Tag Archives: winning

March 5, 2024 · 5:40 am

#82 Getting Discharged

The colonoscopy last Monday (2/26) was clear with no findings. I opted to stay on clear liquids till my surgery to repair the Lumbar Hernia. Per the surgeon the repair was complicated but successful! We were given the option of a private room or shared, we opted for private suite ……that came at a price $$$$. Originally I was to be hospitalized for one to two nights. Well here we are on day seven and I am being discharged. Just yesterday March 4th I was cleared to start having solid foods. The restrictions to be on liquids was due to nausea. The medical team tried different nausea medications to help with the on going nausea, I couldn’t keep down water, it was bad.

When I was give the menu to order breakfast yesterday I got to see what they offered. Let’s just say I missed out on some delicious meals. Below is one of two menus to pick from, my husband Jack was well fed.

When we leave Mt. Sanai this afternoon, we will head out to a hotel at Times Square. I will have a post-op appointment with Dr. Reiner this coming Thursday. At that appointment the surgeon will lets us know exactly when we can leave this area.

Below is one of my favorite pictures, we are on the upper east side over looking Central Park towards the west side.

Signing off, many mahalos for the love and support and above all, prayers.

Pina

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February 25, 2024 · 11:49 am

#80 New York

After completing the breast restoration process last year, I was so happy that all of that was behind me. All I wanted was to have successful breast reconstruction, which I was able to get going to Louisiana. I thought 2023 would be the final surgery, but apparently not. (details in previous blog)

Like I mentioned, this surgeon wanted me to have colonoscopy prior to the hernia repair vs. having one done later in the year since I am due for one. If you have been reading my blogs from the beginning I have mentioned that I have a mutated gene for both Colorectal and Breast Cancer. When Dr. Reiner asked me during my consultation when my last colonoscopy was, he was quick to say that he would not do the repair without a colonoscopy first. Also I would need to have colon prepped (cleansed) prior to the surgery, so might as well do them both.

Tomorrow at 9am eastern time I will have the colonoscopy done by Dr. Peter Rubin. On Tuesday we will meet with Dr. Reiner for a pre-op visit and instructions for the Hernia repair on Wednesday.

Sitting here in our hotel room at The Marriott Courtyard in the upper east-side of Manhattan, I have just finished one of the two bottles of Clenpiq, which is the colon cleanse kit I was prescribed (wish me luck) We are with in 1.5 miles of the locations where both procedures will be done.

Wish me luck, keep me in prayer that all will be seamless without complications.

Mahalo for reading

Pina

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August 30, 2023 · 3:19 pm

#77 Pre-op/Post-op

Six Drain Tubes

Wow ! Where to begin! The non-cancer side (RT) was reduced/lifted and treated with fat transfer for contouring. The left received fat transfer through two small injections on the flap mound. The healed previous scar was not manipulated.

Scare revisions: The gluteal (buttocks) scar was revised, with fat transfer for contouring. The front diep flap scar was revised, the scar will now sit lower below the umbilicus, and will be tighter. For those of you that have been following my blog, you know that I have a long scar on my back from the latissimus dorsi, surgery in November 2018. My NOLA surgeon asked how that scar felt. I answered honestly,:the scar has been bothersome, sometimes it pulls stopping me in my tracks we talked about revising that scar as well, which he did. It turns out there was a void underneath the scar wear he had me point to at my pre-op appointment.

Seems like a lot, I am not in pain🌸 I did not expect all the scar revisions, however when we talked about it at my pre-op it made sense, especially for the Lat- D scar!

The Lat-D scar is long, starts just below the left shoulder all the way down to below the waist line. I grateful for this facility an all their expertise with breast reconstruction.

The current plan is to discharge me today, I will finish my recovery here in NOLA till next week, we will fly to Cali for a couple of weeks after that. I have always said “ all want is two boobs” I know they will never be twins, I am good with “sisters”

This time it is working 💞🌸Mahalo for reading my blog and continued prayers for Lahaina🏝️ Pina (Josefina)

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August 27, 2023 · 9:15 am

#76 Second Phase

This blog has been on my mind, I had intended to blog the week that the Lahaina fires happened also the fires in upcountry. Blogging took a back seat, as our beautiful island recovered and continues to recover from the tragedy that happened here. The picture above was taken April 2008, on one of our wedding anniversary trips to Maui. The Lahaina Banyan Tree turned 150 on April 24 of this year. The tree might recover and live…however so many people have lost their loved ones, families gone. I pray that the survivors of Lahaina will be able to recover from this tragedy.

