Gynecomastia Support Forum
Surgery => Surgery Preparation => Topic started by: greatlakes on March 13, 2012, 11:47:31 AM
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Had my visit with nurse today.
Lots of forms, and a ton of money prepaid.
Try on a vest for size.
Photos taken, but told unless I release them - they cant use them with others or on website.
For next two weeks before surgery, No vitamin E over 30 IU, and no fish oil (has E). No aspirin, no Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), No glucosamine ,and a bunch of other stuff which hampers healing. Tylenol may be used however.
My procedure will be based on the little tube insertion points (not under nipple). A combo of laser lipo and tissue grinder tubes. These holes will NOT be stitched. I am told that I will need sanitary pads for a few days around the little holes, with the first day only being noticeable in fluid in the pads.
He has me taking some homeopathic pills called Boiron arnicare a few days before and after surgery which are supposed to reduce bruising and improve healing.
I will have surgery on Tuesday and be back in on Friday for check.
Prescription for Vicodin as needed after surgery for pain.
In at 11:30am. Procedure at 12:30. Procedure to take 1.5 hour. 1 hour of recovery, then home. So 3.5 hours start to finish.
After two weeks I can switch from the vest to compression shirts. They sell the secondary stage compression shirt, but simply gave me a flyer for spanx compression shirts which they say are good enough.
After two weeks I may begin some exercise again.
I am also having (combining) some minor neck laser lipo, but not much to say there except a wrap around my head/neck for 3-4 days, then only at nighttime for two weeks.
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Exciting! It will be here and gone before you know it man!
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Good luck ;D
Can't wait to hear about the results.
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You're well on your way now, congratulations! I hope all goes well for you. Keep us informed ;)
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Yes it is not far away now. I have a mixture of feelings as I approach this. So many different looking before and after results shown here, I wonder what mine will be like.
I am set to take a full week off work, get some rest, recover, watch movies, play some video games, sit on the back patio with a lemonade, etc. My wife is only mildly (kind of reluctantly) supportive, but I appreciate what I am getting and the timing is good for this now.
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Yes it is not far away now. I have a mixture of feelings as I approach this. So many different looking before and after results shown here, I wonder what mine will be like.
I am set to take a full week off work, get some rest, recover, watch movies, play some video games, sit on the back patio with a lemonade, etc. My wife is only mildly (kind of reluctantly) supportive, but I appreciate what I am getting and the timing is good for this now.
Sounds perfect, I wish I had a full week off. I took Thurs-Mon off, back Tuesday. It was nice just veggin' out and relaxing. Not having ANYTHING to do while recovering is awesome.
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Is today the day, Greatlakes?! How did it go?!
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Nope - next Tuesday. One more week
So many emotions. I have lived with this condition for a long time. While I want the moobs off, and hope for "perfect chest" I know I will not end up with a sculpted chest no matter what my doctor says. My face will also change slightly with the neck lipo I am adding in. Change is scary sometimes, even when for good reasons.
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Good stuff, man. I look forward to comparing notes. Change is scary, indeed, but it is for the better! You'll do great!
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I remember the day after my surgery. I had to stay overnight in a hotel because the doc didn't want me to drive that far immediately after. He asked that I come back in his office the next morning so he could take a look and make sure everything was o.k before leaving. To be honest, I was almost shocked at what my chest looked like when the vest came off. I was so used to seeing my chest with moobs, that I was really taken aback when I looked down at myself. I was much flatter than I expected, almost too flat to be honest. But since then, things have changed quite a bit. I'm no longer flat as a board like I was the next day after surgery (I prefer it that way too), I look much more natural. This week will be a tough one for you greatlakes, hang on tight!
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Thanks shaknbake,
Every body and gyno is different, but your before photos and surgery type are in the general ballpark to my gyno and planned procedure. I would be generally pleased if my after photos also followed your results. I know what you mean about kind of getting used to the moobs in a way, and then having nothing or being too flat. That is a worry - too flat, as is to much left, or continued great asymmetry (which I have).
Change is scary. I have looked at a TON of before and after photos on the web for both my planned procedures. I am trying to set myself up to not expect perfect results with the gyno after seeing all the photos.
I am thinking about it this way - right now I am only comfortable with how I look in a T-shirt about 20% of the time. It has to be the right kind of shirt(not too tight or thin or clingy). So 80% of the time I don't like the way I look at all in t-shirts. It is a life limitation to not just grab any t-shirt and happily head out the door. As for bare chested - I am comfortable 0% percent of the time with my shirt off. I wear swim shirts to the pool or beach, and don't like being bare chested even in front of wife.
