How do you handle the wait?

[veniamviam]

It's been a few weeks since I sent my information and insurance stuff in to Medalie's office, and I know this is The Waiting Game, essentially. Estimations on my part suggest that surgery for me will be in early February or so--that's months away. When I'm distracted, I do fine, but then I remember surgery is gonna be a thing and I get all impatient and excited again. I know I'll only get more impatient/excited/anxious the closer I get to being able to choose my date, and even more the closer I get to surgery itself. So my question is, what did you guys do to deal with that? Any tips from guys who've been there (or are waiting right alongside me)?

[FTMax]

I had a pretty short wait after my consult. After I set the date, I made a list of all the things that I needed to get done in the mean time (both for surgery and just personally). It was actually a bunch of stuff, so that kept me pretty busy. I tried to spread out the surgery related stuff so it felt like I was making little progress steps as the date got closer.

[palexander]

It's been a few weeks since I sent my information and insurance stuff in to Medalie's office, and I know this is The Waiting Game, essentially. Estimations on my part suggest that surgery for me will be in early February or so--that's months away. When I'm distracted, I do fine, but then I remember surgery is gonna be a thing and I get all impatient and excited again. I know I'll only get more impatient/excited/anxious the closer I get to being able to choose my date, and even more the closer I get to surgery itself. So my question is, what did you guys do to deal with that? Any tips from guys who've been there (or are waiting right alongside me)?

i also went with medalie!! i'm four weeks post op today and the wait was well worth it.

so i initially called in april to give my information to valerie and after one month, she called back to inform me that i'd need to pay $65 for dr. medalie to review photos of my chest; to determine what surgery i would have. that took a little while (can't remember how long exactly, sorry) and then she called emailed me with further information and i had to put down $250 (i think?) toward the surgery. medalie stays pretty busy, so i had to wait three months for his schedule to open up, just so i could book a date. i received an email in early july to let me know that his schedule had opened up and i could finally set it in stone. i was expecting to have surgery in october, or november, but she gave me dates for august and september. i started topical t on 10/27/14, injections on 1/27/15, and my birthday is on 8/27, so i immediately went with that.

while waiting i was a mess (anxiety wise) but i don't regret choosing him. his entire team (both at metrohealth and at wright surgery center) are fantastic. before going under i was told that i didn't need to worry and they would treat me like their own—they were right. 10/10

[veniamviam]

Thanks for that awesome review, palexander ^_^ I paid the consulation fee a day or two after sending in my insurance information, so I'm hoping that'll go down while I'm waiting for insurance stuff to come back. A friend of mine's also going to Medalie, using the same student insurance and everything, and according to him it was less than the 6-8 weeks they list for insurance to get back. I know at the latest I should have surgery in February, but I'm really hoping I can get it sooner, maybe even early January if I'm lucky. Doubting that, though, as winter break is probably one of their busy times. I'm glad to hear you had such a good experience with them, too, that'll definitely lessen some of that anxiety. Congrats on four weeks, by the way!

[palexander]

Thanks for that awesome review, palexander ^_^ I paid the consulation fee a day or two after sending in my insurance information, so I'm hoping that'll go down while I'm waiting for insurance stuff to come back. A friend of mine's also going to Medalie, using the same student insurance and everything, and according to him it was less than the 6-8 weeks they list for insurance to get back. I know at the latest I should have surgery in February, but I'm really hoping I can get it sooner, maybe even early January if I'm lucky. Doubting that, though, as winter break is probably one of their busy times. I'm glad to hear you had such a good experience with them, too, that'll definitely lessen some of that anxiety. Congrats on four weeks, by the way!

it's no problem! don't be surprised if she tells you a date that's earlier than you expected, but also don't be disappointed. i was beyond scared before going in, but everything goes really smoothly. thank you!!

if you want to ask anything, feel free to pm me.