The second phase: I am off to Louisiana for the second phase of my SGAP breast reconstruction. This surgery was supposed to happen the first week of June, however the complications pushed the surgery out. I am really happy with the way the left breast is healing. I still continue to wear a bandage under the fold of the breast that is still healing.

The plan for this surgery is to make the breast more symmetrical. Currently the right breast is quite a bit larger than the left. The left breast will not be manipulated, we plan on leaving it alone. I have always been told by the plastic surgeon that the breast would no longer be twins, that they will be sisters! Well currently they are not twins, nor sisters…they are more like distant cousins! The right side will be reduced and lifted to match the left.

I am going to stop here, I just wanted to touch base with all whom have subscribed to my blog and have been reading my blogs.

Mahalo for the well wishes and prayers for the people affected by the fires.

Pina (Josefina)

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May 22, 2023 · 2:17 pm

#75 DECOMPRESSED AND FREE

Since my last blog, I had mentioned how the Surgical Center in NOLA was trying to coordinate wound VAC care on Maui. The two facilities mentioned in previous blog would not take me on as a patient, however the Surgical Center did find a wound care specialist with Venture Physical Therapy here on Maui that took me on as a patient. I am forever grateful to the team in Louisiana for searching high and low for someone that allowed us to return to Maui for my recovery.

Originally I had six drains from the March 1st surgery. Four of the drains were removed 2 weeks post-op, leaving the two on my hips. Traveling with the drains was interesting, but now add on a medical device and it gets interesting. I was also required to wear a compression garment, with ABD bandages padding the drainage tubes and scars around my waist. Let’s just say that I had a private pat downs at the airports getting thru TSA.

Since I have been back on Maui, I have been seeing Terri with Venture P.T. three times a week for wound VAC dressing change, the Jackson-Pratt drains have been maintained by my husband. The WV can be disconnected for two hours daily to allow me to shower. In case you are wondering if it takes two hours to shower? Yes it does. having these tubes connected to your body and wearing a compression garment made it so it was a whole production to shower. The compression garment had to be undone for about half hour prior to a shower to avoid getting dizzy(we learned the hard way). The tubes then had to wrangled on a rope around my neck, they could not just dangle from my body. After showering, the drains, which I named “Bonnie and Clyde” were treated and padded and the compression garment was back on. Then the wound VAC, which I named ” Al Capone” was reconnected and turned on.

Above the tubes with blue are the drains, that are attached to right and left hips. The WV tube is the one that is just below the left breast. With each dressing change, the entry point placement is moved to allow my skin to recover from the adhesive tape. Quite an ordeal, my skin was not liking the tape!

I have been wearing a compression garment and have had the drainage tubes since the March 1st surgery. The wound VAC has been attached to me since March 28th! With that being said, I am now “decompressed and free”! I was given the ok to have the drainage tubes removed on Thursday May 11th! On Mothers Day, the wound VAC was discontinued and we switched to a topical dressing! Last week was a test for discontinuing use of the WC, the decision to keep it off was made on Thursday the 18th!!!!

The left breast flap that detached from my body warranting the surgical debridements and the use of a wound VAC, is not completely closed up. However, it is now to the point where a topical dressing will suffice, so I continue to see Terri with Venture P.T. My first visit with Terri was on April 15th. the open wound measured about 17cm wide and almost 3cm in height, I do not remember the depth. Today the wound is 6cm wide, and under 2cm in height, with the wound being flush to the skin. Wound VACS are cumbersome but amazing !

I am going to stop, I did not intend for this to be so long…Mahalo for reading my blog and for all the get well wishes and prayers.

Much ALOHA, Pina

The picture of me above was taken at The Hotel Wailea, which is where I was treated to breakfast for Mother’s Day by my son-in-law and daughter. We laughed because my shirt matched the orchids!

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February 28, 2023 · 5:14 pm

Surgery Number 9, But Who’s Counting?

