42 YO, 2 Kids, Lost 125 Lbs, 40L to 38DD/E - Tulsa, OK

The summer after 5th grade, I'm outside playing. Enjoying running around my dad's truck with the other kids. I was wearing one of my favorite halter jumpsuits with blue trim. Suddenly my dad calls me over and tells me I need to put something else on and can no longer wear that outfit. That was when I realized that I had suddenly developed boobs. At the time, my dad was a single father of 3 girls and he was determined to ensure that he found someone to speak to me about the developing woman's body. When he couldn't, he boldly ended up talking to me himself and even asked me questions when it came to maci pads. Lol. You have to understand my dad was a young father. Only 17 when I was born, dogs too had lots of learning to do. Fast forward many years and high school becomes a source of being on a quest to find the right fit. I actually by this time was living with my aunt and uncle. My aunt worked at a department store at the time and took me to be measured. I measured at a 34DDD. I was barely 16. By the time I went on to college, they were still growing. At 21, I married and 3 years later had my first baby. I was determined to nurse and was very hopefully that when it came time to Wean, that my breast would shrivel up to nothing. At least that is what everyone told me. Not so in my case. I went to a specialty bra shop and was sized at a 38J. The sales rep asked me to come back in two weeks because I would certainly increase another cup of so once my milk came in fully. She was right. I went back in 2 weeks and found out I was now a 38K. Even with the large breast, I successfully nursed for 17 months. Once I weaned my son, to my surprise, my breast basically remained at a 38K. I was seriously mystified. That is when I began wearing 2 bras that were too little, but could be fashioned around my breast to look halfway descent and act as a minimized. I am sure I looked a hot mess. Seven years later I had my second baby, nursed again for 12 mins and still remained large breasted. No shrivel, no shrink, but lots of sagging. This was the first time I inquired about breast reduction. I was told to lose 80 pounds. Joined weight watchers and lost 82lbs. When I talked it over with my now ex husband he was totally against it. So I gave up the dream and chickened out. Well, in the summer of 2012, 4 years later and 120lbs heavier, I suddenly start getting shooting pains through my rib cage and then days later felt pain down my left arm and my fingers went numb. I assumed I was having a heart attack. I jumped in my car and drove to the nearest urgent care where I was hooked up to an EKG and had other land run only for the attending physician to pretty much say, I had a pinched nerve due to my breast size. I started going to a chiropractor then who convinced me together a breast reduction. So 2nd time. I go to the surgeon, try to lose 35 lbs with no success, and then agree to proceed without the weight loss anyway. While driving to my last appointment to set the surgery date, I ended up being rear ended. I immediately thought it was a sign. So I never went back. Now, here we are on my 42nd birthday in June 2015 and my boss asks me, "What do you plan to accomplish this year." To which I answered I plan to have weight loss surgery or a breast reduction. Upon consulting and doing more research, I decided to get weight loss surgery and had the gastric sleeve done. At the time of surgery I was a 44N and weighed 369.9 lbs. I was sure that this would help my breast size by now. My body was older and not quite in the same shape or elasticity. After losing 120 lbs, I had only shrunk down to a 40L. So I decide to inquire yet again. Mind you I was still not totally convinced. The insurance again approved quickly, but I was still anxious about the FNG and the whole idea of having my breasts cut off. Up to 10 days before surgery. I was still contemplating not having it. Thank God that I had a mammogram scheduled. That ordeal solidified my mind and I decided I would go through with it no matter what. Here I am sitting in my hospital bed waiting to be discharged and am so pleased at my results.

The surgery went very well and I was so exited to have Dr. Duckett as my syrgeon. She is very msticulous and seemed to think of everything. My results so far look grea. My nipples look like they're pointing outwards but I don't know if that's just because of the covering in the way that the tape is done. I'm just not sure. Today is the first day that I'll have a home health nurse come out and change the dressings. So when she changes the dressings I'll bake sure to upload new photos so you all can see more of the results. The little nipple pasty's that are stitched on will come off on Tuesday when I go to my first doctors appointment. Oh, I have been so thankful for the pain pump that she attached to my body. It helps to keep the edge off in between the time that you're taking regular pain pills. Also having the drains allows for a lot of that pressure not to build up. I still have a lot of swelling but it's not a ridiculous amount.

My home Health nurse came today. She was so very helpful. She even talk to my sister through how to change my dressings. She took all of the tape off so I was able to see the scars. And they really look good. I'm still not able to see the nipples because they are covered and will be covered until Tuesday when I go to my surgeons office. I am really excited to see how my nipples will look. I'm also enclosing a few photos that the home health nurse took. She took the tape off so you can see the whole breast. They really do look a lot bigger than I thought they were but if she assured me that it was swelling so I am definitely hoping that I am a DDE and not something much larger.