Charleston Bound, part 2

gma- you will be in great hands with Dr. Klein and especially with Dr. Allen,  the Pioneer who started it all, assisting.  The PAP is a new procedure .  They will do an awesome job.  Allen has already performed  the PAP, his most recent addition to the DIEP world.  

Panda -  Still need to give yourself credit for even asking that kind of question.  Klein's office is really on the ball.  How nice there is such resources available.   Although you can't have a friend or family member with you I must admit that in most cases you will be better off with the professional caretaker.  They just know how to take care of incisions, give shots, empty drains, etc.  Not that our loved ones can't do it, but the other option is just better and more confident in their duties, in my opinion.  Can you interview different caregivers by phone to see if your personalities fit or you like what they have to offer in the way of their expertise? I do hope your insurance will pick up the bulk!  I wish you much luck and I am happy that you are safe from the storms.

Slh , I stressed over what to bring and started packing weeks before my SGAP. I brought way too much!! All I needed In the hospital was facial cleanser towelettes, lip balm, iPhone, toothbrush and slippers, hair tie.The best thing I brought was an eye mask for those hourly checks all night long . I wore hospital gown and robe. After discharge I wore a lovely housecoat type thing that zipped up and had pockets for drains. I bought a couple cheap extra pillows at walmart for the bed to build my "nest". I am happy to answer any questions, had my uni sgap in June with stage 2 in dec.

slhtn~

I'm 12 weeks out from bilateral SGAP with Dr. Kline in Charleston.  GMA is right that you don't need extra pillows because the hospital gave me 4 extra throw away pillows when I left.  They are nice to have for the drive home or to take to go out to a restaurant after surgery to sit on, at least I did.

I always bring ear plugs, too, along with the eye mask.  Sometimes I slept right through the vitals checks.

The hospital will give you two soft light surgery bras and two soft camisoles with pockets for drains.  You will not have any compression garments for SGAP, at least I didn't.  If you need more surgery bras they will give to you.  The nurses will help give you a shower and wash your hair after Day 2, but they tell you to leave on the surgery bra during shower, then after shower take it off, hang it up to dry, and then put on dry one.

My Stage 1 bilateral SGAP was on August 1 so it was plenty hot in Charleston.  I lived in my swimsuit, sundresses, and flipflops before surgery.  After surgery I wore button up sundresses with flipflops.  It will be colder in December so will wear yoga pants or leggings and button up tops, or I will be wearing warmup suits with zipper jacket with just my black cami with drain pouches on underneath.  I guess I need to keep in mind flying home what security search will be like because they make you take off all jackets and coats.  I will have airport wheelchair assistance so not sure how they do that.

For Stage I, I flew down and my husband came later and drove me home.  It was a 12 hour drive so we made a nice comfy bed in the back of my minivan.  We had to stop every hour, per Dr. K, for me to get out and walk to prevent blood clots, even though I was still giving myself injections of blood thinners.  The part about stopping every hour driving home was not in the yellow booklet.  He initially said every 30 minutes! then said hour ok, so we broke the 12 hour drive up into two days.

My iPhone was all I needed, free wi-fi everywhere, laptop too heavy.  Oh, now I remember what I wish I had brought -- an extension cord for charging my iPhone!  The iPhone charger cord barely reached to the wall socket from my hospital bed where I kept my iPhone in bed with me so I could have as close as possible -- you have almost no range of movement with arms and I didn't want to keep asking people to hand me things.

I will be going back for Stage 2 SGAP arriving December 7, but my surgery isn't until December 14.  Please feel free to PM me and I'll give you my number if you would like.

Good luck with everything -- you have a super skilled and kind doctor and staff ready to take care of you.  Don't hesitate to email or call them-- insurance assistant, nurse, PA, or doc -- they want to hear your needs and help.  Dr. Kline has great doctor/patient relationship and always responds to your emails quickly.

And I'm going to be begging for pillows again flying home alone 3 days post op, after having both Stage 2 SGAP and lymph node transfers surgeries in one which will involve tweaking to my butt.      Need at least two pillows and an oxycodone or two for the plane ride I'd say.

Raelan, So good to hear your positive news.  Good luck with all your consultations with other surgeons.  When are you starting rads?  Most docs want patients to wait at least six months, but I had a few say to wait a year or more.  I couldn't wait a year or more because of so much pain, and then my implant ended up extruding through radiation damage in breast anyway so it was time to find new surgeon and natural breast recon.  They wouldn't listen to me.  Dr. Kline listens.

Raelan-- I'm so glad you talked with Dr. Kline.  Doesn't it feel like a little bit of weight has been lifted off of your shoulders because you have a few more answers? He is so genuine and caring.  I wish you the best!

Cascader, PinkHeart, and gma10,

Thanks for the advice on what to bring to Charleston.   It's nice to be able to ask questions and get answers from women who have been there.   

Raelan- I have to agree with everyone else about Dr. Kline and his staff.   They have been supportive every step of the way.  Good luck with your reconstruction.  

Raelan...there is a picture forum that is not a part of bc.org, but is administrated by one of the members here. Her name is nowheregirl . Send her a PM requesting access. She may not get back to you right away as she lives in Japan and works full time.



The average time between Stage 1 and 2 is around 3 months...though some wait as long as a year.



Joni

I did the same thing..stage 1 in Sep....Stage 2 in Dec, for insurance purposes. Then Stage 2B in the following Oct. tattoos the following July.

Wow ..that is a lot of blockage!! Good thing he wasn't stubborn about going in to be checked. Sounds like if all goes as planned you will both be able to care for the other. Gosh, our lives are so unpredictable! So glad you were pleased with Dr K and were able to do the HBOT.

Hopefully your children will take it all in stride. Mine, though adult now, seemed more resilient than I thought with all my surgeries .

Best wishes,

Joni

Marty-  only five more days.  Are you all set?  Wishing you the best.  Give Dr. M a hug for me until I can give her one in Chicago on the 26th.  

Good Luck Marty with surgery.  Wow I just saw your history so this natural breast recon is extra special for you.  Good for you to be able to go early and have a good time and relax before surgery!

Dear Marty,

Two more days.  Enjoy your time in NOLA before your big day. Wishing you a successful and easy recovery.  I'll be thinking of you.  Take care> ((hugs))  Linda

Thanks all for your support. Long day today with pre op appointments, but I am ready to go. See you on the other side!