Kathy's Journey, vol 2

[KathyLauren]

Our new home is on an old orchard.  We knew there were several types of fruit trees, but not being orchardists, we had no idea what each one was until now.  THe cherries are ripening, and, holy moley, there are a lot of them!  There are several different types, on 10 or 11 (or more?) big trees.  I picked a bunch yesterday.  Life really is a bowl of cherries!

[davina61]

My grandparents had a cherry orchard, your lucky the birds have not eaten them. Nothing better than eating cheery straight from the tree.

[Pema]

Kathy! What fun! You'll get to discover what they all are as they bear fruit!

As Davina said, the birds eat all of mine, so you are indeed very fortunate. They look delicious.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Cherries are my favorite fruit. I would make myself sick constantly eating all of those!

[KathyLauren]

I was misgendered on the phone today.  That is not uncommon, but this person was stupid about it.  It was my phone company's tech support calling back about a question I had asked them more than a month ago.  (Not a follow-up to see if my issue was resolved: this was their first call to me.  Not impressed!)

They said: "I need to make sure I am talking to the owner of the account."  Me: "That's me. 😊"  Them: "No, that's not right."  Me: "Yes it is.  😡  I am the account owner."  Them: "What is your name?"  Me: "Kathleen <surname>."  Them:  "Oh, I thought... mumble mumble."  Yeah, I know what you thought.

I didn't say anything, and we proceeded to talk about my question.  I took some comfort in the fact that they had informed me that the call would be recorded for training purposes. 

I hope they actually do review the call and give the techie some sensitivity training.  Callers should not make assumptions about whom they are talking to.  I understand the need to verify the client's identity, but it could be done so much more smoothly.  They could say: "I need to make sure I am talking to the owner of the account.  Could you give me your name please?"  Faster and less embarrassing on both ends.

In other news, today started out hot and muggy, with a heat warning.  But I started hearing thunder.  A lot of it.  I finished up what I was doing outside and went in just as the rain started.  It rained very hard for an hour and a half, then tapered off to moderate rain for a few more hours, with thunder rocking and rolling the whole time.  There were about half a dozen thunderstorm cells, one after the other.  We ended up with more than 60 mm of rain for the day, by far the wettest day so far this year.

We desperately needed the rain.  It has been a dry year, like last year.  The lightning did start at least one fire in the woods.  Luckily a hiker passing by discovered it within minutes and extinguished it.  I guess that was before the bulk of the rain.

[KathyLauren]

I just booked my mammogram appointment for next year.  This year's results showed "extremely dense" breast tissue, so I am back on a one-year cycle for mammography.  I was on a one-year cycle for "heterogeneous density" a few years ago, but the last time, they said my breasts were normal, so they put me on the normal two-year cycle. 

They are booking more than a year ahead, so it's just as well that I called them the moment I opened the results letter.

Ladies, if you aren't getting regular mammograms, pick up the phone and make that appointment!  Around here, you are eligible if you have been on feminizing HRT for 5 years or more (or are cisgender, obviously) and are between 40 and 74.  Eligibility probably varies depending on your location, but most places follow similar rules.

I only have a few more years of eligibility, and I intend to take advantage of them.  The process is uncomfortable - the nickname of the machine is the titty-squisher - but well worth the discomfort.

[Lori Dee ✅]

I was getting annuals for several years, also "heterogeneous dense breasts". Then the VA switched to every two years for no reason. (Budget cuts?)

Then I moved to Colorado and back to annuals again.

It's only once per year, so worth knowing the "girls" are healthy.

[Stottie Girl]

Here it's over 50's and on HRT I believe.

With my breast growth it is definitely something I need to get sorted but I will need to fully transition first. It would be awkward in the extreme to go there presenting male for me as well as the other women in the waiting room!

I check regularly though.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Here it's over 50's and on HRT I believe.

With my breast growth it is definitely something I need to get sorted but I will need to fully transition first. It would be awkward in the extreme to go there presenting male for me as well as the other women in the waiting room!

I check regularly though.

I was in male-mode for my first one. It really was no big deal. Of course I was nervous as all get-out, but males can develop breast cancer too. The technician was a nice young woman who asked some simple questions. I told her I had just started estrogen and my doctor wanted baseline images. She shrugged like it was no big deal.

I think it was more painful back then, as there wasn't much to squish.

Seriously though, if you can get it done, do it. Don't wait until later.

The life you save may be your own.

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

I've heard it will be very uncomfortable and difficult to get breast scans after ive had augmentation. Not keen as could stress and damage the implants. But then if not? Worry in a few years I guess.

[Lori Dee ✅]

I've heard it will be very uncomfortable and difficult to get breast scans after ive had augmentation. Not keen as could stress and damage the implants. But then if not? Worry in a few years I guess.

If you tell them ahead of time that you have implants, they may not squish you with an X-ray machine, but switch to a sonogram. Sonograms are more accurate anyway, and are often prescribed if they find something suspicious in the X-ray, or if your breasts are too dense for an accurate film.

[Stottie Girl]

I was in male-mode for my first one. It really was no big deal. Of course I was nervous as all get-out, but males can develop breast cancer too. The technician was a nice young woman who asked some simple questions. I told her I had just started estrogen and my doctor wanted baseline images. She shrugged like it was no big deal.

I think it was more painful back then, as there wasn't much to squish.

Seriously though, if you can get it done, do it. Don't wait until later.

The life you save may be your own.

I'm only talking of delaying a year to avoid any uncomfortable scenes. The GP hasn't even asked me about yet. You would think they would ask about it, I have had a lot of development it is very noticable. maybe that significant development might make the titty squisher less painfull for me but then again, I still have growth pain so maybe not!

[Mariah ✅]

Mine is done every year with my last one in the last month. My mom had a different nickname for it although very similar to that one. She referred to it as the "Booby Masher." I'm glad yours are going well and definitely right that people should get them done on a routine basis. Hugs
Mariah

I just booked my mammogram appointment for next year.  This year's results showed "extremely dense" breast tissue, so I am back on a one-year cycle for mammography.  I was on a one-year cycle for "heterogeneous density" a few years ago, but the last time, they said my breasts were normal, so they put me on the normal two-year cycle. 

They are booking more than a year ahead, so it's just as well that I called them the moment I opened the results letter.

Ladies, if you aren't getting regular mammograms, pick up the phone and make that appointment!  Around here, you are eligible if you have been on feminizing HRT for 5 years or more (or are cisgender, obviously) and are between 40 and 74.  Eligibility probably varies depending on your location, but most places follow similar rules.

I only have a few more years of eligibility, and I intend to take advantage of them.  The process is uncomfortable - the nickname of the machine is the titty-squisher - but well worth the discomfort.

[quote yoauthor=KathyLauren link=msg=2351699 date=1787683426]
I just booked my mammogram appointment for next year.  This year's results showed "extremely dense" breast tissue, so I am back on a one-year cycle for mammography.  I was on a one-year cycle for "heterogeneous density" a few years ago, but the last time, they said my breasts were normal, so they put me on the normal two-year cycle. 

They are booking more than a year ahead, so it's just as well that I called them the moment I opened the results letter.

Ladies, if you aren't getting regular mammograms, pick up the phone and make that appointment!  Around here, you are eligible if you have been on feminizing HRT for 5 years or more (or are cisgender, obviously) and are between 40 and 74.  Eligibility probably varies depending on your location, but most places follow similar rules.

I only have a few more years of eligibility, and I intend to take advantage of them.  The process is uncomfortable - the nickname of the machine is the titty-squisher - but well worth the discomfort.
[/quote]