Headed to Star Wars from UW Hospital (TY, Tara Fuller) after having some cosmetic surgery on my mastectomy scars. Also a test to see if we can do additional LVA next year on my lymphedema arm.
A little surgery can’t stop Star Wars!
I cannot properly express how great this feels!
This is a testament to spring microsurgery and daily use of my FlexiTouch pump: the sleeve on top is my new one. It looks smaller in real life. So much so that when I took it out of the package on Monday, I blurted out an adult word! But it fits great!!
Fingers crossed for additional surgery in the spring!
Take that, lymphedema!
What is intermittent fasting? And is it a good idea?
Intermittent fasting, or intermittent energy restriction, is an umbrella term for a diet which involves cycling between a period of significantly reduced caloric intake (fasting) and a period of regular eating.
“Diet” or “dietary restriction” is what most of us think of as “going on a diet”, that is, reducing caloric intake.
Eating fewer calories.
Losing weight.
Those of us with estrogen-positive breast cancer who reduce our risk of recurrence by blocking the body’s estrogen production (aromatase inhibitors) … often find that weight gain is a direct side effect.
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What does depression look (and feel) like?
Just came back from a research screening session for depression at the University of Washington. They’re testing iPad/iPhone video game(s) for their ability to help reshape the brain. (This is my hypothesis given that there are before and after MRIs.)
It was much longer than I expected … and the conversational history wasn’t that different from an intake session with a new therapist. Read that as HARD.
I am physically the most wrung out that I’ve been in a long time.
Continue reading “What does depression look (and feel) like?”
FDA joins France in banning Allergan textured breast implants
Seven months after the French government banned Allergan textured breast implants, the FDA has followed suit in the United States.
Allergan pulled all BioCell textured breast implant products from Europe last year and from Canada in May.
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Another cancer side effect: depression
I’m starting something today that I’ve known I should do for a while. But have been unable to force myself to do.
Last month my oncologist and I talked about depression. I wanted to see a psychologist who had experience with PTSD and EMDR because I’ve been down this road before.
She put in an expedited request.
Lymphedema in popular culture: The Bachelorette
On the last episode of The Bachelorette in May, Cameron “Cam” Ayala told Hannah Brown that he has a medical condition that he must deal with every day: lymphedema.
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