Topic: NOLA in September?

Jun 25, 2009 12:03 AM Warrior517 wrote:

Jun 25, 2009 09:43 AM, edited Jun 25, 2009 09:45 AM by Springtime

Oh my gosh this is great! I really didn't know if anybody would respond!

Hi Warrior and Trishia!

I don't have my date yet!! I should try and get the 8th or 10th. I will work on that! I am just wating for Celeste to call; I've been in touch with Celeste and Liz via email.

OK so what I'm having done... In Dec of last year I had my bilateral Mx done there in Nola. I was going to get Stacked DIEP, but when Dr. D saw how little fat I had (first time in my life I thought I had "little belly fat") he decided the best thing to do was to put in implants with AlloDerm (as a like "placeholder") b/c it was likely I would have to do RADs. Rads woudl shrik the fat up more he thought. I did end up needing RADs. So he was right.Also felt this would keep the "most options open" for later.

Anyway, Finished rads end of Feb, so Dr. D says 6 months, which is Sept! I will try to have both Stage I and II this year, want to get it done and also for insurance purposes, best to just do it all this year! I have Cigna insurance which last year was "in network".

I may have the DIEP and GAP, both (!) (where they use both belly and butt fat) just so I dont have impalnts at all and am all natural tissue. Or I can do stacked DIEP on the RADs side, and keep the implant on the other (prophylactic) side. 

Anyway! Glad to meet you ladies!!! I will let you know as soon as I have a date! 

Spring.

Jun 25, 2009 09:48 PM Warrior517 wrote:

Hi Girls!! This is great....it sounds like we may all be there in the first couple weeks of Sept...I am still waiting on insurance approval....how long did it take for your insurance company to respond?? I keep checking email everyday...arrggh  Have either of you decided which hotel you will be staying?? I am scheduled for the Gap/Diep Stacked. I also had rads but failed implant..but getting rid of other implant for symmetry. Which Drs at NOLA are performing ur surguries??

Lots of questions...sorry..but I am excited to have some of my warriors in the area....

Jun 26, 2009 01:09 AM Estepp wrote:

Hi Spring... why are you not just keeping the implants? I am just wondering...:)

Jul 2, 2009 04:50 PM Springtime wrote:

Hi Ladies...

Well, I got my surgical packet today from New Orleans, and it says in there that I am having my surgery at the St. Charles Clinic.....  I hope that is true!!! I really wanted to check out the new digs. 

Have either of you received word yet of where your surgery will be?? Did you get your surgical packets yet? Just checking in!!!!

Spring.

Jul 2, 2009 06:11 PM Springtime wrote:

Hi Trishia,

Well!!! Wow, so it must be true then, I'll be at the clinic! Woot! I was just wondering if it was a "form letter" of some sort...

Trishia, were you at Fairway for your Stage I??

Jul 2, 2009 07:52 PM Warrior517 wrote:

Hmmmmmmmmmm.....I did not get my pack yet, but I am working through Dr. Massey as my main doctor through New Orleans.  I think we are waiting for insurance to come thru first. But..I have a date set of Sept 9th for surgery..Stage 1. Once I am confirmed (trust me..I check my email constantly lol) I will let you ladies know!!  Trishia- where are u staying at before and after surg?  What is the Fairway?/ Didnt know they have more tha one facilitiy.....

Beverly...sounds like all is ago for you, too! Woo hoo congrats....Is the drs in network or out for u?

Jul 3, 2009 03:37 PM Springtime wrote:

Lee, I don't know them, but I am sure others out there will. I believe I heard that Dr. Allen was moving to New Orleans? He is (I've heard) one of the pioneers of the DIEP and even trained the two main guys at the NOLA clinic (Center for Restorative Breast Surgery). Maybe start a new topic under reconstruction?? I've seen that work sometimes. Hey, you are in Charlotte! I am in Raleigh! Howdy, Neighbor!!! :)  Would you consider going to New Orleans? I knew a lady from Charlotte who went to NOLA when I was there in Dec for bilateral mastectomy, and there were direct flights!!!!

