[hattycat]

I'm going to see the consultant on thursday about having a breast reduction. I've been having a lot of back trouble and neck and shoulder trouble which i believe to be because of my breast size. I can't get clothes to fit properly and getting bras is a nightmare.
I'm terrified at how this is going to affect my lupus, and not sure how worth it it'll be, and how my lupus will affect the surgery?
Any advice or info please?
I'm not sure what to do now, and i'm not sure of other alternatives :worried:

 

[LolaLola]

Dear Hatty,
I don't have any info. for you but wanted to wish you luck. Breast Reduction is something I always fancied. In the end I felt it wasn't worth the pain and because I have Ehlers Danlos syndrome I would probably get abnormal scarring.
I will be interested in hearing how it goes for you.
x Lola

 

[Maia]

I've had a surgery post lupus and did quite fine, I feel as if my recovery was quite normal especially as I compare it to my before lupus surgeries which were of a similar nature but I was younger then...

There are never any guarantees, but lupus does not have to rule out surgery as a possibility for you. It will be important to discuss your lupus with the surgeon, and what medications you take and how you are affected (especially if you have any blood clottting issues). The doctor will help you decide if it's in your best interest or not, and you can also consult with your rheumy on this question.

It's not an easy surgery to get through, but I've known one person that had it done and she found it completely worth it. Very happy with her decision for all the reasons you mentioned.

 

[onetay]

vikki,
My daughter is 20 yrs. old and wears a 44 DD. She would love to have smaller breasts but like I keep telling her god made you this was for a reason and you are prefect the way you are. She to has problems with her back often (as you can imagine). She has been this size since she was about 15 and the boys well you can imagine what they think. She also has one breast noticablly larger than the other and did talk to a doctor about it. The doctor told her that she should wait till she has a child sometimes they get smaller after a child. That is all I can offer you in the way of advise. I would not think that it would be a good idea to put yourself through a surgery unless it is needed. It is your body and your choice, I will support any choice a women makes that is educated. I hope you are feeling well.

 

[Pink Pearl]

Good for you, Vikki! I would LOVE to have reduction surgery done. Like Tammy's daughter, I wear a 44DD and with "cooper's droopers" would love to have a lift and reduction. I have never understood why anyone with the gift of small breasts would think of adding to them! As you say, back aches, posture, etc.

Let us know how you find the consult.
Sally

 

[hattycat]

I'm a 30 H , one of mine is about 2-3 cups bigger than the other and as you can imagine getting a supportive bra is impossible. My mum was the one who was telling me to do it, she was worried about me having serious problems if i left it too long. But now she's gone I have noone really to talk to properly about why or how, and about worries etc. and she was my complete pillar of support for everything, now she's gone, i'm completely crumbling about the simplest of things, never mind something completely life changing like this :S

 

[Joandublin]

Hi Vikki

It must be very hard not to have your Mum around to talk to for advice and guidance :hugbetter: If its any help I think your Mum was right in encouraging you to go for the surgery. I have a very good friend who had very large breasts (Im pretty sure she had a H cup size as well) and she spent years with back and shoulder problems. She also had two very deep 'dents' in her shoulders from the weight of the bra straps digging into her shoulders all through the years.

At the age of 45 she took the plunge and saved up for surgery. Despite her back problems she was never offered this surgery through the NHS (she lives in Northern Ireland).

Anyway, the surgery went absolutely fine. She was of course sore for the first week or two but each day that went by saw her feeling better and better. She got an infection in one of the breasts but it cleared up very quickly with appropriate anitbiotics. She says it was the best thing she has ever done and regrets that she didnt do it sooner. Its made a huge difference to her back problems as well as her ability to clothes shop .

Of course she didnt have Lupus to contend with but then again thats a question best answered by your doctors anyway. Another idea might be to ask the consultant if he/she has any patients that might be willing to talk to you about their experiences of reduction surgery.

I also found this site that you might like to read. It gives personal accounts of breast surgery reduction. Its a US site but Im sure the experiences pretty much translate.

http://www.talksurgery.com/consumer/stories/breast_reduction.html

Come back and post again or pop into chat if it helps, ok?

Take care
Luv n stuff
Joan:rose:

 

[pollianna]

Hi Vikki, so sorry bout your mum, lost mine 13 yrs ago so I know how you feel. I was only 30

I can come at this from the other side. I have two tiny tater tots :bigsmile: I am 38 A, pure muscle. I have no problems with them and find that everyhting looks great on little boobs. I can pad em up to fill a dress etc or buy cheap bras cause there's nothing to support. I haven't ever had bigger than a B even when pregnant and I have never missed them. I would like them a little further up tho :lol:

Do what your heart tells you to do. You might have to suffer a little more than non lupies to gain a whole lifetime of freedom but isn't there always a prrice to pay for anything worth having?

Whatever you decide good luck with the specialist xxx

 

[Rose Maclean]

Hi Vikki,

I represent the other side of the situation! I had breast implants post lupus diagnosis. No problems whatsoever. You do what your heart tells you too. if something bugs you to that degree, it makes a big, big difference to your self esteem to get it sorted. I have never regretted my implants. The only change my plastic surgeon made to my post op treatment was to give me extra antibiotics, because of the immunesuppressive drugs.

Good luck!

Rose

 

[hattycat]

I went to the consult today.
He reckons from my problems it would be a good idea for the surgery, although he has to advise me against it due to the lupus and medications i am on. He's going to write to my rheumy and see what she thinks and if there's anything that can be done to make the surgery possible and her advice, and I'm going back to see him in 6 months :\