Hi Shirl,
Thanks for your reply, lots of great advice. I think I am going to enjoy this network as it is so nice to talk to other ladies who have felt the same emotions and dealt with the same problems and issues. I have four children. The older two are a nearly 19 year old daughter and a 16 son from my first marriage. They live with us every second weekend and the rest of the time with their dad. They took my diagnosis very well, being teenagers they are completely grossed out by my surgery and don't want to look - but that's OK. My younger two are a 4 year old daughter and a 6 year old son and are from my current relationship. I have been honest with all of my kids. I have given them age appropriate information and made sure that they know I am happy to answer any questions or concerns they had. My teenagers have been supportive and loving but not particularly interested in the details. My younger kids have been very accepting and full of intelligent questions and matter of fact statements. They are both fascinated by my mastectomy wound and in thrall of my drain. My son tried to pull my drain out of its carry bag the other day at school for show and tell (I gently advised him that showing my drain was not appropriate). Over lunch with the in-laws on Saturday my gorgeous 4 year old daughter asked me to show everyone my flat booby (I declined again).
I have already ordered a My Journey Kit and it should turn up soon. I am off tomorrow for a bone scan and liver ultrasound (just to be sure) in the morning and then on to a post mastectomy shop to look at wigs, hats, prostheses and bras in the afternoon. So, by tomorrow night I should be thoroughly stuffed but hopefully I will have lots more ideas about what I can buy in anticipation of losing my hair and what is available in the way of bras and protheses for when I have recovered enough from the surgery.
Today my drain was removed..woohoo... I shall do crocodile rolls in bed tonight with out waking up wrapped up in tubes! Funny..how breast cancer quickly changes what gets you excited!
Karen
