PRMA Testimonial

I've given a lot of information about PRMA and Dr. Chrysopoulo via this blog throughout my journey.  Please read and view my complete testimonials, here in one place.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact myself or Courtney, the PRMA Patient Liaison.  Long distance travel should not be a factor in preventing you from going to the best.

PRMA One-Step Implants with Alloderm

Testimony 

Read my story about coming to terms with BRCA and deciding on prophylactic mastectomy at PRMA.

Traveling 9000 Miles for Breast Reconstruction

 Read this blog post by PRMA patient liaison Courtney Floyd and watch my video testimony.

Contact us via Twitter too! 

Courtney Floyd @diepflapbreast
Dr. Chrysopoulo @mchrysopoulo
Heather @expattravelmom

The Power of Social Media

Who would have thought, ten years ago when I learned of my BRCA1 results, that social media would have ever played a part in my treatment plan.  Ten years ago, I had just started working for an online University, and I thought that was crazy enough!  But to think that I'd find my doctor, seek referrals, "meet" patients and even plan my surgery via social media channels...the mind boggles.

Today is Social Media Day 2015 (#socialmediaday2015), so I felt it appropriate to take a minute to reflect on my social media journey which has lead me to sitting here in Texas.  Because none of this would have come to fruition without it.  Let's face it, I was living in Dubai for the critical part of finding my doctor, which ended up being in Texas, and living in Singapore when dealing with insurance, finding lodging and planning the rest of the trip.  Medical tourism is a hot topic, and a lot of people flock to Asia for the best of the best...but they're flocking for cosmetic surgery, not reconstructive surgery, so referrals I was getting within the region weren't satisfying my type A needs for perfection.

By Okky.novianto (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

So, back in 2013, I came across this little group called Beyond the Pink Moon, to which I was invited by a friend of a friend, Lori, whom I had never met, but had becomes friends with on Facebook.  There I was, plopped into an online community with admin and author, Nicki Durlester and previvor friend, Melissa Voight; a forum for discussion regarding breast and ovarian cancer, as well as genetic mutations increasing hereditary cancer risk, including BRCA1 and 2.  I laid back for a moment, reading all these stories, some breaking my heart, some bringing me tears of joy.  This group seemed close knit, they all trusted each other and shared anything and everything.  Soon, I was ready to ask some questions.  My first interaction was on November 5, 2013; it was my introduction:

Hello! Brand new here. I'm 37, mother to 3 kids and wife. I'm currently an international teacher living overseas. I tested positive for BRCA1 in 2005, and I'm now ready for surgery. I'll be flying to the States for it next July. I'm now going through the motions of finding a doctor, calling insurance and figuring it all out from overseas, which is hard! Hoping for a direct to implant procedure. If anyone has experience with Cigna insurance, please do tell! Thanks!

Well, it was a lady named Laura R. who immediately peeked my interest with her reply:

If you're looking for a doctor, PRMA in San Antonio is great. They take all insurances and help with travel. I just heard they have virtual consults too. 

Ding!  Virtual consult.  I was oversees.  I needed someone who could help me through the Internet, and she recommended the four letters that I couldn't ever get out of my head...PRMA.  I must have moved quickly (type A) as the next day, I replied to another 'Lovely' with: 

I'm in your EXACT  position (name hidden)! I just joined the group yesterday. I'm older, turning 37 this month, diagnosed BRCA1+ in 2005. I'm filling out my virtual consult form for Dr. C right now. Hoping I'm a candidate for one step, direct to implant reconstruction! I'll have to wait 'till July as I'm living overseas. Good luck!

Now, how did I know to ask for Dr. C?  This is an interesting one.  I had many of the ladies PM me, all talking about Dr. Chrysopoulo.  I then met dear Wendy on November 6th, where she gave me what I needed to hear, " I traveled a little over 8 hours. I had a one step and was there a little less than a week. We drove."  Ding again!  Recovery with this procedure would be better than anticipated given my time constraint.  Wendy and I continued talking, and still do to this day.  All this happened within TWO DAYS.  Are you seeing that?  Discussions, relationships and referrals, all via a Facebook group.