If after the surgery, I am comfortable with how I look in a t-shirt 80-90% of the time (as far as chest), and 25-50% comfortable (not totally embarrassed) bare chested - that would be satisfactory for me. Hey lets face it.... what guy... well into middle age... rips of his shirt and struts around anyway! ;D
That is - I will be happy to just get good "T-shirt" results. That's my baseline.
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I think you're going into the surgery with just the right attitude. I tried to do the same thing, and I think it's working..? I know I had a quite noticeable asymmetry from one side to the other, and I still do to a degree. I was honestly hoping he would remove a bit more from my left side than the right to even it out more. Maybe he did? I'm not really sure.... Either way, it's way better than it was. Like you are hoping, I at least feel comfortable now in any type of shirt I wear. I'm actually going on vaca this Sunday to the Dominican! I'm looking forward to taking my shirt off at the pool and beach with confidence! I won't win any hard body contests, but at least I won't be getting any stares for having boobs anymore. I was looking at my pictures from before, then 1 week, 3 weeks and 8 weeks after. Things are steadily changing for the better, albeit slowly. I figure by summertime, I should be about as good as I'll get. I suspect though, that if I lost some weight, the extra fat I have will even out more so. Gotta try to keep away from the excessive beers LOL!
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Did you ever post 8 weeks? I think I saw up to 3.
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Getting a little paranoid, sent email to doctor's admin today reminding them I am expecting both fat and tissue removal (laser lipo and cutting cannula .. fat and tissue/gland.. a combo procedure)...... and I expect the side moob stuff (reaching back towards arm pits) removed.
Called her to make sure she got email. I said I felt silly and apologized. But a few of the posters here got me paranoid on making sure I got combo procedure and that the side moob thing would be done too. I am paying enough that's for sure to get "it all".
She explained the doctor will not rush me tomorrow and there will be time to talk.
Sheesh I need a drink (but can't)
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Ha, dude - don't worry about it. Just replied to your on one of Crossfit's threads. I think the side stuff is the 'tail' - almost like a sperm, the head is right in front and the tail goes off to the side under the armpit - all of which is connected, and should all come out in one piece, except of course if he chooses to leaves a little bit of gland in there.
The surgery is EXPENSIVE. Make sure they know ALL of your concerns!!! I did the same thing, too, man. The days leading up to surgery, I thin I read EVERY post on this website! I also became paranoid and sent a few of the 'horror stories' to my Dr who read them and responded. He comforted me by saying that 'bad news travels faster than good news' but that he understood my concerns and that we would talk on the day of surgery. I went into surgery with a list of questions, literally written down (like I had in the consult, but these questions were obviously much more specific) He took time and addressed each one. I recommend you doing that. Having them written down help to put my mind at ease so that I wasn't worried about forgetting something, ya know?
Another thing I did, was try to read the "Surgery Success Stories" section. That helps to calm you down, as does thinking about each individual moment in your life when someone poked your breast, or you couldn't wear a white t-shirt given out somewhere, or didn't want to play on the beach, etc. You'll do great!
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Okay first shower and look.
The neck is asymmetrical, but overall the look at this early date is subtle, like I lost a another 10-20 lbs. Neither bad nor great, just subtle improvement. If the one side decreases in swelling and pulls up I will be happy enough with neck. Did not want dramatic neck change anyway. Doctor warned that their may be some muscle in my neck and a clean straight line from chin to neck may not be possible. Only a little bruising, I can see going wrap free during the day in two days and only compress at night.
Chest. The right side, the worst side, was nuked, front and side. There is a crease across the bottom of the peck like he did not get the last trip of tissue or fat or got to much above.... but better than a fat old front and side moob. It is still early but the right side meets my goals of "good t-shirt" and "not totally embarrassing (for a middle aged guy) with shirt off". The right has little bruising or swelling. I am good about the right side for this stage in healing.
Now about the left side moob, the one not too bad before. He must have hit some blood vessel or something, it looks like someone hit me with a baseball bat several times. It is swelled like a balloon and is blood red bruised all over. Nasty. Now I have to imagine he got in there and removed the fat and tissue of course - and this is all some bad reaction. I am sending his nurse the images now. I wonder if I should have be drained - or I am just going to have to wait for it to absorb - but It not good right now.
