I had mine done dec 7th. Went from a 38g to a 38c. Doc took 500gr and 550gr. Best thing I ever did!
My journey is posted on here because my insurance was a nightmare. I was persistent and pushy and got it done...FREE of charge because we had met deductible. good luck to you! My recovery has been great. One month post op visit dr removed all restrictions. Follow your docs orders for an easy recovery.
Best advice I didn't know about...childcare the first night. I thought outpatient= easy...ummm...I was so loopy coming out of the anesthesia! If I had to do it again, I'd make preparations for someone to keep the kids overnight!
I did have the headaches, backaches, etc. My chiropractor conferenced in on my final appeal and he was awesome --- he used all the medical (mumbo-jumbo to me) and explained exactly which L4, L5,C2 etc. that is deteriorating, that the artheritis is expanding, and that there is no other option for me than to have the surgery. I made him a Steeler wreath as a thank you for everything he did to help out!
Sorry I haven't updated...well...here goes.
My surgery was Dec. 7, 2012. When I went in for my pre-op markings that morning, my PS looked at me and laughed! He said in his 30 years of practive, he has NEVER seen anyone beat BCBS!!! I told him BCBS had never met the persistency of ME before! So, we moved on to the markings. We talked about what I thought I 'needed to be'. I told him I know I can't go small because I'm not a small person...I'd be happy with a C or even a small D. He seemed thrilled - he said he was worried that I'd want to be a small B or something and he was afraid we were going to "go rounds"! No, I'm realistic - I told him. I'd LOVE to 'chop em off and go home' but that's not realistic.
He met me across the street at the hospital 2 hours later and they wheeled me in. That's all I remember. When I woke up, I was in recovery. My husband had left during the surgery to get my children from school and bring them to the hospital...I thought I'd be fine since I was going home afterwards. ***BIG MISTAKE*** Make sure you have childcare the day of surgery and overnight...my kids had to sit in recovery (thank God for iPhones and iPods) until I came out of anesthesia...then they had to see me go home still WAY groggy. Again - find someone the keep the kids!!! General Anesthesia makes you totally loopy and it wasn't a good sight for the kids (they are 8 and 13 so they thought it was pretty funny).
I came home and went straight to bed. Thankful my husband volunteered to sleep on the couch - I took up the entire king sized bed with pillows under each arm make sure I didn't roll over and to support the drains.
The drains...I do NOT have a weak stomach, but for some reason, the drains grossed me out! Todd emptied them twice a day and he was fine with it, but ewww...I went back to the dr. on Monday (my surgery was Friday) and the nurse took the drains out. I then had to go back on Friday for my 1 week post op.
At the 1 week appointment, she snipped my stitches and gave me the best instructions:
Slather Palmers Cocoa Butter on the incision sites, then cover the cocoa butter with 3M white tape (found in with the band-aids) and the steri-strip gluey stuff would come right off. It worked great! She said to use the cocoa butter instead of the Mederma for the scars as well. Cocoa butter is WAY better. She was right!
I went back today for my 6 week post op. The doctor came in and was amazed! He said he has never seen anyone heal so quickly; must be his 'fantastic work'. I totally agree! I have very minimal scars left (they are noticable, but not red or raised at all! The only part that is still red and raised is where the drains were; on the sides where the side bra seams sit. He said they will continue to improve if I continue with the cocoa butter.
Dr. said I was doing so well, I don't have to return for my 3 or 6 month check up! I guess my journey is done!
Good luck to anyone going through this. My main advice when it comes to insurance --- be the squeaky wheel. Appeal, appeal, appeal. they will get sick of you and they will listen after a while!
Super Happy in NC!
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