{Resources} Breast Health Online

Breast Health Online has been SUCH a great tool during my preparation and recovery.  I highly suggest every woman checks out this site whether you are debating a breast reduction or not.  The forums are great for reading about other women's experiences with the surgery and to help answer questions!

Here are just a few of my favorite links:

Breast Reduction FAQ - Great advice on topics such as: What to ask the surgeon during pre-op visits?,   Post Operative Scar Care, Selecting Your New Breast Size, and lots more

Pre Op & Post Op Nutrition, Hydration, Healing and Rest - links to many other articles as well as the importance of water, rest and good healthy eating during the pre-operative and recuperation process

Breast Reduction Support Board - If you can't find the answer to your question in these forums, ask!  I've learned so much by reading the forums, including things I would have never thought to ask or would have been related to surgery.

{Recovery} Wait, it Fits?

Last night, I was off to Target for more comfortable bras - finally!  Of course, I got distracted and ended up buying these too cute Orla Kiely canisters for my kitchen.  How could I pass them up, right?

 

Dr. Mixter suggested avoiding my fave Victoria's Secret for a few months, since size will still change a bit due to swelling.  So, I figured Target was a good place to start.  I found that most of the wireless bras were only available in size A or B.  It is definitely harder to find wire-free bras over the size of C.  It was hard to find something comfortable that would also look okay under clothes and avoid the dreaded uni-boob my current torture device gives me.  I found a few, but my favorite is a C9 by Champion Yoga Bra seen below.  While it won't work under all shirts, it is comfy and supportive, plus doubles for the gym later on!

The most exciting part of my trip was deciding to try on a super cute dressy shirt.  I couldn't believe...it fit!  I also found a super cute trench coat.  It is very exciting to be able to fit in a shirt and not have the bottom be 5 sizes too big.  This alone makes all of the pain and recovery worth while to me.

images via Target

{Recovery} Can't Sleep!

Unfortunately, it seems as though I've gone from having a hard time staying a wake to having an impossible time falling asleep.  The last few days have been torture.  Bed, couch, wedge pillow, regular pillow, 1000 pillows - doesn't seem to matter - my back just kills and I can't get comfortable!  I basically stare at the wall or watch late night TV until 6 or 7 am, finally pass out from pure exhaustion and then sleep until lunch time.  I decided to pick up some Tylenol PM, but it didn't seem to help much.  I was able to fall asleep earlier, but woke up every two hours throughout the night.  I hope this gets better soon!

{Why Surgery?} Reason #3

I can't wait to go shopping for cute dresses!

image via J.Crew

{Recovery} I Survived the First Week!

Today was my one week checkup with Dr. Mixter.  He said everything was looking good, and I couldn't agree more.  I've seen many recovery pictures online (see Resource links to the right) and I think the vitamins I'm taking, healthy diet, and Bromelain are definitely contributing to my great results.  My breasts are finally starting to look more normal - the bruising and swelling has gone down considerably in the last two days alone and the shape is starting to fill in.  Right after the surgery they looked all scrunched up, which freaked me out a bit!

To celebrate, my mom treated us both to amazing MicroPeel Deep Cleansing Facials.  It was my first and boy was it relaxing and nice!  After spending a week locked away at home in sweats and no makeup, it was nice to feel pampered.  I really am so lucky to have my mom here to take care of me!  She has been so patient and helpful during the whole process, and it is nice recuperating in a comfortable place.

image via hyatt

{Why Surgery?} Reason #2

No longer having to squish myself into two sports bras 

when heading to the gym!

. via revelsports .

{Recovery} Day 2 & 3

This weekend, I decided my pain wasn't too bad, so I waited more than the 4-6 hours recommended in between pain killers.  Bad news bears!  Did you know that if you delay taking pain killers, it takes a while for them to catch up to the pain?  Yeah I found that out the hard way.  I've never been a fan of taking medicine, but I guess I definitely need it at this point.

I spent most of Saturday sleeping.  Sleeping on the couch is easier for me so far, because it doesn't give me the option to try to roll over onto my side.  I've found that it is hard to get comfortable and fall asleep, but once I'm out - I'm OUT.  I slept for 14 hours last night!

Sunday, my best friend came to visit.  I ventured out of the house for the first time to go see He's Just Not that Into You.  Cute movie, but even sitting in a movie theater for a few hours tired me out.  Great conversation kept my mind off of the discomfort and pain for awhile.  Seeing her always cheers me up!

{Recovery} Day 1

Despite being a night owl usually, I woke up this morning at 6 am feeling pretty good.  That is until I tried to sit up.  Ouch!  Putting any weight on my arms hurt.  I started the day with another Sin-Ecch, which is a homeopathic herb to lessen the swelling and bruising, a post-operative vitamin pack and two Vicodin.  I relaxed during breakfast and caught up a bit on Twitter and Facebook.  Thank God for my iPhone!  Light enough to hold and easy enough to use while lying down.  By the way, I thought Vicodin was supposed to make you feel loopy?  It just makes me tired.

