[creativelady]

If I don't laugh - I know I will cry. I hope this topic helps others as well. I have already had encounters during this journey which just seemed surreal

I hope others will add some things along the way that will make us smile as we cope.



Today I just came home from my Plastic Surgeon appointment for reconstuction.
Wonderful women and I feel more comfortable knowing I am in good hands.
What is so surreal?

I have an owner's manual for my implants

I ask you - should I use a highlighter maker in it like I did the new frigerator, dishwasher, or car manual?
Who would have thought they come with a manual?

Surreal right?

I guess I still have my sense of humor

[Maya II]

oops

[3jaysmom]

my therapist was fond of saying=after alittle while the abnormal becomes the normal..ain't that the truth! MayaII hi, my 2 puppies r going, there real gems..kight and love 3jaysmom

[nicubabe]

well, I think it's probably funny AND surreal! I have a wallet card for my tissue expanders. It has the type, serial number and date of placement. What happens if I lose my wallet????? Or, what if I hand a police officer my tissue expander card instead of my drivers license if I get pulled over for a traffic stop?????? Do I have to show it along with my voter registration card when I go to vote????? Does it make my foobs "illegal alians" because they are a "foreign" body??? LOL
xoxoxo
Angela

[creativelady]

Thank you ladies for helping me laugh.

I didn't know they have ID cards for the tissue expanders too - very funny about handing them to the Police Officer instead of your license.
I don't think the police officer would forget that traffic stop!
My husband is an attorney, it made me laugh thinking of him explaining that incident to the District Attorney in your defense.

The dog debate was wonderful too. I sure hope to see my little Jack Russell Deacon again some day
(lost him 2 years ago to brain cancer at only 6 1/2). I still miss him dearly!

You are all priceless. This forum is great. I think I was originally in shock of hearing the diagnosis and feeling like it was someone else. I was so positive and upbeat they had caught it early. Then the reality hit with all the recurrence rates, ratios, aftercare and vigilance for years to come. It is life altering regardless of the stage, age, etc. I hope this topic helps us all cope and find humor to stay positive. Thank you again for joining in.

[2boysmom]

I'll add to this how surreal it is to think about how many people have seen/touched my boobs in the past 7 months. I keep thinking that some women make good money letting people see/touch their boobs, maybe I should start charging!!! Instead of a "kissing booth" I could have a "feel up" booth. All proceeds will go to BC research.

L

[Swedishbaby]

Good Morning Creative Lady,
You do have a wonderful sense of humor and we definitely need that. I was a little floored to get a manual on my Mentor implants also and a warranty besides. Then when those were replaced 4 months later with new ones I got another ID card with a new number for each one and another "owners manual". I figured that was just Mentor standing behind (or in front of) their implants, but I guess each company has to do that, probably for insurance. So many companies were sued back in the 90's for having bad implants and I can remember several of our patients claiming their Migraines or neurological problems were due to possible leaking silicone implants. This was never proven but they were taken off the market for years and saline became the implant of choice even though they also develop leaks.

So good luck with the plastic surgeon. It is great to have someone you have confidence in doing your reconstruction. I liked my first one but she didn't do the best job. My second one has been a gem with all the corrections he had to make and when the nurses at the hospital told me they would go to him, that let me know I'd made the right choice.

Sorry about your dog. We lost two last year and my daughter lost her beloved Samoyed mix. Then both my 16 year old cats died- all since my surgery. I spend a lot of time and love on the two little poodles I have left, and yes I will get another dog when they go. I just can't imagine life without pets. Or Heaven without them either.

Love and prayers,
Barbara

[creativelady]

Good one about the people handling your breast. I had 3 women working on me for an hour before they declared the Stereotactic biopsy a failure. That alone would have put a good chunk of change for BC research!

[Compassionate Angel]

I find humor helps to deflect the inner pain! I had bilateral mastecomies and reconstruction done. I did the nipple sparing and the test for it came back clean the day of my surgery, however 3 days after I got home my surgeon called me to advise that the final pathology report came back with my left nipple having cancer in it also. I had to go back in 2 weeks after my surgery to remove it.
I have had horrible pain, muscle spasms, bruising, and they were hard as a rock for a long time. (it has only been 2 months since my surgery on april 19th 2010)
So, I first starting calling them my "Brick House" look. and went around singing " I'm a Brick House, I'm mighty mighty letting all hang out"
Then after I finally got to take the bandage off the nipple I loving called it "winkie" and the other "Knob"! I have a constant "wink" look until I can go back in to have it redone! My husband gets a constant flash and a wink when i need a laugh cause it makes him smile too!

I was talking to a friend of mine who told me of a story of a women that shared her story of her nipple reconstruction that back then they took it from the upper thigh. She said that she started to grow hair on her nipple! Because of course on our legs we grow hair... She said I never thought I'd have a Hairy Nipple!!

Laughter is a good healer!

[MHMama]

A sense of humor is the best medicine for all of us and I have to admit, it has kept me going. Some people don't understand my sense of humor and I have been even asked how can I make fun of breast cancer and my answer is always, "it is MY breast cancer and I will make fun of it if I want to"
Keep your sense of humor, it will help you through this journey we are all on. Nancy

[creativelady]

Thanks for sharing your stories. I think laughter is great healer for a bruised soul. It is the hardest for me to watch my family worry and suffer through this. I use humor to deflect the somber overtones for my children and husband. It eases the tension for them and says it is okay for them to continue to laugh and live "normally" during this time.

I loved the story very cute. I guess mine are sleeping until I finish reconstruction and have the "eyes" put back on. Never thought of that of that analogy. You kind of sleep walk through the haze after the shock of diagnosis.
The brick house is cute too-it certainly made me smile.

Nancy I give you a big Ditto as well.

Thanks again!

[Queeenmimi]

I just had my 6th cancer free anniversary and I am still getting reconstructed. I'm like one of those highway projects that's never quite finished.

[Maya II]

There was a time when I felt like I needed orange cones to place around me, and a sign that said "under construction."