amanda5376

Third time's a charm?

Both of my surgeons said a month minimum, 6 weeks is better if it can be managed. Too much too soon can raise your blood pressure and cause excess swelling, which can lead to healing setbacks. I want to make sure I heal properly so I can just get on with my life! Everyone is different, but personally I think 10 days is way too soon for the physical work we do! Your chest muscles help with arm balance, and our arms are constantly in the air. Read through several reviews of the women here, and how they have felt in recovery. Good luck and take care! :-)

Looking good! I can't wait to get to where you are!!!!

July 8!

After two extremely upsetting experiences with cancelled BR surgery (see my profile for this story and pictures), I have a third and hopefully final date. I'm reluctant to be excited, and as pure self defense against a third bout of cancellation related depression, I hardly can believe it's actually going to happen. My pre-op is scheduled for the end of June, and I already have the post-ops scheduled as well. My new surgeon seems to be a stand-up guy. It's a good thing, too, because this is my last option. As it was, because of where I live, there are few choices that will accept my insurance. I had to cajole the receptionist into even giving me a consultation appointment because I live 110 miles away from their office, and they have a policy against taking patients outside a 60 mile radius. He requested that I stay close (hotel for me) for the first 24 hours, to be on the safe side. It's only a 1 1/2 hour drive from home to the office, but apparently this policy evolved from distant patients skipping post-op appointments. I was lucky, and he saw how desperately I need this once I got into the office to see him. The best thing I think about this new surgeon is that his method is completely different than the other guy's. The old surgeon would do a lollipop incision with drains. My new surgeon does an anchor incision with NO DRAINS! Also he said he has NEVER had to do a full nipple graft, whereas the old guy said he may have to. So, assuming it actually happens, I think I will be far happier with the outcome. Cross your fingers and toes, hold your breath, wish on a star...

Thank you ladies. It really does help to have some people who "get it" behind me. My close family knows how hard this hits me, how much it's needed, how long I've waited and how hard a road it has been. But they don't know how it FEELS to be STUCK with these things STILL. I let myself believe that my life was about to change, but it was a lie. A friend of mine said "you finally got to the top of the list, and doctor basically just ate your life saving kidney." It's true. I was so looking forward to a life in which normal activity didn't cause me pain. I'm sentenced to who knows how much longer with this burden on my chest. My partner is taking the initiative to start looking for another surgeon. I just can't. I can't bear to go through all of this again when I can't depend on it ever coming true. She may also look into calling a lawyer to see if there is a case. There is certainly pain and suffering as a result of his actions, and maybe all of that paperwork I signed at my pre-op yesterday qualifies as a contract that he breeched. I don't dare hope for anything though. The disappointment would flatten me irreparably. I realize I sound defeated and probably a little sorry for myself. I know (somewhere deep in there) that this will all work out one way or another. But y' know? I'd still like to punch the bastard in the face.