Today, I started icing on and off.  The best purchase I made before the surgery was the Make Me Heal Fast Recovery Breast Surgery Survival Kit.  This terrible compression bra/tank top I have to wear 24/7 for at least this first week is extremely uncomfortable.  Not to mention the velcro straps and a zipper front...so hot!

The nurse from my surgeon's office called today to check up on me and ask how the pain is doing.  Surprisingly, she said that I could shower today!  This was extremely exciting, because I'd read nightmare stories about women not being able to shower for two weeks and taking sponge baths on Breast Health Online Forums.  I'd prepared myself for the worst.   I felt a bit dizzy in the shower, and the water stung along the incisions/tape.  The weirdest part for me was having to ask my mom to help me with things like blow-drying my hair.  Looking at myself in the mirror was definitely enlightening.  

I'm smaller!  Obvious, I know, but it will take a while to settle in like a new hair cut.

{Why Surgery?} Reason #1

For more than a year, I saw my chiropractor more than family and friends.

PS - Love ya Dr. Heather, but my back was ready for a lighter load :)

{Recovery} It's Over Already?

Well, the surgery is done!  Today was much easier than I had anticipated.  I'll try to remember the day in as much detail as possible:

I got to the hospital a few minutes before 6 am.  I was so tired, and of course not being able to drink anything after midnight made me more thirsty!  Gotta love how you always want what you can't have.

After checking in, the nurse brought me into a room with a reclining chair where my mom and I got to hang out until they were ready for me.  She said this was also my recovery room.  I changed into the sexy hospital gown, robe, and some hot oatmeal colored grippy socks so I wouldn't slip.  At about 6:45, they came and walked me into another area where I would wait for the anesthesiologist and Dr. Mixter (my surgeon) to come draw me up with those purple pens you always see on the surgery shows like Dr. 90210.  The nurse that walked me there also had a breast reduction!  She said it was the best thing she had ever done for herself.  It's amazing how many people I've met that either have had the surgery themselves or knew someone that had.

The anesthesiologist came and put the IV in my hand, and then I waited for a bit longer for Dr. Mixter.  He talked to me and said he would be taking about half out, but his goal would be for each side to be even.  Since my right side was a bit bigger, he would be taking a bit more out of that side.   He used a ruler to make sure everything was even while drawing me up.  They want to take as much as possible out while keeping me looking proportioned so that I don't grow out of it.  He said I would end up a C or D!  The anesthesiologist came back and gave me some medicine to make me a bit loopy before the actual anesthetic.  He asked me if I felt loopy a few minutes later, but I felt no effects at all.

At 7:15, they wheeled me into the surgery room.  The lack of sleep kicked in and I fell asleep.  This might have been a blessing in disguise, because I didn't wake up again until 11 am after surgery!

When I woke up, I was back into the room where they put the IV in.  After I was conscious enough, they wheeled me back into the recovery room where my mom was waiting for me.  I was very dizzy when they put me into the reclining chair and they gave me some IV meds.  My mom said Dr. Mixter said it went great and he took 3 1/2 pounds out.  Wow!  I slept on and off until noon.  The nurse came in and asked if I wanted 1 or 2 Vicodin.  I said just 1, because I didn't feel like I was in that much pain.  Wrong answer!  At 12:30, I had to ask for a another.

A beautiful surprise - I got flowers delivered from my best friend Deidre!  So thoughtful and it made any pain and discomfort disappear temporarily :)

I took a walk with the nurse at 1:30 for about 5 minutes and felt dizzy, but no where near as bad as I had envisioned I would feel in my head.  At 2:15, I decided I felt awake enough to go home.  They came in and took my drains out which was an odd pain/pressure feeling.  

Once home, I slept on and off until now.  My pain isn't too bad, but if I didn't have the Vicodin I'm sure it would be worse!  It is more of a constant pressure and this compression bra/tank top is extremely uncomfortable!   I'm most comfortable when lying down with my wedge pillow and not moving my arms much.  It's hardest to get myself up and down.

Time for my vitamins, Sin-Eicch, lemon tea and more sleep!

{Preparation} Day Before Surgery

I can't sleep!  Can you say nerves?  I've never been put under before or had surgery.  I'm not going to lie - I'm a wuss when it comes to needles, so I'm pretty nervous!  Since setting the date several months ago, I've had many nightmares about the surgery.  All nightmares aside though, I am very excited.  Maybe the lack of sleep will make it easier to get through the day tomorrow.

Here's the plan for tomorrow:

4:00 am - Get up and shower with just dial soap.  No lotion, deodorant, makeup or jewelry.  Wear comfy clothes and a zip or button up top.

5:00 am - Leave for the hospital

6:00 am - Check in and get started!

My phone rang off the hook earlier today!  The anesthesiologist called today to check in and asked me if I was allergic to any meds.  Dr. Mixter's office also called to make sure I remembered my list of instructions and told me the estimated surgery time is two and a half hours.   It's out-patient surgery, so I should be going home tomorrow sometime!