Size G - Breast reduction and tummy tuck

Excited for my surgery but I am stunned to find out how little insurance will actually cover. I am still going through the review process to get it approved, but OMG. The contracted amount they will pay my surgeon is less than $2000. I have Premera Blue Cross. So my out of pocket looks like it will be around $7000. I say that because I have to pay my deductible, then I pay 20% of the contracted rate of $2000. Meaning their only going to pay at the most $1400 for this surgery. I called to speak to a rep and she informed me that the surgeon has to only charge $2000 for the surgery. I said I can't think of a surgeon in the United States of America that I can go to that will only charge $2000 for a breast reduction. Maybe in Mexico. But not here in the United States. They stand by what they say and there is no wiggle room. I am so tired of the back pain, I want to live. Will keep posts on how this is going.

I live a bit from Boulder. A hour on a good day. So I stayed at a hotel nearby. The night before surgery I was by myself because my helper wasn't able to get away until the next day. My doctor had told me that I was going to be constipated between the anesthesia and pain meds. So I stopped and picked up a bag of prunes and a bag of apricots. I ate about ½ cup of each with my dinner. I am sorry, I am not going down that road thank you very much. I didn’t get much sleep that night. Maybe 3 hours. I was actually excited for surgery so I could sleep. And all night I was doing Yoga breathing, trying to get my lungs as strong as I possibly could. I walked to the PS office where I was having surgery. I had read it was good to walk prior to surgery and thought well I can’t be a bad thing. I have to tell you I love my anesthesiologist. She was amazing. The fact that I went to sleep and woke up with no issues, I love her. Before I went in I had told her my fears about a previous surgery. That night (of the previous surgery) I had stayed in a facility. The nurse kept waking me up because my oxygen levels would drop to dangerous levels. And I was nervous about this. She ordered me oxygen and had it delivered to my hotel a couple hours after surgery. How amazing is that? Anyway they sent me with my helper. I had brought a walking stick and they sent me to the hotel with a portable oxygen machine. So in each hand something was keeping me upright. I had gone back and forth on the walking stick, but I have to tell you, if you can get one, bring one. The was a huge life-savor. It kept me upright instead of hunched, because until I was holding on to the walking stick and oxygen tank and someone was helping me, I was extremely hunched. The minute back to the hotel I started on my prune/apricot regimen. At dinner I ordered a whole wheat pizza (keeping up with the fiber theme) and had again my prunes/apricots (and of course pain meds). My huge fear was getting blood clots. I was in surgery for 5 hours. That is a long time for surgery. So every 4 hours I was walking around with my oxygen (even though they put me on an oxygen machine, I used the portable tank as a walking stick) and my walking stick for 20 minutes. The first 20 minutes was a little rough, getting up and laying back down is the hardest part. Most painful. Each time got easier and easier. Oh and using the restroom. I have a bidet at home and I am thanking god for that. This is going to sound super gross, but wiping yourself front or back is soooo painful. I should have gotten a handicap room with the higher toilet. I had bought the bidet a couple years ago to save on toilet paper and for cleanliness. Just a cheap one on Amazon. It is the greatest thing. It isn’t hooked up to an electrical so you still have to dab down there to dry. But if you are getting this surgery, I highly recommend. And I love my doctor. You can see he really enjoys what he is doing, not just in it for the money. Can’t say enough. aI had my surgery Monday the 24th, but I cannot change the date. Original review reflects the 31st.

March 25 – day after surgery
Things are going pretty well. Sleep was not the best. With the oxygen machine I was not able to close my mouth, there was not enough air going through my nose. So I had to keep my mouth open the entire night. It wasn’t the best sleep. I had my alarm on my phone set to go off every 4 hours so I could get up and walk around (Before discharge yesterday the doc had said ideally to walk 15-20 minutes every 4 hours. But he didn’t expect too much the first day). By 6am this morning, I didn’t need the portable oxygen machine to walk around. Several times I was walking without my walking stick and I wasn’t hunched over. Had a 8:30 appointment with the doc. They removed my bandages. No one could believe how mobile I was. The doc came in when I was standing up by myself without help while the nurses were fixing my clothes. He was so happy with me. I told him my fear with blood clots and that was a strong motivator to keep me walking. Got home around 11am. I wasn’t able to get any drains out today, but he things my chest ones will come out tomorrow. That is pretty much it. Yet to have any constipation, and I love my bidet. I will also get my pain pump removed tomorrow. I was nervous about that being removed on how much pain there will be. Doc said it shouldn’t be a problem and not to worry. Most of my pain is in my groin and stomach when I stand up or sit down. I have had very little pain in my chest. More just uncomfortable. Will keep posts. I have added one picture. My dressings are on. Will take more on the way. Obviously still very swollen. I am so happy with what he has done. I didn’t take a before. I probably should have. Oh, on the picture, I am sitting down.