Charleston Bound, part 2

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  • philomene
    philomene Member Posts: 45
    edited August 2014

    For those of you who left after a week, how were you feeling then? I have a long drive home and although I'd just be riding shotgun (so not driving myself), I'm afraid that I won't feel well enough for a long trip just a week after surgery. What do you think?

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  • MartyJ
    MartyJ Member Posts: 1,859
    edited August 2014

    Philomene, I left 9 days after my surgery.  The doctor will want you to stop frequently - every hour and walk a bit to prevent blood clots.  You will probably still be taking pain killers so you may sleep most of the trip.  I flew home and it was a bit exhausting.  Try to push your return as far out as possible or fly if you can.

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  • brca35
    brca35 Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2014

    Philomene, I agree with MartyJ. In the first two weeks each day is so much different from the last. I flew out on post op day 9 and can't imagine doing it even one day sooner. I was absolutely still on pain meds. It's a big day, just getting things packed up, getting dressed while you still have all your drains. Also, you will be instructed to sit in the back seat. They say it's because airbags could deploy in the front in the event of an accident and it could ruin the flaps. I'm post op day 19 and still have one drain:-( the longer you stay, the better chance you have og getting your breast drains removed befor you go home. 

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited August 2014

    Dr Kline ordered Lovenox injections that I gave myself until we got home from my stage 1 SGAP. It was an 11 hour drive, which my Xhub broke up into two days. We stopped every hour so I could walk. I had a bed in back of my minivan which is where I was most of the ride home. I still had two hip drains and two breasts drains were out by then. Had hip drains six weeks. 

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  • cascader
    cascader Member Posts: 599
    edited August 2014

    Pink and Going, good luck on your upcoming surgeries. Pink this is old hat for you, you are going to do great. I pray that this will be the last.Going, I am happy for you that this day that you have long waited for is almost here. I am not sure when I will be able to get back online, but know that I will be thinking of the two of you and sending you healing thoughts.

     We are STILL dealing with fires and have sporadic phone and internet service. Besides the fires we have had floods,hail, wind storms, trees down and now waiting for locusts, or maybe zombies. As I write, there are DC10's overhead dropping fire retardant behind my house, and blackhawk choppers filling buckets at the lake, National Guardsman and military vehicles.Feels like a war zone. I am so grateful to those fighting these fires, each and everyone of them a hero. It has been a long and exhausting few weeks, we are all on edge.

    Philomene, I am definitely the exception as I stayed in Mt Pleasant for a whole month after my Stage 1. I live quite rurally and do not have close access to Dr or hospital. I had a previous implant failure with severe infection , so was not going to take any chances the second time around. For me, it was the right decision. 

    Hope to be back on soon and see how you all are doing Take Care.

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  • brca35
    brca35 Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2014

    Day 20 post op. Still have left hip drain in place. I can't wait to get it removed!! Maybe next week.... I hope!!

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited August 2014

    Just FYI

    Next Wednesday, Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC is having a seminar on
    Coping With Changes and Body Image, focusing on adjustment to change. http://www.mskcc.org/events/support-meeting/embodied-coping-and-body-image-changes?dtstart=1407965400&dtend=1407970800

    its on line

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  • brca35
    brca35 Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2014

    lbrewer, thank you for posting the link. I have the post op diep blues. That online seminar is just what I need right now. 

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  • Ashira
    Ashira Member Posts: 161
    edited August 2014

    I'll be following that link too!

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited August 2014

    Thanks for posting lbrewer!

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited August 2014

    Cascader,

    Im so sorry the fire disaster situation is still ongoing. Prayers to you and your community!

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited August 2014

    All ~

    Im in EC hospital tapping away on my iphone already. Did great during surgery, but the oxycodone is not helping pain in my butt. ... will talk to Dr K in morning. Thank goodness no vomiting this time -- and drains!   

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  • GointoCarolina
    GointoCarolina Member Posts: 753
    edited August 2014

    YAY! Pinkheart!!!! I have been thinking about you!!

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  • HighBeams-14
    HighBeams-14 Member Posts: 53
    edited August 2014

    Great to hear your update, Pinkheart!

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited August 2014

    glad to hear it went we,, Pink!

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  • GointoCarolina
    GointoCarolina Member Posts: 753
    edited August 2014

    brca35,how are you doing today? I have been thinking of you all,I fly out tomorrow.Monday is going to be very busy.....did any of you opt for the Valium before the MRA? I am very claustrophobic and didn't think of it until they mentioned it.Not sure which scares me more,the MRA or flying all alone!!

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited August 2014

    I did Ativan which I think is about the same thing. Don't drive on it tho!

