NOLA in September?
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Marcia-I grew up in Gulfport! All this oil makes me so sad...
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Have a good weekend everyone! ..I am off to French Lick Resort and Casino for a little adult fun....
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Welcome TedWilliams.
Nordy, I just booked my flight for October. I am flying in Friday AM and leaving on Wednesday AM. Cant wait to see everyone. I would love to volunteer at the Hope Lodge Just let me know what I need to do. Where is everyone staying for the October trip. I am traveling by myself .
My sister went for her biopsy on Tuesday and she has to go back on the 7th . She has not got the results yet but on her appt on the 7th they booked her a reg appt and then one for the "treatment room" Which is where they give the chemo. She is going to Sloan Memorial Cancer Center.
Minnesota How have you been I just love reading your posts. Hope all is well.
Marcia Are you going to be in NOLA in October. I cant wait to see people when I am not all drugged up LOL
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Wow everyone is chatty when I am not here.
Hotbutt thanks for the laugh I was thinking Pam had a problem (just kidding).
Trishia you know that I do not have a problem sticking up for Nola. I have been known to say things back such as "as someone fresh out of the mecka it is that good" or something like that. I don't flame people about my choice BUT I Will tell you how I made my decision.
So I am beginning to think that I maybe seeing Dr S for a tweak and a nipple before Oct. Now I just need to see my options.0 -
Happy 4th everyone!
Three years ago I had a party on the 4th and it was 5 days after I had been diagnosed. Everyone was walking on eggsheels with me all night, then at the end of the night they just hugged me and cried. I'm happy to say I'm having another party tomorrow night and the same gang will be here to celebrate the last 3 years being OVER. They all know how overjoyed I am about my NOLA experience because they have been on the journey with me and heard about the other disasters! I am so happy to know all of you and be able to share this success with you too.
It's been almost 6 weeks for me and although I'm feeling good, I still have a LOT of swelling to go down. I've graduated to a Spanx style compression and it is more comfy even though sleeping really isn't! How long did the rest of you who had lipo at stage 2 wear your compression for?
Oh, one more thing....I know I've said it before, but just to remind those who are going for stage 2 make a page for the book and add it when you go; we want to fill that book with our love and appreciation
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Sallym - Thanks! I've been feeling really good - have my energy back. For me, I have found that the recommended minimum of 3 months between stages 1 & 2 is just not enough. I dragged myself down there last time around and really should have waited another month. This time, I waited, and I'm really glad I did, as I would not have had my strength back yet. Now I do!
Re: the negative NOLA posts, I'm another one who has taken a long break from the FORCE website for the same reasons you all have. So much animosity directed at positive NOLA talk. I just got sick of it. And then when it shows up on bc.org, too... Frustrating! I guess I understand the dynamics behind the problem, but it gets really tiresome to have to deal with it over and over again. The idea that the recon board is "slanted" toward NOLA is so stupid! Anyone can come on and rave about their doctors - more power to them - no one is stopping them!
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Happy Independence Day to all!
May we all enjoy contuined independence! Independence in our health, happy in our independence, and independent in our ability to make and express our own thoughts, opinions and decisions.
4th of July love to all!
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Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way about nola backlash. I wish that other patients of other PS would post fantastic results and pictures! That would have helped me so much when I was researching. But oh well, I'm beyond satisfied with my drs and my choices.
I leave for stage 2 in 9 freakin days! I'm still waiting to hear back from NOLA about the tattoos. Dr S has been on vacation and gets back Tues so I will find out around then I guess. Getting super excited, not so much nervous but more anxious for it to be here.
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I have tried twice to write this post. Each time, I get close to being finished with it, I accidentally delete the whole thing. I hate it when that happens!
Here I go again. I am 4 days post-op from my bilateral MX with DIEP flap reconstruction (nipple sparing). Everyone at NOLA was wonderful!! They all went above & beyond what I had expected! My surgery lasted 10 hours including recovery. I couldn't believe how much my natural new breasts looked! 3 hours after getting back to my room, one of the nurses noticed some reddness & swelling of one of my breasts. Within a few minutes I was back in the OR to open up the breast & fix the bleed. Fortunately the veins & arteries were still fine. The bleeding was on the inside of the skin envelope. My poor husband had to wait 7 hours for me that time. He was so wonderful & supportive through erverything.
If I can pass along anything to someone facing this surgery, it would be "Get your quadracepts in shape first. You are going to need them post-op
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I have gone back a few pages & haven't seen a post re:the "Binder" that must be worn after the DIEP surgery. Maybe its because I am so short waisted, but any suggestions on what to do about it rubbing on the belly incision or the breast incisions? The telfa pads aren't thick enough to cushion.
