NOLA in September?
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I love your upbeat attitude, Liz!! Glad to hear you are well. I think 2 days in a row under 30cc and the drain can come out! Call them! You must be there now, or very close! Won't it be wonderful to be drain free for the rest of the holiday season!!??
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Hotbutt - I join Anne in laughing out loud! Oh, the simple pleasures! I'm with Dr. D. Save that good donor site, just in case...
I'm so glad so many have benefitted from this thread. When all of you are on the other side of recon, be sure to hover around here and chime in when needed! I sure didn't think, when I started on here, that I'd be needing advice and support for a second recon! I think back to a year ago and all the turmoil I was in, trying to make up my mind about having the prophylactic surgery on the other side. It's been a long year, but I'm so glad I made the decision I did. And I want to thank everyone here, too. It's hard to imagine going thru all this without you all (I learned that in New Orleans). Don't know how I did it the first time. Also, I was so worried how my petite derriere would look after S-GAP. My husband and I were just marveling the other day about what an amazing job Dr. D did. Really. How did he make a whole breast (albeit not huge) out of one side of my rear end, and aside from the scar, the sides look totally the same and normal?! Not flat! Magic, I tell you! MAGIC!
Liz - So glad you've made friends with the dominatrix!
Melinda - Wow it will be so beautiful in New Orleans when you're there! I wish I could see all the Christmas decorations!!!!!
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I can't wait. My 22 year old daughter is going with me this time and I know she is just going to love it.
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So, I had my post-op visit with the amazing Dr. D. this morning. I thought I might cry. It's such a relief to be done but also knowing you are saying good-bye to such wonderful people, it's hard to say good-bye. Dr. D. did pose for a picture with me so I will try to upload it when back home. He's just such a great man, so kind and caring. I know I will try to visit at some point but if you all plan on some kind of reunion, please count me in.
He said he recommends not looking in the mirror for the first four months and that the pain from bruisingis a good thing, it means I am going to have good results. He says in the contouring stage, he gets to see what your physique will look like before your body fills it back in with fluid but give it time. I totally trust this man and besides the girls look pretty damn good!
I walked around the garden district today and took lots of artsy pictures. It was quite chilly here but the sun felt soooo good on my face. We are trying one of Dr. D.'s favorite restaurants tonight-G.W.Fins.
All in all, a great experience. Good luck to all waiting to have their surgeries and I will continue to pop in here. I look forward to meeting the "graduates" at some time. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday!
This place has been a gift and I told Dr.D that I was just wrapping my body in a big red bow for my hubby for Christmas. God Bless You Wonderful Ladies!!!0 -
Wonderful Mamaluch!
So Cindy (hottbutt) did you have the BM and get the one present off amazon??? LOL, I cracked up when I read your post.... That totally sounds like Dr. D, leaving the belly as a potential "site" just in case!!!
That is amazing, Minn, about your butt!!! Wonderful! I am so glad for you. Yes I remember the torture you went through trying to decide if it was worth it to potentially have a flat butt. Amazing. I guess they are like Felix the cat. Reaching into a "bag of tricks"!!
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Ladies, please continue to pray for Alaina. She started more chemo today and is looking into additional therapies, which may possibly mean a trip out here to L.A. soon.
There is a tentative plan to do a fundraiser for Breastoration in early to mid-October 2011, and we could plan a NOLA grads reunion to coincide, once we have things set.
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HottButt~ Thanks for the morning laugh...I hope you meet your goal yesterday.
Spring~ I am 4 days past tatoo's and they are almost healed and they look incredible. I may get them a touch darker but I love them.
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I failed both goals yesterday.... so they carried over to today so now it's TWO gifts on Amazon and one BM (and a partridge in a pear tree....) lol.
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Holtbolt - LOLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Has anyone had an aspiration??? I may need one on one of my butt cheeks. Any advice!!!0
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OMG Holtbolt, when I read your message from yesterday I was not drinking tea but eating oatmeal! Fortunately I did not have any in my mouth:) Hope you are successful today.
