Charleston Bound, part 2

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited May 2011

    Thinking of Brenda and Nowords!!!

    Ladies, after all this time I'm still on the fence about nips. I keep thinking I'll do 3D tats, but still I waver. So, most likely I'll have Marga do nips, then get the tats. Maybe she'll be in NOLA in January, when I'm there with DH for a conference. Or I'll do them in Oct, then get Donn in NOLA to tat me in Jan...These "little" decisions are huge.

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  • Del11
    Del11 Member Posts: 944
    edited May 2011

    Anne--I was on the fence too, but I did it and I'm glad. My finished side is great, there isn't even a scar because she was able to make it by bunching up extra skin.  It even pinks up when I touch it (I think there was some areola skin in there).  You should do it.  The healing part of it is a pain in the ass, but after a couple months you're good to go.  I'm not doing tats and I still think it looks pretty natural, for me.

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  • bennetts1
    bennetts1 Member Posts: 440
    edited May 2011

    Oh Anne...you have to get nips!  I was so thrilled with the look of the nip and the difference it made!  I will get my tat done by Dr. M next month...I have never heard anyone who has had tats done by her, but she is going to do some other things too, so I decided to go back and let her finish me up!  So go for the nips!!!!!

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  • Journey
    Journey Member Posts: 905
    edited May 2011

    Nowords I wish you a good nights sleep and all the best tomorrow! You are in wonderful hands!

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited May 2011

    Ladies, I talked to Brenda this afternoon.  I can't believe I actually got to talk to her!!  Her surgery went well yesterday.  The vein they intended to use didn't work and they had to go with an alternate vein so her surgery was 11 hours long.  I started to have a panic attack about the length of the surgery but when I talked to her she sounded great.  She has already been up and out of the bed today - after an 11 hour surgery yesterday.  Brenda, you are Super Woman in my eyes.  I hope the rest of your recovery is just as speedy!

    Nowords, I am thinking about you.  I pray that everything will go smooth for you tomorrow!

    Susan

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited May 2011

    Waiting for word from Nowords!

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited May 2011

    Nowords, I am thinking about you and sending postive vibes, big hugs and lots of prayers to you!

    Susan

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited May 2011

    I heard from Nowords' DH--she did well in surgery and is resting. I'm sure she'll post when she's less groggy from drugs!

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  • LindaG47
    LindaG47 Member Posts: 400
    edited May 2011

    Anne, thanks for letting us know.  Glad our newest sisters are doing well.  

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  • lopsided_blogger
    lopsided_blogger Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2011

    I'm gearing up for round 3 of my stacked DIEP reconstruction with Dr. Massey. I remember reading somewhere on this board about the American Cancer Society providing two round trip airline tickets for reconstruction (and other cancer issues) per year. Does anyone know more information about that?

    Thanks,

    lopsided blogger

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  • LindaG47
    LindaG47 Member Posts: 400
    edited May 2011

    Lopsided,  I sent you a PM!

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited May 2011

    Glad to hear Brenda and nowords are doing well!  Quick question for those who've BTDT?  I've got this patch of red, almost scaly skin right along the incision on my new breast - mostly on my original chest skin (which made me think it was maybe the radiated skin reacting to the surgery?), but the redness extends onto the flap.  It's not hot or sore or anything, so I haven't been overly concerned, but it doesn't seem to be going away either.  Dr. M asked for some pics a few days ago, so I'll ask her when I get a chance to send those, but thought maybe someone here might have had the same experience.

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  • LindaG47
    LindaG47 Member Posts: 400
    edited May 2011

    Kimber,  I can't help in the department, but Anne, our resident sister is in the medical field and she is so knowledgeable on these things and I'm sure she will pipe in on this.  

    Anne, BTW do you do the Boulder, Boulder there in Boulder? LOL! 

    Happy Memorial day everyone.  Stay safe and have fun with you family and friends.

     Linda 

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited May 2011

    Red and rashy are had to say without seeing. Could be a contact dermatitis that would respond to cortisone, or it could be a littl fungal that would respond to Lotrimin. So, best to let Marga see it...

    Linda, I don't do the Bolder Boulder. I have no desire to be out on the streets with 55,000 people, whether it's walking or running. If I even leave the house tomorrow, it will be for a bike ride in the opposite direction!!

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited May 2011

    Ladies, I just talked to Brenda and she has been released from the hospital and is in the rehab center.  She is doing well.  Woohoo!  Brenda, I can't wait till you are home and able to give us all the details.

    Susan

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  • LindaG47
    LindaG47 Member Posts: 400
    edited May 2011

    Anne,  Can't blame you.  A nice serene ride the other direction in that beautiful country rings my bell too.

    Sam,,,,thanks for letting us know about Brenda.  

    Brenda, Thinking of you and wishing you great healing. 

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  • bennetts1
    bennetts1 Member Posts: 440
    edited May 2011

    Great news on Nowords and so glad to hear Brenda is out of the hospital!  I wish the best to both ladies and pray they both continue to heal well!

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  • nowords
    nowords Member Posts: 423
    edited June 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    I am in the Hotel near Fairway. I had 3 drains, one on each hip and one near recon breast. Breast drain pulled before discharge. First shower yesterday, lots of walking and sitting in the chair. Stacked Diep is looking wonderful. Mostly on 800mg motrin the last 3 days and an occasional narcotic pill. Don't know if it was the meds, but giving birth naturally was so much more painful! The hardest thing now is getting in and out of the hotel bed...just need to take my time. We booked a handicap room and there is a bathroom with bars near the toilet and a handheld shower and shower chair. I see  Dr. Massey Wed. at 2 for post op. Dr. Sullivan stopped in each day that I was at Fairway. Great staff took good care of me. Thinking of everyone and happy to be on the other side of this decision!