Well, we all know what happened next.  Due to being relocated, my surgery never happened in July of 2014.  My next post on Beyond the Pink Moon happened on January 11th, 2015, the day I had been going crazy, starting over, trying to figure out how to have surgery overseas again, and who to pick, knowing Dr. C was still in my mind, for my surgeon.  I had all these referrals from ladies for California doctors, but nothing was working out.  The Pink Moon Lovelies were so helpful and provided me with so much information.  They felt my pain of trying to plan an overseas surgery, without being seen in office first.  I had my friend in the US calling these doctors offices for me (time zone issues) and asking all the initial questions for me.  It ended all the same, in office consult before they could discuss surgery.  In the back of my mind, I kept going back to Wendy and Dr. C.  It was then that Laura R's voice popped back into my life with...

Heather, PRMA is fabulous and one of the best! Dr. C is a top notch doctor and you would be in the best hands. Dr. C did my DIEP flap and he did one-step on Wendy.  Dr. C is a perfectionist. He's an exceptional doctor. And so caring!  There's a bunch of us with personal experience with Dr. C so rest assured you're in excellent hands with him. 

Another Lovely wrote:

 I haven't had PBM yet, but when I do, it will be Dr C at PRMA. I have flown all over the United Stated consulting with 5 different plastic surgeons. I liked Dr. C the best of every one. He was incredibly compassionate and his results look so great. I think you'd be in fantastic hands.

That was the day I knew, I knew Dr. C was my doctor and I'd be turning my life over to him.  I couldn't believe the amount of information I received from an online forum.  Patient referrals mean so much to me and so much to many.  Just knowing so many women were so happy with their outcome spoke volumes.  I had my Skype chat with Dr. C in February and all was good.  It was perfect.  It would be him.  Now, my addiction to social media means I ask a lot of questions, I second guess, I research, I freak out a bit, and then I go back to calm.  Dr. C caught me in the middle of one of these cycles when I was second guessing things.  I said I was listening too much to other people, Nicki told me to put my earplugs in to which I said "I will" and "I know my surgeon will make me look lovely."  Well, I didn't know Dr. C was on the forum.  I got the reply, "Yes I will Heather."  LOL!  My doctor, involved in social media.  

Well, over time, I met many, many more BRCA friends via Beyond the Pink Moon and Twitter, like Terri, Tobey, Lisa, Karen, Georgia, Amy and Brandi.  There's a huge community of advocates out there sharing their stories for people like me who had no clue where to begin.  There are doctors who are willing to chat online, add to conversations patients are having and help educate.  It's amazing where social media has come.  I'm so glad that forward thinking PRMA is getting ahead of the game, paying attention to what patients want, what we need, really.  They are getting involved, listening and learning, and putting it to use. 

Happy Social Media Day 2015

Day 14- Dear PRMA

Dear PRMA,

Happy two-week-a-versary to me today.  It was two weeks ago that I was going into surgery, ready to take charge of my life, and hopefully change the course it was on.  Your entire team guided me through the process from beginning to end, and it all started with Courtney.  She's absolutely amazing at what she does.  So kind, compassionate and so completely understanding of those who might be a smidge type A...like me.  She got me through the insurance approval waiting period which was hell, and made a special effort to see me upon my arrival.

I've had a great experience from the initial consultation, to surgery to recovery, maybe too good, as I kept overdoing it each day after the surgery due to the energy I had and the limited amount of actual pain.  Sure, some days were harder and there was intermittent crying, but I had it pretty darn good throughout this entire process.   I owe that to you and your expertise.  You guys helped me keep the right mindset.  You guys were the best of the best cheerleaders.

I got excited on the days I felt great during recovery.  I wanted to explore, see the sights of San Antonio and hang out with the family outside of the hotel room.  But all of my enthusiasm could have come at a cost as I developed seroma as of day 11.  As uncomfortable and completely unattractive I felt in the band, I was sill determined to get out each day and explore.  I just felt good.  Perhaps I explored a bit too much, pushing my body more than resting it, and my seroma increased.  Whether or not it was my fault for being too active, the point is, I'm not very good at just resting.

Having fun on meds, killing time, waiting for aspiration.

