office, and only 2 miles to beach on Sullivans Island via car or bike trail! 

Praying I stay healthy. I start September 9th and know I won't be 100% yet (or able to bend over to tie shoes!).   Moving is crazy. Had envisioned flying back and driving a Uhaul myself 750 miles to SC. Not!  Have to pay movers now because I had surgery. ...

It's starting to sink in now and I keep thinking of all the people I will miss and tears start rolling. It will be bittersweet --but more sweet. 

montrial

Pinkheart -- Congratulations on your new position in Charleston and impending move.  Looks like everything is working out for you.   Best wishes for a smooth transition.  GTC -- So sorry to read about your flap loss.  Things will work out in time.  For now, just stay positive, rest and heal.  Cascader -- October would be a great month for me for the reunion.  I will actually be in Mt. Pleasant October 27 through November 1.  My hubby and I will be celebrating my birthday on Isle of Palms just prior to my Stage 3 scheduled for Thu 10/30.  We were planning on heading back to TN after my release on Fri 10/31, but could stay over a day or two if needed so we could attend the 1st reunion.  I'll be anxious to see when you are able to schedule as I would love to meet many of you who have been so supportive to me and many others over the months/years.

lbrewer

congrats pink!  You will be very happy in CHS!

Catie2013

so happy for you, Pinkheart!!!!  Checking on availability for Dr K and C and. Dr B for hopefully the last of October to accommodate Cascader, Montrial and we know Pink will be there already!  Will know on Dr B next week.  Then to find accommodations, Gail said mid October would be tough time to find decent prices, because of the Komen Low Country, so hopefully it will work just before your dates in CHS Montrial?   

Will be fun to see the faces behind the stories and names on this site!  Hope others can join us!

Hugs

Catie

Davy

Congrats, Pink!!  Things are really looking up for you...to God be the glory!  CHS is such a great area.  When I used to visit my sister there I always said it was like living in the perfect vacation destination. 

I don't think I'll make the CHS meet up though, enjoy! 

Cheers,

Davy

cascader

Catie I think the very end of October works. I have a Phoenix trip planned for Nov 14 , so just trying to space it out a little bit( or maybe lessen the impact when I tell my husband. Lol)

Catie2013

Cascader, know what you mean about telling the DH!  I'm going to call Dr B's office on Monday and see if they are in town and can work some of us in (are you planning on a visit to Dr Baron too?  I am.  

The very end of October as in weekend as in the 24th or 31st?  

Hugs

Catie

PinkHeart

Hope you all can make it to CHS!  Life is so busy but hope you can. 

I have appointment with Dr Baron Nov. 4th. Travel time:  15 mins now.

Davy, Hopefully you are done with recon but if you are ever in CHS please let me know. 

Meanwhile, I will be a forever tourist (my bucket list of things to do seems endless) and still count on MartyJ for the local insight.

ketch

GTC, hang in there... a pity party was due. This is tough and emotional.

Pink, SO HAPPY you were offered and accepted the job. You will be moving fast--pun intended--moving and starting a new job.

I may be able to join y'all at the end of October, since I've decided not to do the final operation this year or next year....I'm taking a year off. But, I need to follow up with a yearly check with Dr. Baron & could schedule for that time. We would probably stay at MainStay Suites. Stayed there the last time and was pleased. My sleep is erratic, so I like having another room to hang around in while hubby is sleeping. Their medical rate was $69 for a studio, $89 for a 2 bedroom.

I am thinking the wound vac will be coming off this Friday. It is the end of the rental period on Friday and the nurse said we will probably go to wet-to-dry dressing since the opening is so small. For 7 weeks since the week from hell, the incision has gone from 5 in long, 2 inches wide & 2 inches deep to about 1 inch long and an inch deep.. The nurse said she would like the depth to be less, but the tissue looks healthy. I'm finally regaining some strength. This kicked my butt unlike anything before.

Catie2013

Ketch - woohoo on the end of the wound vac - if you are anything like I was, you will think something is missing when you don't have it (as it you are used to it now so think you've forgotten your purse or something when you don't have to lug it around!)  I did the wet to dry on my radiated flap - amazing when it gets to really healing - trust the docs and their take on the process they truly do know what they are doing!  

Would be great to meet you in person in October!  Will check in again when I know Dr B can give us our annual check ups in the same time frame!

Hugs

Catie

GointoCarolina

I just spent time reading old posts.....and crying to think how very brave you all are and how lucky I am to be connected with you.I know there is a reason my journey did not go as planned....when i get my oomph back I will share about my first three days in SC...perfect material for a sit com.....please all of you take care.....

Catie2013

I just got off the phone with Dr Barons office, for those of you wanting to have your appointment coincide with the "Flapper Reunion" - thinking we could do October and preferably the end of October.  Unfortunately Dr Baron is NOT in the office at all for the month of October!

They were very nice and encouraging about our event, the PA will be in the office but Dr Baron will not.  If that is still okay with you all, then we can go forward with trying to arrange something in October.  If you are expecting to get to see Dr Baron as well as either Dr Kline and or Dr Craigie we need to rethink the dates to November after the 5th.  