On a much more sober note I am so sad about Elizabeth Edwards. For some reason hearing of her worsening condition sent a bolt of fear through me like nothing I have experienced since reading my "stats" on adjuvant online last year about this time. Just need to vent this here with my BC sisters who will understand.
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Xfitgirl, I believe Nordy had numerous aspirations. She doesn't seem to be on much so you could PM her. I do remember she said it didn't hurt!
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Xfitgirl, I had to have one in my hip a few weeks ago. It did not hurt at all but, I was a little sore in that spot for a few days but nothing extreme at all. I did not look and did not realize he had even done it.
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Xfit,
I had a tiny bit aspirated up above my navel a few inches. Absolutely no pain. I'll try to get Pam on - she had quite a few inb the derriere. Don't worry, tho, it's really nothing. My advice: Don't sweat it!
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Hey Girls,
Checking in... few things I wanted to respond on that I can answer for a couple of you. As far as pushing the tubing back in... NO!!! Big fat NO!!! I did tell Dr DellaCroce what I had done (the 1st time) and at the post op he was pleased that it looked ok. He didn't say not to do it again (maybe he did and my selective hearing didn't hear that??), so I continued. But it is most definitely what ended up causing my infection, because I am SO rediculously meticulous about keeping it clean. When I told Jeanine on the phone after I was home that I had done that, she was not as easy going about it, she said NO NO NO, don't ever push it back in, even just the water getting in there is enough to cause infection!!! I guess Dr D assumed I wouldn't be stupid enough to do it again & figured it wouldn't push out again, just a one time deal and I was lucky. So, answer is NO... call center before you do anything like that. I had to learn a hard lesson, because let me tell you. I have had some bad viral infections in my life, but I have never been so sick as I was in the last 3 days!! Something very different about "bacterial" infections... they're just plain NASTY!! I have never had one? My fever took 3 days to break?!?! I ended up dragging my butt out yesterday, shaking with chills to go get a thermometer, because I was just worried about how high it was getting. At one point it was 101.5... that's pretty high for an adult, but stayed around 100.2 pretty steady. I woke up this morning sweaty and I immediately felt better, I knew my fever had broke & I was finally on the other side. Please, please, please, do what they tell you, keep it clean, don't push tubing back in. You DON'T want to get an infection like I had, those that have been there as well will agree, it's just awful!!!! I realized that some of my symptoms I was having after starting taking the Levaquin were from the Levaquin, the dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite... becoming highly suspicious?!?! LOL Seriously... I was a nut job yesterday!!
Someone asked about the Cephalaxin too, that's what I was on for the 5 weeks post-op up until the infection. Also known as Keflex, I also have a SUPER sensitive stomach and most antibiotics make me throw up (projectile vomit! lol), but I've learned to make sure to eat something solid first... that is key!! Never take it on empty stomach or something light. I did fine keeping that in mind on both so far. Thank goodness!!
The other thing I wanted to respond to was Liz's question about the aspiration. After my left breast mastectomy here at home, my surgeon pulled my drain way too early!! I was still at like 50 cc. He's an idiot. The things you learn along the way. None the less, I had to go back weekly for over a month to get that breast aspirated because it kept filling up with fluid and had no where to go, looked like I was growing another breast (which wasn't all that bad, lol). But no, it didn't hurt at all. In fact the first time I insisted they use a local, because at that point I didn't trust anything this guy said. And then realized it was completely numb, there's just no feeling in those incision sites, for quite some time. Other ladies can comment on that perhaps that are further out in their recovery than I and tell us when some of their feeliing has come back from the donor sites?? Anyone??
Just got a call from Laura to check on me and she said they are sending me out some new bulbs to switch mine out. Anyone done that before? She said it was very simple. Guess we want to get rid of those stinky infected ones... LOL
Hottbutt... keeping my fingers crossed that you meet your goals today!!!!! LOL You're too funny!!
