Getting Plastered

So I decided that since chemo was over maybe I should look into getting a prosthetic. As, up until now, I have been basically stuffing my bra with a "sock" and constantly having to adjust. My poor husband has been the boob monitor, telling me if I am high or low. I have seen the out of the box versions but thought since reconstruction waits can take up to two years here, I thought that maybe a custom prosthesis was the way to go.

So I booked an appointment and off I went. She started off on her spiel of the different generic options. Who knew there were so many. Some were tear dropped, some were round, some were foam which you can shape, some were silicone and the swimming one apparently floats...err I don't want that one unless I was drowning. Then I could only picture the rescue boat coming and my one fake boob bobbing for air..pass.

At his point I had molested several prosthetics and made up my mind that none of these would work for me. Some I felt were too heavy and no different than what I had now. Then the lights shone as she produced the custom one. It actually looked like a breast, it was foam-like but still had enough weight to it. This is the option I decided on. Then she told me the price and I almost threw up, but thankfully I have insurance which is kind enough to pay for it.

I made an appointment for the following week to have the cast done and off I went. I asked my husband to come along on this venture with me as you get to pick the colour of the breast and nipple and thought he may want to weigh in on it. Plus he is always interested in the process of things and thought he might enjoy it.

I arrived, got changed into my dirty clothes as this is a messy process and we began. She marked the centre of my chest and around the curve of my breast. I then put on a bra and she marked my breast with where the bra cuts. Then mirrored the markings on the other side. <side note. she makes the custom prosthetic as a reflection of your existing breast and it fits naturally in your bra not in a pocket like other ones>
I looked like someone was about to perform an autopsy on me.

Next she began placing the plaster strips on my actually breast. They were cold and slimy and the dripping down my body made me shiver. By the time she had this finished I was getting rather warm..seriously..now is the time I am going to have a hot flash? Meanwhile my ever so helpful husband was reminding me to stand up straight. The cast actually dried quickly and one look at me from K told me I needed a moment to sit down. I was sweating. She opened a window and got me a glass of water but I was willing to solider on. Too bad my body wasn't in agreement.

About 5 strips in I was feeling woozy and we all agreed that I could sit for the remainder of the process. She had to take the current pieces off and start again. I didn't last much longer, but at least she was able to get enough of the strips on before the tunnel vision to a pin point started to happen and I needed to get to the floor and lay on my back. Now you know I am having issues when I am not worried that my wig is going to get drops of plaster on it. After about two minutes on the floor all was good again, but I decided to be a good patient and lay there until the cast was done. At this point I am very glad my husband came with me. I have never passed out, but came close a couple of times and I hate the feeling.

After a couple minutes of me drinking more water and my colour coming back, she began to mix up this very gooey purple stuff. Which I soon found out was to make the nipple cast. This stuff going on your nipple was not a pleasant experience and it felt like someone was putting Elmer's glue on my nipple. But it looked like frosting! During the drying period I picked out the colours for the breast and nipple and decided on the "erectness" of the nipple. If you are interested you can choose to have freckles and veining as well. I attempted to wipe most of the plaster off my body, got dressed and we were off.

I am not sure what brought on the dizzy spell but for the rest of the day I was very off and thirsty. Well at least it was a memorable experience..one I am sure we nor K will ever forget.