One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?
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Good morning everyone,
Okiegal, Interesting lamp...did you purchase it? I was wondering how you are feeling...if your pins and needles were gone? I hope so.
UpCreek, Riding a bike to work with your DH sounds like fun and a great way to work in exercise! There is a bike club that ride from Manhattan to where I live (approx 35 miles one way) and then back to Manhattan! I can't imagine how they get through the city traffic and over the George Washington Bridge! Yikes!
Fortunatel, Are you getting your tattoo today? I hope your happy with the outcome... look forward to hearing about it.
NewBride, I hope you're feeling OK. (((hugs)))
I've mentioned before about this black bear (Lilly) who gave birth to her cub on a live web cam. These bears have quite a following and the biologists who study them have asked for stories of bear encounters. I had a few bear encounters camping in the Adirondack Mtn in NY. I've submitted a short story. They plan to take a few of the stories they receive and publish a children's story book. Not sure if my story is what they were looking for, but it was fun writing it.
Sunny today...but rain in the forecast for the next couple of days. I hope you all have a good day.
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hello everyone....hope you are all feeling well.....sounds like everyone is enjoying the warmer weather.....carole.....i'm glad mikelson did well too, and i've been using a can opener to pop open jars too, it makes it much easier....meg....great news about your wbc count...hoping it continues. okie...i was never referred to an oc either....love those lamps....tinkerbell....you sound really good...i'm so happy you've improved so much.....im still using my sons computer, when i can...i'm feeling good...improving each day, i'm not totally comfortable all the time, especially when i lay down at night...but it is getting better, less tightness at the end of the day....i guess this is my new normal.....fortunate ...meg mentions that you might be getting your tattooing today...keep us posted...hope new bride is doing well.....upcreek...bicycling to work sounds great...take good care all.......
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Hi everyone, I'll have to keep it quick as I have to leave for work soon.
Yes, yesterday was the day. I am sick, bronchitis, but am shouldering through all I have to do and napping as much as I can. I've found out how fast a house can look awful if you cut housework to an absolute minimum. So with scared feelings pushed to the background, the tattoo appointment became another job to complete. The tattoo (actually permanent cosmetics) artist was great. She talked about what she does, showed pictures, covering everything I was worried about before I even asked. I told her about our pepperoni fears and she was very amused, had never heard it put that way. She drew on me, we consulted and corrected. She got out her colors, dabbing them around the remaining nipple to get a match. She numbed the area with a topical gel and went to work, The numbing was needed. I was surprised how much sensation has come back... but it is all screwed up. when she hit an un-numbed spot it would hurt a little... somewhere else. If I was hurt on the edge of the areola-to-be, I felt it at the corresponding edge of my breast. Very weird, but basically painless, so don't worry.
She does all this in two stages... the one I just had to lay in the color and a second in 4-6 weeks that will correct anything needed and possibly put in details.
This all packed a surprising emotional whallop. I was firing a kiln yesterday as well. I set timers to wake me up for kiln checking and slept my way through the day. The nipple actually looks a little pepperoni-ish at this point with the extra pigment that will fall off, but I can already see that I'm going to be pleased.
Love to all.
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Hi Everyone,
Fortunate1, Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. I hope you feel better soon.
Ally, Good to hear from you. It took me a long time to regain strength in my hands and arms. I still feel a big pull in my chest when closing a window. The tremble in my left arm has not gone away...I don't think it will...the new normal?
Cloudy and cold today...rain tomorrow. I hope everyone has a good weekend.
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sounds like it will be great fortunate.....feel better.....meg....nice to know fortunate found a good tatoo artist and it didn't hurt much...and from what i've read the "pepperoni" color fades, although fortunate is a real trooper...seems to get through everything with very little pain/complaints.....here's a strange one....when i yawn my foobs twitch.......have a great weekend........
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Meg9: We will need to compare bear stories!
Fortunate1: So glad you went and are done. Thanks for sharing.
Ally: one side twitches more than the other????
Have a great weekend everyone.
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Hi, everyone. I'm back at home after an enjoyable week in MS. We towed our traveling bedroom, aka 5th wheel rv, to Percy Quin State Park and occupied a nice site overlooking a large lake. Weather was great. DH and I came in 2nd in the couples golf tournament and I came in 1st in the women's!! Good food so I brought home a couple of pounds more than I took with me.