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  • LindaG47
    LindaG47 Member Posts: 400
    edited June 2011

    Nowords,  How wonderful to hear  that things are going well for you.  You sound great and I am happy to hear you report that the Stacked Diep is looking so good and pain not so bad.  AnneW loved the staff at Fairway too.  Sounds like a good place to go.  Take care and let everyone wait on you.  Keep healing!

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited June 2011

    NoWords, HOOORRAAYYY!!!!!  I am so happy to hear from you!  I can't wait till you are well enought to give us all the details!

    Brenda should still be in the rehab hospital.  She is one week post surgery today.  Brenda, I hope you are doing well and healing fabulously!

    Susan

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited June 2011

    Keep moving, Nowords, and take it easy otherwise. Lots of water. I'm so glad things are looking good for you!!!!

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  • Journey
    Journey Member Posts: 905
    edited June 2011

    YEAH Brenda and Nowords!!!! Congrats on being on this side of surgery.  Rest and keep us posted when you feel up to it.

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  • nowords
    nowords Member Posts: 423
    edited June 2011

    Hi All, Thanks for all of the support. Had my follow up today with Dr. Massey...she said the surgery was done in 4 hours!!!  Uni stacked DIEP...I am walking a bunch, eating well and looking down and seeing beautiful cleavage after almost 2 years!

    AnneW - Dr. Massey said to tell you Hello!

    This was SOOOOO Much easier than I was anticipating....Hope it continues to go as well for the next 6 weeks!

    Good meals can be had  at K Pauls (tad expensive but awesome sauces...better before surgery...Dr. Massey told us about LUKE at the Hilton on St. Charles Ave. Great oysters, bisque and salads and sandwiches etc. Lots of fresh food...You can't go wrong at ACME Seafood...

    For those who have never had it...Popeye's Fried Chicken and biscuits is classic....it took years before my husband could pass one without getting a snack!

    My friend shopped one day when I was sleeping, at a flea market a bit past Cafe Dumont...she found lots of little treasures...

    Good Luck to all and PM me if you want more details...I had lots of radiated tissue, skin fused to ribs..and it now looks amazing. Dr. Massey wrapped my arm prior to surgery and again post ...lymphedema seems in check for now....I still have a ways to go with recovery...but if it continues like this...it was sooo worth the travel and the pain...

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited June 2011

    NoWords, Hooorraaayyy!!! It sounds like you are doing great!  I am happy for you.

    I just hung up the phone with Brenda.  Today is one week since her surgery that was 11 hours long.  She said she felt good and was getting up and around.  Yesterday she had a pre-op with Dr. Kline and today she went to lunch with a friend.  She got two drains pulled yesterday and hopes at least one more will come out on her last post op on Friday.  She will be home on Saturday and will catch us all up then.  I think she has done  fabulous especially when you consider the length of her surgery. 

    Susan 

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  • bennetts1
    bennetts1 Member Posts: 440
    edited June 2011

    Nowords...you sound great!!!!  I am so happy for you!  Dr. Massey is the best!  I knew you would be so happy with her and her work.  She is such a compassionate woman who loves what she does.  I also had a uni-stacked DIEP and Dr. Marga will complete her work on the 13th in Charleston.  I will be her first patient coming off her needed 2 week vacation!  Hope you continue to heal well and feel better each and every day!

     Susan...give Brenda our love and tell her we are looking forward to hearing from her!

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  • Del11
    Del11 Member Posts: 944
    edited June 2011

    4 hours for a uni stacked DIEP... that's good to hear. I hope mine is as short as that. My SGAP stage 1 (Nov 09) was 17 hours, so I need a short one to even things out!

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited June 2011

    Jeskachi, 17 HOURS?!?!?  Holy cow.  That is a long surgery.  Did something go wrong in surgery or was it afterwards?  That is so scary to think about!

    Susan

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  • Del11
    Del11 Member Posts: 944
    edited June 2011

    It was all one surgery. The left side (which is going to be replaced in August) was problematic, it had blood flow issues as they were getting ready to take me to recovery. Dr. M worked hard to save it, which she did, but the tissue never got well-vascularized so it's a lot firmer than it should be.  And recently my body has been breaking it down so it's shrinking (and, ironically, getting softer).  I think it would be classified as a "delayed partial failure", although it's probably the latest "failure" they've seen.

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited June 2011

    FOUR hours?!  Wow!  I had the same procedure and I was in there for at least 10!  I saw my BS today.  My red, raised scaly area turned out to be infected skin full of infected blood.  :(  The good news is it's not on the flap, the bad news is they can't be sure how deep the infection goes.  DH and I are pretty sure it's been there all along, but as I gradually got a tad careless with the keflex around week six, it was able to get really noticable, then really took off once my last drain came out and I came off the antibiotics entirely.  I'm on new antibiotics now so hopefully now that it's been drained (actually is still draining) the combination of the two will clear it all up.  At least now I know why I've all of a sudden been dog tired again for the last couple weeks.....

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    Goodness, Kim! So glad the infection was diagnosed and you're back on the antibiotics. I hope the infection is not deep and you heal quickly. So sorry you have to deal with this!

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