[Mary Jo]

Hello everyone,

Thanks for your well wishes and now I'll answer those of you who had questions or address your concerns for me.

First of all to Louise, I've always been a very active person who exercised faithfully so that was just a normal thing for me. I eat right and took a multi vitamin and D3 until about 3 weeks before the surgery. Then I stopped everything. As far as weight...I was 153 pounds the first time I consulted with Dr. Hijjawi and he said I had enough fat and tissue for 2 barely "B" breasts. That was fine with me. However, for contouring purposes (I have a very pronounced sternum and without breasts it was super noticeable) I decided to gain some weight. Dr. Hijjawi never encouraged or discouraged it. When it was all said and done I was 158 at 5'5" tall and Dr. Hijjawi was pleased. I had enough for 2 nice B's with wonderful contouring. I have already lost 4 pounds since the surgery (and no that isn't because they remove your abdomin - they only transfer that fat to another area) and am back on the "healthy train." Enough of all the crap. So I am confident 10 pounds more will follow. So just eat well - exercise, exercise and exercise. Go into the surgery as healthy as you can. It's all for you benefit.

Thank you Lee for your well wishes on my surgery. I appreciate your prayers and kindness.

Hi Debbie, I'm sorry you are having so many problems with your TRAM. That is the main reason I didn't want the TRAM. I am way to active of a person to have my abdominal muscle removed. I hope your issues can be resolved and you get back to yourself soon.

Swimangel, Thanks for your continued reminders on ways to spare me from any troubles. I do appreciate them greatly. However, please understand, that as much as I don't enjoy drains I would never "complain" to Dr. Hijjawi just to get them removed. For that matter any surgeon in good standing would never remove drains that were not ready to be pulled and if he did he surely isn't a good surgeon. Behavior such as that would only be detrimental to the patient and complaining or not, they are there for a purpose. That being said, I had 3 drains today that were ready to be pulled. For the right reasons. The output was small for the past 48 hours (less than 20 cc's each day - way less) so they were ready to go. The abdominal drains are the only ones left and they too are outputting minimal fluid. Dr. Hijjawi was quite confident they would be out by the end of the week or the our next scheduled appointment, next week Monday. To address your next issue about activity and seroma's. I've been active for the past few days already. I'm not a sitter. Maybe a bit slower but definitely not a sitter. My surgeon told me today that I am healing incredibly fast and if it wasn't for the fact that I had stitches everywhere - looking from the neck up he'd never know I had surgery. I totally understand the "take it easy" appraoch and once again, I am abiding. I know I must care for myself and I surely am. I eat well - walk a lot - do things around here (that I can) and rest when I feel I must. I think that is how we should care for ourselves. So, once again Kathy, thank you for your reminders and advice. It's always nice to hear from those who have been their.

And last but certainly not least - dear sweet michka and jean - thanks for your well wishes and support. It feels so nice to have breasts again and I didn't even think I missed them that much. I've shed more tears the last few days then I ever would have imagined. Three years ago tomorrow I heard those dreaded words - you have cancer - and here I am 3 years later - happier, stronger, way smarter and with 2 beautiful soft and warm breasts that look like I'm 18 again. How cool is that?????

All that being said....don't think for one minute I'm trivializing the journey or the new breast thing. I'm not. I know how hard it all is....I've walked the road like all the rest of you...........I'm not speaking flippantly about my new "18 year old breasts" I'd way rather have my 48 year old hangy ones and never have to think of the damn "C" word again but that isn't how it is SO you just go with the flow and make the best of the situation you're in.

I'm in a great situation and I wouldn't be half of what I am today if it wasn't for each one of you wonderful people. You can trust me on that one.

Love and God's Peace to each of you.

Mary Jo