Breast Reduction ???? To or not to ????

eltrip · Oct 8, 2004

Well, y'all, I'm back! Not quite 24 hrs post-op, so bear with me. The mepergan is doing it's job. I think that the anesthesia is almost out of my system...I haven't been dizzy this morning, thank goodness. I can definitely tell that I'm well-medicated! Even with medication, though, I am sore. I'm looking forward to being lucid & coherent again.

Thank you for your prayers! The surgery went of without a hitch once they FINALLY got an IV started (4 tries!!!!!)

woozily yours,

eltrip

riverwink · Oct 9, 2004

So glad your surgery went well. Enjoy life without HAVING TO wear a bra. I don't go without one often, but it is nice to have the option.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2004

So glad your surgery went well. Enjoy life without HAVING TO wear a bra. I don't go without one often, but it is nice to have the option.

Hi all, I haven't posted to this thread since I started it. Things kind of went south for me but now Thank God are back on track. I started having a bloody dischage from my left nipple. I freaked as you can only imagine. I had a mammogram. It has to be done in sections since my boobs are so large. That didn't show anything. Then I had an ultrasound. It showed something but they weren't sure what. Then I had the dreaded ductogram. It didn't show anything. Then I had a biopsy. Dr. Smith removed my nipple and removed tissue about the size of a golf ball, and of course replaced the nipple. The biopsy turned out 100% benign. Fibercyctic mass (large) Now that that's all over I have to wait 8 weeks for the nipple to heal completely. The plastic surgeon says I'll be dealing with a necrosed nipple otherwise. I asked first why can't I just have the reduction since you'll be removing all that tissue anyway. It's against their priciples to operate on breasts that arent' 100% healthy. I don't quite get that but understand why it couldn't be done. I'm now scheduled for Dec 17th.

P.S. One of the nurses at work took out my stitches. When I pulled my breast out of my bra she said "that's the biggest boob I've ever seen in my life, damm you hide them well" I cracked up. Several other co-workers were in the room also. We all had a good laugh!!:rotfl: Thanks for all your encouragement. Someone asked what size I will be? The best answer is between a C & D. The doc says he will sit me up several times during the procedure to see how the girls look on me until he thinks I look proportional. I can't wait !!! I'll keep you informed.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2004

So glad your surgery went well. Enjoy life without HAVING TO wear a bra. I don't go without one often, but it is nice to have the option.

Hi all, I haven't posted to this thread since I started it. Things kind of went south for me but now Thank God are back on track. I started having a bloody dischage from my left nipple. I freaked as you can only imagine. I had a mammogram. It has to be done in sections since my boobs are so large. That didn't show anything. Then I had an ultrasound. It showed something but they weren't sure what. Then I had the dreaded ductogram. It didn't show anything. Then I had a biopsy. Dr. Smith removed my nipple and removed tissue about the size of a golf ball, and of course replaced the nipple. The biopsy turned out 100% benign. Fibercyctic mass (large) Now that that's all over I have to wait 8 weeks for the nipple to heal completely. The plastic surgeon says I'll be dealing with a necrosed nipple otherwise. I asked first why can't I just have the reduction since you'll be removing all that tissue anyway. It's against their priciples to operate on breasts that arent' 100% healthy. I don't quite get that but understand why it couldn't be done. I'm now scheduled for Dec 17th.

P.S. One of the nurses at work took out my stitches. When I pulled my breast out of my bra she said "that's the biggest boob I've ever seen in my life, damm you hide them well" I cracked up. Several other co-workers were in the room also. We all had a good laugh!!:rotfl: Thanks for all your encouragement. Someone asked what size I will be? The best answer is between a C & D. The doc says he will sit me up several times during the procedure to see how the girls look on me until he thinks I look proportional. I can't wait !!! I'll keep you informed.

eltrip · Oct 19, 2004

Well bless your heart, RN1976! I hate that you're having to go through the process twice! Good luck on your next surgery! Once is plenty for me, let me tell you! The girls are now proportional & for the first time since I was 9 mos. pregnant, my tummy is poking out more than my chest! Time to work on the abs!

