Charleston Bound, part 2

Kat



Enjoy your visit to Charleston! The rain has been insane but still hoping for blue skies ahead. I would love to meet you if times work out. Take care!

Panda, sorry about your reschedule. I was hoping to meet you in 2 weeks!

Pink, I will report back on the nipple tats. I am going to get her to do eyebrows too. I looked at her pics and they look good. Since chemo, I have eyebrows but not much. I've even been thinking of doing those before my Dec surgery.

Panda:  So sorry to hear about all you are having to deal with, especially the loss of your beloved dog.  They say, "Bad luck comes in threes", so your's should be behind you now.  I will pray for nothing but smooth sailing for you in the months ahead.  I am a pet lover and know how devastating it is to lose one.  The following always gave me comfort when dealing with such a loss:

The Rainbow Bridge:

There is a bridge connecting heaven and earth.  It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors.  Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meaows, hills, and valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place.  There is always food and water and spring weather.  The old and frail animals are young again.  Those who are maimed are made whole again.  They play all day with each other.

There is only one thing missing.  They are not with their special person who loved them on earth.  So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up!  The nose twitches!  The ears are up!  The eyes are staring!  And this one suddenly runs from the group!

You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace.  Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the face of your trusting pet.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.

My thoughts and prays will be with you during this most difficult time.  I hope everything else falls into place for you.  Always wishing you the best -- Montrial

I'm thinking about doing eyebrows too!  There is a lady on the board name Judy who owns FaceCrafter in Sarasota Fl.  She is a BC survivor herself and does the nipple tats for Moffitt Cancer Center.  She doesn't charge BC patients.  She does all the other  cosmetic stuff as well'  She is always willing to advise even if you're not in the area.

http://facecrafter.com/

She posts in the breast reconstruction forum mostly and is facecrafter.  Her office is by my daughters house so I met with her once while I was visiting and we chat frequently. She was going to do my tat but then I had a reoccurrence so its on old.

Montrial and Marty,thanks so much.I wish you could have known her,she was a very opinionated,very strong little one,exactly like my mother in a dog's body.She kept me going through some hard times.She only weighed five pounds,but thought she weighed 100!We had 13 wonderful years and she died in my arms.I am grateful that her end was fast and painless.Marty,are you saying  I can't buy any more clothes???!!!!!    lbrewer,thanks for the info on the eyelash tinting,I figured it might be risky.I have never in my life worn make up and at 60,I am having a hard time with it.Maybe I just haven't tried the right mascara,but how would anyone who is make up challenged choose one?

made it home...only 6.5 hrs

Can't wait for drain to be gone...errrr

my bed is callling me

Maggie

Panda, I wrote this last night but forgot to hit submit!  Anyway...go to any upscale dept store in the mall and go to the cosmetic counter.  They will do complete makeups.  Lots of brides do it for their wedding!  Buy one  (or two) things you really like and get the rest at the drugstore.  I like DIOR the best but thats just me!  If you go when there's a special, its even better!  I think after what we go thr, we deserve a pick mem up.  I had my eyelids done after my first DIEP!  I hate BC month, but here the upscale makeup manufCTURES host a beauty weekend in Macys that my daughters and I go to.  We all get redone!  And lots of free stuff!

Oh Maggie that is awesome! How are you feeling? Rest and hydrate.

Maggie - so happy for you. I was nauseated the first time in Charleston, but not the second time. Dr. M went light on me because of my DH's surgery the next day. December may be a bit more challenging for both of us.

Panda - try ULTA if they have one near you. If you don't like it you can bring the mascara back for a refund. Prices are comparable and if you register you can get a coupon each month. Try and try until you find one you like!! They also have estheticians to help if you need it.



I've spent about 14 weeks in Charleston in the last year and a half and to me it's even pretty in the rain! Lots of shopping so you can pick up what you don't bring with you.



Marty how are you feeling? And your DH?



Mags so happy NO COMPLICATIONS FOR YOU!!!!'



Montrial - very poignant message!



Beth - good to hear from you!



Hope we l can plan a gathering in Charleston to meet and greet in 2014!!! Love putting faces to the names - and unfortunately we have so much in common!!!!!!!



Hugs all

So our car is still at mechanics...I cannot change the gastro appointment for tomorrow,they gave me one of their ASAP appts and others are filled.So my husband is renting a car for me to drive.I asked him if he thought all these road blocks were a "sign" that maybe I should just not have the surgery.He said "It is a sign all right.A sign that I know you have the perserverance to get through all this and not give up.I have seen it before and I am seeing it again." Just got word that US Air is going to waive the $200 rescheduling fee.What a relief.Maybe things are going to turn around and go right for a bit!

Hi Ladies,



I haven't had time to completely catch up here with the exception of a PM here and there. But now I need your input (Sorry for the double posting, I have to cover all bases ).



I'm scheduled for stage 3 on August 30th and I'm running out of people to ask to accompany me to Charleston. It seems that I'm just being "vain" now with all these procedures - but I won't go down that road now. I will say though that I pray those who are judging don't ever have to walk in my shoes. Ah, I digress.



Chris at Dr. K's office gave me the name of a few nursing/caregiving companies and nursing homes (e.g. Sandpiper), but I do not plan to stay overnight after discharge. Anyone have a recommendation for a company/facility that would not require an overnight stay? One place offered to drive me to a hotel and the caregiver would help me get settled, but even if they drop me in the lobby and I "get settled" there I still have to get back to my car to go home. Taking a taxi back seems like overkill. I do not plan to take any painkillers (haven't needed them upon discharge after stages 1 or 2), so no worries there. Thoughts and suggestions are desperately needed. Thanks!



Cheers,

Davy

Pandazankar,



Yes, that's it exactly. Sorry, I was rushing (as always) when I posted and I'm afraid I didn't clearly state my dilemma. I am scheduled for surgery on Friday and expect to be discharged on Sat. Hospital policy will not allow me to walk out alone, therein lies the problem.



Sorry to read about your delayed surgery. I had stomach issues for years myself and went to countless gastro's and took all kinds of meds. It turned out to be all diet related (and I didn't eat bad before) in that I had food sensitivities that I didn't know I had. Have you tried an allergist or dietician?

Davy - there are a variety of liability issues involved especially with driving.  I totally understand your desire to return home immediately, but the anesthesia left in your body is tricky.  It may not be safe for you or other drivers for you to make the 6 hour drive on your own.  Would you consider staying 1 night after discharge.  

I have to say that my Stage 2b wasn't as intense as it should have been because Dr. M knew my DH was having surgery the next day.  I tend to recover quickly with a minimum of pain pills.  I was discharged the next morning and a GF took me to the hospital where my DH would have surgery.  She took me home that night.  I drove 2 days following and can honestly say it was really tiring and that perhaps my judgement and reactions weren't what they should have been, especially when the car lost power on one of the bridges.  My point here is that perhaps you would have a safer drive home if you waited one extra night in a hotel.  

The liability would not be only on you, but the hotel and Dr. K.  Did you tell the office you were planning to hit the road immediately after discharge?

Just found out I cannot have my October 2 date..the doctors will be away.Soonest would be October 18.One concern is we have a wood stove,I am sure I will not be able to lift wood and throw it in the stove two weeks out.Plus that time of year my donkeys and goats need to be fed hay in the middle of the day.I wanted(needed) to be back to almost normal by the beginning of November.My husband cancelled and rescheduled a week of vacation so he could be with me in October...I am sure they will not be pleased if he does it again.I am really ready to just give up,too many setbacks......I am tired..hate to prove my husband wrong,but....