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Finité
Well, I've spent the last year tending to the scars (coconut oil and vitamin E oil, rotating usage twice a day) and also the scar tissue (silicone strips). I've also research extensively what to do about some nipples. Spoke to a few people who had nipple reconstruction and were not terribly impressed with the results. All had some degree of flattening out. Also went and met with a guy who will tatto your nipple and then implant a tiny threaded socked su dermal that you can screw a nipple onto. Pretty unique actually. If you want high beams on, you screw a large nipple into place. Chilling at home with company, screw in a slightly raised nipple. Could probably even get a barbell into one of these prosthetic nips if you wanted to get a little modern. In the end, I didn't feel that was the way for me. I started checking into 3D tattoo artists and went to meet some.
Husband found a local lady who was written about in the St. Louis Post Dispatch for the work she does with breast cancer mastectomy patients. We made a date to go see her at the tattoo studio. We connected pretty quickly. Saw a lot of her work from a Facebook page and a photo album she keeps. I'd been eyeballing several tattoos on women both with and without reconstructive tats and came up with an idea I wanted to share with this artist. She was remarkably receptive to the idea. Excited actually. We looked at some id as I found on the web and traded texts for a few days before I decided, for myself, that I wanted something unique and beautiful.
I set an appointment and arrived with my husband at the studio to review the examples that Kerry had drawn up from our conversations. I wanted to incorporate a W (which stands for warrior) and a butterfly into my tattoo but gave this extraordinary artist the freedom to design the piece herself. She showed my the drafts she crafted and I was absolutlely certain that I made the correct choice. We made one, very small design change and got to work. In three hours, the piece was complete and I looked at my uniqueness in the mirror. I broke into tears of utter joy and the anxiety I'd been carrying for many, many months left my soul. My husband was astounded and so full of pride for me. I/we had done it. I wanted to show the world! I settled for a few loving girlfriends who have been alongside me the last 18 months.
No one on this whole wide terrestrial world I call home has boobs like mine. No one at all. I share my journey and experience with anyone in need but this part is mine and mine alone. I love it and would recommend it a thousand times over. This is me. This is how I conquered and became the warrior God showed me how to be. This is my badass body!
Husband found a local lady who was written about in the St. Louis Post Dispatch for the work she does with breast cancer mastectomy patients. We made a date to go see her at the tattoo studio. We connected pretty quickly. Saw a lot of her work from a Facebook page and a photo album she keeps. I'd been eyeballing several tattoos on women both with and without reconstructive tats and came up with an idea I wanted to share with this artist. She was remarkably receptive to the idea. Excited actually. We looked at some id as I found on the web and traded texts for a few days before I decided, for myself, that I wanted something unique and beautiful.
I set an appointment and arrived with my husband at the studio to review the examples that Kerry had drawn up from our conversations. I wanted to incorporate a W (which stands for warrior) and a butterfly into my tattoo but gave this extraordinary artist the freedom to design the piece herself. She showed my the drafts she crafted and I was absolutlely certain that I made the correct choice. We made one, very small design change and got to work. In three hours, the piece was complete and I looked at my uniqueness in the mirror. I broke into tears of utter joy and the anxiety I'd been carrying for many, many months left my soul. My husband was astounded and so full of pride for me. I/we had done it. I wanted to show the world! I settled for a few loving girlfriends who have been alongside me the last 18 months.
No one on this whole wide terrestrial world I call home has boobs like mine. No one at all. I share my journey and experience with anyone in need but this part is mine and mine alone. I love it and would recommend it a thousand times over. This is me. This is how I conquered and became the warrior God showed me how to be. This is my badass body!
5 weeks post exchange
Well, here we are. Getting some things back to normal while others are slowly becoming "new" normals. I am able to lay on my side a bit more. Still using a few small pillows for support but I can spoon my husband for a little while before my side boob starts hurting. Progress being made.
It's hard for me to tell what, if any, changes have been made regarding the "drop" of my implants. They have definitely gotten softer and are moving a bit more. But I still haven't seen much in the way of dropping to create a more natural slope. Come on gravity! Never works when you want it to! Some sites and comments say changes can occur for several more months. Patience shall be my game. Plus, I have a follow up appointment with the PS next Wednesday.
And here are today's pics. Scars healing nicely. Lots of vitamin E and coconut oil. Three times a day, alternating each. I also massage the scar each time. Stay true to your doctors advice. With that said, the man and I are off for four days of true camping. No RV or camping trailer for this girl (yet - though we've been looking off and on for a few years). We just like it old school in a tent. We do however have an inflatable Serta Queen mattress that is ridiculously comfortable. I mean, it's nearly as nice as the bed we have at home. I'm ready for this trip finally. God bless you who have been on this journey with me. We can do it. Strength in numbers!
It's hard for me to tell what, if any, changes have been made regarding the "drop" of my implants. They have definitely gotten softer and are moving a bit more. But I still haven't seen much in the way of dropping to create a more natural slope. Come on gravity! Never works when you want it to! Some sites and comments say changes can occur for several more months. Patience shall be my game. Plus, I have a follow up appointment with the PS next Wednesday.
And here are today's pics. Scars healing nicely. Lots of vitamin E and coconut oil. Three times a day, alternating each. I also massage the scar each time. Stay true to your doctors advice. With that said, the man and I are off for four days of true camping. No RV or camping trailer for this girl (yet - though we've been looking off and on for a few years). We just like it old school in a tent. We do however have an inflatable Serta Queen mattress that is ridiculously comfortable. I mean, it's nearly as nice as the bed we have at home. I'm ready for this trip finally. God bless you who have been on this journey with me. We can do it. Strength in numbers!
Sunday - 10th day post-op
Not a bunch to say today. Feeling a little melancholy. Not so much about the exchange surgery. Just, well, everything. My 22 year old son is just sort of in limbo right now. Part time student, part time employed, full time not sure what he wants to do with his life. Husband is Mr. Cranky. I'm just in a post cancer funk again. Who knows. Maybe it's the crappy weather. Whatever it is, I know I'll break out of it. Just gotta find the next right wave to get on and ride.
Anyway, here's the latest pics. Hard to tell much has changed. Some upper swelling has reduced and the squishy sound is almost gone completely. Follow up appointment with surgeon early tomorrow morning. Hope there is more dropping and settling. Things look a bit square on my right side especially.
Anyway, here's the latest pics. Hard to tell much has changed. Some upper swelling has reduced and the squishy sound is almost gone completely. Follow up appointment with surgeon early tomorrow morning. Hope there is more dropping and settling. Things look a bit square on my right side especially.
Provider Review
Dr. Michael Curtis
Dr. Michael S. Curtis of Mercy health has been nothing short of extraordinary for me and my breast cancer reconstruction. A wonderful first impression led to a few very comfortable meetings prior to surgery. You have to be comfortable with your entire "team" of surgeons, techs, assistants, oncologists, etc.. I am blessed to say I have confidence in all of them at Mercy. They have been outstanding.