Charleston Bound, part 2

bdavis

CAtie... PM nowheregirl

About Marenas.. I ordered a L and M after stage II, just about the time the drains were coming out. I measured myself and called Marena... To be honest the L and M are very similar. I actually prefer my Medium and on some days wish I had a small... but I wear both.

MartyJ

You need to PM TimTam (nowhere girl). She will check you out and communicate via PM and email. It can take several days to get a response, etc. she lives in Japan.

Catie2013

Thanks much!

Anonymous

And I have repeatedly asked to get permission and have heard nothing ... For months.

bdavis

sewanee... She looks to see how many posts you have made etc before she accepts you... try again.

Catie2013

Yikes, then me as chatty Catie isn't a bad thing? Lol was feeling I posted too much.

bdavis

Catie... I am over 5000 posts... so no worries with your 152...

MartyJ

She is really trying hard to be sure that those who are granted access to the photo site are those who need it and not some pervert that gets off on women with scars.  There are a lot of boob shots on there .  You will also be asked to promise that you will not show the photos to others or grant others access.  I don't even share with my DH.  While I think that Betsy has got a great rack, it is between us not us and him.  He gets to see my rack (currently under development).

bdavis

Thank you Marty for not showing my boobs to your husband

Catie2013

LOL - Marty and Betsy!!! Actually before I did the natural recon, I had someone I never met before send me her power point with her beginning to end on the Tram and Diep procedures. She went to a local PS and had some major complications. I was given permission to show DH but in retrospect it wasn't a smart thing - she had a very nice WHOLE package (in that her figure was pretty great!!! to begin with) - but the complications a bit freaked him and prepared him for it not to look like Barbie right off the bat. He didn't spend more than a second looking. However, I learned my lesson and don't think I'd like him to think the Dr. was that great of a magician (LOL) in making me totally different as well as with breasts.



Marty, I agree - I'll let DH be happy with the outcome of me. Just for grins I asked him if he was a boob man (got the idea from one of these forums) he answered "I'm a you man!" So for sure won't show him what he is missing/never gonna get!



Still contemplating the nipple thing and counting down the 38 days until I go for stage 2. Marty yours is even sooner!!! I've got a countdown going to help me concentrate on losing a few more pounds.



Thanks much, ladies - enjoy the rest of your day/night!

Anonymous

Thanks - I have tried again and am waiting for the all-clear! I just want to see the gallery before my whole experience is over!



bdavis - congrats on your recovery. Clearly, you are in good shape!

PinkHeart

Catie,

Loved your DH response "I'm a YOU man."  What a sweetheart! 

Anonymous

Catie -



I loved your DH's comment, too. Clearly a keeper!

PinkHeart

I'm starting my countdown to Charleston -- 3 weeks until bilateral SGAP Stage 2B !!

Stage 1 surgery lasted 12 hours, Stage 2A was 7.5 hours, and Stage 2B is estimated to only be 4 hours.

Even though I've BTDT, I'm going crazier this time getting ready because I'll be gone longer -- almost a month, but back in time to celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday.  I'm going by myself again (driving this time though) and staying with same friend again in Summerville, SC.  However, I'm going to swing by Augusta, GA (which is sorta) on the way to see my friend that also came to help me during my Stage 2 hospital stay.  

Will spend two nights with her there before heading to Charleston.  We won't be playing golf together like the old days since BC has trashed my golf game (not to mention my breasts) due to shoulder instability, nerve pain, pec pain, all from BMX, ALND, failed implants, cording, etc.  Even though I had the lymph node transfer, I still wear my sleeve/glove for exercise and activity.  Will continue to wear it when I fly, and I'm even wearing it for this long drive.  At least no flare ups of LE, but it's too soon to tell anyway.  Hopefully not ever again!

So my bills are all set up to be paid online through end of April.  I'm half packed since I leave on the 19th.  Still need to get labs done and fill Rx list before I leave.

