Day 9, 10 and 11 post BR...
Well, on Sunday I was achy with a low grade fever and some nausea, and a few of the wounds were still oozing, changing from a yellow to greenish... so I figured it might be wise to get on an antibiotic since I was to go back to work Monday - the next day.  So, I went to the clinic... that did not go as I had planned though... the doc I saw at the clinic was horrified that I drove there myself... she ordered me to bed rest, wrote a note that I am not to go to work for another week even, and told me to get into my surgeon ASAP as I have a hematoma that needs to be drained.  She was concerned that it could lead to a blood infection, so I am on those antibiotics as well (at least I was right about something!).  I got in to see Dr Harris at the hospital on Monday morning...  but he did not want to drain the area or do anything surgical to the hematoma... just told me to carry on with the antibiotics and call him if it gets any worse.  He said that my body will be able to break it down itself. I find that interesting as the doc at the clinic yesterday was so horrified and adament in her diagnosis. 

Just when I was walking in the door from the hospital, I got a call from work... turns out that the third party health reps we have are now involved in my case since I could not return to work as originally anticipated, and now I will not be allowed to return to work until they are satisfied that all will be fine.  I am in a quandry with these two very different doctor's opinions, so I have made an appointment to go see my family doctor for the deciding decision (third opinion) on Friday (he is away until then)... I just want to get back to work, our regular routine, and being able to vacuum again, hehehe!  At least the severe upper back pain has diminished, even with the current surgical healing achies and the hematoma, my neck and shoulders are feeling relief, which was the whole basis for this surgery - woo hoo!  And the girls are perky little things now... hehehe - seriously, I am pleased thus far - just feels so different.

Day nine after BR... bruising has really subsided... tapes are off for the most part... breasts are achy and itchy - I know, a sign of healing!!!  There are a couple of sections where I just do not feel comfortable yet on its own, so I applied a bit more fresh tape.  The right side drain area is still draiing quite a bit though... if it is still doing this tomorrow I think I'll go to the clinic just to follow up that all is ok.  I am supposed to return to work on Monday, and this bleeding has me a bit concerned.

Day one after laser eye surgery... So, I went to Lasik MD in Hamilton... Dr Omar Hakim did the procedure. He is very nice... Actually, all the staff is! I had a consultation appointment bout month ago which takes about 2.5 hours. and booked the surgery for Feb 27 @ 7:45 am. . I was all done and leaving there at 12 noon. It is amazing... I have 4 different drops for my eyes that I take for the next week or so, they cost $60 which my drug plan will reimburse me for. The procedure was $2780, again I will get a small portion of this back from my medical insurance plan. http://www.lasikmd.com/chamilton/lasik-md-hamilton-home.en.html#clinicalTrialRoot  NO pain, it is a little bit uncomfortable - like a speck of dust in the eye is all, I admit I was freaked and needed a sedative prior to but that is only because it was my eyes. Actually, once the flap is made the procedure from then on is kinda cool. He did my right eye first, then my left... took about 20 minutes total. The worst part was removing the tape that holds your eyes open, and really that was nothing!! I stayed about 1.5 hours afterwards... they started me on the eye drop regimine duing that time and they check you to be sure the flap is in proper positioning, It was really so simple - I should have done this way before now! The technology is nothing short of a miracle in my books... after 35 years of wearing glasses my every waking moment - this is just so amazing!!!!

Day 6 post BR... Still achy, and very itchy... I saw Dr Harris today.  Turns out these are dissolvable stitches... so he clipped off all the longer loose ends.  Told me to keep the tapes on until the weekend or when they fall off - whichever comes first.  Then, get Vitamin E (I already have this) and massage gently into the breasts often -- this will help with the itchiness, dryness and scarring.  The bruising and swelling *IS* going down (even I can see this now)... he says it looks good -- the "square" pouches where the drains were will close up nicely and as the breasts "settle" they will round/plump in.  Currently the measurements are a perfect 44C... so I will be more a "full C" once things take their shape.  I say I went from a 50E to a 44D/DD LONG and now a 44C... hehehe... I am loving it already though, even though it still looks kind of nasty and is achy and very itchy! I am pleased... the shape at the breast crease is very nice and youthful looking, and my nipples are in a good positioning.  I go back in a month! 

