NOLA in September?
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I hope you ladies can help me.I have seen four plastic surgeons and had extensive phone consults with two.My husband is urging me to go to NOLA.The only draw back would be insurance coverage and getting someone to go with me for that length of time.Did any of you arrive alone and have your caretaker come when you were discharged?How long after setting things in motion can you expect to have your surgery? With our financial situation,Hope Lodge would be my best option,are there any local motels/hotels that are reasonably priced,as I know Hope Lodge gives first preference to those in treatment.I have a million questions,but figure I had better start slow! Thanks!!
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I arrived alone but had a local friend with me... Not really necessary though while in the hospital, but imperative upon release... Hope lodge is ok, but since we had a car and my friend's house, we only showered and slept at the lodge and spent a good chunk of time at her house... Now at homewood suites with my husband for 3 nights, but if the budget were tight, I would have only stayed one night (he flew in today, day 8 post surgery)
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Gosh,thanks bdavis,I know you just had your surgery a few days ago and had a couple of issues,how nice of you to respond!I have a friend who hopes to fly down to be with me,but didn't see much point in her hanging around while I was in the hospital,so good to know I can come on my own.So you will be coming home on day 12?How are you feeling?
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Feeling ok...taking it slow... Just had my first solo shower... I think my DH is a little freaked out by the whole surgery
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Pandazankar, You wouldn't really need someone ahead of the surgery, other than for company. Once you have a date, the Center will send you an itinerary that includes all of your comings and goings for the entire time you are there; then a big black car and a driver magically appear every time you need to go anywhere.They will pick you up at the airport and bring you to your hotel. They'll be back in the morning to bring you to your pre-op appointments. (You'll get lunch at the center). They'll be there to bring you back to your hotel, etc. You'd be on your own for dinner the two nights before -- dont know how you feel about being solo in restaurants. You could always get take out. Being alone the night before surgery might be hard, but thats what electronic communication is for! And, yes, other than being lonely, you do not actually need anyone until you are discharged...and that is for company, moral support, someone to fetch you food or to toodle you around the block and take you out to dinner -- and for emergencies like Betsy gonking out in the shower. You would not likely feel that you could safely go out of your hotel on your own the first few days -- to walk or get food. I didnt find that I needed or wanted help with my drains or dressings or meds. And I didn't need help in the shower, but was reassured by my husbands presence in the hotel room. I think that the usual time frame is that you arrive 2 d before surgery, have preop stuff the day before surgery, stay in the hospital 3 or 4 nights (usually three...I stayed 4-- no specific reason, just still felt like I wasn't ready to roll), have post op visit on 7th day after surgery, leave town next day. So,10 days in all.
Hope this helps
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Toomuch- Sending you speedy recovery
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FYI... My shower incident was once I had left the hospital, and for reasons like that, I don't think the hospital would allow you to leave solo, and can't fly home alone... But al pre surgery time and hospital time, you don't need someone, but might certainly WANT someone... I did keep encouraging my friend to go to work, or go see her family, while I could be without.
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Just wanted to give a shout out to the ladies below!!
July 27 - BrandyB, Stage 1, NOLA. (St. Charles surgical center. Delayed recon on the left and a mastectomy/recon on the right. DIEP procedure. Surgeon is Dr. DellaCroce.)July 29 - Toomuch - Stage 1 - mastectomy and bilat hip flap reconstruction with Drs. Stollier, Drs S & D, NOLA.
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Thinking of you ladies... You are just up the street... Hopefully resting comfortably!
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I thought Toomuch was using lagarde...?
And I will try to stop in to visit on Monday... Hopefully getting my second breast drain pulled then.0 -
Hello NOLA woman (and I hope future NOLA friends) - Now that I have a surgery date, I thought it was time to admit I have been secretly and industriously reading this really informative thread. Denoument, a friend through FORCE, told me about the thread and I have been working my way through it (not done yet) and learning so much from all the great women who have contributed.
This spring I learned that I am BRCA2+. Since I lost my mother to breast cancer when I was 16, and I have two children (12 and 15), I decided pretty quickly to do a prophylactic mastectomy. I have spoken to a couple of posters here and they helped me feel very confident about going to NOLA. So my Stage 1 will be September 15, PBM with hip flap recon with Drs. Stolier and Dellacroce. Spring, can you add me to the list?