I'm going to enjoy time with friends, beachwalking, the spring blooms, and cruising the low country doing whatever.  And I won't even think of what a mess my house will be when I get home.   

cascader

Sounds like you have it all organized and will be ready to go in just three short weeks. I love that you are making the best of your trip and combining the time with friends, maybe even a kayak at Shem creek ! I am having a bit of a problem finding someone to accompany me this time. May starts our busy tourist season, the mountain pass opens,  and it is pretty unreasonable to ask my husband to leave work at this time. Hard for me to ask a friend to use up their vacation time to travel cross country and babysit me. Pink, how long after your stage 2 did you travel by yourself? Wondering if I would be ok by myself this time around, not ideal, but probs doable, except  for maybe leaving the hospital.

Great your LE has not flared up, hopefully your LNT worked.  I still wear a sleeve when I do yoga and when I fly, but have not had any swelling since my SGAP.

PinkHeart

Cascader,

After Stage 2A, I had surgery on Friday and flew home on Monday evening.  Had VERY tight connection in Charlotte.  Lucky that I didn't have any travel hassles.  Though not as intensive as Stage 1, I feel my Stage 2A was still pretty major being 7.5 hours and since I did have major work done on lifting and rotating left flap (supposedly the most involved the surgeons have done in their career), and then having a whole new flap done with the lymph nodes in it being transfer from groin and connected to axilla. 

So when I got home 3 days post op, I still felt like h$ll.  Then I was home alone anyway.  I think it is was 5 days post op when my sister came by and made a remark like did you really need this surgery and if you were working you could probably make it to work if you really had to.  Sooo you see why I'm taking my sweet time coming home?  I think I will heal faster away from home.  I may come home sooner or come home later.  Not really setting a date.  But darn it that Catie went and moved her surgery date later!  I've gotta stay.   

Move your date up toward the tail end of my stay, and I'll come spring you from East Cooper and help you out for a few days.

I think if I hadn't scheduled my surgery between Palm Sunday and Easter, I would have had 1 or 2  local friends who don't work who would have driven down with me, but they had family/holiday plans. 

Anonymous

Cascader -



Looks like you'll do your surgery on Friday the 3rd and I'll do mine on Monday, May 6. I plan to stay through Saturday the 11th and then drive the 3 hours home that afternoon (with my husband or a friend - I don't know who will be with me yet).


I haven't yet decided where to stay. I think you're at Homewood Suites by the IOP connector and I am torn between there and the "Sandpiper" which is only $85/night for 2 bedrooms. Let me know what rate you got at Homewood - if we are there the same week we could eat together some and maybe make it to the beach.



My good news is that my hematoma (essentially an open wound) on my left hip quit draining and the hip drains were finally pulled. Just waiting for that hole to close up. Also had the last of my hip stitches removed. For some reason I had both internal/dissolving plus external stitches.



I have had to ride back and forth 3 hours every Tuesday since Feb 12 and am glad that is over for a while.



Part 2 in May will be a "major" revision/lift to my butt and sculpting/lifting of my breasts. I just found out I will have a part 2a in late summer after the cosmetic stuff has settled to lipo my flanks/inner thighs and use it for symmetry, etc. at donor and breast sites.



Can anyone give me an idea of how long recovery from the lipo will be? You think in a week I could go to visit my in laws in Maine if I plan to hang out and take it easy?



Pink - girl, I think you've for it under control! You have made so much progress and have overcome so much already - I envision great strides for you in this next installment. Will be thinking of you.



I start back to work next Monday from home (6.5 weeks post-op) and will be back to the office the following week since hopefully by then I can pull open doors and lift my computer backpack. Then two weeks after that unless something changes I will have to fly to France (8 hours in Economy) on my non-existent butt ... With the aid of Lovenox. Hoping that all works out. Travel is pretty physical and I will have a carry-on and computer backpack ... (Sigh)



Thanks everyone for your support on this site. Info makes me feel secure and you have all been so wonderful. I feel like I know each of you and when I read your histories I am always humbled at how you've persevered and by what you've overcome. Just wanted you to know you are very much appreciated.

