NOLA in September?
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Be gentle with yourself Sping--it does indeed get better! I basically watched movies, slept, was read to and allowed my husband to pamper me on my post-operative days in New Orleans. I had all of these French Quarter plans that went out the window--showering and short walks was about all of the exercise I could handle until I got home.
Glad the bowels are moving--for those still in the hospital, I made sure they gave me a suppository before I left when things hadn't moved along yet. Excuse me for being frank, but I also gave it a gentle self-assist using a pair of medical gloves--not for everyone, but it didn't take much and it sure helped having gone before discharge!
I'm happy to report that I had a great day today--I went to the helper Doctor and he got rid of all of my extraneous stitches that hadn't dissolved and all of the gunky, bloody glue that hadn't yet fallen off and I l feel and look like a new woman with cocoa butter slathered on...Next goal: getting rid of the last two drains! I also have my phase II scheduled for NOLA on November 10 th, so I'll let you December gals know how it goes. It's bound to be smoother than phase 1!
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Hi Happy--
Hang in there--I hadn't read your message before I posted--YES--I agree about week 2 and three and YES it does get better even when things seem to go backward at times. I thought I was mentally prepared for this, but recovery was slower and the fatigue was greater than I thought it would be...I am now 4 and 5 weeks post the initial surgeries-- and doing much better. However, I am still not back to normal and am needing to cultivate the patience to know that taking it slow is what I need to be doing right now. It helps me to note and be grateful for all of the (small) signs of progress and realize how far I've come. It can get depressing if I let myself think it will NEVER be better-or--"what the heck was I thinking letting anyone do something this drastic to my body"--but I can tell you it will get better and I keep visualizing how good things will be at 6 months to a year out!
Saying an extra prayer for you...
Sara
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Hi girls, wanted to report back in that I'm CLEAN! Yes, that's right...FINAL mammo and breast MRI- check check! DONE DoNE, DONE! I'm framing the NEGATIVE result and will NOT miss this entire DAY spent every 6 mos to 1 year and the anxiety that goes w/ it! NO longer necesary!
OMG...I am so happy because NOW I can really get excited about all ths!!!!! CXR,EKG, bloodwork done, need to fax a couple things to Katie and get my med leave/FMLA papers back, work 4 or 5 more days and I'm there!
Now, forgive me fo being so blunt..........I am FOS(full of s*&t) and am very regular like at least 2 daily ...but I'm startng to wonder if I should anticipate a problem...Think I'll wait til I get there and act if appropriate...Honestly even w/ all the vitamins and effexor...no issues....but I drink lotsa water and eat lots of veggies....but so do you all. Ok, think I'll just stay in tune and medicate as needed.
Spring, warrior, you sound great!
Ginnie and Trishia, you're going to do famously!
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Hi Plainjane. Glad to hear that your results came back good! Congrats! I am going through that stuff now, as my double mx and DIEP is scheduled for October 9. I'm curious, how long should I have my doctor keep me out of work. Is 8 weeks enough time? I heard some people need about 10 weeks?
Thanks and good luck to you!
Cheryl
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Cheryl, I had surgery both DIEP and GAP (belly and butt) and they gave me 8 weeks. I think if you do one site, 6 weeks is typical. However, the more you can get, the better if you ask me.
Sara, sounds like you feel like a new woman! Getting all the "gunk" off!!! Let us know when those last drains come out, that deserves a CELEBRATION for sure....
Jenn, Congrats on being done done done wiht mammo and breast MRI's!!! I totally know how you feel, and never had a regret that I went bilateral. And LOL LOL LOL on you being FOS..... I guess some of us are FOS but have trouble getting teh S out after surgery. lol
Spring.
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Thank you Spring. My breast surgeon thought 6 weeks would be a little too soon if you work in a busy office, so she said 8 weeks is better! Hey, I'm all for it! I have the time, so why rush! I wish you a speedy recovery! Take it easy!
