Tag: over 50

Cancer

Be Careful What You Wish For: Bonus Tummy Tuck Edition

ReelLifeYarnsLeave a comment

All my life, up to about 40 years old when menopause decided to wreak havoc on my body, I was always thin. I ate like a truck driver, but the metabolism of youth kept me under 130 pounds. If you would’ve told me the number on the scale would start with a 2 one day, I would’ve told you that you have clearly lost your damn mind. Then, last summer, both the first AND second number on the scale was 2. Not only was my weight out of control, but I developed what is referred to as an “apron belly”. This should not be confused with a FUPA. If you know, you know.

Photo courtesy of https://centreforsurgery.com/apronectomy-to-remove-loose-tummy-skin/

Needless to say, I was not pleased with myself. My feet and knees hurt, I didn’t feel cute in my clothes, and I hated to idea of putting on a bathing suit. I started moving a little more and bought a Pilates reformer. I definitely haven’t been diligent, but something is better than nothing. When I started back to school, I also went back on my ADHD medication which eliminates my food cravings. I managed to lose 35 pounds but the belly was still not what I wanted it to be. I started considering having a tummy tuck, but the $20,000 price tag was a little steep for a cosmetic procedure. I was resigned to living with a smooshy little belly flap that loved nothing more but to keep my pants from lying flat in the front.

Then Stage 1 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the left breast entered the chat. Unfortunately, this is not my first experience with cancer. It’s not even my first experience with breast cancer. But it’s going to be fine. This is fine.

Comic panel from “On Fire” by KC Green.

I’ve met with the surgeons. Well, two of them. I’m told there will be four surgeons in all and about 8 hours of surgery for my double mastectomy and immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. Basically, both breasts will be removed and fat and blood supply from my lower abdomen will be used to rebuild and restore my boobs to all of their D-cup glory. I won’t have any nipples but I’m getting that tummy tuck I wanted… and, thanks to the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act, it will be covered by insurance!

So… thank you, cancer?

Until next time… tight lines and happy minds!!!

Trouble In Paradise: When Things Don’t Go As Planned
Fishing

Trouble In Paradise: When Things Don’t Go As Planned

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My husband and I took a trip down to Key Largo recently. We towed the boat down so we could do some fishing. Lots of fishing. It was to be my last hurrah before my upcoming surgery that will put me out of commission for the remainder of the summer. Naturally, I had high expectations for this trip. SPOILER ALERT: My expectations were a bit too lofty.

We arrived very late Tuesday night to 20 mph winds. We were too exhausted to think much about anything, so we went directly to bed. Wednesday morning we awoke to the same windy weather. Neither of us felt great so we took the day to fuel up the boat, buy some groceries for the week, and take a look around the little community where we stayed. Most of the residences were small park model campers that are fixed up to look like tiny homes. They are situated on campsite sized lots and each are on a canal with a boat slip out back. That was the main feature that drew me to the property.

This isn’t the one we stayed in but it was my favorite. We found out that another unit in the community just sold for $380,000!

We woke up Thursday to 18mph winds but I was determined to get out on the water. We loaded up and set out to find some fish. Manatee Bay was a little choppy but, in my opinion, nothing of concern. The concern came later when we had to cross Blackwater Sound. If you had told me the waters would be so crazy in a bay, I would’ve never believed you. We knew it was a little windy and we noticed there were no other boats (I mean zero) but it didn’t register that we possibly shouldn’t be out there. When we returned home later that afternoon, I checked the data and found out we were dealing with 4.5 foot waves. We also learned the reason there were no boats is because most of the charters called off their trips due to the conditions. But man was that boat ride fun!

First outing of the trip. Manatee Bay, Key Largo, FL. Not the sunny skies and clear waters you might expect. I don’t have any photos of the insanity we experienced in Blackwater Sound

The only bad thing about the conditions is we got absolutely soaked, I mean legitimately drenched, every time we moved to a new spot. I can’t tell you how many times I reapplied my sunscreen due to it being rinsed away. Also, fun fact – I love the way may hair looks after being in saltwater. It made me reluctant to wash it every evening.

Drenched 3-5 times per day. I wouldn’t want to do this during the winter.

We woke up Friday feeling optimistic about the day ahead. We were going to head out in another direction and find some other spots I was interested in. That’s where the trouble all started. I will summarize: GPS auto guidance wouldn’t work because there is apparently a conflict of some sort in the system, all straps on the bimini top broke except one, and on the last day the trolling motor battery didn’t charge.

This is where I will acknowledge that when things don’t go the way I imagine, it really pisses me off. I always heard you can’t catch fish when you’re angry, and I found this to be true. Mostly because I was just too aggravated to even bother with the usual things like losing a leader to the rocks and having to re-rig my line. So on my last hurrah I spent more time lounging and napping on the boat than I did with a line in the water. As my mom always said, I cut my nose off to spite my face. I wish I could say it’s not true but it totally is.

All the mishaps aside, it was a good (and much needed) trip. We had some fun and learned a lot of things that will help us the next time we tow the boat to a new destination. Tomorrow, I get to log on for work and see what kind of disasters await me. I estimate around 9:15am I will be pining for Key Largo and all of the technical difficulties that went along with it.

Until next time… tight lines and happy minds!!!

Of All The Things You Could Collect, Cancer Ribbons Should Not Be An Option
Cancer

Of All The Things You Could Collect, Cancer Ribbons Should Not Be An Option

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Eventually I will get around to telling my whole story, but today lets talk about being told you have cancer for the fourth time. SPOILER ALERT: It. Is. DEVASTATING.

Cool sticker available at www.spreadshirt.com

I guess it was about 19 years ago – the first time I heard the words “You have cancer.” I think at that point I was too new to the cancer game to be overly concerned. It was caught early and the surgery was no big deal. After a couple years, I didn’t think too much about it anymore. The second diagnosis, a few years later, was exponentially more serious. It left me with a lot of mental and emotional baggage, along with some physical issues that are manageable for the most part. The third diagnosis came out of thin air, completely unexpected. Caught early, I did what I had to do and moved along like a champ. I tend to be very stoic and was really proud of myself for not falling to pieces. And I thought to myself “Certainly this is the last time, right?”

That was two and a half years ago, and it clearly wasn’t the last time.

Last month, I received a Stage 1a Invasive Ductal Carcinoma diagnosis. Basically, my left breast is plotting to kill me. In the past, with an early diagnosis, I was much more nonchalant about it. This time, it seems to be hitting a bit differently. I’m in better shape emotionally, physically, and mentally than I have been in years. I feel stronger in every way than maybe I ever have in my life. I have so many things I’m looking forward to doing and am on my way to accomplishing things I have put off for years.

I’ve been contemplating whether it’s so devastating this time because it’s the fourth diagnosis OR because I feel like I have so much more to lose? I do find myself wondering how many more times can I do this before I run out of luck. Then I try to remind myself that I shouldn’t spend too much energy worrying about cancer because my genetic predisposition to high cholesterol is probably what will kill me.

I guess I had better start taking my rosuvastatin a bit more regularly.

Until next time… tight lines and happy minds!