Surgery with Levick COMPLETE (29-08-12) <pre and post op pics posted>

[Damn7547]

I was actually quite badly swollen I'm trying to upload pics once I figure out how to compress the size on my mac but that's brill to hear u made your smoothie my wife at one point wasn't letting me lift my cup of tea!!

[darkstar]

An easy way to compress pics on mac; once they are uploaded to iPhoto. Email them individually straight from iPhoto and it gives an option to re-size them. Go for the smallest option.

At least you know it's swelling, after reading all the threads on this site, you can relax in the knowledge that it will go down eventually.

I'd make the most of your wife helping out, take full advantage when it lasts!

[darkstar]

Well it's 5 days post-op now and although there's not much new to post, I find updates are quite therapeutic...

I've stopped taking any pain meds now, so I'm only taking Tenjorex, which is an antibiotic. I was told to take these for the full course, three pills per day. I've got enough to take me up till Thursday morning, which is the same time I'll be taking my bandages off. Man am I looking forward to that day. Not only will i get to see my new chest for the first time, I'll also be able to shower and generally live more of a normal existence. Not showering has been a pain, I've gone from two showers per day to the life of a slob. I've been washing my hair every two days and sitting in a bath, being careful not to get my upper body wet, so can't go near my armpits. But I've had no adverse comments regarding smell, so all good! I'm going to take the plaster off, which are covering the incision points today. They're stuck dicectly on my armpit hair, and last time they were ripped off it hurt, so that should be interesting!

The suns out today and I can't sit in it, because the skin under the bandages get really itchy. So I'm sitting inside, eating, drinking and watching the Paralympics, which is OK but not what I'd choose to be doing. Role on Thursday...

Oh by the way, I saw a few mates last night and had to put on some pain to pas off as having broken ribs. This is no way near the pain I experienced when I broke my ribs a few years ago, not even close. I found that quite funny...

[darkstar]

I think it would add some perspective if I include the work i put in prior to surgery to ensure I was going in to it in half decent shape. After three years at University, having given up sport for drinking beer and lazing around, I found myself in terrible shape last summer. My diet, especially during the last 6 months when I was stressed with exams and dissertations work, was crap. Ready meals providing all my nutrition, red bull keeping me awake and crisps open 24 hours a day. I got home and found myself unemployed for two months, so i started P90X, played some Rugby after a long time off, and found climbing which grew to be a passion. This picture shows the impact of changing the diet up and become more active. I was no way near where I wan't to be at the end of my journey going into surgery, and I know I'll lose a lot of my progress, but I'll be in far better shape than I would have been without the effort.

Oh and the chest may not look to bad in that picture, but it's not long after chest workout, so tighter. it was when it relaxed it became an iss, as in the before surgery pics.

[Ricardo7]

Thanks so much for the updates darkstar, for those of us who plan on booking with Levick (I am myself in 2 months time) it is a great help.

I'm getting the train back to Glasgow the day after surgery, going from your personal experience I assume I'd be ok to do that? Sitting on a train cant be much worse than a car.

Also, what clothing would you recommend for the following day? I ideally want something that will cover the dressings so nobody can see them but I'm unsure whether I'll be able to lift my arms to put a jumper on, or if I'll need a shirt that I can button up without raising my arms.

Good luck for Thursday looking forward to seeing your results

[Dom]

Hey darkstar,

Prior to surgery your physique looked great, look forward to seeing the proper results.

And I know how you feel its 23 degrees in London, ideal weather to be outside, and i'm stuck on the sofa with some pineapple.

[darkstar]

Thanks so much for the updates darkstar, for those of us who plan on booking with Levick (I am myself in 2 months time) it is a great help.

I'm getting the train back to Glasgow the day after surgery, going from your personal experience I assume I'd be ok to do that? Sitting on a train cant be much worse than a car.

Also, what clothing would you recommend for the following day? I ideally want something that will cover the dressings so nobody can see them but I'm unsure whether I'll be able to lift my arms to put a jumper on, or if I'll need a shirt that I can button up without raising my arms.