Tomorrow is the day! Over a year in planning, the day has come. I’m excited for the end result. I am emotionally ready, SPIRITUALLY READY, physically ready and with the love and support of my husband, family, friends and medical teams both here in Louisiana and on Maui I know this will be it! Since the beginning of this year every Friday I have had countless appointments leading up to this. Labs, urinalysis, physical therapy, dental cleaning, EKG, wellness therapy appointments have been non stop. Surgery number 9, but who’s counting! The day has finally arrived!

Todays appointments consisted of Physical Therapy, went over lymphedema of the left arm. My left arm will be wrapped from fingers to just above the elbow. My upper body strength and range of motion was documented, and we went over post-op therapy. I was then taken to radiology to have a Cat Scan and sat with nurse to discuss what would happen once I arrive at The St. Charles Surgical Hospital tomorrow morning at 6am. The pre-op nurse went over all the pre-op instructions, and gave us (my husband and myself) plenty of opportunities to ask questions. The Anesthesiologist also sat with us and went over everything. My final appointment was with the Surgeon and his clinic with one of the facilities P.A’.s. To say that this hospital is well organized, kind, empathetic and know how to place one at ease is an understatement. My body has been marked with the purple pen mapping out the plan. I have been given the Hibiclens (very familiar with that). The challenge for me will be NO products on my body, hair etc. after my shower this evening and tomorrow morning. It going on 9pm here in Louisiana, time to start prepping for tomorrow.

Mahalo for all the well wishes and prayers (KEEP THEM COMING)…Aloha Pina

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February 16, 2023 · 10:12 am

HEADED TO NOLA

#69 HEADED TO NOLA

It has been a bit since I have blogged. Initially the purpose of this blog was to keep my mommacita informed, she was my biggest fan. Since the summer of 2019, when she passed, so much has happened. Got situated on Maui, back at work at Maui Diagnostic Imaging. Then we rolled into 2020, and we all know what happened that year. I stepped into Lead Mammography position as my co-worker left the island that summer.

In December of 2021, I contacted The Center For Restorative Breast Surgery, which is a hospital dedicated to breast reconstruction. My husband and I had our first zoom appointment with them. I then spent the first months of 2022 gather all and requesting all my surgical notes ( 9 breast surgeries) from the hospitals were they took place. It was a process doing all by phone and email, faxing etc. Once I had all my notes I then forwarded them to the Breast Center. Their team then reviewed all, along with pictures of myself that were sent thru a private portal. We were then offered an in person consultation which we did on October 17, 2022.

I was nervous and excited. Meeting them in person was the right thing to do vs. zoom and or conference calls. My husband and I sat with the surgeon and one of his assistants, he was extremely kind and thorough in explaining what could be done in my particular case. The in person consultation was exactly what I needed to put me at ease and hear his explanation of the recommended surgery vs. reading about it. When we left, I felt really good and hopeful. The decision was made to do the surgery in early 2023, since it would require 2 surgeries. Having it done in early 2023 would allow both surgeries to be done in one billable year, the Breast Center pointed this out. This center is so well organized, different teams reached out to me after my consultation. Scheduling, Financial team, Housing recommendations contacts, pre-op test etc.

Surgery is scheduled for March 1st! We have had our airbnb reserved since last year when the surgery was scheduled. When we were in Louisiana for the consultation we stayed in the French Quarter and did a little sight seeing then. This time around will be different, our stay in New Orleans will be post-op and recovering. I will be required to stay in NOLA for two weeks, before giving the okay to fly back to Maui.

The Procedure: Surgery will be about 8 hours long, it’s called SGAP breast reconstruction. For those of you that have been following my story, know that my right breast was a prophylactic mastectomy, currently with an implant. The implant will be removed and both my reconstructed breast will be with my own adipose. This being done for symmetry and realistic volume of both breast. At this point all I want is two breast. I am so over wearing a prosthetic breast and having the void of a left breast and being uncomfortable in certain clothes. I know that my breast will never be like pre-cancer breast, and I’m okay with that, I just want my new normal to feel a bit normal.

The picture above of my mom and I is one of my favorites, I miss my mom, that picture was taken on March 26, 2012. My birthday is the 25th, we always spent the day together for my birthday. My mom throughout my breast cancer surgeries always prayed for me, I know that she will be looking over me.

Mahalo for Reading my blog…much Aloha, Pina

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May 11, 2019 · 10:24 am

67: Time For Healing

 

We are now in the month of May and I did not realize that I have not blogged this year! I received a message asking me about my progress and it made me think about the last time I blogged…so thank you for the gentle reminder.