I missed checking in. Fortunate, I'm happy your tattoo procedure went well. Hope you feel healthy again soon. Meg and Upcreek, please share bear stories with us. Okie, that lamp is interesting to look at in a picture but I would not want to live with it. Ally, you get so used to the new normal after a while that it is normal.
Tinkerbell, NewBride, YearoftheHat, and anyone else whose name slips my mind, hope you're doing well. Guess I'd better try to accomplish something today. Happy Saturday.
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Hi everyone,
Congradulations Fortunate1! You're almost finished! I'm so excited for you!!!!!!!
And, congradulations Carole! You all sound like you had a wonderful time. It's nice to hear that life has returned back to normal. I remember last year when all of your BC journey started, you had to cancel a long planned trip.
I didn't buy the crazy lamps...not really my style. But someone else did.
Alley, my "boobs" move a lot. Especially when I wash my hands. I'm sure they move when I yawn, I just hadn't noticed, yet.
Hope everyone has a productive or fun day. As for me, I'm cleaning out the garage. I'll be happy when it's done, so I better get started!
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Good Morning pals, well pretty late, actually. I am doing as told, staying in bed dozing and reading while DH goes to a class and covers me in an usher information meeting. But it's now after 10:00 and I want to see how my firing came out. Thank you all for your good wishes. I will try to keep you up to date on the tattoo healing. Am I the first in our group?
I am appreciating the flexing boob comments. In this little world I am not alone, and it gives me some comfort. Hey,I'm looking forward to bear stories. Congratulations Carole! First place, you're back. Okiegal, those were very amusing lamps, I couldn't figure out any way they would fit into my house either, though maybe something outlandish and fun should be a part of all of us. It would have to be in the boudoir, wouldn't it?
I hope we hear from Newbride soon. She is in my thoughts. And Tinkerbelle, how are you?
Opera tonight for me, yay, in a red silk dress to watch Violetta die of TB. I have to make sure I don't cough. There's an awful lot of really filthy work for me to do before then so I'd better get moving.
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Hello ladies!
Meg, I am so happy your WBC went up, this is really good news! You are walking almost every day! I exercise every day, but don't have time for walking, I miss it.
Carole, first place, such a wonderful result, congradulations! You asked me about Waterfalls trail, it was 5.9 miles loop.
Fortunate, wow, you are almost done. Is it 3D or just regular tattoo? About nipple-sharing reconstruction, my PS said it provides the best result. I am not sure about shrinking down, we'll see.
Yesterday was my six months post op. So far I am so pleased with outcome, I feel very well, and I have some more good news. On Thusday I got an American Citizenship!
Newbride, Tinkerbelle, I am thinking of you and hope both of you will be better soon.
Ally, upcreek, okiegal, hope you are doing well.
Have a great Sunday, everyone!
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Hi Everyone,
I haven't been here in quite a while. I had the nipple reconstruction with the graft from the groin area on Dec. 10th, 09. The recovery was easy but half of the right nipple turned black so it's not as big as the left one but they are all healed and for the most part I am happy with them. The areola looks great and are dark enough so I don't need tattooing.
Fortunate, I'm so glad you can already tell that you will be happy. It took me a while to get to that place with the graft areolas. Hope you enjoyed the opera.
I have to go back to catch up but I just wanted to give a quick update.
Have a great Sunday.
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Hi Everyone! I have a quick question about the Alloderm One Step. I had my procedure 11 weeks ago. Now I have lymphedema on the breast. Well at least fluid on the breast---it hasn't changed much since surgery. My PS called it lymphedema, but I hate to think that is what it is. My BS says not to worry, it will all be gone within 6 months. My PS on the other hand is very concerned. Did anyone else have swelling this long after their surgery? I have some other problems as well, a contracture of the skin at the drainage tube site which is causing a hard lump that runs almost 2" long and 1" wide. *sigh* Just hoping that someone else had this problem and that it is just slower healing. I am massaging every day, usually twice, and wearing a sportsbra now to control the swelling.