MartyJ

Sewanee - Diedre - you sound great.  Enjoy the trip to France, even though it is for work.  But please don't take Lovenox - that is a blood thinner injection used immediately after surgery.  It might not help with the flight.  You will be great!

Anonymous

I would love to avoid Lovenox but the dr has asked me to do an injection just before the flight, due to the prolonged sitting....

MartyJ

Ah, now I understand.  Somehow I bet you will be trying to stand a lot whenever possible.  Maybe you can call the airline and get bulkhead seating so you have extra room.  Medical necessity.

PinkHeart

Seewaneegirl,



Yay for you getting your drains out and that hematoma resolved!



You may want to call

Homewood Suites and reserve

rooms if you havent already done so to make sure you get the $119 medical rate. Them just cancel if you decide on Sandpiper. Is Sandpiper close to IOP beach?



Don't we just love the Lovenox-NOT. Dr. Kline wants me to do injection when I drive myself home weeks later. I met cascader last time and would have enjoyed connecting with you too.

bethcw

I second calling and reserving for Homewood Suites early.  Like Pink says, you can always cancel if you change your mind.  I had a hard time getting a room when I called to reserve my room for next week.  I initially got a room with a king because they told me that was all they had and they had only one available.  Then I started looking at the website daily until something else came available and called them to change my reservation. I asked them what was going on for rooms to be scarce during my time period, and they said "that's just springtime in Charleston".

It's hard to believe that this time next week I will be under Dr. Craige's care again (re-doing my left side, this time with a stacked DIEP).  This should put me going back for my stage 2 at the end of June if all goes as as planned.

MartyJ

Beth, you are so right.  It is springtime in Charleston and the tourists are arriving.  Our last frost date is 3/15, there are blooms on early trees and shrubs.  The azeleas are out.  You should have something pretty to look like when you arrive.

Deidre - I agree about Homewood.  You can always cancel.  Lots of things happening!

cascader

Pink, thanks for the offer of help, I am hoping to have this all figured out soon so I can get my flights arranged. I talked to my sister in Michigan today and asked her if she could take vacation time from work, she seems willing but needs to work out the details. I am a little hesitant as she has not been supportive in the past of this surgery, you know what I am talking about, but now that I have come thru 2 surgeries already , I think she has accepted the fact that it is my decision and she has not made any side comments in a long while. I will have to pay her way so she better not! I just dont want any family drama to arise, guess I just need to set up my boundaries and expectations ahead of time. sigh.....on the other hand, we do have lots of fun together and seem to do nothing but laugh when together.

Sewanee, The medical rate at Homewood is $119 nt. The rooms have full kitchen and separate bedroom, and the couch in the living room pulls out to a bed. I also considered staying at the Sandpiper again, the two bedrooms and two baths really are nice and it is quiet and good residential area to walk. The people are really nice and the price is right. Pink, Sandpiper is not far, right off Johnnie Dodds and probs closer to Shem Creek.The reason I chose to pay more at Homewood again this time is I thought my husband was going with me and he really liked staying there. We figured with full breakfast every day, free beer and wine, and dinners Mon-Thur that it comes out about the same. Well, maybe a little more, but it saves having to go get full groceries and someone having to cook! It just made it easier on him. Also liked having Target and the pig and just about everything within walking distance. It was also really easy to go get carryout as so many good restaurants right there in the shopping center. Can't go wrong with either place.

I also get a lovenox shot before I fly home, usually stopping at Dr. Klines office on my way to the airport. Beth and Marty, I cant wait to experience Charleston in springtime, I am so sick of looking at snow.

Must get back to work, have a great day everybody!

Anonymous

Thanks everyone - I will call today!



I looked at the reviews for Homewood and they sounded mixed but sounds like you all had good experiences, and that's reference enough for me. Charleston does have lots of festivals, and things fill up way in advance!



