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NOLA in September?

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Comments

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited February 2010

    Oh Pam!!! Do the ultrasound. I hope it is just fluid, did you call NOLA? That just sounds like a call is warranted! Call back if they are not getting back to you. Send email. I find the "all out" approach works best.

  • Cat1
    Cat1 Member Posts: 128
    edited February 2010

    Pam,  hope they figure it out soon and you get some relief! 

  • LizR
    LizR Member Posts: 26
    edited February 2010

    Sandy:  I concur with ccbaby - submit your form as soon as possible.  I just heard back from Dr. M's office and the room may not be confirmed until the week you are due to arrive.  The office encouraged me to follow up directly with Hope Lodge for status.  Did you see the virtual tour of the Charleston Hope Lodge on the internet - it appears to be a beautiful facility. Good luck!

  • Brenda26
    Brenda26 Member Posts: 25
    edited February 2010

    If you would please add my stage 2 date of April 30 to the list that would be great.  So far everything is going good.  Just seems to feel like I am very swollen under my arms but I am just waiting to see how the girls look after swelling goes away. 

  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 1,106
    edited February 2010

    Pam - I am sorry to hear that you are having so much pain. I hope that your local md can help provide some answers. Hang in there!!!

    Margit - You too! And I think a scooter is perfect for Vegas. Maybe you can take out a few of the guys handing out the cards for the "escort" services. They drove me nuts... we were there with my kids and they STILL gave them to my husband!

    Gin - yet another trip to NOLA! My goodness - I hope they get you fixed up quickly and that you are feeling well enough to resume your chemo. Heaven knows that is hard enough to get through without the other complications! Hang in there!!!!

    Sara - it was nice to see you on there and hope you are feeling well! Are you gearing up for stage 2??? 

    Warrior - I hear you on the "over 40" club... what the heck? It is like overnight I suddenly feel old... Maybe the lack of hormones doesn't help with that, but still! 

  • Warrior517
    Warrior517 Member Posts: 240
    edited February 2010

    Nordy..I am still premenopausal. So, whats my excuse? lol

    Had my Onco appt today. He had the medical records from my ER trip on Christmas day..(ovarian cyst burst) It showed I was anemic. He took more blood today and I am still anemic so I am now adding Iron to my many pills.  Dr. M wants to wait before I schedule Stage 3 to make sure my levels are good. I completed chemo a year and a half ago. I don't think my iron levels have ever caught up. Is this normal after chemo? Has anyone else checked their hemoglobin levels??

    Spring..No article yet. I was interviewed by someone from the Tennesseeian the other day, too. I will keep you posted..xo

  • SandyinSoCal
    SandyinSoCal Member Posts: 559
    edited February 2010

    I am so far behind on this thread that I feel rather lost!   The Saints win was so exciting---so happy for them!  If you want to see (and hear) a bit of the party that's happening on Bourbon St., check out this live webcam:  http://www.earthcam.com/usa/louisiana/neworleans/bourbonstreet/?cam=catsmeow2

  • CharlestonGirl
    CharlestonGirl Member Posts: 41
    edited February 2010

    For you ladies considering Hope Lodge in Charleston - it is absolutely gorgeous on the outside. And across the street from the hospitals. Within walking distance to the heart of downtown (but not right after you've had stage 1 surgery). I'm no Travelocity but I'd be happy to check out the inside for anyone considering it. We don't have beignets but we bennie wafers and lots of good coffee here!

    Anyone not considering Hope Loge, I can send you a list of the better hotels around here, restaurants, things to do, etc. Just PM me.

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited February 2010

    Warrior, good, I never called back the Tennessian guy!! You have turned into the Tamox Lady! Glad you did call him.

    My counts were still low, both white and red, at the 1 year mark. I am hoping they go back up. I think it is all the surgeries, as I tracked and they were almost normal before each surgery, and then dipped a bit after. I think it will just take time for our bodies to catch up.

    What is stage 3? Tattoos? Let me know when you are going, are you going to NOLA?

    Brenda, I will add you. But I am not sure I know where and who, but you can tell me later !!!

    Charleston, glad to hear it is all wonderful! Yay! 

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited February 2010

    Oh I just thought of this piece of packing information.  If you are staying at Hope Lodge in NOLA bring a hair dryer.  Do not get caught looking like I did....lol......It was a mad rush for me trying to get rid of my granny fro do..........

