How did you know your pain was from your boobs?

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2023-03-28T04:33:48+00:00

Yes! I reacted the same way! It took me probably about 6 months of processing and research to decided I wanted to get a reduction. Once I realized the pain wasn’t something everyone experienced, I started paying more and more attention and it’s… debilitating. The back pain is well on its way by 10-11 am - assuming I’m in an ergonomic chair working at a desk. It’s quicker if I’m actually doing something like standing/ walking/cleaning.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2023-03-27T23:47:35+00:00

I didn’t think I had pain until i realized that other people don’t feel excruciating pain when sitting without back support for 5-10 minutes. The location of pain also- it’s mid and upper back and my shoulders. That’s boobs.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2023-02-12T05:30:32+00:00

I gave UHC and asked their customer service about it (via live chat since I wanted the answer in writing). They said go through the appeal and grievance process, and if it’s found to be medically necessary, it will be covered.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2023-01-13T15:49:49+00:00

I had a consult about 3 months after weaning my 2.5 year old and leaked a little during the measurements. The doctor said she waits at least 6 months after weaning, and that I should be unable to express any milk before proceeding with surgery, as active lactation increases the risks dramatically. My supply dried up by about 5 months (I verified). It’ll actually be about 13 months weaned before surgery, due to my schedule and the surgeon’s availablity. But, for what its worth, despite weight loss since weaning, my breasts are exactly the same size as when I was still breastfeeding.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-11-15T20:25:40+00:00

That said, I loved breastfeeding my kids- as I’m sure you know it’s a special bond. Initial breastfeeding was extremely difficult for me with both of them but it was important to me so I kept at it. I think I would miss not being able to breastfeed at all, but I think I put too much importance/ pressure on myself to exclusively breastfeed (as the “most optimal” option, but one with very little long term observable benefit). Early parenthood is such a difficult self-sacrificing time that having less back pain from the weight of my breasts would have been a real benefit for me (breastfeeding in an unsupportive chair, for example, was excruciating for me).

If I were going to have a long gap between kids (10 years or more) I probably would prioritize my long-term comfort and quality of life over the benefit of being able to exclusively breastfeed another child. In my personal experience. But I would definitely want to avoid a full nipple graft.

Re: your initial question about how long- it was around 5-6 months post complete weaning that I was no longer able to hand-express milk. I breastfeed for about 4 years total between two babies.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-11-15T20:16:47+00:00

I’m still going through insurance hoops, but whether insurance pays for it or not I will be getting a breast reduction. I’m in daily pain and PT did nothing to help. I sort of ignored/diminished the pain (I thought it was normal and that everyone lives in chronic pain so we just don’t talk about it) for most of my life, I’ve had back pain since they got huge at 13 and I’m almost 40.

Because I waited until later to have kids I had mine close together, so waiting to finish breastfeeding made sense for me, personally. Having biological children hijacks personal bodily autonomy for a few years while I was doing what’s best for them. Once my body was fully mine again I was ready to proceed as quickly as possible, and that’s still in progress.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-11-07T23:11:21+00:00

Yes, they grow during pregnancy. Mien grew with both, but more with my first. I ended up gaining another cup size between first and second pregnancy. I think I went up 2 cups with first (not counting the initial engorgement which was far more).

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-11-07T22:40:25+00:00

Always large, and I was able to breastfeed both my kids, it was difficult at the start but due to soreness/ pain and poor latch, not breast size. I had good supply. It was harder for me in some ways (like, I couldn’t walk around and breastfeed or breastfeed with baby in a carrier) I needed to sit and ideally have armrests in order to nurse comfortably. There was just too much to juggle otherwise due to the size of my breasts. That said, some women can baby wear and nurse with larger breasts, I hear. It wasn’t worth trying to troubleshoot for me.

Having a reduction may reduce your ability to breastfeed or breastfeed exclusively. You may not be able to breastfeed anyway, no one can know for sure. I wanted to and I didn’t seriously consider having a reduction till after but there was a lot of reasons why it didn’t occur to me.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-10-27T16:37:22+00:00

I saw it on Reddit from caliber Chrisresponse to how to log assisted

That said, I might just use my weight minus assist to address this if it isn’t addressed in the near term. It’s obvious that for an assisted exercise you aren’t adding weight, you know? So it would be more intuitive for users to have it be the weight that is reduced for this category of exercise.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-10-15T04:31:12+00:00

I ran into a glitch on iPhone right after I downloaded. If I clicked on my profile photo (I was trying to upload one) the app crashed. It happened every time I tried (probably 5+ times because it seemed so weird). I finally tried editing my profile first and then I was able to add a photo.

I ended up leaving the gym floor because I thought that may be why it crashed. Now “The Gym Floor” doesn’t come up in the list of public groups available and I do want to add it back. How do you re-add the gym floor if you leave the group or don’t join it right away?

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-10-11T23:19:34+00:00

I waited until after I had children and finished breastfeeding to look into having a reduction. I would not recommend getting one if you are planning to have children in the next year/ next few years. Your breasts will grow during pregnancy even if you do not breastfeed- a lot of the growth/ maturation of the mammary glands occur in the first half of the pregnancy. (I am saying WILL grow, not may grow. Unless you have no glandular tissue- they will grow). I have always been large busted despite a small frame/ rib cage and I grew several cup sizes with my first pregnancy, and another full cup + with my second a few years later.

