Greetings!
First off, I want to thank all of my readers for supporting Young Previvors after our Facebook trouble a few weeks ago. Our original group has not been restored yet, nor have we heard anything from Facebook about why the group was deleted. We have, however, started a new Young Previvors group. Our admin, Liz, continues to do a phenomenal job of screening all potential new members, so if you are a previvor or a high-risk young woman, consider joining us.
Things have been uneventful in my world of breast reconstruction, but they’ll pick up a bit in a few weeks. My final-final-final-last-one-I-seriously-promise-you’ll-never-have-to-read-about-it-again-unless-it-looks-ugly surgery is on Monday, February 25. Dr. Festekjian will be doing some minor cosmetic adjustments.
When I saw Dr. Festekjian at my two-month post-op a few weeks ago, I was still concerned about the difference in height between my nipples. Although they’ve certainly improved since my initial implant exchange surgery, the right nipple is still noticeably lower than the left.
At the appointment, Dr. Festekjian asked me point-blank which side I like more. I told him the left side, and to my relief, that was the acceptable answer. He can make my right side match my left side, but because of the extensive work he did on my left side during the implant exchange surgery, he can’t make the left side match the right. Unless, he joked, I get an infection on the right breast. Har har har. Funny.
In the outpatient surgery, he will lift up the right nipple and put some internal stitches in place so it sits higher. He will also add a layer of alloderm underneath my skin, to cover up the rippling. I plan to take a few days off work, but given my quick recovery from the past surgeries, I expect to be back in the office by Thursday. Watch…now that I’ve said that, I’ll have some horrible allergic reaction to the ice cubes in the recovery room and be bed-stricken for the next two months.
Okay, moving on: I have some very important and exciting news to share with everyone. I’d like to introduce you to Chester Frito Horn, my new furry child.
He’s an 18-week-old American medium hair. I officially adopted him from the animal shelter at 11:30 am on Saturday morning, then promptly sent him across the street to the vet surgery center to have his balls removed. Sorry, bug…YOU’RE IN MY WORLD NOW.
I picked him up this afternoon and he seems to be doing just fine. Here he is, Cone of Shame and all. He is now, in my parents’ words, a consultant.
Cat people: how can I get him to stay off of the kitchen counter? I’m scared he’s going to set his tail on fire with the pilot lights on the stove!
Have a fantastic week, everyone. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Ticking Time Bombs 
Hope it’s the LAST last surgery for you, Rachel. It has been a long journey.
As far as Mr. Chester – 1. put some change in a coffee can and make noise when he does something bad, or 2. have a spray bottle filled with water on the counter and each time he hops up there, spray him. He should learn that the counter = loud noise or an unexpected shower = no-no. My two trouble-makers run away whenever I have the spray bottle in my hand.
Thanks for the ideas!!! I think I’ll try the change one first. He so far doesn’t seem to mind water terribly.
Good luck with the upcoming surgery and congrats on adopting Chester Frito Horn. 🙂 He looks a bit mischievous in that first photograph. ~Catherine
Thank you!
Get a small spray bottle filled with water. And when you see him doing anything you don’t want him to be doing…say “NO” very loudly and then squirt his backside (er, well maybe not there since he’s recovering…but you know what I mean) with the water. He’ll learn ASAP. GOOD luck on the surgery!
All the best on your upcoming surgery. Amen almost done!
Chester is adorable. What’s Maddy’s reaction to her new fuzzy brother? Shaking coins in a can when he jumps on the counter will make him get down….and run to another room. Cats don’t like the loud clanging noise. It might help with other behavioral issues as well.
She doesn’t know he exists!!! I’ll try the coins. Thanks!
Not a cat person but try putting tin foil up there. Crinkle it a little so that it doesn’t last flat so out makes noise when he jumps on it
Nice idea!!!! I bet he’d hate the noise. Thanks for the recommendation.
Good luck with the surgery! ❤ Chester is adorable. He and Romeo need to have a bro-hang.
yep… spray bottle with water!
good luck with your surgery!
p.s. I just adopted a 95 lb bernese mountain dog! I’m in LOVE!
OMG he must be adorable!!!!! I love those dogs.
Hope this is the LAST surgery for you, and that after this long journey you are finally thrilled. Thank you for always being so candid and sincere. You really give me a lot of hope for my own girl when its her turn to stare this in the face. All the best.