Charleston Bound, part 2

Del11

(cross-posted on the NOLA thread)

 Hi everyone-

Just checking in 9+ weeks out. I posted some new pics on TimTam's site. 

It's hard to believe my next surgery is only 4 weeks away, but I'm SO looking forward to being done!  I started having myofascial (+ lymphatic) massage for my glued-down tummy, it's helping a lot.  I won't be cleared to do my regular exercise (rowing & pilates) until about a month after my stage 2, but I think once I can exercise my upper body regularly the stickiness will get much better.

-Brenda

jacee

Brenda-- What awesome results you have. Your journey has been such a long one. And in 4 weeks, hopefully your last surgery!! Best wishes for your Chicago surgery.

Joni

bennetts1

My laptop crashed...do not have address to the picture forum since it was in my favorites on my other computer, but I am sure you look great!  Do you know what all you are having done in Chicago?

Del11

Thanks Joni! I'm anxious to be done but I feel a lot more hopeful about this next surgery being the last one.

Sandy: here's a direct link to my thread on the picture forum

bennetts1

Thanks Brenda...YOU LOOK GREAT!!!  Left you a message on the forum. 

LindaG47

 We are ready and waiting for you Sandy.  I will see you at the airport with bells on.  Can't wait.  The weekend is going to be awesome.  

Del11

Got my mermaids shirt today!  She has orange hair.  I got clear stones on the text so it would be a little more subtle.  (sorry for the blurry pic, my phone's camera sucks)

Adey

Ordered my shirt!  Thanks for the reminder.  (c:

cider8

So cute!  I have to ask:  why mermaids?  I've been aware of 'mermaids' for months, but how did Dr M's patients get the name of mermaids?

Del11

I just realized no one answered your question... I don't really know why mermaids, you'd have to ask Dr. M.  I know she's a swimmer.  And maybe something about transformation...?  I don't know.  On her website she refers to her patients as mermaids, that's where I heard about it.

btw... when I was signing up for the symposium I put "Mermaids Inc." in the Company field.  She got a laugh out of that

jacee

Has anyone had a reaction to the stitches that dissolve? I know I have had them many times, but for some reason, on my nipple recon on both sides. the skin has turned really red around the stitches. I've pulled out and cut as many as I could. It's been 4 weeks. I'm on antibiotics already for my other infection, but just curious. Trying to "air out" and actually walk around the house with nothing on my top wihen noone is home :0)   I just took the stitches out last night. I hate having to cover them with the plastic/silicone nipple shields. Seems that would just agravate it. I had hoped we'd have some cooler weather, but it's in the 70's today. Was going to go braless and layer. But...kinda hard in warm weather, so I'm wearing the shields. Ashley  told me definitely not to put any ointment or anything on them last week, when I just had a slight redness. I was told nipple guards for 3 months...ugh!!!

Del11

Yes, it's a terrible catch-22.  That's why I think nipple healing is the worst part of this whole thing.  My body always spits those dissolvable stitches, and it always causes a little infection/irritation around it.  Not looking forward to this next round of nipple healing (which will actually be my 2nd time around... bleh...)

Jerusha

Jacee... I usually post on the NOLA site. Had DIEP last May and stage 2 a month ago, so I am nipple obsessed at the moment. I'm wondering if you are familiar with the "brown nipple guards". Made by a company called Asteame ( can see them online), and used by Dr.S. They are covered in a papery material and seem more breathable, less occlusive. Also sit a little away from your breast, so not so "airtight". They are very expensive, but they give us a small supply. I like them a lot more than the silicone. They also have less projection and barely show under clothes. BTW, 3 MONTHS ??? Is that the standard recommendation from Dr M for everyone? Yikes... We are wearing protectors for 2 weeks! . Similarly, we are told compression garments for 2 weeks as well, and you are 6 months???

Sooooo confusing!

jacee

Thanks....maybe I'm just rejecting them too. Just wonder how long this lasts. I know there is still stitching under the skin. I just cut off what I could, and several I could get to come right out with a slight tug. Didn't really leave any openings or anything, the skin just looks really ANGRY!! I'll give it a few days.

Jerusha- I did just recently see the Asteame mentioned somewhere, and actually checked their prices on Amazon. I may just bite the bullet and get them. I know 3 months seems like forever....like all the way thru the holidays!!!  Dr Massey has always told me with alot of lipo, you'll get the best result with 6 months of compression. Of course, I want the best result.......don't know how long I can do this though. I had 3 liters of fat removed at Stage 2, then 2.5 liters with my Stage 2B/nipple recon. So, I know I need to compress.

I will say, I LOVE MY NIPS!!!! Didn't think so at first, but the one large one has shrunk down to the same size as the other....so I do want to protect them.  They really look awesome. Lord, give me patience!!!

bennetts1

Joni,

I din NOT have to wear those guards for 3 months!  Send Dr. Massey an e-mail and tell her what is going on, or call her cell phone and talk to her personally.   I would have to go back and look to see how long I wore them, but she would probably want to know what is going on.  You know she does not mind you sending an e-mail or even calling her cell phone...that is why she give us her number!!!!

My nipple healing was very easy, but the shield came off within a month.  I will try to look back...Contact her!!!!

