Breast Reduction (Pro Bono?)

[Lulu1979]

I'm not sure if this is in the right forum, but here goes. I am a 29 yr old female who is now disabled after spending a tour of duty as a soldier in Iraqi 03-04. I became ill shortly after my arrival in country and began expriencing pain in my left hip. Th pain progressed to what was thought to be "Sciatica". By the time the deploymnt was over, the pain had spread throughout my entire body, affecting me to the point of not being able to walk or get out of bed. After my medical separation from the army, I began seeing the Veterans Affairs doctors who finally sent me to a Rheumatologist. When my blood work came back, my levels were abnormally sky high for Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is believed that I contracted a virus over in Iraq which lead to my RA. I have also been diagnosed with having Fibromyalgia. To get to the point, my life for the past 6 years has been about my constant treatment and therapy for the pain. I have gained 100lbs since my separation from the army and currently weigh 258lbs. My breast size has gone from a perky little 36C to a 42DDD. I don't ever remember wearing a DD. I have continuously attempted to lose weight to no avail and now I recently found out that the natural curvature in my neck is gone. My neck is literally straight as a board. I will be going in for an MRI in a couple of months to find out if there is some nerve damage or arthritis in my neck. I exprience so much pain everyday in my neck and shoulders that much of the time it is difficult to get a deep breath. I am writing in this forum in the hopes that there would be a plastic surgeon out there that would be willing to do a breast reduction for very little or no cost at all. I do not work and do not have insurance other than the medical care I recieve from the VA. So any expenses would come out of my already limited budget.  I am desperate to have this procedure done so that I can feel some relief from the strain that the weight of my breasts give.

[Archibald S Miller III, MD,FACS]

There are several organizations now that ensure that veterans receive medical care. The biggest expense for a breast reduction is not the surgeon. Since you are likely on several medications, your surgery will require sevral days hospital stay, and no oral steroids or immunosuppressant type drugs which with RA, many patients are taking. The VA sytem does have plastic surgeons in action. They will operate and perform reductions. But, as an Iraqui vet on medical retirement, you also should be covered by medical insurance to civilian doctors. I am in Tulsa, and do work with military veterans. But, I am not the exception. You will need to contact your local VA office and talk to them about any local docs that are working with the medical system to get all treated. You will be surprised, pleasantly, I hope.

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