January Mastectomy

jizogarden

Back again, I have posted 3 photos (two old and one new)...first my TE's 3 days before the exchange, then 2 weeks post exchange and finally today...almost a 5 weeks post exchange. I have posted the comparison for a lady on EC that is so upset by her new implants....I thought a comparison might help. Maybe it will help others too

Becky glad your feeling ok....hope you find lots of lovely scarves to camouflage your Madonna bra =\ geez! I think I'll wait for the fall with sweaters and coats

Ok .... I'm going to get on with the day...

Best to all,
Laura

faithandfifty

Have a great weekend, everyone.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

bcincolorado

Kat, too funny!  I had to laugh about the weekend festival.  I live in a city with a big festival this every Memorial weekend but we just have never gone since crowds are not our thing either.  We'll rest and maybe cook out on Monday.

I hope everyone has a nice and happy holiday weekend!

jizogarden

 

Morning all,

I am running way behind...just want to share a link that has some nice nutritional info in a nutshell

http://www.pinklotusbreastcenter.com/breast-cancer-101/2010/05/sheryl-crows-ultimate-breast-cancer-prevention-guide/

For those that twitter....for every 100 new followers on Pink Lotus, they will provide a free mammogram for an uninsured woman

http://twitter.com/pinklotusbc

Will sit down and catch up with posts this afternoon....getting ready to teach my class

Strength and healing,

Laura

Lynbob

Mornin' Glories!  {{{{hugs}}}}

I started on page 56 to try to catch up and boy oh boy have I missed a lot! Pictures, birthdays, pains, gains, thoughtless comments, beautiful sentiments and most of all love and support that is what TEAM JANUARY is all about. As I read about the gardens, the walks, the hurts and reliefs I laughed, cried and was angry right along with you. I am so sorry I have not been around to be a support in a timely manner. You have all been on my mind and in my heart and prayers. And I have missed you {hugs}

Honestly it began with the exchange not going well April 7. I just didn't feel up to being online. Then I was afraid as things didn't get better that I would worry those of you waiting for your exchanges. My experience was not so good but also not typical. And it seems the one thing that is consistent with the BC journey other than we are all strong, powerful women is that the paths are often different and diverse. I am struck by how different someone with a similar diagnosis will have different treatments plans. Some have chemo some not, tamoxifen or not etc. These differences can leave you wondering what the difference is and if there is something being missed.

Despite the ups and downs of the journey I have to say I have been truly blessed by the experience. Especially the love and support here. Truly ladies, I would have lost my mind without this group. I would love to be a part of group walk in Indy next year. I would love to see Team January walking together. I doubt there would be a dry eye.

Love you girlies {{{{hugs}}}}

bcincolorado

{{{{lynbob}}}  I'm so sorry to read about your bad excahnge experience.  I hope you are doing better now and happy with your results at this point. 

I agree with your comments about how much everyone has touched each others lives.  I often find myself in tears reading posts even if I don't have anything to comment about. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

robinlbe

Seriously.....how many of us *really* could make it to Indy.......Let's get a head-count.....I am SO in for this!!! 

As you each say that Indy is do-able (if the date is right), I will edit this post to add your name...how's that???

Well, I'll do it to the NEXT post....

blessings...robin

robinlbe

J-Team INDY bound.......

1) Robin

2) Lynbob

3) Paula

Lynbob

If I can get the time off from work I can be there. I am 2 hours away from Indy

robinlbe

yeah, it's kind of a "Lord willin' and the creek don't rise" situation....who knows about what will be going on on that actual date...

I'm just two hours away also...in New Albany....just two hours east of YOU

blessings...robin

frosty1

West coast makes it a bit more difficult, but carry my picture!

Anonymous

hi lynbob, so good to hear from you.  So sorry you have had such a difficult time with your exchange.  Is everything going ok now?  Your words are so well written and so true.

I have to tell you I just finished "google mapping" to Indy.  Looks like approx 15hour drive for me. So possible, depending on when and for me also to get time off work, but would absolutely love to meet up and do a walk with "Team January".  This group will always hold a very special place in my heart.  You have helped to get me through one of the darkest times in my life.

Take Care

Cathy

jizogarden

{{{{{{{ lynbob }}}}}}}}}  I hope your doing better.  So sorry to hear you had a rough time.  Hope you find plenty of time to for healing and comfort.

Hope everyone is having a nice long weekend  

Strength and healing,

Laura 

binga

Lynbob- Good to hear from you.  So sorry you haven't felt good and had such a hard time with this.  Thanks for letting us know how you are doing.  Hope everything starts getting better from here on out!

Becky 

robinlbe

Cathy....Sounds like Indy could be a good vacation destination for you next year   There are other things to do in the area and on the drive there, depending on where your start is.....

Frosty, Sorry the west coast is so far "west".....

Hope everyone is resting, healing, enjoying....and remembering.

Memorial day Weekend....

blessings...robin

pbebow

I would definitely like to be a part of Team January in the walk...  I'm sure it would be doable for me, as long as the rest of my life cooperates with the date!

Have a great day ladies!!!

