POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS
Smaller boobies here I come!
ORIGINAL POST
Hi.... I am in a quite different place then most...
AimeedoubleGsNovember 30, 2011
WORTH IT$9,100
Hi.... I am in a quite different place then most of you, but I have heard this is a great community for support and I could really used some.
In short, I am heart broken because trying to pay for this surgery has been a terrible emotional roller coaster, and it now looks like it's not going to happen for quite some time...
Let me first introduce myself... My name is Aimee and I am getting a masters in PolySci with the hopes of working for a nonprofit next year when I finish. I'm an itty bitty thing (except for the boobies of course ) at 5'2" and 125lbs. I'm also a 32H cup. I've honestly never had a problem with being built like a tiny Christina Hendricks and have been blessed to be oblivious/self confident enough not to be bothered by the leers and jeers over the years...
Then the back pain came! Over two years I went from no pain ever, to occasional pain sometimes, to what I now term "all of the pain all of the time".
So I decided to kiss the twins good bye for the health of my body and I was ready! I got recommendations form my GP and a chiro then found a good surgeon who took my insurance (BCBS of GA...Where I lived pre college) that was when the hell began...
After an amazing consult the docs finance guy started telling me that I should "pay out of pocket"... When I made it clear that as a student there was NO WAY for me to do that, they quit taking my calls. I was heart broken. I'd never heard of this happening before, but I guess they lie about taking insurance to get you in the door. I looked at all the other Pasadena docs who take my insurance and all I can say is EEK!! I wouldn't let them work on my dog. Maybe I am too picky or something but good lord... misshapen breasts, horrible scars, etc. etc. And most of them have been docs for very, very short periods of time.
I'm a pretty resourceful girl, so I came up with two alternate routs to get this funded... The first was to dip into a college fund my great grandfather set up for me and take out a little money for this. I have gotten lots of scholarships so it's still quite healthy. The trustee in charge said he was totally fine with it, and to book a date! I met with two more docs (who didn't take insurance) fell madly in love with one and booked January 10th :D I was over the moon!
Three days later I am getting a call from the trustee saying my mom went behind my back and blocked the payment by the bank :( I was so depressed. I was shocked. I confronted her but she lied about it so I couldn't even get any closure. I should have known something was up when she went from telling me to just "live with my back pain" and that all I needed was to "lose weight and go for a walk" to being eerily calm and supportive...
My last resort was to apply for a loan so I sucked it up and went for it.... and I was denied. Not surprisingly not very many people want to give a loan to a grad student with 20k in educational debt, who's husband has 275k (he's a doctor in his residence right now... so someday we will have a bit of money most likely, but as of now we are hand to mouth both living on students incomes.... I called and canceled the procedure. It broke my heart
I could maybe put this out of my mind and live with it, accepting that it just doesn't seem like it's going to happen right now, unless I take my husbands advice and start selling boob squeezes until I raise the money ( I have a very silly adorable husband) except that I have bad daily pain to remind me of the problem... And now I have crashing self esteem.
The funny thing is once my breasts started causing my pain I no longer felt like a mini Christine Hendricks... I felt like I was deformed. Heavy. Unattractive. Matronly. I had already reconciled myself with the changes to come twice....First when finding a great doc who "took my insurance", then when I thought I could draw from my college fund..... Now I am having a lot of trouble getting back to the old body love...
To make matters worse doing it in two years when I will likely have a job and some means of some sort will put it within 3 years of when we had planned to have a child... Something you are not supposed to do according to the docs I talked to. So now where am I? 8 years more with these things? 10? 15?
And there is simply no way we will have 9,100 in the nest few years. For me to take on an extra job would mean sacrificing the degree I have worked for over half a decade for... We have nothing to sell... I simply don't think it can be done and I have to find a way to accept it :(
Thank you for reading... Any encouragement is welcome...I'm sure there must be some women around here who went through this...Updated on 1 Dec 2011:Hi wonderful real self ladies :) So after the encouragement I have reopened the search for a doc within my insurance network. It is true that after clicking link after link of TERRIBLE work, or doctors with 0 web presence (which tells me they are very early in their career) I got frustrated.... BUT just because it is going to be a lot harder to find a doc this way doesn't mean I won't.... And hey, I have nothing better to do while I try to save up money, right?