Appreciate the feedback!
Tammy
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JulieL, thanks for checking back in and giving us an update. Glad you're satisfied with the end results of your nipple reconstruction. Did it take a long time for the groin area to heal? Yikes, that sounds painful.
Hello, Tammy. Sorry to hear about complications you're experiencing following your 1-step. I thought lymphedema, LE, involved swelling of the arm. Do you think your PS might have removed the drains too soon? My drainage tube sites (one on each side) were large puncture holes at first and very sore. Eventually I applied Mederma cream and now they're pink spots. When you massage your breasts, does liquid come out of the drain sites? Sure hope the swelling goes down soon.
We had a gentle, wonderful rain last night, much needed after weeks of dry weather. This morning when I walked my 3 mi. in the neighborhood, all the trees and shrubs and other vegetation looked so happy! This is a At Home and Get Some Things Done day for me so I'd better get some things done!
Happy Monday to all.
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Hello Everyone,
Welcome Tammy, I experienced swelling under my arm for awhile. I was checked by both my BS and PS during follow up visits. Both said it was fluid build up and would go away over time. A friend of mine developed a large, painful pocket of fluid that had to be drained by her BS a couple of times. I still have a lump (not as large as it was) and asked my PS about it. She said it was nothing to be concerned about. The NP said it could be tissue, fat or skin leftover after the swelling went down. She said another patient complained about the same area and had skin the excess skin removed. I had larger breasts so it is possible that it is skin...just like the dog ears I have. I had large dimples where the drains were. The area was sensitive for a long time (months). Today, I feel nothing and the dimple are gone.
IamOK, Congratulation on your citizenship! I'm happy you are pleased with your outcome and are feeling well. It so good to hear good news!
JulieL, Great to hear from you and that you've gotten this far! You said you would not be getting tattoos, so does that mean you're totally finished! I hope so! Congratulations!
Ally, I sometimes have difficulty sleeping too. When I lay on my back my implants fall to the sides and feel uncomfortable. When I lay on my left side, sometimes I feel my heart beating...very strange. New normal?
UpCreek, Do you have bears where you live? My bear encounters happened while camping. Check out bear.org ...then, Lilly & Hope updates. It's amazing how Dr Rogers, bear biologist, walks with and feeds wild bears in the MN forests.
Carole, Welcome back! 1st in the women's tournament!
Wow, I bet you had a lot of fun playing!Fortunate1, I hope your feeling better. I do believe you are the first to have nipple tattoos. I was wondering if you were you given an antibiotic to stop infection...how long did the procedure take? You're almost done!
I hope everyone had a good Monday!
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Just checking in to say I'm feeling virtuous. Carole the Maid did some housecleaning today. Also emptied a corner of our bedroom which was stacked up with clothes and shoes to take to GoodWill. Now the stack is in the trunk of my car. Tomorrow is an Errand day and a trip to GoodWill is on the list.
Congratulations, I am OK!! Welcome to citizenship in the USA. You certainly do communicate well. Do you mind telling your country of origin?
I'm getting worried about NewBride. I think I'll check to see if she has been posting on a chemo site. A woman I know who is a golfer at our club is undergoing chemo prior to surgery. I was told that she is continuing to play golf but not for the first days after a treatment. She's prominent in various clubs and in politics. Her picture has appeared in the newspaper with her wearing a scarf.
Fortunate, are you a fan of opera? Also, are you pleased with the latest firings? Feel free to post some pics. We love seeing your pottery.
Meg, I remember that you didn't uncover your swimming pool last year. It must be getting close to time for getting it ready for use. What a different summer this year will be for you.
Okiegal, how is the garage job coming along.
Enough chitchat. I'll check in later to see if there is any news.
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Can Carole the maid come to my house? We just cleaned my daughter's room for her return from University this week just so she can mess it up again. She's a good kid so I guess I shouldn't complain too much.
Meg9: Yes, we have lots of bears and it is becoming concerning. We are avid hikers/campers and for 30 years have not seen any bear well hiking or camping. Now, you can expect it. My DH and I went hiking on our anniversary last June through a pine needle covered path with me leading the way of course. Just as I finished climbing a hill and started on a straight stretch an adult bear was coming towards me. I didn't panic, just stopped, turned and said "bear" to my DH and when I turned back he/she was heading to the bush. Thank God! Two years ago my brother was stalked by a bear while hiking and was lucky to get out of it alive. If that was me--I would have been supper!
