I Have Unusually Large Breasts, Macromastia

I have gigantomastia. Some people say that I'm lucky to have giant breasts, or they call me a slut because it's impossible for me to hide my figure. In reality, it's a very difficult, debilitating condition, and I'm working to get my insurance to cover breast reduction surgery. I'm not able to walk except in short bursts, and I'm not able to work because of the size of my breasts.

My bra size is 32SS. Each breast weighs 30 pounds, and they make up 1/3rd of my body weight. I've been on disability for almost a year because I can't work, and on some days I can barely get out of bed. My breasts are discolored and covered in sores because they've gotten too big too quickly. My insurance company is insane and denies my requests to have breast reduction surgery covered, saying that I need to try natural methods of shrinking them before I can have the surgery. Nothing I've ever done has made them stop growing, and when I try to lose weight I seem to lose it from everywhere else in my body first. It can really be a devastating condition, and it's hard for everyone who deals with it.

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doodlebug2013 · 41-45, F

I've had this for about four years ever since I was pregnant with my son and I haven't been affected by it anywhere nearly as badly as you have, thank goodness. I can still get most of my bras "off the rack" for now, and I can care for myself and my family and work too. But it took so much work, and it still takes so much hard work, every day, to get myself and keep myself strong enough and healthy enough to function normally. People don't get how hard it is and how debilitating it can get. Insurance companies are the worst! Most of the growth I had happened when I was pregnant without as much since but it still happens a bit. By the end of my pregnancy I needed help getting up and around sometimes too and it took me most of a year after that to get strong enough and really claw my way back to living close to normal again. I always worry another growth spurt could happen and wipe out all the gains I've made in no time at all. I hope for the best and value every moment I get in the meantime.

Annie1899 · 36-40, F

I pray there will no more growing. You sound like a very strong person!

doodlebug2013 · 41-45, F

Thank you so very much. I hope so, too!

TYEBOE · 70-79, M

I agree most people don't know how hard it is having large breasts. Men think they're all fun and games. Must have been tough to almost all of a sudden have larger breasts and to have to adjust. Not only to their size but the new attention and remarks about them. Good luck to you.

doodlebug2013 · 41-45, F

@TYEBOE: Right! One of my pet peeves since I got big is how much more attention I have to pay to how I look to other people than before. Except for cold weather if I have to run some quick errands, I can't just throw on a spaghetti strap or tank top like I used to and like I still wear around the house because it's way more comfortable now for me to air out. I have to make sure everything's in place and layered just so and the colors and patterns of everything all work together so they're not so obvious. When I just need to get some darn groceries or go to the post office it's almost as big a production as getting ready for work or a night out.

Annie1899 · 36-40, F

@doodlebug2013: A winter coat can cover up a lot, but I can see how much thought you need to put into going out at other times. What are some tricks you've learned about dressing?

doodlebug2013 · 41-45, F

@Annie1899: Coats and big sweatshirts are great! For warmer weather, anything with ruffles, light scarves, open blazers and jackets, open shirts, tops that are longer in the back than the front, top pieces with irregular prints or vertical lines, mixing and matching all of those help a lot. This year I found LuLaRoe makes a lot of top pieces that work really well for me.
One weird thing I did a couple of times this fall for quick errands before the weather got cold was take an older bra of mine with straps I've lengthened and wear it down really low together with a bandeau to shape everything under one of my old maternity tops. It makes me look more pregnant than busty. Hardly a confidence booster, and I can't wear that for long because I feel it in my back after a while, but if I just need to do something quick without the hassle of putting together a whole outfit it seemed to work. I'll probably do that sometimes again in the spring even though I don't really like to.

Annie1899 · 36-40, F

@doodlebug2013: Were you always this clever? lol