Surgery with Karidis Done! - With Pics

[sjwsjw]

Got my consultation tomorrow, wanna sort out as much as i can while im there, try get the bloods and book if possible, hows things?

[sjwsjw]

Well, i say tomorrow, its today now i guess (monday)

[sjwsjw]

All done. Had the blood test done there for £146 and booked for 29 Nov 

[adamj]

Congrats pal, only time in your way now 

It should fly by, was the consultation how you imagined it?

[sjwsjw]

Basically it was yea, he went over everything I've heard on here showed me some pictures and looked at me, I was happy enough and booked and paid up the deposit. Had the blood test at the hospital and hit the shops after (I bet my bank think my cards been stolen all that sudden big spending xD)

[Nipper]

Nice one mate, best of luck with it.  I was the opposite, I started spending after the surgery, so many threads I want now, grr! But the one garment I thought I'd be glad to see the back of, I might keep wearing to bed for another week, just for old times sake  

[sjwsjw]

When am I ment to get the arnica tablets? I remember her saying about them but I forgot when I am ment to get them, do they post them or give you a prescription or?

[kniveshurt]

Hey sjwsjw, congrats on booking your op! The time will fly by and you'll be on the "other side" in no time.

The Arnica tablets should come in the info pack you'll be sent through the post shortly. They'll be attached to one of the pages in it. To be honest with you, they didn't really work for me and I stopped taking them after a few days after not seeing any improvement. I switched to Arnica cream and had much better (and quicker) results. My bruising/swelling has all but disappeared now (almost two and a half weeks post-op).

Anyway keep us updated on your progress!

[Nipper]

Regarding the Arnica - It might pay to "load-up" on these for a week or just a few days say, to get it into your system.  I think that's what Levick's team advises and it wouldn't hurt and kinda makes sense.  As I had the same thoughts, sack the tablets...use the cream.

[sjwsjw]

Thanks knives and nipper, I work away during the week so I might have the pack at my home address now, not sure how long they take to send. If I wanted to try the cream where can I get that from?

I hope I have the same attitude to all these changes that are coming for me as you do nipper! Sounds like your managing the head part spot on

[kniveshurt]

I got my Arnica cream from Boots, mate. About £6/£7 for a big tube of it.

[Nipper]

Quick Head's Up - 5 weeks Post OP

I can see why folk drift away a little bit, life does eventually take over as the predominate thing in ones mind, and I sometimes forget I've even had the surgery now at times, only briefly though but it's a start.  Now I'm at the stage where folk are telling me I've lost weight, I look well etc.  There's an inner exuberance you get from having this OP done that folk just can't but help notice the change in you I think, well that's my theory and I'm sticking with it.  

As for my chest - Still mad tender and numb around the nipples, still have fluid or swelling on right side making it appear mooby when relaxed.  massaging at least once a day, though I missed a good 36hr period due to going out and staying over at a friends at the weekend (pulled when out, so a fair trade I would say)  Still large areas of swelling/lumps on right side and smaller case for the left but reducing with every day and every massage it seems.  

I am not wearing the vest anymore as the combination of massaging with oil and heat with wearing, was giving me mental spots all over my torso, they have calmed down since not wearing vest at all for nearly a week now
just wear the nike compression top to bed.  Will sort some pics out later to complete the post, haven't even been checking myself out that much lately as it's not that high on my conscience nowadays.

[adamj]

Good post Nipper. Yeah I agree it's quite easy to drift away since the healing takes so long, you eventually run out of things to say now the madness had died down. That's great you're feeling the exuberance! and nice work on pulling haha fair trade indeed. How do you do your massage out of interest? I think I'm doing it wrong, not seeing too much of an effect. I have no oil or anything, i've just been doing it in the shower with my cloth and soap.

[Nipper]

Mate get some bio oil or normal massage oil, baby oil, something that will allow you to massage for 20 mins, at least!

 I read a post by a respected doc on the US forums who advises to use the tips of your first three fingers, the flat pad parts of the top segments and firmly move in a circular swirling motion, but he also advised to hold the arm of the side you are massaging, above the head, this seems to spread out the tissue more evenly and you can also see what is happening underneath better.  

I either do this laid down or walking around and standing in front of the mirror.  I always put some relaxing music on and start gently then build it up then back down to gentle for the last 5 mins.  No where near as sensitive or sore as when I first started to massage, so can swirl my nipples around now, you can feel more lumps n bumps and areas that need attention the more time passes.

[adamj]

Thanks for the advice. Got some Johnson's baby oil in the end, worked wonders. You can really feel the hot spots. I think I still have quite a bit of fluid build up on my right. Going to start doing this properly at least every morning now. You got a follow up date yet?