BB - Part 2

Where did that term Barbie Butt originate, anyway? And how come, if I now have her butt, I didn't get some of her other accoutrements as well, such as those mile-long legs and eensy-weensy waist? I didn't even shed a few pounds this time around.

Anyway, I saw both my surgeons yesterday, who seem absolutely gleeful about my progress. My next appointment is 3 months away. Meantime, more physical therapy and possible nerve blocks to cope with the pain of (now I find out) part of the sacrum also being removed. Apparently, this surgery is so novel it is going to be written up for the journals.

Why did I agree to go ahead with it? I asked myself that a hundred times in the 2 years it took to finally happen. One thing: the constant infections that the urological surgeon said could eventually result in an emergency condition like peritonitis. Thinking I could get stuck with whatever surgeons were on call instead of accepting the "right time, right place" of this 4-surgeon team available to me was the biggest consideration. I do trust my oncology surgeon Dr. Barone, who has saved my life twice in the past 11 years. It's odd that a surgeon would be the one physician who has "been there" for me at every twist and turn of the path. Without his say-so, I would NEVER have moved forward on it. And he was initially skeptical.........

When he said I "was still a young woman with a long life ahead of me" and therefore could understand not wanting to be completely incontinent and smelly, my resistances came down. Now I just have to slog through the healing and adapting (I suppose much like getting the colostomy.) I'll emerge on the other side a slightly different person - one I hope can return to my profession, make a few last contributions, and finally get out of the chronic "sick role" feeling - maybe even get to travel again! Thanks to all for your heartfelt comments!