Finally Going to Do It!! 44DD/DDD and Getting 550 Gms Removed from Each Side. -Muskegon, MI

I am 48 y/o and have had 'bodacious boobies' since I was in about 6th grade. I have to be honest that in high school and my early twenties, I was proud of them! But after having two kids, gaining some weight and the inevitable gravity, I am anything but proud. I am so tired of constantly have pain in my lower neck across my shoulders and under my shoulder blades. I also find that if I stand for more than a couple of minutes, my lower back starts hurting. I have recently been making a concious effort to notice my posture when i am sitting or standing, and I always looking like I am slumping. I know this is related to the being 'top heavy'. I am 5'5" and currently weigh 185 pounds, however, my weight (other than my boobs, which gets MORE than their fair share) is evenly distributed, so I dont appear overweight, just 'average'. I wear somewhere between a 44DD and 44DDD although I have NEVER been able to find a bra that fits me well, I always have parts sticking out somewhere!
My family doctor made a referal to the PS after I discussed my concerns with her. I had my appointment with the PS in October. Pictures were taken and then I was examined (briefly) by him. He took some measurements and then explained that based on my height/weight combination, the insurance would require between 550 and 580 cc off each side. He said it would be a considerable difference, and would take me to a small c or large b. They seems small to me, but only becuase i can not begin to visualize what size that actually is. Either way, I am ready for the mass to be gone. My PS submitted his report to my insurance company and I was approved at 100%, but needed to get it scheduled this year as I had already met my deductible and therefore will have no out of pocket! So my surgery date is December 23rd and I will spend one night in the hospital and be discharged on Christmas Eve. I am ready for this to happen!! I am so tired of never feeling like I can find anything that looks good on. Dresses never fit on top, button down shirts can not be button and I have to wear a cami under them and button just the last 3 buttons (which only draws more attention to my chest!), forget about bathing suits looking good! I even have to be picky about the kind of pajamas I can wear, otherwise I look like some of those people you see in the pictures of people at walmart that people are making fun of! I have never been able to wear a sexy bra, I think it just makes me look ridiculous! How can something that has THAT much material be sexy???
One other thing I am hoping will be solved with this surgery is, i seem to get areas of lumps in my breast that get painful and achy and then go away. (it is not mastitis, just different lumps on exams and then tender when palpated and achy when my breasts hang). They were concerning enough that i not only had a mammogram done, but an ultrasound as well. Both came up totally clear, but I still get random areas of achiness and lumpiness, that i am sure has to do with excess fat/tissue.
Anyway, as the day draws closer, I dont know if I am nervous about the surgery or about having everything ready for Christmas before I go in, but either way, it is constantly on my mind! I am a nurse, so I think I know a little too much about surgical procedures and what is actually done from watching several kinds of surgery (not this kind though), so that is somethiong that I have to try to put out of my mind otherwise it makes me more nervous!. I know everything will be fine and i tend to stay positive on the outside and fight the demons on the inside...which leads to another little problem,... I have an ulcer!! I am hoping that is not going to be a problem post surgical, but right now, if I dont have food in my stomach, it is very uncomfortable. I am taking prilosec and pepto, trying to get that under control before the surgery, so we will see.
My plan is to update throughout the ordeal is hopes that it will help others.

Well tomorrow is the day! I have to leave at 4 am to be to the hospital at 530 am. We are in the middle of a winter weather advisory and have gotten 5 inches of snow since thus am with more lake effect expected. May have to leave at 3 am to get there on time! I am trying to keep my mind bust by getting all my wrapping done and everything ready for Christmas. Wanted to get my before pictures up. I will talk to you all after!!!

I am up in my hospital room and a little groggy but managing pretty well. My surgery was scheduled for 730 am today. But for some reason. Things were behind and I didn't go into surgery until about 810 am. My pay came in shortly before that and did his markings. I wasn't able to take a picture because they wheeled me away right after that but I was surprised at how high the placement of my nipples looked! I will be able to see them lol! I'm not really sure how long the surgery took exactly ( guess is about 3 1/2 hours). I was up to my room after recovery at about 130 pm. I did wake up in recovery to some nausea but was given phenergan and that took it away ( and made me very sleepy, so slept the whole time there, once up in my room I had to slide over into the bad and did it fine. Have had no more nausea and only pain between 2 and 5 so far. Just finished dinner and so far having no bad effects from it. I did have a foley during surgery but it was inserted and removed while I was under. Have been up to pee 3 times with no problems and have gone on 3 good walks without problem. I can lift my arms straight up with any restrictions or increased pain. I am having more pain coming now, despite having gotten toradol half hour ago. It is mostly on left side. I do have drains but my ps said the plan is to remove them prior to discharge tomorrow. Will try to update more later. Need another nap now!