One Year Later

It is hard to believe, well for me at any rate, that it has been exactly one year since my breast reduction surgery. I cannot believe it. Looking back a lot of it was pretty hazy but that may be from the pain medication! The recovery period was rough, I'm not going to lie, especially with the drainage tubes in that first week. I couldn't sleep on my side for six weeks, only my back, and not lift anything heavier than a book. I had a breathing apparatus to make sure my lungs functioned ok. I had to take drainage measurements... ok Ryan had to, I just didn't look. I had hundreds of stitches which mostly dissolved but some had to be removed. I was sore and tingly and numb for awhile.

But I recovered. Nearly all the feeling is back thank goodness. Only one or two spots still feel like when you have a shot at the dentist... you can feel it but not perfectly. I wore a bikini comfortably this past summer for the first time since middle school.



I have worn shirts in mediums and even *gasp* smalls. My back rarely bothers me anymore and I feel taller without the extra weight, literally! It was not a fun experience to go through that surgery and the first month or so after, but it was definitely worth it in the end.

Six weeks after my surgery I did a before and after post because that was when the majority of my swelling went down and I could notice a difference... and wear a real bra again!





Now it is a year later, and I am fully healed... and you can see even more of a difference!






And of course Rylie girl wanted in on the action! Putz.




My scars are fading and I am extremely happy with my 36Cs. Much better than 36DDDs! If anyone ever has any questions about the surgery, the approval process and TriCare or the recovery please feel free to ask. If you don't want to leave a comment you can email me at imyewneek@yahoo.com

I think it was totally worth it.

Try Again TriCare

Sometimes I love TriCare. Sometimes I loathe it. This is one of those times.

So in reference to my surgery I have needed another referral from my primary care doctor. I got a referral for a surgical consultation, which I went to as you see from my previous entry. Now I got approved by the surgeon, but before they could submit it to TriCare they needed my records and another referral. This referall had to state it was ok to treat, pre-op, surgery, and post-op.

So the very day I left my appointment I was trying to get Dr Kim on the phone. No appointments. No one knows what the heck a referral is all of a sudden. For two solid weeks I fought to get any contact with the man. I finally go through patient advocacy and he calls me back. I tell him I need a copy of my records and another referral for the rest of treatment.

They fax me my file at work. It is wrong. It said I was allergic to latex, on no medication, a non smoker.... all false. I am NOT allergic to latex but do have a fatal reaction penicillin, (which I told them!) I do smoke and I am on at least two-four perscriptions at any given time as well as calcium suppliments! I write all the corrections and fax it back saying I need an accurate record as this is going to my surgeon and surprisingly they fax it back.... three days later. UGH.

I assume the referral is also being taken care of, as Dr Kim said he was resubmitting it. He said he originally submitted it for total treatment, not just consultation, but he will do it again. I give him two weeks. I call TriCare Tuesday of this week and they have no referral on file.

Seriously???

So I try and call the clinic directly. No answer. I call the appointment line to try and just get an appointment to go in and do this in person. No one, and I mean NO ONE, can see me until Saturday November 20th at 7:40am. What the heck!? I have never had a problem getting an appointment at Belvoir before! I book it and call patient advocacy again, this time to talk to someone in referrals. They tell me it was submitted Monday. As in the day before. Again, seriously?! What did they do with it for TWO WEEKS???

Well whatever, it was in. They told me to call Friday and I would have an answer.

I call today at lunch.

At least it is submitted now. They see it. But... it is still pending.

Call back on Monday.


*insert Allie slamming her head into her desk here*

Anyway.... the ball is tomorrow (and Ryan has to wear Dress Whites?! Whaaaat?) my dad and brother will be here!

See you all later taters!

Chip

Not much has been going on over here... just work and other such things. The big thing this week has been "the chip."

