Topic: Any regrets about NOLA or DIEP?

I went to NOLA for my DIEP and believe me, I did NOT have the support of my local medical 'team'.  I wish the boards went back to the time I posted my experience.  I feel like a broken record sometimes when I chime in on this topic.  Anyway, I was terrified of the surgery portion of treatment.  I learned of DIEP through this very forum.  At the time, there was a woman who was having serious complications from her diep, and still she had praises for her surgeons.  I felt like I did my due diligence in learning about the procedures and Drs D and S.  Yet, my local surgeon reacted in a way that made me apprehensive.  If I had told him I was going to roam the streets of a mexican border town to find a breast surgeon, I think I would've received the same reaction I got that day I told him I wanted DIEP and I wanted DIEP in New Orleans. I can understand the surgeon being taken aback by my decision, but my oncologist also had a snotty attitude toward 'those people' in New Orleans.  I had the uneasy feeling that they knew about some dirt on these doctors in the next state, but they wouldn't say anything directly.  It made me feel like they were trying to warn me against making a horrible mistake.  

All this freaked me out enough to make an extra trip to nola just to have a consultation.  Fortunately, I have local friends who lived in nola years ago.   They have friends in the medical community, and as it turned out, the woman who did my mastectomy was a personal friend of my friends, and of their friends we stayed with in Metairie.  Suzie, my local friend, is also a survivor, and she was very impressed with the Center.  And her friend who is a radiologist in Metairie had good things to say about Drs D and S.  I felt like I was on the inside track, getting the best information available.  

I had a feeling of peace at several moments along the way.  When I requested the information packet from the Center, I felt a distinct feeling of peace come over me.  As things unfolded closer to surgery, I felt like I was being guided to the best surgeons by having a local connection to the folks in NOLA.  My friend Suzie knew the woman who was to perform my mastectomy.  Our travel plans went smoothly, despite tropical storm Cyndy blowing over our heads one night.  My consult with Dr S put my mind at ease over having radiation after my reconstruction. 

I had two other friends who went with me and stayed with me during my surgery and the week following.  I was as much at peace prior to the surgery as a terrified person can be.  I knew I would be in good hands, but surgery still scared me to pieces.  I did have some complications.  During anasthesia, the intestines collapse, and if they don't 'come back', it's called an ileus.  Well, I had an ileus, and I was not able to hold down my food.  As you can imagine, puking is not the thing to do after abdominal surgery!  But it's very treatable, and I got through that in short order.  And it certainly wasn't the kind of complication that required more surgery.  

Everyone's comfort level is different.  For me, I wanted a 'twofer'.  I didn't want a mastectomy first and reconstruction later.  I wanted immediate reconstruction, mainly because I thought of it as two surgery, one recovery time.  Some people will say it's easier to recover from implant surgery than diep, but to my mind, the complications from implants seem way more devastating than anything I've seen described connected with diep.  I've been frequenting this forum for more than two years now.  I think my recovery went much easier than what I've seen some other women describe.  I just don't know.  It's the only major surgery I've ever had, so I don't have a frame of reference.  What I do know without a doubt is this -- the doctors and the staff at the Center gave me the best medical experience of my life.  They are so accommodating at every single step of the way.  They are NICE!  And nice goes a long way when you have chemobrain and you're scared to pieces at the thought of losing a body part from major surgery.  I am now a very firm believer in the wisdom of seeking out surgeons who specialize and that it's worth the travel to get there.  

Hi Wendy,  I have no regrets about getting the DIEP reconstruction vs TRAM.  I already have back and some mobility issues, so for me DIEP was the only clear choice.  I had already decided that if my insurance would not pay for the out of network docs I would get the mastectomies and then get the reconstruction later.  I did find some docs in network at Mayo and one in Chicago that did DIEP.  Thank goodness my insurance did come through at the last minute.  I was scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday and heard the prior Thursday night that the insurance had come through.

  I hated being away from my extended support system while I was in NOLA, but my husband was great. (He probably needed a vacation when we got home) If I had to do it again I would.  The only think I would change is that I would have had a car available when we were at the Hope Lodge so we could have gotten around more easily without relying on a taxi.  hope that helps, Kathy

Can some one clarify NOLA and DRs. D and S?

Id like to look it up and get info.

Thanks 

NOLA is short for New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr. D and Dr. S are actually Drs DellaCroce and Sullivan who do DEIP and GAP flaps out of the Center for Reconstructive Breast Surgery in NOLA. The website is: http://www.breastcenter.com/welcome/

They trained under the pioneer of all the free flap techniques, Dr. Robert Allen, who also trained a few other docs in South Carolina (whose name escapes me now) and NY (Dr. Josh Levine). You can find out more about Drs Allen and Levine at http://www.diepflap.com/reconstruction-breastreconstruction.html.

Hope this helps...

Dear Wendy,

At the moment I am in NOLA having had my stage 2 surgery last Wednesday, which was performed by Dr DellaCroce.