Today, on my two week post-op visit, my seroma needed to be drained with a fine needle.  Prior to leaving the hotel, my husband looked at me and said, "babe, I really like your boobs.  I've been looking around at other overly noticeable boob jobs ever since your surgery, and seeing you today, in your dress, I noticed how great your boobs look.  They are just the right size.  They are perfect"  That, right there, boosted my confidence today.  We told Dr. C to give me something normal to suit me, and he did.  However, I still popped my 1/2 a Xanax and 1/2 a muscle relaxer, wrapped myself in my fashionable bandage and headed out to your lovely PRMA facility for the dreaded needle aspiration.  Now, as you all know by now, I'm a lightweight to medications.  Denise and Dr. C have seen me on a full Xanax and muscle relaxer,  and Denise fondly laughed today as she remembered how out of it I was previously.  So, today, I did 1/2 and 1/2.  Let me tell you, by the time I had reached PRMA and sat in the waiting room, it was all taking effect.  I was under the influence.

I love my nurse Denise, and I loved her even more today.  LOL!  I was in a happy place.  Nerves, nope, they were gone.  I think I fully entertained my husband in the doctor's room as well as your nursing staff just on the other side of the door.  I laughed, and laughed and laughed.  I laughed even though I was about to have needles in my breasts.  I laughed through the pain while Denise held my hand.  Today, I had the privilege of seeing Dr. Ledoux, another well respected PRMA surgeon.  That's one thing that is clearly evident within the PRMA practice...you all fully support and recommend each other.  I told Dr. C that I'm ok seeing Dr. L because I trusted Dr. C.  If he said I'll be in great hands, I knew I would be.  I'm pretty sure Denise warned Dr. L that I was on medication as he came in smiling and gave a little laugh, and then continued smiling throughout the procedure.  I only felt the tiny pin prick of a needle on each side, but hey, that means I have feeling in my breasts which makes me beyond happy.

My funny and comforting nurse, Denise.

Dr. C...a friend from the beginning till the end.

The fluid is now out, I'm back in a compression bra with pads added for extra pressure to the underside of the breast and that's that.  I'm done with my treatments.  But I don't want to be done, as strange as that sounds, as I absolutely fell in love with all of you at PRMA, especially Dr. Chrysopoulo, Denise and Courtney.  I don't want to leave San Antonio.  I believe we come into each other's lives for a reason.  There's a reason I found Dr. C in 2013, hoping for a 2014 surgery, and there's a bigger reason as to why I was drawn back to him in 2015 to finally complete my surgery.  People will know when they've found their surgeon, they just will.  And it's completely natural to form a bond with the people who help save your life.  You're forever connected at the heart.  I would love to bring my daughters back here come time for their surgeries, should they be BRCA+.  I trusted my life and I'd trust my daughters' lives to PRMA and Dr. C.  

Added my Previvor colors today...another milestone in my life.

                                     

So, it's with this 2 week anniversary post that I end my daily postings.  I'm good, I'm strong and I'm happy...I'm now boring.  I'll post if there's further updates to my healing process, I'll forever catch you guys on Twitter and Facebook and I'll send a shoutout whenever I can.  With as recovered as I am, there's just nothing newsworthy to share on this current journey as of now.  I'll never be able to thank you all enough, but I think in your hearts, you know just how much you touch every life who walks through your doors, including mine.

Up next, oophorectomy.  I wish you did those so that I'd have an excuse to fly back and see you all!

With my utmost love and respect,  

Heather

Day 8- Things Are Going Great!

Things just keep getting better.  Each and every day I realize how amazingly well I'm doing considering I just had a five hour surgery to completely reconstruct my chest.  This doesn't mean I don't have some pains, spasms and tightness here and there, nor does it mean I'm anywhere near being braless at this time as the weight hurts when not supported by the compression bra, and it doesn't mean I don't get completely spent after 30 minutes of activity, but it does mean that I can say "I did it!"  That's a huge accomplishment and one that I'm proud of.  

Just days ago I was blogging about how I wasn't really ready to look at myself, that it made me queasy and I felt disconnected.  My friends keep asking if I've looked and what I think.  I've almost felt guilty that it's taken me this long to look, as if that was insinuating I wasn't confident in Dr. C's work or that I'd somehow be let down. That wasn't the case at all.  It was just the fear of the unknown.  

The fear that has now turned to hope. Today I did it, and I took my time doing it.  Not just a quick glance down, not without my glasses so that it was blurred and not as I just happened to be jumping in the shower.  I looked.  And what I saw was wonderful, as I knew in my heart it would be.  I told Dr. C that I wanted to look normal, not like someone who wanted to be noticed for a boob job.  That's exactly what he gave me.  