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1.) Glad that neck is looking ok, hopefully it heals nicely.
2.) Good to head that the right side looks acceptable.
3.) Left side, wow. I'm not sure, but that sounds like a hematoma which I assume would have to be drained? I really don't know the protocol for that. But I assume that having a lump as big as you're describing would affect the fitting of the compression vest. Does it hurt?
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I think you called it. Delete space on between w's. Looks like it happens even with the best surgeons and resolves it self.
ww w.gynecomastia.org/smf/38/post-surgery-hematoma/
I am calling nurse now. I sent photos earlier to her. I hope I don't have to go it it drained.
Update nurse called - they want me back in the morning just in case drainage needed. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight just in case. Not fun. But got to do it right.
I am glad to have seen the post above here from two good surgeons saying it is not unusual or big deal. going back under not my desire, but do what is needed.
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Good stuff, man. Def a pain, but certainly better to be safe than sorry. Glad that It's not a big deal. Please reply tomorrow after the procedure, I hope it all goes well.
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Just saw doctor and nurse. No drainage procedure. He said it was diffuse and would drain down on its own, and it would not affect the results on the left side. Just take longer to heal. He was very happy with right side. Nurse said crease would even out, it is too early. doctor was happy with neck. I will go back in for longer evaluation Friday, he was between surgery and just wanted to check the severity of the swelling.
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Great news.
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Ya I suppose. If it is true it will not affect outcome like doc says. Hard to believe with the massive ballooning out that it will tighten back nicely but I suspect it will. It just means my left (which was the best side before) is going to be at least 2 weeks (or more) behind the right on healing. My right got reduced with barely any major bruising or swelling.
Ah well, weeks of healing is nothing for the many years of this condition.
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Ya I suppose. If it is true it will not affect outcome like doc says. Hard to believe with the massive ballooning out that it will tighten back nicely but I suspect it will. It just means my left (which was the best side before) is going to be at least 2 weeks (or more) behind the right on healing. My right got reduced with barely any major bruising or swelling.
Ah well, weeks of healing is nothing for the many years of this condition.
Glad to hear you are good to go.
When I sat there for 4 days with those god awful drains in me, I just would read through some pretty hairy hematoma stories and remind myself the drains are nothing compared to any of that. Everyone shy's from docs that use them, but it seems way less likely to have any kind of fluid/blood build up or issues with them in.
Regardless, like you said you will be good to go, just delayed the healing a bit. Keep us posted buddy
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So I had my preop formal visit. Doctor and his nurse come in. He wanted to be quick. The hemotoma side (left side) had gone down in swelling. But surprising the nuked left side had also swelled a bit.
Doc said the bloody discoloration of the left moob skin is basically going to move downwards as it moves out of my body. Yuck a traveling red skin blotch. Doctor was not interested in staying and chatting much, just wanted to look, but he did schedule a Monday check again - so I do feel he is willing to keep an eye on me. I talked about the crease on my lower right pec, and he smiled and said be patient. I also told him my neck only looked mildly changed. He said the swelling will peak the first week, and then go down, so I will see continued neck shrinkage after next week. I asked doc what he found in there (chest) and he said a mixture of tissue types and fat.
After he left the nurse was kind enough to stay and chat a bit. She was in the surgery with doctor. She said not to worry, that if I could have seen myself on table after they were done, I would have been impressed with how nice my chest looked afterward all the fat and tissue was removed - and to just hold on an let myself heal. The neck wraps can come off anytime during the day now, so I have some freedom to go out, and had lunch today out with wife
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Good news, Great. Sounds like a successful visit!
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Two weeks post op tomorrow. Dark Purple/Black as left my left pec area completely - just left with yellow brown on chest. Some purple left on sides/hip area, but dissipating. Swelling in left is down 60 percent from initial hemotoma balloon. Some rock hardness in areas on left.
Right side is still about the same swollen with crease under nipple. It was pretty flat after surgery - so I think I know how it will return to.
Neck - not much to report, it looks okay, but I am also told it will continue to shrink up over the next two months and look better and better
No pain, no real movement restrictions, I feel mostly fine.
I am improving overall, but at two weeks I am only a fraction into the 2-3 months the doc(s) are saying I need to get to a place I will like the look. I have another evaluation with Doctor on Friday. Got to keep the faith on results.
