Charleston Bound, part 2

Discharged and back at hotel. Nipple shield was initially taped on but after my shower it is held only by surgi bra. Think i have to wear 6wks? Good to see a nipple when I look down, but looks like a bloody gum drop right now. Had some lymphatic massage this morning. Nursing staff great, saw some familiar faces. Sore from lipo but not too bad. Post op on tues .

sewanee you are next!

Diedre - Here's hoping you have a lovely sleep today.  And tomorrow you will be refreshed with a new rear view!

Deidre big time prayers for smooth sailing surgery wise and happy healing!



Basically what my surgery was so know what you are going through!



Gentle hugs.

I second that, Cascader! So nice to call Beth a friend!



Hope both your appointments went well!

Thanks, Marty. I've seen the front (really looks great) but not the back. Everything went fine except for having my first-ever post- surgery nausea. But I've been able to sit in a chair - and have no drains!



Hope your recovery is going smoothly.

Pink, no won't be driving alone. So will be taking pain meds and hopefully sleeping a good part of it (but daughter will be bringing her 3 kids - so sleeping might be a problem too! LOL) I have lost more sleep lately due to worry about my dad and more tears than I knew I had in me make my eyes very tired. DD, DS #1, DS #2, and DS#3 all have offered to take me. It works out best for DD and kids to actually do it next week. It's my bday week and the only think I want is to see my dad before anything more happens to him. All is happening so quickly. Knew he had the melanomas and they were IV for years, but had no clue brain mets until just a week ago and everything is just crazy now. He's lucid some of the time and then not some of the time and not knowing when. He thought I was there Sunday and yesterday he asked if I could come and just sit and talk to him about 'it'??? - had to explain I was 7 hours away and would come next week. Hard for him to accept I was that far and couldn't quite get where GA was. So sad!



My brothers and I have talked more on the phone than I think we have talked in our whole lives this past week. When my mother passed, I whispered in her ear that we would take care of dad. Then she flatlined. When I first told my 2 brothers that I had promised that and that we should each set up a schedule to call him, they said we couldn't commit to that. But in the last 15 years, unless we were on a cruise or out of the country - or he was, we each called him every day! So that connection has been priceless and will be missed.



Thank you for your concern! Will keep your number handy!



I also know the feeling that it would be nice to be closer to be able to help out the people who are in Charleston before and after their surgeries! The connections we make are so strong and our inner nurturing makes us so wanting to help!



Sewannee many prayers going your way! Hoping you get to meet Cascader - would have loved to meet her too!



Hoping CRS comes to this site and hoping she is doing well too!

Thanks, Marty, had to read your message twice to get it, yikes! My dad has remarried as well, and his wife has some memory problems so I can totally imagine her saying the same thing! And, you are right, the crazy funny stuff!



Dad kept asking my brother what I'd like to eat on Sunday (I wasn't there but he thought I was). Today he remembered without help that I'll be there next week. Part of the tumor is in a memory part of his brain I think, or mild dementia is in effect for sure. He walked as of a week ago Sunday - but doesn't have that ability any longer. So expecting some tough time with him as when he isn't 'with it' my brother has said he gets angry at not being able to walk without assistance, and I will not be able to do it. DD should help a lot, or I'll be calling the aides for sure.



But thanks so much.

Cascader so sorry to hear about bump in the road of the nipple, hoping as you do that it is minimal as well. So glad you will get to meet Deidre if you haven't already!



My 'color' was gone pretty quickly - surprised at that and that it really didn't bother me much at all, was so worried that it would, but didn't. Hope as well for you!



I think the HS is the place to go, easy to do with the post surgery stuff.



Deidre - don't forget to ask for the soft pillows - they just throw them away if you don't take them with you! I always ask for them and put them to use very quickly!

So happy to hear that everyone is doing well in their healing processes.  Catie2013, so sorry to hear about your dad.  Hospice is great though, so take solace in that they are taking good care of him.  Cascader, it was go great to meet you on Monday, and sorry that I missed sewaneegirl.  I am so grateful to all of you ladies for your support and encouragement, and blessed to know you all!  I had a good visit with Dr. Craige, and have a lot to think about and digest.  They would like to try a PAP flap, connecting to the blood vessels under my arm instead of the vessels in my chest area with Dr. Allen consulting and assisting.  It will be a long while before I am ready for another surgery, so I have time to think about everything. 

Beth,

So glad to hear you have options to think about and time to make your decision if or when you chose.



You are so fortunate to have these two great surgeons, Dr Craigie and Kline, doing your proposed surgery with Dr Allen, the amazing doc who pioneered all this free flap breast reconstruction surgery to help breast cancer survivors have a wonderful option of natural breasts from our own body tissue.

Blessings!

Good question, Pink - would be good to know for sure! Re restaurants ( and tattooing).

Hi all, it is a beautiful day in Charleston. I have my final post op in just a bit then home on Sunday. Have had some really nice time with sewanee, including dinner with her and her DH last night. What a wonderfully strong charming southern woman. We all attended a women's only event at ECH where Kline/Craigie had a booth and Kim PA held question answer. Very nice event with wine tasting and lots of freebies

As far as tattoos, not sure yet. My nipple is still pretty alien looking, ie: black. Hope enough survives. Either way , think I am done with surgery. Pleased so far, not perfect, but that is ok. I am not a perfect person I know they will continue to change these next few months and then I will decide about Tatts .

I am sad that this may be my last appt with dr K and staff. I feel as if I have made dear friends and it is weird to think that I will not be naming my next surgery. I have had seven surgeries in 4 1/2 years and this journey is almost over. I am near tears here so will go and get ready for my appt. will get back to you on my restaurant critique

Sandi,

Did Erica or Dr. Kline say you were free to travel on Sunday or Monday?  He hasn't been in clinic or OR as much on Mondays anymore, but is all day Tuesday.  I had three follow ups/post ops from my Stage 3 surgery -- had minor complications.  I drove so no big deal on having to stay longer.  You are driving so that makes it easier on logistics and not have to change flight home. 

For my next surgery in July (Stage 4?), it will be fat grafting only to left breast.  I will be in hospital 23 hours (if no comps), and at discharge with Dr. K it will be considered my post op.  However, I will be in town for another week, and if I want or need him to see me, he definitely will. 

What are you having done at your Stage 2?

Do you email with Dr. Kline and ask questions and send updated pictures?  He has been fantastic with communicating with me. 

Wishing you the best!

Sandi, Erica said I should be good to go also. However I chose to stay a week as well. That way I could make sure to have plenty of time to see Dr Kline before I drove home with my DIL actually doing the driving (I did the sleeping 😏).



I stayed at the Homewood Suites with the ECPS rate - which turned out to be very much all I needed. They have great hot breakfasts every morning and dinners, wine and beer and tea, etc Mon - Thurs.



Hope that helps. I will have next stage in July and planning on staying 8 days, but driving in case I need more will extend or stay somewhere else if not available.

Well I made it! My surgery was only 2.5 hours along. However, my pain was worse, out of surgery, than either of my times before. Still is. On two Dilaudids every 4 hours. Quite nauseous. Nibbling on crackers and chicken noodle soup.this too shall pass!!



My scar was revised and lowered, hooha pulled up, and a necrosis area in my right breast jet washed.



Can't think. "Talk" to you later.