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No Breast Reconstruction for Me

I went for my consultation with the plastic surgeon on Tuesday. The verdict is that there will be no breasts via plastic surgery for me, at least not by the means currently available.The consult was extremely informative and I liked the doctor I saw, Alex Cech, MD, in Farmington, CT, very much, and would definitely recommend him. The short explanation for my decision not to do it is that the success/failure rates for an implant on the radiated side just aren't good enough for it to be worth it to me and I am not willing to sacrifice back muscle (lats) for a procedure that would work better on that side. I have (if I do say so myself) a beautiful back and I don't want to ruin it just for the sake of having a "real" breast on the left side. Even more important is the issue that I actually USE my muscles on a daily basis to do things- run, bike, swim, ride ponies, do physical work, etc. Dr. Cech was very honest about the potential impact of various procedures on my athletic pursuits and the importance of my preferred lifestyle (very active) in deciding to have (or not have) reconstructive surgery. Being able to do everything I do now as well as I do it now wins hands down.
I'm going to focus my energy on athletics and stick with the breasts that come in a box. Maybe I'll get myself some smaller ones, which I've been wanting to try, for Christmas. Despite the lack of real breasts I feel good about my body, actually probably happier with it than I was a few years ago because I'm in better shape. Breasts would be nice but for me they're not essential. If they figure out how to grow new ones from stem cells then maybe I'll revisit the reconstruction issue- for now I'm content with my sometimes boyish figure which has it's own kind of appeal. Maybe I'll get breasts in all different sizes and vary them according to my mood. Vamos a ver...

Rural Grocery Delivery

A couple of months ago when I was walking the dogs we ran into a guy on a long bike ride who asked me where we got our groceries around here. I'm the wrong person to ask because although we have a grocery store about five miles down the road, I hardly ever go to it. Most of our food comes from the farm share or our neighborhood co-op. Rebecca- still healing from her bike crash- dropped off this month's order on her way to physical therapy for her hand.

Here's Gus guarding our pizza crusts, 12 pounds of espresso beans, cheesecloth, 10 pounds of wild rice, oatmilk, lentil dip, and Almond Sunset tea (which I am excited about, having not had it since the last time I went on a Zen retreat...ahh memories...of severe leg pain, not enough sleep, and not being able to eat fast enough...but I digress).

I'm going to post this and then haul our loot down to the basement.

Sorry Gus, no pizza this morning. Maybe Jim will make you one tonight.

It's a beautiful day today, spring-like which I wasn't at all expecting after yesterday. I could ride but I feel the need to take it slow this morning and am just going to take a walk- maybe do some yoga if I start feeling really ambitious.

Tomorrow I am going for a plastic surgery consult to see about getting some new breasts. I've surprised myself with this one. Suddenly I realized I wanted some- little ones- maybe for Christmas. We'll see...

Don't give me that look Gus.