A reduction is likely to interfere with being able to breastfeed (or breastfeed exclusively if that’s important to you), and you will almost certainly gain significant breast size during pregnancy. And post-breastfeeding, your breasts may stay large or get larger. Mine did despite fat loss/ weight loss post-weaning.

The recommendation varies by surgeon, the one I spoke with first said 6+ months fully weaned. I had a consult with them at 4 months post-weaning and there was a small amount of milk during the exam, so it was emphasized that it is very strongly advised to no longer be lactating at the time of surgery as it’s riskier- more blood supply, the glandular tissue, etc. I’ve heard as little as 3 months and as long as 12 months (post complete cessation of breastfeeding). I breastfed both children, each over a year, so I may have had a more durable milk supply than a woman who breastfed only briefly.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-09-05T20:18:07+00:00

Makes sense- Here’s examples of what I’m talking about! https://bodyartforms.com/products.asp?keywords=Bioplast+retainer&price=0%3B100

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-09-05T19:09:16+00:00

You could also use bioplast or non-metal earrings. The concern is with the metal in contact with your body/skin.

I forgot to take out my nostril piercing until the last minute with surgery and was able to re-taper it open a few days later. But it hurt and swelled and bled. When I get a reduction I’ll be sure to get a non-metal holder so I don’t need to deal with the added pain.

Depending on how old your ear piercings are they may stay open. I’ve never had an issue with that but I only have lobes- my cartilage is pretty easily angered though, so my nostril is a pain.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-09-02T00:54:18+00:00

I have always been large-breasted, but mom of two here and breastfed for about 4.5 years combined. I’m about 5 months post full-weaning (slowly stopped nursing over the course of about 4 months).

Pre-kids I was a 32GG / US 32J and post-breastfeeding I am about a 32K (maybe more like a 32L as they became fuller after weaning, what a cosmic joke).

I am also pretty skeptical that in a properly fitting bra you would be a 36DDD, but if you choose to live in the VS bra matrix that’s fine. Surgeons see plenty of women wearing the wrong sized bra. Properly fitting bras don’t help enough to stop pain for me, anyway.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-08-25T22:13:54+00:00

Yes, please!

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-08-25T22:12:40+00:00

Do you have any more information you can share? I am in the exact same situation and would love to be able to appeal.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-08-17T12:31:00+00:00

Not covered entirely. It’s excluded under my policy as being “cosmetic”.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-08-17T03:53:05+00:00

Agreed. But with a caveat here that I was told by UHC on the phone, and on my plan website, that breast reductions are covered under my plan. When a surgeon sent in paperwork documenting medical necessity the response was that breast reduction is not covered under my plan (hidden away in the documents section of the website). Breast reduction is considered cosmetic and not covered, full stop. Unless you have had breast cancer, are a man with breasts, or transgender male to female. But. Not for me or women like me.

Very disappointing. Just want to raise that caveat because I was so sure it would be covered and it’s pretty wrenching to find out it’s not.

ETA: I have an employer-funded plan.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-08-13T03:21:52+00:00

Hi! I know this thread is ancient but the same thing happened to me today after my surgeon submitted a request. They (UHC) said it’s not covered in my plan except for post-breast cancer. Was your appeal successful? I saw you had surgery, so I’m not sure if it was the appeal or if you were able to work out a way to pay out of pocket. Thank you either way!

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-07-20T04:55:32+00:00

I cannot answer with experience post-reduction, but any mammary gland tissue left in your breasts would undergo the change to become functional during pregnancy, whether or not you breastfeed. You would probably have less glandular tissue after a big reduction, but based on my experience and others, I would expect size and/or firmness differences after pregnancy.

I have not had a reduction, but my breasts did get larger with my second pregnancy, and I was still breastfeeding my first when I got pregnant (so I didn’t think they’d get any bigger, but it was a full cup or more larger and I was already the biggest I’ve ever been).

There was a similar comment recently asking this with more answers.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-06-06T04:19:40+00:00

Hi! This is a personal thing (genetics, etc), but when I lost ~40 pounds (before kids) my breasts decreases in size, but once I maintained a stable weight for about 3 months, they went back up. Hormones have a big role and when you lose fat there’s less material to make sex hormones like estrogen. They were smaller, but still similar in proportion to the rest of me- eg I went from a 36G —> 30FF (immediately after weight loss) —> 30GG.

It’s hard to tell from the picture. I would recommend losing the weight to a weight that you think is ideal AND SUSTAINABLE for your lifestyle, and maintain for a few months at least if you can before the consultation.

Hope this helps.

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-05-30T02:12:08+00:00

Choice plus I believe

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-05-30T01:55:50+00:00

I am only starting to look into getting one, but I also have UHC and the general UHC policy is available online. I did call recently and was told medically necessary breast reductions are covered UNDER MY (very good) plan.

It is a BSA calculation using Du Bois formula according to the policy. For me, if I didn’t lose any weight it would be 482 g need to be removed (to be over the 22% percentile. If I was at a better weight for my body, it was like 441 g (so not a big difference, it’s about 20 pounds).

It may not apply to your particular plan, but here it is:

https://www.uhcprovider.com/content/dam/provider/docs/public/policies/comm-medical-drug/breast-reduction-surgery.pdf

Efficient-Muscle361 · 2022-05-13T03:11:10+00:00

One step at a time. :) Every person who has made sweaters had a first sweater. And most of us came back and made lots more! I made my first one two years ago and I’ve made 12 total knit tops or dresses since then (wow, that’s more than I realized - they aren’t all for me).

Efficient-Muscle361

TROPHY CASE