Breast Reduction: Stories

I'm 26 years old with 36DDD to 38DD breasts. I weigh about 200 lbs at present and love to be active and excersize. Due to my big girls, I have excersize induced asthma, etc...This size of my large breasts has plagued me since I was 15 years old. I developed early and have had stress dealing with them since then. Due to the large size of my breasts, I have dealt with numerous back issues as well as rashes etc. with no full relief. I was very excited to have surgery until I went to my pre-op appointment today and the doctor and nurse reiterated that the insurance requres 500 g removed per side. I got a bit nervous about this, but then remembered the consult where the Dr. mentioned he thought I'd end up with a C cup, which would be my ideal goal. I sure hope they can make that happen. My main concern is that they can't guarentee that I will have back relief or what size I will be after...and there is no turning back the clock after the procedure is done...I guess my ultimate fear is that they will turn out too small in proportion to my body and that it won't provide the back pain relief I was looking for...but I keep thinking how could it not? Just a little nervous, but not willing to throw in the towel on the only light at the end of the tunnel I've had in regards to this issue in years...I want my body and independence back!

Tomorrow is the day! 5:45 AM just called for the surgical listing. Very nervous! I hope I like the results. I was very nervous up until this point, but am now just ready to get it done...I sure hope this was the right choice for me.

Well I made it through...he said we got the C cup I was hoping for! He used a short scar technique where there isn't the large anchor underneath and once the nasty anesthesia wore off, I have next to no pain. I'm so happy. The tug on my neck is gone...however, I only have sensation in one nipple for now...hope that changes. I'm ecstatic and will be discharged to home in a frw hours :)

Day 4. For the last few days I've been extremely tired with all the healing so I haven't been doing much but sleeping and baby walks in between. Days 2 and 3 were pretty rough. Any painkiller other than Tylenol makes me vomit so I've been just kind of dealing with the pain. Everything is very sore and tight today like it's really healing up but that makes it hard to do much of anything without tugging at the stitches..oh and my neck has really been bothering me...I think from spending so much time sitting/laying on my back...that part kind of stinks but hoping as I heal it goes away...

I have my first shower yesterday, that was by far the worst. Seeing and smelling everything was much too much for me and I almost fainted/vomited, but made it through...I don't have drains, but one side has an incision that is still oozing a bit but I had my mom look and she said it looks like it is healing very nicely...I will post pics later when i feel up to it...due to the short scar technique the surgeon used, they look very high right now and will drop down, but I think they will look very nice when all is said and done....back to relaxing for now...

Day 5...no real changes...feeling more and more like myself as the days go by. Today I'm feeling less sleepy and sore so that's good. I will have to reign myself in so I don't overdo it. Hopefully shower #2 goes better today and I've quit draining as much. I'm a little nervous to take the ace bandage off as things have healed much more and now any movement tugs at my stitches so that is a little hard....bending over to do just about anything results in a scary tug, but I'm sure this too will pass...icing my neck has been helping and as much rest as possible...might try a little outting or something today :)

Maybe get some pics up soon, but they look scary...Dr. said they will look like torpedos until they drop, he wasn't kidding!

Days 6 and 7 were a bit rough. I was having some issues with breathing and being asthmatic it scared me. I went in to see my primary care and to err on the side of caution, had a chest CT to rule out a blood clot as my symptoms were somewhat abnormal, sweating, rapid heartbeat etc...but alas, after a little freak out and a few trips to the hospital, which is unfortunately 45 minutes away, I'm fine....until today.

Day8. I have a ton of itching, which I expected, however, around the left nipple there is a bit of a red spot that is radiating out that is making me a bit nervous...I'm watching it to see if it's just ready from the itching or possible infection. I've had cellulitis before and I'm concerned with that :( Might call tomorrow to see if I can have it looked at just in case, I feel like I'm being a hypochondriac, but after all...these are my boobs/nipples and I've gotten this far, I don't want to risk having anything bad happen! Although my experiences are far from ideal, I'm happy to share...

Other than that...my energy levels have been all over the place, yesterday was pretty good, this morning also good and then I had lunch with a friend and during and after that I was feeling drained. I need to keep telling myself that I need to have equal parts rest/work right now and I'm not good at that. In a way I feel ready to be back at work, but then another day ends an I'm happy I wasn't there because it would have really pooped me out. Thankfully, I have another week off if I need it.

Day 9 ...got in to see the plastic surgeons assistant and it turns out it is cellulitis or staph of the skin so I started antibiotics for the next 10 days...ugh. Hoping it works bc this is a fairly dangerous infection! I'm scared but trying to keep my cool... There was no pain before but seems to be some now at the infection site so I hope the antibiotics start working soon so I can quit being paranoid about anything and everything...trying to rest now.

Day 10 thought I'd give an update and some pics....the cellulitis infection seems to be getting better throughout the day...downside, the antibiotic is very strong and makes me tired and a bit dizzy at times :*( and I have to take it 4 times a day...I've also had a temp of 99 to 99.3 but I attest that to my body and the antibiotic fighting the infection...I was told to go back/call if I get a fever over 101 or the infection area seems to spread, which isn't the case, I just hope my body starts reacting to the antibiotic in a more favorable way so I can enjoy my progress thus far, but it's only 10 days I guess....I'm sick of the couch!...and I have to take the antibiotic for 10 days. Hoping things look up soon....

Day 14 - Update. Thing have been going much better, the slight 99.2-4 temp I had is gone and the infection seems to be almost gone as well...only a few more days on the nasty antibiotic! Yay! I had a great day yesterday, got my hair done and went to watch a softball game, but today I tell you man am I pooped...the lethargy is still there if I have a busier day. I was hoping to maybe go in to work tomorrow for a few hours, but am now going to play it by ear based on how tired I am today! Thankfully, my supervisor is flexible and only wants me back when I'm feeling up to it.

The girls shape is great and the pain on the left side is really dissapating as well, not sure if it was the infection or just healing...everything is looking good...a little bit of back pain just due to sitting so much, but hoping once i get back to the gym, this goes away...I'm also ready to get out of this ACE wrap and into another type of bra, we'll see what the appt Friday brings, last time they said everything, with the exception of the infection was healing very nicely...might take a nice nap today and take it easy.