  • BettyeE
    BettyeE Member Posts: 136
    edited February 2010

    Hello Ladies,

    I am finally home from party town!  New Orleans is a crazy place anytime, but boy super bowl winning weekend was wild.  I was on 15th floor of The W hotel.  It rocked all weekend.  Then as we were leaving they were gearing up for another round with the big parade.  It is so good to be home. 

    I have made it much better than I ever thought I would.  I woke up and have no pain on my left side.  I would have had the surgery for this alone.  I pray it will not come back.   Now I have twin girls and a flat tummy too.  I am more that excited.

    Thanks to everybody on this thread.  I read all the posts everyday.  I just could not post from my iphone. 

    Bettye

  • bennetts1
    bennetts1 Member Posts: 44
    edited February 2010

    Thanks for all the tips for Stage 1 you are giving!  Even though I am not going until May,  I have a notebook that I am writing all the tips down in so I won't have to go and re-read the entire thread!  You ladies are wonderful!

    Sandy

  • sarabhealed
    sarabhealed Member Posts: 64
    edited February 2010

    Thanks for the well wishes Nordy...

    I fly out February 28th and I am more than ready for surgery...my iron is a little low but has been coming up...I've been taking iron but I want to stop at least a week out because it's constipating and as you all know that's the last thing we need going in to surgery. Physical Therapy has helped immensely with the pain--I still can't sleep on my left side, but if I do my stretches I'm good for the day! (Keep up with the simple stretches if you can Pam--I'm glad you are getting the ultrasound and am so sorry you hurt!)

    I'm counting on all of you for moral support, prayers and positive energy on March 2--I'm going into this with a good attitude and expect great results--(but that's what I thought this summer...I don't even want to entertain the notion that I could have another flap fail...) I'm visualizing posting you all after surgery with a great report about my beautiful breasts, tummy and butt!

    Sara

  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 612
    edited February 2010

    As of last November, the Hope Lodge in Charleston was no longer available to us getting surgery. Maybe that's different now, so I don't really know. They stay so full with people receiving active treatments that there's been no room for breast recon patients. It is a beautiful facility, though, with an amazing staff.

    Anne

  • LizR
    LizR Member Posts: 26
    edited February 2010

    Thanks for the heads up, Anne.  Like Sandy, I am also trying to get into Hope Lodge (we were encouraged to send in our applications but I was informed that we may not hear back until the last week).  Getting very excited - 8 weeks from today I will be in Charleston!  Liz

  • Trishia
    Trishia Member Posts: 361
    edited February 2010

    We stayed at the Avenue Plaza Hotel right up the street from the St. Charles. We had a one bedroom suite with a kitchen.  It was awesome.  We paid $107.14 a night.  I called them directly and asked them for their best rate.

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited February 2010

    2Tzus, you can also ask Katie at the center for help. Sometimes she can call her contacts, etc. 

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited February 2010

    Did anyone have sore hips from the on-Q ball ??  I have noticed that both areas seem really bruised.  I would probable be better if I was able to walk more.  I have been stuck in our house for 5 days now and I am going crazy......  I just want to get out and walk....  I am going to do pictures again tomorrow so I can see the difference and how things have changed. 

  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 503
    edited February 2010
    Jamie...I had soreness on my hip, but it was coming from the drain site when the drain was still in, not from where the pain ball was. The soreness went away a couple of days after we removed the drain. Do you still have your drains?
  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited February 2010

    I do still have both of my drains :(  I will at least have them for another 6 days but I think it will be longer.  My hip pain is where the On-Q went in but I do have pain at the drain site to.  I am loading it up with neosporin with pain relief and it is making it easier.  I need to walk when I was walking a lot I felt sooo much better but our roads are closed.  My house is not very large so I stuck walking around my house...:(  All I keep telling myself is it is all for a good cause.....  I love my new girls :)

    Christy~ Did you glue all come of ??

  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 503
    edited February 2010

    I still have some glue!! I think it is going to stick on there forever! maybe Dr S will get it off when he does my stage 2...

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited February 2010

    I was looking at mine tonight thinking is this stuff ever going to come off ???  It's amazing you can't see it at first and then bam it's all over the place..  I can't wait to hear how your stage 2 goes.  I am glad to hear we can ask for them to get rid of the lovely thighs....While I seem to be smaller my lower butt looks bigger now which it didn't need any help with that....

