NOLA in September?

Good luck to Denoument tomorrow and Jeskachi the day after!!!!

Denouement thanks for the update..I am ready for stage 2..can't wait!

Hey Toomuch, I cannot remember when your surgery was, or if you are still in NO....if you are, the center will transport you back and forth for outpatient appointments with the LE therapist (Jen?). If you are long gone, I wonder if you could have a phone consultation with her. Do you think you could cut a hole in your compression cami and flop your breast out? You'd still have the compression of your trunk and area around your breast without squishing your breast. BTW, I'm curious about how hip flaps interfere with normal lymphatic drainage. I would think that a DIEP would be more likely to interfere -- one of the big pathways is right above the bb and it's also much closer to the inguinal nodes. ( I have mild , quirky thumb LE, and I was very worriedabout my DIEP. Removing the capsule and scar tissue around my implant, which was taken out, seems to have helped quite a bit, though.)

Have been out of the country and not keeping up, but now trying to get through all the missed posts. Betsy, I'm so sorry for all this terrible stuff that keeps happening. My thoughts are with you. It's hard enough when everything goes just right...

Welcome newcomers...You've made a GREAT choice!!!!!

At the center now...waiting to be shown my room and to start all the pre-op fun and the IV...will check out Dr D's shoes again before they hook up the IV

Well ladies, it's been 2 months since I had my stage 2b. I'm not sure if I should be super disappointed or what? The nipples are almost flat, hardly even worth it, it seems? I was so careful too. Still not wearing a bra, wore the covers for probably twice as long as I was supposed to. Now I'm stuck with the additional scar on my new boobs and a skin tag looking wannabe nipple?

Dragonfly... sometimes an almost flat nip recon works very well and looks great if the nips are tattooed correctly. With the right technique... shadows and highlights they can be made to look like they are more raised then  they really are without the "headlights" being on full time. Its a nice result when done well.... I have some examples of it on my site... this one is a really good one. Her right breast ( left viewing photo)  was almost completely flat her left had only a small protrusion but I was able to make them look like they were perky.... SO... its not all bad that they flattend some....  copy and paste this link to see the example...

http://vinniemyers.com/artwork/2063066_June_2011.html

Oh, Betsy!  I'm sure that's the last thing you want to do!  My prayers are with you and you'll get through this hump OK in the end.  

Quick note as I am flying out to see my daughter, but especially wanted to wish Dana well, and Betsy, I am so sorry you have to go through all this, but I agree with Marcia - I think the best place in the entire world for you right now is in NOLA.  You will be well looked after.  I will be thinking of you.  Hi Ro!  Hi Teresa!  And all others!  Will check the boards when I have some down time at my daughters, but I hope to be kept busy so that I can keep my mind off my Sept 9 surgery .  I return from my daughter's late afternoon on the 30th and head out on Sept 4 for NOLA!!  Yikes!!!  Anyway, loving healing thoughts to all!  And lots of extra ones to Betsy! xo 

Sorry to hear that you have to travel, but it seems to be for the best...heal quick...rest well.

Hi ladies-

I just had my day of pre-op appts and endless form-filling-out (ugh).  All is good so far. We're staying down the street from the center so it should be a convenient walk for the bf while I'm in the hospital. My surgery is first thing tomorrow, we're getting picked up at 5:30. She's expecting an 8-hour surgery, so you won't hear anything until after that.  Who wants to be my point person for reporting back here?  My bf can email with an update.  

-Brenda

So who is in NOLA right now.. Dana and Jeskachi... anyone else? When I land, they are taking me straight to the center... and I think I will be at the hospital for the whole time, or they will work something out at a hotel... I don't know which. I am fine with being at the hospital.

DANA... I will see you tomorrow.

That's awesome... I plan on coming to you (I am in NJ), but if you will be traveling, even better... I won't be ready to see you until 2012, but I like to plan ahead.

Thanks SandyinParadise!  I feel very blessed to be able to go to NOLA.  I saw the beautifulness of their talents at the F.O.R.C.E. conference in Orlando this year.  I grieved the loss of my breast and the initial work done on me when I saw the difference between what was done to me and what the NOLA doctors are doing to make women feel whole again!  So looking forward to being normal again.