Charleston Bound, part 2

Catie,



I may give you a call on my long drive home!



You are so right about our microsurgeons being easier on our pink pocketbooks. We have been through so much already with BC we don't need more stress like financials for recon surgery.



Last year I had already met all deductibles and OOP by end of first quarter, so I owed ZERO on my first two recon surgeries at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction.



Being a new year, I came for this third surgery not quite reaching OOP so will be owing $1,000, which they said pay whatever and whenever you can.



So my next two surgeries (thanks to nasty radiation) will be done before end of year and I won't owe a dime.



Travel cost does hurt, but at least I can stay with friend and have surgery in beautiful coastal Charleston!

Panda you will like Homewood. Glad you got everything figured out, logistics can sometimes be tough. Can't believe I will be there soon, surgery 2 weeks from today.

Cathie, hope your appt with dr K went well. Drive safe, you too Pink.

All packed and ready to leave at 10 am.  Have hospital pillow to lean my radiation edema affected right side/axilla on.  I owe my friend that stayed here with so much.  We've known each other for 40 years.  We lived in same neighborhood growing up and used to spend the night with each other as tweens/teens.  Little did she know as an adult I would spend the night for 30 nights! 

Cascader,

I bought a tee shirt at a surf shop on Folly Beach yesterday that had a funky "pink heart" design on it.  I decided if you are wearing a brazilian bikini, then I can wear this tight low v-neck tee shirt.  It will probably find it's way to my daughter's room.  I can't wear it until my boobs "settle" anyway.  I'm going to be braless for a long time....

Panda,

My heart sunk for a minute when you said your friend could not make it, but soooo glad that you got logistics worked out and surgery is on for you!  Just 8 weeks away.

Catie,

Does Homewood offer breakfast 7 days a week, and dinner just Mon-Thurs?  When is beer & wine available?   

Sewanee,

Are you moving your surgery from May 6 to July 12, or do you need two more surgeries?

Love the tshirt Pink! And believe me it was NOT a Brazilian! Lol!

Hey Pink,



Will be thinking if you as you drive home - that is really a brave thing to do, but somehow I think you'll sail through the drive.



The thought of being bra less sounds great at this point, given I haven't yet had stage 2 and I still have to sleep in my bra! Looking forward to and very curious about how/ why we can/should be bra less after part 2.



I have part 2 set for May 6 but my schedule is so constrained that I already have 2a set for July 12. I have been told by the dr that I'll need most of my lipo in that separate session. And I had to get it nailed down be ause of my crazy work calendar.



I'm a little freaked out by entering the pre-op 2 week prep period before getting home. These trips are really physically hard on me and my ability to get Tylenol or other meds is next to zero.



Sorry I missed you and Catie but perhaps we'll all be at Homewood inJuly. I only have 1 week allocated to that.



I am very I retested in the swelling from part 2 - how bad at first, and when does it recede ...?

Pink,hope you are having a good trip.I was pretty depressed when I found out she could not come,but couldn't let her know as she wanted this job so she coudl be closer to her dad who is in hospice care.Have some questions ,which I am sure have been answered on here,but I don't have the patience to look for them! After surgery can I wear big tee shirts or will I not be able to get them on? Just thinking they would be cool and comfy and easy to wash.And I know someone mentioned large size panties???And what about shaving my legs????

Sewanee, I have been braless since the start. Wore the surgical bra for just a week after both stage 1 and 2. Only wear a bra now when the outfit requires one . I think it depends on each individuals situation, size, etc. so best to ask the Doc. Not much swelling for me after 2 , but very sore from the lipo. I am in the 2 week countdown, and getting nervous. Not looking forward to the recovery time and travel . BUT I will be done , except of course for tattoos. It has been 4 1/2 years since I began all of this and so ready to move forward

Hi, all. Made it home about 4 hours ago. DIL was so nice, didn't want to disturb me and at one point i was so asleep while she was driving but was able to hear her snoring! It bothered me a bit, until (again, I was asleep) I realized she couldn't be snoring and driving, and the snoring was me! I was tired!!!! We stayed up a bit late talking and trying to get somewhat ready to leave. The weather was pretty nasty last night in Mt Pleasant.



I packed way too much. I usually pack small sort of tote's with stuff in it easy to just get at if needed. This time I packed an assortment of underwear, boxers, granny panties, and cotton briefs - all things I wore at various other stage 1's. I wore none of them. I also brought an assortment of bras - none of which I wore as well. I am also a 'no bra' per Dr. Kline this go round (although could wear one per him if needed for an outfit if I needed it.



Never really had a compression garment from the get go before, and this time did. They also gave me a spare so I could wear one and wash one and hang it to dry. Also got two bras from the hospital, but I have incisions where the PAP was and extra skin removed. So, no bra! Deidre - what a weird feeling! After being religious about wearing the bra 24/7 for this last year, now not to have to!!!! Quite a difference, but not a bad one. And so nice to look okay without it! Although the fat grafting and position (PAP is still up higher than the SGAP flap) - it doesn't look bad at all (per DIL and DH).



The biggest treat is no drains! Now, I don't say this to make you think you might have not drains, I say it also not to brag, but to let you all realize that we are all different and our dear Dr. Kline is such a fantastic Dr that he realizes that not a 'cookie cutter' approach is that is needed with us, his Charleston Angels! We are all different and we all need different things at different times. BUT as different as we are, we can trust he will do the best that is to be done for us and have fantastic results!



