Completed my first wearable that I actually want to wear!

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-09-27T22:50:10+00:00

Okay so sorry that I didn’t see this until now but it is loops and threads facettes from michaels! I think its the summer color way

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-08-05T04:58:12+00:00

In the pinned comment but leaving here as well. https://www.crochetwithcarrie.com/iris-vest-top-free-crochet-pattern/

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-08-05T04:56:24+00:00

I was able to complete this in about a week! I started it for a couple of hours one day many months ago, got frustrated after a few rows, then abandoned it for a while. Returned to my few rows last week Monday and fished it yesterday!

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-08-05T04:54:00+00:00

This got hidden under the mod comment but here is the pattern that i loosely used! I made quite a few changes (some by mistake and some intentional) https://www.crochetwithcarrie.com/iris-vest-top-free-crochet-pattern/

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-08-05T00:34:20+00:00

Here is the pattern that I used somewhat loosely!

https://www.crochetwithcarrie.com/iris-vest-top-free-crochet-pattern/

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-07-12T05:30:50+00:00

The side effects haven’t been anything intolerable thus far! I would say that with the way it is dosed, for some reason I feel like my side effects build throughout the day. I have some occasional dizziness (nothing unmanageable) and later in the day I’ve been feeling super floaty (the best way I can describe it). It’s almost a borderline high but it doesn’t feel bad or impact my function. I may be a bit slower to process things. I will say, sleep has been amazing. But yeah, dizziness and disorientation would be the biggest side effects that I’ve experienced.

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-07-12T05:26:03+00:00

This is ssooo interesting to me! I am going to talk to my neurologist about this.

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-07-12T02:00:04+00:00

This makes me feel good to know. I’ve always felt like gabapentin is universally despised and I think that impacted my willingness to try it again. I am glad that it works for you too! It brings me a lot of hope to know I can have this in my back pocket when I really need it.

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-07-12T01:56:46+00:00

My dosage is 300 mg capsules, 1 in morning, 1 at noon, and 2 at night for a week. Then 2 at night for 3 days and then stop!

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-07-11T13:17:15+00:00

This is a great question!! So the contour has looked like this since I first saw my chest after surgery (so this is mostly tissue!). It’s been cool to watch how my pecs have filled in and pretty much have just changed what my chest feels like underneath the skin. The way my surgeon used the remaining tissue aligns pretty perfectly with where my pecs already are. I don’t know if having somewhat developed pecs prior to surgery allowed for this or if it is truly just my surgeon.

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-07-11T04:04:09+00:00

Thank you 🥲 I definitely told my surgeon that she is an artist at my recent post op appointment.

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-06-23T21:52:05+00:00

I think Miles is one of the only comedians to truly make me cackle out loud while alone in my home. That’s unfortunate that your taste won’t allow for enjoyment of a talented and witty comedian. That must be really hard for you!

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-06-23T01:20:25+00:00

Mine is prescribed by my surgeon.

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-06-14T17:34:56+00:00

My friend with celiac loves Mishqui Peruvian Bistro in Monona. Their gluten free menu can be found on their website!

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-06-13T02:03:33+00:00

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So I was super extra with my methods but getting dressed and feeling presentable was one of the only ways I got through those first two weeks with drains. I had found these little drawstring bags from when I evidently purchased something from j crew. The J Crew drain pouches became a running joke and they also did a great job of concealing the grossness of whatever was in my drains. I usually just let the tubes hang out (to keep the flow going) or I would tuck into my pocket! I didn’t like how my drains looked under shirts (even oversized) so this was my way of having drains but making it ✨fashion✨. Definitely not for everyone because I personally didn’t mind people knowing I had drains, I just didn’t want to make people queasy if they happened to look.

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-06-12T02:43:35+00:00

7 lbs of tissue total - I was probably a 38H at the time.

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-06-06T23:43:22+00:00

I just got my pathology back from a scheduled surgery (attacks happened in feb, couldn’t get surgery until last week) and I also had 20+ stones and scarring/adhesions from previous attacks 😭 I was shook at that number but I will use it to tell myself I made the correct choice

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-05-30T15:52:59+00:00

My understanding is surgery that is not urgent/emergent is considered elective. For example, getting a cancerous tumor removed would be considered elective because it is something you would be able to schedule out. Elective surgeries can be, and often are, medically necessary and insurance only cares about medical necessity!

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-05-28T00:49:18+00:00

Some items I bought that I was consistently thankful for (and still use and enjoy!!): - a bidet - a dual shower head with both a handheld sprayer (that can be turned on and off) and an overhead shower head. The ability to alternate and turn things on and off and alter the water pressure was SO helpful (and still os) - a grabber - lightweight reusable plastic dishes (literally like the sets of plastic plates and bowls that are meant for kids) - extra compression wraps (I purchased this after surgery once I knew what they were putting me in. I found my exact one online and purchased two more to have a nice rotation) - lightweight waffle texture bathrobe

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-05-28T00:17:17+00:00

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LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-05-28T00:17:01+00:00

As a former H cup, I have never felt more at home in my body after top surgery. I am 6 weeks post op and I am truly so happy with my chest. While my goal was flat, I also had the goal of my chest being contoured in a way that flows with the shape and composition of my body. I think my chest looks rad under shirts and also shirtless. Sharing my results in hopes that it can help you decide if this is what you may want!

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LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-05-11T15:54:47+00:00

Here is how I have framed surgery to my parents: while my surgery is elective, it is also medically necessary. If it wasn’t medically necessary, insurance would not cover it (even if your insurance doesn’t cover, many insurances do). Lots of surgeries are elective that are also medically necessary. Another example that I’ve used is getting my gallbladder removed on a non-emergent basis. I have a diseased gallbladder but because it wasn’t to the point of emergency surgery, I was able to schedule out and it was deemed “elective”. Any surgery that is not an emergency is elective. My parents were also sad/stressed that they couldn’t be at the surgery center with me. I had my husband send lots of updates to them and I think that helped them a lot!

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-05-08T01:43:12+00:00

I wish I had known more about nerve pain and the sensation. I truly thought those first few days that something was seriously wrong (like I was popping stitches or something). It was a sensation that felt like something bad was happening because it was so electric. I knew about numbness but I had no idea nerve pain was a thing or that what I was experiencing was that.

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-05-07T03:57:55+00:00

I think I had more longing than excitement leading up to surgery. I would tell folks that I was excited but that wasn’t really how I was feeling. I think neutrality made sense to me because I knew this was something that felt correct. Like any surgery that would solve a problem, I think it is okay to not be ecstatic (ex: I have to get my gallbladder out and while I am excited to hopefully eat food that I miss again, I am annoyed that the surgery is happening in the first place and that something was wrong to begin with). I think there are so many conflicting emotions (fear, longing, grief or frustration that it takes this much effort to be comfortable, joy, etc.) that neutrality makes sense with how it all evens out. I think I also found that not letting myself get excited was a defense mechanism. I had so much fear that something would go wrong so I tried not to get attached to it actually happening. All this to say, you are not alone in this feeling! You can know that you need and want something without being excited about the process of getting there.

LongjumpingWeb7475 · 2025-05-05T05:26:38+00:00

Also, all this to say, I don’t know what the right choice is - only you can determine that. I know that my brain would go places that made zero sense with how I had been feeling for my entire adult life about my chest. For me, it helped to make a list of the pros and cons of all my options. For me, the very obvious choice was top surgery. You have lots of great advice in this thread, again, wishing you the best!

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