Charleston Bound, part 2

Montrial,

Hope you are recovering well from your surgery last week. Take care!

Hi Pink,

Thanks so much for asking! I am just emerging from the chemo fog and trying to spend a bit of quality time with my daughter prior to surgery. I bought a wedge pillow today, did some grocery shopping for my trip and went in search of a large button down shirt. Other than that, what else do you suggest?  

I read that some women began with laxatives for a few weeks prior to surgery. Do you have an opinion on that?  I really should reread my packet from PS. I guess that I'm in a bit of denial :-(

How are things with you?

Thanks Pink,

Yes, I guess I was thinking button down with leggings. I suppose dresses would be better, but am concerned that drains will show underneath. I know it varies, but about how long do they stay in?

Really?  What about the drains?  Don't those show underneath a tank dress?  How long can I expect they may stay in?

I'm happy to report that I'll be driving. I can't imagine dealing with airport security around drain content :-( Thank goodness for small favors! 

I am in need of help from you ladies. Having run into an administrative nightmare, I am double thinking the whole thing and questioning whether I have chosen the right place to go. I am scheduled for two weeks from now and hadn't gotten any pre-op instructions, so I decided to check in with the office staff to ensure all is well. As it turns out, they cancelled my surgery-- stages 1 and 2. Nobody could figure out why, until someone shared that a woman called about someone with a similar name to mine saying that she died on the operating  table. They thought it was me, so cancelled my surgery. Now that they know I'm alive, they've put me back on the schedule, but told me that if I keep the same date, I need to use a different BS than Doc Baron, in order to stay at East Cooper. Otherwise I need to move to Roper, but can keep Baron. Do any of you have a recommendation for a BS?  A few other names were mentioned, but they're just names to me. 

It was my understanding that East Cooper is state of the art and that it is considerably preferable to Roper for stage 1 Do you agree?  Am I better off moving hospitals, changing docs, or scrapping the whole-thing altogether?  

Could this be a sign?  Yes, I'm superstitious and really confused and quite frightened. Just when I thought things were coming together, I don't know what the right thing is to do. 

Any words if wisdom would be appreciated. 

Ashira, Marty has given you excellent advice. I wouldn't be too concerned about switching hospitals and Marty has personal experience and given it a thumbs up. Agreed, it is your micro surgeon that matters most. Do not give up, refocus and think positive. Have you listened to the" Meditation for a successful surgery" cd's? They were of great help to me, before and after. Please let Dr K know of your concern regarding how this was handled, a little unsettling but an unfortunate clerical error. You can do this, use these next two weeks to mentally and physically prepare, before you know it you will be on the other side. Wishing you well.

Thank you Marty. I am waiting to hear back from doctor kline to discuss things. I will share names with you as soon as I have them from the office. I fear that getting anyone at this late date may prove difficult.  Can you recommend some names? 

As for the hospital, what is the reason that Dr. Massey doesn't do stage 1 there?  Dr. Kline was very specific when singing the accolades of EC over Roper for stage 1. It is my understanding that he does over 90% of his surgeries at EC, so it's my guess that the nursing staff there would be considerably more adept with post op care. Do you disagree? 

If the role of the BS is minimal, maybe it's better to keep the hospital and change the doc?  What would you do Marty?

I am now asking myself if I've done enough. Lumpectomies behind me (radiation not an option)chemo complete. If it weren't for my little girl, I would call it quits for sure. 

I had my Stage 1 at Roper with Dr Massey as well as both Stage 2's. I LOVED the staff at Roper and the care I received there. I may have been one of her last stage 1's there. I believe her decision to not do stage 1's there had a lot to do with finding assisting micro surgeons who were willing to take the same insurances she did.  I loved her enough, I would go anywhere to have her as my surgeon. Dr. Baron was also my BS. Had a preop appt with him and really liked him.

Ashira - there are actually 10 doctors in Charleston that do DIEP and other flap procedures.  Some of this is all about marketing and how they approach their practices.  Dr. Massey rarely does Stage 1 in Charleston any more, she prefers to do it in NOLA.  When she does a flap in Charleston it is usually a uni since they prefer to have 2 microsurgeons for a bi - it minimizes the time on the table for the patient and provides the doc with assistance when needed.  When she does operate in Charleston, she uses Roper though she could use East Cooper.  All about preference.  I think that since Dr. K mostly operates at EC he is more comfortable with the nurses there.  I have learned that the specialist surgeons often build a specially trained workforce within a specific hospital to create their own center of excellence.  My husband's neurosurgeon has privileges at 3 of the Roper-St Francis Hospitals, but only operates at 1 - St. Francis - West Ashley.  His office is in the same building on the campus as Dr. Baron's office, but Paul operates at several hospitals.    

I think that if you are happy with Dr. K, go with his recommendation.  He operates with several breast surgeons - though he prefers Baron, he can not only work with him as Dr. B sets his own schedule.  I think you will be happy at either hospital, but would go with Dr. K's preference.

Jacee is so right about Dr. Massey - it is mostly an insurance issue.  She would really prefer to do all of her surgery in Charleston.

Ashira,

Really very sorry this happened to you. Very bazarre!  I know Dr Kline genuine in his apologies.  So there was no way Dr Baron could reschedule the patient that took your surgery time?  He really is the best in Charleston. 

Im definitely all for East Cooper. So easy to get in and out of being smaller, newer, and not downtown. When I called Roper I was told no guarantee on private room but that could have changed. 

Peace and blessings!  It will all be good. 

This post is for you ladies that have had implants, and had them removed to do a DIEP, GAP or PAP flap.

I had to have my implants removed on 2/13/14 after 4 infections.  I never thought that the implants were uncomfortable while they were in, but now that they are out, I can't believe how good I feel! 

I'm considering giving reconstruction one last try.  Both my PS and my ID Dr. agree that I should not have implants again...they feel that my body did not like having the foreign objects in it.  The best tissue donor site...based on CT scan...is the back of my thighs.  So I'm considering a PAP flap.

So, my question is:  How different does a tissue transfer breast feel vs. an implant?  Meaning how will it feel inside of my body.  Can anyone explain it?

Tami

Marty~ THANK YOU!!!  That is what I was hoping that I would hear!  I want my breasts to feel like my own body!  I'm actually liking how my body feels with no breasts...just not how it looks

Tami

Thanks Pink Heart!