Holy Bruising Batman...
I took off all the dressings to take a shower (still have tape around the nipples and over the "anchor" cuts though) ... the bruising is NASTY!  Especially the right side... and the open wounds where the drains were - icky... still draiining, and really look gross... I like to document this kind of thing so we took pics... I hope one day I'll look back and say "wow, can't believe THOSE turned into THESE" (and be proud of the new girls!)... anybody have any words of comfort/wisdom to share?  On Friday Dr Harris poked at the swelling/bruising and said it was ok... but it has gotten worse - I go see him Wednesday... the pain to touch has not gotten worse though, in fact that is subsiding... hmmmm... it really is quite ugly looking..
In fact, the incision pain is not so bad at all... but I have a lot of back pain as I seem to be babying  my chest as best I can I think (rounded shoulders towards the front).  I bought Vitamin E - hoping that will help with fading the scars away.  Although I am not that worried about scarring really.  I already have plenty of those!!

CBC news story:

Breast reduction surgery

This common procedure eases women's discomfort caused by large breasts; here's what you need to know about it

Having a breast reduction can be an emotional experience. Sandra (who didn't want her real name used), a 32-year-old health-care worker for the Forensic Psychiatric Institute and a mother of two, experienced mixed feelings after the breast-reduction procedure. She says that after the surgery, she was a little sad. "Something that was a part of me for so long were so small compared to before. I felt small-chested and a little afraid of whether I would grow to love them."

Despite her initial mixed feelings about the procedure, Sandra has grown to accept her new breasts.

"I have really grown to love them. They don't shake, I don't need to wear a bra if I don't want to. I have a lot more freedom than before. My shoulders are stress-free. I sleep really well. I look much better in clothes and I am now wearing bras that fit really nicely. I am getting compliments all the time."

Large breasts may seem like an asset to some, but for women who have them, they can be uncomfortable, awkward and even embarrassing.

Women have breast reductions to change their proportions and reduce discomfort such as back pain. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, 5,181 women had breast reduction surgery in 2006 at in-patient facilities in Canada.

The procedure, technically known as reduction mammoplasty, involves removing fat from the breast to make it smaller, more firm and lighter. Breast reductions are covered by all provincial health plans, but must be approved based on criteria that vary from province to province. (For example, in Ontario, size is not sufficient grounds for coverage, there must be associated back or neck pain. In Nova Scotia, at least 500 grams per breast must be removed.) If the breast reduction is not covered by a provincial health plan, costs range from $4,500 to $6,500.

"Breast reduction is a very common operation for plastic surgeons around the world," says Dr. Nasim Huq, a Niagara Falls, Ont.-based doctor who has performed the procedure on more than 80 women. "With the increased prevalence of obesity, people are a little heavier. The surgery has become more safe and more popular."

Tatum Rusak, a 30-year-old mother of two and owner of a home-based business, says the procedure appealed to her because she had trouble wearing nice clothes and finding bras to fit her 38H breasts.

"I had to go to specialty stores to find bras, they all cost over $100 — it was crazy to have to spend that much," she says. "They would only last a few weeks and would then be garbage - they just don't support that big a breast."

The procedure

Breast reduction is a medical procedure that requires consultation with a surgical expert. Patients usually find a plastic surgeon to perform the procedure through referrals. To check on the specialty of a doctor and to verify certification, Canadians can contact The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons at 613-730-8177, 1-800-668-3740, or through www.rcpsc.medical.org.

The patient then discusses the details of the surgery with the surgeon, going over issues such as where the nipples and scars will be positioned, and how much weight will be removed. A typical procedure sees 1-3 cup sizes reduced from the breast. Rusak, for example, went from a 38 H to a 36 DD, while Leslie Holland, a Campbellford, Ont.-based homemaker with three kids went from a 48DD to a 40 C, losing nearly 7 kilograms (15 pounds).

The procedure typically takes about two hours, and is performed under general anesthetic.

The most common way of performing breast reduction surgery is the "Inverted T," where one incision travels along the bottom of the breast, and another goes upward to the nipple.

For smaller breasts, only a vertical incision is used, with no transverse cut along the breast. This technique is often used with liposuction, but is more difficult to do when a larger volume of the breast needs to be removed, says Dr. Huq.

Things to consider

The downside of the operation can include issues such as scarring and possible reactions to anesthetic, which can happen with any operation.

Having adequate support before and after the operation helps women to deal with its emotional and physical after-effects.

"Before the surgery I had some friends who went through it and coached me. I relied a lot on that. After the surgery, my mother took the kids for one week so that I can just relax and take care of myself. My surgery was on a Friday so my husband was home for two days with me ... mostly just reaching for things and lifting things and just helping me around the house .... After that I was home by myself. I was fine," says Sandra.

Rusak is pleased with the results of her breast reduction, but she experienced complications following the surgery. Her husband took her to the emergency room, who then referred her to the plastic surgeon who performed the procedure.

"The incisions opened up, where the T meets," she says. "There was a triangle under each breast that was opened, that was bleeding, yucky and painful. I went to [the plastic surgeon] the next day. They said it is fairly normal."

