34H to hopeful 34C-D — 25 Years Old, No Kids, Finally Ready to Be Free from Pain

Now that I'm under the one-month mark until surgery, I thought I'd stop being a lurker on RS and make my own post! Like so many women here, I have also struggled with a large (okay, huge) chest size, specifically in relation to my small frame. I have always been so, so self conscious of my body because of my breasts and just the thought of being free from pain and worry is so liberating.

Growing up, my body was always super different from other girls because even though I was similarly slender and small, my chest was always so developed. I remember being teased and mocked for the majority of middle school because of it, and the worst came from girls who would say condescending things. I'm also a graphic designer and work in the advertising world, and I am in love with colors and patterns. So, to miss out on so many cute fashion trends because of my breasts is something I am constantly sad and depressed about. Not to mention the pain... Because of my job, I spend my days hunched over my laptop at a desk, my face inches from the screen, and my back has slowly begun to deteriorate because of it.

So... on to the reason I'm having my surgery :-) I have struggled with the financial burden of the surgery for almost a decade, as well as getting insurance to cover it (although I have done everything they ask). I was recently engaged in June and although I was thrilled to be marrying my best friend, I was so sad that I would have to get married in a body that I had grown to despise. That's when one morning, I saw a story in a newsletter about a plastic surgery firm here in my city which was offering a large sum of money for 10 patients to receive their surgeries which they had previously been unable to get in a program called Emerging Hopes. I wrote a heartfelt application letter, had my mom and best friend write recommendation letters, and sent it all off to wait... Two weeks later, I learned I had made it to the "second round" and was scheduled for a consultation!! I had that a few weeks later, and only a few days after that...

I GOT THE CALL. I found out at work one morning last week that I am scheduled to have my breast reduction surgery with Dr. Kortesis on August 27th, 2016! Aside from the cost of prescriptions and a few odds and ends, the procedure is entirely covered by Emerging Hopes. I am going for my pre-op appointment next week (August 3rd) and then I just have to wait a few weeks until the end of the month. I am so SO excited! And so happy to have found this page!

I will post pre-op photos soon, but wanted to go ahead and make my post for now :-)

Today I am 22 days away from my surgery and my back hurts more than it ever has in my entire life. I feel nauseous from the constant throbbing ache in my lower back, and I feel like I can't breathe comfortably because of the pain. I have tried bringing a sports bra to work with me and changing into it when the pain gets too bad, but even that hurts after only a few hours (I work as a graphic designer at a desk job).

I am starting to become incredibly anxious. How am I going to be able to make it until my surgery with all this pain!? Next week, I have to entirely cut out painkillers to get my body ready for surgery. I'm really worried about that. I'm barely able to keep my head above water taking 800mg Ibuprofen and Tylenol, so to think about having none of that for two weeks..... I am so nervous.... How am I going to make it!?

Has anyone else dealt with this? Any advice? I should be so excited for my surgery... But instead I feel myself slipping into a deep depression from the anxiety of knowing the pain will continue.... Please help...

Well I'm officially 14 days out from the big day. I'm still in a lot of constant pain because of my back. So much that the other night, I slept on my neck wrong, and now I can barely turn my head to the right. I also spend all day at my desk with a heating pad on my back to help the pain...

I went to Target for a few things yesterday and was pleased to see they now sell front-zip sports bras which my surgeon wants me to wear for a few weeks after the operation. I was so excited to actually be able to consider fun colored bras that I bought the brightest one they had.

I also tried the bra on just for laughs... And because I am so worried that I won't be able to tell a difference in size post op and i want to have something to compare to. Well I think it will work because as you can see, I can't even get the damn thing closed now! What a difference it will be when I finally can!