NOLA in September?
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Soccer mum congratulations!
Michelle, I remember well that sense of how long is this going to hurt like this after stage one ,,, Are we there yet? I am doing it now with stage 2... And you have been thru so much already but am sure this is going to be the turning point where each stage from here on IS really getting you to where you want to be, you are in the best hands0 -
Ok nipple question for those who had nipple sparing and had a dermal graft at stage 2 to make nipple project more....does it settle down after a while and reduce in size/projection? I am assuming so... My nipple is looking a little X rated at the moment....
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Micehlle.. I had GAP Flap and had no pain at all ever... so I am sure it will subside soon.
Maggie... I had the butt lift, lipo etc... and here at almost 3 weeks, no real pain or discomfort, but for optimal outcome, the doctor says to wear compression for 6 weeks... so maybe plan the Cayman's 6 weeks post op.
Good luck to those coming up!!
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Just asked about PRMA on the general board and have a few questions for those who chose NOLA.
Who was your general surgeon?
After you went home if there were complications did you fly back to NOLA?
How do you get through airport security with drains?
Appreciate the responses, am learning so much from the experiences posted here.
K
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Michelle- speak up about your pain. When I was there I think they left my painkiller dosage a little too much up to me (24 hours after 8+ hour stage 1 surgery? I was supposed to prescribe myself? really???) and I was in too much pain to get out of bed the first time. When Dr. M found out how much pain I was actually in she took charge and prescribed a couple of layers of oxycodone. Despite what you've been through you shouldn't be in a lot of pain right now. You need to be relatively pain free to heal.
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Momma2Four - That shower will help tremendously!! You will start feeling better every day. As bad as walking around sounds - it helps too!0
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Need2New (clever name BTW) -
1. My primary plastic surgeon was Dr Dellacroce. Dr Lagarde did my mastectomy.
2. I did not have complications bad enough to fly back to NOLA prior to my scheduled Stage 2 surgery - but others have. Sometimes NOLA will even fly you back on their dime to fix the situation. I think it depends on how serious the situation is.
3. I was lucky and after my BMX and Stage 1 DIEP I had no drains going home 8 days post-op and I did not have any problems at the airport. NOLA did give me a letter though explaining what the drains were (in case I still had them) to show to TSA. However, on the way home from NOLA for my Stage 2 when I had my compression garment on I had to go through that scanner machine where you raise your arms above your head and my whole compression garment lit up their screen. I explained to them what it was and they were wonderful about it and let me pass. No problems.
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Michelle - Make sure they understand you are in pain - speak up. I had a hip flap reconstruction and I had no pain.
Need2New - going through airport security with drains was easy. The docs at NOLA give me a letter saying that I just had surgery. I asked for a wheelchair (didn't need it to walk but was concerned that I might end up standing for a long time in security lines). Turns out the letter and the wheelchair allowed me to be wisked through security (actually felt like VIP treatment) - in NOLA the people at the airport are used to dealing with patients that are flying home after surgery and were very compassionate.
My general surgeon at NOLA was Dr. Allan Stolier - a skilled surgeon and I felt a wonderful human being. He did a nipple sparing mastectomy. Nipple survived and looks beautiful. I had had a previous reduction and my local plastic surgeon told me nipple sparing was absolutely not possible. Turns out that wasn't true.
I didn't have any complications but if I did I knew I could fly back. ( I also had a plastic surgeon and a general surgeon lined up in my hometown just in case.) The Center did a great job of checking up on me when I was home - calling me regularly to see how I was doing. If I had any problem I could call them - day or night.
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Need2New - I too had Dr. Stollier as my cancer surgeon - he was wonderful, compassionate, open to educating and explaining, and he has a wonderful, calm bedside manner. Also had nipple sparing (it is his area of expertise) and am happy to say I had no issues and they made it through
I did have a complication after Stage 2 and NOLA did fly me back on their dime and took care of it and then did some touch up. I am now 5 weeks out and it's all falling into place. They have taken great care of me and while I did talk to a doctor here in LA, it wasn't really necessary.
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Louis13. I had the dermal graft done after stage 2 and it was quite X rated, as you said, for awhile. But when I went back for stage 2B Dr S asked if I was happy with how they looked. I hadn't realized it but the sort of well that went around the outside of the nipple before the first dermal graft had returned. It was not as deep or noticeable, but I felt I wanted to add some more. Not that I needed to look like I'm always cold, but prior to my mastectomy I had nipples that became easily erect and I thought I wanted something more like that. I also figured that there's be more reabsorption after the second graft and I'd probably be happy with the result. So for me, I guess I'm sort of an x-rated girl in that way...but to answer your question - yes, and don't worry.
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Now I am itching like crazy. Have little hives. Thought maybe the adhesive but maybe not? I tell you, if something is going to happen it will happen to me. Maybe I am allergic to the girdle!
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Need2New... I had Dr Stolier and Dr Dellacroce. They were both wonderful.. Dr Stolier even emailed me something after my consultation regarding micromets and nodes.
I also had a complication and NOLA flew me back on their dime, as well as my escort and paid for our hotel after the hospital.
I sort of had doctors at home to help... My internist helped me with some stuff... and I had asked my local BS to be on call and she was fine with that... didn't need anything else as NOLA was helping long distance.
I flew a few times with drains... I just told them my drain pouch was medical stuff and I went through a scanner instead of the regular one... once they went to pat me down and I asked her not to.. she complied.
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Mom24 - I too have some sort of reaction after my surgeries. After stage 2 it took almost two months. After 2B it took 5 weeks. I'm guessing its a reaction to the antibiotics. I have put some chortosome cream on and it's keeping it under control (in the sense that I get an eruption, put cream on it morning and night and it's usually gone in a day or two.
