NOLA in September?
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I have been super fortunate... I spent (so far this year) about 3 weeks AT CHSH, had hip flaps and DIEP flap and all for about $2000... and more to come in Decmeber
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I had my Stage 2B at Fairway. The care was great. The room was small, though--maybe it was just MY room, since I was only there overnight? Husband stayed up the road at a hotel. Much too long a drive to stay in NOLA or at Hope Lodge. I wasn't thrilled with the food at Fairway.
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My stage 1 and stage 2 were both done at Fairway Hospital. Dr. Massey and Dr. Sullivan did my stage 1 and Dr. Massey did the stage 2. The nurses and other staff were very sweet and attentive. The infection rate at Fairway is nil...it is not a hospital, just a surgical center. My husband stayed at the Courtyard Marriott not far from the hospital. We got a handicapped room...toilet is higher, bars in tub, shower stool and handheld option sprayer etc. Made post stage 1 easier. There is a new seafood place called Don's near the Marriott that had great oysters, and Rip's on the Lake was great as well. There is a little frozen yogurt place near the hotel and some Deli as well...if you are there a few days...
Michelle, It was good to meet you and your Mom. I hope that you have a great recovery. You looked fabulous! Dr. M. will take good care of you...We were able to get out on our scheduled flight and I opted out of the wheelchair as I did with stage 1...no problems....tired by the time we arrived home, but fine otherwise.
No drains this time...YAY!. Lifted the non mx side and lipo on back waist, hips, butt...feel sore and bruised.... but today I feel less tenderness when I move around. I think I will do stage 2b or 3...in December.
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Hi all - Just checking in one week before my husband and I fly to NOLA. Can't believe it is only one week away, but here it is. My pre-op appts are on Sept 14th, so maybe I will have a chance to see Kait's Mom and Celtic-Antique. It would be so nice if that happens. I am tall redhead named Sonya.
Right now I am feeling strangely calm about the whole thing, probably because it seems unreal. There is something definitely strange about going to a tourist destination like New Orleans (my first trip) for a non-tourist activity like major surgery.
I am very grateful for all the generously given advice from this community, and I credit you all with my going into this feeling very informed and that I will be in the best hands. Thank you!
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RunningforSanity (Sonya) - I hope I will see you on the 14th. What time are your appts? My surgery is scheduled for noon, so we will be in the lobby by 10:45 or so. If I am already in the back getting prepped, my husband Wil will be out there. He is tall-ish, short hair and wears glasses. Please feel free to introduce yourself. What time is your surgery on the 15th?
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Rosemary,
I am so sorry for your terrible loss.
Eve
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Blondelawyer - I have Premera Blue Cross and went to NOLA. It must depend a bit on your plan. The docs were out-of-network for me but their hospital (SCSH) was covered as in-network. I paid $5800 total for Stages 1 and 2 combined. I had bilateral HIP Flaps.
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Thanks laughlines (I'm also in Seattle
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re: getting through NOLA airport... my experience was really good and I wanted to share. We flew Southwest and asked for a wheelchair at the airport. We had pre-arranged to have one waiting for us in Chicago, but for your point of origin they say just ask at the counter. We got a wheelchair with an escort, and she took us directly through the Express/Employee TSA line. She put my purse and shoes in containers for me and stood with my stuff as it went through. I had to wait for my stuff (and the wheelchair) after I went through metal detector, and the TSA agent allowed me to stand to the side, near her, so I wouldn't get bumped by anyone. It was completely painless and sort of amazingly easy. When we got to the gate, the SW person walked to the counter and got me a priority boarding sleeve so I could get on the plane first. Then there was a wheelchair waiting when we landed.
Even if you can walk through the airport, it can be a long stand in security and a long walk to baggage claim after you land. I did it with my first stage 1 (United screwed up and there wasn't a wheelchair waiting) and I was exhausted, and my drains were full when I got home. I highly suggest using a wheelchair even if you don't feel like you need it.
