36DDDD-E WITH Rheumatoid Arthritis - Fairbanks, AK

I m 42 and have finally decided to do it!! I’ve been a D or larger since I was 12, it’s like I went to be with nothing woke up with 30D at ge 12. Talk about people making fun, except when I Hut high school of course, then I just wore baggy sweatshirts because I was ashamed of being 32DD. I used these to become a calendar & fashion model for Venus for about 6 years, totally fun! But later at about age 26 I was diagnosed with RA out of the clear blue. Everything took a back burner to that. I was on so many medications that cause weight gain and went up to a 38DDDD which is crazy on a 5’2 frame. I’ve had bilateral knee and hip replacements nd ankles are on the agenda next. But I lost some of the weight but never lost the chest. Very frustrating when you’re constantly hunched to try to hold your breasts up. I finally said enough and told my husband and my doctors were agreeable to the surgery because it would eliminate stress on my joints and help with the RA pAin. I had to be off my RA meds for 2 months before I could do this surgery because of the low immune system they cause. Y’all about misery...,inflamed RA & pAin unable to barely move. But I’ve stuck it out!! I had to shower with the antibacterial soap stuff the day before & the day of surgery. I was there at 630an my doc came & marked me up and I was ready and of course, Mother Nature decided she need to visit a week early, thank you for that ????.

My surgeon took out just over 5 lbs from both of my breasts ????, crazy!!! He made me stay overnight at the hospital just for monitoring. He cane in the next day and unwrapped me and I was afraid to look ????. But I look down and OMG I was small and perky & where they were supposed to be. Still trying to get used to that lol.

I got home and wasn’t able to sleep for days not because of pain just because of stress I think. My husband & 10yro daughter cues as though I was totally normal and didn’t need to rest & recover so they expected me to do everything for them like always, and I did! Stupid me I started feeling pulling & more burning than usual and I called by doc and he told me to chill the hell out and stop doing so much. So I did! (They’re not thrilled that I’m not making dinner every night & cleaning and doing their laundry & making sure my daughters homework is done, I may be supermom but I just had a 5.5 hour major surgery and trauma so I need to think of me first for a change.

I started weeping yellow serum out of my left breast but I guess it’s normal and my left one is definitely smaller than my right but he said that’s totally normal, when all the swelling goes away and they drop wheee they’re supposed to be then we can decide. But my back and neck and everything feels so much better, it’s amazing to look down a see my feet lol. I am thrilled I will not ever have to wear 2 bras again. More to follow..,

I’m so happy! I’ve decided to take it easy & let my body heal, like I’m supposed to lol. Everything is healing well and they look more perfect everyday. I wish it would have done this a long time ago. My husband loves his new job of inspecting my breasts daily ???? to make sure they look right. My daughter tells me that I look better in my clothes already. My RA is definitely flaring and knocking me on my butt. The swelling of my elbows & ankles is worse than the breast swelling. I’m so overwhelmed still! I think I’m dreaming sometimes. This is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself ever!

Everything has been healing beautifully, I am still in awe! However, my left breast, it has been the one with the most drainage but that’s all except now I have several 3-4, painful lumps. In the outside towards my arm out. They weren’t there before and my bruising has increased in that area. Anyone else have that problem? I’m still so exhausted and just want to sleep lol. I’m back to doing most things, not feeling super awesome about driving but riding my bike works out ok. My friends and my husband & daughter are all being amazing. They don’t let me do too much, which I never tend to slow down anyway but they are forcing me. I just forget that I just had major surgery 2 weeks ago. I’ve always had a high tolerance for pain, especially after being diagnosed with RA and not wanting to take pin meds, ya gotta tolerate more than most can ever imagine, so this is not severe pain to me so I just go like it’s a normal day. I just have to be super careful because I don’t want to tear anything and I’m afraid that’s what I did to get these lumps, maybe torn some internal stitches or something. I just hope it’s not serious. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Pictures to follow soon!