[Konnor]

I had my surgery with Medalie as well. I'm local, so I was able to do the consult in person. The consult was about a month after I initially contacted his office, and then they called me to schedule about a month after that. I took the soonest date available, which was about 3.5 months out. (Scheduled in late November, had surgery mid-March). I had no problems whatsoever with him or his office. His nurse practitioner Andrea was great with aftercare emails and appointments. I am very happy with my results and my choice to use Dr Medalie. Best of luck with your surgery! :-)

[Aazhie]

AUGH, I feel your pain so much.  I booked in about March-Mayish, with my first call to Brownstein/Crane's office around March and actually booking in May.  I had to move it back from August- just thinking about how I would be a few weeks post op is actually kind of scary (had I had the money then) XD  But I am now wigging out- sx Nov 10- week after my birthday...

I want it and DON'T so much at the same time XD  I am a huge baby wuss about minor surgery and such.  I am very excited but it's such a huge change.  I'm having my ovaries snipped out too so hormonally I am going to be feeling all kinds of wierd and on drugs.  Honestly, I have been meditating, making money and planning on what movies and shows I want to try to watch while I recover XD  I am soaking up hours at work as well as improving my landlord's property in exchange for rental discounts.  I am drawing on commission as well as trying to get together a few basic holiday things. I want to learn a song on banjo for a friend's birthday in march, so that's a good distraction.

I'm also... kind of being wierd and talking to myself/my body. Since I scar easily, I am trying out thinking about the process in the hopes that I will be less traumatized, at least mentally.  I imagine what the scabbing and stitches will be like, how I will feel the difference and expect there to be boob afterwards and be surprised when there is none.  I guess in a way I sort of am having to remind myself I am not hacking them off, just treating them the way my female friend who got a reduction. She needed them different to be healthy.  I need them different to be healthy.  I am trying to make myself build up a readyness for the awful post op ache, depression and aftereffects of drugs and trauma.  I mean, it's kind of like getting in a car accident.  One moment you are good, the next, your body is panicking that PART OF US IS GONE!?? It feels really dumb but I feel it is important to chat to myself about it and remind "us" that it's gonna suck for a brief blip but we will survive and heal and get to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas at home mooching off my poor parents XD

[David]

I had my first consult back in October, and I am still waiting on surgery: the official date is January 14th.

For most of it, I was too busy to really think about it (college, work), so that helped. However, since a few weeks, I've been off work (they gave me time off in advance, I won't resume until I heal from surgery) and college is over for a few weeks. I have been really bored, nervous and impatient about my surgery. Days feel like they stretch forever, I have a hard time sleeping at night because of how nervous I get (what if the end result isn't good? what if I regret my decision? etc.). Thankfully, I only have four more days of this..

[RaptorChops]

I think my wait was about 3 months  for a consult and then it was another 4-5 months until my surgery. I basically worked, played video games, worked out hung out with my friend. Typical stuff kept me busy honestly. I tried my best not to think about it too much. Trust me it will come very fast.

[Kylo]

Heh, since I have something of a phobia of The Knife I'm not worried about the wait. I want it, but I don't want that hospital experience, pain or recovery time.

[palexander]

Heh, since I have something of a phobia of The Knife I'm not worried about the wait. I want it, but I don't want that hospital experience, pain or recovery time.

if you're dysphoric about your chest, go for it. if not... why put yourself through the pain? with a dd chest, i found it to be necessary for me because i could not breathe while binding. i'm 1000000x happier now and i feel free i hope you come to terms with what is best for you

[veniamviam]

Heh, since I have something of a phobia of The Knife I'm not worried about the wait. I want it, but I don't want that hospital experience, pain or recovery time.

I don't think most people really desire the pain or recovery time : P  but that's a temporary, whereas once it's done its done and over with. The experience will be temporary but the results will last, y'know? You gotta do what's right for you, though.

The wait to schedule is agonizing me right now (waiting on his March schedule to open, gently weeping every time I check my email and don't see the one I want), for anyone who's wondering. Hopefully I can still get a spot in the first week of March (before my break starts, so that I can spend the break recovering instead of having to skip classes) .__.'