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Amy Sonya -- I have a 10 AM post-op check with Laura, so will be in the waiting room shortly before 10 AM the 14th. I am a short redhead. Hope to meet one or both of you there. AT ALL!!! I have family here, so just decided that I would forego the long flights home for the pleasure of thir company ... and the restorative healing of my cousin's garden. Hoping last darin will come out on the 14th so I can fly home as healed as possible. Best ...
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Have a question for everyone....I just called to discuss my last 6-month breast and ovary screening appointments with my local medical center before I fly to New Orleans. And the nurse I talked to has me a little alarmed....I was telling her I am considering doing my ovaries during stage 2 in New Orleans instead of here and I wanted to have an actual appointment with the Dr. so I could get an opinion from him on that. She was telling me what questions to ask, etc. and seemed shocked that a pathologist is not in the room at NOLA during the breast or ooph surgery. At Mayo, they look right there so they know if they need to do further exploration or treatment and she seemed appalled that I would get sewn all back up and get the results later, because what if they were positive?? I know there is some medical community competition going on I am sure, but she makes a good point. I called NOLA to double-check and path reports are sent out and not examined on site. Is this something I should worry about? What did you do or say or ask to make you comfortable with it? I know I am getting edgy as the surgery nears but I am wondering how I missed this as I have been so thorough....I thought.
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kbodie... i had a lumpectomy here at home last december, and they did send my tumor and nodes up to pathology DURING surgery for preliminary looks... and THEN closed me up... the preliminary results said my nodes were clean, but full path showed that I had a micromet in one node... it is normal for a preliminary path report, but it isn't the end all... I know plenty of women who are closed up and full path says they didn't get clean margins and go back in...
BUT, you are doing a MX, and they can't really go in and get more tissue as they are getting it all in the first place... and the doctor should have an idea about the nodes while he's in there... and they can always go back for more if need be.
I think the pathologist being on standby is MOST important for lumpectomy patients and where nodes are concerned... Perhaps ask the BS you are using about how they decide how many nodes they will take... Are you using Lagarde or Stolier?
BTW, I then had my BMX in NOLA, but was not concerned about the path report (which was all clear) as I had already had my cancer removed.
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KBodie - I wonder if the difference is a lumpectomy vs mastectomy. I had my BMX in NOLA in June (with Lagarde) and since they took all of the breast tissue there was no doubt of getting clear margins (a big concern in a lumpectomy). After surgery NOLA performed pathology on all of the breast tissue that was removed (I don't think anyone can do all of the breast tissue during surgery). When I went in for my post-op we reviewed the pathology report together (and they sent the report to my local oncologist also). I did have my sentinal node tested during surgery too and they knew the results from that immediately and removed only two nodes for futher testing. NOLA also sent my tumor for oncotype testing since my nodes were clear. I felt well taken care of and did not feel that they lacked in their techniques at all.0
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KBodie - also...have you checked with NOLA about getting the ovaries out with Stage 2? I think Denounement had a hysterectomy with her Stage 2 but I don't think it is common practice and I don't know if a gyn doctor is always on hand to perform them. I think that NOLA was working on getting the dr that performed Den's to be on staff but not sure of how that all worked out. Maybe consider that when scheduleing your Stage 2.0
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ok... Beverly... another date change... My stage 2 will now be November 18th... Picking a date and fitting it into my work schedule has been a challenge... plus all the winter holidays.
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Yup, I had my hysterectomy with stage 2 - the center was great at coordinating it. I could have just had a BSO but I have a history of fibroids and endometriosis so I wanted my uterus out as well. Dr. William Von Almen is the GYN surgeon and he has surgical rights at SCSH. He came to the center for my stage 1 pre-op to meet me and have a consult - he spent a lot of time explaining the different types of surgery and helping me settle on the type I wanted (LSH - laparoscopic supra-cervical hysterectomy with ovary and tube removal) We also talked extensively about what would be done if he saw something suspicious when he was in there and about doing the smallest possible sections for my pathology. He was very accommodating to everything I wanted and all went smoothly.