I have realized that some of the doctors on the list are professors at really prestigious teaching hospitals around here.. After a few calls I found out that you can request NOT to be a teaching case and still see these docs... I've lined up a consult with one lady who is a true expert in boobies... She even has a center named after here... We'll see how it goes!Updated on 2 Dec 2011:I have one more insurance option to consider :) My wonderful OB/GYN made a call today and got me an appointment with the chief of plastic surgery at the hospital my husband works at. Online his work looks pretty good, and I have no doubt the guy is a good doctor! I'm excited!Updated on 3 Dec 2011:Feeling brave tonight (no liquid courage involved, I swear!!) so I am going to post some "before" pictures :D
I firmly believe that as far as very large breasts go they are by far not the ugliest ones in the world.... That is a lot of the reason that it took me so long after the back pain got so bad to reach this decision.
Any oh man I should have taken pictures in my early 20's.... they looked like the arms up pic 24 hours a day :p
Feels a bit liberating to post them!Updated on 6 Dec 2011:Quick update: Tomorrow I am meeting with one of the two Dr's recommended by my Ob/Gyn who takes my insurance out of network. This means I would have to pay my 4,000$ deductible, but I actually have really close to that, unlike the 9,100 to do it privately.
His name is Dr. Robert Applebaum, and he seems to do a lot of short scar technique. I'm a bit up in the air about short scar... So far the other two surgeons I have met with said I would get the best results from an anchor since I am so large. Who knows, he might say the same, but if he recommends a shorts scar and I like him a lot I will have a ton of research to do :D
I have also only gotten glimpses of his work on his web site so far (two cases).... It is very good, but I am soooo mercilessly picky. I need to see a LOT more to know how I really feel.
Will update you ladies tomorrow :D This could be good!
I also have the consult with the chief of Plastic Surgery at my hubby's hospital NEXT Mon. He takes my insurance out of network too. Lots of updates coming!Updated on 6 Dec 2011:Oh laides... thank you for all the support so far...
Today was such a disappointment :( The doctor was wonderful, and we discussed everything I would have hoped, but then once I got back to his insurance lady she explained to me why I keep getting turned down by docs who "take my insurance"...
So, as stated, I have a 4g deductible. It seems that money that I PAY goes to the insurance company and AGANST the doctor. So, if the insurance company agreed to pay the doctor 5g, my 4g deductible goes AGAINST that. I pay it and the insurance company keeps it out of the doctors 5g...
SO CRAZY!!! Another reason we need serious insurance reform.... But it also seems I will not be able to find a good doc who will do it for less then 1g take away and I understand why!!
Ugh :( I am so sad. I don't think insurance will be an option for me here. That leaves me pretty optionless.... This is getting to heart breaking and I would love to be done with it but this daily back pain tells me otherwise....Updated on 7 Dec 2011:To add to my issues, I woke up this morning and car barely turn my head or lift my left arm :( For some reason the shoulder pain escalated to an all new high last night :( Trying to decide if I need to go to the doctor or ER right now....Updated on 10 Dec 2011:So-- quick update. Here is where I stand. I was instructed to reapply to take money out of my college fund by the trustee. I collected a lot of proof and gave a great argument. My mother decided to punish me for asking by shutting off all benefits to me from my college fund. I have no idea what to do. Friends and my in laws have told me to lawyer up. Since I have a little sister involved I don't think it is the thing to do. The reality is I think she can deny me access to my money, then take it herself, and there is nothing I can do.
Hubby and I were denied for a loan. Still heartbroken over this issue. The pain is getting worse. I visited another doctor in hopes of finding a bandaid and he told me thinking but a breast reduction would stop the pain at a 32H and anything else would be a waist of time and money.
I am thinking about dropping out of grad school and getting a job... But I have to find one first. Here in Cali we are at 17% unemployment. I am in so much pain I broke down crying at the closing party for one of my classes in front of everyone.
I genuinely have no idea what to do. I have no idea how a mother can be this cruel to her child... I talked to her today and she told me "she was sorry I was in pain but I needed to learn to get a few jobs while in grad school like everyone else instead of looking for handouts".... I guess money from the college fund my grandma set up for me before her death last year is a handout?
I am thinking I might need to stay away from this site for a while because seeing all the women getting to move on with their lives without all the pain is too hard.
If I had better insurance I wouldn't be going through this. Under my grandma my college fund provided better insurance. After her death my mom paired it down to the cheapest insurance possible, hence my super high deductibles and no doctor being willing to work with me.