They are firm right now, but expected to settle over the next couple weeks. There's not a single sign of bruising which amazes me.  And the incisions are so perfectly placed that they'll virtually be unseen.  I have more sensation in my breasts than I thought I would, so I can only hope even more will return with time.  If not, that's ok, but at least I have some.  What is even more shocking to me is that even though I can't feel my nipples at this point, they react.  I didn't think they would.  My nurse, Denise, was the one who pointed this out, the day my first two drains were taken out.  

So there you have it, I have looked, I have examined and I'm thrilled.  I'll never have to look at my chest and think of it as a ticking time bomb.  I'll only need to love it and be thankful every day.  I'm glad I took the before photos that I did the night before surgery.  I compare them now and I see several different stages of my life and I love them all, because they've made me who I am today.  

My kids don't understand all of this nor the impact on their own lives, but at least I can hopefully share with them, when and if it comes time for them to go through the same journey, how to appreciate it and keep moving forward.  And God willing, Dr. C will still be creating masterpieces when they're ready.

Day 7- I'm Not Wonder Woman

For years, my family and friends have called me Super Mom, Wonder Woman and other "shooting beyond the stars" types nicknames.  This all stems from the fact that my type A personality makes themed lunches for my children for school, does my girls' hair in many fabulous designs, bakes up a storm late at night just to make someone smile the next day, tries various crafts just because I don't have enough on my plate and anything else that keeps this OCD mamma on top of things and keeping smiles on everyone around me.  

I had a GREAT day today.  Seriously, I woke up and only needed Advil all day.  No Percocet, no muscle relaxer, nothing but Advil.  I even stayed up long enough to finish several HGTV shows in a row!  I only took one nap!  I felt so good that I even started gathering items to pack up as our Airbnb stay comes to and end tomorrow and we move into the Omni Hotel.  Today, however, I realized even Wonder Woman needs to say "mercy."

                                       

I'm used to doing everything when it comes to packing, traveling and just making sure everything is ready.  I'm the planner, the scheduler and the doer.  However, my body quickly told me NO.  My body was telling me that today was a day where it was ok NOT to be Wonder Woman, and quite frankly, it was yelling at me, not telling me.  I'm only one week out, and although I feel pretty damn good thanks to an amazing Dr. C, I'm sure part of my first week of recovery instructions did not include packing (sorry Dr. C.)  

I began to have pain in areas, I became a bit lightheaded and I quickly needed to sit down.  I'm not good at sitting and doing nothing.  Well, I take that back.  I'm great at sitting and doing nothing when I'm loaded up on drugs like I have been this week!  But now that they're gone, I'm going stir crazy!  I'm not strong enough to go out of the house and I'm apparently not strong enough to pack suitcases either.  Ok, ok, I got the message.  I've had major surgery and I need to let myself rest.

Wonder Woman will be back.  But for those going through my surgery, just know that you need to save those superhero days for after your recovery, no matter how badly she wants to shine through.

Day 6- I'm Free!

As of now, I've broken up with Percocet completely as we don't get along.  We've also cut way down on the muscle relaxer as we too had a love hate relationship.  I only take 1/2 a muscle relaxer pill as of now when absolutely needed.  It gives me horrible dry mouth and makes me woozy.  So as of today, I'm only on an antibiotic, Advil and Xanax.  Why Xanax you may ask?  Because all of this really creeps me out, I feel gross in my own skin and I begin to panic.  We think this has been majority of my recovery issues, not the pain itself, but the thoughts and feelings I have that are escalating the pain and keeping me bed/couch bound.  

I happily got to go visit my nurse today, Denise, to see how my drains were doing.  Thankfully I had taken a Xanax about an hour prior to the appointment so I was very calm and cool.  Two drains were removed and I didn't feel a thing...at the time.  It wasn't until after that I felt some sharp pains in my right breast around where the drain had been, but she put a numbing patch around that area which helped ease the pain.  This is normal as nerves have been fiddled with and things have been slightly shifted.  I'm just happy to have two less drains as they are a pain.

By the time we got home, it was time for a nap.  While not in a fog so much anymore, I'm still exhausted.  I did manage to get in my three 15 minute walks which is a good improvement.  I even managed to down a Chipotle burrito...yummy!

