Charleston Bound, part 2

Catie is correct.  The bed relieves the pressure points for the SGAP incision and is fabulous!!!!!  You will love it.  It kind of moves with you when you need it to and is computerized, I believe.  The bed is the best!!!!!

Good luck, PinkHeart with making it to the finish line!!!!  It gives me hope that I will make it there, too!!!!!

GoneToCarolina,

Don't forget to change your name in surgery list!  

Ashira - your flaps were safe and secure before Stage 2 so don't worry.  Back pain means you probably are still standing less straight than you think you are (protective).  PT can def help!  Otherwise you should be good to do whatever you wish.

GoinToCarolina,

I would love to meet you!  Prob is I will already be out of commission when you get there. I do have a one week post op on Thurs, Aug 14 -- so I could stop by to see you in hospital, but that would only be 2 days post op for you. I will PM you with cell number. Actually I'm not even sure how I'm getting to my post op from Summerville. LOL  When is your post op appt?

Brca,

8 hours away!  

Four drains would be minimum. I think drains stay in longer with SGAP. My hip drains were in six weeks. 

I had six drains after my BMX and immed direct implant surgery at Mayo. They said I would have four, but if I woke up with five it meant they had to add because my lymph nodes were positive and had to all be removed. Then a few days later I had a massive hematoma, another short surgery, and a SIXTH drain added. I had all those drains in a surgery cami with pockets to hold drains in fromt. I felt like a kangaroo with six babies in my front pouch. 

If Dr K said four that should be it. The nurses will take care of drains during your stay and educate you and caregiver on emptying and recording. 

So glad you got out to restaurants. Love Fleet Landing and harbour views!

Good wishes to you and sleep good!

I found the ear plugs from Home Depot or lowes work better than the ones from the drugstore or grocery store. Best ones I ever had were from the drum section at a music store!  I wear them all the time as my DH snores like a chainsaw!

lbrewer, no hormone therapy, just weakness which I'm pretty sure is from being in bed and out of commission for way too long between chemo and surgery. 

Thanks for the reassurance Marty. 

I feel like a new woman after just two sessions with a PT in the pool. Amazing. 

BRCA-- thinking of you :-)

Lbrewer,

Dr Kline writes the order for my PT and has for past two years. Chris coordinates the PT order. 

It's all been back in Indianapolis with a lymphedema CLT therapist. I had a therapist while in hospital at EC and then he had me go to EC outpatient PT a few times too. 

Fingers crossed on moving to Charleston right now.

Lbrewer,

I think her name is Michelle. Excellent. 

What's this about your DIEP and stomach muscle?  

It's been a while since I posted. Had stage 2 in Dec 2013 and another tummy tuck with drains. My mom sat too close to me and pulled the drain tube out a bit. Dr K stitched it back on me. I am not sure if that is where the hematoma I developed came from, but it was in that area. They put a catheter in to drain it in Feb. I kept it 2 weeks, it never quit draining. Fast forward to June, the hematoma was back. Dr K wanted to operate then to remove it, but I put it off hoping we could just fix it when I have my final surgery (we are waiting for my body to absorb fat necrosis; he removed some but couldn't get it all) in December. I just didn't want 2 operations in one year. So they put in another catheter to drain. It drained some but not nearly as much as before and finally quit though I could tell there was still fluid there.

I really haven't felt great all year, I've felt ok, but not good. This has been working on me for a while. Anyway, at the end of June, I rolled over in bed and felt something tear or twist! Laid there a bit hoping to get more comfy, then decided to get up. That's when the real pain hit. I took a pain pill and laid down on the couch. I noticed I had a bit of a headache (I rarely have a headache) and felt a bit hot. Took my temp, it was about 100. Took another pain pill and my temp was going up. Called the office and spoke to answering service and Dr K called right back. He sent me to the ER locally for a ct scan and to see if I could travel the 4 hours. When we got to the ER, my temp was 103.7! Looked at my stomach and I had a red rash about the size of my hand. They did the scan and the ER doc called Dr K & he told them what antibiotics to give me. They loaded me with antibiotics, pain killers & nausea meds and we left for Charleston.

Kline's office called twice to see where we were. They were waiting on me when I got there.By now, my torso was covered in a bright red rash....cellulitus! It was bad, really bad. Dr. K said he would open the area up. I asked why he would not take out the scar tissue, and he told me I was way too sick. He checked and was pleased with the anesthesiologist since I was so sick. He also told me that I would be in ICU once I was out of surgery. I spent 4 nights there. Within 15 minutes of arrival, I was in the OR!

The open wound is literally just that. I had no previous concept as to what that was. I really did not pay much attention to the wound. I was more concerned with the cellulitus. They called in an infectious disease doctor who handled all that. It finally got better and the rash went away. The open wound was packed with gauze which I really did not realize until they started removing it!! They discharged me and I stayed in Mt Pleasant 2 more days. Went to Kline's office where they hooked me up to a wound vac which is my new appendage for 8 weeks. A home health nurse comes 3x a week to change out my sponge packing.

Now, I am questioning the December surgery. This left me terribly weak and I just think I am done for a while. But, I want this over with and my out of pocket is more than satisfied. I am not sure if the dead fat will be all absorbed by December so I am thinking of putting the final one off for a year. I hate to do it but I am tired. Dr K removed alot of dead fat and my foobs are floppy, my body is weirdly shaped right now which will be fixed with the last surgery....so I am playing the final surgery by ear. I am just so ready to have all this over and done! So I guess I will hang here for a while longer!

Oh,ketch....wow,I am just so sorry you are going through this.Rest and heal.      BRCA,hope you are doing well!

Ketch - what an experience you've had to endure. I'm so sorry you're going through so much. I'll be praying for you and sending positive healing vibes your way. And remember what Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine; and medicine be thy food." If you focus on staying away from inflammatory foods, you give your body a better shot at healing. (((Hugs)))

ketch,

I am so sorry you got hit with the very scary ordeal of cellulitis!  It sounds like Dr. Kline and all med staff took incredible care of you.  You are fortunate to live close enough to be under his care.  Will you have follow ups at the wound care clinic in your area or go to Dr. K for follow ups?  I'm sure the wound vac is doing it's job and you will start feeling better SOON.  Hang in there and do what feels right for your own mind and body on when to have your final surgery.  Huge Hugs!