I am Ok: Congrats on your citizenship as well.
Fortunate 1: Hope you are not in any discomfort? Are you?
Hi to all.
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Hi to everyone. I'm here. I'm OK. I HAVE HAIR (at least so far)! I would have checked in sooner but I have been moving a bunch of stuff out of the way for plumbers. After 3 major leaks in as many years DH and I have decided that we really do need to replumb the house. Not really the first thing on my remodel list. I wanted a new kitchen but the kitchen doesn't leak and the pipes do.
Carole, I'm sorry if I made you worry. I do spend less time on the computer and more time resting but I'm really doing just fine. Congrats on 1st place at your golf tournament.
Fortunate1, Congrats on the new tattoo. I'm so glad that you think you are going to be happy with the end result. That artist must be good.
I_am_OK, Congrats on American citizenship. Your nipple sugery sounds like what I would have done if I was unable to do nipple sparing. My PS would have transplanted part of my remaining nipple, in effect, sharing. Will you have an areola tattoo?
Meg, I love bears. I haven't checked bear.org yet but we have plenty of bears around here. In fact, we had a bear at our wedding. DH and I were married in Yosemite National Park. And I'm SO glad your WBC is up.
okiegal, Those lamps are the limit! I love yard sales and thrift stores. You just never know what you might find. I've picked up more than one valuable antique for a fraction of its worth.
upcreek, No, the cold caps are not availaible through a clinic here in the US They are available from a British company. I belive they are going through FDA approval now. They have been in use in the UK for about 15 years and are covered by their National Health Service. Hopefully they will clear the FDA here and some day will be covered by insurance etc. I know of a lady in CAN who is using them right now. I don't know if she had to cover the cost or not.
Yes ladies, the cold caps seem to be working. I still have a full head of hair. I still have to get through 3 more rounds of chemo but I'm not buying a wig or scarves. There is some shedding where I don't get complete coverage from the caps (mostly at the nape of my neck) but the rest of my hair will cover the areas that get thin so I think I'm going to be fine. I can hardly believe it.
The chemo is causing some hardening aroung the nipple/areola area of the foob. My PS says that should subside after chemo is through. The nipple continues to heal. I think it is a little slower due to chemo but PS isn't worried. I see him again in 6 weeks. Then again to talk about exchange surgery. Yes, I said exchange. As the foob has dropped and fluffed the area in the upper pole has become kind of thin and close to the bone. It isn't terrible but I have to go for symmetry surgery anyway and PS feels that going larger will solve the problem. I don't know if I think it's that big a problem but we'll see. I trust him and he is a perfectionist. I do kind of feel like as long as I have him I should make the most of it. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.
Well that's it for now. I'm going to get my walk in. Forecast for tomorrow is for a couple of inches of snow. I hope all are having a great day. Hello to the new girls. You found the best thread possible. There's alot of support and caring here as well as a wealth of info. You'll be fine just like us and we'll help as much as we can along the way.
Bye for now.
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Hi all,
I miss one day and come back to find so many posts! IamOK, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! A new citizen is welcomed to our wonderful country. So, pleased to have you.
NewBride, thank you for checking in. I too, was beginning to worry a bit. Excellent news about your hair and I'm glad to hear you are doing so well. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Please know you can always pop by with a brief update, if you don't have time for more.
Ladyod, welcome! "Lymphedema" is a broad term, but I agree with Carole. I don't think it is ever primarily in the breast. It sounds like something else to me. Swelling by another name? A collection of fluid? I had a contracture with one of my drain sites. It was indented, sort of like a belly button. My PS fixed it at the same time as my nipple reconstruction. It's nice and flat now.
The garage is now in much better shape. There are still some organizing projects that need to take place, but we're very proud of it now. Dropped off stuff at Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity today. On the way to Habitat, we drove by Woodward park. All of the Azaleas were in bloom. It was absolutely gorgeous. Probably the prettiest I've seen them in the last six years. My sister and I stopped and walked around some.
