As far as I know, most insurance will cover it if it’s not cosmetic. You have to document back pain, etc., but I don’t think it’s that difficult to do so. I picked 40 because that’s just going to be a good time in my life to get it done (and it’s actually not very far away!).
My insurance will cover it, I already had a meeting with the surgeon who took pictures and submitted them to the insurance company. The problem is with taking 3 weeks off work to recuperate. I cannot do it now, in fact I can’t imagine doing it in the next year. Sigh.
Just wanted to pop in to express my sympathy. A friend finally showed me her underboob area, after mentioning it a few times. Poor thing, no wonder she was feeling run down. It was my reaction which caused her to get really serious tackling it. Paper towels and antifungal cream were the main ingredients.
Al Bundy’s comment made me laugh - he might as well pop into every thread … if you’re overweight and lose weight it’s better for your health … sigh.
Thanks for the deodorant advice. I haven’t ever had the issue to a large extent - sweaty bra bands, but no fungal growth - but last week I was in New Orleans. I was MUCH more comfortable with the extra swipe under the girls.
I was thinking deodorant too (once you’re healed).
Some ideas from my experience researching nipple yeast in breastfeeding women:
Be careful with cornstarch, since it’s possible the yeast could feed on it.
Avoid antibacterial soap, since it can kill organisms that normally compete with fungus and keep it in check.
Stuff that kills fungus, (aside from prescriptions): dry conditions, acid, sunlight, grapefruit seed extract, bleach, gentian violet.
Obviously you won’t use bleach on your skin (and GSE may give you pause, and gentian violet is messy as hell). But you do need to make sure you’re killing everything on your bras. Wash them in a weak bleach solution, or with plenty of vinegar, or with GSE solution, and/or hang them in the sun to dry.
Also, try not to re-use bath towels. Use it, then wash it as outlined above.
To keep infections at bay, you could try using a vinegar rinse (1:4 with water) when you wash the underboobular region.
(BTW, if you might be interested in breastfeeding in the future, talk to your surgeon about it. They know a lot more now about the importance of not cutting the milk ducts and the relevant nerves, and many surgeons will do their best to preserve your lactation ability.)
I am (and many of my friends are) into long-distance motorcycle touring. That means having your ass parked in the saddle for 8, 10, even 12 hours a day, sometimes in uncomfortably hot weather. I don’t have any issues, but some of my friends who are more prone to butt-rash swear by that powder:
Visit a local motorcycle shop, you might find some on the shelf. If not, plenty of places on the web to get it.
He could have started it better but outliers are fairly rare. Slim to normally proportioned women with breasts so large they are a health issues certainly exist, but they are a minute fraction of the total population of women with breasts so large they are health issues. The vast majority of women in this cohort are significantly overweight.
I have the exact same trouble, made worse by hot flashes. the sweating under my bra band is awful and bras/clothese are sopping… gross! I have cut cotton washcloths into 2 inch strips and tuck them under the band. I have just seen a “bra liner” product on Amazon.com, looks like just the thing and would hold up better than my cut-up washcloths. Powder helps alot, too.
Welcome to the SDMB, hotflashqueen. Please note that this is an older thread, and the original poster may not be around to answer it.
I haven’t read all of the responses… but how about a thin nylon shirt worn under your bra?
As noted this is an older thread, but the information is still good so I’m leaving it in case others want to commiserate, offer suggestions that have worked for them, etc.
Old thread, but shortly after this thread was active, I found myself on a business trip in New Orleans. The deodorant tip saved my butt and made the whole thing much more pleasant, and I would have never thought of it. Thanks.
I occasionally use a swipe of antiperspirant under the girls on a hot day (and between). Ain’t no bra in the world that can keep them apart - they’re very full - so I sweat on hot days where they touch.
I also will put a little swipe of antiperspirant on my upper inner thighs if I’m wearing a skirt on a hot day. Keeps chafing to a minimum. I don’t need to in the winter because I will wear tights, but I’m bare in the summer, so sweat happens.
Since this thread, I’ve discovered “Goddess Grease,” an affectionate nickname for anti-chafing gel made by Monistat. It’s very much like the stuff that marathoners and triathletes use, but cheaper. I haven’t tried it yet, but bought some for next week, my first camping trip of the summer. I will report back. 
This issue is timeless, so thanks for leaving it open Ellen Cherry. I just added monkey butt to my wishlist (talk about sentences you’ve never thought of, much less said, before!). Going to buy some on my next payday. What a great thread!
Useful!
Diflukin is the phonetic name of the antifungil tablet… Greatstuff…
Never use cornstarch,it feeds the yeast…Gold Bond powder burns,but keep the area packed full. I had a double mastectomy and still get horrible rashes there…
Thanks for the topic,sorry to just burst in on the site…**