I asked about pulling my right drain since that one has been below 30 cc for over a week, but they felt it best to keep it in until I'm all clear from infection. I asked if the infection can spread from one butt cheek to the other... LOL and she said not likely, but couldn't say no. I noticed that the same foam in the line is also on right side and it is stinky too, but antibiotic will kill any and all bacteria in both cheeks fortunately!! Hee Hee
Ok, just wanted to pop on and say hello, respond, update and wish you all a great day!! I just was TOO sick the last few days...
Big HUG to all,
Kim :-)
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Thanks for the advice ladies!
I'm going to my lymphedema therapist tomorrow to confirm whether I have extra fluid in my butt or not. I have been going to her twice a week for my lymphy arm and she seemed to think everything is fine. My butt feels ok but looks a little fuller than the other side which still has a drain in it. I can't feel a seroma but maybe it's just spread around . Don't know. Jeanine from the Center is a little suspicious of it and is concerned that if there is fluid build up it could open up the incision. I don't need that to happen!
I talked to my local nurse this morning who will refer me to a local surgeon to get aspirated if I need to.
Thanks again and stay warm everyone! It's even cold in SW Florida. The heating is ON!
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Glad you are doing better Kim!
Like others have said Xfitgirl. it is pretty easy to get your Seroma Ass*pirated. While I did feel a little bit of the Needle. ( I was surprised as I am very numb all over back there) it was not really painful.
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Someone mentioned nerves coming back, feeling, in the donor site? Does this happen, when, what's it like, etc...? I noticed the last few days along the end of my DIEP incision (on each hip) I get this little burning pain every once in a while, not breath taking or anything but noticeable. I just stopped wearing the girdle / DOM though so who knows. My stage 1 was in September and stage 2 was in November (Thursday will be 3 weeks).
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Ok the prompt to get me on today....because I really don't do any other threads now. The Eliz Edwards death..........Just makes me sick........down, blows the life outta me....and I KNOW I'll be better by the am...............they..................WE have to beat this BEAST! Ups, downs(Edwards death)....and she looked SO good just a few days ago on TV! Love you all....please please please continue doing ALL you can to take care of yourselves......I know none of us knows the 'bigger plan'.................Oddly I was so freakin jealous of Liam Neeson's wife who died suddenly/unexpectedly while I was going thru rads post lumpect a couple yrs ago and WISHING I'd done more....but HEY I FIXED that...or Dr. D did! a few mos later.......Still...hate to be morbid but when it's time to go I want it to be a surprise/fast and NO suffering, of course God willing after a LOT more LIVING. Stay strong ladies and KEEP the upbeat faith we all seem to KEEP on this thread! Alaina...hang in there!
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I'm sorry but it really pisses me off that women are still dying of this damn disease in 2010!!!
I know, I know....cancer is too complicated, we can't find it's cause, blah, blah, blah. But we can send people up in to outer space, have phones that do everything but the dishes etc etc...
Elizabeth Edwards had one heck of a life. Highs and lows, happiness and deep sadness and in her later years having to endure the fight and suffering of stage 4 cancer.
Thanks for letting me vent on this forum. I really am not an angry person but cancer gets to me sometimes. I so wish we could a least find drugs that could make it a lifelong illness instead of the constant black cloud of the knowledge of possible premature death hanging over our heads.
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CHANGING THE BULB - it is easy. Just remember to double the drain tube over itself a couple times to keep the vacuum going, kind of like a "z". You just pull off the old one, add the new clean one, and the drain keeps doing it's thing. I hope your new bulb arrives soon.
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LIZ! my thoughts exactly....all is Soooo treatment focused....and rightly so for many of us....But, as one of the specialists said this past year...The focus needs to change to WHAT is causing it...food additives? Lifestyle? Hormones any/some of these?.........Genuinely PRAYING for more advances!
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I'm Pissed OFF too! all this rsearch all these yrs and surprisingly little gains.....BUT...so happy to endure all this hoopla w/ all my BREAST friends! KEEP the faith!
