i saw dr. bates yesterday and he finally took my tape off (oh sweet sweet relief). scars look pretty amazing considering how recent my surgery was. he says i'm still fairly swollen and bruised in the upper poles and very tender under the pits. that is expected to last another six weeks or so. i'm settling into these foobs physically and emotionally. i can't believe what a transition this has been from the expanders. ANYWAY, i went to nordstroms after my appointment in search of a regular bra without an underwire (in other words, not a fricking sports bra that gives me uniboob and makes me feel completely unfeminine. i explained my situation to the group of women standing around (one said 'oh my god. those are the nicest looking reconstructed breasts i've seen in the 15 years i've worked here.' :D ). someone went and got a woman who specializes in reconstruction and insurance billing. wait, what!? yeah, bras are totally considered prosthetic devices after bmx/reconstruction. holler. i called my insurance right then and there and a series of miracles occurred. first, i only waited on hold for 15 minutes. i know, right? next, i got a guy who wasn't an asshole to me when i asked him to confirm that bras are 100% covered after a prophylactic mastectomy. 'you know what? i haven't gotten that question. let me put you on hold and check.' and he checked and came back and said 'you were right! it's covered. you just have to go to an in network provider. would you like me to look them up?' i said yes. he explained that the list was huge and offered to CALL EVERYONE ON THE LIST TO FIND SOMEONE IN MY AREA WHO COULD BEST SERVE MY NEEDS. a half an hour later he called me back (from los angeles) and said 'i spoke with tammy at the next step boutique in los gatos. you will be fully covered. she was very nice and will bill us for you. do you need directions?' OH. MY. GOD. ohmygod. seriously. so today i went to the next step. and i walked in and said 'is tammy here.' and she said 'you're celeste!' and i seriously left with four bras (plus one from yesterday at nordstrom) and prosthetic nipples (i fucking love these things!). uh-mazing. so yeah, they aren't the most amazingly sexy bras in the world but they are SO comfortable and they were free (and all expensive ones made by natori, wacoal, and amoena!) (oh, and i totally got rid of my fugly walmart bras, remember them?)