Lucky me chipped a tiny bit of enamel off my front tooth. It isn't noticeable or particularly painful, but my mom said I should get it fixed before it breaks or really badly chips. Ugh. One, I hate hate hate the dentist. A near death experience will do that to you. Let's just say they left the gas on too long and I was having a bad trip on the gas and then blacked out completely during the procedure. So, not a fan. I had to go to a sedation dentist the last time I went since I panic. Two, TriCare is throwing me through yet another loop.

I asked Ryan awhile ago about enrolling/activating dental because someone mentioned to me it was a side company connected with TriCare. I also heard I had to enroll in TriCare but that was done when I joined DEERS so who knows? Either way Ryan never really got back to me and since I dread the dentist and didn't care to push it, it just was left hanging.

Now the chip.

Ok I am an idiot, it is all my own fault. I didn't feel like getting the staple remover and my nail wouldn't fit under so I decided to just bite the thing off. Brilliant right? Great job Allie. I almost deserve to have that chip. Anyway...

I went on TriCare's website and found the United Concordia or whatever the dentail site is called and clicked on enroll. Then I see this...

The TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) is available to family members of all active duty service members of any of the seven uniformed services and to National Guard/Reserve members and/or their families. To be eligible for the TDP, the sponsor must have at least 12 months remaining on his or her service commitment* at the time of enrollment.

*When the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) indicates less than 12 months remaining, United Concordia will validate the intent of the sponsor to continue their service commitment. This service commitment will be based on the time remaining in any single status or in any uninterrupted combination of active duty or National Guard/Reserve status.


Well since Ryan has no idea whether he is enlisting or not, I am, to put it mildly, screwed! We are definitely waiting until February to see what our options are what with him applying for CID are. He needs to be a CPL for a certain period of time to apply for the program and February he will hit his year mark in that rank so he will apply then. So technically we aren't even sure if he is going to re-enlist yet because if he doesn't get into CID then he may not re-enlist!

UGH!

So what do I do? Find a dentist and pay for the chip (and a cleaning) out of pocket??? That will cost me an arm a leg and probably our first born I am sure. And heaven forbid there is a rogue cavity or my wisdom teeth (the two I have, one is kinda in the other three never made an appreance) need to come out, I am in huuuge trouble.

What to do!?

Is this thing on??

No I am not commenting on anything in particular... I just cannot seem to hear too well out of my left ear!! I found that out today at work when I answered the phone (as per usual) and I could barely hear the person on the other end! I was looking at the phone, the chord, trying to see if it was my connection (which has popped out before!) and transfered the phone to my right ear to hear, "Hello? Hello???"

Oops.

I couldn't really tell if it was my ear or my jaw or a tooth, just the left side of my face on my upper side cheek/ear canal feels swollen and funny. Not sure if I am starting to get an ear infection or what. Not cool at all! I haven't had one of those since about 8th grade. I really do not want to go to Urgent Care this weekend because everyone knows TriCare is so helpful with the little things! Ugh.

In other strangeness, I had my first nightmare in a long time last night. And it was a strange but still frightening one! I actually woke up yelling and in turn woke Ryan up (when he had PT in less than two hours from that point...oops). I was on one of the back country roads near my parents' house in NJ. It was dark out but the moon was full and bright so I could kind of see. I have no idea where I was walking to or from but somehow I heard there was a crocodile on the loose and people should stay indoors. I scoffed at that, anyone can outrun a crocodile on dry land! (Yea don't ask, I am sarcastic and weird even in my own dreams)

So I am walking along and of course there is the crocodile. About three times the size it should be in real life. I try and sneak around it and it snaps at me. I run and it chases me. I start zigging and zagging and doing crazy things and it is right on my heels. I see headlights in the distance of a car and try to flag it down for help, but as it is in dreams you have a way of knowing something just won't work in your favor. I knew that car would never reach me in time and if it did I wouldn't be fast enough to get in the car without getting caught.

Suddenly the thing lunges for me and (if you're easily squeamished skip the next two sentences) I remember reaching and trying to gouge its eye out to make back off, like a shark thing. I can remember even what that felt like, which is pretty weird. But it was curtains for me as the thing lunged and I woke up yelling my head off.