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First of all, everyone is wonderful here! Drs, nurses, even limo driver! Glenn, everyone's favorite driver, took us on short "tour" on the way back to Hope Lodge from dr appt today. Saw Nicholas Cage's house, among others, and he drove us thru a cemetary. Met Warrior at hospital yesterday, she IS a warrior and was just beautiful, including her new ta ta's and her flat tummy, lol Talked to Spring today, she is the greatest! Was going to go to hotel, but lots of rain, and I didnt want to drive there from Hope Lodge today. Soooo glad they changed my surgery to 7am so I don't have to go so long without food and water! Going to dinner with sis, and daughter and her boyfriend who just got in. Anesthesia dr said i could have "cocktail" and sleeping pill and think I will need both! Cant believe it is tomorrow!!
PlainJane - I loved both Dr Dellacroce and Dr Lagarde. She is very nice, but very straightforward. Answered all my questions and mde me feel very confident. Also said I was stage 1 not 2, so loved her after that! lol will let ya'll know how things are "on the other side" of surgery asap. Here goesssssssss....
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Gin, here's to Stage 1!!!! Woot!!! Thinking of you, enjoy your "cocktail"!!! LOL.
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MomsDaughter, I think you're about the only other person besides me who's had the misfortune to experience an ileus. TEN days?? OMG, I didn't wait have to wait that long, but for some odd reason my food in the hospital stayed down, but once I left, liquids were ok but food didn't stay with me. I had plenty of people tell me 'don't get constipated,' but no one ever told me what to do if it happens anyway. I'm so glad the september ladies have all this knowledge pouring into their healing. Getting so backed up is way more serious than I ever realized til I was in the middle of it all. Thankfully I was xrayed before I left NOLA and was dx'd. Hate to think what might've happened had I needed my doctors at home.
Gin, I had Glenn at least a couple of times for my driver. What a gem of a sweet man. I wonder if he knows how much he contributes to the stress free experience that makes surgery in NOLA so extraordinary.
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Gin52 you will do fine. Good luck with your surgery and speedy recovery!!!!
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Jenn,
Your Stage 2 is a week ahead of mine, and I'll be in Charleston for it. I'll be following your footsteps and looking for advice along the way!
Anne
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Hi Althea,
I'd never heard of an ileus before experiencing it, and without my nurse sister watching over me, I may have waited even longer to go to the ER, not realizing that my PS just did not care. Then to be told that they can be fatal, well, that was comforting. The doctors were amazed that I was eating full meals and keeping it all down. I had started Colace a few days pre-op, drank three cans of warm prune juice my last day in the hospital, tried everything I could possibly do myself including attempting to disimpact myself like Sara mentioned, but it was just no match for an ileus. Then to require surgical repair afterward......I put it off for a year because I was afraid of the pain that I'd heard could result, and it has failed. For now, I'm just living with the damage.
Glenn could not be more charming. I've ridden with him 7-8 times and he has taught me so much about New Orleans.
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Hello ladies!!
I'm here in NOLA typing from the Hope lodge. Got in about 9:30 pm and JUST missed Ginnie! She sent me a text that she was going to bed right as we got here. I still had paperwork to do and go over policies and procedures.
Spring, what time is your post op? My pre op is at 3. I hope we can meet up!!!!
I''m having stage 2 done on Friday so I will give you all the dirty details.
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so excited for all you girls, Gin,Tishia!
Gin, all sounds good/great! feeling that well will only help you heal faster an havea better experience..it IS important And we are SOoo fortnate this team realizes that!
Ditto on all the alumni advice here....how did I not know about Nick Cage?
Anne W When is your stage 2?
And just for clarification: FOS- sorry...I worked in the ER 8 years, and we used that very unofficial term frequenty!
Cheryl, I'm going w/ 6-8 weeks. But, I'm not going to pull my usual 'jump back in' MO........will start PT(when she tells me- to be guided back to-or in better shape than before) i had some truncal LE after rads and my LE therapist is aso a PT and wound specialist so that's my plan, of couse al lmay change too!
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Trisha, welcome to NOLA!!! Guess what, my POST-surgical appt is also at 3PM!!! TODAY. Let's find each other. I also am going to go find Ginnie's DD and her sister, they'll be waiting for her to get out of surgery, or she'll have just gotten out, etc.
Trisha, do you have my cell phone number? I will PM to you. Send me yours - I just checked and i don't have yours (at least not in my phone)!!!
Spring.