I am a girl who got into a difficult to get into college, graduated with a 3.9 in 2 1/2 years, got into grad school, and genuinely believes that I can do whatever I set my mind to, but ladies this is breaking me. Nothing I do helps, and now because I asked for the help I needed my tuition might not be paid next semester...
I genuinely don't know what to do.Updated on 12 Dec 2011:Today I am feeling better... I'm just going to have to accept that this is not going to happen right now when I want it to.... And not for lack of trying. I can rest knowing I truly exhausted every option, and look forward to doing this in the future.
In one year I will be done with my masters, and able to get a job. In six months I will be able to go on my husbands health insurance (have to wait for the next enrollment period) and have a normal, 250$ deductible instead of the 5,000$ I currently carry. All the doctors who couldn't work with me now because of my deductible will likely be able to to then, and it would be wonderful to do this over the summer!
Honestly, I am glad that I learned how awful the insurance my family had put me on was, and how much better my husbands is. If one of these doctos had taken me I could have paid 4,750$ more in deductible, then 30% of the total instead of the 15% on my husbands plan. That is a LOT of money to do it six months earlier!! And I may have let my family keep me on that awful plan for years... Then if something serious had happened I would have been genuinely screwed. Just imagine if I had gotten into a car accident and needed a million dollars of care... I would have been at the very least 300,000$ in the hole. God works in mysterious ways (so cliche) and I think there were some things I needed to learn here.
But, if once I get on my husbands insurance I have trouble getting approved, or I can't do it over the summer for some other reason, I am going to have to accept that. I have prayed over the issue. It will happen when God is ready.
One great things has come out of this: I have realized how truly, truly sick my mothers treatment of me over the last few years has become. I was in total denial, but now I know. Now I can deal with it head on. Maybe that is why God put me in this situation to begin with... There was a lot here that I needed to see.
In the meantime, I am going to hang around here and cheer all of you ladies on :) Thank you for all the support so far! I am going to keep doing the things that have helped a little in the past.... regular massages, custom fit super expensive bras, and avoiding super strenuous exercise (frowny face here because running in the winter in Cali is the best)...
I've done everything I can!! It's in God's hands now. I can accept that :) For a while at least ;)Updated on 21 Dec 2011:So here is where I am: I got a part time job that would raise enough money to get the surgery by mid summer if going on my husbands insurance doesn't work out.
Also, I found one doc with great reviews who says she WILL take my insurance, high deductible and all. The catch is I can't see any of her work until I get there.... I am SO picky, I am very skeptical.... BUT she is a teacher at a really highly ranked medical school out here specializing in breast plastic surgery.... Seems like she would have to be pretty good, right? We'll see.
That is on January 15th :)
BTW, one more small good thing to come out of this crazy, terrible situation-- the part time job is amazing! It's with a not for profit woman's health org I really admire, and they are super comfortable with being flexible with my school schedule. I am really glad I found it!
On the bad side, my shoulder pain has really been escalating.... It's not longer even responding at all to over the counter meds, and the strong scrip stuff still helps, but so many side effects it's barely worth it. Intense pain, or nausea and tiredness coupled with a general high feeling? Gee. Great choice.
In short, I am heart broken because trying to pay for this surgery has been a terrible emotional roller coaster, and it now looks like it's not going to happen for quite some time...
Let me first introduce myself... My name is Aimee and I am getting a masters in PolySci with the hopes of working for a nonprofit next year when I finish. I'm an itty bitty thing (except for the boobies of course ) at 5'2" and 125lbs. I'm also a 32H cup. I've honestly never had a problem with being built like a tiny Christina Hendricks and have been blessed to be oblivious/self confident enough not to be bothered by the leers and jeers over the years...
Then the back pain came! Over two years I went from no pain ever, to occasional pain sometimes, to what I now term "all of the pain all of the time".
So I decided to kiss the twins good bye for the health of my body and I was ready! I got recommendations form my GP and a chiro then found a good surgeon who took my insurance (BCBS of GA...Where I lived pre college) that was when the hell began...
After an amazing consult the docs finance guy started telling me that I should "pay out of pocket"... When I made it clear that as a student there was NO WAY for me to do that, they quit taking my calls. I was heart broken. I'd never heard of this happening before, but I guess they lie about taking insurance to get you in the door. I looked at all the other Pasadena docs who take my insurance and all I can say is EEK!! I wouldn't let them work on my dog. Maybe I am too picky or something but good lord... misshapen breasts, horrible scars, etc. etc. And most of them have been docs for very, very short periods of time.