As you can tell it is Friday and I am so all over the place. Oy.

Anyway... head over to Mrs. Muffin's blog for the Friday MilSpouse weekly round up!

I usually don't have time to blog weekends, so just in case, hope you all enjoy yours!



PS - I am almost at 100 followers (holy cow!) and I would like to do a give away, but I am lacking ideas! If anyone has any ideas or wants to go in a joint give away with me please email me or let me know! imyewneek@yahoo.com (:

Doctors and Opinions

So I have had back issues since highschool. They come and go, it is usually horribly tight and I pull it out very easily. I did so last month quite horribly. Ryan almost took me to the ER since I was in so much pain, but the idea of getting in the car made me feel physically ill. Instead we dug out the percocet and I knocked out for the night. For days after I couldn't even bend, which was hell working all day with six year olds!!! But from then on I tried to get a doctor appointment. I had enough. Eight years of this on and off is ridiculous!

I relocated to Bolling Air Force base for my Dr and I could not get an appointment. I was off for two weeks before starting my new job and there was zero availability. If I heard, "If you are in severe pain you can go to the ER or Urgent Care." one more time I was going to lose it. I was not in pain at the time, I was trying to prevent future issues and figure stuff out!! I finalyl got frustrated this week and called TriCare and changed my provider to Ft Belvoir. I changed my information, called the appointment line, and had an appointment scheduled THAT NIGHT at 6:40pm!! Amazing. This was Monday by the way.

After work I drive over to Belvoir, about twenty or thirty minutes away, and my GPS takes me to the wrong gate. You military gals know that is a pretty big no-no. Oops. Even playing the "Sorry I've never been here before" card I still felt like an ass. So I get to the right gate and no surprise I get pulled over for random inspection. Apparently I was the first gold car they saw that day and he thought, Why the heck not? His words exactly. Did I mention I have five minutes to find the hospital at this point, and park and get to my appointment? I pop the trunk (and prop it open with my stick as the spring doesn't hold it open anymore) the hood (with difficulty, I couldn't get it for some reason) and all the doors as the dog sniffs around. They give me directions to the hospital and I have one minute to get there.

Oy.

I arrive at the hospital almost ten minutes late. I RUN up the stairs and somehow find the clinic and miraculously enough they agree to see me! My blood pressure and heart rate were through the roof from my run so the nurse had to take it three times! Oops again.

I see the doctor, he is not my new primary but he was available and I was fine with that. I told him about my back pains, my problems, and my theories. It was the most productive appointment I ever had. Within five minutes after my appointment walked down the hall to the pharmacy and got my two perscriptions filled (free! I love that!) for Percocet and Flexoril, a muscle relaxer, for when I need them. Then I walked a little further down the hall and right in for an xray on my back. No wait whatsoever!! I am pretty impressed Belvoir! I also got two recommended consultations, one with a physical therapist and one with a plastic surgeon.

A plastic surgeon you ask?

Well, myself and quite a few people I am close with have a theory behind my bad back. It started in highschool when I went from an A cup to a C cup my freshman year. I have never in my life been a B cup! I skipped right over it. Ever since I routinely pull my back out. It is excrutiating! I slouch all the time, I am extremely self conscious of my chest size (which has since of course grown). Clothes shopping is awful. If it fits my chest it doesn't fit my waist and vice versa. Don't even get me started on bathing suits! The one bikini I have owned in the past eight years I got at a specialty store and came with underwire and thick straps. If I wore, say a bikini from Target, I would look like a street walker. If I put two together I would maybe cover one! Once I heard Barbie, if she were a real person, would not physically be able to stand up straight because of her proportions. I can relate.