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited August 2014

    has anyone ever had their estrogen level checked?  I take femera and am miserable. I tried arimidex and same thing. I had a hysterectomy about five years ago. I wonder if my estrogen is really all that much lower on AI than it would be without. Can they compare my level off the drugs to what a woman on AI without hysterectomy?  I really hate taking it. 

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  • brca35
    brca35 Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2014

    gointocarolina, 

    I'm doing well. The first two weeks I surprised myself and my family with how quickly I was recovering. The third week came and I'm feeling a bit stuck it's probably because I am doing more. I'm home alone with my 9 and 6 year old boys and their is never a dull moment. I've hit the 3 week blues. I've been feeling rather down lately and posted about it in a diep support Facebook page. Apparently, this is very common. I was told be many things will turn around soon. 

    I am EXTREMELY chlosterphobic! I did not use Valium because I do not like how Valium makes me feel- loopy but still full of anxiety. I took a low dose of Xanax before the MRA and was fine. The MRA was much faster than I thought it would be! For about 80% of it, you can tilt your head back and see the ceiling. For the final set of images they put you in the entire way. I just closed my eyes and kept them shut until it was over. I asked them to talk me through everything, they did, and that calmed me as well. Ended up being super easy!!

    Let me know if you have anymore questions. 

    Brca35

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  • GointoCarolina
    GointoCarolina Member Posts: 753
    edited August 2014

    Thanks brca35....I think I am going to try the MRA without anything....if I am only all the way inside for part of it....I think I can do it...I am really trying to face my fears..I am sorry you have the three week blues..do they have any idea why it happens?We have a big event when I am three weeks out....hoping I will feel up to it...I will only go for an hour or so,but it is my hometown alumni weekend and there are so many people I want to see..not everyone comes every year..and the people who know about my surgery are counting on seeing me....

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited August 2014

    GTC,

    I took a small dose of zanax, too. O.25 mg

    Wish I could meet up with you somehow. I discharge Saturday, and will recover here for a month. 

    Well the pain is setting in today, not in breasts, just butt and a little in belly.  But what's weird is I'm not bruising yet. I am usually solid black from neck to knees. Keeping my fingers crossed. 

    Dr. Kline was really excited about my weight gain!  I'm 5'6", and when he saw me last Sept I weighed 112 lbs. I made it up to 140 when he saw me in June.  Even then he asked if I would gain another 5, but I said No way. 

    My breasts look great now!  Hope the fat sticks around!!!  Dr K took it all from my belly.  He also made left breast skin paddle smaller and rounder to be size of areola when ever I get 3D tattoos. 

    My butt now has major scar all the way across from doing a lift to get rid of shark bites.  So that will take some healing time all over again, but worth it in the end. 

    Dr. Kline smoothed out bulge under rads armpit some so my sexy Genie bra doesn't cut into it and ache. 

    Last, he did not work on my evil axillary cording. He had made improvement on it with first two attempts. But he said there is still too much radiation edema!  It's almost three years since I had radiation. Sooo he wants to wait at least another year.. It will be only a one hour surgery and working on the cording alone, which I agree would be better, too. 

    I will be able to get nipples before the cording surgery so I don't feel like the finish line has been extended! 🏁😊👍💗

    Take care all!

    I will have new news on Monday. 

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  • brca35
    brca35 Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2014

    GTC, 

    As they say... Everyone heals differently... At 3 weeks out, I would be able to go to an event if I just sat the whole time. I would likely be able to stay for 2 hours tops and then when I got home I would likely fall asleep and not want to move. I realized talking for a long time without stopping takes energy and stomach muscle because we use our diaphragm when we talk. This exhausted my stomach muscles a lot when I tried to attend my nieces graduation party.  Keep in mind you will likely still have a minimum of one drain remaining. You will need to get creative with your outfit to hide the drain. It won't be easy, but it can be done. Just be kind to yourself and have a plan to leave so you don't find yourself stuck if you feel like you have had enough.:-) 

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  • Catie2013
    Catie2013 Member Posts: 1,023
    edited August 2014

    Pink, so very thrilled for you and your recent new surgery!  I'm hoping too the fat grafting takes, mine did, so thoping yours does too!  

    Praying for continuous healing.