I'm a pretty resourceful girl, so I came up with two alternate routs to get this funded... The first was to dip into a college fund my great grandfather set up for me and take out a little money for this. I have gotten lots of scholarships so it's still quite healthy. The trustee in charge said he was totally fine with it, and to book a date! I met with two more docs (who didn't take insurance) fell madly in love with one and booked January 10th :D I was over the moon!
Three days later I am getting a call from the trustee saying my mom went behind my back and blocked the payment by the bank :( I was so depressed. I was shocked. I confronted her but she lied about it so I couldn't even get any closure. I should have known something was up when she went from telling me to just "live with my back pain" and that all I needed was to "lose weight and go for a walk" to being eerily calm and supportive...
My last resort was to apply for a loan so I sucked it up and went for it.... and I was denied. Not surprisingly not very many people want to give a loan to a grad student with 20k in educational debt, who's husband has 275k (he's a doctor in his residence right now... so someday we will have a bit of money most likely, but as of now we are hand to mouth both living on students incomes.... I called and canceled the procedure. It broke my heart
I could maybe put this out of my mind and live with it, accepting that it just doesn't seem like it's going to happen right now, unless I take my husbands advice and start selling boob squeezes until I raise the money ( I have a very silly adorable husband) except that I have bad daily pain to remind me of the problem... And now I have crashing self esteem.
The funny thing is once my breasts started causing my pain I no longer felt like a mini Christine Hendricks... I felt like I was deformed. Heavy. Unattractive. Matronly. I had already reconciled myself with the changes to come twice....First when finding a great doc who "took my insurance", then when I thought I could draw from my college fund..... Now I am having a lot of trouble getting back to the old body love...
To make matters worse doing it in two years when I will likely have a job and some means of some sort will put it within 3 years of when we had planned to have a child... Something you are not supposed to do according to the docs I talked to. So now where am I? 8 years more with these things? 10? 15?
And there is simply no way we will have 9,100 in the nest few years. For me to take on an extra job would mean sacrificing the degree I have worked for over half a decade for... We have nothing to sell... I simply don't think it can be done and I have to find a way to accept it :(
Thank you for reading... Any encouragement is welcome...I'm sure there must be some women around here who went through this...Updated on 1 Dec 2011:Hi wonderful real self ladies :) So after the encouragement I have reopened the search for a doc within my insurance network. It is true that after clicking link after link of TERRIBLE work, or doctors with 0 web presence (which tells me they are very early in their career) I got frustrated.... BUT just because it is going to be a lot harder to find a doc this way doesn't mean I won't.... And hey, I have nothing better to do while I try to save up money, right?
I have realized that some of the doctors on the list are professors at really prestigious teaching hospitals around here.. After a few calls I found out that you can request NOT to be a teaching case and still see these docs... I've lined up a consult with one lady who is a true expert in boobies... She even has a center named after here... We'll see how it goes!Updated on 2 Dec 2011:I have one more insurance option to consider :) My wonderful OB/GYN made a call today and got me an appointment with the chief of plastic surgery at the hospital my husband works at. Online his work looks pretty good, and I have no doubt the guy is a good doctor! I'm excited!Updated on 3 Dec 2011:Feeling brave tonight (no liquid courage involved, I swear!!) so I am going to post some "before" pictures :D
I firmly believe that as far as very large breasts go they are by far not the ugliest ones in the world.... That is a lot of the reason that it took me so long after the back pain got so bad to reach this decision.
Any oh man I should have taken pictures in my early 20's.... they looked like the arms up pic 24 hours a day :p
Feels a bit liberating to post them!Updated on 6 Dec 2011:Quick update: Tomorrow I am meeting with one of the two Dr's recommended by my Ob/Gyn who takes my insurance out of network. This means I would have to pay my 4,000$ deductible, but I actually have really close to that, unlike the 9,100 to do it privately.
His name is Dr. Robert Applebaum, and he seems to do a lot of short scar technique. I'm a bit up in the air about short scar... So far the other two surgeons I have met with said I would get the best results from an anchor since I am so large. Who knows, he might say the same, but if he recommends a shorts scar and I like him a lot I will have a ton of research to do :D
I have also only gotten glimpses of his work on his web site so far (two cases).... It is very good, but I am soooo mercilessly picky. I need to see a LOT more to know how I really feel.
