STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: you are a strong woman and you are making the right decision. Best of luck - we are rooting for you!!!

D,
I'm so sorry that you are going through this nightmare. You are handling it amazingly well - I really admire you and your strength so much - and I strongly believe that you are making the right decision. You really are inspiring... I hope that you know that. You will get through this!!! (((hugs)))) M

I am so sorry, what an agonizing decision you had to make. 

You just had to go with your best bet, trust yourself and your physician.  It's another reminder that sometimes life isn't concrete, the choices we have to make are complex and gray.

I don't blame you for fearing menopausal symptoms, it literally changes a woman's brain (just like adolescence and motherhood would), so in addition to preventing life threatening illnesses, you could be managing a personality shift from to the gal you know yourself to be.  (I read a little bit about this in the menopause chapter in The Female Brain, by Louann Brizendine, MD).  That's no small feat, but then you are very smart, so I would imagine you will have a logical perspective throughout and be able to see through a lot of the hormonal drops.

You must have very good intuition too, I am sure you are going to get through this knowing you made the right choice.

I'm so sorry, D. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

D, you're in my thoughts.  Good luck and stay strong.

I just wanted to echo the sentiments of everyone else and let you know you are in my thoughts. I'm sorry you have to go through this but your strength is inspiring.

Thank you everyone for the encouragement and confirmation. I often feel very alone in this whole thing, and having you all for support means the world to me.  I hope no one thinks I'm sharing this out for drama's sake or to garner sympathy - I just needed someone other than myself and Dr.'s telling me I'm doing the right thing. It helps to have empathetic female friends encourage and confirm the decision too.

For those that find it as shocking as I do that someone would question my decision to do this preventatively - yes, I do get the occasional comment about "i don't think people should get things removed unless there's something wrong" in essence not messing with my body until the disease becomes present -- and yes I know the people that say this are not educated in my plight, but it pisses me off nonetheless. I have learned to just cut people off and tell them I am only looking for support for my decision, which leaves them with a look on their face thinking I'm nuts. Whatever. It's never a very close friend that says that anyway.

Someone brought up how this will possibly change my personality. I'm aware of this and it's part of my fear.  I'm feeling more at peace with the whole thing though. I just want to get it over with and move on with my long, cancer-free life. 

Thanks again for being there for me.

My thoughts and best wishes are with you.  It is a very brave thing to do! 

I'm sorry you've had such a tough time this year.  You are so amazingly brave and inspirational.  I think you are making a good decision even though its really rough.