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Hi Everyone,
I have been out of town for the past week and have not had access to my computer. The first thing I wanted to do was get back in touch with all of you. Since my surgery for BMX / GAP is in a week with Dr. Sullivan, I am trying to make last minute preparations. Bought a sweatshirt that zips up the front. Guess I will sleep in my recliner when I first get home from surgery. Don't know really what I am going to do about my bed situation.
I was thinking of maybe purchasing a notebook computer, so that I may keep in touch with all of you . Thank you to everyone for sending me such wonderful caring communictions. Don't know what I would do without you.
Called my local BS that did my two surgical biopsies (with resulting hematomas, I might add). Asked her if she would be able to help me if I had any difficulties after returning home from having surgery in New Orleans. This BS didn't think it was a good idea for me to see her. She said I would be better off going to a PS near where I live. Needless to say, I do not have a PS in the area. So, I just hope I have no problems after I return home. There doesn't seem to be much support here at home.
Later,
Laurie
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Hey ladies. Just wanted to update everyone and let you know that I ended up canceling my liver biopsy last week. This is the 3rd time I have rescheduled and I didn't really understand why I was having such issue with following through. Then I read the post from Springtime a few days back and suddenly it all made sense. No place is good enough since I have had the luxury of having surgery at St Charles! I worry about infections, botched procedures, sanitation issues and on and on. I am a self-proclaimed germaphob under normal circumstances but it is so much worse now.
I am scheduled for Stage 2 on Thursday, got in New Orleans today and called Celeste on the off chance that they could schedule my biopsy for Thursday when I have my stage 2. I had debated it with myself for a couple of days and knew I was asking a lot on such short notice. I told her if she couldn't make the arrangements that I certainly understood but that I was hopeful. But I realized it was probably just wishful thinking and I felt terribly selfish just asking. She called late this afternoon to let me know everything is all set. I was shocked but of so relieved! They are truly amazing and go way above and beyond all expectations. I feel totally comfortable about the procedure now knowing I will be in the wonderful, caring hands of St Charles staff. I am scheduled for surgery first thing Thursday morning. I go tomorrow to do all of the pre-op stuff and get all marked up. I am nervous but excited. I dread the recovery but can't wait for the results. I will keep you posted.
-- Ann
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Hi BettyeE.....it has been a while since we have talked! Glad your surgery went well and you are doing okay! I know what you mean about the torture garment....that is what I called it too! Even though it is awful to wear it does serve its purpose and it is best to wear it! Take care and heal soon and have a wonderful Christmas with the new you and then get ready for the tatoos!
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Ann,
I am having my second Stage 2 with Dr. D at St. Charles on Friday. Arrive in NOLA tomorrow mid-day. I hope we can say "hi" if you are still there on Friday. I don't really post often on these boards...for some reason my lifetime of shyness peaks when it comes to boards. I always feel like there are people with better advice, more experience, better sense of humor, etc. who will post better things than I. Aren't I weird?!
I sincerely hope all goes well for you and that your recovery is swift and painless!
Jen
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Good luck Ann and Jen. I just got home from Stage 2 and I am happy with results.
Make sure you ask about the swelling to expect with stage 2 but you are in the best of hands!
Take care!
Holtbolt-thinking of you and hope your wishes come true!
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Jinger. As you no doubt already know, you are in the best of hands. Dr. D. is awesome
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Wow, skip a night and get 3 pages behind? Really? lol ok Still too much chemo brain to remember enough to reply to a lot of things, but do remember a few -
Isis - I had problems getting local help too, but when I had to have my tummy aspirated the center set it up at the local hospital, so they take care of you even if it is via long distance! They also called a local plastic surgeon who originally refused to help me to get him to monitor me and approve home care for me with my ins co when i needed help with dressing chgs after i had to go back and have lat flap on rads side. Anyway, point is that they take care of you!
Aspirations did not hurt....areas are numb as someone else said.
I have always heard (and experience) that nerve endings "reconnecting" are little sharp pains....at least mine are.
So glad to hear that everyone having issues is doing better, and good luck to those coming up soon!
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