19 & Happy After Breast Reduction - New York, NY

(6 days Post Op)
Today's Date: October 23rd 2013 Hi all.. I wanted to write this post up to help other girls & women going through what I went through/am going through. Some quick stats about me:
19 years old
5'2''
115 lbs
Fit
Yet constant shoulder and upper and lower back pain
Wearing a size 32H bra that was already too small by procedure date.
Bra straps digging into shoulders and band digging into torso.. huge red marks by end of the day.
Went through 6 mos of physical therapy with no relief


So, January 2013, after 2 years review, I decided to go to my doctors and begin a case with insurance for a BR. It was a long and difficult process that didn't get approved until late July 2013 and the earliest apptmt I could book was October 17th 2013. But well worth every minute thus far - had to have notes from my general physician, physical therapist, orthopedist and plastic surgeon. I went through (as previously stated) 6 mos of phys. ther. for shoulder and back pain - the physical therapists were wonderful but even they knew the issue would only be corrected by surgery.

Fast forward to October:
Week of - reminded all my professors (i am a full time art student) that i would be out of class for 1 - 2 weeks. And caught up on a much work as i could before hand.

day before my procedure:
Went about my day normally but couldn't eat or drink after midnight.

Day of (Oct 17 2013):

Got to the hospital at 1230pm - what a beautiful facility. They checked me in - asked for a urine sample - dressed me in the gown and socks and took my vital signs. Asked about allergies - spoke with anesthesiologist with parents... after all was said and done my nurse & anesthesiologist brought me into the OR (between 120& 145pm).

It was definitely nerve-wracking going into the OR - I had never had surgery before. There were a handful of nurses in there (not including the nurse who walked me in), plus my anesthesiologist. They had me lay down on the table and told me they'd be putting in the iv for the anesthesia and I said okay - they said I probably wouldnt remember anything past that point - and placed the mask over my face and thats all I remember.

Apparently I was out of surgery by 5pm. I vaguely remember feeling very groggy and waking up (in what i found out to be the recovery room later on). The nurse asked me how i felt and i kept saying good thank you - i was glad the surgery was over. I was in and out of sleep at this point. By 6 pm I was wheeled into my own room in the pediatrics wing (not sure why i was there but i was)- and i started becoming more alert by the time i woke up in my room.
I was so lucky to have my own room and bathroom. I remember feeling very thirsty when I finally came to. I drank a lot and peed a lot. All the nurses were so kind and helpful. I was on percocet too so i was in and out of sleep for that night and the following three days. I remember pain but far less than i had expected going in.

Running out now - will post more about day of op and day after and week after soon.

So Thursday night by 7 or 8 I was STARVING! I ate a full meal and then some more food - my nurse got nervous that I would throw it all back up but I kept it down. Sleeping was tough - i woke up every 4 hours to ask for 2 more percocet..by Friday night my PS (Dr Roth) came in and removed my drains - glad my mom was there to hold my hands -- it was a bit uncomfortable. Afterwards I was discharged and went home and slept... Saturday and Sunday were slight progressions - less pain ... i only took 1 percocet and spaced it out to every 6 hrs. Sunday my mom helped me shower and I saw my breasts for the first time since the surgery! Yay little frankensteinboobs! At the end of my shower I felt very faint and nauseous and had to lay down in bed. I ended up sleeping for 5 hours. It was very difficult to get up and out of bed so it was such a blessing having my friend and parents around from Friday Day 1 after surgery till Monday Day 4.



After Sunday I only took the Percocet Tuesday & Wednesday at night before bed -when the pain was the worst- I didnt need it during the day.

Wednesday Oct 23 ( 6 Days Post op) during the day was my 1st post op visit w/ my PS
He said that my breasts are perfect and that I'm healing so rapidly that my chest looks like its already 2-3 weeks post op instead of 6 days! He took about 3 stitches out from each nipple and scheduled me for my 2nd pre-op the following Monday Oct 28 to take out some more stitches

Hi all...

Went to the Dr. today for my 1 month post-op checkup... He said my breasts look perfect! He gave me a scar treatment gel called Kelo-cote to use.
I am now allowed to wear underwire bras again! And he thinks I will be a C. Yay!!
Time to go shopping!