Trishia, you were at St Charles the first time but can't go back for Stage 2? Fill me in on that. Did your insurance change? (Makes me wonder if I will be somewhere else in Dec for Stage 2!!) I have another friend doing the GAP there in Aug sometime, and I will try to find out what hospital she's going to be at. It might be Fairway... They have been hunting trying to find a place in network for her...

Warrior, the Surgeons are in network, and I wonder now if the St. Charles Clinic is too, I have CIGNA. I am sure at some point I will find out...

Let's keep in touch! 

Spring / Beverly

Jul 3, 2009 05:56 PM althea wrote:

Hi Springtime,

So, too little belly fat is a problem?  Dang, can't you just eat a whole bunch of cookies and ice cream?  And what's this about a new clinic?  I had my surgery at Omega hospital.  Even though I was scared to pieces to have surgery, the medical experience was the best ever.  I've never even heard of Fairway, but I also had my first surgery before Katrina.

I stayed at Hotel Montelione and also the Homewood Suites.  Montelione was very accommodating and comfortable.  I was there for my stage 2, which is just an overnight stay at the hospital.  My friend and I were allowed to check out, store our luggage in their storeroom, and then check back in afterwards, saving one night of hotel fees.  People at the homewood weren't nearly as friendly, and their free food was barely edible imo.  But, I was fresh out of chemo at the time, and anything buffet style was cause for paranoia for me.  Homewood is just up the street from Mother's, however, and their etouffe is divine.  

Jul 5, 2009 11:25 AM SandyinSoCal wrote:

The NOLA doctors use various hospitals, dependent upon your insurance coverage.  Fairway is across the lake (Pontchartrain) and I heard that Dr. Sullivan likes using it rather than Ochsner because he lives nearby.  Ochsner Baptist is also utilized--it's about 10-15 minutes from the Center.   St. Charles is their own new hospital attached to the Center.  Having it there is so convenient, for us and for them.  I had my pre-op appointment at the hospital (with the anesthesiologist and billing) and then walked over to the clinic for the markings with Dr. D. 

I posted photos taken during the grand opening of the beautiful new hospital on the FORCE board:

www.facingourrisk.org/messageb...

Jul 6, 2009 11:36 AM, edited Jul 6, 2009 11:39 AM by Springtime

Hi All,

I will be in New Orleans: Arriving Tuesday 9/1 and leaving  Friday 9/11. Jennifer, I will be there when you do your consult. Actually, I will be having THE big surgery on the 3rd, but will be there the days prior. We should plan to meet up!  We can exchange phone numbers as we get closer...

Warrior, we will be in the hospital at the same time!!! (I will be at St Charles Hospital/Clinic). Do you know yet which hospital you will be using? Perhaps not if you are still awaiting insurance approval stuff. My surgury is just the day before yours. I think we are having the same "complicated" procedure (Stacked DIEP/lumbar? both belly and butt?)  I hope I did not fly home too soon. :O   Hopefully we will meet up... :)

Sandy, thanks for posting those pics of the new hospital at St Charles! Makes me slightly less apprehensive about the big surgery. <<gulp>> I know I need to do this, and I will feel great once it is over. I have no doubt I am with the best doctors and practice. I know it will be a great results and worth it. I just get so anxious leading up to it.... I have to relax!!!!! Yoga this week!!! LOL....

Althea, YES, too little BELLY FAT!!! If you saw my belly fat, well it is there, just too high up!! I hope it all gets liposuctioned out at some point. And cant' JUST to GAP as my butt would be "too flat". I guess I have too little butt fat in the right places too! I think my fat is just not where it is supposed to be!!! Stooopid fat!!! :) :) :) :) :)  I was at Omega in Dec, and it was the best experience I've ever had in a hospital!!! 

Althea, was the Montelione as spacious in your room area as the Homewood? I liked having the suite. where husband could watch TV in another room, kitchen ,etc. ... Just wondering what Montelione was like by comparison. 

