"The breasts of a 17 year-old!" I swear...that is what he said!- Iowa

I had my initial consultation with the plastic surgeon on Thursday, June 30. After years of thinking about it, I was finally ready. I was nervous that I would not have enough documentation ready for the insurance company. My problem is that I work as a nurse for my primary care provider, so a lot of my discussions with my doctors have happened around the lunch table (we have very few secrets in our office!) I do have some documentation of manipulations to my back and exercises that were given to me, but that was from about 3 or 4 years ago. I took a letter from a previous co-worker/PA and my mammogram reports that described my breasts as very dense and fibrous. I had my approval two weeks later.

I am 40 years-old, have had 4 children, like to try to stand tall enough to be called 5'1" and weigh about 140, with a bra size of a very full 34H. I remember being in 5th grade and being teased that I looked like a boy, but when I started 6th grade they teased me about stuffing my bra! And from then on I have been what some call "blessed" As a teenager, every boy thought I was a brainless tart who adored their drooling. My husband of 21 years, spent our first couple of years together "defending my honor." The best thing in the fashion world that has ever occurred was when they started selling swimming suit tops and bottoms seperately! In the 80's you couldn't buy a size 3 bottom and 13 top, unless you bought two suits. And I can't decide which is worse, the psychological trauma or the physical trauma. I have not been able to run since I was about 11. I did not participate in sports in school. As an adult it has become increasingly difficult to exercise. I do like yoga, but any cardio exercises are not only painful, but embarrassing to do in front of other people! Mid & upper back pain have been steadily increasing over the last couple of years, and I'm noticing that it is becoming more difficult to stand with straight posture. I have talked about a reduction for years and my husband has always been supportive. However a few years ago he watched some show on cable which showed a reduction and it totally freaked him out. The part about removing the nipple is what bothers him the most. I think he is very nervous about it. I will admit that in my research I did watch several on YouTube and I was a little taken aback at first as well. But it gave me a good idea of what I will be going through and what to expect afterward.

So here I am, one week to go and I'm still ready to do this. The surgery and recovery do not make me nervous. I think I am most worried that something will go wrong and they won't look good, I know it sounds shallow. As ready as I am to get rid of these things, they have defined me for about 30 years. I'm worried I should have lost weight so I don't look fat afterward, as I've always had quite a difference between my breast and my tummy, but I have been calming my nerves with sweets so that weight loss I was hoping for hasn't happened!

I'm hoping to end up a C-cup, but from what I've read some people are either left a little bigger than they wanted to be, or wish they would have had more taken off, so I'm going to be very clear in reitterating that I would rather be a large B than a small D.

Will keep updating as I go along...or as any new thoughts pop into my head. I think everyone around me must be sick of hearing about it, so it was wonderful to find other people who are obsessed with boobs as I have become :-)

This is it...I will be heading to Des Moines in just a few hours! Can hardly believe that after all of these years I am finally doing this! I'm incredibly excited...a smidgen nervous...but totally ready to get this show on the road!

Going to try to get a little bit of sleep, but figure if I can't its no biggie since I will sleep most of tomorrow anyway!

I'll be in touch in a couple of day :-)

Just got home a couple of hours ago. I feel pretty good actually. I wouldn't call what I am feeling even discomfort, more just like a tugging, tingling pressure around my nipples.

The biggest problem I have had is trying to stay awake, they think this might because of the combination of anesthesia and hydrocodone since I have never really had a pain medicine. I'm going to switch over to Tylenol #3 and see if that helps me to be more alert.

Other than that everything has gone very smoothly. Doc did tell me that tomorrow would probably cause me more discomfort, but after that it will be smooth sailing!

Doc also told my husband that he is a lucky man, because he is now married to a woman with breasts like a 17 year old. My husband resonded by saying, "Her breasts didn't even look that good at 17." I don't know if I should be insulted or flattered!

So if there is anybody out there who is on the fence about this, so far my recommendation would be to just go for it! I can tell a difference already. I actually got a pair of pajamas that have a button front so it would be easier to slip on and guess what...a size medium fit me without stressing the buttons, and it is even a little bit baggy in the front! Can't wait to be healed so that I can shop, shop, shop for clothes that will actually fit me!