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Good stuff, man.
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Had another followup with doctor today (at least he is keeping up on me). I am now 2 weeks 3 days. The hemotoma swelling is down from last week, noticeably so. I was feeling better, but still not seeing a chest better than before operation.
The doctor apparently was not happy with the progress- and decided to drain the left (old hemotoma) side. Basically stuck a needle with a huge syringe and sucked out about 20 CC of old blood. Then tried a little pressure to get more out into a gauze. He tired the right (non hemotoma) but found no blood. It did not hurt. My left side came down quite a bit with that old blood removal. He said come back next Friday and if needed I will take out any remaining on the left if needed.
He says another month and I will feel good enough to take my shirt off at the gym showers without worry.
Said I can dump vest now, and switch to compression shirts. That's some good news.
I kind of look now, like some photos I have seen of guys just 2-3 days after their surgery. Slow progress. I kind of feel I am basically two weeks behind on swelling and healing,
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Great update! Sounds good, man. Slow and steady wins the race. That month will be here before you know it!
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Felt okay enough to restart "things" with wife ;D
The drainage helped notably on left side swelling and it feels good to wear compression shirts instead of vest.
Showtime and crossfit how are things going with you guys?
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Alright! Glad to hear that you're back in action. It sure feels nice to thrust without seeing your own titties jiggling!!! My girlfriend was over last night and after the activities her hand was on my chest. Tell ya what, having her hand on my chest, not breast, was better than the activity itself!! I still felt nervous that she would feel the scars or creases, but I don't think she noticed. :-)
Glad the hematoma is shaping up. The compression shirt sure is awesome after ditching that awful vest!!!
How the neck looking?
I think I'm progressing nicely. The left nip is still kind of creased, but the scare is barely noticeable; the right nip crease is still quite profound and the scare is still very noticeable, also, the lower portion of the right pec is concaved when I flex; but despite the ailments, I don't plan to worry until the middle of June. Just hoping everything with work itself out in the next 8-10 weeks. However, despite the nipple creases and scar, my chest looks acceptable when standing straight unflexed which is nice. And the white tshirt thing is absolutely spectacular!
Any update for us, Mister Crossfit???
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Alright! Glad to hear that you're back in action. It sure feels nice to thrust without seeing your own titties jiggling!!! My girlfriend was over last night and after the activities her hand was on my chest. Tell ya what, having her hand on my chest, not breast, was better than the activity itself!! I still felt nervous that she would feel the scars or creases, but I don't think she noticed. :-)
Glad the hematoma is shaping up. The compression shirt sure is awesome after ditching that awful vest!!!
How the neck looking?
I think I'm progressing nicely. The left nip is still kind of creased, but the scare is barely noticeable; the right nip crease is still quite profound and the scare is still very noticeable, also, the lower portion of the right pec is concaved when I flex; but despite the ailments, I don't plan to worry until the middle of June. Just hoping everything with work itself out in the next 8-10 weeks. However, despite the nipple creases and scar, my chest looks acceptable when standing straight unflexed which is nice. And the white tshirt thing is absolutely spectacular!
Any update for us, Mister Crossfit???
It felt good to take my shirt off without the dark blood red splash across my lift chest, the brusing, the huge swelling. At this point my skin is almost cleared up. My chest looks - kind like before now, which is better than the swollen battered thing it was. My wife was not fully behind me on this surgery, and I did not need to reinforce this by showing her the full force of the hemotoma. But is is nearly gone, so I am back to normal married life "activities" (not to be confused with GF activities :P) As it heals more, the swelling goes down more, and I get flatter, my confidence in being shirtless will only increase.
The neck is okay - best of the two procedures so far. No brusing at all, clean. I see only minor improvement right now, but I am told by one female who knows I had it, that it looks much better. The doctors have said this is a 3 month process to shrink down and up. A hard defined jaw line, and a flat chest would be a nice package deal.
It sounds like you got the t-shirt result perfected. Great. I am sure the rest will settle down and adjust as you say. I got a crease too, but not even going to worry about that yet. Most doctors seem to agree on longer time frames for things to work themselves out and heal. However, there was a guy in the photos section - who after 4 days looks nearly perfect, flat, healed, not bruised at all.
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Awesome. Are you ever going to post pictures??? I'm anxious to see your progress!
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Ya - I know I should. We are here to help each other. I would prefer to do them is to post them privately elsewhere (photo sharing site) and send links via PM to those who wish to see them.