Better-Body-Babe

Jacee- I'm chiming in with the rest, although my plastic surgeon was Dr. Kline.  I did not have to wear the nipple guards for three months-- seems a bit long.  I had some reaction to the glue as well-- have you tried Bactroban or antibiotic ointment?  That did the trick for me. 

jacee

Ashley told me last week not to put any kind of ointment on them when I mentioned the redness starting. Because there is no open skin, other than just some really small holes where I pulled/cut sutures, I did put some Calendula gel on them last night before bed. I got it when I was going through rads. Amazingly it looks better today. If it doesn't continue to improve I will send Dr. M a picture. She, Kaye & Ashley all have told me 3 months with the protectors. Once again, I'm sure this is for optimal results. I can't imagine lasting that long. It's been a month already. I will let you know what she says, if I need to contact her in the next few days.

Just curious, do all of us Charleston girls get the same type of nipples?? I need to get my surgery report out....can't remember what she called mine. How is the projection after everything heals, or down the road even?  Do they all eventually flatten out?  And  how long do I need to wait to go for tattoos??  You would think I would have asked all this.

Thank you all. I never thought about the glue causing the redness?? I'm sure it would be good to know for future surgeries.

Sasha_tattooing

jacee-  generally you can get nipple tattoos1-3 months after surgeries.  It is really up to your doc.  I like to wait about 3 months before tattooing to allow for healing, but will do it when the doc oks.

Talk to your ps and see what s/he says.

Good Luck!

Sasha of Dragonfly Ink

LindaG47

Cider,  I agree with Brenda re: the mermaid thing.  I thought the same thing; swimming and transformation.  

Brenda I like your shirt and I think your camera did a good job.   When do you plan on wearing it?  To the Symposium or out to dinner with us other mermaids???? 

jacee

Well, the nipples are healing much better now with the stitches out. Over the past 2 days the redness is probably half what it was.  Seems I find a few more stitches every day. There must have been 50 in each nip!!! It lookes like the scarring will be alot different than all my other scars....like not in a nice thin line. Is this done so when it heals the texture would be that of an areola?? My body heals amazingly according to Dr M and my BS here at home. So, I hope these new scars won't be too prominent.

Have all of you had your tats done in Charleston? 

Del11

are the scars sort of frankenstein looking?  like crosshatch?  She does those for the nipples, not sure why.  But I think it heals flatter.  Mine did, anyway. Still fading at the same rate though.

Linda: not sure when I'll wear it.  Since it was Sandy's idea I think Dr. M should see her shirt first.  I have a pre-op the afternoon of Sandy's tattoo appointment on Sunday, so maybe I'll wait until Sunday?  Not sure.

bennetts1

Brenda, Are you still going to join us Sunday morning?  We could all wear our shirts out to dinner one night, and we could still wear them for the tatt appointment!

Getting so excited!  Counting down the days! 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19,18, 17, 16, 15, 14 days!!!!!

jacee

Brenda, yes Frankenstein looking is a good description. I know most of it will be covered once I get tats....just so different than all the other scars from these surgeries.

Del11

Liz had the same kind of scars. They look scary at first but they do get really flat. Even if it's not covered by tattoo it probably won't show much. Did you see my pics on Timtam's site? My left (new) flap had a nipple created last December, that ultimately got flattened when my flap failed, but I have a diagonal scar there that is the type we're talking about.

The other side doesn't have the typical nipple scars because she made it by bunching up loose skin.

AnneW

God, I hope I don't have to portct my nips for 3 months!! One month, max, please!! I will be starting a Pilates certification program, and need to have my nips free!! That may be what pushes me over the edge to 3D tats...I'm scheduled for surgery on Dec 9, in NOLA Fairway, to recontour the area of fat necrosis and do nips. My last surgery, I hope. I'l be back in NOLA for a conference in Jan, when I thought I'd do the aereola tats, 3D regardless--a little nip can help with the tat. And I only want LITTLE nips...

I am truly ready to be done.

Adey

HOLY SH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MOLY!

Just got a call from the billing dept re my "up front".

Seriously..... how did you all do it (if out of network)?

I know I will find a way but, wow.

Done whining!  (c:

Should get my Mermaid shirt today...  Thanks Sandy.

jacee

Adey- They don't require anything upfront at Roper in Charleston, or for Dr Massey there. So, many of us Charleston girls didn't experience the "sticker shock". However, the NOLA girls will tell you the Center is very willing to work with you, and somehow, it seems they all eventually get it worked out. Don't get discouraged. You ARE worth every penny.

That is why I chose to go to Charleston for my Stage 1. I don't know if it's a possibility anymore with Dr M to have Stage 1 there. I saw you posted on the NOLA thread and will get some feedback there. Most of us just didn't have to pay anything upfront.

Just curious, has anyone heard from Sherry?? I sent her a PM about 2 weeks ago, and haven't heard from her. She brought us all together on the original thread, and I'm so thankful she did that!!

Brenda- I did look at your pics, but will go back again and compare our scars. Thanks btw for posting them. I keep thinking I will someday post. I'm so pleased and would love others to see what the possibilities are with Dr. M. Just have to find the time.

Happy Autumn weekend to all!

LindaG47

Joni, I usually find that Sherry's usually better to get a hold of via Facebook. I just sent her message and asked her to check in with us

Adey

Got my black t-shirt with blond mermaid the other day!

Another Ill gal posted this event and I thought I'd put it here as it is on the weekend of 11/18.

SAIC Holiday Art Public Sales

LindaG47

Adriene,  Thanks for posting that.  Don't know if we'll have time, but appreciate the thought.  When do you leave for Ireland?