Will update you ladies tomorrow :D This could be good!
I also have the consult with the chief of Plastic Surgery at my hubby's hospital NEXT Mon. He takes my insurance out of network too. Lots of updates coming!Updated on 6 Dec 2011:Oh laides... thank you for all the support so far...
Today was such a disappointment :( The doctor was wonderful, and we discussed everything I would have hoped, but then once I got back to his insurance lady she explained to me why I keep getting turned down by docs who "take my insurance"...
So, as stated, I have a 4g deductible. It seems that money that I PAY goes to the insurance company and AGANST the doctor. So, if the insurance company agreed to pay the doctor 5g, my 4g deductible goes AGAINST that. I pay it and the insurance company keeps it out of the doctors 5g...
SO CRAZY!!! Another reason we need serious insurance reform.... But it also seems I will not be able to find a good doc who will do it for less then 1g take away and I understand why!!
Ugh :( I am so sad. I don't think insurance will be an option for me here. That leaves me pretty optionless.... This is getting to heart breaking and I would love to be done with it but this daily back pain tells me otherwise....Updated on 7 Dec 2011:To add to my issues, I woke up this morning and car barely turn my head or lift my left arm :( For some reason the shoulder pain escalated to an all new high last night :( Trying to decide if I need to go to the doctor or ER right now....Updated on 10 Dec 2011:So-- quick update. Here is where I stand. I was instructed to reapply to take money out of my college fund by the trustee. I collected a lot of proof and gave a great argument. My mother decided to punish me for asking by shutting off all benefits to me from my college fund. I have no idea what to do. Friends and my in laws have told me to lawyer up. Since I have a little sister involved I don't think it is the thing to do. The reality is I think she can deny me access to my money, then take it herself, and there is nothing I can do.
Hubby and I were denied for a loan. Still heartbroken over this issue. The pain is getting worse. I visited another doctor in hopes of finding a bandaid and he told me thinking but a breast reduction would stop the pain at a 32H and anything else would be a waist of time and money.
I am thinking about dropping out of grad school and getting a job... But I have to find one first. Here in Cali we are at 17% unemployment. I am in so much pain I broke down crying at the closing party for one of my classes in front of everyone.
I genuinely have no idea what to do. I have no idea how a mother can be this cruel to her child... I talked to her today and she told me "she was sorry I was in pain but I needed to learn to get a few jobs while in grad school like everyone else instead of looking for handouts".... I guess money from the college fund my grandma set up for me before her death last year is a handout?
I am thinking I might need to stay away from this site for a while because seeing all the women getting to move on with their lives without all the pain is too hard.
If I had better insurance I wouldn't be going through this. Under my grandma my college fund provided better insurance. After her death my mom paired it down to the cheapest insurance possible, hence my super high deductibles and no doctor being willing to work with me.
I am a girl who got into a difficult to get into college, graduated with a 3.9 in 2 1/2 years, got into grad school, and genuinely believes that I can do whatever I set my mind to, but ladies this is breaking me. Nothing I do helps, and now because I asked for the help I needed my tuition might not be paid next semester...
I genuinely don't know what to do.Updated on 12 Dec 2011:Today I am feeling better... I'm just going to have to accept that this is not going to happen right now when I want it to.... And not for lack of trying. I can rest knowing I truly exhausted every option, and look forward to doing this in the future.
In one year I will be done with my masters, and able to get a job. In six months I will be able to go on my husbands health insurance (have to wait for the next enrollment period) and have a normal, 250$ deductible instead of the 5,000$ I currently carry. All the doctors who couldn't work with me now because of my deductible will likely be able to to then, and it would be wonderful to do this over the summer!
Honestly, I am glad that I learned how awful the insurance my family had put me on was, and how much better my husbands is. If one of these doctos had taken me I could have paid 4,750$ more in deductible, then 30% of the total instead of the 15% on my husbands plan. That is a LOT of money to do it six months earlier!! And I may have let my family keep me on that awful plan for years... Then if something serious had happened I would have been genuinely screwed. Just imagine if I had gotten into a car accident and needed a million dollars of care... I would have been at the very least 300,000$ in the hole. God works in mysterious ways (so cliche) and I think there were some things I needed to learn here.
But, if once I get on my husbands insurance I have trouble getting approved, or I can't do it over the summer for some other reason, I am going to have to accept that. I have prayed over the issue. It will happen when God is ready.