    Hugs

    Catie

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  • GointoCarolina
    GointoCarolina Member Posts: 753
    edited August 2014

    Oh,Pink! Wish I could give you some of my fat!! So glad you are doing well and if you want,come see me when I am in the hospital,if I don't feel up to it,I will be honest with you.I will PM you my cell number...I am sure I will be up to seeing you though..you have helped me so much...brca35..everyone at this event will be watching out for me....it will be a light dinner followed by fireworks..and I will sit and people will come to me..I plan to sleep the whole day before as it will be in the evening ...I all ready have a dress to wear..very loose and flowing and comfy..but it looks really nice..can't wait to see what it looks like with a little "oomph" !!!!Husband and I just had a special dinner with champagne..the only time I have been away from him was in the hospital..and the longest was ten days and local so he could visit...the thought of being away from him and my pets is keeping my mind off everything else...that will be the hardest for me...but I just found out my cousin I have not seen in 40 years will be coming to Charleston from Florida while I am there to spend time with me before and after surgery...can't wait to see her..can't believe it is all happening for me....any tips for flight anxiety???.

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited August 2014

    GTC,

    You could also request a xanax from your doctor for the flight or MRI. 

    Flying doesn't bother me but if there is turbulence I bring a good book to read to take my mind off of it. 

    I really am so excited for you. If I can get my post op scheduled at the EC office while you are in hospital I may be able to stop by for short visit. Or maybe I could meet you for lunch when you go for your post op appt. 

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  • Davy
    Davy Member Posts: 114
    edited August 2014

    Pink - happy to hear you're doing well post-op, maybe the expected bruising will be less this time. Can you post more about the scar revision to get rid of the "shark bites"? As you know I'm trying (seems in vain, but I'm impatient with this) to improve the donor site scars. I'm wondering if having them cut out is an option. I would be worried it would flatten my backside too much. Do tell....

    Cheers,

    Davy

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited August 2014

    Hi Davey,

    This procedure was not for donor site scar revision -- it was done to revise sunken area where flaps were harvested. I think this started when I went on the weight gain challenge. Like I gained weight in my bottom, but around donor site not under so caused indention look. Anyone else who gained 20+ pounds after surgery that affected donor sites?

    I will let you all know if there is a new trick in his bag that eliminates bruising. 😊💗

    Have a great weekend!

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited August 2014

    Davey,

    Dr K joined both scars so now it's one continuous scar across my backside. So hopefully the new scar heals nicely. Also hope indents are gone. I'm still swollen so will have to wait for results. He didn't lipo my handle bars as he said would be too much trauma but he did pull it down. he only did lipo and fat graft from belly to breasts. I asked him not to use my knees. 

    I woke up in compression but only wore it 24 hours. He said I can just wear bike shorts. I just have tight fitting capri bike shorts that go just below my knees. Not wearing a surgery bra because he said not to yet. So I will be wearing dark colored tops til I can wear my Genie bra sgain. 

    My post op will be next Friday at noon at West Ashley office. 

    So glad to be out of hospital even with super care. There was only one other Kline patient who was Stage one, but I never saw her. 

    Still no bruising yet and no pain in breasts or belly. My backyard is another story and it's definitely time for pain meds. 

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  • Davy
    Davy Member Posts: 114
    edited August 2014

    Thanks for all the detail, Pink, super helpful. I still have slight indentations on the donor sites, too. The left side is more pronounced than the right. 

    It's a difficult area for incisions to heal with an optimal aesthetic outcome given the unavoidable stress to that area. 

    I do hope your fat "takes" and the area is nicely filled in. I need at least one more fat grafting but it's hard for me to gain weight with my way of eating. My stomach now won't tolerate me veering too far off course, which is good and bad. 

    I'm glad to hear you still don't have any bruising as that can be traumatizing just to look at! 

    Happy healing on the sunny shores of SC. I wish I could go and stay an entire month!   

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited August 2014

    Davy,

    Dr K did not do any fat grafting to my donor site, just to my breasts with majority FG going to radiated breast. 

    I'd be curious to know if other patients had fat grafting to SGAP donor site. 

    Yes Im glad to recoup down here and not have to figure out logistics to get home.  Bummer is I can barely walk and wont be going out for quite sometime. If I go out next week it will be with friend driving and me with a pillow and on pain meds. 

    The stairs to my guest room are a challenge, but I know will get easier. 

    I'm a salmon and salad person who snacks on nuts, veggie sticks, and fruit, and like to walk a lot to stay fit. I'm not a gym rat. I do light free weights just to keep arms firm but they are not contoured.   So having to gain weight was a downer as you can imagine. 

    I was asked how I gained weight and told doc and nurses that I drank a lot of Boost higher calorie drink, switched from skim milk to whole, avocadoes, fried chicken, dounuts, ice cream. But the main thing that caused me to gain weight was not walking as much and going on Lexapro antidepressant. It slows down my metab big time for me anyway. I will be weaning off of it in 2-3 months. Can't wait to be able to walk, walk, walk to feel fit again!  

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