Almost 40. 30FF 130 Lbs. 5’6"

I've finally setup my surgery for July 3, 2019. I'll turn 40 on July 10th. A birthday present to myself.
Let's start from the beginning.
I was born with a mild case of spina bifida occulta. Some of the vertebra in my lower back never formed properly when I was born. It never caused me much trouble that I could recall as a child.
Fast forward to junior high school when the nurse told me I had scoliosis and recommended my mom take me to a doctor to be evaluated. The doctor told my mom it was a 5 degree curve and he wouldn't worry about it unless it got worse.
Once I reached puberty I quickly grew to a C cup. I don't recall having any back pain then until I reached my early twenties and ballooned up to a DD. I started having severe sciatica pain. Over the years I went to a chiropractor, had steroid injections, was sent to a pain management doctor and had several spinal blocks to control the pain plus was given a tens unit and nothing helped. I gained 50 pounds and my breast grew even more! I worked hard and lost the 50 pounds but my breasts didn't shrink. At the age of 26 I was sent to an orthopedic specialist who discovered that I'd broken my lower back in the vicinity of ten years previously. What!? And since I hadn't know it was broken it healed all funky and the only way to correct the problem and relieve my pain was to have a spinal fusion on L5. I spent a year healing and once the majority of my lower back pain (which at that point I was nearly in a wheelchair) I realized my neck, shoulders, and upper back were always aching. Not to mention I'd been dealing with migraines since my early twenties.
My first attempt to help the ache was to be fitted for a bra. You can imagine how shocked I was when the fitter told me I was a 30FF (UK bra). The bras helped for a while but eventually the straps began to dig in and I began having a lot of pain in my right side under my breast. I saw several doctors (08/2018 - 04/2019) for the rib pain thinking it was my gallbladder or something digestive. Nope. Costochondritis a.k.a inflammation of the rib cartilage due to having to wear a tight bra in order to support my sagging FF breasts. At that point all the doctors wrote me off and told me to take Advil. Guess what? That did not help.
Ever since I'd ballooned up to a FF I've toyed with the idea of a breast reduction. I'd even applied for it once through my insurance but was denied. So since my employer changed insurance I thought I'd try again.
Nope. We don't care if you've even had back surgery and your over sized breasts are causing harm.
I'd had enough.
I began looking into medical tourism because I couldn't afford the approximately $15,000 I was quoted. After some deep digging I found a surgeon in Alabama (I'm in Ohio) who'd do it for less than 1/3 of the price and that included the OR and anesthesia. I researched the hell out the doctor, read all the reviews over several sites, and check out the post op photos to make sure it wasn't too good to be true.
And I took the leap. I will be traveling to AL, having my consultation on July 2 and surgery the next day. I will stay over night in their recovery house (they have such a thing since many people travel to them for procedures since they're prices are so low), I'll have a follow up the next day and if I'm cleared I'll be sent home (an 8.5 hour drive and I plan on staying at a hotel if the pain of traveling is too much).
So I will keep updating this review. I'll add some before photos before too long and add more once I have the surgery.

I’ve been spending a lot of time reading reviews and watching YouTube videos about people’s experiences before, during, and after the breast reduction and taking in everyone’s advice as far as things you’ll need. I’m stocked up on pillows and since I’ll be traveling for my surgery I’ve bought just about anything I might need: gauze, micropore tape, body wash wipes, stool softener, sore throat lozenges, a seatbelt pillow attachment, an extra post surgical bra, and a reusable ice pack. I’ve got 2 1/2 weeks to go and I’m nervous and excited. I can’t wait for this to be over.

I’ve been spending a lot of time reading reviews and watching YouTube videos about people’s experiences before, during, and after the breast reduction and taking in everyone’s advice as far as things you’ll need. I’m stocked up on pillows and since I’ll be traveling for my surgery I’ve bought just about anything I might need: gauze, micropore tape, body wash wipes, stool softener, sore throat lozenges, a seatbelt pillow attachment, an extra post surgical bra, and a reusable ice pack. I’ve got 2 1/2 weeks to go and I’m nervous and excited. I can’t wait for this to be over.