One great things has come out of this: I have realized how truly, truly sick my mothers treatment of me over the last few years has become. I was in total denial, but now I know. Now I can deal with it head on. Maybe that is why God put me in this situation to begin with... There was a lot here that I needed to see.
In the meantime, I am going to hang around here and cheer all of you ladies on :) Thank you for all the support so far! I am going to keep doing the things that have helped a little in the past.... regular massages, custom fit super expensive bras, and avoiding super strenuous exercise (frowny face here because running in the winter in Cali is the best)...
I've done everything I can!! It's in God's hands now. I can accept that :) For a while at least ;)Updated on 21 Dec 2011:So here is where I am: I got a part time job that would raise enough money to get the surgery by mid summer if going on my husbands insurance doesn't work out.
Also, I found one doc with great reviews who says she WILL take my insurance, high deductible and all. The catch is I can't see any of her work until I get there.... I am SO picky, I am very skeptical.... BUT she is a teacher at a really highly ranked medical school out here specializing in breast plastic surgery.... Seems like she would have to be pretty good, right? We'll see.
That is on January 15th :)
BTW, one more small good thing to come out of this crazy, terrible situation-- the part time job is amazing! It's with a not for profit woman's health org I really admire, and they are super comfortable with being flexible with my school schedule. I am really glad I found it!
On the bad side, my shoulder pain has really been escalating.... It's not longer even responding at all to over the counter meds, and the strong scrip stuff still helps, but so many side effects it's barely worth it. Intense pain, or nausea and tiredness coupled with a general high feeling? Gee. Great choice.
Replies (39)
December 1, 2011
Have u Checked for docs in Atlanta, or Savannah area? It might be worth the travel to have it covered by insurance. I beleive there is a broader range of board Certified Plastic surgeon in that area that will accept your insurance. I would recommend u not to give up and keep searching for other doctors in the state of Georgia :-)
December 1, 2011
Sorry Sweety, I meant to say California
December 1, 2011
Oddly enough Georgia is my home state, and if there are some there they would be within reach for me because I could go stay with family.... I will check that area out :)
I am NOT going to give up... This is just such a hard place to be in right now. Thanks for the encouragement.
I am NOT going to give up... This is just such a hard place to be in right now. Thanks for the encouragement.
December 1, 2011
Aimee- Your mind is made up. Don't change that. Yes! It's wonderful to have a support system! BUT remember this, your the one making the decision on your breast reduction & your the one having the surgery. Be strong minded & remember when you make your decision on your Dr. I would take someone positive with you & as you go through the process... It's between your Dr. & you. Trust your decision & you'll be just fine as you sound to me. I'm 3 weeks post-op & Im on ice packs/chest & heating pad to keep me warm from ice packs...& I don't mind at all.
December 3, 2011
i can't get past the mom thing...wow! i wish you all the luck in the world that you will find a solution that doesn't leave you starving!
December 5, 2011
Hey Aimee,
Good luck with your search for a surgeon! I hope you find someone that you like and that takes your insurance. I just didn't realize that so many plastic surgeons don't take insurance.
Please let us know how the hunt goes!
Good luck with your search for a surgeon! I hope you find someone that you like and that takes your insurance. I just didn't realize that so many plastic surgeons don't take insurance.
Please let us know how the hunt goes!
December 5, 2011
Yes I didn't either!! Virtually none of the docs with their own practice and web site do. It makes seeing the work of insurance docs virtually impossible without going for a consultation :( I'm picky, so that will be a helluva lot of consultations.... And I have yet to find one who will email you some examples, or show them to you in any way before your appointment. It's frustrating and slow, but it will be worth it!
December 6, 2011
There is such a limited number of plastic surgeons in Iowa that I think it really works to our advantage. Any horrible surgeons will be found out quickly and from my research almost all of them will take insurance. My doc's office said that they of course do, because many of the people who come in to have an insurance procedure done are so happy that they will come back for a private pay procedure or recommend someone for a private pay procedure. Guess there are some advantages to being in the middle of nowhere with only a few choices :-)
December 7, 2011
Aimee- How are you? & How is everything going? I've been out of town. I see my Doctor today & will show your emails OK. You have Ins. Blue cross/Blue Shield? Do you NO about care-credit or have it? I didn't forget you... You live in Pasadena? Near LA ???? Stay strong. & Remember you have been in my thoughts.
