22 Months Post-Op

Hi Everyone!
I have been reading this site religiously for about four months, it has really helped me make my decision. I have been considering a breast reduction for about a year but I guess it was not something I ever really thought I could do. People ask me all the time if I have thought about it, and honestly it usually offends me...like they think I am some sort of a freak. I guess it has only been the last year that I realized just how big they are. I saw a picture of myself and I noticed that in it my breast were clearly bigger than my head! I am about 5'8 and 170 and a 38F, I have a very slim build, I am not hippy at all. My personal trainer once described me as a stick with giant knockers. It has always been the first thing people notice. I have been chesty since I was 9 years old. I remember getting my first bra and being so excited only to find that it did. not fit. I couldn't even start out in a training lost 50 pounds and they are still huge. I would like to lose about 20 pounds more but I doubt that it will make a difference.

I don't hate the way they look, sometimes I have enjoyed the attention...sometimes I have hated it. I have had upper and lower back issues for several years. I think I was in denial about the cause, I thought it was due to an injury, but that's been corrected. Then weight but losing weight hasn't helped. I get numbness in my chest below the collar bone and I have TMJ (lock jaw) which is aggravated by neck tension. I do get rashes as well, and although I do not have grooves I do get broken blood vessels and bruising.
I went last week to get a referral, I couldn't stand it anymore, my back is driving me crazy particularly during finals....studying at a desk 8 hours a day was just awful! So I made an appointment with my new GP...I was so nervous I wouldn't get referred...when I got there I was told my dr. decided to go on vacation and cancelled all his appointments. Nice that they called me! (especially since he charges for cancelled/missed appointments!!!) I was really upset...they said he wouldn't be back until the end of January! I was so disappointed. It takes a year to two years to have surgery here (if its deemed medically necessary). Such a long wait it was so frustrating to have to add another 7 weeks...and not even be guaranteed approval.

I called my old GP and she was unavailable until January 21st :-( She suggested I see her partner but cautioned me that it was unlikely she would do the referral because I was her patient. I didn't get my hopes up but I thought it would be good to at least get more information. I went in and she asked why I was there. I said I was interested in getting a breast reduction. She said "well you need it...who would you like to see?". That's it!!! I got my referral. I asked for her opinion on doctors and she gave me the name of her favourite. I have been researching him and I have found about 35 reviews. All pretty consistent, and very good. There are a few bad reviews but they all seem to be from women who did not like his blunt attitude about their weight. He prefers to have his patients be fairly close to their goal weight before the surgery which is just fine by me. I am pretty close anyway and since it takes about 4-6 months for the consult and his waitlist is 12 months that gives lots of time to prepare myself and get rid of this last 20/30 pds. I am starting weight watchers next week to help me create better habits I do not want to mess up my new boobs with extra weight!

I haven't received the date yet for my consult. I have been waiting since the 21st so I thought that I would check in. Apparently she forgot to send it or make notes on our appointment. The receptionist is going to call me back and hopefully it will be sorted. Doctor's can be so frustrating! I hope I don't have to go back again. There is something to be said for doing it on your own. It's tough waiting.

I did go through the health board's wait times for plastic surgeries ( for fun! lol) and it won't be as long as I thought (hopefully) after 13 to 18 months 98% of patients will have had their surgery. There are about 386 patients waiting in this province right now. Still a fair amount of time but not too bad.

I was wondering if anyone out there had had their reduction while they where in school? I am taking a very intense university course and I am concerned that I may not have any say over the date when it comes up. How long before I could go back to school? I will be in school for at least 3-6 years depending on how things work out so I really don't want to put this off that long.

I already know that I would be off work for at least a month as it is a pretty rough, physical and frankly dirty job. Would I qualify for E.I.? Since this is a medically necessary surgery and I do not have benefits at work.