More of a word vomit style writing, I'm not the best writer so sorry in advance. If you have any questions about anything then let me know 👍👍👍

Pre-op - Honestly stressed me out and made me nervous. When I signed in they gave me forms to fill out that I had already filled out online 2 months ago. I filled them out anyway bc idk. Turned them in, was called back not too long after. Nurse was nice but then she asks me if this is my first consult and well technically yes? This is the first time im coming here in person, so I say yes..? Then she asks me a bunch of the same questions I had just filled out. She asks if im taking any vitamins and I say "Vitamin c bc you guys told me to before surgery." She looks surprised and asks "Oh so you already have your surgery scheduled?" I laugh awkwardly and say "Yeah its tomorrow.." Shes surprised and goes 'Oh what?? Oh no sorry dont freak out, youre on the schedule, I guess I just didnt read things closely enough, hold on I'll go get your other information!" She tells me to change into one of those paper robes. I do so and wait, and then a different nurse comes in. She hands me consent forms to fill out and asks me some more questions ive already answered. She leaves and I start reading the forms to sign them and another new nurse comes in. Shes super nice and apologizes for the confusion, tells me to take my time with the forms and she'll get me a real robe. She comes back with one (its super soft btw), leaves for me to change and when im finished with my forms. Then she comes back and also asks some questions ive already answered and goes over all the surgery details super in depth. She takes me to this dark room to take pictures of my chest in different angles, that was fun haha. Everything with her went great, but im ngl the mix up in the beginning did make me anxious. She gave me disinfectant soap to use the night before and morning of, and drew my blood. Then she came back in with Dr. Dulin, he was nice. Asked me if I had any questions (not really, I just asked if they would be straight incisions and he said yes) and then measured my boobs, touched them to show me what parts theyre cutting, and then said bye see you tomorrow! (By the way when I said touch I mean he really grabs and squeezes to show which parts he'll be removing and pulling down to sew together, so if that makes you uncomfortable just be aware.) Before the nice nurse leaves, said to change back into my clothes and I'm all set to go, but after I changed I remembered I was supposed to pay today too. There was nobody to guide me to the front so I just tried to remember where I came from and hoped I could pay up there. There was a desk to pay at so I waited awkwardly there until a lady asked me if I had to pay and I said yeah. She looked annoyed and started talking to the other people about needing my file so I guess the nurse lady forgot I needed to pay. She eventually got it but wasnt really talking to me so I awkwardly paid and left. Not the most inspiring visit, but I'm just reminding myself its about the surgeons skill, not the paperwork organization 😭. They also werent able to tell me what time my surgery was going to be and told me they would call me later. I eventually got a phone call where they just asked me the same questions id already answered again, and then told me they still didnt have a time. Later I finally got a phone call from the anesthesiologist who again, asked me the same questions, and told me when my surgery was! She was super nice tho. I wanted to feel comforted and hyped in the office, but honestly I felt more awkward than anything. No fault of the nice nurse at all, she was fantastic. 

Surgery day - Went in with my family and checked in. Guy at the front desk was super nice and I just had to fill out a few more consent forms and give a urine sample (SO DONT PEE THE MORNING OF UNLESS YOU DONT HAVE A UTERUS). He told my mom all the info of how things will go down after, and to bring the meds they prescribed afterwards too. Waited just a few minutes and they called me back!! Nurse was super nice and she weighed me and took me to this little nook/room with a curtain. Told me to change into a gown, compression socks, socks on top of those, and a hair net (you leave your underwear on). You keep your phone and lay on this hospital bed and wait. She came back in and asked a few questions, gave me some pills to ig relax me (even tho I didnt end up feeling anything but ig i have a stronger tolerance to stuff), made sure I was comfortable, and put in the iv to give me fluids. I let her know the idea of the hand iv freaked me out and she said it would be ok to do it in the crook of my elbow! She even covered it with gauze afterwards so I wouldnt have to look at it :). Ok now genuinely the worst part is I just had to lie there waiting for 4 HOURS. At one point the anesthesiologist came in and asked me questions, but that was probably halfway through. Most bored I've ever been, I'm so glad I could text people and read fanfiction bc holy shit man. FINALLY after waiting 7:30-11, the anesthesiologist came in and said it was time to wheel me back. I sent my final texts and they took my phone to put with my clothes. I've seen other people say they give you the drugs to knock you out on the way to the operating room so you barely remember it, but for me they didn't do that. I was wheeled to the OR and me, the anesthesiologist, and nurse all chatted and laughed. It was cold in there and they had me scoot over to the operation table, get in place, and lay my arms out to strap em down. After that they sedated me and I don't remember anything until I heard a nurse say "oh you're here for (my name)? Right over here." And my mom and best friend walked in to see me. I was super tired and trying not to fall asleep, but I do remember everything!!  I felt ok enough to make jokes and stuff, It was only when I had to stand up to pee that I felt nauseous. The nurse helped me in the bathroom and I almost threw up in there three times but ig because I had nothing in my system that it didnt happen. They got me dressed back in my clothes and sat me down in a wheelchair to take me to my car. Drive back was fine, not really any pain. As soon as I got home I ate some crackers and fell asleep. Had to wake up every few hours to be given meds and go to the bathroom (standing up made me nauseas every time, but they give you alcohol pads so just smell those) but falling back asleep was super easy, even being propped up. I really thought I would be in more pain than I was, but I was mostly just sleepy. 

Post-op - Quick and simple appointment. Felt about the same in the morning, not painful really, and my nausea was gone! Checked in at the front and this time my family went back with me. Super nice nurse from the pre-op took off the ace bandage (felt GREAT) and the compression top, so I got too see what I looked like in the mirror! Still cant really see much bc the steri strips and nipple bandages, but holy shit I was flat 🤯🤯🤯. My mom asked questions about the medication and when to give it, and they said I could probably be fine switching from the hydrocodone to tylenol tomorrow! Sick!! Dr. Dulin came in and said everything looked good 👍. Asked if I had any more questions and I said no not really. Then after he left I remembered I DID have a question so I asked the nurse exactly how long to wear the binder for again (4 weeks 24/7, 2 more weeks 1/2 day) I also confirmed what my range of motion would be for my first week bc im scared of fucking up haha. And that was it! She put the binder back on and we left! 

Overall a good experience even tho it had its moments (pre-op mixup and 4 hour wait 😭) Would still recommend tho 💥🔥❗️👍

(BTW I didn't get the chance to take a picture with my shirt or compression top off yet because we're driving back home rn, but in a future update surely)

I also want to thank everyone who commented such nice things on my last post about being anxious about anesthesia 🙏🙏 truly thank you so much, it make me so much less stressed about the whole thing.

Top Surgery w/ Dr. Dulin (Plano, TX) FULL EXPERIENCE