When I get a consensus I can call again and Dr Barons office will coordinate appointments when both Drs are available.  As we know from our own experience, the Drs are very popular because of their specialties!  

Thoughts anyone?

I have had my appointment for November 11th for almost a year now but can change it if we all can make this flapper reunion happen!

Hugs

Catie

cascader

Catie , Do what works best for your schedule and docs.,don't worry about me. When planning a group event I find that the best way is to just set a date and those that can make it will. It is going to be impossible to accommodate everyone's crazy schedules.  Thanks for doing this. 

I am still waiting for my MRI appointment, don't know why it is taking so long.  My onc decided it was better to have MRI rather than needle biopsy. 

Here is some advice on what not to do: last week I had a procedure done to remove another squamous cancer on my right forearm. This is my lymphadema side and I completely forgot to discuss with Dr beforehand. I am swelling like never before and it feels like I have an egg in my armpit. Just called in an antibiotic and wearing my sleeve . Moral of story, this is a lifelong condition and we must always be aware even if you rarely have symptoms. 

As Rosanne Rosannadanna would say....it's always something. 

On a more positive note fires are contained , mudslides continue. Mother Nature has been busy all over this beautiful country. 

Catie2013

Cascader, what works best for me is to make my appointment with Dr Baron in November, either keep my. Nov 11 appointment or move it earlier if possible to the week before if that works for others.  I'm at the stage in my BC journey that my visits to Dr Kline are purely just a visit not an appointment needed.  But always have thought it would be neat to be able to put the faces to the names and have a reunion in CHS yearly as well.

I'm open to either changing my appointment (set a year ago) when Dr Baron is in town if that means the ability to get a get together going.  

He doesn't get back into town until the 5th of November and has time also around the 21st of November. 

Thoughts anyone?

PinkHeart

Catie,

I think the Nov 25th date may be too close to Thanksgiving. 

Don't give up.

Catie2013

Pink, I agree, the date was the 21st, but still too close to Thanksgiving!  

Haven't heard from anyone who was interested though, not sure how important seeing Dr Baron is to others, but somewhat important to me.  I have areas on my radiated breast that he said was scar tissue last year from my lymph node disection that I really need to have him check - some new areas on same breast toward the inner cleavage area that I'm chalking off to fat grafting but not sure and would like that reassurance.  Not too terribly worried about it but still looking to Dr Baron to give me his assurance.

Didn't know it would be this hard!

When do you head back North?

Hugs

Catie

PinkHeart

Catie,

Got back here last night. Drive wasn't too bad. Stopped just four times in 11 hours.  Had to keep adjusting behind in my car seat and leg dancing.  Bought a memory foam seat cushion, too.  

Said goodbye to two friends today. Lots of Tears and promises to visit. Getting together with others next week. I drive back to Charleston and move in condo Sept 6.  Start new job Sept 9th. 

Wow on cost of insurance living in a major flood zone ...  

If you need to come back to see Dr Baron, you are very welcome to stay with me.

GointoCarolina

Pink,you inspire me and keep me going...wanted to ask about my fatigue.I went into surgery severely sleep deprived,surgery was 14 hours,trip home was 12 hours spent sitting. I am sleeping about 11 hours,then take a two hour nap in the afternoon.I feel like I am not doing much,gentle walks is about it.A shower makes me feel like I have run a marathon.I am calling Dr Kline tomorrow,but hoping maybe one of you will tell me this is normal.So hope your reunion comes together and that one day I can meet you all.

Catie2013

GTC I think each of is comes to the OR table different and reacts differently, but for myself, sleeping was a major part of my recovery.  I stayed at the Hope Lodge for a good bit and when I wasn't going to Dr appointments or going to the dining room to eat I was either sleeping or resting.  I had many nights that my sleep was interrupted but I chalked that up to sleeping so much in the daytime!

Good to call Dr Kline to just make sure though.  I emailed a lot to them and copied Chris and His PA as well just in case one didn't get the email the other would answer.  Lots of times I got two answers!  But ask instead of over thinking it.  My guess is that your body just needs the extra sleep.

There have been many who have broken sleep patterns mainly because of the meds - so would think you might get a few different answers!

Hugs

Catie

Catie2013

I'm sure the reunion will come together, it's just a matter of WHEN?  LOL

lbrewer

I think the human body needs sleep to help cells regenerate. Plus after surgery you are probably not sleeping as soundly as you did before, and you may be sleeping in a different position that before. All these can make you feel more tired.  Ask dr k but I doubt there is a one of us that felt perky and well rated during recovery from surgery!  Some docs even give handicapped parking stickers!

GointoCarolina

Caitie,I think I will email instead of calling,that way I will be sure to not forget anything.I am extremely impatient with any recovery,so far this has been the worst...I think the disappointment is making it worse.lbrewer,funny you mention the  handicap sticker...my friend recently had surgery and has offered to let me use hers if I have to go where much walking is involved.Thanks both of you for easing my mind.

Catie2013

GTC - call or email and ask Dr. K for a handicap sticker letter to give to your DOT to get a sticker.  I had one for a few months after my surgeries.