I will have to have a tube down my throat and they will start me on my belly where the liposuction will occur. I will then be flipped over and have my nipples reconstructed. I am actually more nervous about the nipples than the liposuction. I mean once you reconstruct the nipples, that's it! Dr. Mosier gets one shot and while I have full confidence in his abilities, to say I am not worried at all would be a big, fat lie.
He said be prepared to be bruised and sore from the lipo for a few weeks. When I wake up from surgery I will be surrounded by ice packs. So once again, the ice packs will be my best friend, LOL! When I go back on Monday for my F/U he will fit me into my Spanx (compression gear) that I will have to wear for the next 2 weeks. I actually think the Spanx scare me the most. I held up a pair the other day and thought for sure I'd grabbed the toddler size. Do they make Spanx for toddlers?!? Most people don't know this about me, but being squeezed to death by panty hose or jeans makes me feel almost claustrophobic if not just down right uncomfortable. I was thinking about maybe buying a size large for some extra wiggle room but Dr. Mosier put the kibosh on that one!
On a somewhat side note, I was talking to my OB/GYN the other day and she told me about some new research that she read in her medical journal recently. Apparently findings are showing that a large % of all ovarian cancers originate in the fallopian tubes. What that means for someone like me with the BRCA1 gene mutation is that instead of having my ovaries removed (as a risk reduction surgery like my mastectomy) and sending me straight into menopause, I could have my fallopian tubes removed but keep my ovaries which would greatly reduce my ovarian cancer risk. It wouldn't reduce my risk say as much as removing my ovaries too, but it's a less drastic measure and early onset of menopause does NOT sound like something I am willing to go through right now or anytime soon for that matter. Now keep in mind, the decision to remove my fallopian tubes is only a decision that can be made either a). after I have my babies or b). after I decided that I will not have babies. It's a lot to take in but is also very optimistic and exciting news for a woman like me, in this situation. I have learned through my Bright Pink training that ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic disease in women and that 2/3rds of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer die from it since it's so hard to detect. There is always so much to think about! But I think I'll get through this surgery and get my new nipples on, in about 3 months from now and then start to process all of that.
Wish me luck and good nipple vibes!