Charleston Bound, part 2

Catie2013

I'm a Vinnie "happy camper" and it is worth the time and patience as well as $ to get his artistry as the "final" step!  Certainly for me at least!

Mags, that is the "out of something bad comes something good" deal that we've experienced!  The failed flap turning out prettier!

Hugs

Catie

GointoCarolina

Another drain question..I think maybe they were infected as I have seen improvement in pain since I started the antibiotic...now they hurt mainly if I walk.....I am not talking a long walk..less than 5 minutes..should I take it even easier and give them time to heal or take Tylenol and push through the pain? Also do you cover the drain incisions when you shower? We have well water and a friend near here was told to only shower if her drain sites were covered with....that clear waterproof bandage stuff?

MartyJ

Carolina - you are asking important questions and only Dr. K can tell you his preference.  My doc wanted me to swab incisions with Betadine and use antibiotic ointment on the drain sites.  That said, Dr. K may be different.  BUT, it is really important that you tell him you are on well water.  I did not cover, but your situation may require something different.  Our water in winter is Reverse Osmosis, so it is pretty dead (I only had drains in November and April, before we added city water for tourists).

Hurting when you walk is probably because they are shifting positions as you move.  That is partly why I was grateful for the compression - it held the drains in place and I could add padding around them for comfort.  You will be loosing them in a week, right?  Maybe keeping quiet is a good idea?  Please call & email Dr. K!

lbrewer

GTC,

Good advice....call Dr. K. Well water is probably fine, especially if it's a drinking well but easy your mind a call. He really doesn't mind

lbrewer

I didn't use compression per say but I did tuck them into my larger than Norma spanx!

PinkHeart

Hi all,

Just coming up for air since my move to Charleston and starting my new job!

Just wanted to let you know that I am researching 3D nipple tats with a different tattoo artist other than Vinnie. 

Her name is Renee, and she trained under Vinnie several years ago. Renee is based in Florida, but she comes to Charleston four times a year. She does tats for MUSC docs and also does them in a plastic surgeons office in Summerville SC. 

I plan to talk to Dr Kline and Chris about Renee. I will give more details later with Renee's web site and number. Her fees are much more reasonable for me, too. I will submit to insurance too. 

lbrewer

Pink,

I was talking with Renee as well.  She told me in her Jacksonville office, insurance usually covers the fees.  I saw your post on cold caps.  Did you use them?  I did.  I hate telling people that have already started treatment ....I usually keep my mouth shut.  I wish we could get the word out more!

HighBeams-14

Hmmm.  Very interesting to me in two ways.  Interested if she comes to Dr. Kline's office.  Also interested in her Jacksonville office. My son lives there and it is not far for me.  I live in Savannah and both locations would be convenient for me.  Keep us posted on any news you have about Renee, Pink!!!

lbrewer

this is from Vinnie's site:

Renee Maschinot

Renee is a very talented permanent
cosmetic tattooer and licensed esthetician that will be working at our
tattoo shop doing permanent cosmetics and nipple/areola tattooing. She
trained with me Jan-Feb 2012 and does great work. Check out her site and
photos..... they look great

PinkHeart

Thanks lbrewer!

We need to have a tat party!

I will post her web site links when I get on my laptop. My cell is a Dino 3G!

MartyJ

Catie actually was looking into Renee last year and posted on the thread.  I have heard good things about her.  This is a link to her photos.  She lists Dr. K & C as an endorser. Her work looks great and she is certainly convenient if you are in the southeast.

http://www.reneemaschinot.com/re-areola-tattoo.html

PinkHeart

Thanks for posting MartyJ!  I don't have cable and internet yet. Going to Starbucks in AM with my laptop to do some facebooking, etc.  

Sitting at a rooftop bar looking out at church steeples. With a magarita. (my new PCP here is going to have a cow. She in to major nutrition for health). Limes are healthy. 

MartyJ, have you been to Circa 1883 at Wentworth and do recommend?

MartyJ

Who did you pick for your PCP?  Always interested.  Haven't been to Circa - they are known to be $$$$.  Too many wonderful restaurants here.  Love Hank's.  Been to FIG - love/not love - never sure and very $$$$.  Went to Union Provisions last week - small plates, beautiful renovation, yummy food.  Be careful - you can eat your way through.  Hope your job is what you want it to be.

scary

I just noticed this thread.  I go to MUSC Charleston every two weeks for my fills, which is a two hour drive each way.  one more fill to go, then the exchange surgery.  can't wait.

PinkHeart

Martyj, 

Dr Kline referred me to Dr Shannon Kennedy of Remedy Medicine. She is solo now. Choose not to join the big Roper hospital group. She is double board cert internist. On James Island. Isnt taking new patients until March. She doesnt  work on Fridays but her assistant called me and said they were working one Griday next month and called n got me in sooner. 