  • Soccermom4force
    Soccermom4force Member Posts: 311
    edited February 2010

    Sarah,

      I know you dont know me but I have been following your journey. I just have to believe that this time it will be different andyou will have the gorgeous outcome you deserve!

     Gentle hugs,Marcia

  • Trishia
    Trishia Member Posts: 361
    edited February 2010

    Sarah~We will all be surrounding you with love and light.  You are going to do great.

  • wawo42
    wawo42 Member Posts: 7
    edited February 2010

    2tzus- I would call Avenue Plaza Resort too.  We stayed there after stage 1 and they were very nice.  We asked for another chair in the room and it was there when I got out of the hospital.  My husband stayed there and walked every morning and night while I was in the hospital. It is only 3 or 4 blocks from the hospital.

    I have stage 2 on March 4 with Dr. D and I am very excited.  I wasn't going to have stage 3 down there but now I want to come back for it when it is time. I feel like I miss out on all that New Orleans has. 

    Did anyone have the tummy tuck at stage 2?  If you did, did you have a post op appt?  Right now I am not staying for the post op appt. and didn't know if I need to change my plans.

  • Cat1
    Cat1 Member Posts: 128
    edited February 2010

    Jaimieh - I asked the Hope Lodge just yesterday about hair dryer and they said they would put one in my room.  Did St Charles hospital provide hair dryers in the rooms?  Trying to see what I do and don't have to take with me. 

    Bennetts - I'm doing the same thing making notes about what I need to take with me.  The time seems to be closing in fast! 

    Sara - Keeping you in my thoughts with the best results this time.  You'll look awesome!  Getting a hot new body! 

  • Soccermom4force
    Soccermom4force Member Posts: 311
    edited February 2010

    Hope Lodge Ladies,

     if you staying there post op remember to ask for a shower chair (makes a HUGE difference) also remember to stock up the cabinets and refrigerator space they give you with LOADS of fluids.I loved my SMART WATER and drinks like this for their added electrolytes and B vitamins, also instant oatmeal pudding and crackers to take with meds~...something for your tummies (Senokot,Milk of Magnesia ,Smooth Move Tea etc.) to keep things moving along...tee hee . I found loose tank top are nice to provide a bit of softness inder the abdominal binder should you have one. COFFEE is available and if you are coffee drinker have a bit... I had such a headache after my 12 hour surgery w no caffeine.As soon as I had a 1/2 cp. I felt so much better1

      Chapstick (a couple) hard candies,travel size mouth wash...shower cap (for when I didnt want to wet my hair) and maybe your fav body lotion to smooth on your arms at night,

    gentle hugs Marcia Smile

  • swastew
    swastew Member Posts: 110
    edited February 2010

     If you are having your surgery at Fairway, you will need to take a robe, as they do not provide them....(walking the halls with your backside showing is not fun!)

    I was a Target yesterday and bought a few more of their oh-so-soft maternity t-shirts - I love the length of them for covering the drain bag! They are on sale for $10.00!

    I am 2 weeks post op and my wardrobe consists of yoga pants, the t-shirts, and a light soft jacket (the weather is beautiful in AZ!) - at night I have the "dom" girdle - a tank top- and a pair of running shorts over the girdle (this way the tubes stay secure and I don't pull on them in my sleep).

    Best of luck to those of you that are coming up - don't let your nerves get to you - You are in the best of hands!!!

    xoxo

    LouAnn

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited February 2010

    Cat~ I wished I would have known that. 

    Louann~ JEALOUS of your weather....

    Marcia~ I am seconding the make sure you take colace, milk of magnesia, and anything to make you go.  I thought I was fine but got fooled.......

    Has anyone heard from bayyyore ?????

  • Cat1
    Cat1 Member Posts: 128
    edited February 2010

    Did they provide hair dryers at St. Charles? 

    What kind of pain meds did Dr. D or S send you home with?  I've still got some pain pills left from my MX and wondered if I could us those instead of getting a new prescription.

    I've got a big bottle of milk of magnesia left over from chemo that I'm going to take.  I've heard enough so that hopefully I can make certain I don't have that problem.   All the info is great!  Keep it coming!

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