When I scheduled my stage 2 dates they coordinated with his office to make sure he was available. It was no problem at all to schedule - not sure how common it is but the center was unfazed but my request and handled it with no issue. And I really liked Dr. V, he was very communicative via phone and email.
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As far as cost is concerned...Once all of the bills are in, I'll pay probably between $20,000 AND $30,000. Probably closer to 30. I do have a high deductible insurance plan, so that is part of it. The $20,000 out of pocket just for the surgeons for stage one was hard to swallow, but I don't regret one penny of it now. I am very pleased with the outcome.
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Hi Amy and Celtic_Antique - My first appt on the 14th is at 10:45 (with PT), then hospital preop at noon, and the MDs later at 3 and 4. I hope to see one or both of you. My husband may be floating around the waiting room as well - he is kind of a big genial bear, tall, dark-haired, glasses, and has a beard. He will probably be glued to his new IPad. It would be nice to connect, if that works out.
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Brandy... not sure I would have done it at all if it were costing that... I had this surgery voluntarily... was slated for radiation... but for $2000 all in, it was a GO for me!!
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Betsy, that's funny becasue I had radiation AND surgery. The radiation made the surgery mandatory because they don't like to mix rads and implants. It was either this or a lat-flap!!
I'm not much of a jewelry or clothes gal, so I guess I made up for that in expensive Boobs! I wouldn't want my husband to get off cheap! Although, he tried to file a warranty claim against my parents, but they wouldn't go for it! LOL!
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Betsy, I see that our stage 2 surgeries are only one day apart. I really would like to touch base with you this time.
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Brandy... this is my 4th stage 2 date, but i think this one will stick... it is just 5 days shy of 3 months (post DIEP) and about 4 months post hip flaps...For me, the original plan was lumpectomy, chemo then rads... By having the MX I didn't need the rads which was one of my many reasons for choosing the MX... I am curious why having rads meant MX, or do you mean rads meant you needed DIEP vs implants? That I understand... I didn't NEED MX at all.... but rather something I chose.
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Hi All! Quick question - I have a friend who's niece may need to travel for treatment for thyroid cancer, and I remember that there is a service that can help arrange for one free flight per year or something like that, for those who cannot afford to travel otherwise. Does anyone know the name of the group that provides it? Thanks . . .
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kaitsmom: it's called Angel Flight, angelflight.com
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Amy- I researched this like crazy when my friend's son needed to travel for a bone marrow transplant. I can't remember all of the specifics, but I do remember that there are several organizations with very similar names to Angel Flight. I missed them on my first go around because I thought that I was looking at google results for the same company. Also, I know from personal experience that MD Anderson has a social worker who can provide donated frequent flyer miles for people who have to travel for treatment. Maybe other major medical institutiins do too. It cant hurt to ask . For my friend, I collected Amex points from people who were willing to donate and then transferred those to Jet Blue Points. That was my best bang for the points. Ultimately he needed to fly via air-ambulance and the insurance company agreed to pay the cost. We used the miles to fly family back and forth for support tho.
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Betsy- being triple negative with node involvement, they threw their entire arsenal at me. I had 6 months of chemo, then mx, tissue expander inflated then deflated, then 6 weeks of rads, tissue expander reinflated, then I waited 1 year to reconstruct. I had to wait until after the rads to reconstruct to give the skin time to heal. Argghh! Ready for this to be behind me!
So glad that it seems that all of my hard work has paid off tho. I'm NED baby!!!!0 -
You GO BRANDY!!!!
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Thanks Brandy and jeskachi. I will pass along the information to her.
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Brandy... its been a long road, but sounds like you have come to its end, almost.
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Kaitsmom: Another website for free flights
http://mercymedical.org/0
