Lyme Disease and Breast Cancer Reconstruction.
Not exactly a summer to remember.
This is not me. This is a woman wading through the dangers of the wild.
You've seen a million images of ladies in dresses frolicking through a meadow feeling enlightened or happy or introspective.
All I think is, "Lady, you better have some bug spray on those legs."
Turns out my feverish delirium of June was Lyme disease.
I knew I shouldn't have moved that canoe out from the cedar hedge in a dress. Or pulled those weeds... in a dress. Or planted, harvested, walked though my garden... in a dress. Because a Lyme tick got all up in my business and gave me a hickey on my upper thigh. Then it gave me a slew of symptoms: Fever, welts, body aches, and even a leg that would give out at random moments.
Lyme is no joke.
Because life is full of fun timing/turmoil, it followed with my reconstruction surgery after my big bout of breast cancer.
I don't need you imagining my "chestal area."
In short, they took my lovely paunch between my belly button and bikini line, configured a couple breasts out of it and sewed them on top. They rerouted the inner plumbing to make it all work. Since they removed my belly button in the process, they made me a new and improved belly button.
I won't always look like Frankenstein.
In fact, already my body looks NORMAL again... even with the stitches. I will NEVER, EVER, EVER complain about my body again. It works and it is no longer deformed… well, except for the smile line from side to side on my torso.
Living without your boobs blows.
It's nice to have a reasonable facsimile in their place.
When I was explaining the procedure to a relative in Poland, he remarked how different our cultures were, that they would NEVER talk about such things.
As a memoirist, this is astounding, but as a woman, I think it's also dangerous.
We have to share things so we can help the next person who goes through something similar.
This blog post helped me prepare for my DIEP breast reconstruction.
Someone you know will have to deal with this at some point. Sharing information helps us figure out the unfathomable during a time when we can't think straight.
When you know someone who is dealing with some health stuff, give them groceries and offer rides to the hospital. Do not say, "You got this" to be encouraging. They don't got this. They need help. I certainly need help. I can't even bend over.
Just imagine the detritus of a summer vacation at home with a 5 year old and I can't bend over. The weeds have taken over in the garden. The toys are ruling the roost. I've got a 3 month recovery on the roster where I can't work. However, I have managed to sit in my chair for the entirety of this blog post, but soon I must lay down.
The body won't let you force yourself toward healing.
If I am not horizontal, my back aches and I start to get nauseous. So there is a lot of cartoons. We set up the comfy chair next to the couch so Amélie and I can sit together and watch TV.
I can't even handle much more than a cartoon. My nerves are frazzled by the hospital experience where I could only eat ice chips, couldn't pull myself out of bed, and listened to the unique symphony of sounds only a hospital can provide.
In summary, help where you can, share your knowledge, and wear bug spray.
