sunshinemiss
Posts: 17673
Joined: 11/26/2007 Status: offline
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Hi Lucy - I've not had the experience directly, but I have been able to support two of my closest friends go through this. Here is what we did that was helpful. Both women had already gone through menopause or was in peri-menopause, so they were both in the "no mo' babies" phase. One friend had a "Last Period Party" - all red food (I know!) She wanted to celebrate her sexuality in a whole other way. So.... the women danced, talked about their first kiss, first loves, their lesbian experiences, having children, the expectations of grandchildren, all their wild sexcapades. It was a way to acknowledge that this was just another step, another phase in her "womanness". (Sadly, I wasn't able to attend the party, but I did help her celebrate by taking her out for strawberry daiquiris). The other woman had a month long recovery (I was much more involved with this lady's experience than the other's). She had a month long recovery. During that time a different person came to visit her every day. Each person brought with them something to support her through this time. One of the musicians came and played lullabyes to her, a chef came and cooked her favorite meal. A woman who drove everywhere took her for a ride down by the river, a fellow who worked in a video store brought her a dozen movies. I was there with her grand children and brought a bunch of costumes and we made up a play for her and the children put on this little performance for her in her bedroom. Invariably there were 2 or 3 women who had also had the surgery - they brought with them certain ungents / lotions that had helped them. They were able to sit and talk with her about how it had been for them. She found all these people and their different experience and talents wonderfully helpful. It relieved her boredom, supported her mother who was her primary caregive (the mother got to have a break every day), and she was able to see how many people cared about her. Honestly, she didn't know all the people that well, but we were all in a large community that stepped up to the plate. It was really a great thing to see. I tell you this to remind you that there is more than just the physical recovery from what my friends have shared with me. Love, support, laughter - these are all important as well. Both women found ways to support themselves that also allowed the people around them to actively love and nurture these women that were going into a new phase of womanhood. May you have all that as well, sunshine
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Yes, I am a wonton hussy... and still sweet as 3.14
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