I am from the UK and had a left sided diep in March of this year.  The result was disastrous. I was left with a huge circular "patch" that made up almost the whole front aspect of my lump.  The lump itself was a sort of folded over ring donut - very deeply creased/concave in the middle - no projection at all.

I found the site in NOLA by complete chance. After much investigation, I made contact with the center & have never looked back!

Dr D was able to revise my lump - it now has a nipple sized "patch" - this seemed to be a priority for him.  (I have gone past caring what it looks like, it could look like a patchwork quilt & be coloured purple as long as it's breast shaped & fits into a bra!) He has managed to reshape it into a real breast shape.... he then reduced my other breast to match and has done an AMAZING job.  I was a 30G bra size.  I have no idea what I am at the moment, because I'm still swollen & very bruised.. but it looks as if it could be possibly a D - and a very perky one at that!!!

The staff at the BreastCenter have been amazing.  I know that customer service is very important to you Americans & that you expect as a matter of course, a very high standard.  Honestly tho', I could not be more impressed or reassured.

The small touches matter.... while I was being photographed before the op, I was kept warm by a little heater, my dignity very much cared for. I was also provided with some really cute soft fluffy socks... My friend who was with me made a comment about how lovely they looked - so they gave her a pair too!!!

Dr D himself was a shock - how can such a young man have that much talent?  I found him to have a very calming influence, I immediately trusted him - he was able to pinpoint my key concerns without me having to voice them within seconds of his examination.  He was eloquent and articulate and explained everything to me in a very clear manner.  He told me that it would be probable that I would need further revision surgery, he liked a challenge & hadn't seen one quite like mine in a long time.  He further said that he would not be prepared to compromise the results of the surgery by attempting to get an immediate result.

When he came to see me in the hospital the next day, he told me that he was very happy with the surgery & had achieved more than he thought.

Me?  I am so very happy - even with the "ladies" as they look now. My appearance has been improved 100%.

Don't hesitate - you've found the best!

I wish you every success with your surgery, if you put yourself in their hands, success WILL be yours.

With warmest wishes,

Lorna

Everything you all are writing in response to my question is what I expected to hear. In truth, I am absolutely convinced that NOLA is the place for me.

Lorna, I've been following your trip through these postings and I'm so happy to hear how successful everything has been. Before today, though, I didn't have a clear idea of the botched job from before. How great is it that you got to come to the US and go to Dr. DellaCroce to make it right. I'm so happy for you.

Yes, dignity is important. Nice goes a long, long way. I've been shocked and saddened and livid, even, by some of the things I've read done and said by plastic surgeons. If anything will improve my impression of the profession it will be drs. d, s & t.

Thank you.

hugs,

Wendy 

Dr. Richard Kline is in Charleston, SC.  He also studied under Dr. Allen.  Dr. Kline will be doing my DIEP in November.  They are a GREAT bunch!!!  I have been to see Dr. Kline THREE times now with questions that keep arising.  He is very patient with me.  I am very nervous about the surgery, but I know that I am in good hands.  His office also sponsored a table at the Komen race this past weekend.

Dear Sandy,

Quickly - yes I did, but not for long!  have sent you a PM on this.

Wendy, sounds as if you've made your mind up to go to NOLA. 

May I say..... a most sound decision! Congrats - keep me informed re your progress.

Lotsa!

Lorna  xx

I was hoping beyond hope that there would be no drains for stage 2, that was the worst most painful part of the entire surgery!!

Lorna,

No worries about hi-jacking the thread, I'm interested in the drain question, too. I detest those things. Hi-jack away, y'all.

cheers to all,

Wendy 

I might as well chime in, now. I originated this post. I am now a NOLA grad and have NO regrets.

Wendy

My surgery anniversary dates are coming around and I realized I haven't visited this section in quite a while.  I hope Lorna is doing ok now!  She sure had a rough go of things. 

Anyway, I'm almost 4 years out from my stage 1.  I remain tremendously grateful for this forum, where I first heard of the good doctors in nola.  I am grateful for the fantastic surgery and medical care on every level I received in nola.  I'm still a happy camper all this time later.  The only thing I that could've made it better would've been bypassing bc altogether.  I still have fatigue, which I attribute to a thyroid being knocked out of balance by rads (and local doctors who are zero help on this topic).  As far as surgery is concerned, though, I absolutely loved the team in nola.  They were the best.  I like the kind of doctors who fix what needs fixing and then you don't go back anymore.  They're great at what they do, and they get it done right the first time.  

Hi Laura,

I'm not sure, but a few women I know are planning to change to PPOs this coming November, in order to have surgery in NOLA next year.  This includes my younger sister, who wants prophylactic mastectomies and one-step implants with Dr. DellaCroce.   Your best bet is to contact the Center and they'll be able to tell you if your current insurance will allow you to have your reconstruction in NOLA.   You can start here: http://www.breastcenter.com/contact/starting.php

Sandy