I went to my pre-op appointment with the plastic surgeon this morning.  Everything makes more sense now.  I was wondering why I had so many questions–it’s because there’s still so much unknown.  We won’t know if he’ll need to cut the muscle until he’s in there.  We won’t know what my breast can support until they’re in there.  So we don’t know if I’ll be going home deflated at first (to be inflated at a later date) or inflated a little or a little more.  See, the breast’s blood supply is through the breast tissue.  We’re removing all of mine.  So we don’t know how my chest will react until it happens.  THAT will determine the next step.  

        I can’t shower for a month.  A MONTH.  DEAR LORD.  I can’t clean the house OR shower for a month?! The doctor told me I’ll have to “birdbath” it.  That’s waaaay better than what we call it…”bum’s bath” or “whore’s bath” or “Polish bath,” depending on the situation.  I ordered a shower chair and a removable shower head to ease the bathing situation.  I ordered no-tie shoelaces because I’m not going to be able to bend down to tie my shoes.  I ordered front-close everything.  Shirts, bras, pajamas.  

        I have a red mole on my chest (among other things), and I asked the doctor if it’ll be in a different place after the surgery.  He said, no, probably just at a different angle.  He drew black permanent marker lines all over my breast.  He drew a vertical line down the middle of my chest.  I wish I had known he was going to draw in my cleavage, because I wouldn’t have worn a tank top.  It didn’t hide my drawn-on cleavage when I had to go to the pet store and the grocery store right afterwards….