NOLA "Club"... are YOU a member?

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  • lucythecat
    lucythecat Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2008
    Thank you for your reply October.Smile
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  • lornafrost
    lornafrost Member Posts: 54
    edited June 2008

    My Goodness........  Hello everyone,

    It has admittedly been quite some time since I logged into these boards.  Life goes on doesn't it?  It's a year since my lovely Paul died, and I can hardly belive that that time has passed.  As you "oldies" may know I went to NOLA last October.  It's wonderful to see how many of you have had similar experiences to me... it must be such a confidence boost to those of you out there who are undecided or worried about the dreadful choices ahead of you.

    What can I say about NOLA?  How about I tell you about the reactions of my dearest friends (to whom I am comfortable to flash my assetts!) .. once the swelling had gone down & I was back in work, they all came round in order for me to torture them - I was cooking!!

    I think I remember my friend Janine the most - her chin just dropped!  Christine just had these huge tears in her eyes....  She could not believe the difference Dr DellaCroce had been able to make.

    I have been able to wear a bra without stuffing one side with a prothesis or wads of cotton wool ......my awful dragging pain has gone. I look "normal" with my clothes on.  I still need a little bit of "fine tuning" but that's for the future.

    Here I am almost a year on and so pleased to see you all here - old and new friends.  Take care y'all.!!!    Sending much love across the pond from good ol' U of K!!!!

    Lorna  

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  • Colleen123
    Colleen123 Member Posts: 289
    edited June 2008

    Lorna.... so nice to hear from you.  I have often wondered if you had been back for Stage 2 to New Orleans and Dr. D.  I am so glad that you are happy with your reconstruction.  I also had Dr. D as my primary surgeon (with Dr. Sullivan doing half the work on my bilateral SGAP).  It truly was the best medical experience of my life and no doctor has measured up since. 

     It must have been very hard for you to have the anniversary of Paul's passing come and go.  My sympathies to you again.

    Hugs,  Colleen

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  • SusanG
    SusanG Member Posts: 110
    edited June 2008

    Dottie,

    How are you? So glad you dropped in. Those of us "in waiting" for our NOLA trips appreciate your willingness to keep us posted on your surgery during your trip. Glad to know you're back home safely and healing.

    Please continue to let us know how you're doing. It really does inspire those of us who still have yet to deal with this part to know how those before us are doing!

    Blessings

    Su

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  • MaryGirl
    MaryGirl Member Posts: 201
    edited June 2008

    Hi Lorna,

    Glad to see that you're back for a visit.  I've been wondering how you're doing.  Let me know when you decide to come back to The Big Easy, and we'll be sure to get together again.

    Mary

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  • SoapMaker
    SoapMaker Member Posts: 157
    edited June 2008

    Bilateral skin-sparing mastectomies, with immediate DIEP, in February 2004 (when their practice was "kinda" new). I'm an oldie.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Where is the cure???

    www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org

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  • Iamblessed
    Iamblessed Member Posts: 240
    edited June 2008

    Hi Susan G!

    Cant sleep so thought I would reply, just saw your post!

    I am doing okay, thank you. It's three weeks out from surgery, will be four on Wednesday , the 2nd of July. My "foobs" are real sore, but to be expected! And my energy is sapped!! But again, to be expected. I am getting around, albeit slowly, and will be increasing my daily walks each week as time progresses. So far, I do like the results of my "foobs." I have to wait until the scabs on my incisions heal before I can use any lotion or tape on the incisions. NOLA has already sent me the tape and today I bought Palmers cocoa butter in anticipation of using it. I have to admit, my stomach is so TIGHT! Its gotten better of course since day 1, however still restricting for me. And I can at least reach my you know what after you know what in the "john." Couldn't do that at first!! LOL!

     I did get a nasty stomach virus ( family  had it too) my first week home from surgery which put me in ER for hours receiving fluids, a shot and medicine to take home. It was horrible. Thank God it only last a couple of days. It had me in tears. Not good. Glads its over. I also was treated with antibiotics as well as my ab incision became red. Sent pics to NOLA and they immediately prescribed antibiotics and advised me to put bedadine on the incisoin 2-3 times a day to help with the redness.

    Anyhoo----just a bit of advice for those still to have this type of surgery or any flap surgery, don't hang around anyone you think even for a moment might be harboring some sort of virus. Anything at all. Immune system will be down, and it will be too easy to "catch" something. With this type of surgery you need to stay well to heal well. 

    Any questions, feel free to ask, or pm me if you like. I dont come on too much lately as I am conentrating on healing but I will come on occasionally to check for questions so I can answer anyone who needs help, if I can help.

    God Bless all of you!!!!!

    Warmly, Dottie 

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  • 3Holly
    3Holly Member Posts: 223
    edited February 2015

    I agree. They are the most incredible team of doctors and nurses, and their facility is incredible, I did not even feel like I was in the hospital! Travelled all the way from Boston to Louisianna and had a mastectomy and reconstruction with no complications and excellent results. I thank God for this site which informed me of their hospital since we had no team in Boston at the time and what took 3-4 hours down there would have taken at least 10 hours in Boston at the time, with no team in place, and probably multiple surgeries. Dr Sullivan and his team are miracle workers!!!

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited February 2015

    Ok, I am just getting interested in this NOLA place. 3Holly: Did you have your mx there, too?

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  • 3Holly
    3Holly Member Posts: 223
    edited February 2015

    Trvler,


    Yes, if mx means mastectomy - better to do 2 sides at once, but one side needed to be done right away and was done here in Boston before I had time to think about it. I later had the other side - mastectomy with reconstruction on both sides - done down there. I was told by docs up here that I'd need to gain weight to have the procedure since they take the fat from the stomach (without touching any muscle), but when I got there they told me I should not have gained the weight since they can take it from other places - they are very helpful and you can e-mail them with questions, they will help you find the right answers. The place is phenomenal, I have never seen anything like it. The doctors have done so many of these procedures that they are extremely skilled and work great as a team. They have the best nurses who are always by your side making sure you heal. The facility is beautiful and you are so relaxed by the surroundings that I believe it helps you relax and heal better - even the food is delicious and healthy.

    Good luck in your decision, hope this information helps you.


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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited February 2015

    3Holly: Very helpful. Thanks. I am going to call them first thing tomorrow!

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