Charleston Bound, part 2

Pink - My surgery is at Roper and Chuck is at St. Francis.  Thankfully we have a great group of friends.  He will have several months of recovery, but mine will be much, much shorter.  Thanks for thinking of us.  I know we will get through it.

recovering nicely.  dR. k is pleased with the flow had some trouble with swelling but its better now.  I get to take  shower tomorrow!

Montrial - in defense if Dr K, the nurses have told me they would be happy with him as well, but don't know if you are aware of the fact you get BOTH for your stage 1!!!!



I am a Dr K fan, he did my stage 1, but I think if I had Dr C I could be equally as pleased. Dr C actually saw me when Dr K was out of town and their expertise, surgery skills and if course their practice are both top notch! You will be in very good hands either way.



When I first contacted them it had been through a friend who had Dr C, I went with Dr K as it was he who answered an "ask the Dr" inquiry and who had referred me to Gail. So they scheduled me with Dr K. I too wondered if I would like the Dr I was assigned to, and I absolutely did. They compliment each other well - I would have been pleased beyond words with either of them.



Marty, will be sending some prayers your way for a smooth recovery for you and DH. Wow you will have your hands full for quite a ride this late summer!!!



Hugs

All is well but apparently I am allergic to something he used. Primary suspect is the glue stuff.

Lbrewer, I was allergic to something too, my flap broke out in tiny little bumps, I suspected the glue or maybe even something they use in the OR. A prescription cortisone cream finally cleared it up but it took awhile. Lots of water, clear all that stuff out of you!!

back at the hotel finally.  dr k says he thinks its the antibiootic cream.  orders some other stuff for me to take and its slowly getting better.

I can not be happier with the care I have gotten with dR. Kline and Craige.  they both came to see me this morning.  Dr. K brought his kids with him. Thye thought the chair in the shower was cool!

The nurses at East Cooper were fantSTIC and said that the Drs treat them very well. Saturaday night one of the nurses was concerned about the reddness of my flap had called.  Dr. K who came it not see me.  The way a physician treats a nurse is a good indictor to me. 

He says I can't use my right are tho.  Haven't figured out how I blow dry my hair!  I am totally uncoordinated with ny left!

Side effects of bactroban include rashes and blisters.  Sounds like me!

Bethcw,



I really enjoyed meeting you and Dawn for lunch today. I'm sure your appointment went well with Dr Craigie. Let us know when you schedule your surgery, and if I can help.



Still unemployed, just heard from company interviewed with last week that they changed the position to a much lower grade and job description. Onward!



So since I'm feeling pretty good (but can't swim in ocean or kayak yet ), I went downtown Charleston and walked around the battery enjoying the homes and gardens. Marguerita and I are at Fleet Landing relaxing after 3 hours of walking.



Hope all is well for those of you recovering or preparing for upcoming surgeries!

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Montrial - the wearher might fool you - I was there last January and had to go to Target to buy some short sleeve tops!



I'd look there when the time gets closer.



Several if us have stayed at the Homewood suites a couple of times and very convenient for our needs. There is breakfast 7 days a week - served buffet style with eggs, breakfast type meat, etc, cereal, oatmeal, Belgian waffles and coffee, tea and juices. They serve dinners also buffet style with salads, an entree that changes nightly and sides for Mon-Thurs nights with complimentary wine and beer, tea, iced tea and lemonade. If you aren't interested in their food there is a restaurant within easy walking distance and a grocery store also easily walkable.



They should give you a discount if you mention East Cooper Plastic Surgery medical rate.



They also have a very nice small kitchen and seem to park us nearby an exit to get to our cars.



Very close to beach and Dr and Hospital too!!!



Hope that helps. Ask Kim about the going home date - she is so knowledgeable and very nice and is the PA, she or Chris are gems!!!



Marty and Downy, hope you do well this week and have enjoyed your dinner out!



Lbrewer, glad you are out of the hospital and welcome to the other side!



Panda- check again with the Dr, your post op might just be the same as a week, 4 days in hospital and post op 3 days later???



Pink- hoping Maguerita was a fun companion??? LOL. Why no swimming in ocean yet?



Hugs

post op is today and headed home tomorrow.  Montrial, I think it usually ends up about 10 days.   We got here Monday, preop meeting on tuesday and mra scan.  Surgery on Wednesday.   4 nites in hospital so out on Sunday.   Post op was scheduled for Wed (0ne week from surgery) but Dr. K said he was at the clinic all day on Tuesday and just come late in the afternoon.  Since we are driving, that lets us get an early start.

Homewood suites has been a great choice.

We went to Coda del Pesce last night for dinner.  Not a great choice but then, I'm not a seafood fan anyway.  But really...who eats raw tuna and octopus????   It is a true "fine-dining" expereince...there is a salad course, a pasta course, the entree, and dessert course.  I stuck with just a prosciouto and melon salad.  Each course is about 20-30.  Some tables seemed to be splitting the item, but the portions were not very large.  Beautiul presentation tho!  Didn't look at the wine list since I'm still on painkillers!

Morgans Creek Grille was good and I loved watching it rain on the harbor.

We didn't get to go this time but one of my favorite places is whats locally called Fast and French.  Officially, its

Gaulart & Maliclet,is a French cafe located on Broad Street in Charleston, SC.  Its kind of a social experience...you sit with other diners.

lbrewer -- looks like you are on about the same time schedule as me.  I had mastectomy in december 2008, just now scheduling reconstruction.  Congrats on release to head home.  How far is it?  I will be travelling by car from Knoxville, TN. (about 6 hours) 

Catie:  Thank for the info on Homewood Suites and local restaurants. 

