What's new, or not ...

Well, we finished up our weekend at the beach - beautiful weather. We had some drizzle Sunday evening which didn't pose an issue for any of our indoor activities!

On one of my daily walks I saw some interesting seaweed colors. You might enjoy them too.

I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before. I'm hoping none of you will tell me it's a piece of trash. I would hate for my bubble to be broken!

I liked this one too.

Every walk I took was different - tide was in or out. Different rocks, pieces of wood, people and activities, you name it. I loved watching the dogs running in and out of the water. They just love it.

And I created a new ring. I need to perfect the design a little, and may add some variations to it as well over time.

Wire ring

I'm doing fine, thank you. I continue to have sensitivity and muscle tension, which I'm sure I will have for some time. Do any of you know what it is like to have your breast in a vise? That's kind of how it feels most waking hours. And if you forget or can't find your breast pillow for night time, you may feel it then too. That breast pillow is one of my best friends! It doesn't look like what your are thinking of - it's just a small pillow about 6"x12" in size. Just big enough to lift your arm off of your side and relieve some of the pressure. You might even use it when you are driving or riding in the car. I feel like a kid with my "blanky".

Wednesday was my follow-up with my plastic surgeon. In the morning before I left home, I was checking my incision out (with my 10x magnification mirror) and that little spot that wasn't as well approximated as the rest looked really big and seemed to have extended further. Well needless to say, it really wasn't as big as it looked in that mirror, but yet it looked different than the last time I checked. Mhmmm. Wonder if we get a fill-up today. The nurse thought the doctor should check first, so before we added more fluid Dr. C checked it out and decided we would let it go as is for another week. That was the point in the incision where it was the most stretched/stressed earlier. No rush.

The breast, with the expander in it is quite firm. I hoped that wouldn't be the new state of affairs, so asked if that would be how it always will be. I am reassured, that no, once we put the implant in, it won't be that firm. That's good.

Dr. C asked if I had been doing any stretching or exercises and I said "No, when I mentioned that I had started stretching last week you gave me the hairy eyeball." Well, he promised no hairy eyeball this week. I got clearance to do pretty much anything, but he will help me out by restricting mowing for a couple more weeks at least. Glad SO isn't reading my blog!! So, I'm ready for stretching it out, lifting, bicycling, and getting my mildly restricted range of motion back. And, back to work, of course! Progress is being made.

 I find it interesting to note the various emotional and logical responses I have to having had one breast removed and being in a transitional state. Some of you may already know about that. I am kind of feeling like "You remove a woman's breast, you don't know what she will do next." It's almost a call to show my femininity, or my daring. What else might I lose that has this kind of impact?  I haven't said it to the doctor yet, but I have given my right breast a title of "Ugly Pug". For those of you who love pugs, please don't be hurt, I just don't see the cuteness or beauty in them, or my breast.

After my appointment I went to Just Like a Woman to pick out my first new "in transition" bras. Great shop with personalized service and fitting. I walked away with two new bras, some bra stuffers, and a pair of dimmers. Quite an exciting event - I haven't worn a bra in weeks. The strange thing was that none of the bras from one maker to the next are sized like the other either in chest size or cup size. You really do need to try them on. They had a copy of "Reconstructing Aphrodite" in the dressing room. I only got to glance through it but think I will look for it. It's almost an art book you would put on your coffee table! Some of you, but maybe not all! http://www.reconstructingaphrodite.com/index.html

I've talked about getting caught up on my preventive health things before. Today I went to my primary care doctor for a physical - something I haven't done in several years. He really liked my tumor photo - just had to show him. When he asked if I had had my colonoscopy yet (50 years+ you know) I said, "Not yet. My philosophy is that I'm 50 until I am 60... (he's giving me a look, maybe a hairy eyeball) I add, "until recently. I will schedule one this year. Who do you recommend?" For the most part that's all I have left to do unless my labs come back with some issues, though he'd like for me to get a scan for osteoporosis. We'll see if that happens this year - probably not covered by insurance. I'll check with a few people at work to see if they know what happens with that.

I asked him how he selected Dr. I (general surgeon) for my referral. He had assisted him in surgery and had referred patients to him over the years because of his skill and calm manner. We don't know what we will do when Dr. I retires before our health care needs are over. I asked if he knew of Dr. C - "Yes, he is a top plastic surgeon and well known in the area." Good to know.

It's interesting to see how federal/Medicare mandates impact practice these days. Different questions, forms, and papers to take home with you. I need to look at those some more. I have my doubts that sending information like that will change health care behavior or motivation. And, guess what - may be totally unrelated. No female rectal exam - at least in my docs practice. So, if you haven't had your physical and that was the only thing holding you back, do consider it!

Clothes didn't have to come off for this exam. Honestly, I was so hoping I'd have to get undressed, because my new big girl bra was really bothering me and I couldn't wait to take it off. They do say to break them in slowly a few hours at a time. Might not be up to wearing bras to work next week for full days, but I have an alternate plan. Yes I do. A dimmer on one side, a padding form on the other in a cami with a light shelf bra in it and I am set.

So now, as you can see, I am anticipating the normal things that life is made of: yard work, bicycling, bra wearing, fill-ups on my expander until I am right-sized or full up, hiking, working to bring in the dough that pays for the house that Jack built, and all of the wonderful things we do in everyday life.

Anyhow, just my thoughts for the week. Have a good one, and again, thanks for being there.