Coming out the other end - nipple-guard first!!

Thought I would post a blog as feeling very positive and realised my profile is so out of date. Having had a mastectomy with an immediate back flap recon in Jan 08 I have been thro the ups and (more often) downs of chemo and radio with more side effects and hiccups than I would have hoped but yesterday I had the "dog ear" tidied up on my back and a new nipple made at the "Buy shares in our car park" hospital that is the Royal Free. Still reeling from the shock of the £21 parking fee. I am still also chuckling at the check in nurse asking me which ear I was having done!!! Duh!! And I said "Pardon?"!!! Anyway, after the obligatory long wait my back was trimmed and a nipple created. The charming surgeon then fashioned a nipple guard out of a piece of sponge which looks like it was once attached to a scourer and was languishing by the washing up bowl!! I have to avoid pressure or knocking it and keep this on till next week so went out in a casual top for supper with a friend tonight and my nipple guard arrived some time before me at the table!!!!!! Did anyone else see the email doing the rounds with a woman with rectangular breasts and a friend saying "I think when they said put tissues in your bra to make your breasts look better they meant for you to take them out of the box"? I think of that every time I look at my guarded nip!! Tee hee. Anyway, as I couldn't sleep last night I pondered my journey over the last eighteen months.......ran my fingers thro my hair and realised it was growing (so much better than coming out in your hand); thought of the kindness of so many people on my annus horribilis; and of the lovely friends I have made on this site.........and realised they were right........you do sort of get there in the end!!!!! Lots of love and luck to all of you starting out on this rotten journey. Diane xxx