I will need to return to work ASAP.  I read someone returned to work 12 days post op?  Do you think this is a reasonable expectation for a desk job, assuming all goes well?  Generally how long before all drains are out?  How bad is that pain, say compared to mastectomy?

Marty, sorry to hear about your hubby. A sick man is not a good thing!

Stage 2, Sept 6 & it's creeping up soon. We are staying at the retirement place....name escapes me at the moment...but names escape me all the time now. Chemo brain!

I stopped taking the Arimidex as I had horrid side effects and right now back on tamoxifen which has less and livable side effects. But, I think MO is going to swith me to femara. But, I doubt that will happen until after the Stage 2. Once again, looking forward to boobs that look more like boobs, rather than a bad science experiement, but I have a lot of fat necrosis, so Dr K said that I will not get my optimal set until we do fat grafting in Dec. Then, I'm hoping that is it!

We're staying the week after surgery. I could drive about 4 hours home, but then I would have to drive back a few days later for the office visits, so we decided to stay. I'm hoping I feel like getting out and about after a few days. Someone mentioned a consignment store that had great clothes....what & where again??

Marty,hope you heal fast and all goes well with your husband.I talked to Chris,I can come home the Wednesday following my surgery,so will book the flights later today.Did anyone listen to the questions and answers last night?Wish it had been longer,but I got some info that I hadn't known.

Marty, you sound good! The soreness does not last long so hopefully you will not need those pain pills for too long. Hope hubby is doing ok, let others help.

lbrewer, hope you are resting comfortably at home. one drain out, wahoo! I love raw ahi tuna , octopus too !  Will have to check that place out. lol.

montrial, I think 12 days is way too early, don't think I would have wanted to go back before 4 weeks, but we are all different . Can you arrange to do some work from home? Your body really needs time to rest and recover, as crs says, it is a big surgery.I would plan for longer and if you feel up to it you can go back to work early. Buy some inexpensive button down shirts and Target has a Champion brand zip up that has pockets in the inside and work great to hold your drains. Don't buy alot, you really do not need much and you will be so sick up these clothes that you will want to throw them out when done.

ketch, are you staying at sandpiper? That is where I stayed after Stage 1, nothing fancy but perfect. I walked down to the corner with my pillow and had a pedicure, cried during the whole thing and told her that was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me.  Omg, so high. I am the same with names, my memory is so bad now. How long can we blame chemo brain? I seem to blame everything now on Tamoxifen. lol.There is a really great consignment store in the shopping area by Homewood Suites on the IOP connector..haha cant remember the name. They have really nice near new clothing, brand names,I bought 2 dresses(Tommy Bahama and White House Black Market) but could have found more had I  been more in the mood for shopping.

Panda, glad it is all working out for you, your time will be here before you know it!

Baileygirl, congratulations. It can be a difficult decision, but have confidence that you are in the best of hands with these docs. I had a uni sgap a year ago, if you would like to PM me I would be happy to answer any of your questions. You will be out walking slowly right away, with lots of naps in between. You will be able to go out to dinner that first week but might want to take a pillow along I was off pain meds the first week except to sleep, but our bodies are all so different. You won't  be feeling terrible but need to give your body the time to heal. Take this time now to prepare both mentally and physically by getting your body in the best shape possible. There is also a great mediation CD for preparing for a successful surgery. Was a tremedous help to me. 

Update on my nipple: It has been 3 months now and it has really shrunk and flattened quite a bit so alot smaller than my natural on the other side. I think it is rather cute however and smile everytime I see it. No regrets. Now wanting to get the tattoo done sooner rather than later so I can be really done. Have decided I will go to Vinnie, I wanted the best plastic surgeons and now want the best in tattoos. Hoping to spend a few days in New Orleans but they are booked up for this year. Anything to do in Baltimore for a few days? Really do not have the time or money to travel but I am anxious to close this chapter. I have been really happy with my results in clothing, wearing cute sundresses and yoga tops without worrying about anything falling out or denting in. That has been the best part, I actually am forgetting that this is not my real breast, because it is now. I have a few small spots that could use some more fat grafting and my recon breast does not "droop" . These things are minor and for now I am so grateful to these docs for giving me back my  confidence and sassyness. I guess I will not say never to more surgery, but I think with a little more time these imperfections will be insignificant.  So for you ladies just starting out, or in the midst of it now, I would like to give you the encouragement to soldier on, for this too shall pass.

Have a great day!

To All:  Any guidance as to what to expect from Stage 1 DIEP reconstruction on would be greatly appreciated.  I hate to call Dr. Craigie's office with these questions when they are so busy.  Besides, actual experience is probably best.  I had hoped to return to work 12 days post surg.  I gather this is totally unrealistic.  Ugh!  What has your experience been as to when you returned to work (or if you don't work -- when you would have felt good enough to return to work)?  Generally, how long are pain meds needed?  How bad will one look once recouped from Stage 1 surgery?  Will it be after Stage 2 before you look more "normal"?  Also, I keep seeing posts about Vinnie in Maryland for tattoos.  I thought the doctors did this as a Stage 3?  If Vinnie is much better at this, who is he and how would one contact him.  Does he have a website?  So many questions......sorry.