Starting Chemo March 2015

those Genie camisoles have been my favorite compression tank so far and I'm accumulating a drawer full of other things I've tried. I agree with Theresa about the under armour fabric being too "slick" and not breathing. Those bike tops look good.

My LE therapist reminded me that the main purpose of a compression garment is to provide constant massage to the lymph so it's not necessarily how tight and "sqeezy" it is, but more about how it touches and then moves over the skin in as many places as possible as you go about your day. She also said if there is a pattern like dots or lines woven into the fabric that is helpful at providing that massage. I think that's why the more nylon and less silky type of shirts seem to work better. The genie material is like a thinner version of the material my sleeve is made of. I've always been one to prefer thick organic cotton and clothes that don't "hug" my less than shapely form, so all this nylon and spandex has taken quite a bit of getting used to!

I always buy the shirts in a size smaller than I regularly wear. The boobs parts of the genie camisole flatten out just fine if you aren't wearing boobs. I don't have a waist so my only complaint is that the bottom rides up. The armpits are for sure the most comfortable. In my other compression shirts I started getting short sleeves instead of sleeveless because they are more comfortable and effective with the armpit swelling.

I'm collecting addresses for holiday cards. PM me yours plus your e-mail if you want to play.

Happy weekend everyone!

This is my favorite compression shirt. It's 82 % nylon. You can see it has the different patterns woven in, similar to the ones Theresa posted. I think it works the best at moving the lymph plus there is the added experience of feeling like an obese power ranger when I wear it.

If anyone recognizes the brand or can make out the logo that would be great, I got this at a thrift store and I can't read the label which is a real drag because I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

I was so proud to see Jack recognized as part of this year's library programs. He is on the bottom left with a little girl reading to him

Sloth, that looks like a great shirt, and Ksusan is right about the logo being Pearl Izumi. It is a bicycling shirt. And I bet it is super comfortable.

Go Power Ranger!

Sharon - I know what you mean about not liking what you see in the mirror. I'm ok with my body, but I feel like I've aged 10 years in my face and I hate my hair short. But people are constantly telling me I look great. It just makes me cringe every time.

Please know that the last few pics I've seen of you are truly beautiful. I know it's not the former 'you' but you have an inner beauty that shines through and I think you are absolutely gorgeous. I also know that YOU don't see yourself that way and that's ok. I just want you to know that people aren't lying to make you feel better...you really are beautiful even if it's not your former beauty that you're used to. 😘

Bekah

Well said, Bekah.

Bekah- I know so many of us struggle with this, and you struggled with it yourself during chemo. And I have never heard it said so nicely. Your words meant a lot to me too.

Sharon- I know convincing words cannot change a heartfelt opinion, but I've seen you on Skype. I know getting past this upcoming week, whatever it entails, will be better than the limbo. You are very beautiful and special to me. Try to think that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" did not become an overused cliche because it was not true. It's because it is.

Theresa- that was an amazing and powerful image and so helpful for me to keep those three things in mind. I have an extremely difficult time with my body right now. But I know I can improve how I see it. Thank you.

And now for a funny (sort of) story. I really didn't want to go, feeling the way I do, but I DRAGGED myself to the Furry Friends Christmas party. It was a 45 minute drive each way, alone, and dogs weren't invited. I went because several people called and asked me please to come. So all right. As you all know, I've been way past commando for months, but my hair didn't really get the memo. It is thick and just curling in on itself, holding steady at 1/4".

A lady sitting to my right asked me: has your hair always been so curly? The lady to her right, a friend, but not the most diplomatic one, elbowed her and mouthed "she's got cancer".... Not she had cancer, had cancer tx, whatever. I almost laughed. I got my phone out and showed her a picture before chemo. She looks at it and then at me and said "you look younger" and she was still looking at the before pic. She then repeated, you look so much younger NOW. Then she asked if I lost all my hair. Out came the phone again. After that, no more stupid questions from that table.

But later, milling around in a group, someone else said they just couldn't get over my hair, blah blah, it's so curly, blah blah, and since it WAS a dog party I said I'd sent away finally for my genetic testing and it turns out I'm 1/4 poodle! We all laughed. I wanted to say STFU. But I didn't. I knew it would make a good story. Whatever. It's my spine and my brain and my heart. The end

I sure hope Sharon has found her car by now!

Thank you Katy. I knew if I came here someone would understand why that bothered me so much.

Thinking a STFU would make a great t-shirt or maybe a tattoo, though I really loved that flower tattoo that I posted the link too a couple of weeks ago. She does 3D nipple tattoos too that are just amazing.

you look strong (how about I bitch slap you and show you how strong I am)

You've done amazingly well (gee, just because I didn't tell you how bad my guts and feet and hands burned doesn't mean they didn't)

You totally rock the short hair look (sorry Eileen, I think I said that to you, but you really do)

It will be okay (it will never be okay)

You will be fine (and you know how?)

Every cancer story I've been told since this started (horror stories are not what I need to hear, thanks for that)

My hair looks terrible (stfu, bitch. At least you have it to whine about)

I wish I had the courage to cut my hair and start over, it's so dead looking. (Give me the buzz clippers, I will put you out of your misery)

I had scary blood work that turned out to be nothing (uh, trade you places? I actually said that to this person).

I could go on and on. I guess those aren't single words, but each one was an idiotic statement.

Sharon, did you find your car? Sorry you are wandering around the parking lot, been there, done that. First job interview I had in San Diego, I parked in a building parking structure, taking no note of where I parked. I had to walk every parking level to find my car, feeling like a dumbass the whole time.

Inspiration- you are an. Bullshit. I just showed up.

Good-you look. Again, bullshit. I know how I look and I know this is code for "I am looking past you because your disease terrifies me"

Prognosis-what's yours? Ummm. What's the color of your underpants?