So, that's a wrap on day 6.  Things are getting better.  But first, I must take a minute here to thank my husband.  This has not been easy for him at all.  He's at my every beckon call...medicine day or night, showers, helping me move, as well as dishes, meals and kids.  He's been awesome and deserves some praise.  No one really stops to think about the caregiver and how they are doing.  I appreciated that Dr. C made a point of asking my husband right after surgery how he was really doing with all of this.  When my husband said he was fine, Dr. C reiterated the question, just to make sure.  I can't tell you how much I have truly loved every minute working with PRMA and Dr. Chrysopoulo.  They'll always be family to us.

Day 4, Oh So Sore

Apparently my body had enough of the "feeling good" stage and decided to force me into reality for a day.  This was my hardest day by far.  

Upon waking up this morning, I could tell things were different.  My drain sites were more painful, my left leg was constantly going into a tingling sensation and I still haven't had a bowel movement since before surgery (TMI but necessary to tell you in case you're preparing for this surgery).  We emptied my drains which are showing less and less output (shooting for 10ml or less over 24hrs), but that whole procedure of emptying drains still makes me nauseated.  I swear I can feel the suction happening inside my body as my husband strips them.  Who knows if I actually do, but it feels like it.

I spent most of the morning in bed upstairs in my Mickey Mouse pjs as the bed has become my security blanket.  However, I decided to venture downstairs to the recliner for a while, to again join the land of the living and see my kids a bit more.  Again, stairs are no issue.  Naturally, I fell asleep after 15 minutes of watching a show with my husband (I'm such awesome company right now!), and was later woken up by him giving me, yet again, more meds.  I'm in a constant fog and hate these meds.  You know when you see a trail behind your waving hand, as if in slow motion?  That's me, all day. I'm having my own little drug trip.  I'm still down to one Percocet at a time instead of two, and am now supplementing with Advil when needed.

Once awake, I decided to shift places to try and reposition my sore body. At this point I felt a lot of pain in my chest and became very nauseated, lightheaded and somewhat panicked.  I cried for hating this limiting feeling so much.  I still can't truly look at myself yet as it sends my stomach churning.  I don't have bruising and the cuts under my breasts aren't visible, but it's the touching of my breasts and them being numb that sends me over the edge.  It's just a complete disconnect for me.  I'm sure once I decide to fully look at myself and accept it all, I'll fee so much better.  It's just hard.

This is my amazingly wonderful doctor, Dr. Chrysopoulo
whom I'll always carry near and dear to my heart.  I honestly
couldn't have asked for a more kind, compassionate and amazing
doctor.  He was worth the ten year wait.

Luckily, today was the day I was seeing my doctor and I could find out if everything I was dealing with was normal.  Sitting in Dr. C's office and waiting to see him had already sent me into the woozy stage as I knew he'd be checking on my breasts, which meant undoing my pressure bra.  I feel like everything is in control when the bra is on, so much less pain, everything held together where it should be.  When the bra comes off, I feel everything letting loose and I don't like it.  I feel the pressure of the new boobs, I feel the dangling of the drains and all of that combined just doesn't sit well with my stomach.

The good news is that Dr. C and my nurse Denise were very happy with my progress and pleased to not see bruising nor signs of infection.  I was happy everyone else was happy, but I still couldn't bring myself to deal with looking.  More good news is that I might get two drains out on Wednesday as they are producing less than 10ml.  The other two drains are still at about 30ml.  Dr. C seems to think the drugs are just not for me.  I'm a lightweight, always have been (cheap date for sure).  Being in a fog and sleeping as much as I have been is not good for my recovery.  I need to be more alert and I need to be walking my 15 minute intervals to reduce blood clots.  For that reason, Percocet is done...I'm off of it.

My nurse also suggested warm prune juice as my stomach was now the size of a basketball and rock hard.  The colace and Milk of Magnesia were doing nothing.  No one warned me about the stomach swelling and bloating after surgery.  None of my pants fit!  So a warning to future ladies, bring larger pants!  One of the nurses said that some women gain 10-20 lbs after this surgery due to all the water retention and other fluids the body is trying to hold on to.  I only brought larger button down shirts for the post surgery, not elastic waisted larger pants!

Once back home, with my prune juice in hand, we ate dinner, celebrated my daughter's 7th birthday before grandma left and I drank that prune juice like nobody's business.  Come 9:00pm, let's just say my pants were beginning to fit again.

By baby girl is now 7.