Wow here it goes, in February I had a very candid talk with my plastic surgeon about moving forward with reconstruction. The decision was made to put off reconstruction to allow my body to heal. Dr. Eko was completely on board when I told him that I wanted to postpone reconstruction. I think having five surgeries under general anesthesia and several revisions under local anesthesia, merits taking some  time for healing.  So, we will wait for up to two years before I attempt left breast reconstruction again.

In the mean while I have been going to Eisenhower for Lymphatic Drainage Massage. The Occupational Therapist at Eisenhower Medical Center have been a god send. I asked for a referral for therapy, as I new that the heaviness that I was feeling on my upper arm was not just fat, and I could see my left side “puffier” then my right. However, the main concern as well was the adhesions that formed under my Diep Flap surgery scar. On both sides of my umbilicus (belly button) I have these tube like masses. The Therapist have been massaging them out in an attempt to break them up to no avail. Unfortunately they will have to be surgically removed. With that being said I am scheduled for a Scar Revision Surgery at Eisenhower Outpatient Surgical Center this Thursday May 9th. If the adhesions were not bothersome I would just leave them be, however, at times they cause me pain that stops me in my tracks.

The Therapist have shown me how to properly massage my chest wall, abdominal area, basically my front torso. And Jack (husband) learned how to do the back. The Latissimus dorsi flap is healing really nice. I have been fitted with a prosthetic (boob) and just this past week started wearing it. I kind of feel defeated, I feel like I am right back wear I started from but with a lot more scars on my body, the good thing is that I am alive and thriving! Scars are battle wounds that have a story to tell, I just didn’t think it would be part of my story.

Today is Saturday May 11th, my surgery went well, it was a minor surgery and I feel great. I am going to attach some pictures to this blog for those of you that have been following my journey, and wish to see how I am healing.

********************************* Pictures below********************************************************

 

The Latissimus dorsi scar and drainage tube scars have healed nicely

The area in the black box is where the adhesions formed that were surgically removed May 9th.

This is the “donor site” where the skin from my left thigh was used to cover the Latissimus dorsi muscle when my Diep Flap surgery failed. My flap failed because it lost it’s blood supply due to a large hematoma. The picture below is a huge improvement compared to previous pictures. Losing the Diep Flap pretty much saved my life because that is also when the bacterial infections were discovered, preventing sepsis was the main goal. I am so grateful to the Infectious Disease team that worked along side with my Plastic Surgeon at Eisenhower Medical Center.

In the Month of March and April I had my Mammogram (of the Right side only) obviously even though I did have a prophylactic mastectomy of the right side, I also my annual Bone Density and Cat Scan at the Comprehensive Canter in Palm Springs…Happy to report that all my test went well, and my good friend, ex-coworker, cancer fighting sister was right along side me and she is doing spectacular!

Final picture…here I am again just before my scar revision surgery. I am recovering well, it was out patient surgery early in the morning, we were home be noon.

Thank you for reading my blog and feel free to share my story.

Josefina…

aka…Pina

 

 

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July 30, 2018 · 5:14 pm

62: Blog Pictorial

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Aloha,

This blog will be a little different, as it will not be attached to social media. This will be a pictorial blog of my progress, since my last revision in late April.

 

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This is NOT infected, fibrous tissue was removed to help the healing process.second.jpg

This is how it looked after the debridement. My husband did really good in my wound care, he was instructed by my Plastic Surgeon how to care for it.

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This is a healing slow due to the 29 rounds of Radiation Therapy I had May-June of 2016. The latent effects of radiation treatment is the gift that keeps on giving. And because my treatment was on my left side, five years post radiation I will start seeing a Cardiologist, (add that to my long list of doctors)fourth.jpg

Got to LOVE my husband.fifth.jpg

Its coming along……remember that my left breast implant was removed on April 4th, and here we are in the month of June…this is not infected…it is actually healing really nice (finally)seventh.jpg

Skip to the month of July….from an original April surgery. My surgeon has given my the okay to get in our salt water pool ……YAY!eigth.jpg

Here we are three months after the left breast implant was removed. The trifurcation area of the scar is coming along. July 6th I met with my PS, he is pleased with the progress and my next surgery has been set…October 11th I will have my Diep flap surgery . Throughout this healing process, I have managed to avoid infection, by little home projects, caring and intertaining a four year old….Hulu and Netflix!!!

