Charleston Bound, part 2

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  • bethcw
    bethcw Member Posts: 98
    edited June 2013

    Lbrewer, In my opinion the sgap is easier to recover from than the Diep. You got this.....

    can you guys believe I am starting to seriously consider attempt #3 at a successful stage 1? What is that a 1c? - lol

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  • Catie2013
    Catie2013 Member Posts: 1,023
    edited June 2013

    Beth, good for you!! Will be pulling for you! Let a know when you decide!



    I think we all should plan our follow up appointments in a year or so around the same time and plan a mini get together at the same time - putting faces to all our names!



    Thoughts?

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  • cascader
    cascader Member Posts: 599
    edited June 2013

    Beth, that doesn't surprise me at all! You are one strong woman. Amazing isn't it what the tincture of time can do? Only you can tell when/ if you are ready, and when you are we will all be right there with you!

    Lbrewer you are going to do great! Hard to think about recovery, but just one day at a time and you soon will be looking back on all this. Did you see Dr D 's response on " ask the doctor" regarding implants with flaps? Interesting.

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  • cascader
    cascader Member Posts: 599
    edited June 2013

    Lbrewer, yes regular slips but I just used them without, for the car and the airplane.

    Catie, sounds really wonderful. Let's put Sewanee on house detail , she knows her beach houses in that area.:) finding the time might be more difficult....

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  • cascader
    cascader Member Posts: 599
    edited June 2013

    Good luck tomorrow slh_tn!!

    Thinking of you!

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited June 2013

    Sandi,

    good luck from me, too! Please Keep us all posted.



    Lbrewer,

    Nurses gave me the pillows with slipcovers because stuff sticks to the pillows.

    Beth,

    Happy for you! Do you have date scheduled yet?



    Catie and all,

    I'm in for a beach party!

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  • Catie2013
    Catie2013 Member Posts: 1,023
    edited June 2013

    Lbrewer, Cascade - didn't bring or get the pillow slips from the hospital, so I bought my DH a pack of t shirts from Target. They were 100 cotton and did the trick - I have plenty of slips at home and wanted the softness if the t shirt. Less expensive than slips! Pink you lucked out they said I could have the pillows without the slips!



    I second appointing Sewanee for house detail - would be so fun!



    Cascader, did you mean Dr D or Dr C???!



    Two weeks from right now I will be on the other side of next step! So will Pink and Sewanee will be in surgery! Nesting again with help this time from DIL and GD. House smells like paint! I get to supervise and chuck old stuff - better get ready for clean up!



    Hugs

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    I think that would be fun, Cathie, Cascader and Pink. I was down there last week, taking my little sister to consult with Dr. K and kept thinking how do-able a get-together would be. I WILL look and let you know. We were down at Edisto and prices there are lower since it is a bit farther from Charleston and a bit quieter. Also, I know some people who own a beach house and I might be able to swing a deal with them. They gave me a week at their beach house to give to my friend who took care of me after Stage 1, so you never know ... ;)



    Beth - I am so glad to see you thinking about trying again. I am really pulling for you! You're one tough cookie!



    On an unrelated note, does anyone know of someone besides Dr. Kline/Craigie and Dr. M who does real free flap surgery in Charleston? My neighbor says she was referred to one in Mt Pleasant by her BS in Greenville, and I am sure hoping it isn't the guy who was attempting DIEP #6 on some poor woman right before my stage 2 ... Just trying to look out for my friend who is getting rather garbled advice here!



    Deidre



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  • MartyJ
    MartyJ Member Posts: 1,859
    edited June 2013

    Diedre - actually, Dr M told me that there are 10 docs in Charleston that do real free flap.  I know MUSC has at least 2, plus K&C and M = 5.  If you get the name and PM me, I can share what I know.

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  • renee-tattoos
    renee-tattoos Member Posts: 161
    edited June 2013

    Dr O'neill or Dr Schimpf......Smile

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    Thanks, Renee!

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  • slh_tn
    slh_tn Member Posts: 61
    edited June 2013

    Thanks all for well wishes!  Just got released this morning.  Got my pillows (sitting on two right now) to help with the trip home on Monday after post-op visit. The pain is okay (just got to remember to keep ahead of it), and I so happy that I do not have drains.  Like before, the nursing staff at East Cooper was wonderful.

    Bethcw- wishing you the best for whatever you decide.   Love your photo!

    Pinkheart, Catie2013, and Sewaneegirl-I'll be thinking and praying for you during your upcoming surgeries.   I don't need to tell you that you are in the best of hands with Dr. Kline.  