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louis13 - Sent you a pm re. the swamp tour because I was thinking with all the activity on the board this week, you might miss a post. Anyway, a few pages back, a couple of the ladies mentioned the original Honey Island Swamp tour and said they really liked it. So maybe check that one out? I did a tour that was a couple of hours away from NOLA, as we were staying up in Baton Rouge. We went out of McGees Landing. It was great, but probably a bit far too drive for a day trip if you weren't already going to be up that way.
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celtic-antique: Everyone is different but I left for a two month vacation on the Caribbean beach in Costa Rica 3 months after Stage 2. I was SOOO ready! Good luck with your planning -- sounds wonderful!
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DOM is gone! I am having a. Hives breakout only were the DOM is. I am worried about not wearing it. This summer I developed a hive allergy to he clear plastic adhesive that they use With wound vacs. I had a vac in June no problem but when dr. M put it n after my skin graft I broke out, WTH?
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Momma, try not to worry...if you read around on some of the other boards there are PS's who never put their patients in compression. Not so surprising about the wound vac-- if you get allergic to something it is generally not the first time your body encounters it, but the second or some subsequent time. But more complications is certainly not what you need! It will get better....
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Thank you for that reply Kathryn - that is what I was figuring but very reassuring to hear!
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Amy, don't know what is happening but my reply disappeared - thanks for that, my son looking into it now and also just wanted to say that we just came back from French quarter and it is going to be very romantic for you and DH , Christmas decorations are beautiful !
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My surgery for Dec 5 at NOLA has been re-scheduled for March 23at Fairway Stage 1 DIEP with Dr. Marga and Dr. Sullivan. Insurance can be so frustrating! But I plan on a real Hristmas this year and 3 months to get ready for surgery. Prayers to all having surgery this month and Merry Christmas to all of you.
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My surgery for Dec 5 at NOLA has been re-scheduled for March 23at Fairway Stage 1 DIEP with Dr. Marga and Dr. Sullivan. Insurance can be so frustrating! But I plan on a real Hristmas this year and 3 months to get ready for surgery. Prayers to all having surgery this month and Merry Christmas to all of you.
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Having my phone conference with Dr. Marga today. I couldn't sleep at all or organize my thoughts. I don't even know what questions to ask. I am just wondering what I need to be prepared for? Are all over her surgeries done at Fairway? Is that where they are all done? I have the choice of New Orleans or Charleston? I will be coming from Michigan. Any suggestions on that topic. I am sure I will be on here more as time progresses to discuss where to stay, what to wear, etc. You all have been so helpful to me. Thank goodness for this board.
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Hi Need2new,
I had Dr. Stolier as breast surgeon and Dr. Della Croce as ps, with Dr. Sullivan assisting. I am three weeks out and I still have two drains in. At the NOLA airport, they asked if I had any metal, etc. and I said no. Well guess what--they caught the metal fasteners on the scanner and gave me a patdown! I told them I had surgical tubing in, was in a compression garment and just had BMX. They were ok with that and let me go. I also asked for a wheelchair assist and it did help out a lot, as I was just very tired to walk.
I have a question regarding stage 2--mostly for planning purposes--how long do you have to wear a compression garment after stage 2? Because I could go at 12 weeks for stage 2, which would be Feb, and then if compression garment is 6 weeks I would be done by end of March. I just want to know as we want to go away and I don't want to be stuck in this stupid girdle. Is it better to wait longer than 12 weeks for stage 2? Why? And how long are you outta commission after stage 2? Thanks!
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Cherrie, Dr. Massey did my DIEP in Charleston in SEP 2010. However, I believe now, most of her Stage 1 surgeries are done in NOLA. She operates out of Fairway or the Breast Center. Some insurances will only pay for Fairway. Don't hesitate to ask any question you have during your consult. You will be amazed how easy she is to talk to....like talking to your best friend!! Anything you forget to ask can usually be answered by all of us who have already "been there'. There is a wealth of information here and on the Charleston thread.
Please PM me if I can help in any way. And good luck!!
Joni
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Is Fairway one and the same as Fairway Medical Center @ Covington?
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Cherrie- It's good to have your questions written down, but I'm guessing she'll answer them before you ask. She is very easy to talk to (in fact, you may have trouble getting a word in edgewise
and you can always follow up with an email if you think of questions after you talk. 0 -
Victoria -
I had my St 2, 12 weeks after hip flaps. Dr S said just 2 weeks of compression post surgery but I had pretty minimal lipo. Now I do wish that I had been brave enough to have more done!
The first 2 weeks were hard for me. I didn't have a lot of pain, just discomfort. I was recovered 4 weeks out except for being able to run. I wasn't comfortable with that til 4 weeks out and I still wear spanx sometimes because the support feels good!
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Victoria... Dr D says mandatory 2 weeks, but recommends 6 weeks for best results.. I am now three weeks out and in compression.. I also still have weight restrictions, nothing more than 20 pounds for another week... so 10 pound restriction for 2 weeks and 20 pound for another 2 weeks... I would do it in February and not wait because you don't want to be in compression during warmer months,,, trust me.
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The hives are clearly from the compression garment.. And they are horrible. That is my pain....not from surgery. They are really bad on my bum and upper thighs. Couldn't sleep at all even with Benadryl and pain meds.
On a good note.....I just LOVE my new boobie!!!0 -
Can they try a different brand, like Veronique?? I was itching in other areas... calves.. took benedryl and it didn't really help... it did subside after a couple of days and was off pain meds.
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