Deidre, I worried about the pain from the fat grafting and the revision on the back - none of which are not doable with the pain pills and are pretty easy to manage. So, truly not to worry - it is all very doable. Even the using the restroom is not a very hard thing at all. I am one week out and my thigh muscles are getting a big work out now, but at the begining the garment itself was rather easy to manage while standing up to pee.



Panda, I have always used button or snap front shirts for these surgeries, this time, though, I through some t shirt type shirts. It isn't that hard to put that kind of shirt on, if you can practice before hand by not taking your arm very high and putting your head pretty low/ chin low - it can be done and pretty easy to take off by doing the same thing, ducking your chin to your chest and using your arms at very close to your chest movements. Try it at home first and see if it doesn't work for you - also shirts that are pretty stretchy at the neck work great too.



I had a long dress (Coldwater Creek/Chico traveler style) for a Komen luncheon Pink and I were able to go to a few hours after I was released (thank you Gail for the tickets). That and a necklace made me feel fine. I was heavily padded with my long compression type garment and some ABD pads - but I didn't care and was glad to be out of the hospital!) I think the fact that Pinkheart was able to be there made me forget I just got out of the hospital! Truly!



I also bought a long black skirt at Target that I could step into with help. That and one of those tshirt type tops were my go to outfit this time, with the ability to use the restroom whenever needed because of the split crotch. VERY little clothes that I brought were used, just the ones just mentioned seemed to work the best. I could have gotten by with probably 1/3 of what I brought!!!



I found stage 2 to be painful, yes, but doable with the pain meds and staying on top of them. But at this stage I am so very sure and confident in the superior care given to me by the staff at ECPS and ECMC and Drs Kline and Craigie that that part of the angst was gone. AND the ability to again connect with yet another of the breast friends on this site made the whole trip very very doable, and somewhat easier than had been anticipated.



I have found the place I think I'll go again and again when needed to be in Charleston, the Homewood Suites as it has all that I need. Close to ECPS, ECMC and IOP (Isle of Palms - the beach)!!!! - as well as in a very trendy shopping area that includes a movie theatre (went in January but not this time), a redbox (saw 3 movies this time), a Piggly Wiggly and Target, and some nice eating places.



So, Deidre, the time I spent worrying about all the 'what if's' of stage 2 were for naught as it was all and all a very pleasant (painful but pleasant) experience. The food was nourishing and what I needed I was able to obtain easily. The rooms very nicely appointed and curteous staff and the ability to spend time with another BCO friend priceless!



Now to sleep in my own bed!!!!



Good night and hugs to all

Catie so glad you are home and everything went well. There's no place like home and sleeping in your own bed!

I am like you, don't wear what I bring and end up at Target and wear the new things over and over again. Leaving on Friday, so I hope to remember this when I start packing in the next couple days.

Thank you for reminding all of us that although we share a bond, we are so different in what we might experience healing. One thing for sure, we love Dr Kline and Craigie and staff !

Thanks for the update. Catie - sounding really good and giving me hope.



How much of the swelling has gone down? Trying to get a sense of how it progresses since I will go back to work within 3 weka of part 2 ...

Cascader,



Just found the link to the scary looking eyeball-ish nipple tattoos on Vinnie's website.



Granted he does excellent work, but i could not deal with this looking back at me in mirror or DH probably getting creeps, too.



Don't know if football shape flaps skin paddle scars totally fade away in time or not. Probably for not everyone as we all heal so differently from scars If it were me, I would wait til football flap scars faded before tattooing. I don't really have football skin paddles anyway, hard to explain.



http://vinniemyers.com/artwork/1889257_March_2011.html

Yes, good idea, I think you meant Vit C?? Also bought some prunes today, think I will start them also

3D Nipple tattoos now in Charleston.



http://www.reneemaschinot.com/



Renee is now also partnering with Vinnie Myers, tattoo artist in MD.



Cascader, thanks for this link from tattoo site.



Renee is now connecting with Drs. Kline and Craigie. When she travels to Charleston (from her office in Fort Lauderdale), she has been doing tattoos at MUSC and Dr M.

Eyelashes!  LOL

I wonder if she will use Roper and thus make the 3D insurance doable while in Charleston! We could all gather down the road when our 'girls' are ready and have a tattoo and wine party! Good excuse to visit Charleston again for sure!



Sewannee I've got my date for 2b on 7/11/2013 with Dr. Kline lined up and have my Homewood Suites lined up as well. So if you keep your 7/12 appt, we will surely have time to visit. I truly enjoyed visiting with you in January/Feb of this year and truly had some great conversations with Pink last week! We actually went to a Komen function and were able to sit with Dr. Craigie, Chris, Gail, Gail's daughter and my DIL. (forgive me if I've already posted this - its been a rough day - body starting to hurt/wake up and just overcast here so that might be part of it!) Tomorrow will be better! I was also trying to really cut back on the pain meds big time, but I think it's going to take a little while longer for that.



Hugs to all.



Contemplating bringing a good friend of mine and going back to Charleston to get the stitches removed from the donor site revision just to un complicate things here. Not sure yet.



But I do like the fact that there is a possibility of a tattoo artist with the same degree of artistry able to come to Charleston. You just kind of fall in love with that city!