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Yikes! I have a Stage 1 Surgery date of 10/6 (delayed bilateral GAP) in Nola (which I am so thankful for). Now that the travel is booked, I'm nervous. Can anyone help with a nice bilateral Nola Gap story? Details?
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Well, the Center was *packed* this afternoon! I met Trisha, Danny, and Warrior!! Also stopped by to say hello to Ginnie's family.
Dr. D. explained about the placement of the ab incision. It all depends on where your veins and vescels are since they are hooking up the fat flap to a new blood supply. so it's different than a straight "tummy tuck" where they wouldn't need to worry about that and could always put the incision very very low. He did say he *may* be able to lower in in phase 2, so there is hope!
Phase 2 sounds so exciting! All the extra belly fat gone, and Dr. D. said I would have the butt I had at 17 years old... I saw Richard's eyebrows go up ....
Spring.
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Hi Spring,
I am having a stacked diep on September 30 with Dr. Allen in NYC. I was wondering if I could be included on this list even though not with NOLA. There isn't a list for September surgeries.
I want to thank all you girls for sharing your stories. It makes it much easier for those of us who are still waiting for our surgeries. I will be sure to pack the miralax! I had really bad constipation during chemo which caused an anal fissure and required surgery. Definitely don't want to go down that road again.
For any of you who have stayed at the Hope Lodge, do they provide enough pillows? I will be getting to NYC on the amtrak train and don't think I can bring too much luggage with me otherwise I would bring some with me.
Spring, what is a lumbar?
Patty
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Constipation, besides the MiriLAX, bring with you Fleet suppositories. The hospital will give you one, as soon as you are up and out of bed is when I ask for it. My advice - don't let a day go by without pooping! Pop one of those suppositories! This is how I do it, and by golly, this time I think I cracked the code! Patty, I also have a fissure, not a fun time when it gets rippted up down there!!
Patty, added you above. Did you know that Dr. Allen was the guy who initially taught the NOLA docs? Tis true!
We fly home tomorrow! It is an all day affair. ugh.
Spring.
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Prayers and Positive Energy to Ginnie and Trishia!! Good news...I am heading home tomorrow instead of Tuesday...bad news, I am going to miss some of you girls that I hoped to see!
I am still having some issues w/constipation. Dr. M had me drink Milk of Magnesium and I am sitting here.."waiting" now! TMI, I know! LOL But, Sandy and some of you had some serious issues w/it. I had Activia etc before surgery for weeks...sometimes these things happen, I guess. Spring also supplied me some assistance which I will do in the a.m., too!
Safe travels to those of you coming and those of you going (Spring!) I will be back in Michigan by tomorrow night and can't wait to see my kiddies! Prayers for all of us WARRIORS!! xo
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Gosh girls I know it's early...........BUT....at work we were doign the schedule for nov/dec and I may come to NO early so I can meet up w/ Nordy and spring.....don't have to be there til 12/8 but thinking maybe I'll come on the sunday before?.................Then again.............WTH? I need to get to the other side of stage 1 first...Oh yeah!
Warrior and Spring you 2 are OTD! Have safe travels and THANKS for the heads up re;miralax and suppositories.........
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Hope to hear back from someone on Gin and Trishia-all good thoughts and prayers for you today.
Melanie, you 2 road warriors be careful....haven't looked at the weather map just know there's been rain in NO and we are having downpours(much needed) this a.m.
Sheesh what I wouldn't give for one more day off between now and 9/20. Still way too much to do!
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WARRIOR! I will not get to meet you. I am so so SAD, BUT I am so glad you are going home to your babies so quickly. Take it easy.
Spring - travel safely.
Gin and Trishia - God Speed.
Praying for you ALL!
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Jen, it will be nice to meet you if you come early! Just let us know what you end up doing...
Warrior, SAFE HOME my buddy!!! We did it girl!!! Woot!
And Yes, thinking about both Ginnie who had phase 1 yesterday and Trisha who will be doing phase 2 today...
We won't be home until later tonight (connecting flights, etc). so will check back tomorrow!
Spring.
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Spring-Safe Travels, My Friend, My Surgery Warrior!! You are an Inspiration to me and all of us here!!
