Charleston Bound, part 2

Wow, 4 hours and 6 hours!  A six hour surgery and still out patient? 

I guess I'll find out down the road what I will need.  I thought it was just Stage 1 and Stage 2 . . .

Pink Heart...my first stage 2, I had a big chunk of necrosis that had to be removed, and then needed a lot of fat added. I had about as much lipo as you can have. Asked for some sculpting in the pubic area. I think Dr. Massey is very thorough. Stage 2 B I had donor scar revision, tons more lipo, dog ears removed, more fat to the breast that had necrosis removed. Then she removed a possible skin cancer from my leg, and 9 moles on front and back and numerous skin tags. Also some loosening up of some scar tissue under my arm from initial mastectomy and axillary node disection. So, it wasn't huge like Stage 1 ( mine was 11 hrs), but just a lot of little things done. I had no problem getting released and then traveling home the next day.

Hi Liz,  I am so happy to hear you are doing well.  I have thought about you many times and am so glad you posted.  What date are you scheduled in Oct?  I am also going in Oct.  I would love to see you again.  Who will be going with you this time?  I know your son went last time.  Is Charleston girl still around?  You sound like you are amazing and happy.   That is great!  Hugs to you!

Hi Panda. Yes the redness is a bit better, lighter in color and not quite as sensitive. It does seem to get worse at night. The cause is my radiated skin, which has always given me problems. I am feeling pretty good, 3 weeks today. Had a bit of a down moment trying to visualize the end results, but better now, I trust in my doctor and the process. My husband gets back here tonight then I fly back home in Monday. 3 flights and then a 2 hr drive, 18 hours of travel door to door. I could be in Australia by then!! Guess that is what I get for living in the middle of nowhere. Looking forward to home but sad to be leaving my charleston bubble.

Lucky me, motion sickness even on swings, asked for patch before surgery - no nausea!!!! Had some on hand bc my hx of motion sickness, I'd ask if the doc to rx it before you go into surgery, put it on the night before!

I have had stage II and still have a little puffiness back there... so I will see what they can do at stage IIb.

Gma10, I too have a bunny tail. Had a uni sgap 3 1/2 wks ago. Dr Kline said no problem fixing it at Stage 2 which I will have in December. I also opted to stay here longer, for one month, rented a place from vrbo, 2bdrm 2 bath 5 min from hosp. So glad I did, no complications really, but nice to see the docs twice a week for reassurance. I do have an area of pretty bad radiation damage under my breast and considering hyperbaric therapy. Anyone here do that??? Fly home to west coast

on Monday, but can actually say I am now excited for stage 2.

I am sorry for your complications , I hope you continue to heal , this is not an easy journey we are on but I am so thankful to have all of you!

Thanks Betsy!

Panda, I know , it really has gone by fast. I actually would like to stay.. The combination of being close to the docs for weekly reassurance and the thought of spending the summer on the beach at Isle of Palms is enticing! Ah, but yet the real world calls me back.

Magic mattress? Nope, not me, but I was a uni so maybe that is why. I have one stop doc appt on the way to the airport tomorrow to pull last drain, clip suture markers , and a shot of blood thinner for the long trek home. If you want any details panda, give me a week or so to get settled at home then PM me and ask away!

The magic mattress is the most comfortable way to go for SGAP. I was hospitalized 3 times (not normal by any means, had a gravity problem and needed to go back for closing wound on donor site, too much fluid in my body) . Should not be an issue, so don't worry about that. But I say this because I had the mattress all three times and it makes laying in the hospital very pleasant.



The staff at the hospital is so great, they knew me when I came back. Dr Baron did my double mastectomies, he is terrific and his credentials fantastic. This is my second go round with breast cancer, so if I was doing the big mx to prevent a 3rd, I wanted the best to take the old girls off. I feel he is the best.



Dr. Kline was my PS, assisted by Dr Craigie. I can't say enough good things about them. I had a small vein issue on my new cancer side (go figure that the side that would be best is the old cancer radiated side but had good big veins). The surgery was longer than usual because of the small veins on the left and a few days later they had to go in and remove the left breast, extending my hospital stay to over a week.



I got in at Hope Lodge (Also a Godsend) so went back to Hope Lodge and started recouping in SC. Loved the idea that I could go back to the Dr twice a week and if any problem arose they were as close as the phone. Hope Lodge in of itself was a great place to be, every time I started to feel sorry for myself, I'd look at people who had it much worse than me. Also gave me plenty of people to interact with as well as my caregiver to interact or just go to a different room instead of watching me sleep.



I started my journey to SC on the 23rdnof April, surgery on the 25th. I can honestly say its like giving birth. You forget the pain or discomfort or angst and remember the promise of a new girl (or girls)(smile) . The meds they give you are more than adequate to make you comfortable and get to the healing place.



Hope this helps??



Catie

Hi ladies, if you have an extended stay( month) at Sandoiper they have a car service that will take you to your doc appts, pharmacy etc. , if u are without a caregiver. I would not have wanted to drive , tho very easy to find your way around here, except for the nonstop road construction.

The price is right at this place, dont think rates are seasonal here . Nothing special, but really perfect for what I needed. A couple of restaurants on the corner to walk to including Charleston cafe which had a great breakfast . Ok I am off to the beach for the last time. . And yes, I cannot believe I am saying this, but am excited for round 2!!

cascader, you know I will have plenty of questions for you....but I will give you a chance to get settled in at home before I bombard you!You can PM me when you are ready.I am glad you are looking forward to Stage 2,means you are feeling pretty good.I do want to ask,how long before you were allowed to stay alone?And are you flying home alone? That is great info about the car service,the cost of taxis is outrageous. Caitie,did you plan to stay for a month or was it because you had complications? I am thinking it sounds like a good idea to stay a bit longer,so I may try to work that out.And one more question,how long did you have hip drains?

Still have hip drains but probably only bc of complications. I only planned on about 7 to 10 days but complications made me stay. And so glad I was able to. I felt secure knowing the dr was only a short phone call away. Next time I'll rent for a month and wing it witha supplemental hotel if need be. Hoping won't have complications like before. A fluke.



I had 4 caregivers plus my hubby a couple times. But it all worked out.



How long do we wear the hospital bra???



Happy 4th

Cacader-

Glad to hear you are drain free, and almost home!

I'm curious that you mentioned that your radiated skin is irritated?  This is probably a stupid question, but didn't you have your radiated skin/breast removed and replaced with flaps?

Yay, finally home and wonderful to sleep in my own bed again. Came home to lots of planted pots of beautiful flowers on my deck and by my front door. I have the best friends ever!

Pinkheart, no stupid questions here, anything goes. You are correct that most of the radiated skin was replaced by a flap ( I am a uni) but I have always had redness and sensitivity below the breast, kind of where a bra band would be. It seems to not have liked this additional trauma so is a little cause for concern. Dr Kline has suggested that I may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen treatments. He believes that it would really improve my stage 2 results. I will look into this and decide if it is something I should do.

Question: can they make me a little bigger/ fuller with fat grafting at stage 2 or is it mainly just reshaping?