Charleston Bound, part 2

Yes, Jeskachi, thanks so much for posting - and please put me up there as well for April 12 stage 2a with Dr Kline .



Marty and Pink, yes no drains! I thought I'd have them until Friday, so this is a bonus having it out today! So much free time! ( as if emptying and measuring took up much time) - LOL. But still feels good to be free of it. Awkward place, top of thigh. Although I have no idea where it would be not awkward.



Thanks much

I think I'm having an identity crisis! No drain, oh, my, who am I??? LOL. Its the last week at the beach, the drains are gone, no wounds to heal (like first time) and have lots of time with daughter to 'talk'. The GMA was name was entered when I was a lot intimidated by the whole thing and Catie was already taken.



Now the problem of remembering what my name is when I sign in, so the new and improved me is using the new and improved me's greatest to be year : 2013. So, now it's GMA/Catie48/Catie2013. Unless there is a problem with the name change midstream I'm going to stay Catie2013. I can remember that number! (LOL) When I logged on again after changing it to the Catie48 I had to try a couple of times to remember what number I put after Catie.



Pink, I saw the People magazine in the office. Hmmm, maybe I should have seriously pushed for my son's transplant from his tummy??? But honestly wouldn't want to put him through any kind of surgery. Seriously hope none of my children need any donor site surgery ever.



Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could guarantee that we were the only person in our family that ever had breast cancer or any kind of cancer. I hope the day does some that cancer is a thing of the past.



So, now it's Catie! Hi all!

Thanks, Marty, I'm glad to be me too! Thought it might be confusing, but going forward will be good.



I think maybe Jeskachi might be out of town, I've asked a couple of times, so she'll probably see it and post when she gets back, but I should probably pm with my new identity/name, hmm??? Thanks!!!

Hi everyone!  My husband and I did a day trip to Charleston yesterday for my follow up appointment.  I am estactic to also report that I am drain free!  When I woke up yesterday morning, The breast drain for the failed side was super red and swollen and painful, so I couldn't wait to get to Charleston!  I was even more happy to talk them in to pulling them all.  It was like instant relief. 

I have to have blood work next week to check my nutrition levels (protein).  If they are ok, I am hoping to schedule a stacked DIEP for the failed side in mid March.  If my nutrition isn't good enough yet, I'll have to wait until April.  My insurance year ends June 30, so I'm hoping to take as much advantage of that as I can.  Wish me luck and any tips for increasing my protein amount is appreciated!

So glad that everyone is healing nicely now!

Take care everyone,

Beth

Beth, so happy that you are drain free!!!! What was the red on the failed side from? Irritation?



And I too will be hoping your protein levels are where they need to be for your upcoming surgery. Crazy having to work around insurance, but I absolutely do know how much of a pain that can be. I had to finally give in that we would have to pay another deductible anyway for my stage 2 and beyond so we bit the bullet two years in a row with the deductibles. And, then bam, the new deductible not only came with a totally new insurance carrier but a $1,000 increase! So, I truly do understand your wanting to get it done asap.



I look at the protein levels in almost everything I eat. If it doesn't have the protein I don't eat it (or try not to). There is a site online that lists the protein levels of tons of stuff, just type in 'high protein food'.



Hoping for the best for you! Dr K's office must have been churning with us yesterday, I was there, Sewannee was there and now I hear you were!

Martyj, I have to have the normal bloodwork and then they added "serum prealbumin level", that is what measures the protein levels. 

Catie and Diedre, I can't believe we were all there yesterday, and didn't know it, we really should do a better job of coordinating - lol!  My appointment was originally at 2.  Erika called right about the time we were getting off I-526 and said the 1pm appointment cancelled, so to come whenever I could.  I ended up being there from about 1-3 pm because I had to see Dr. Baron as well.  I started feeling better about mid week last week (about 3 weeks out) and today feel really good.  It's amazing the difference shedding the drains makes you feel!

I think I'm learning my body is pretty drain intolerant.  When I had my mastectomy in 2011, I remember one of the drain areas starting to turn red, and had to be pulled.  They also put me on an antibiotic back then to make sure to head off an infection.  Dr. Craige did say yesterday that it was time to pull the drain, that once they do their job your body does start to become unhappy with them.  It probably should have been pulled before I left Charleston a couple of weeks ago, but they wanted to be conservative since it was on the failed side.  For the past week it had been putting out 1ML or less a day!

My surgery date is going to be March 14 pending the bloodwork.

Beth-  I'm glad that you and others are doing well.  Congrats on the drains.  I'll keep my fingers crossed about your bloodwork.    It will be 8 weeks for me tomorrow and I just have one spot on my SGAP donor incision that still has a scab.  It's where there's pressure when I sit and bend.  Back to work last week and I really, really, really miss my afternoon naps.  

All- I've been feeling everyone's excitement about their upcoming surgeries.  It will be June for me before I can schedule my stage 2, and believe me I'm ready.   The end of June, first of July is a slow time at work so I'm waiting until then.  Thanks for sharing all your experiences during stage 1 and stage 2.   I feel like I am so much more prepared.  I appreciate you all!!

Sandi

I think you may have just discovered a whole new fashion concept!

Deidre - so glad you are home!!! Happiest of birthdays!

I had a leak around one of my breast drains.  The side that had a 2nd surgery.  Dr. M had put me into a black, hook front bra.  The sheet got caught under my arm and twisted.  The bra bleed and I ended up with a lovely black & white tie dye pattern on the sheet.  Scared me to death.  Couldn't figure out why I was leaking blackish fluid til I got my head wrapped around it.  

When is your stage 2?

Diedre - I bet everything will go just perfectly from now on.  You won't need that hospital bed for much longer.  Each day will get better and better.  Once the drains are all gone, you will really be moving easily and happily.  So sorry about the scary blood vessel.  Sounds like it is patched up.  

I will look forward to seeing you when you are here again.  I will be 4 weeks post Stage 2.  

Thanks, Marty!

Glad you are home Catie..there's no place like home but I think Chareleston has found its way into all of our hearts. Happy to hear you are doing so well!

Cascader- What a wonderful opportunity for you to help others!  Let us know how it goes.   You and PinkHeart led me to Charleston and my SGAP surgery.  I agree with you about Charleston.   If I could, I would love to spend more time there.   It definitely has healing powers.

Sandi

Catie, Glad your surgery went well and that you had a relaxing time healing at the beach. Still good to be home i'm sure. Cheers to DH for vacuuming. He may need to keep that on his to-do list til you are 100% healed.



Cascader, You will have a great time at the conference helping others. When I've helped at similar events, I find it healing for myself, too. Hopefully, some northwest women from bc.org will attend and you get to meet them. Is there a thread started for this conference?



All Charleston recon patients ...

Wishing you all strength and healing through the ups and downs of your breast recon surgeries toward that final day of feeling and looking good with our new breasts.



Our surgeons are amazing, and I'm so appreciative that they dedicated their careers solely to helping breast cancer patients!

Pink, Amen to that! And, Cascader, what a wonderful treat for the women who will meet you at the conference. I know how important it is to speak to someone who has been there! Thanks for the website address. And, what an honor to be asked to help out! It proves the docs understand the power of us women talking to each other! Surely another example of them looking out for the patients as #1.



Charleston just crept into my heart, both the city and the islands. Such history too, I think I could be there for months on end and not be bored. However very nice to be home for sure.



Home and have slept most of the day I've been here! Catching up I think, I was 'up' so long right after surgery enjoying both the ocean and the grandkids that I think I had a bunch of sleeping to make up for.