I do have a few questions, if anyone want to share their thoughts: a) what was the angiogram like? Sounds like it was pretty unpleasant for some folks. b) How recent did your MRI before surgery need to be? and finally c) how many days post-surgery for Stage 1 did you stay, and was that long enough? or too long? Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.
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Thanks! I would not want to be alone after surgery and if we can work it out,will probably have someone come with me..but good to know I can come alone for the pre op stuff if needed.Could the pre op like blood work and EKG be done before you go,so it is in network?And I think someone said they do an MRA the day before? Like RunningforSanity I have been slowly working my way through all the posts.I am going to contact Dr.Massey,I like everything I have read about her and I am just feeling like I want a woman surgeon on this part of my journey.Hope all of you who are at NOLA right now are doing well!!!!
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panda--there are a lot of Dr. Massey patients over at the Charleston thread (including me):
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/766866
Yes, you can have your pre-op labs and x-ray done at home, and you should. I think they usually want it 2-3 weeks before surgery. The angiogram they do the day before surgery. I'm not sure why that is.
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Hello all, I very much hurried my BMX with immediate reconstruction as I wanted the cancer out NOW. So, I was not aware of this option and am now researching even though I have a date for implants. I am very excited about using my own tissue but nervous about the length of the surgery and lipo. I have a phone consult with Marga Massey on Sunday and look forward to learning more. Thanks for all the info that has been shared on this thread.
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Running, I added your date. Welcome to our thread! Glad you are taking care of business. You'll never have to worry about BC again!
Adey, Dr. Marga is just the nicest person, you will love her. She was not one of my primary docs, but was in NOLA and doing rounds over a labor day wkend when I was in the hosipital in 2009. She is wonderful. Lovely bed-side manner. When I went back for my Stage 2 I was sitting in the NOLA Lobby, and she was walking through with a couple of her assistants from various locations, and she recognized me and my husband! She's really nice. I hope you figure out what is best for you! It's a journey. I had chemo before surgery, so I had 4 months to research what I was going to do, and thanks to a thread just like this, and Sandy, I discovered NOLA.
Betsy and TooMuch: If I have goofed up TooMuch's MX doc, let me know. I try to keep up!!!
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The pre-op chest X-ray, blood work and ekg are done at home... The angiogram is done the day before surgery to map out your blood vessels so they have a plan for surgery... They also have you meet with an ot/pt and anesthesiologist if needed and surgeon to get marked up... My doctor, dr d was in surgery too late so we met the morning of surgery for markings... I had met him for a consult in may, so this wasn't our meet and greet. The angiogram felt uncomfortable for about a minute... And uncomfortable is an exaggeration... You get super hot all over, but it passes quickly.
As far as time in hospital, Nola, it is sort of dictated by the post op appt one week after surgery... So going home day 8 is probably normal... I am on day 9 now... Leaving day 11, and it's fine too.0 -
Hi Running...welcome! The contrast study at your pre-op visit is really no biggy. As Betsy said, you feel really hot, and as if you are peeing( you are not!) just for a minute or two. I had the bonus that after chatting with the lovely tech doing the CT, she offered to show me her beautiful Dr. S reconstructed breasts, and even let me have a feel! Sounds funny,and it was kind of a silly picture -- I was lying on the chute going into the scanner, giving her a little feel! Ha ha...but they were gorgeous, and felt perfect, and I was so enormously reassured by this. It was so kind of her!!!
I posted a day or so ago with the typical 10-day schedule for your stay in NO. Look back for my post to Pandazankar. You've made a great choice!0 -
Thanks to all for the welcome and information. Jerusha, I was cracking up reading your story. I know when I tell my my husband, he will immediately offer to have the angiogram for me! He immediately offered to donate his extra fat for my new boobs when I told him about that type of reconstruction. It sounds like the angiogram is a bit like the contrast dye IV they use with breast MRIs, only a bit more intense. It sounds much less scary than what I had read elsewhere, so thanks for setting my mind at ease about that. Re timing, I think I will be going home the day after the post-op, but since I have to fly back to Northern California, I am a little nervous about a long day of travel. However, everyone else survives it and so will I. Hotel is booked (Homewood for after), now I just have to nail down the plane tickets. Onward, with much deep breathing, and yes, running to keep me sane.