Mel- I KNOW I AM SAD I CAN"T MEET YOU!!!! You will be in my thoughts and prayers constantly!
Hope Gin and Trishia are doing well!
Good News...Milk of Magnesia worked this morning FINALLY..was getting worried!! lol Whew!
My flight leaves this late afternoon so hubby and I are trying to decide where eat our last NOLA meal...btw..I walked over 8 blocks yesterday!! NOT RECOMMENDED but there were no taxis around and I thought I could do it..had to stop to rest each block...but by the time we got to dinner, I was too tired to enjoy it! Take taxis..leave the walking for home! xo
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I wont be a Sept NOLA,
But will be probably a Nov NOLA! (I am just waiting for date confirmation)
No thread for Nov. yet.
But I am so Excited I just had to Share!
I had a BLM in May of 08. With Implants Sept of 08. I had Symmastia within about 6 weeks (My Implants became one )
I can not wait to look normal again & Hope my Pain from the symmastia will go away too.
Pam
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Pam, congratulations! November is a great month and the weather will be lovely. Please do follow w/ us, as most of us followed on august and I was even paying attn in July! So did you have your heart issues after your implants? Wow, interesting!.....
I spoke w/ Sally today on the phone to answer a bunch of questions, or update.....that I'm not on any new meds, etc. She was very nice.
I am just hoping I'm having an allergy flare up and not a sore throat or something else coming on.....grrr.......I take all the vitamins, wash my hands. Left a bit early tonight to come home and rest more.....This is not what I meant when I said I was hoping for more time off earlier..............we'll see....I'll call Nola monday and see my MD if the throat and ears still hurt.
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So here we are another September wkend.
Melanie will be checking back in when she gets to NO.
Bev(spring) and warrior should be home by now! yippee!
I start my class today at Univ Dallas, actually an orientation/meet your class and teachers.....It is only 1 night a week. So today I have to find a friend I can either share a book in class w/ (for the next 6-8 weeks)or find someone really good looking and hopefully single to recruit to carry books for me on thursday nights. If none of that pans out I can always play the cancer card to the teacher and manipulate another plan!
Tommorrow have a birthday party for a nephew w/ the family..............I have not seen most of them since????? Christmas. I attempted to contact a few of them at certain points and no return communication.....it's really MOST awkward! Have been practicing superficial conversation skills (which I suck at because I am painfully honest!). BUT, I'm sticking w/ my original plan.......(not sharing my plans for PBM, recon, etc sept 22...I'll tell thenm later, when I'm healed and fabulous.....they cringe at the word mastectomy, consider this extreme, and don't understand why I can't be more like my sister or another family member who has had BC 2 times, and liver ca once.."now has no hair, but she's a wonderful role model for you!" YES, one of my sisters really DID have the nerve to say that to me...I think I know what she was trying to say....BUT..puhlease!...........and god love this 'wonderful role model', who also happens to be a total lesbian...I love her and respect her and have absolutely no issues w/ HER preferences.....but I like my hair, I don't want this again and I like men....sorry, girls.......This stuff just still makes me shake my head!
My primary sources of support have always been my work friends, church and other friends and lately all my breast friends here! Because you can relate! And I Soooo appreciate that!
Oh my downpayment wet thru this am....guess it's really happening! I'm going to start packing!
have a great saturday girls!
later, xoxo,
jennifer
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Hi Jennufer,
Thanks for the welcome.
I hope your Throat & Ears are better this morning.
I found out I had a hole in my heart exactly 2 months after my bc DX. I had been trying to get a Dr to listen to my symptoms of fatigue & shortness of breath for 10 years. It took my Onco to listen & had the right test done finally.
Alot of people dont get the profalactic idea. But we have to do whats right for us.
Good to see that so many ladies are done from Aug & Sept & doing good!
I cant wait to find some other Nov NOLAs. : )
Pam
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Jennifer
We are all here for you. This is a special club that we belong to. Unless you have had to make the agonizing decision to remove a body part, others just don't understand. You will get through this and when you reach the other side you will be healthy with your future ahead of you and a nice set of TaTa's.
Spring and Warrior you gals are making terrific recoveries and thank you for all of the posting. It really does help those that are following .
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