Jennifer, I stayed at Hope lodge a few nights prior to my surgery in Dec. It was okay, sort of like a regular  hotel room. Very neat and clean as a pin. But the neighborhood had nothing around to walk to, so it was like you really needed a car, but we didn't have one. We did find a greasy spoon to walk to. Also, you can't have food in your room. I just thought that might be hard after surgery - always going down to the kitchen area to eat. But it is a very economical option!!! Nothing like free.... 

Spring. / Beverly

Jul 6, 2009 11:53 AM Springtime wrote:

Hi Warrior,

You won't believe this, but 12 years ago I had breast reduction! And the rads. But I don't have the umbilical hernia. LOL!!! You win!! I am worried now I am not staying long enough. OH well!I will be glad to be home, and will save some good pain killer for the day of the flight home... (!!!)

Yes, I am doing BOTH belly and butt (Celeste called it a "Stacked DIEP/Lumbar" (lumbar meaning butt) . I hope you are also at the St. Charles Surgical Hospital... We can ask to be next door neighbors and moan and groan in harmony.... :)  Let me know when you find out what hospital you are at... We can at least consult by cell phone and compare progress. I can tell you what you're in for that day, as I'll be a day ahead! LOL!!!

Dr. DellaCroce is my primary and I am not sure who will be the other surgeon. I will ask next time I call or talk to them down there.

We did make room reservations already. Pre surgery, we'll be at the Montelione which is right in the French Quarter and our own Althea, above, highly recommends. After surgery, we'll be at the Homewood Suites. I was there last time and liked having the suite and space. 

Beverly

Jul 7, 2009 11:34 AM plainjane64 wrote:

Hi Girls!

Beverly,

I am consulting AUG 3rd and won't go back until SEPT 20th.  I had to break up my summer somehow! and just need my FMLA/surgery time off to begin mid/late sept....please no hurricanes.....I must find out who is the patron saint of bad weather/ hurricanes...LOL.

Thanks also for the info about hope lodge....I heard someone else mention that about no food in the rooms.....hmmm.  We shall see!  I think I read someone else who did the same as you...stayed before surg then moved after....Good info too re: needing a car.  Ya know driving isn't out of the question from where I am... yet the 1.5 hr flight is so much more appealing esp when they're being so awesome about transportation to and fro wherever.  I know all will happen sooner than I think so planning is good. September seemed an eternity away last march and april.  I will keep an open mind re: the stay- but yes, free is a great selling point!

Well, gosh I will no doubt be keeping up w/ you guys and I continue feeling more confident, esp since we all had the radiation offense.  Looking for my packet any day now.  Hope to have all in my hands when I visit my local BS next week to f/u on a wound problem-seroma/swelling-now improved  from several wks ago next monday.  I think she'll have no problems ordering all the preop stuff Celeste said would need to be done in the 2 wks before.

Cheers!

jennifer, aka plainjane

Jul 7, 2009 04:19 PM abbadoodles wrote:

Hey, I used to be a Hope Lodge volunteer!  Nice to see them mentioned here.

As Anne says, there is usually a large, communal kitchen with multiple refrigerators to match the size of the facility.  No one cooks for you.  Most people staying there bring family members who do their cooking.

The Hope Lodge I volunteered at had no "paid" employees; all of us were volunteers.  We did help clean up in the kitchen, changed the beds, lent an ear, that sort of thing.  Oh, yes, vaccuuming, too. 

Jul 7, 2009 05:04 PM Nordy wrote:

I have a question for anyone who DID stay at the Hope Lodge in New Orleans. I understand you are responsible for your own food, which is fine, but if you stay there and have not rented a car, how do you get access to a grocery store? Does the hope lodge have a shuttle service or do you just call a cab to get you places? How about if you want to go into the French Quarter for the afternoon? Cab or shuttle? We are headed there next month and as it stands are staying at the Hope Lodge both before and after surgery (need to cut costs as I have to fly my MIL up to help my SIL w/my kids). Thanks!