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Runningforsanity... I am currently at homewood suites... It is very comfortable! And I think the day after post op is just fine.
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Thanks for all the good information.I got my email from Dr.Marga today and filled out my forms.What did you all wear for your pictures? I know she wants to see as much as possible....a thong??? I don't have any! Nothing?For the first time in over a year and a half of research,I feel this is finally really going to happen.I had wanted Dr.Marga or NOLA from the beginning,but convinced myself that with travel and expenses and finding someone to go with me,it was impossible.After the conversation this week with the PS in NYC(who I think is a wonderful surgeon and he sure spent time with me on the phone) it all just clicked and I realized I deserved the very very best ,most experienced and no matter what I am going to make it happen.I am so glad that all of you are willing to share your experiences and be supportive.It means a lot.
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Naked......... and deleted immediately!
I have my phone consult with her tonight.
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Panda... Who did u see in NYC?
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BrandyB,
Hope you are recovering well!
Best wishes to the next group!
Marcia0 -
Naked??? As in Nude???Nekkid???I will be honest,my husband will be taking the pictures and it will be the first time he has seen me without a covering in a long time.Even when I had the tissue expanders and could not dry myself after a shower,I kept as covered as I could with a towel.This will be good for me.He is the sweetest guy in the world,staying covered is my hang up.OK! Lights! Camera! Action! bdavis,I didn't see the doctor ,had a long phone consult. He went into a lot of detail about all the flap options,but had mainly done DIEP.He told me not to expect good results from the other flaps,said they were harder to shape.A few other things he said made me realize I needed to stop screwing around and go with my original gut,which was Dr.Massey or NOLA.I do not want to regret a long surgery and a long recovery.I know no one is going to achieve perfection,though I have seen photos that come darn close!My biggest chance of getting it right is to go with the tried and true.If I have to wait a while longer to save up money,I will do it.And am I crazy or did I read somewhere that flap surgery can actually help with Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome?
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Panda... I was curious who you spoke with cuz i met with dr allen who only suggested diep, and all other doctors said i didn't have enough for a diep.
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His name is Dr.Greenspun.He took a lot of time talking to me.He asked how much I weighed and how tall I was.He then said based on that I would easily have enough fat in my stomach for bilateral DIEP. I told him I had never had children and he said that didn't matter.When I told him three doctors had said I could not have DIEP,he wanted to know who they were.One he had never heard of,one he had heard of and admitted he had probably done enough DIEP to know,the third he dismissed saying he knew they did not do many DIEP.Then he said if Dr.Allen had said I did not have enough fat for DIEP,he would believe that I didn't have enough,but would not accept that opinion from the other doctors....I just did not want to waste my time setting up a consult to find out I could not have a DIEP and he told me he had little experience in the other flaps.I know a lot of women in the NOLA pictures look thin,but all of the doctors felt my tummy and said no..So you did have enough for DIEP? I am glad I talked to Dr.Greenspun, he is the one who made me realize I need to see a doctor that I totally trust to do whatever flap is right for me.
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Aw panda, it's great to have a sweetheart. One of the most heartwarming things my DH has done is help me shower, wash my hair and dry off after BMX with four drains hanging. Love is blind! (c: I gotta say sending nekkid up close pics of my foobs, butt and gut was not great but you do what ya gotta do. Poor Dr Marga!
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Yep neked pics, and I agree, deleted immediately!!!!
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Panda..dr allen said i had enough but once i got to nola for a consult, dr dellacroce said i did not... He offered a stacked diep (using both hips and abs), but in the end he got what he needed from the hips alone...dr dellacroce was a bit surprised that dr allen said i had enough belly fat...
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Yes, my man is a wonder.He emptied my drains for me every time I have had surgery..he got a kick out of it getting less and less and telling me they would be out soon!So we will have the porno photo shoot after I take my shower..like Adey said"Poor Dr. Marga!!"Can't wait to hear about your phone consult!Thanks bdavis,this is just one more reason I know I am doing the right thing.
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