First, thanks to everyone for all the suggestions on the challenges I was having protecting the reconstructed nipples.  I was facing a double whammy - first was the problem with tape irritating my skin.  The second, which I hadn't blogged about, was lymphedema symptoms in my back and shoulder area. 

At the time of the original cancer diagnosis I had most of the lymph nodes under my left arm removed.  Our lymphatic system is a silent hero in our body, a passive process which removes toxins,  This system is somewhat mysterious...some people do just great with lymph nodes removed, others face debilitating swelling, and some, like me, face intermittent issues which flare up from time to time.

My issues don't seem to be typical.  I fortunately do not get swelling in my arm  like many women, but if I wear a bra, or any type of remotely tight/elasticy garment around my mid section I get swelling...in my shoulder blade area. 

My solution to combat the tape irritations was to alternate between wearing a bra to hold the protective pads in place.....which worked ok for a couple of days, as long as I kept an eye on things.  However, as the last two weeks progressed the build up of fluid became more severe.  Painful.  Nauseating.  I tried wearing snug tank tops or jog tops as an alternative, but they wouldn't hold the pads in place. 

So, Friday afternoon I decided enough was enough.  The new accessories are on their own. No more tape, no more bras.   I'm being careful, if you don't count skiing both Saturday and Sunday (hey, i didn't do bumps!), and my body is feeling sooooo much better.  Wow. 

I do have a PT appointment this afternoon with a wonderful gifted therapist who is an expert in breast reconstruction recovery, and a lymphedema expert.  She'll do some gentle massage to encourage the fluid to move.  That will either feel good or bad, but for sure in the long run it will be better!