NOLA in September?
Comments
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Marcy, if your surgery is at St Charles Hospital with Dr Massey the center's car service is provided. She did my stage 1 there and I had car service to and from the airport, the pre op and post op appointments, and the hospital. Kim, safe travels and smooth surgery and recovery to you. Let them pamper you. You are in great hands.
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Oh Betsy. I am sure he was a bit startled to have nekkid pix of his mother appear. I can just hear my 24 year oldson now.
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Joellelee - I had SGAP surgery last April - had the might sweats too. They went away after a few weeks. My lymph node dissection in1994 was more painful than any of the other surgeries, it too went away after a few months, but good warning to take it easy on that arm because of possible lymphodema potential. I had 17 taken out.
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BETSY!!!! hahaha, sorry, but someday, you will crack up about that phone error!
Judy_63, I added your stage 1 surgery to the listing above. Who'se your doc?
Does anybody else need a date added?
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Welcome Judy. Good luck Kim. We stayed at le Pavillion prior to stage 2. It is a gorgeous small hotel with a ballroom restaurant that serves excellent, slightly expensive dinners by a fireplace. Well worth it. It is across the street from the Homewood suites. It is a few blocks only from the casino. We walked from there into the French quarter and after stage 1 we took a taxi into the french quarter. Hope lodge is only available to women who have a cancer diagnosis. We stayed there after stage 2. Clean, we did not use the kitchen facilities but ate out, until I got the flu then I stayed in and my husband brought me diner food. There is a diner within walking distance.
For stage 1 we stayed at the Homewood suites and loved it. I just left NJ which had no power for a full week. The bed linen was very soft and comforting. There is a sink vanity area outside of the toilet, shower area which was useful. My husband or neice was able to stay in the living room/kitchenette if I needed to nap. Again, we ate dinners out but I did note they had a very reasonable, full dinner for free. There are washing machines on the premises. My neice did my laundry which was very helpful. There is an atm machine in the lobby.
Oh my gosh Betsy! Just to let you know, at the dinner table when I arrived home after stage 1, I was so happy and excited I flung open my snapped shirt to show all my chest, (with my bra on of course). Though two of my sons who was home at the time (26), (21), were very happy for me and smiled broadly, one said, enough mom don't go any further! Ha, ha. True story. I also opened my shirt for my neighbor, and at least three friends. I get that's what NOLA does to you! Not to mention I took the plunge and posted on the picture forum.
Happy healing to all!
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OOPS! I have to explain the above. Rereading it I thought you might think me nuts. It was Thanksgiving dinner and we were all going around the table saying what we were thankful for and toasting. After I said thanks for my childrens' good health and happiness I then flung the snaps open of my shirt like superman and said I was extremely thankful for these! I hope this puts it in a better context, though I knew you all understood anyway.
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Actually, Pamela, that makes it an even better story. We are all thankful for the new ta-tas.
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I stayed at Monteleone before surgery to be near French Quarter as I had never been to NOLA. We rented an apartment on the trolley line and one mile from the Center for recovery. However, I did visit at the Homewood Suites and they were very nice.
Also,the HopeLodge was surprising nice.
I am home. I slept the whole way. The pain from the breast lift is more intense than the lypo. It takes my breath away at times. I am taking two dilaude a every 4 hours so am quite loopy right now.0 -
I don't know if Betsy or Pamela's story is funnier!!! Sometimes all this cancer mess will wear you down, so a lighthearted escape is always welcome in my world
Believe it or not, I am still in the hospital following stage 2 Friday. Hopefully, a three night stay will be enough and I can still fly home tomorrow. I have been really woozy and two of those drains are putting out a ton, so they finally ran my blood work earlier today. My levels are all super low, so they will be giving me two units of blood as soon as it gets here. I had two units after my failed DIEP, and after stage 1, so hopefully this will be just as uneventful. Never a dull moment! The care here is awesome as usual, and I am eager to see what all was done. I haven't been able to take a shower yet since I've been so lightheaded, so hopefully once that new blood gets swishing around I will feel back to normal.0 -
Cherrie,
Hope your pain eases very, very soon! I'm all about the need of the nice narcotics after these major surgeries. Wasn't it nice though to just be outpatient in hospital during the day, hotel one day, then home the next? Now you can truly rest and recover.
My next surgery Stage 2B sounds very similar to yours: a lift to my radiated difficult breast, and tons of lipo/fat grafting, as well as a quick fix of a neuroma. My surgeon estimates 4 hours in OR, and just one drain. Does want me to plan to stay over night in private hospital room for full 23 hours though.
Did Dr. M give you a "return to work" date. Do you think you would go back in one week or two? I know we all heal differently, but your surgery work done so similar to what I'm going to have.
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Oh Dianne... Pamela's story is funny... Mine is awful... I feel so bad for my son... I hope he wasn't in a test at the time... I need to ask him... ugh.
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I am retired so no return to work note. I will keep you updated. I amso loopy from this. Whew!!'
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Cherrie - did you end up with any drains this time?
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Yes, I have 2 drains. One will come out in a couple of days. The other is producing.
You were right about compression. The longer you wear it the better the result with lypo. I will switch to a Marena soon with no legs, because I don't need that part this time. She knows that most girls will not make it that long.
We're all thinking of you Kim. Take the nauseous meds they prescribe. I didn't and it hit me hard. Drink lots of water today and tomorrow and afterwards. Walk, walk,walk, rest, rest, rest0 -
Pamela, that is the joy of NOLA!!
Sorry Betsy.
