18 Years in the Making - Portland, OR

Here I am 30 days from surgery. I had a consult scheduled with a PS when I was 18 but chickened out. Now here I am 36 years old, a married mom of three, a nurse, and student finally doing it. Getting approval from insurance only took a week. Have felt some nervous flutters but I remember the amount of Naproxen, Ibuprofen, heat packs, and visits to the chiropractor I've needed just to function. This 34J is not at all workable for me.

My preOP appt is this coming week and am looking forward to it. My surgery is scheduled for 7-17-13 at 2:30 in the afternoon. I have to check in 2 hours prior to that and am concerned I will have to be NPO (nothing by mouth) status at midnight the night before. My PS said he places drains but they are removed the next day after the required overnight hospital stay.

My kids are nearly 8yr, 5.5yr, and 18mo. PS said I should be able to pick up my youngest after week, two weeks max. I plan to spend the next couple weeks gathering all the items I will need following the surgery and during recovery. Bras, button up shirts, pillows, mederma, I need to get a list of movies to watch while recovering. I have a pretty good pain tolerance so hopefully I will only be laid up for a few days.

Twelve days until surgery. Still need to buy bras, shirts, pillows. Found a chair I can use as a recliner during my recovery. My preOp went fine. Surgery is at 1pm and I can't eat or drink for 8hrs prior, so if I am having breakfast it will have to be before 5am. I got a percocet script to have filled and ready before surgery. I called the hospital preadmission and they said no shaving of body hair (not even legs!) for 48 prior to surgery and I need to use an antibacterial body wash such as Lever or Dial. I will need to bring 3-4 different cup size bras to the hospital with me. Front close, no underwire. After the drains are removed the next morning before discharge from hospital the Dr will put me in a bra. I was told all my stitches would be the dissolveable ones and I will not have to have stitches removed at any point.

At my preOp I told my Dr. that I would like to be on the small side and he made note of that and said "that's good to know before surgery."

I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready! Sorry...Spongebob reference.

Surgery is Wednesday, tonight was me and hubs last date night before I go under the knife. I jokingly told him we needed to go to Hooters. We didn't, but we had a nice evening anyway.

I've made my list of items I need to pack for my overnight hospital trip and the last thing I need to purchase is some button front shirts at the thrift shop.

I asked my PS's nurse if I could take benedryl the night before to help calm my nerves and help me sleep but she said I would have to talk to the anesthesiologist about that.