UPDATED FROM AimeedoubleGs
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I hate how...
AimeedoubleGsDecember 28, 2011
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I hate how updates are no longer broken up by date :( Adding the +'s to make the updated portion findable.
Well ladies... I held of writing this until I was absolutely POSITIVE because this has been such a rough journey of ups and downs.... but....
I got my Christmas miracle!!!!
It is so interesting how when you ask you higher power for something you truly need it will happen.... even if in a way you never would have expected. In my case, I was very focused on getting this done through big solutions... Taking out a loan to cover the whole cost, insurance, putting grad school aside and getting a job, etc... and what happened? It happened piecemeal and out of nowhere, of course!
For the past few months I've had 2,000$ saved up. I need 9,000. Never thought I would get there any time soon.... but... I got about 800$ in random Christmas money, so there is 2,800. My wonderful in laws who are aware of the situation gave me 1,000 more. That puts me at 3,800. My amazing uncle, who is also aware of the situation called me and offered me 3,000 more, free and clear, as a gift and because he knows someday when I am out of school I will make it up to him somehow. He hinted a family vacation would be nice :) Really wish my mom could deal with me in this way....That put me at 6,800! I have been offered a part time job which should easily get me the rest in a few months, but since it is so close my hubby said he is OK with me putting the rest on a credit card, borrowing it from his savings, etc. if the job falls through.... Soooooooooo....
I contacted the office of the surgeon I felt the best with and put down a deposit for my spring break on March 27th :D :D :D
It's official!!!!!!!!! It's happening!!!!!!!!!!
Can you believe it? I can hardly believe it.... Now how am I going to wait until March 27th?!
I hate how updates are no longer broken up by date :( Adding the +'s to make the updated portion findable.
Well ladies... I held of writing this until I was absolutely POSITIVE because this has been such a rough journey of ups and downs.... but....
I got my Christmas miracle!!!!
It is so interesting how when you ask you higher power for something you truly need it will happen.... even if in a way you never would have expected. In my case, I was very focused on getting this done through big solutions... Taking out a loan to cover the whole cost, insurance, putting grad school aside and getting a job, etc... and what happened? It happened piecemeal and out of nowhere, of course!
For the past few months I've had 2,000$ saved up. I need 9,000. Never thought I would get there any time soon.... but... I got about 800$ in random Christmas money, so there is 2,800. My wonderful in laws who are aware of the situation gave me 1,000 more. That puts me at 3,800. My amazing uncle, who is also aware of the situation called me and offered me 3,000 more, free and clear, as a gift and because he knows someday when I am out of school I will make it up to him somehow. He hinted a family vacation would be nice :) Really wish my mom could deal with me in this way....That put me at 6,800! I have been offered a part time job which should easily get me the rest in a few months, but since it is so close my hubby said he is OK with me putting the rest on a credit card, borrowing it from his savings, etc. if the job falls through.... Soooooooooo....
I contacted the office of the surgeon I felt the best with and put down a deposit for my spring break on March 27th :D :D :D
It's official!!!!!!!!! It's happening!!!!!!!!!!
Can you believe it? I can hardly believe it.... Now how am I going to wait until March 27th?!
Replies (7)
December 28, 2011
omg i am super happy for you aimee!!!! the time will fly by now and thank goodness for supportivefamily!!!
December 29, 2011
Congratulations, Aimee! I'm so happy for you :-)
December 29, 2011
Thanks :) I am so happy! I really did get my Christmas miracle.... Just a month ago it seemed totally hopeless, and now here I am! Three months away from being done with all this pain for good!
January 1, 2012
God is a good good God!!!! So happy for you, now you can focus on letting God heal your heart of all its hurts!!!! You need to be in perfect mental and emotional well being before you get on that table and you now have the time to do just that, please let me know if I can be praying for you!!
January 11, 2012
Thank you :) Yes he is!
Healing... Eh. That is going to be hard :/ As of right now I think it is best I avoid my mom until after the surgery. The fact is she put a desire for nice things and more spending money over her daughters health in a way that is likely illegal... That is going to take a LONG time to deal with, and it is best I just steer clear until after I am well again :)
Healing... Eh. That is going to be hard :/ As of right now I think it is best I avoid my mom until after the surgery. The fact is she put a desire for nice things and more spending money over her daughters health in a way that is likely illegal... That is going to take a LONG time to deal with, and it is best I just steer clear until after I am well again :)
UPDATED FROM AimeedoubleGs
---------------------------------------- Hi...