What's been interesting is how folks are reacting. Many tell me that it looks as if I've lost a great deal of weight (around 4 lbs in surgery). My mother said that I look flat! The doc said that I'm a "very full c." He's not kidding, it's the truth. It is so nice, though, to know that I won't have to wear a bra once I've healed up. They didn't look this good when I was a teenager! I'm at the sports bra stage, 24/7; & have gone back to work. It's amazing how typing & using a mouse can make you ache!

brandis · Oct 20, 2004

I have seen a chiropractor to try to get him to send something to my insurance company stating that I need the reduction, however he said that I needed to come to him three times a week cause I have an s shaped spine. I infomred him then that I want my breast reduced not my back massaged and cracked. Moving on I have been on a mission now for three years to have my breast reduced I have been in a d range since 4th grade. I am now a 38DDD and have been told by my insurance company they will cover the procdure but I have to have 575 grams removed which my PS thinks will reduce me to a size B I am not sure how this will look on me but right now my back between my shoulder blades hurt so bad that I could cry. I dont really care how I look or what my co workers may think of me I just want to be able to hold my shoulders back and not have shooting pains down my back and to see my feet. I want to thank you all for this post I have my surgery on November 18, 2004.

I'm considering it also. My Chiropractor and massage therapist feel my neck and back pain will be greatly alleviated. Someone mentioned the proportions of a h big- boobed woman: broad back, broad shoulders, etc.
I'm living proof that's not always the case. I'm not tall, I have very narrow shoulders, and am very narrow across the back. Buying off the rack, anything, is just about impossible, so I sew a lot. My neck constantly feels like it needs to be "cracked" and in fact, I've started doing that myself, almost involuntarily while I drive or read or whatever. Eeewww! The noise of that is creepy!
When you're a 34DDD/F, nobody seems to think you have a case for a reduction, but believe me, I have a case, and I'm getting my ducks in a row to make an appeal to my insurance company.
I know several women who've had it done and all of them are 100% happy with the results. The men in their lives didn't try to pressure them to keep the big ones....

CHATSDALE · Oct 21, 2004

BRANDIS.... you are in my prayers .. i hope that everything goes well...i have talked with many women who have had reduction and they all said that they felt like a new woman

but it is not all in how you will feel immidiately after surgery but those who did not have it have had problems as they aged...your frame is really only meant to carry so much...GOOD LUCK

MultipurposeRN · Oct 21, 2004

Ok, I haven't gone through all the threads yet, but I gotta ask..what about sex sensation in the mipples? Is it gone forever? I had a friend who had hers done, she was small but very top heavy and had cysts to boot..she loved the results, and said she regained some sensitivity about a year later. I'm not trying to be morbidly curious, but I never hear much about that.

BTW..I'm a DDD, and never thought mine seemed that big, but maybe that's why my shoulders are often sore. Wonder if that can cause lower back pain as well.

saskrn · Oct 21, 2004

I know some of you may think "hey what's her problem" sorry, but anyway I have large breasts DDD cup and get alot of spasms in my neck and upper back. I have been evaluated for a breast reduction and definately qualify. I really want to have it done. I'm so tired of always having to buy bigger sizes on the top and yada yada, anyone out there have a breast reduction and any comments on whether to or not to? Thanks!

I've had it done, at the same time I had grafting done. I can honestly say that it is the easiet, least painful surgery I've ever had. I'm sure it would make a world of difference in your life! Good luck!

MultipurposeRN · Oct 21, 2004

Just thought of something I saw once..this obese middleaged woman was at a science center where I had my kids visiting one time. She wore kind of a thin Tshirt. When she had her back to us, I kept thinking I saw nipples on her back! but figured I was just seeing things..we weren't that close to her. anyway, I got a little closer and I was indeed seeing her nipples on her BACK...you could see she had folded her breasts over in her bra and stuffed the leftovers under her arms and they pooched around toward her shoulder blades. Unbelievable.

saskrn · Oct 21, 2004

Ok, I haven't gone through all the threads yet, but I gotta ask..what about sex sensation in the mipples? Is it gone forever? I had a friend who had hers done, she was small but very top heavy and had cysts to boot..she loved the results, and said she regained some sensitivity about a year later. I'm not trying to be morbidly curious, but I never hear much about that.
BTW..I'm a DDD, and never thought mine seemed that big, but maybe that's why my shoulders are often sore. Wonder if that can cause lower back pain as well.

You can lose some sensation, but I don't think that happens all the time. It's just a risk. I have sensation, for what it's worth! lol

Gompers, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2004

BTW..I'm a DDD, and never thought mine seemed that big, but maybe that's why my shoulders are often sore. Wonder if that can cause lower back pain as well.

I didn't have sore shoulders before my surgery - it was all lower back pain, like in the small of my back. It was the worst at night when I'd lay down to sleep after a busy day. I couldn't even sleep on my back because it hurt so much - I had to curl up into a ball to stretch the muscles in my lower back or they'd spasm.