The recovery time is also something women considering the procedure should take into account. Most people are back to their jobs (if they are desk jobs) within two weeks, but they are not able to do heavy lifting for four to six weeks after the procedure.

Due to the nature of her work, which involves running and lifting, Sandra says she took six weeks off of work after her procedure in February.

Many women, like Holland, experience minimal pain after the procedure. "Advil and Tylenol took care of the pain for me. I was still able to play with my kids, drive, but I couldn't lift things."

Some women who have had the procedure have trouble breastfeeding. Dr. Huq recommends that women do the surgery after having and breastfeeding their children, if they wish to breastfeed rather than bottle-feed.

"It depends on the techniques that are used. The traditional ways of doing the surgery usually cuts your breastfeeding ability in half," says Dr. Huq.

Reflection

"I'm not embarrassed to be out in public. I don't feel bad when people look at me. I'm more confident in myself," says Holland about her experiences after the procedure.

Most women are pleased with the results of the procedure and the decrease in discomfort. Dr. Huq says he has a 95- to 97-per-cent satisfaction rate for breast reductions.

"I would recommend the surgery to anybody," says Rusak. "I love it, it is absolutely the best thing that I have ever done."

Kim Edwards is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor. Contact her at [email protected].

I'm home from breast reduction surgery on Thursday… looks like just over 5 pounds is gone thus far… I still have quite a lot of swelling etc so that may creep down a bit more!  Woo hoo!  It is quite icky – still draining (but the drains were removed this morning)… and OUCHIE.. not completely unbearable though, was using T3s last night, then my regular pain meds today... I took took a shower... it looks NASTY... but they tell you this is to be expected... I get stitches out on Wednesday.  Thanks to ya'll for the well wishes and great tips you sent to me... muchly appreciated! 

I will be having a lower body lift too  but- not until 2 to 3 yeas from now, as it will be self-pay and about $12.000. Dr Leonard Harris here in Burlington is the PS I am going to - he is not overly buddy buddy, but he is an excellent surgeon... a number of folks in the medical profession recommend him  http://www.drharris.on.ca/Dr._Leonard_Harris__Plastic_Surgeon.html

Ok, I am getting a little anxious about next week... they phoned we with a surgery time of 1:30 next Thursday - and I have to be there about 2 hours earlier.  Louis has to work, so my sister is going to be my taxi there and back, but Louis will come to the hospital when he is done work Thursday - I should be just in recovery by then.  I think I'll post on the plastic surgery board for some pointers...

oh - found my old work ID badge, so I have done a before and after photo set.

Let's be honest... I have gained some weight... I have not been eating well - way too many slider foods, and not really moving/exercising much at all... and, so... I am facing up to it... I have 31 pounds to go now... 

I plan to start with Aquafit again, and although I will not be playing volleyball or baseball due to the breast reduction, I will start to pick up the walking effort again.

Good news...  my son is off the ADHD meds... we decided that the bad headache side effect was not worth the little bit of help the meds gave him... poor thing.  Just need to be sure he gets all the rest he needs, and love, love love him...

I start receiving cortisone shots in my low spine in May of this year... hopefully three will do it.  That seems to be a bit of a process... I'l be getting an epidural for these shots... takes about an hour.  I do hope it helps.  I have my breast reduction scheduled for February 19.

2009

wow

The kids are back to school today... we all have colds but other then that are doing great...

2009 will hopefully....

I'll use the Wii Fit to assisst me reach my final goals
Joshua stops taking ADHD meds
I'm having my breast reduction and lift February 19
Weekend trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls with the kids and a friend each
We'll visit my dad this summer for a couple weeks in July
Save for the tummy tuck

My friend Kimberly lost her husband 8 years ago... he was home for a week on holidays and had in fact had his annual physical... he died on the Sunday in their bedroom - dropped dead in front of her from an aneurysm and age 41, leaving a 4 year old without a dad.

The lady that owns the tanning place I go to lost her husband last year... he was fit and age 39, leaving their 7 year old without a dad.

This past Sunday my friend Marc fell down the stairs in his apartment building and cracked his head... his 8 year old son was with him, Coby ran and got his mom and they took him to the hospital. Marc slipped into a coma and required life-support... the doctors said if he ever did come out of it his quality of life would be nil... life-support was terminated Monday evening and Marc passed away at age 41.

Too soon.

Makes you think.

Go hug someone, crank that tune and sing your heart out, enjoy that treat, buy yourself those flowers... LIVE!

Ohip has APPROVED ME for breast reduction/lift... on February 19th, 2009!!!

I just need to save the $12,000 for the lower body lift - hopefully in 2010!!!!!