Surviving 'til Surgery

Yesterday afternoon I saw my nurse practitioner and got a shot of Toradol and a prescription for some different muscle relaxers. My neck is still tight and painful, but I feel like a human being again. I also went up to A Bra Boutique and bought a new bra. I'm down to a 30 in band size (from a 32 last time), but the cup size is up to a GGG from a GG/H. Actually the cups are a little small if anything, but they were out of II (the next size up) and since I've been going to Weight Watchers and losing weight for the last couple months, we figured the GGG was probably going to fit better than the II would soon. Apparently so far I've lost more fat around my chest than in my breasts. The fitter, who was fairly new, was amazed that even with the Colesce bras I'm still in so much pain that I am getting a reduction. I know that finding the Colesce bras, which are designed for orthopedic support, helped my neck pain a lot. But unfortunately, not enough to solve my problems. I can't imagine how painful it would be if I wasn't wearing well fitting bras! Maybe the reason I've been is so much pain lately is that with the weight loss I wasn't getting enough support from my existing bras - but I had gone down to the tightest setting on the bands, so it's hard to believe that would make such a difference.

The process

I have Kaiser insurance - which I like very much. I initially asked about a reduction a few years ago and was told that I didn't qualify because I don't have ruts on my shoulders. This is because I am capable of shopping and buy orthopedic bras that put the majority of the weight and stress on my chest, not the shoulders. I asked again this year at my annual gyn exam (and I have a different primary provider now) and was immediately referred for a reduction with no problems. Apparently the standards have changed and the neck and shoulder tension I have is enough. I currently wear a 34 GG/H bra and have to wear an orthopedic bra day and night to be even minimally comfortable. (Note: orthopedic bras seem to run about 1-2 cup sizes larger than standard bras, but that's still big!)

With Kaiser, the process is that you get referred by your primary practitioner, then go to "Breast Reduction Class", which I did a few weeks ago. I'm currently waiting for an appointment for my consultation with the surgeon. Then I have a pre-op visit for blood work and an EKG, the surgery, and three post-op appointments. Oh, and somewhere in there I have to get a mammogram before surgery, just to make sure there is no cancer.

In class, they tell you that you have to wear a sports bra day and night for a month after surgery like that's going to discourage you. I've been wearing a bra day and night for years, the thought that a month after surgery I can quit doing that is fabulous! More daunting is the fact that you can't lift your arms above your shoulders for a month. I think that is going to be hard to remember! But it all sounds better than dealing with the pain!

My neck hurts

I'm in the process of waiting for a breast reduction, I should have surgery sometime this summer or fall depending on the surgeons' and hospital's schedules. But some days, like today when my neck has been locked in spasm for several days and the muscle relaxers and pain killers I have aren't working, I don't know how I'm going to survive until surgery. When I don't hurt so much, I'm much more positive, and while I'm looking forward to surgery, I'm not in the rush I am when I'm miserable.