Bears are very scary! I've seen one out in the wild as a teenager and on the same back packing trip, one raided our camp at night and attacked out "bear bag". I thought I would never live to drive a car!
Fortunate1, hope you are feeling better and that you are healing well. How was the opera?
JulieL, glad you checked back with us. It's nice to hear that you are doing well!
That's probably enough from me. Time to go take a shower.
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Hi, all,
Forgive my popping in like this, but I just wanted to offer some information on breast lymphedema, because it's so little understood. It's called "truncal lymphedema" and is unfortunately on the rise because of the SNB removing the nodes that directly drain the breast -- so it's important information that we all need to be aware of. Prompt treatment at the earliest signs of swelling or feelings of fullness, heaviness or pain can go a long way toward easing therapy, avoiding cellulitis, and stopping progression. Many women do have only breast lymphedema, with no arm involvement at all. Here's an information page about breast/chest (truncal) lymphedema:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunckal_lymphedema.htmAnd here's one with simple life-style suggestions for reducing your risk of any sort of lymphedema, just because knowledge is power
:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/riskreduction_for_lymphedema.htmBe well!
Binney0 -
Thank you for all of the information. I have made an appt with my bs just to get it checked out. I don't trust my PS. Good to know, Okie girl that the contracture point can be taken care of with surgery....did you have to have a drainage tube after? My PS told me he could fix it but I would need a drainage tube so doesn't recommend it. Glad to know the dimple on the other side should flatten out some Meg. Thanks again!
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Ladyod,I was going to chime in with truncal lymphedema, but Binney gave much better information than I had. Good luck. Hope you can speak with a doctor soon and treat the problem.
I_am_OK, congratulations new citizen, happy to have you! Meg, I was not prescribed any antibiotic, just told to keep the nipple clean and after two days to make sure it is dry. It so happens that I was taking an antibiotic anyway for the bronchitis, but not needed. Right now it looks dry and sort of scabby and I swear the nipple looks even smaller now that the swelling has gone down. Not so pretty at the moment. Perhaps one needs more extra skin than I had to offer to build a realistic nipple. Something to think about, friends. Maybe I sacrificed a bit of badly needed projection for a nipple that is disappearing. I'm not really sorry at this point, and it was nice while it lasted. I am getting quite resigned to what I have, the pretty good breast. Okiegal... You still have good sized nipples... even if you're not pleased with the placement?
The opera... yes I'm a fan... was excellent. Violetta (La Traviata) was wonderful both in acting and glorious subtle voice. She died in fine style. The body count is high in most operas. The emotions are extreme. The music could break your heart. I coughed a little when people clapped or when the music was very loud, but mostly I was just fine. Our seats were upgraded to where the high society folk sit. In my red silk outfit I looked as though I belonged. I was greeted several times by people who looked as though they thought they should know me, and complimented on the vibrant color. An impostor in a red dress.
Newbride, I am so glad to hear that you are well, and have hair. You are amazing. Big hug.
DH and I are on the move, this time to Texas. Back soon.
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Binney: You can pop in any time!
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Hello Everybody,
Binny4, Welcome and thank you for the information. We are constantly learning!
Carole, Meg the maid (that's me!) is off to a busy day cleaning. Then Meg, the dog groomer, will be giving the dog a bath. Meg, the pool guy, will be opening the pool in time for Memorial Day. Last year it was the day after Memorial Day that I had my bmx. Looking forward to fun this summer!
NewBride, Thanks for the update...I was worried too. I'm glad the cold caps are working for you, but mostly that your feeling well enough to deal with plumbing!
I agree, if you're going to have surgery to the other breast...good time to fix everything and get it all over with. You continue to amaze me and are in my thoughts and prayers. A bear at your wedding... hope you got picturers!
Okiegal, One of the chores on my calendar is to clean the garage. DH ignores me every time I mention it! I'll have to bribe my son to help DH one weekend!