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Mauicarol, congratulations on being 4 days post op! I had the exact same procedure at NOLA in February, so I can tell you that the time goes by fast and before you know it you'll be going back for stage 2!
I am short-waisted and had a problem with the binder after stage 1 and also the dom outfit after stage 2. For stage 1 I just had to pull the binder lower than normal. For stage 2 I had to leave the top hook open and unzip the sides (you'll see what I mean when you get the dom outfit after stage 2). Yeah, you definitely don't want that binder rubbing on any of the incisions. Oh, for the belly incision, I just wore cotton underwear that covered everything then put the ab pads in there, then the binder. Lots of padding, that's the key.
Good luck!
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Melinda...9 days! That is exciting. I hope you can get your tattoos, but if not, it's another good reason to make another trip to NOLA later.
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Mauicarol,
I am short waisted also. I cut the top off the binder. I rolled it down where it was comfortable and then just wacked it off. The alteration made it bearable.
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Thanks for the suggestions, BettyeE & HelloFromCT. HelloFromCT, what do they do at stage 2 that makes the dom outfit necessary?
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Mauicarol,
Congrats on Stage 1! Isn't the hospital/docs/center wonderful! It's amazing.
I'm long-waisted and still have to avoid being "bonked" in the breasts by the dom. For the binder, it didn't give me trouble, but I did angle the sides down when putting it on. For what it's worth, I had my stage 2 about 10 days ago. What I had done: breast reduction and lift, lipo of back, hips and thighs, plication, ab incision moved lower, small seromas behind old one removed, dog ears fixed. Had four drains, two breast that came out at post op, two lower-one out last Friday, one out soon. I'm guessing the dom is for the lipo swelling, ab, and plication most of all.
Keep healing well!
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I'm finding myself so thankful this morning...a few weeks ago, I agreed to share two of my three weekly workouts with another woman and it turns out that she is a nurse who mentors cancer patients. She knows my original surgeon and heard from a patient this morning who had bilateral DIEP with him a few days ago and is losing both flaps. She had three surgeries in three days, and now faces another to remove the flaps---such sad news. My left flap had venous congestion before it was transplanted and I've always wondered about the protocol surrounding that situation.
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Sandy, that is just terrible!!!! Imagine losing 2 flaps! OMG. I am glad you got away from that doc with your life and your flaps in-tact!!!!
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I'm so sad to hear of someone losing 2 flaps. Absolute heartbreak.
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I just hope that the surgeon has developed more compassion for his patients with complications since I last saw him.
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Did you ever file a complaint against this person? He obviously misrepresents himself. It would be nice if he could be stopped from putting others through this unnecessary trauma.
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Hi ladies,
I had my surgery in 05 and I still thank my lucky stars for this forum and for the good doctors in NOLA. This is where I learned about diep and NOLA. I am forever grateful for the support I found here and for the amazing doctors and their entire team who provided me with the best medical experience of my life. I am sooo glad I travelled to get my surgery. I was so terrified of surgery, and yet that turned out to be the best part of all my treatment.
It sounds like some things have changed. Plication?? I don't even know what that is. I thought it was a typo!
It sounds like the center is continuing to provide stellar results with the gifted hands of the surgeons and the team who reduces stress as much as possible. My local doctors scared me half to death when I said I wanted surgery in New Orleans, so much so that I made an extra trip in advance just for a consult. In hindsight, leaving town was the smartest thing I could've done! I don't know why my local doctors acted the way they did, but it caused me so much stress, I'm surprised I didn't erupt in shingles from head to toe. I suspect they're arrogant dullards who have nothing to be arrogant about.
For anyone hemming and hawing over cost, I can only suggest that you tally in the possibility of additional surgeries from whoever does your surgery locally. That's going to cost more in dollars and there's no way to even put a price on how much you pay physically for a do-over. That's part of why I wanted a diep. The track record for success at the center was stellar, and from what I gather, it still is 5 years later.
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So, what is plication exactly?
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Hi everyone,
Surgery is coming up.....
Where do you recommend I stay as far as hotels go?? How did you get comfortable after surgery?? What hotels do you think are very clean? Which ones have a recliner??? Which were quiet???
What should I pack? How did you keep from getting too nervous?? I just keep thinking once this is done, it is soooo done!!! YIKES.
I had a bit of a wake up call recently, and I am ready to do this thing, just nervous and running out of time. Need to book a hotel. Did anyone drive and is that okay after a hip flap or diep procedure? I am 6 hours away!!