My cardio is Dr Rieder. Onc is Dr Baron. gyno is Dr Crymes. 

MartyJ

Know Reider - he is great, although I go to Ciccone (dbl board in Cardio and Integrative).  Baron is BS not onc, but you prob don't need onc.  Gyno - if you don't jive with Crymes - try Delinda Terry's group.  Great gals. Never heard of Kennedy - does she have hospital privilges at Roper?  Lots stay out of the "big" groups.

Scary - glad MUSC is helping you.  Most of convo on this thread is related to free flap procedures, but we are a good source of local info.

Sacnaillady

Hi! I'm having an sGAP flap Oct. 13 in Ca.lifornia. I hope I can ask here. How long did you need someone to assist you at home? My husband travels for work and I would like to know how long he should be home with me. Thanks!

LAstar

Sacnaillady, I was resting a lot and needing help with drains and bandaging for a good 4 weeks.  My recovery was longer than my cohorts who'd had their MX done in a previous procedure.  Bandaging is tricky on your own since twisting to reach your backside is hard -- my husband did all of my bandaging.  Others may have been more resilient than me, but I was really glad to have my husband's help for that first month so I didn't have to cook, shop, drive, and do household stuff. 

GointoCarolina

Update...I called Dr K's office Friday morning.He agreed the drains needed to come out ASAP and faxed an order to my PC office.Long story short,I ended up in our local ER. Just want to say that I totally agree with Dr.Massey's policy of having a helper doctor on board before having surgery away from home.My doctor was off on Friday,he was aware of my surgery and willing to do anything needed......but no one else in the same hospital system would see me for this.I finally called our Nurse Direct line and she arranged for me to be seen in my local ER. The doctor was very upset that I had had no hands on follow up since my post op.She (and the two other doctors I saw while there) said with a major surgery like this I should have been seeing a doctor weekly..if only to check incisions and drain sites.Then I told them about my extreme fatigue....I had blood work,an IV pain killer before drains were pulled, a chest Xray and a CT scan as they were very worried about a possible blood clot.Everything checked out..I am not anemic,there is no explanation for my fatigue other than the long surgery.I am feeling a little better with the drains out,the constant pain was awful.I think I was starting to feel better,but have sure had a set back.I see my doctor on Friday for follow up.Those of you with upcoming surgeries...arrange before hand to have follow up..if I had seen my doctor a week after I got home,I would have been in the system for this surgery.Since no doctor who knew me had seen me,no one else wanted to touch me with a ten foot pole.The ER doctors insisted on seeing the order for the drains to be pulled before they would do it.It was a long tiring day and could have been avoided if I had set up a follow up with my doctor sooner.

MartyJ

I am so very sorry this happened to  you.  It is difficult and challenging.  Most docs will take a hands off approach if they didn't do the work.  I am glad they did all of the tests.  Now you know.  The fatigue is a function of surgery and the inactivity after.  But don't push yourself, give your body time to heal inside and out.

It is very important that a patient who travels for surgery be assertive in calling the operating docs office whenever.  Also, if you do travel for surgery, know that a doctor is not required to pull drains.  Most of Dr Massey's patients and NOLA patients pull their own.  It is usually scarier for the patient than it is painful.  I worked myself into high anxiety remembering what it was like after the BMX, but never felt the drains leave.

GointoCarolina

Thanks Marty.I could not have pulled these drains,I could not see to cut the incisions..they are back on my hips.My husband could not do it as he has little feeling in his fingers.....The drains were removed by a PA who before coming to the ER had worked for a surgeon.When I told her that I was told the drains could be pulled at home,she was shocked.She told me usually pulling drains goes off without a hitch,but there can be that one time that something goes wrong...she did not go into detail and maybe she was just saying that because of her training.I felt better having all my incisions looked at and wish I had had it done sooner,just so everything could be monitored by a professional.Also if I had seen my PC sooner, he would have come up with a plan for me on regaining my strength and not overdoing.I really do think after a surgery like this,a doctor visit each week is important.

LAstar

I agree, GTC.  I arranged for the local BS who did my lumpectomies to follow me when I returned from NOLA and I really needed his help later with aspirations after my drain failed.  It's just comforting to know that there is someone close by who will be there for you.   Ahhh, the relief of getting those drains out!

