Diabetes Tour de Cure

Back in 2003 when I "quit" rock climbing I went looking for a new outlet for my athletic energies. I tried ice skating but the torn ligament in my thumb and the scar on my head convinced me that this was not a safe activity for me. I finally found my way to bike riding. Up until now I've done all of my riding on a trainer stand in my basement, in front of the television. I am now determined to get out on the road and start participating in a few rides. My first ride will be a little, local event called "Joe's Ride", a 10k to benefit a local cancer fund. After that I have my sights set on the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure ride. I will be joining my cousin's team and riding with the Delmar Chain Gang in Stillwater, NY on Sunday June 11. This ride has special meaning for me since both of my parents, and several other relatives, are diabetic and I am likely prediabetic. Perhaps you'd be willing to sponsor me. If so, please go to my personal tour web page. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Nicole

More information on the American Diabetes Association, its programs and diabetes in general can be found at the Association's Web site: www.diabetes.org

For more information on Tour de Cure, please visit www.diabetes.org/tour.

Click here to view the team page for Delmar Chain Gang

Bra Shopping

Saturday April 15: Bra Day!

I decided to do without a "professional" bra fitting, figuring that I know pretty well what I need. With the variation between brands and styles there's no one right bra size anyway. After trying on many styles it seems that I can fit a 38B, 38C, or 40B, with none of these being consistently better than another. I ended up buying two 40B's. I fill them out pretty well. Overall I'm just a little bit bigger than what I used to pad to. Thankfully, there are only a few blouses that no longer fit. Unfortunately, some of my favorites are in this group. At least I didn't need a whole new wardrobe.

After three weeks without a bra it definitely felt weird to be wearing one again. I was no longer used to the straps and the weight on them. Now, after a few days it feels normal again.

After all the concerns about proper breast size and the like I am quite happy with the results.

Climbing High

After 4 months off I've returned to rock climbing, the first time since my breast augmentation. Knowing how weak, and sometimes uncomfortable, my pectoral muscles are I expected a fustrating, short night. I started off very low intensity and felt better than expected. This prompted me to keep increasing the difficulty/intensity level. Back before hormones and transition I used to climb comfortably at 5.10. After hormones, transition, and 20 months off I returned to climbing, able to comfortably climb in the 5.7-5.8 range. I had improved to being able to climb some 5.9's when I quit again for my surgeries. Yesterday the hardest I attempted was 5.7. I am far weaker than ever but not as bad as I thought I might be and the pecs didn't feel as uncomfortable as I anticipated, a pleasant surprise. My arms and legs are really sore today and I skipped my morning bike ride. I'll get back to that tomorrow. I plan to climb again next week. This would be the first time I've climbed on consecutive weeks in several years. It feels great to be climbing again!

Suture No More

After a trip to my PCP and her scrambled attempt to find a "family friendly" surgeon, in the end it was time that fixed my suture problem. On Sunday, about 11 days after it surfaced, the suture came out on its own. No muss, no fuss, no surgery, no pain. Hurrah for small miracles. Although I don't know if they are related, at the same time my granuloma has gone away. My breasts are looking pretty natural, too. I finally feel healed. I finally feel DONE!

This coming weekend will be 3 months since the BA. This means that I am OK to start wearing a bra. In anticipation of this I went through all of the bras I used to wear when I padded. Most of them were 38B with an occasional 40B. A few were too big and a few were too tight; it looks like I'm something around a 38B. All the last 3 months I've been lamenting that Dr M made me too big. It looks like he knew what he was doing.