There was somebody new here who saw Dr. D about the body lift. Linda? was that you? I had the body lift. I am not sure, though, that I am in the same category of thin-ness though! About the implants, why did they fail before? Was it because of capsular contracture? Because if it was, it is likely to happen again. I beifly had implants put in by Dr. D to get me through rads after my mastectomy in NOLA (he didn't want to radiate the "flaps" because they might shrink up). So after Rads and waiting 6 months, I had my stage 1. I was never so glad to get the friggin implants out, I never got used to them being under my pec muscles, they always bothered me. I did not ever have the expanders, I just had one step implants with aloderm at NOLA).
Hope this helps, let me know if you have any Q's.
Spring.
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Betsy... I live in Yardley pa but will be in Princeton area tomorrow u able to meet?
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Dianne hoping all goes well with blood and you can get home.
My mind is so preoccupied with what's going to happen or not happen tomorrow. I am feeling better and reddness is better in right breast. However my ps here text me yesterday and feels that I would be better off having him taking out the expander here, healing for 4 to 6 weeks, then go to Nola...ugh!!! He also feel I would have a more symetrical result with both of them gone. I am so confused!!! I am supposed to call Laura in the morning to let her know how the infection is going. I am going to ask if I can send her pictures. I don't want to get there and have them tell me nothing can be done or have the infection get worse. I am also hoping that if it gets cancelled March 1st. that they can get me in 4 or so weeks. Hoping airline will let me change flight with no charge due to infection. I had everything lined up for my 3 kids..rides to school..etc.. with Mom and Mother-in-law...only to have to change it for the 2nd time. Remember I was originally scheduled for Feb. 22n. and Dr. S. had to go out of town. I'm venting ......errrrrrrr0 -
Hi Dianne- I am sorry you are having a tough time. I needed two units after my Stage 1 and felt so much better after I got it! Like magic. I hope you ar feeling better soon.
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Russell - Why don't you go ahead and snap some pictures and email them to Laura. Then she will have them when you talk. This could be when the time zones work in your favor - giving you a bit longer day for the decisions.
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Great idea! Does anyone have her email?
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It appears that most of the staff use their first names @breastcenter.com. This is only from looking at their site. Maybe Betsy?
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Cherrie and Diane, I hope you both feel better.
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Betsy...I've just had a mastectomy on the right side, but I'm thinking of having the left taken off in NOLA and doing diep on both. I think we are about the same age too...I turn 50 in May.
Springtime...they told me my drs. would be dr. S and dr. T. I've read that all the drs are great at NOLA so I'm wasn't worried over who I would get.0 -
Springtime- my implants failed mulitiple times- initially they leaked ( had to have Becker silicon/saline implants- during the "redo" of my lat flaps).. then one, then the other of the implants "herniated" downward out of the pocket- so when they opened me up to fix the herniation, they had to replace the implants...The silicon/saline implant is now leaking and the mentor siicon implant i have is in early stages of contraction- i am basically a mess! Have to get my head around having another 8 hour surgery.. The news that removing the implants relieves the pressure and discomfort in my chest is reassuring..
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Here is Laura's email
laura@breastcenter.com
Dianne, I had to have blood after stage 1 and stage 2. It does make a huge difference. Hope you feel better soon!!!
Healing thoughts to all those healing. It surely was a busy week!!!
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So sorry Russell!!! I can't imagine what you are feeling right now, but I agree to go ahead and send the pics and give yourself a little bit of extra time. Hugs to you sweet lady!!!
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Russell... Laura@breastcenter.com
I would also send it to Jeanine jeanine@breastcenter.com
I think they should be the ones to make the decision... Your local PS isn't in the know about the surgery you are about to have.
Marcy... I am working, but if you want to swing by I could take a coffee break.. I work at Princeton Day School. Just come to front desk and ask for me.. I am busy between 11:30-1.
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Thanks Pamela. Doing ok if I take the drugs. LOOPY!!
Dianne hope you feel better soon.
Russell hang in there. Send in those pics. You want an infection to clear before major surgery. My heart goes out to you. We all know what it takes to get ready for this. It WILL all work out. Get better.
Brenda and Anita......thinking of you.0 -
Springtime, When Dr. D removed your implants, did he also remove the Alloderm? How many cc's were your implants?
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Dianne, I hope you are feeling better soon! Sounds like you're certainly having a hard go of things.
Melanie, Monday is almost here and you'll hopefully have an answer soon. I'm thinking of you!
As for me, I have an appointment with Dr. D in the morning and then we're heading out of town. I have three drains and am confident I will lose both breast drains in the morning. The hip one is a bit active, so I won't be surprised if that one comes home with me. Pain is tolerable and I feel pretty good! Getting ready to go out to a jazz club for dinner
I've got something that's been bugging me for a while and perhaps Dr. D's patients can weigh in. I don't know why this is bothering me so much, but it is, and I need to put it out there because my feelings are pretty hurt. I sent Dr. D a personal and meaningful Christmas gift along with a very nice letter that went unacknowledged. I asked Jeanine to check into it to see if he had in fact received it (Fedex showed it was delivered) as I didn't want to put him on the spot. It was very important to me to know he received what I'd put so much thought into. Well, the morning of my surgery when he came in to remark me he looked at my chart and said "Oh, I just remembered you sent me some cds and a nice letter...thanks". It was all around ackward because I could tell he didn't see them or remember them, but instead read a note from Jeanine in my chart stating that I'd brought it up to her. He's busy, I get that, but my feelings are still hurt. Ugh. Maybe its the drugs talking.
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