I have considered a breast reduction since about my senior year of highschool, when my chest started getting really big. No I know my size compared to some is not that bad. I borderline a 36D and DD. It is hard. I feel very out of proportion. In jeans I maybe wear a size 4. My waist, like when I am finding dresses, can fit into a 6/8... but my chest I have to get a 10 or 12 to fit! I was terrified when shopping for my wedding gown I was going to look huge and top heavy no matter what. I didn't want a strapless dress at all. But luckily I found a beautiful dress that somehow worked with my shape.

The doctor did warn since I am not, "that big", I may have a hard time getting such a thing approved. Also because I am young, and never had children it is another factor that makes them wary. That is one that makes me push, I know when you get pregnant your chest grows. I am terrified of that. I'd get bigger than this??? Also already having back problems I would not be a happy camper. My mother-in-law mentioned when she was pregnant with my sister-in-law Hannah that Hannah sat basically on her spine the whole time. She felt like she had "back labor" towards the end. I wouldn't be able to move if I had that!

I know elective surgery is risky. I have never had anything like that done, I mean I still have my wisdom teeth! But I think the risk may be worth it. To not be in pain. To wear clothes that fit. To not be self conscious all the time. To meet someone and have them look me in the eye instead of the boobs. To not have indents in my shoulder large enough to fit my finger in from my bra bearing so much weight.

So I am reaching out to you readers. What are your thoughts on such a thing? Is an elective surgery a good idea? Should it only be a last LAST resort? Should I go for it and see if they would approve it? Ryan supports it if it means being out of pain and comfortable (Of course I want a B and he wants a C but that is a whoooole nother story!)

What do you think?

CVS, TriCare, Dry Run, Recipe

Random post but I wanted to write it while I still remembered.

For all you wives... if you have TriCare and ever need a perscription filled know that CVS accepts TriCare!! The Naval Hospital here is over 45 minutes away and to get there is a real pain. I was waiting to see the doctor and I needed my old meds refilled so I went to CVS expecting just to pay an arm and a leg. They pharmacist and I were chatting and he just entered Ryan's information into the computer and it all worked! So if you all ever need perscriptions and don't want to do a long journey, ask the doctor for a hard copy (the paper) instead of instantly sending it to the pharmacy on base and you can take it to CVS. Since I can walk to CVS that is my new game plan for prescriptions! $3 generic, $9 regular... way cheaper than even my old insurance plan! Now aside from me this information may not be useful for anyone but I thought I would put it out there anyway.

Is it bad it took me one sugar free red bull and three diet cokes to get through the dry run of camp??? It also started two hours later than a regular camp day an there were no kids. Oh I am so so in for it! Pray for me for Monday. I am so nervous about my commute and doing it all right!

I see everyone sharing recipes so I am going to share what I made for dinner tonight... it is really easy to make, may not be exact, but it is quite yummy.

Apple Pork with Sauerkraut

4 Pork Loins (or whatever the boneless ones that look like chicken breasts are)
Bottle of apple juice
Jar/Can of apple sauce
Can of sauerkraut (can use fresh if you wish! but the can is easy and cheap and just enough)

Serves 4

-In a frying pan put the defrosted pork in with the apple juice. I use enough to just cover it basically.
-Simmer each side til pork whitens, a couple minutes each.
-Now if you use the canned sauerkraut open it and pour the sauerkraut into two or three folded over paper towels. Over the sink squeeze it out. This removes the excess liquid and makes the sauerkraut less bitter.
-Mix applesauce and squeezed sauerkraut in a bowl.
-In a 9x13 dish (or casserole dish, can cover with lid if you want to, I just did the glass 9x13 dish) coat the applesauce/sauerkraut mixture on the bottom in an even layer.
-Place pork from pan on top of mixture.
-Pour drippings/juice from pan on top of pork.
-Heat in oven at 350 for about 40 minutes.

Cooked pork should be 155/160 degrees when fully cooked. Serve with mashed potatoes and enjoy!!! This picture is sort of what it will look like...

picture from tasteofhome.com


You will have to let me know if you try it and like it! It is a recipe my mom uses and now I use. You can also substitute all the apple things for pineapple if you so wish...