Charleston Bound, part 2

CRS,



Loved reading you are smiling all the way home! What does your hubby think?



Glad you love Dr K, too. Kinda quiet, but so, so nice and down to earth. Did you meet his adorable little girl and boy?



We would all love to meet you sometime. My next surgery is July 10. I'll be passing through Louisville from Indy first week of July and heading home again third week of July.



My supposed last surgery is October-ish. So maybe we will be close in dates then.



Meanwhile keep up your great spirit and take care. I hope for the best and you're not too ill through your chemo treatments. I'm glad you don't need radiation so your new girls stay happy and naturally beautiful!

Oh and I think there are quite a few Dr K and Dr C fans on this site too! I asked Gail to send copies of my before pics - SURE NOT GOING TO POST THOSE ANYWHERE!!!

but just wanted to see them as I had a glitch where I had none of them! Can you believe I was way off on the color or size of my own nipples ??? Good thing I hadn't gone for them and asked for what I thought they looked like!



I know Dr K will have me looking better than I started! They are 'those kind' of Drs.



Hugs

CRS,



Forgot to ask, will you be following up with Dr Baron as your breast surgeon, or go to one at home?



Enjoy showing them off to your local docs. . Now they know who best to refer BC sisters to.

This was a short surgery and I have been sick all night. Trying water now. The pain isn't too bad anymore.

Yes, on Zofran. I cannot go home today. I have talked to her twice and she wants to see me tomorrow. ( On a Sunday )



What is a MAC?

CRS when you lived in Augusta did you go to the Masters? I gave DH a surprise golf tournament for his 50th bday and had Masters prizes for the guys - they were like 5 year olds wanting the goodies!



I'm closer to Atlanta than Augusta in a very family oriented 'burb'. DH is a native - I grew up in a Chicago 'burb'.



Hope your homecoming was a good one! We have such super Drs and associates!!!!

Sure wish I brought my laptop. Hard to post and keep up with my phone. Glad everyone seems to be doing well, hang in there, every day gets better. Had a tearful goodbye yesterday at my post op, thinking I will have to think up excuse to come back. Still haven't paddle boarded Shem Creek, good enough reason to revisit don't ya think?

Tip of nipple still black, putting on ointment daily and will wear shield for 6 weeks. After reading other nipple threads and what other docs use(gauze, sponges, etc.) I think the shield is genius . Can't feel a thing, and conceals pretty well under cami top or surgi bra. I may not feel the same about it in 6 weeks however:) just hoping that what is underneath the alien looking black tip still has enough projection. Dr K said there are things we can do if not, but I didn't even ask what they were. Will deal with it if the time comes. So unlike me not to want all the facts, must be mellowing out about all of this , probably a good thing .

I am waiting to do my restaurant reviews until I get home on my computer , but Homewood suites is just great. I have been here over two weeks so not looking forward to getting that Visa bill. Same card I used to pay hospital. Thank goodness our busy tourist season has begun back at home .

Last day here , so off to IOP and Poe's for late lunch and a cold beer. Haves good weekend everybody.

PS: check out my beach art on the centers Facebook page

Cascader also think you are not only mellowing but also like me just plain KNOWING Dr K doesn't do stuff for nothing - he wants the best for us and sees us as people not $$$$$$!



So pulling for your nipple! I had a black spot on SGAP foob and is nice and pink now!

Can't wait for Cascader restaurant review.



I just got back from ACS Relay for Life survivor luncheon. Met some BC survivors who do Dragon boat races. Said they havent been to Charleston yet but have met some of the DB survivors from there and CHS is featured in a video.



That's so nice that Cascader and SewaneeGirl met each other and attended the event at East Cooper hospital with Dr Kline and staff. When I was down there for surgery last month I enjoyed meeting Catie and sitting with Dr C and staff. It really makes a difference to me to see how much they care and give time from their lives for their patients. Helping their patients network in person if they so choose really rocks, too.



Have nice travels home SG and C!



Same to Cherrie! Glad you have a short drive to Chi. Marty, you oughta get her down to Charleston. . I know its rough with finances going further though.

I will see Dr. K next week to follow up on stage 1. He had to use a smaller vessel from a muscleonmy left side (first time, eve, for him), so he wanted to wait until Sept for Stage 2. I am hoping once he sees how well I am doing he will change that to July, butwe will see. I've had a horrible time with lymphedema, so I will be glad to get the LNT. All the swelling & pain I was having post surgery seemed to be surgery related but turned out to be lymphedema. I guess it was chemo brain that kept me from recognizing it & it was not until it moved to my elbow that I made the connection. I am going for PT and it is better now. I am 10 weeks out & feeling much better.

We were going down to Charleston on SUnday and stay thruWednesday, but hubby came down with the shingles (I am going to get the shot). He has a light case, but is miserable in every way. So instead of us going for a few days, it may be my mother going down with me and probably stay overnight. HUbby has gotten out some but he is depressed and feels yucky (his words). I feel for him & know they are painful, but he does not want to take his pain pill (I'm a "don't hurt unless you have to" person) & he is feeling down. I did tell him that after everything I've been through the past 18 months, that surely he could get through another week or so. Arghh, a sick man! Sometimes, I think shooting him would be easier (kidding,I think)!! ANyway, I am hoping that everything gets rolling on all this. I am ready to get back to normal---whatever that may be!

ketch,,



Good to hear from you and that you are feeling great!