BTW I have to tell the non-South Carolinians you need to walk the neighborhoods in the Charleston Battery if you are there in the Spring. We have beautiful roses and many of the older homes have them spilling over their fences. It is my favorite Springtime sight.

Catie2013

Cascader, I thought I had my caregiver(s) all lined up with spares to boot for my stage i last April. But one by one they fell off the radar. Then I was pleasantly surprised with offers of friends in my sort of sorority at Church to fill in the gaps. I started a CaringBridge blog on what I was going through and they were included. I only planned on being at Hope Lodge for 1 week and wound up about 6 weeks! My husband filled in gaps and then another caregiver would 'appear'. And, the right caregiver appeared at the right time! With just the needed skills to be there at that moment! Most stayed a week, but my daughter in law also made it for four days!



Not wanting to put a burden on any of them again, I arranged to stay that 6 weeks for my stage 1 PAP and had my daughter and her kids stay with me (and the beach, of course!). That worked out fine, the cost really hovered at less than $85 per night and the ability to see the ocean and cook in (she cooked for me).



I hear that Hope Lodge is open for us recon people again, if you get a hospital rate and can cancel any time at Homewood, you may want to put your name on the Hope Lodge list and cancel if you get in? I would do so and call Priscilla to ask where you are on the list. Nice thing there is if you can tolerate any kind of food, they have free dinners on Monday through Thursday and ordering in on weekends or cooking in the kitchens they offer to residents - all helps bottom $$ line.



This time I did a Priceline and got Crowne Plaza for $103.00 per night (and I also tagged the travel insurance on for $5 extra). Unfortunately there are no cancelations unless the travel insurance parameters are met - so I'm there from the 11th through the 17th. I figure if I need to extend, I'll find something. But hoping to go home by then. My daughter in law is set to come stay with me and my son will watch their two daughters. He offered, but again, the modesty kicks in with a son. This is the same DIL who was with me in April - so it should work out well.



Now, we could all get together and have the 3D nipple thing done when all is settled down!!! That would be a hoot for sure!



Beth, hoping all goes well for you! Then it' Marty, Pink, Me, Cascader and Diedre! Before you know it - we will all have this stuff behind us!

Catie2013

The reason I'm at Crowne Plaza is I did the bidding thing. I started at the $65.00 I used to get Embassy Suites in Sept, but had to keep increasing the $$$ amount until I was accepted at $103.00 - (all the places that give hospital rates are around the $139.00 now with the Spring Season in Charleston) and then I found out it was Crowne Plaza. I was hoping for a suite, but not happening - I put 3 1/2 stars or above - and this is a 4 (I prefer 3.5 stars as usually a breakfast and wine/beer and light dinner/snack are included - bummer that 4 stars aren't as generous!)



When I was at Hope Lodge from April 24 until June 2nd - Charleston was blooming, hot and very very busy!!!



I tried Homewood Suites and they had no vacancy - that was going to be my #1 pick. Location, price, and availability to the hospital, food and shopping (and beach )

MartyJ

Catie - is that the Crowne Plaza near the airport?  I think that is currently the only one.  You will need your car as it is not near anything except the outlet mall.  Not even sure if it is a walking area, just drive over to the mall.  You will be fine with your GPS!

Catie2013

Yes, it's by the airport. The nice thing about Charleston is everything is so easy to get to (compared to Atlanta which can be over an hour to get to most places) - so I wasn't worried about the location. I was hoping to get closer to Mt Pleasant, but you get what you get from Priceline.



Good thing being by the airport is that I will have my DIL arriving from the airport and there is a free shuttle and DH is leaving me with the car and flying back - again, free shuttle. Would that I could afford Charleston Spring rates at IOP - but they don't have vacancy there anyway even close to what I want to pay!



DIL will be with me Mon-Wed and she will drive whereever I ask - so no biggee, DH will be with me when I leave the hospital so he will do the same.



Thanks, though, for the info!

MartyJ

You will do very well near the airport.  I never suggest IOP to anyone after March.  Just too expensive.