Paula

faithandfifty

What a glorious weekend!!

Hope that all of our campers, picnic-ers, grill-out-ers, stay-at-homers, zip-around-the-lake-ers, play-with-the-grandkiddo-ers, gardeners, shoppers, readers, drivers, photographers, golfers, parade-ers, hikers, organizers, and all others have had a lovely time with a lengthy weekend.

I googled the Indy Komen site.

They have a 'celebration' for survivors coming up this fall on Sun., Sept 26th that sounds pretty awesome. The meal & entertainment are free to survivors.

http://www.komenindy.org/events/pink-ribbon-celebration/

Read all about it!!!!!!!!!!!

Then there race for 2011 is set for April 16, 2011.

What event sounds of interest????

We need to mark our calendars.

The celebration/Sept 26th requires a reservation & (free) ticket.

xx00xx00xx00xx

faithandfifty

Silly me.

((((((((((((((((((Lynbob)))))))))))))))

robinlbe

Oh, Debbie...I'm so glad we finally have a date, or DATES, as the case may be.  The event next April is my oldest son's b'day....as hard as it is to believe, he will be TWENTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh my....I can't even begin to think that.....but he was born April 16, 1991, so that will make him 20 on April 16, 2011, right?!?!? 

I'll take a gander at their website and check it out....and look at my calendar, too.  I have a feeling, though, the April date will be when my daughter's orchestra has contest...it's almost *always* the same weekend as Benjamin's b'day.....sigh.  And she'll be a senior....but this will be a one-time event....so hopefully, it will work out...

Let me know who else is "up for it", even if we don't know the particulars and the definites....looking for the *interested*....

blessings...robin

bookart

Well I had a bit of a meltdown this past week.  We went on vacation and I felt very vulnerable out of my normal circle of friends and family who know what I've been through.  I'm flat on top and have a bit of a gut - I felt very self-conscious and freakish.  I haven't had that feeling at all before this.  In general, my post-surgery body hasn't bothered me except for the healing process - not my appearance.  It brought up a number of issues I didn't even know were bothering me.  Wow. 

KatRNagain92

Morning Team,

Lynbob, it's so nice to hear from you.  I'm sorry you struggled with your exchange and I pray you're on the mend now. 

I 'ran away' this weekend...mostly to get away from Summer Camp but also just to go DO something.  My youngest was working all weekend and my H was golfing.  I decided to take a road trip to Iowa and see my oldest and shop at the outlet mall and spend too much money.  Short term fix to a long term problem...but I highly recommend the Coach store!  HA!

We did other fun things too like visit the Amana Colonies and ate a lot of food.  It was nice.  I haven't seen her since a couple of weeks post op from my BMX so now she's thinking 'I'm back to being ol' mom again....well, except when I went running out of the lingerie store like my hair was on fire because the bra fitter there freaked out on me. <sigh>

I would love to hook up with Team January....I'm not sure the race/walk would be the best opportunity but I guess we could try.  If I had my druthers, I would rather us make our own event....we could all get rooms at a central location and then meet for dinner, drinks, visiting, crying, hugging, swapping stories, shopping etc. That kind of connection may be hard amidst thousands of people.  I just don't do well with big crowds...but I do want to meet all of you.  I'm sure the right answer will come to us.

I hear you on the issues Elaine.  Went to our grandson's 3rd birthday party and everyone says "you look great"  ya, ya, ya.  Maybe in clothes...but I want to look and feel great not in clothes too.  I didn't realize that my breasts were such a huge part of intimacy and the new foobs are certainly putting dampers on things. Not sure how to work through this but I'm hoping time is the answer.

Well, the 3 day holiday was nice...time to hit the salt mines again.  I hope everyone has a wonderful week with the rain drops few and far between the sun-beams!

Kat

neversurrender

Hello Ladies !  I'm back from our crazy weekend.  Lynbob, good to hear from you - I hope things are are the up swing for you.  {{{Elaine}}}

Indy - count me in...doesn't matter the day or event.  We always have soccer tourneys in Sep and Apr, but I can work around those.  I would also be up for meeting up on a random weekend as Kat suggested.  I would love to meet more of Team January !

I was so paranoid at the tournaments this weekend.  As soon as I got back to my hotel, I would slip into the bathroom and make sure nothing was burned

Oops..gotta go...I smell my omlet burning.....

neversurrender

This is a link to a video from race day in Columbus. 

http://vimeo.com/12030552

faithandfifty

Sally. How awesome is that link?????

Thanks so much for sharing it here. I just put in on my FB wall.

Could you spot us???? LOL!!!!

Hugs all around team January, as we make efforts to "re-enter" the 'real' world where there is such an emphasis & appreciation for outward appearances, youth and clevage. Probably not in that order, either.

No doubt there's much to be said with accepting & appreciating ourselves.... which is such a long journey. So much easier said than done. Here's to holding one another up thru the process. The season at hand, with wearing fewer layers presents it's new unique set of issues.

We will just have to develop the other amazing aspects of our capabilities & talents and make progress toward our own unique dreams of contribution. There is much self-worth that arrises from meeting new challenges & crossing new hurdles.

