Note: Dr Garramone's fee and location has since changed since my experience. Consult his website for up-to-date info!
Payments
$500.00 - September 9, 2010
$1000.00 - October 6, 2010
$1000.00 - October 7, 2010
$1000.00 - October 12, 2010
$1000.00 - October 14, 2010
$1000.00 - October 18, 2010
$200.00 - October 20, 2010
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$5,700.00, includes anesthesia, pathology, hospital, and surgeon's fees.
Other costs
Round-trip flight for Olex and I: $624.80
10-day stay at a hotel: $800 (Extended Stay America)
Cab fares, groceries, etc: Roughly $200
Itinerary
January 09, 2011 - Arrive in Fort Lauderdale
January 10, 2011 - Pre-op appointment in office
January 11, 2011 - Surgery at Memorial Same Day
January 15, 2011 - Jess heads back to Boston
January 17, 2011 - Post-op appointment in office
January 18, 2011 - Arrive back in Boston
I could have gone home the day of my post-op appointment, but I figured I'd feel better about my first post-op shower if I was still in close proximity to my surgeon, and it seemed like it would be easier in general to wait an extra day.
Gearing up for surgery and recovery
Clothes for post-surgery - 1 pair pajama bottoms, 2 baggy button-down shirts, flip-flops (easy to put on and take off), and 1 zip-up hooded sweatshirt.
Other clothes, etc - 1 T-shirt, 1 pair cargo shorts, socks, underwear, 1 pair running shoes, forearm crutches.
Stuff purchased in Florida - antibiotics, pain meds, bendy straws, pudding (both for taking late-night meds and because pudding is awesome), other groceries. Dr Garramone's office also gave me Xeroform gauze, Neosporin, and gauze pads.
Stuff for recovering at home - Olex's wife packed me a few frozen meals that were easy to prepare. I also kept a couple bowls and plates in the dish rack so they would be easier to reach. If I did need to get into my overhead cabinets or otherwise reach for something higher than my arms could extend, I'd climb up on a chair. I brought my forearm crutches with me to Florida, but I had to wait until six weeks out to gradually begin using them again. At about two months or so, I started regularly massaging my nipples and scars with cocoa butter. I didn't notice if it made any sort of difference in fading my scars, so I stopped using it.