GointoCarolina

My doctor was all on board with doing anything I needed.....the scary thing for me is if I had had a true problem..and he had been off.....and I had not already seen him for this surgery......no one in the medical field would have touched me without a precise order from Dr.Kline....as it was,they had a problem with their fax machine and it took a few hours for the order to come through....Just a good reason to have a visit with your home doctor soon after you get back so you are covered...the drains being out has really helped,it was almost like my body was rejecting them...still a lot of pain at the incisions and my butt from where they were....but at least now I can walk without crying....

ketch

After my mx, I had a drain hemorrhage. Dr. Baron called a local surgeon who repaired the drain in emergency surgery. The problem was that it was the surgeon whom I'd seen prior to my mx and hated right away. To beat that, while I was laying on the gurney, that surgeon asked why I didn't let him to the Mx!! I did not answer. After that, we stayed in Charleston a week or so after surgery...just in case. But, I did pull all my drains after the Mx ones.

GointoCarolina

Talked to my PC yesterday,he is very concerned about my fatigue this far out from surgery.Will see him on Friday.I keep forgetting to say,we stayed at Comfort Suites at IOP (per Pinkhearts recommendation).Medical rate during the week is...I think..$79 plus tax..more on weekends...it is not fancy,but was very clean...decent breakfast...beds were very comfortable..plenty of hot water too....ours was not really a suite as it was one room...but plenty of room for the two of us....there were a couple of restaurants close by..and beach was not far...We also used a driving service and they were great....gave us a discount since it was medical(ride to doctor and to airport) Our driver was Beth and she was excellent.....  www.JustRideItOut.com     phone 843 849 7433    Today is my Week 5 and still so very tired.....

ketch

GTC, I would not worry so much about the fatigue. I had it for a while afterward, too. Still getting it from the summertime hospital stay. I just try to do something extra everyday. Dr. K's office suggested staying on the protein and iron diet, but I've pretty much been there all summer. I think it just takes time and emotional upheaval works in there as well. Losing the flap was an emotional thing, so I'd just stay the course and give it time. SOunds like you have a great doctor there.....not everyone has that!

GointoCarolina

Thanks ketch...hope you improve every day! I saw my doctor Friday..I was so nauseous while in his office,I started crying.I have had this ongoing queasiness for a few weeks,thought it was related to the fatigue,but  had not had full blown nausea until the last few days.Exact same progression as I had on chemo when I ended up with erosive gastritis..but has not yet progressed to the severe pain.So my doctor thinks with all the meds from surgery my chronic gastritis is flaring badly.My surgery was cancelled last year because it was flaring and Dr.Kline was worried about my having the blood thinners.That plus the antibiotic and NSAIDS I took were just too much....though this tells me how out of it I have been..I KNOW I cannot take NSAIDS for more than a day or two and I took them for well over a week before I even thought about it...My doctor also said a 14 hour surgery is going to take a long time to recover from the anesthesia..it is stored in the fat cells..and what I didn't know is that there is a lot of fat in the brain!Guess that is why we get chemo fog....So another flap surgery is likely not in the cards for me and I am fine with that.You that have the multiple surgeries are so strong and brave,I could not do this again even in my health allowed it.

ketch

GTC, I had stomach problems from antibiotics from the cellulitis. The med was strong. And, it all messed my stomach up for a while. I drank lots of buttermilk and ate yogurts to try to balance things out again. Gastritis is tough, esp after a long surgery. Rest up...you've got reason to be tired! I have one more surgery to finish up, but I will not be doing it this year or next. Hopefully, I'll do it in 2016 & if I never do, I am ok with that. You may feel differently re: more surgery or may stay this course after some time has passed. The next surgery may not be as long or tough as the first. Whatever you do will be the right thing for you.

GointoCarolina

My stomach is slowly improving,I am still on a very soft bland diet and no dairy for another two weeks.I am pretty weak from not eating,so resting a lot..hard to do as we are having a gorgeous fall here in NY! I cannot take any of the usual meds for gastritis...have tried multiple times and they make things worse.But I am taking DGL licorice,glutamine and slippery elm and marshmallow.The horrible nausea has let up.I did this to myself,I knew better than to take the NSAIDS and should have been on this regime before and after surgery.I haven't totally ruled out another surgery,but it will not be flap...I do not want to use my tummy or my thighs....but doing a lot of research on TDAP with maybe fat grafting.And it will not be this year....just could not do it physically,emotionally or financially...maybe I will join you in 2016 ketch!But I am really OK with not doing anything....I was not feeling like I HAD to do recon,just thought it would be great to look a little bit like my old self.....I am proud of myself for getting through it all .....from diagnosis to flap failure and all the things not related to this that arose and were set backs....I used strength I never knew I had...time now for a rest...that being said.....when will my butt incisions loosen and anything special to help it along?..

PinkHeart

GTC,

Email Dr Kline about your butt incisions loosening, but give scars it time. I had my PT/CLT work on butt scars as well for scar release even though they weren't that bad. Dr Kline just wrote me an order so I could continue with PT down here in CHS.