Okie and UpCreek, You make me laugh...Black bears are not known to attack humans. The bears have just come out of hibernation and are looking for food. They will forage all spring and summer and then go back into hibernation in the fall. I've learned at bear.org that they are more afraid of us then we are of them. That's why they usually climb up a tree...to get away! UpCreek, are the bears in your area black bears or grizzly bears? I believe I would be afraid of a grizzly bear. You should really check out bear.org and learn about the bears and how to act when faced with one. Especially, if they are in your area.
My first bear encounter was while camping. I was with friends and at night we drove a short distance to a garbage dump to watch the bears eat. I was surprised at the number of people who were there. While we were standing there, a large bear came from the woods behind us to walk across the parking lot to get to the dump. At the site of this bear, a few (me included) ran into cars...the closest car to where they were standing! The bear walked right by us and to the dump. I continued watching this bear from inside someone else's car as he went down the hill to the dumb. LOL I'll share my other bear encounter next time.
It is beautiful spring day today...70 degrees and sunny. I hope you all have a great day!
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I didn't know about truncal lymphedema. Here's hoping I never have any use for this insight.
Meg, love your bear story. Two summers ago DH and I did some hiking in Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier. There were warnings about bears. We banged on felled tree trunks with our walking sticks and sang and made noise, as recommended. Nary a glimpse of a bear.
Fortunate, I'll bet you looked lovely in your red silk dress.
I'm off to the beauty salon in a few minutes to have my roots colored and some more trimming done. I grew hair all winter with the aim of having a pageboy sort of hairdo with the hair smooth and turned under. All those year of having short hair, I'd forgotten my hair gets curly and unruly with a little length. So I've given up on the pageboy hairstyle because it takes too long to dry my thick mop of hair. Back to shorter, though not as short as previously.
A nice day here, too. And I bought big artichokes at the supermarket for $1 apiece! They're usually $3. For dinner I'm trying a new dish with whole wheat pasta, roasted brussel sprouts, sauteed leeks, sun-dried tomatoes, and grated Italian cheese. I saw Mary Ann Esposito make it on PBS last weekend. I'll probably add some garlic, too.
Hope everyone is having a great Wed.
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Fortunate1: I've never been to an opera. Which would you recommend for a first-timer?
Hope you are healing well.
Meg9: Most bears aren't dangerous but we live in bear country and there have been predatory bears--rare but possible. There have been some deaths.
Hi to all.
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Hi all, I just stopped in to say bye for now. I hope I'll be catching up on great news next week. I really need another day or two to be ready to leave.
Upcreek, I would recommend La Boheme, everyone's favorite first opera.
Carole, Yum, I'd dine at your house any day, it sounds so good. For me... BBQ in Austin tomorrow night.
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Carole: How did your pasta dish turn-out? My DH made pasta/shrimp/tomatoes/rapini/basil. Was excellent.
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Oops sorry--tx Fortunate1 for the opera advice. Have fun in Texas.
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Hello, everyone!
Thank you all for congratulations on my american citizenship. Carole, I am originally from Russia, so now I have russian and american citizenships.
Well, today my nipple-sharing reconstruction was done. It took about 45 minutes under local anaesthesia. I didn't feel anything during the surgery. Couple hours later I felt some soreness on the "good" side, so I took Tylenol. There is no shower for 5 days for me, then on Monday PS will remove bandage and check it out. I keep my fingers crossed.
NewBride, I am glad you are well, looks like cold cap really works. Yes, I will have an areola tattoo in about month or so.
fortunate1, have a nice trip!
upcreek, I think Carmen is good opera for the first time too.
Have to go to bed.
Take care everyone!
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Hello Everyone,
IamOK, Good Luck on Monday. I hope your not feeling any pain and everything is healing well.
UpCreek, I would always be cautious of all bears. In the US it is rare that a black bear would attack humans, but it could happen.
The pain in my shoulder came back and went to my chiropractor today. I told her about the tremble in my left arm. She tested for muscle strength...my arm and chest muscles on my left side are much weaker then my right side. She adjusted me and I already feel some improvement. I will be seeing her for weekly appointment. I think she will help me with the tremble. She also gave me some exercises to do with elastic bands which will increase my strength, but not hurt me. I'm going back to Weight Watchers tomorrow. I lost 3 pounds awhile ago and then nothing! Ugh!
I hope you all have a good weekend!
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