42 Yrs W/ a Two Yr Old. 32G to maybe a ...B or C?

Still very minimal pain. Can manage with regular extra strength Tylenol but taking the Tylenol 3 at night to help sleep. Getting sick of lying on my back and it hasn't even been a week! Most discomfort seems to be coming from the waterproof bandages itching against my skin. The surgery areas I feel the most are just under my armpit area. Strange because my surgeon said he wouldn't be doing any lipo there. I still can't see the actual suture lines but the bandages go right up under my armpit - I really hope I won't be scarred all the way up there... it will be hard to hide.. Also can't really tell where my nipples are. They look to be spaced a bit wide and facing outwards. I was hoping the "headlights would illuminate the road ahead" not the sidewalks but I suppose all will be revealed at my one week appt when the bandages come off and I finally get to see things. While I can't wait, I'm also a bit nervous to see them all chopped up and Frankenstein looking... Still feeling like they are going to be very small. Trying not to be concerned because that's prob better than being too big but can't help thinking they are tiny. I have absolutely no sign of cleavage at the moment. None. Not panicking yet though because I think the lack of visual nipples is contributing to the flat chest look... Showered again today and felt great. Even had a bowel movement after four "full" days! Oh joy! Ended up having a few dried prunes but I think the nonstop water and nightly ducocet pills helped. I put on 15 pounds before the surgery. Who does that before breast reduction?! Jseedh. And in only a month and a half! I'm an idiot. But didn't know it would be scheduled so quickly and went on a few trips all inclusive and gluttonous combined with work schedule too much to fit in exercise ... Terrified that breasts will then get even smaller after I lose it again!

So I have not really wanted to look at them because I don't like being broken or hurt and don't think I can handle the gore that I've seen with other pics on here. Hard enough to look at other people but worse on my own body and I've been very concerned to look. My surgeon used waterproof wrapping over the bandages and said that I could shower the first day. I didn't because I was too scared... But I peeled back the bra the first afternoon to see and all I could think again was holy [RS bleep] they are tiny. Waaaaay smaller than I had intended. Going from a 32 g my whole life - the girl with the big boobs- I knew I didn't want to be flat. I still enjoyed having breasts, I just didn't want them to be so large that they hampered my life and health. But I am afraid of how much my personal identity is tied up with how I look and my large breasts are a big part of how I look. So my boobs are part of the image I can put out there. Silly, because I spent my life making them look smaller and hiding them and trying to make them less noticeable. But i don't know how I'll feel being the girl with small breasts now.... they honestly look like they could be a B... I was hoping for a large C so this is a shock...

But I knew from reading on this site for the last year that one of the biggest challenges of breast reduction recovery is the psychological aspect. And my sister had hers done in her 20's when your self image is far less formed and far more fragile. And she warned me that while she loved the result and has never regretted her choice, she had days immediately after while she was healing, where she would just cry. So I was prepared for a bit of a rollercoaster ride. I just have to keep telling myself that I will love them no matter how they turn out. And I also have to remind myself that I really have no idea how they will look for at least a week or two. They way they look now is not how they will look later for the long term. Although right now I kind of like how round and firm they are! Like round hard mounds on my chest - tiny little implants lol.

Also, my sense of scale is probably pretty skewed after staring at large long breasts my whole life. I really have no idea what a C or B cup actually looks like so I'll wait until the first bra shopping trip to find out what I am!!

I apologize if the information provided doesn't have a great flow in terms of timeline - I'll be jumping back and forth a bit because I started the review after the actual surgery. Mainly because I didn't intend to post anything and then it all happened so fast I ran out of time!I've been researching on this sight for over a year and have found it incredibly informative. Everyone's stories really helped me prepare for my surgery- psychologically and logistically. So I feel like I should give back a bit now by sharing my experience. Plus any feedback from other members as I go through my recovery process will be welcomed and hugely appreciated.

So on the day of surgery I wore very loose leggings and a long loose button up shirt. No socks and slip on shoes, all to facilitate getting dressed afterwards. I had apple juice and water in the car for the ride home as well as a pillow to put under the seatbelt. Thank you other members for that tip! What a difference to have that protection. Initially the pain was minimal - a 3 or 4. It started to amp a bit and went up to a 5 so the nurses gave me a Percocet which brought it right back down. Most of any discomfort I did have was from the anesthesia. Very lightheaded and slightly nauseous. Not bad but not great. About four hours in recovery then sent home with a prescription of Tylenol3 (without caffeine so that I could sleep while taking them). My mom filled the prescription while I was in recovery. They made me look at the bandages to have a baseline to track any additional blood seepage or swelling - all I could think was holy [RS bleep] they're small. Too small. But I didn't want to worry about it and was too out of it so I pushed the thought out of my mind.

I arrived home about 7:30pm and went right to bed. Still no real pain, just weak and 'out of it'. I set my alarm 4 hours out to take my pain med. I understand that it's difficult to try and tame the pain once it's upon you rather than just stay ahead of it to begin with. Controlling the pain is supposed to really improve recovery time and I really want to make sure mine is as fast and uncomplicated as possible. I have not really been in much pain at all since the surgery. Discomfort mostly. Drinking lots of water - that first night it was like someone had placed a blanket in my mouth to absorb every minuscule drop of moisture... so parched. I had throat lozenges on hand in case my throat was sore from being intubated but I didn't need them at all.

The first night I had the strangest gurgling air sound in my left breast in the middle of the night. Sounded just like when your stomach is digesting but in my breast and really, really loud! Thought it was going to wake up my husband it was so loud. No pain or discomfort but strange enough that I decided to hop on here as well as do a little googling to self diagnose :-). Sounds like it's not abnormal and is the extra fluid that rushes to damaged areas and causes swelling - combo of being reabsorbed and moving around. I'll keep an eye or ear on it to make sure nothing gets worse.

The morning after surgery I got up with my husband to get our toddler ready for daycare. I couldn't pick her up but thought it might make things less strange if she at least saw me participate if I was home. I've usually already left the house for work before she's awake in the mornings so having me home would be different enough as it is, I didn't want to stay cloistered in the bedroom. She did ask if I was sick though - I think she may have sensed something was up- kids can be intuitive and I have been holding myself quite stiffly. If anyone is planning on going through this with a toddler, feel free to message me and I'll let you know how things have been going on that front and share those details of my experience if u think it will help you prepare.

That first day after surgery, yesterday, I actually felt great. Lightheaded and a bit strange but feeling good. Had some granola around noon as I hadn't eaten since midnight before surgery so was a bit hungry. No coffee - difficult for me to abstain but I understand caffeine can contribute to inflammation so every bit might help with recovery. Napped a bit and read some work emails to see what I was missing and then decided to submit a review on here! I went for a walk down the street with my husband because they say that movement every day helps speed recovery. Really felt fine other than lightheaded and faint. No pain.

Had a normal dinner but nothing to heavy because I still hadn't had a bowel movement. A bit of gas which I'm hoping is a good sign that things are moving along...