AimeedoubleGsJanuary 9, 2012
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Hi Ladies :D *wave*
So, as you can imagine, life is pretty good over here! I still have a ton of shoulder and back pain every single day, but it is funny how much more tolerable it is when there is an end date in sight!
I have picked a doctor, and checked that he is available the date I need, but I am not going to put down the deposte until the end of the month. I am enjoying the possibilities right now, and feeling out two more possible doctor options just because why not? One takes my insurance (and I already went over the deductible issues with her, and she promises she will take it.... Of course I have heard that before so we will see), and one is out of state, so that is an unlikely possibility, but good gosh is his work good!
I have also been thinking a lot about gathering the things I need... I know my doc will tell me what he wants me to have as far as surgical bras go, but I am thinking about things like button front pajamas, and a wedge pillow for sleeping (We don't have recliner, and I doubt I could sleep in one anyway... I found a wedge to be very comfy after I had my nose rebroken and repaired 7 yrs ago though)... All the little things! I want to enjoy gathering them, and knowing that it IS going to happen over my spring break :)
I have also discovered a new hobby of asking women, discreetly of course, what their bra size is, lol! I have found that most of the women I think are perfect and bother to ask are 32D's.... Great! That sounds like a wonderful size to me... of course docs can't promise sizes, but this little exercise has helped me to realize that the pics I am looking at and loving are actually a size I would want. If, on the other hand, women who are about the size of the pictures I am showing the doc, were all 36DD's, I would know i had a problem, because that would still be an F cup on my frame...
Hi Ladies :D *wave*
So, as you can imagine, life is pretty good over here! I still have a ton of shoulder and back pain every single day, but it is funny how much more tolerable it is when there is an end date in sight!
I have picked a doctor, and checked that he is available the date I need, but I am not going to put down the deposte until the end of the month. I am enjoying the possibilities right now, and feeling out two more possible doctor options just because why not? One takes my insurance (and I already went over the deductible issues with her, and she promises she will take it.... Of course I have heard that before so we will see), and one is out of state, so that is an unlikely possibility, but good gosh is his work good!
I have also been thinking a lot about gathering the things I need... I know my doc will tell me what he wants me to have as far as surgical bras go, but I am thinking about things like button front pajamas, and a wedge pillow for sleeping (We don't have recliner, and I doubt I could sleep in one anyway... I found a wedge to be very comfy after I had my nose rebroken and repaired 7 yrs ago though)... All the little things! I want to enjoy gathering them, and knowing that it IS going to happen over my spring break :)
I have also discovered a new hobby of asking women, discreetly of course, what their bra size is, lol! I have found that most of the women I think are perfect and bother to ask are 32D's.... Great! That sounds like a wonderful size to me... of course docs can't promise sizes, but this little exercise has helped me to realize that the pics I am looking at and loving are actually a size I would want. If, on the other hand, women who are about the size of the pictures I am showing the doc, were all 36DD's, I would know i had a problem, because that would still be an F cup on my frame...
Replies (2)
January 9, 2012
I am so happy you were able to collect all the money needed!! Miracles really do happen. You will be so pleased with your desicionto do it ! Congrats!
January 11, 2012
Thank you :D I am so happy. The job hasn't come through yet (grrrr... I have been doing second interviews, trial days, reference checks, etc. with this company for four weeks as of today....) but even if it doesn't I am going to take out a small care credit loan to get me the rest of the way there... It's happening soon!!
Hi there,
I'm sorry you're going through such a hard time with financing! What about searching a little wider for another doctor?
Perhaps some of them do lovely work, but I don't know how I would ever know when there is so little information on them, and yes, I am very picky. I find this procedure to be a really difficult one to get good results from and my hubby and I are both really grossed out by about 75% of the doctors practicing's work.
He calls them "surgery boobs".... the thing, where they have an odd shape, or dramatic scarring, or are totally out of proportion. With my net cast to all surgeons in the state I found about a dozen who's work I like, and none past the one who blew me off did work I would be willing to have on my body for life, so the idea of just going and consulting with any old doctor in my insurance network who is in training at a teaching hospital is very unlikely to yield someone I would want to work on me.
Maybe it's my own problem. Maybe I should just get over that issue of thinking I still want to have beautiful breasts after surgery.... I just don't know.