Charleston Bound, part 2

Out of hospital after four days. Every single ECMC staff member was so awesome and caring. It helped me get through feeling crappy and no sleep. Dr K and his staff -- the absolute best!



Ketch,



What a Sweetheart son you have!



CRS,



How are you doing with chemo? Are you through most of the treatments?



Catie,



"Kline-athon". LOL.



Diedre,

So nice to meet you and DH! Hope your pain is letting up. Wish I were still out at IOP with you and Catie. Will see you Tuesday.



Marty,

My friend and I enjoyed Morgan Creek Grill, thanks!


slhtn,

How is your recovery going?

Lbrewer,
I may still be here when you come for surgery. What date do you arrive?

Marty, yes they were patient with us!!! Cannot believe how accommodating they were. That was such a haze, glad to be reminded of the name if it! And the memory of such a nice lunch.



We have finally a beautiful sunny day DD and grandkids will most likely come back from IOP sunburned - they've been out all day!



Hugs



Catie

Hello ladies, just checking in to see how the Kline-athon is going. I hope that you are all recovering and healing and that your post ops go well and you will be home again soon. Catie, I became allergic to Doxy also, broke out in hives during my second surgery, I think, maybe it was my first, all a blur. I was told not to take Benadryl with Tamoxifen however, it must interfere, but Benadryl can be a life saver that is for sure! My husband is allergic to shell fish and we always take it with us on vacation.  Pink, that is so cute about spider boy, what adorable kids and always so fun to see them on Dr K's rounds, certainly brightens up a hospital room. Deidre, how are you feeling, beat up from lipo?

This quote popped up on my FB page this morning and I wanted to share: "It always seems impossible until it's done"...Nelson Mandela.

I know that while in the midst of all of this it seems never ending and that your whole life revolves around doctors, surgeries and all the rest that comes with having BC. It is not until this last week or so that I have felt a shift in my world, it is a beautiful hot summer and I am in a bathing suit or little sun dresses and I am beginning to totally FORGET about all of it! I just throw these clothes on without a thought, no taping, padding, and no worrying! I never thought that would happen, it's strange actually,and it brings tears to my eyes. So much of what has been so difficult for me is the mental part, and that is changing. So, I just want to let you know, I am really not that much further along than many of you of this journey, but it WILL HAPPEN, it is not impossible and you will be done.

Have a wonderful restful week ladies, thinking of you.

Pink, I thought about you when I went to the beach today! Grandkids got really sunburned yesterday so I was pushing DD NOT to take them swimming today. She pulled her stubborn side and reminded me she (and her kids) tan, where I NEVER IN A ZILLION YEARS could or would tan. Then she asked me to join them for an hour at the ocean instead of in the room. Deidre and I had just talked at breakfast and next thing I new, I was dressed in my SPF 50 wet suit type gear and sitting on the beach watching the GK's, DD, and waves! Kiddos just got new boogie boards - so I HAD to see them!



Wow - was just what I needed and certainly understand your yearning to get out there Pink! Though, people we should call Pink "very tan beautiful woman" NOT "Pink" - LOL, she did get her share and then some of the sun and surf before surgery!



Took a long nap, so now to check out the food they serve for dinner! Not the best, but on a budget this time and saving the delicious part for tomorrow lunch with the other Kline-a-thin participants!!! Pink, so hoping you are able to be there!



West Ashley - 11:15!



Lisa, love that saying, I cross stitched something similar "- all things seem impossible until they are finished!" Pretty good analogy for us for sure!



Looking forward to us all finished and in a rental house here by the beach for a week in 2014!!!

Thanks Cascader for the beautiful post It made me smile. Hope all you Kline-etts are doing well and are able to have drinks at the beach:). I complete chemo number 3 this week. Only 3 more to go and stage 2 is moved up to October 25th. Hoping Dr. Kline will go heavy on the lipo and that the girls will have a better and more even shape.

I think the drink by the ocean is going to have to wait for me until NO meds!!! Meds and me and "drinks" do not mix😏



But hoping we get ALL of you to join us!!!

Kline -ettes and Kline - a- thins . Lol!

Cascader,



Your post was so beautiful that it literally brought tears to my eyes. Thanks.



Cathie and I have both been staying at Homewood Suites and it has been so great seeing her adorable, mature and well-behaved grandchildren. Just watching them at the breakfast table is an antidote to all that ails one.



And I had a chance to see PI k at the hospital. Cathie is right - she is so lovely that to call her "Pink" doesn't do her jistice. I am looking forward to seeing them both today for lunch.



As for me, I am swollen and feel like a giant tick - in a blue polka-dotted sundress! Hoping it begins to subside and hoping that he got my legs. Do not understand why my legs have holes but are not bruised while my stomach (which needed the least) is purple ... I so wanted my saddlebags gone ... And thankfully I read somewhere (this is probably tmi) that the open area at the bottom of the compression garment means that all parts uncovered can really swell ... And they have. Frightening looking and not very comfortable either. So I have out Spanxx on top of te compression garment to cover the hole ... If anyone has words of wisdom, do please advise!



Deidre

Lbrewer - why not let Dr. K remove the TE and eliminate 1 surgery?  Just a thought.

it has to be out so they can do an MRA.  It has a metal port so he siad to have it removed before coming up.  Believe me I tried!

I have a quick question.Will I be in a surgical bra after surgery?Ones I have had in the past were plain white and seemed to cover a lot of area....Just wondering if I will be able to get away with wearing a couple of sheer button down shirts I have..they are cool and comfy,so hoping to wear them.....and what about underwear? Will I need a bigger size with high sides maybe for the hip drains????Going shopping with a friend and want to only go once!

Deidre, sorry I can't help you with any swelling advice. Is it better today? And it took me months to see the benefit of lipo, I think it too changes with time as your body and skin adjusts. You can take arnica and bromelein to help with swelling and bruising.

Catie, drains gone! Congrats! You are in your way to full recovery.

Pink, I KNOW you look beautiful but how are you feeling, drain sites? You will be in that cute sundress and all this will someday be a distant memory.

Hope you enjoyed your lunch together, what fun.

I bought a Softee mastectomy camisole I wore after my DIEP and I loved it.  It has pockets for drains and is SOOO soft.  I wore it after my second mast too.  Ordered another one for this surgery.  Insurance and MEdicare usually covers them.

lbrewer, I will be in town for an appointment with Dr. Craige on August 5.  I'm thinking about coming down on Sunday the 4th with a friend (instead of my usual day trip by myself).  If you're feeling up to it, maybe we can work out a get together.

Pink, sorry to hear of your added emotional stress; but it sounds like you have a positive plan and that is a good thing.  Just remember you have all of us to vent to/lean on as you go through your changes!  Let us know what we can do to help!

Beth