At this point, I believe the current pictures would not show much improvement from my "before" - only improvement from the hemotoma and massive bruising/swelling the day after surgery. My recovery is so frakking slow.
Let me see what I can do maybe this weekend.
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Okay, had 3.5 week followup. Next Tuesday will be 4 weeks. Doc said there is still a lot of swelling but I was looking better (good?). I am to start massage at night to break things up.
I can also start working out. He said anything I wanted, but I will start light for a week. I am not sure he understands what kind of weights I was pushing two months ago..... I believe he thinks the working out will help at breaking things down in the chest.
I basically feel I look "about the same" as before the surgery now. But obviously better than the hemotoma mess on my left side of two weeks ago. My skin looks okay now. I might look "a bit" better on front moobage, but sides still suck. Doc explained he was very "aggressive" on removal on the sides and all over. Nurse reminded me again that I was flat as a board on the surgery table, and how much they took out (1250CC).
This information along with other stories here of some guys taking months to go flat - will keep me going for a while.
Glad my skin is clear, good to be on compression shirts not vest, and good to start working out again.
Doctor will see me in 3 weeks for another check up.
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You're coming along, dude! Keep up the good work! I still think things are gonna shape up and flaten out! I'm keeping the faith! Def work out light, you be just as sore as you were pre-op after a heavy workout since it's been So long!
Leroy the great work, GL!
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Leroy the great work? I think that was supposed to be keep up the great work*. I hate autocorrect.
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Was following up with his nurse via email. She is very nice and responsive. I don't need compression of neck anymore at night. I need to stay on compression shirts for another month, but was going to anyway with my swelling. I can go into pool or hotub if I want now, I have a back issue and enjoy the club hotub between heavy work outs. Still have my swim shirt since I don't feel better about my chest yet.
I am asking about the possibility of Kenalog or cortisone or other shots in 3 weeks to deal with hard stuff I still feel - if it is still there in 3 weeks. I am massaging it twice a day now and hope it breaks up in three weeks.
I so envy the guys here that look so flat after a few days or week after their surgery.
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You'll get there soon, man!! you had a serious procedure! What is your massage technique? My doc said I can gently massage lumps that I feel, but I didn't think to ask how to do it. So far, I've been kind of 'playing the piano' with my pointer and middle finger. Any suggestions?
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Been using various techniques. I wish someone would have a diagram or something.
I have this kind of streak/ridge from bottom to far side of hard tissue - I rub it across (short) and along it (long way), and also circular motions as well. While I feel some softening of hard spots, I also feel like it is causing some swelling and soreness again.
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I just had my 6 week follow-up with my doctor. He was puzzled over the size and shape of my right side and says it has to be swelling cause he made me flat on operating table and I was flat the next day after looking at me. He was still perplexed not to see me pretty flat by now (well ya – me too). He did agree the right side was by far the worst and that much more work was done there and so it would swell more and the skin was stretched out more to begin with than my left.
He said it may take 6 months for me to go flat(ish) on right and at that time he will decide if any revision is needed. However both he and his nurse said my results are good enough to hit the beach – that no one would say I had moobs anymore (but some asymmetry), and that my own self image may be not have accepted their or others views. (Ya I know I need to post pictures for you guys)
I am continue my compression shirts for another two week (until 8 weeks) and then try without them and see how I feel, and if needed use them part time. I am to come back in 8 weeks (14 total) for another follow-up.
His nurse (great gal) did talk to me separately for a bit afterwards. We reviewed (again) the amount removed from my chest which was 1250 CC which is a lot of fat and tissue. 800CC of that was in the right side - that's a crap load for one side. Also I finally got to ask her specifically how many gynecomastia surgeries the doc does a year – she said over 50 a year. I do trust and like this doctor. So I continue to wait this out.
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Well at least he seems to believe that you'll eventually flatten out! That's a good thing!
So they say you look good enough to be on the beach but you disagree?
how are your scars? Any nipple creases?
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Yes I don't agree with them that I am fine for the beach now. I finally complied a photo matrix of myself and I have to say I am more depressed than ever. I know I am older and overweight, but they took out so darn much - so where is the f'ing results ? :'(
6 weeks now - headed to 12 weeks.....then I suppose 6 months before my doctor and I can decide if he will revise me.
Got to loose some more weight and lift more I guess until then.