Reconstruction

I survived my first "pump up" appointment. My sister was here to drive me over. I was very apprehensive. I really don't like needles very much. And this was a very big one! When I walked into the examining room and glanced at it I almost left. Then decided my best course of action was to avoid it so I grabbed a magazine and stuck my face in it. The expanders which were placed between the skin and muscle and the chest wall are made of plastic except for a little round rubber piece. This is about the size of a quarter and is where the doctor injects the saline. There must be some sort of metal in there too. She used a magnet tied to a string to find the spot where the rubber is located. It reminded me of some 2nd grade science experiment. It did work as she could then use her fingers to figure out where to put the needle. I told her she better have a good joke to tell me while I looked away at a picture on the wall. I am kind of like Harrison Ford and snakes but for me it's the needles. She said to start counting the poppies in the picture on the wall. I told she had to do better than that. It takes quite a few minutes to inject the saline. So I got to hear all about her new rescue puppy. I had been told to find a plastic surgeon that I really liked as I was going to be spending lots of time with her. I will be having injections almost weekly. This week she only did one breast. At the time of surgery she had put in some saline but intentionally had not injected as much on the cancer side. So she had to even things out during this appointment. It wasn't as bad as I had imagined. Not fun by any means. But by the time this is over I will know her whole life story.

I took some drugs right after I got in the car (don't worry my sister was in charge of driving) and came home directly to my favorite spot on the couch. It feel like I took a step backward in terms of tenderness and mobility but that should go away in a day or two. She compares it getting your braces tightened. But I don't think you get your braces tightened every week - do you? 

My sister took me on an outing to the market. And then I actually made it to book club last night to talk about "The 19th Wife". They welcomed me with tender hugs, a glass of wine and told me I looked great. Love my book club!

Also went to the PACE office over at Jesuit a few days ago to train them on some of the computer stuff for the auction. They, too, gave me a wonderful welcome. They all know that my schedule is not going to allow me to spend much time, if any, in there to help. They have some very capable women who will do just fine. Everything is right on track so far. I miss being there. It's never a dull moment. 

I don't watch much TV, but of my top 4 shows three are about hospitals. "House", "Grey's Anatomy" and "ER". "Lost" is the only one without needles. I might need to switch things up a bit. My reality is too much about hospitals, medicine and needles. Maybe I will watch "American Idol" this season... or "Project Runway". And catch up on some chick flicks that Mark won't watch with me. Cheers~ and let's all do a rain dance so we don't have a drought.