Tuesday, August 17, 2010

I know what is best for me

The past year and a half I've had to make a lot of decisions. Mostly with input from my doctors. My mom has had breast cancer, and so has one of my dearest friends. Both had a different kind of treatment than I did. But when I have questions that they can relate to, I go to them. Don't get me wrong - I don't mind talking to people about what it has been like and the choices I have made. I don't mind people saying "If I was in that situation, I think I would x, y, z." But. When I want an opinion, I will NOT be asking a person who has not been through this. And if I'm not asking you, that probably means I don't want your opinion.
Here's the latest example. Friday I will have my tissue expanders removed and REAL, NORMAL, BREAST-SHAPED implants put in. So my latest decision is saline? or silicone? I researched it. I thought about it. I asked my friend that has saline. We discussed. I decided on silicone. Why? Well, since I've had a mastectomy, I have no breast tissue to cover the implant. So if I go saline, it will literally be like having 2 bags of water on my chest. How do I know? My friend and I discussed. Silicone will be more "natural" looking/feeling. At this point, looks and feeling mean a lot. And I understand the risks of leaking. I do. But silicone implants have come a LONG way from the 70's and 80's where they were a real danger.
But back to the point. Again, I don't mind talking about all this stuff. Hell, I don't mind showing what they look like now if anyone is curious. But when I started letting people know that I was having surgery on Friday, the questions started. "What are you going with?" And when I give the answer....holy cow. People feel free to start giving opinions and trying to scare me to death about the choices I've made. The only thing I can compare it to is when you are pregnant and strangers feel free to give advice. And I'm starting to feel like a woman that is 11 months pregant and pissed off! And soon, very soon, I'm going to stop being polite.

4 comments:

  1. Understood. Totally.

    So here I go giving you my un asked for opinion...LMAO. But seriously the silicone has to be safe or they would have pulled them by now. And sure, they have come a loooong way since the 70s and 80s. I agree with the bags of water thought process. I had never really thought about it to be honest with you but that makes perfect sense.

    I suppose you just have to tell people you have to run and you can't talk about it...or have a deadline or just say fuck you ;-)

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  2. I say it's YOUR body and YOU decide. I watch all the TV shows on plastic surgery and lots of women choose silicone over saline. The docs say they are safe and like you said, lots has changed since back in the day. Screw those assholes.

    P.S. You know I wanna see the new boobies. LOL

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  3. You are an educated woman, you know your body and you educated yourself about this process. You are making a solid, sound decision.

    Good for you!!!

    I will be holding good thoughts and prayers for you on Friday. Congratulations!

    (PS) You need to come up with a major zinger of a comeback for thes folks! (i.e., "I know we are talking about breasts' but GAWD you've got balls!")

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  4. just thinking of you for tomorrow....and just tell anyone with unsolicited opinions to shut the hell up! :D

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