Good luck for Thursday looking forward to seeing your results

No problem Dazzo, the threads on this site were a huge help to me, hop I can contribute.

I'd have though you'd be OK getting the train, but personally I wouldn't have wanted a 4 hour journey home the day after. I had a 40 minute car journey and was very comfortable, but I had one thing in my mind the whole of that morning. That was getting home and into my own bed. So you could go in a Hotel for a night, but I understand you wanting to get home. As long as you have a taxi booked and aren't waiting at the train station for too long, you will be fine.

In terms of clothes, I took a thin zip up hoody, which I managed to get on myself the day after surgery. I wouldn't have felt able to put on a t-shirt, so I'd suggest either a zip up hoody or a shirt. You can't really notice the bandages under the clothing. If you are too warm it can be very itchy, if you are too cold the shivers can hurt a little (think the GA still has an effect on shivering more then normal) so it would be good to have both options, especially as you're going up to the polar climate of Scotland

[darkstar]

Hey darkstar,

Prior to surgery your physique looked great, look forward to seeing the proper results.

And I know how you feel its 23 degrees in London, ideal weather to be outside, and i'm stuck on the sofa with some pineapple.

Thanks man, appreciate the feedback.

I just went out for a 2 mile walk in the sun which has made me feel better, but the itching is becoming very annoying!

[darkstar]

I've just taken off the plaster that were covering the two incisions. VERY sticky plaster, stuck all over my armpit hair. But with the aid of scissors it was painless. First impression? Well I couldn't see them at first. They really are a very clean job, and are just a thin red line, right up in each armpit. I thought they would be a lot lower than they are. With arms on either side, they will not be seen as they are. Stoked. 

The first picture shows the left incision. This is the side with all the visable bruising and swelling above the bandages, it looks painful, but it's not (unless i raise my hands up too far).

The second is the right incision, if you can see it through the hair

[darkstar]

Left incision.

[darkstar]

And the right...

[darkstar]

6 days post-op and feeling good. I had a moment of madness earlier and thought about picking up some weights to do a few curls, as I don't think the chest will feel it much, but fortunately decided not to. I'll have plenty of time to get in shape, even if I'm already feeling the effects of not exercising. I've also ate a few more cakes than I should, but getting plenty of fruit and veg in so not too much of an issue.

I'm still debating if I should take the bandages off on Wednesday night, or keep them on till Thursday morning. Paul said it would be better to leave it till Thursday, but that would be over a week post-op. I'll see how I feel tomorrow night, in the context of the recovery process, I should be able to get through one more night. Sleeping has actually been very easy. I've not woken up on my side at all and have been getting a solif 8 hours each night, apart from the one in the hospital, which was tough.

I've still not attempted to drive. I'm leaving that till the bandages are off and the vest is on. I think that will make everything a whole lot easier.

The bruising on the LHS is a dark yellow now, so no sign of that going at the moment. It's also still quite swollen.

[rasputin]

I played a game of squash 2 weeks post op. Every backhand felt like a tear in my chest... do not do it! Well done for putting it off The only exercise I'm doing is running until 6 weeks.

[darkstar]

I played a game of squash 2 weeks post op. Every backhand felt like a tear in my chest... do not do it! Well done for putting it off The only exercise I'm doing is running until 6 weeks.

My backhand is bad enough without surgery, let alone a few weeks after! I'll be giving it a miss for a while. I've been walking everyday, but I miss the feeling you get after a heavy workout. But I keep telling myself it's only a couple of months then I can go harder than ever. There's no point rushing it and increasing the amount of scar tissue.

[Ricardo7]

So darkstar, when are the dressings coming off, today or tomorrow?

I'm going to miss my workouts too when I have my surgery done. Will need to try and resist the temptation until I'm ready I guess.

Another random question re surgery - I've never had any other surgery done before so I'll be absolutely sh*tting it when it comes to anaesthetic etc, do they offer anything to calm you beforehand?