    Everyone have a safe 4th holiday!

    Sandi

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  • cascader
    cascader Member Posts: 599
    edited June 2013

    Sandi, woohoo no drains!! :)

    You sound great, thanks for checking in.

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  • cascader
    cascader Member Posts: 599
    edited June 2013

    Lbrewer and Catie, it was Nola Dr D that answered a question about implants with flaps. Russell is considering it for her upcoming surgery. Because I have one natural breast and one Sgap breast, I too feel like I need more projection, would like it to be more conical shaped . Just don't think it possible with fat grafting alone, so a small ping pong ball :) sized implant would do the trick.

    But,Don't think I want anymore surgeries and am quite pleased otherwise with my outcome . So amazing all the different things these docs can do.

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  • ketch
    ketch Member Posts: 157
    edited June 2013

    There's several in Chas doing DIEP. Freind's friend has had a bad experience with one of them> I can't recall his name, but I checked to make sure it wasn't K&C!

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  • Catie2013
    Catie2013 Member Posts: 1,023
    edited June 2013

    Cascader, I think I saw that - but KNOW the whole reason I am doing what I am is that I think my body wouldn't do well with implants no matter how many or what size. I think I mentioned before that I had to have my fillings pulled because of a mercury allergy!!! I can't tolerate drinking anything with chlorine - and bandaids make me itch and pretty much everything with adhesive - so whacko me is staying away from implants no matter! My DD and my DIL both have lovely natural breasts (their own) and neither of them match according to them. I just want a bit closer and more fill in on the top and perhaps a little on the back end! :P



    But good grief, yes there are worlds apart from what was offered when I first had bc in 1994-1995!!! Amazing! Imagine in the next 20 years? Maybe friends will be able to donate for friends! My son has offered his belly many a time since I started this whole thing.



    The Brava thing might be perfected and more common in even 5-10 years, I think. Even the mammograms are much more comprehensive. I had a 2.5 cm IDC and they couldn't see it on the mammogram in 1994. This time, micro invasion less than 1mm and micro calcification DCIS that steriotactic biopsy found!!! I just don't want to hang around waiting for reconstruction until then!!! LOL



    Sandi, so glad you are doing so well, and glad you have the pillows!!! I am packing pillow slips this time too! Wish you were going to still be in town after the 11th!



    Hugs all, happy 4th



    Catie

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  • bethcw
    bethcw Member Posts: 98
    edited June 2013

    Hello Charleston sisters!

    Sandi, so glad you are doing well.  I was thinking about you the other day, but I didn't have a chance to message you before your surgery.  I am sorry about that but you have been on my mind.

    On a subject totally unrelated to Charleston, my BS at UNC passed away last week at the age of 42 while he was traveling out of the country with his family.  Here is a link to a page that UNC set up for him:  http://www.nccancerhospital.org/remembering-dr.-keith-amos 

    Dr. Amos was the total package - an amazing doctor, and a great person. I've heard so many people talk about bad experiences with their oncology doctors, I realize how totally blessed I have been with the doctors I have had during my cancer journey.  I know that you guys may not care about this, but I just had to share; he is on my mind tonight as I attended his memorial service today.  It's just another example of how we should never take life and the people we care about for granted as we just don't know how much time we have on this earth.

    Now back to Charleston related talk:  I don't have a date yet.  It makes the most sense from a money standpoint to wait until 2014.  My insurance is changing from July 1-June 30 as the year for benefits to a calendar year period.  So, to make the change they are using this July 1-Dec 31 as the changeover period.  They are cutting the benefit period in half and all the deductibles in half.  If I do anything before Dec 31, I'll end up meeting the deductibles for this year, and then having to start over on Jan 1.  :-(  Also, we are putting in a new computer system at work and the go live date is Jan 1.  I'm pretty sure I would not be my bosses favorite person if I decided to take another leave period right before then.  On the other hand, my heart would like to get something started before then, so I am really torn.  I am meeting with Dr. Khouri (the BRAVA doctor) while I am on vacation in Florida in July to see what he thinks.  Then I'll go back to meet with Dr. Craige August 5.  I'll really get serious about talking with him about what's next at that point.  I can't remember how many details I have shared with you guys, but he wants to try a PAP flap using the vessels under my arm instead of my intermammary blood vessels.  He is also planning to have Dr. Allen assist with the PAP surgery, so that throws another wrinkle in setting a date, since he isn't in Charleston all the time.