So sorry about your hubby though. I got the shingles shot last year- - last thing i needed was a rash and pain to my chest area already a mess from radiation, pain, LE, etc.



I hope Dr Kline will be able to do your surgery sooner.



I had to wait longer between stage 1 and 2 also.



I had LNT surgery during my stage 2 also, so please PM me if you want to talk about that surgery. It went great for me.



I am having my next surgery July 10th. Maybe we can meet up then if you are up to it.



Have a nice trip to Charleston and good news at your follow up appt.

Dr K and I have been emailing this week about my progress and I send lots of pics and questions.



Wish I lived closer to have in person follow ups. Take care!

Hi all. It sure is nice to be home. Good to hear from those of you home healing, this is a long process, but so worth it.  I am doing well, 12days post surgery,just really tired and have brain fog. Tried to do some accounting work yesterday and just could not concentrate and have also discovered that I have had whole conversations with people while in CHS that I have no recollection. Have not taken any pain meds in almost a week so not sure what that is about. I am just going to take it slow and realize that this too shall pass. I think that most of us just try and do too much too soon and that can set us back a bit. It just be the rush to wanting to get back to "normal", need to take my own advice.

My nipple is doing ok I guess, really no change. I put ointment on it 2-3 times a day then cover it up with the plastice shield. Looks like about half is black and below is a nice pink bud. Does not look like it is going to fall off anytime soon, reminds me of a babies umbilical cord. Ick. I do have some discomfort and firmness in my SNB incision where I had fat put in to fill in the divot, think I will take a pic today and send off to Dr K. Don't think it is anything to worry about. My lipo bruising in hip area is fading and turning all sorts of fantastic colors except for one area that is still bright red. I was not able to have all of the desired lipo as all that came out was blood an not fat, or something like that. Reminds me that I need to request my operative reports. I will try and post a pic of my alien looking nip and the protective shield on the picture forum so that those that are thinking about having nipple recon can have an idea of what to expect. I am happy and pleasantly suprised that I like looking down and seeing a little protusion. I was not 100% convinced going into this but wanted to complete the process and now happy that I did. Will probably wait 6months to get the tattoo, which means October. I have a trip to see my daughter who is in the Peace Corp in Nepal in November. I do not want anything interferring with that trip and maybe it is not a good idea to have the tatt down before as this will be anything but a 5 star vacation as we will be trekking and staying in her village without electricity or plumbing. Maybe I should plan something grand, like New Years in New Orleans with Vinnie!

I wish that I had not exhausted all of my air miles or I would fly out in July to take care of all of you and shuttle you back and forth to your appointments.  Wait, we could rent one of those big beach houses on IOP....ok now I am just dreaming.

Must go and get in shower, and Catie, yes I remove the shield and just let the water roll gently over.

Happy Healing!

Sewaneegirl,



Are you back at work yet? Sounds like you are staying at Homewood for your July surgery? It was sold out when I called. I still definitely plan on meeting you! I will be staying a block away and possibly Hope Lodge and also a bit with friend in Summerville.



Cascader,



Thanks for posting pics to help others with making their choices.

New Years in New Orleans would be fun. Did you check out Renee for tats, too?



Nepal sounds awesome! So how long will you be without power and plumbing??? I love to camp, but a clean bath house and power box at my camp site is a must. .



Hope your energy picks up soon! I'm 7 weeks post op and walking 3 miles daily. I want to be in better shape for my Stage 4? surgery as my Stage 3 at end of March I still didnt feel 100% going into it. Now that warm weather is here I tend to feel better because I love to be outside and active.

I am hoping that Dr. K sees that he can do the stage 2 in July. If so, we will see y'all at Homewood! Early/midJuly would be ideal. I hate to hear ofthe nausea. Stage 1 & 14 hours--no nausea, which is unusual for me. They gave me the sea-sick patch thenight before,so I don't know if it was that or what, but whatever, it was the first time I ever was put to sleep and did not wake up nauseated at some point.

I booked us a room through hotwire, first time doing so, for next week. I got the Charleston Harbor Resort for $90. Reviews are a bit mixed, but it's cheap enough and close to everything. Hoping the hubby feels like doing some stuff & he should given that it will be 2 weeks at that point for him. I've tried taking care of him as he did for me,but I must say, I am the better patient. I know he hurts, but don't complain to me about feeling down & why me..... I could've been doing that the last 18 months, but have not! Just grinning and bearing it right now as he is usually great. And, folks say women are the weaker sex!! I beg to differ!!

Pink, I haven't really looked into the tattoo yet, but Renee's work looks great also. Just going to wait and see, want to enjoy my summer without thinking about what is next. First free summer I have had in 4 1/2 years since my cancer Dx.

Re Nepal, I figured since my daughter is living like this for 27 months then I can surely endure a couple of days. It is the big snakes, plate sized glow in the dark spiders , and occasional rogue monkey that I am more concerned with!