I am soo stressed as I still don't know exactly the procedure I want.....decisions, decisions!!!
BRCA1+---praying this is prophylactic!!!!
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Hi Oddball,
I'll tell you about my experience, and I'm sure some others will chime in to give you the range of what to expect. I had bilateral Hip Flap.
I have only stayed at Chateau Bourbon in the French Quarter. It was clean, nice - I was happy with it. I picked it mainly because it was very affordable but I've noticed their rates have gone up since I stayed there in March. I was in a friend's condo after surgery and I didn't need a recliner. I was able to sit in regular chairs with a pillow or two behind me. I slept just fine in bed with extra pillows to prop me up behind my back and under my legs.
I was able to drive the day I got home from my surgery (exactly one week post-op) but you wouldn't want to drive yourself home for six hours. You should be fine as a passenger in the car for that length of trip after surgery, provided you plan in some time to stop and take breaks.
You are going to do great with either procedure, and you can always talk it through with your doc during your pre-op. They'll help you make the right decision for you.
Lastly - some good advice I got from HoltBolt that helped my tremendously: Think about everything that you would like for your breasts and bring all of those requests/questions in writing to your pre-op (e.g. what size you want to end up with, what you like or would like to change about your current breasts, etc.) It will serve you well to make sure your doctor knows exactly what you're hoping for.
Good luck - you're in good hands!
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Hi KC! Yes, I wrote a detailed letter to the hospital where my stage I DIEP was performed, and they actually instituted a new policy that they walk the ICU wing every day now, checking that each patient has sequential compression devices on their legs, (used to help prevent blood clots and pretty much standard of care for all surgical patients these days), and in use while they are in bed. I did not have them after my 14 hour surgery, and although my sister even asked my plastic surgeon the day after my surgery to make sure someone brought them to me, no one ever did. He forgot to order them, and forgot again after she asked him. She finally retrieved them and put them on me herself (she's a nurse at a hospital about an hour away). That was just one of many issues, and the hospital eventually conducted a peer review of my surgeon. The chief of medical staff encouraged me to file a complaint with the state medical board, and I finally decided to do so a couple of months ago after hearing about another patient having problems with him. And now this lady....it makes me sick to my stomach to think of him.
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Hi Oddball- Alot of us liked the Homewood Suites after stage 1. It has a bedroom with a Kitchenette/sitting room. Which is great for after surgery. the Bathroom is Nice & big with a dressign area...Which is a great place for Drain care, etc.
They also serve a small breakfast & dinner Mon- Thursday. you can eat downstairs or bring a Plate up to your room.
It was pretty quiet. Although the AC was a Bit Noisy.
I was pretty comfortible sitting on their couch or chair with a pillow behind my back. Sleeping in the bed wasnt as easy. After the 1st night of tryign to sleep propt up...I ended up sleeing a little flatter & that worked better for me...I think you just need to try different things with pillows & see what works for you.
Several of us stayed at a different hotel before surgery. I stayed at the Monteleone- which was very nice. for Stage 2 I stayed at the Clarion, not as nice- but a great price for Hospital Patients.
A 6 hour drive is doable. You will want to make several stops 3-5 To stretch & move.
When is your date?
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Sweating....ugh
Has anyone noticed after their flap surgery that thier chest sweats more? Mine does & its gross & annoying. Im not just talking about under boob & cleavage sweat...but my Upper chest near my collar bone also is covered with perspirtation if It is the least bit hot. I know I never did this before..Even dh has noticed it when my neck is dripping!
I find my underarms sweat more too.
Anyone else? I sure hope this goes away!
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Auuggh! I just talked to Celeste and she told me that I CAN get tattoos (which I was so sure of!) But I have to get them on a Tues or Thursday and they won't do them on the day of surgery which is Thursday. I can't stay until TUes- I already have my tickets and everything to come home on Sunday
I'm so bummed! I won't be able to afford going back to NOLA for that tattoos so I will have to find someone around here and I'm worried about their quality of work. It almost makes me just want to go completely without.
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Sorry to hear that Melinda,
I have been waiting to hear if I can do Tattoos with my surgery for 8 weeks now....i still have no answer
What about doing the tattoos in Donns Shop on Friday...it will cost you- as Insurance wont cover it there (im pretty sure) but it woudl save you a trip & hotel...And at home you may have to pay anyway...
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Oddball, we always stay at the Hilton Homewood Suites. Lots of room, many TVs, free food! Close enough to walk to the French Quarter.
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