    I am also in for a get together sometime.  I may still be in the midst of reconstruction next year, but I am sure I could swing a get away.  Well that is enough of my rambling on for the night.  Hope you ladies are having a great weekend!

    Beth

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  • 5andcounting
    5andcounting Member Posts: 232
    edited June 2013

    What type of surveillance are your oncs doing after DIEP? Mine says no mammo or MRI. CT if symptoms warrant. Makes me a little nervous having nothing. I will be 9 weeks out Wednesday and flaps doing well. Chemo is tough this time. Oh well, this too shall pass.

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  • Catie2013
    Catie2013 Member Posts: 1,023
    edited June 2013

    CRS- I'm thinking I'm going to stay with Dr Baron for breast check ups- so feel good with whatever he says/does. What did your BS say? Your choice I would think who has the last say! Dr B did an ultrasound on me in April when we had a questionable reason. Is the CT scan because your oncologist thinks it picks up more?



    Yes, this too shall pass and hopefully soon and easier for you!



    Beth, having had the PAP with Dr Allen assisting, it was the easiest and quickest recovery of all. Dr Allen is tops in that field as well. Have heard snippets about BRAVA - not enough to comment- but whatever will be so glad for you when you have made your decision and so hoping we can all meet again in Charlston to gab about it!



    Hugs

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2013

    Beth -



    So sorry to hear about your doctor's death. How awful for his family, too. At least he was around when you needed him most. Sounds like a great person.

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited July 2013

    i can't find it.  Why would the NOLA doc answer a question on Dr. K's blog?

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  • Catie2013
    Catie2013 Member Posts: 1,023
    edited July 2013

    Maybe it's on the NOLA site, Lbrewer.



    Beth, so sorry about your Onc passing. I cannot imagine how sad that would be. And as Diedre said, he has touched many. I hope you are able to find his compassion and knowledge in another Onc soon. My sympathy goes out to you!



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  • MartyJ
    MartyJ Member Posts: 1,859
    edited July 2013

    It was an Ask the Doc question posed to Dr D by Russell1.  You must go to the Nola thread and the link to the Ask the Doc is at the top.  It is easy to get confused between the threads since one of the Charleston docs is also a NOLA doc.

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited July 2013

    thanks.  I sent Dr. Kline an email asking him about it.

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  • cascader
    cascader Member Posts: 599
    edited July 2013

    Sorry for the confusion lbrewer and thanks Marty for clarifying. Will be interested to see what Dr K will say.

    I am sending a pic of my recon nip to Dr K today with the hopes of setting it free. It has shrunk considerably and probably a third of the size of my natural( which I think is abnormally large anyway , from nursing twins) I will ask him a "what if" I wanted it bigger to see what the options are but thinking I probs will just let it be. My husband last night said, "just say it, you are going back", it was said with a smile as he knows how much I love the area and miss the office staff! Hmmmm

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  • Catie2013
    Catie2013 Member Posts: 1,023
    edited July 2013

    Cascader, it was on my mind to ask about your 'nip' - and isn't it just like the DH's to think it's all 'just we love the area!!!"- LOL !!!! I get so many rolled eyes when I say I'm going back! Had a going away party for our priest/pastor yesterday and my friends all came up and asked: "So, you are all done with surgeries!?" - Good grief, it's getting harder to explain - so maybe I will just have fallen in LOVE with the area!!!! Maybe that would be easier to explain?



    Still on the fence about the nips though, and waiting to hear your progress reports. I'm a blank canvas, so nothing to compare them to if I do get them. But still not sure and truly not sure what will make me 'sure'.



    Hugs all - going to see the 'area' next week, oh how I love it!!! (and will stop by the hospital for maybe a 'tuck without the nip'!!!! LOL

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2013

    I think we should just start saying, "There's a prize and I'm going for the record!" My personnel manager actually asked me last week why put myself through this instead of just having implants ... ???

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited July 2013

    I heard from Dr. K about the ping pong balls.  It is possible to do but not at the same time as the original flap surgery.  and of course those of us with radiation are less likely candidates.  Maybe I could go for marble sized ! :)

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  • Catie2013
    Catie2013 Member Posts: 1,023
    edited July 2013

    Implants - ask Pink, not as easy as people think all the time😳



    Good grief !

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited July 2013

    crs.....Dr Massey, as well as my Breast Surgeon and Oncologist all said to have bilateral breast MRIs for follow up after DIEP., every year.

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