Merle's 2nd Surgery

[merle]

I am scheduled to have my second surgery on August 31st. I will be off the boards for a short while. The moderators are doing a great job and I have no concerns.

I will keep them updated as to my condition. Like so many things I do around gynecomastia, this is getting a bit of publicity. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is supposed to be an article in the ANG Newspapers on Sept 11. If I find the date has changed I will let you know. They don't always let me know is the problem.

I will post before and after photos as I can. The surgery is being done by Miguel Delgado in Novato, CA. Wish me luck.

Merle

[Mr_Nip]

Merle,
I want to take this time to thank you for providing this forum.  You have more guts and determination than most men, and you've definitely earned my respect for that.  

That being said, I wish you well in your surgery.  My thoughts and prayers will be with you on the 31st.  Rock on!

[merle]

Thanks for your thoughts and support. I am home now. I have been staying with friends the last couple of days. It is not good to spend the first couple of days alone.

I was off the pain meds 6 hours after the surgery. There is some discomfort, but mostly when I get up and down. I am in tight bondage and will be till Tuesday when the drains and stiches come out. Then on to the compression vests for six week.

I have no idea how it turned out and won't for several weeks. I am looking forward to my peek on Tuesday.

Thanks again for the support. As always it is an interesting journey. For those that are interested. The surgery was filmed by a show in Austrailia called "what's good for you". Hopefully they will let me know when it airs. It is also part of a feature article that will appear in ANG Newspapers on September the 11th as I currently understand. I had this trail of film and reporters following me through this. It was a bit odd, the price of trying to get out the word. I hope it all turns out well.

Merle

[jc71]

Merle: I just sent you a PM. I didn't realize you had this thread. Keep us updated on your progress. I'm sure everyone would love to see the before and after pics.

[headheldhigh01]

what they said    

i was wondering why you said it was better not being alone at first.  did you mean the moral support, or helping you get around, or what?  

look forward to your updates.  

[merle]

Bleeding is the main concern, and it is hard after the surgery getting your berings. I am back home, but it was good to have others there to assist with the initial round of the drains and getting me stuff as I adjusted to the new outfit.

I am glad to be in my bed, I am bored to tears and there is not much on TV. It will pass soon. I do have the computer to play with. It hurts to set up to long,

Merle

[headheldhigh01]

geez all the movies and books i would catch up on.  happy healing  

[cybertit]

Hey like to take this opportunity to thank you for the forum....the information and support that myself and others get out of this site is priceless!...If anybody deserves great results is you..wish you the best of luck...hope you recover soon to a moobless new you...thanks again

[merle]

Thanks for the kind words and support. I got my drains and some of the stitches out yesterday. I get to take a shower in a couple of hours. I can't wait. The hardest part has been sleeping on my back. Not my normal position.

Pretty sore, but no major pain. I went back to work yesterday. I have a pretty normal schedule the next couple of days and get the rest of the stitches out on Friday.

Not too much brusing. I got to see my chest for the first time, it looks very different. Still in very tight and a lot of bondage. Will be for a while. It will be 4-6 weeks before I have a real idea of what I am going to look like. It will be six months before all the swelling is gone.

Mostly I am looking forward to the end of the vests and getting back into the gym. I will have to be careful to not get used to all this extra time.

Thanks,

Merle

[Grandpa Bambu]

The hardest part has been sleeping on my back. Not my normal position.

I hear ya broh! I'm a 'side' sleeper. Sleeping on my back was brutal....  

Glad to hear your sugery went well. All the best for a speedy recovery dude.

John.

[needhelpnow]

just curious as to why you needed a second surgery merle? Was your case mild or severe?

[merle]

It was medium. The first surgeon only took about half of it. It was 13 years ago and before I knew anything really about it. It left me with a very odd shape and still no way to see the benefits of weight lifting or wear certain kinds of shirts.

I certainly look different. I am pretty sore, and the electriclty is coming back on in my chest and I keep getting zapped. When I took my first shower this morning I have very little feeling in any of the effected areas. Moving slowly and not letting clients hug me. I just have to be patient for a while.

My mood really dropped after the first real look this morning. Talked with a friend that recently had been through it and it really lifted my mood. I am about as unattractive as you can get right now.

While I was on the table, I had Delgado do my love handels and stomach. 8 hours of lipo, I have been worked over.

Merle

[jc71]

My mood really dropped after the first real look this morning.

Why did your mood drop?

[merle]

It has happened after both of my surgeries. The oh my god what have I don't to myself is part of it. Some of it is that you have voluneetarily had yourself hit by a train. It is a pretty nomal and human response to trauma to the body.

When I looked at myself in the mirror, without rapping and bandages, and just saw the devastation to my body, it was overwhelming and I knew what to expect.

So many guys do not have an emotional vocabulary or any real awareness of what happens emotionally in there body and it comes out in many other ways, often undefined anger.

I do have the advantage of being a body oriented therapist so I am pretty aware of my emotional process and the connections.

Merle

[Grandpa Bambu]

So many guys do not have an emotional vocabulary or any real awareness of what happens emotionally in there body and it comes out in many other ways, often undefined anger.

It's an emotional roller-coaster ride for sure!   :-/

John.