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April 30, 2018 · 9:20 pm

#61 Another Revision!

Well, my surgery went well…the left breast implant was removed along with all the excess radiated skin……so much for a “skin sparring Mastectomy ! I feel I should have blogged earlier but I kept thinking, I will blog after this post op appointment. However to date I have had three follow-up appointments. My surgeon kept my drainage tube in for two weeks because at my first post op the daily fluid output was more than 25cc’s.

On April 16th, I had my annual Bone Density and a CT of the lungs for that little nodule that the doctors have been monitoring. Well GREAT news, my Oncologist, Dr. Ho from the  Palm Springs Comprehensive Cancer Center told me that the nodule is stable and has not grown, he will continue to monitor it annually. And my DEXA (Bone Density Test) is also good…I was so happy with that news!

On April 20th, my sidekick (drainage tube) was removed. However that week my incision where it all joins started to seep and open! REALLY could this possibly be happening again! My Plastic Surgeon wanted me back the following week to keep a close eye on it. Which that appointment was just last week on April 27th.

I would like to back up to April 25th. On the 25th, my husband and I celebrated 31 years of marriage! I love you Jack with all my heart, thank you for always being there for me, for accompanying to all my appointments when work permitted….my story is not over, I am looking forward to many years with you, looking forward to our week on Maui!

Ok, back to my appointment on the 27th. After Dr. Eko looked at the area he looked at me and said that he would need to do Another Revision. At this point, seriously my heart just sank! Of coarse I asked exactly what he planned on doing, Dr. Eko went on to describe the procedure. My husband and I waiting in the examination as they prepared the Procedure Room for me.

After administering plenty of Lidocaine he removed select staples in the trifurcation area. (I will be posting pictures, just do not scroll down if you do not wish to see them.) Slithers of irradiated skin was removed, then it was sutured. It was surreal, the area was well numbed up, but thru my body I could hear and feel (without pain) every stitch! My body was shaking uncontrollably, they covered my with a blanket….this was a pretty invasive procedure done in the office…my plastic surgeon and his wonderful M.A., Angelica made sure I was comfortable. My husband was in the room, a couple of times the blanket came off my feet and he tucked the blanket under my feet. It was nice having my husband in the room, Dr. Eko played smooth Jazz during the procedure, which was also very relaxing.

What’s next? I had a follow up appointment today April 30th, it went well. I am instructed not to lift my left arm above my head so the it doesn’t tug on trifurcation area. The doctor (and I) want this to heal!!! My husband and I will be going to Maui for one week, I will not be getting in the ocean, other than my feet….just plan on relaxing and visiting my Maui Ohana!

Microblading, on Wednesday May 2nd I will be getting my eye brows microbladed. Yes, the hair on my head has returned post chemo, however I have little to no eye brows! I will have to wear a hat while in Maui, which I’m okay with…just looking forward to not having to paint on my eye brows every morning to look normal! So grateful to the gals from the Cos Bar in Wailea that took the time to teach my how to apply my Tom Ford Eye Brow Kit.

 

****************************** SENSITIVE PICTURES BELOW************************

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On a daily basis my family stripped and documented the amount of fluid out put for two weeks until the drain was removed. Post op, my son Cisco took days from work and stayed home with me… he did really good, he only gaged once when some fibrous tissue was in the fluid!

 

 

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Damm, It looks like I had a “Radical Mastectomy”!

Here it is, I struggled with the decision to post this picture ….. but this is the reality of it. The Implant was removed with all the irradiated skin. Looking at the picture above my head is to the right with the tube going down. The stapled area that goes  up towards my axilla (armpit) is that darken circle that is seen on the first picture… that skin was removed, hence this result. The following picture was taken on April 27th, you will notice that the staples where it all trifurcates are gone. That is because on April 20th the plastic surgeon removed them, at this point they were  obviously just irritating the area. The area didn’t close which is why Another Revision was necessary. IMG_6071.jpg

I don’t have an after picture of the revision…my husband says it looks good, he has been doing the dressing changes, he has become quite the wound care specialist! I have instructions not to lift my arms above my head

My next follow up appointment, is on Monday April 14th. I will keep everyone posted with a shorter blog……I promise. If you have read to this point, many thank yous for taking the time out of your day to read my blog.

Pina

 

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