(((((((((((((((((((Elaine))))))))))))))))))

Stand tall.

Stand tall.

Stand tall.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

*****I haven't taken one of my "happy pills" for two weeks now. I am also re-training myself how to sleep without medication -- and have slept for the last 5 nights without pharmalogical support. So I am having my own celebration of acceptance -- creeping & crawling.

Anonymous

bookart I so sorry you had such a difficult time.  I can totally relate to what you are saying,  I felt exactly the same way when I took a last mintue vacation with my spouse and kids to Florida. It is not a nice feeling.

I have marked the April date on my calendar, just in case.  I can also see and agree with what Kat is saying, that it might be another option to meet separate from this walk.  I have also seen another thread where there is a group of ladies from here that meet in Las Vegas.  That is also a trip I have on my list of places to go.  I haven't been there since I was pregnant with my almost 18 year old son. 

Kat it is hard to feel like back to normal.  Not sure if that will ever come back  but hopefully as some time passes, this can feel normal.

Sally glad to see you have survived what sounds like a crazy weekend. Sally how long after your surgery before you started driving?

Hope everyone has a great day!

Take Care

Cathy

jizogarden

Morning all,

Bookart sorry you had such a hard vacationn....it seems to be the nature of the beast...we think we're doing fine and then we're in tears.... Being away from all your regular support must have been very hard Hope your feeling better now that your home..

Kat and Cathy I agree about meeting somewhere together.....not saying I could make any of the trips but I still like the idea  

Intimacy......is difficult!  I found a little pretty cami that I put on and prepared for some amoure I'm not saying it's easy and I really miss my own boobies...they were important  DH is trying to make it all as easy as possible......I'm hoping it will get easier and less stressful with time. Intimacy and stress do not mix well =o\

Sally thanks for the wonderful link....love all the shocking pink wigs

My new implants are still feeling very firm.  They are squishier on the sides towards the armpits but pretty firm in the center and the sternum.  My implants are only 20cc smaller than my TE's. Is it because there is so little difference in size that they are still feeling firm...not much wiggle room?  I'm hoping as the muscle relaxes they will feel less snug. Any ideas??? I still get winded easily when walking Smudge up hills....the same pressure on my upper lungs I felt with the TEs. The overall comfort is far better than the TE's but still can't say they are squishy.

I gardened for 2 hours this morning...worked into a dripping sweat....it was wonderful  I'm a bit sore but regular muscle sore...these muscles have been dormant for months!  It feels good to work and sweat again  

Healing and comfort,

Laura 

KatRNagain92

Hey Laura,

I'm definitely not squishey, and you've described my implants to a tee!  Squishier on the sides towards the armpits but pretty firm in the center and the sternum.  My implants are 40cc smaller than the TE's but don't forget the structure of the TE's probably added surface area and then the gel is different than saline so displacement is a factor.  I agree that they feel firm, and they certainly don't jiggle and are not all that 'yippee squishey' 

I wonder if it has to do with you and I have the same implant?  Allergan Natrelle High profile#20 with 600cc silicone gel.  

Do you suppose it's the high profile?  You get more anterior projection so maybe that's where it's firmer.  I don't know...but I was hoping that since you were fluffing here so much farther into the process than I am that there was hope for me yet.  Paula?  Do you think having a moderate profile makes them softer and squishier?  Does anyone else feel that these implants are not all that different then having the TE's in? (and at least your TE's weren't cool to the touch) 

Hey, Becky how are the Nips?  I bought some 'Comfy Cups' from Fashion Forms in Iowa and they're awesome.  You can slip them into anything, cami, bra or even a shirt will hold them in place with no bra.  10.00 a pair.   Those should hide the nips well....

Well, I hope everyone has a nice evening.  It was a beautiful day today...hope tomorrow is the same!

Kat

KatRNagain92

PS Debbie,

I really liked what you said here: 

We will just have to develop the other amazing aspects of our capabilities & talents and make progress toward our own unique dreams of contribution. There is much self-worth that arrises from meeting new challenges & crossing new hurdles.

I've printed it out and have stuck it to my screen.  Thanks!

burley

Great to hear from everyone!  Surprising how much you miss when you're off the computer for 4 days.

Camping was great-really enjoyed the cool (cold) weather, compared to the 100's here.  Ate like a pig, and drank a few beers.  So nice to have a change of scenery.

Back to the real world-today was bloodwork, and Thursday is chemo #6.  I am so hoping for little side effects this time-being down and out for 10 days last time really sucked.

I wish I could do Indy, but the distance and money just won't make it possible for me.  Sounds awesome, though.

Reading your discussion on the foobs-I thought they were going to be squishy too.  Maybe not like real boobs, but not like the TE's either.  Humpf.  Anything has got to be better than these things, though!

I hope everyone has a great evening!

bcincolorado

{{{bookart}}} I'm sorry your vacaation dredged up those feelings.  I can totally relate.  I change clothese several tims most mornings because I'm so lopsided and self-concious.  Everything I wear is usually layed and baggy to hide my issues that make me so uncomfortable and want to hide.