The sun couldn’t have come up soon enough on Monday.

Had my last shower with the expanders in (!), arrived at Pindara Private Hospital and made my way through all the paperwork involved. The Admissions area has become very familiar these past six months.

Amazing when I think about them really. Six months ago this week, I was in for that initial surgery – the bilateral lumpectomy. There was another operation about a week later. And exactly five months ago, I had the bilateral mastectomy.

Thought we’d get a shot given it’s the last time!

Medical history confirmed, it was time to don the sexy paper undies again!

With all the checks done and wearing the correct attire (don’t forget the paper shower cap to match!), I was saying goodbye to Paul and being wheeled off to ‘pre-op’.

A bit different this time – very quick. The anaesthetic nurse went through the necessary preparation, I spent a bit of time with the anaesthetist and then Dr D was back with the camera and purple texta. (Even though he reminded me – I knew not to smile this time. Still, I found myself laughing!)

He marked out my ‘Centre Front Seam’ as Mum calls it and where he’d like the new implants to sit. Dr D asked how I felt about going in ‘underneath’ and I told him I felt a bit differently as the reality set in following my last appointment. Here I was thinking about asking if there was a chance he could ‘tidy up’ the old scars while I was under – and he said “that’s okay, we can go through the old ones and just extend a bit.” I was so shocked and relieved at the same time I don’t think I said thank you. As you know, I’d been so flattened by the prospect of having new incisions, the healing, risk of infection etc. This was one of the nicest surprises I could have received.

With that, the ‘gas mask’ as they’re known in medical circles (no disrespect intended Dr S.) was back and injecting a clear fluid into the cannula he’d just popped into my elbow. The last thing I remember was him saying “this is the good stuff”, and me protesting “if it’s that good please tell Dr D and everyone in the operating theatre that I’m now not accountable for anything that comes out of my mouth!”