January 14th booked with Alex Karidis

[Swarley]

I'm sure you'll be fine dude.

I think anesthetics have come a long way - especially in the last several years.

For me, going under was like someone flicked a switch. One second I was looking up at the ceiling in the anesthetist's room. The next, I was looking up at a different ceiling, in what I realised was the recovery room. It was actually a bit confusing at first, I was like hey what just happened to the ceiling?

In terms of grogginess, it was no worse than waking up after a big night out (except a bit of a sore throat instead of a headache).
After I'd necked 2 litres of water, and had some food, my head was totally clear (although I did have a craving for a cold beer, which I ignored).

[ChestMan]

Bikkembergs. I wont be on here for a few days so, best of luck on Sat. Keep us posted.

I've got my appointment booked on Monday - finally!

[Bikkembergs]

Thanks pal.

Well gang I'm off, little nervous but generally feeling good. Just had a confirmation call from the nurses so everything is ready to go.

I'll probably post again on Monday, so until then, farewell.

See you on the other side.

[shaknbake]

Good luck Bikk, I just had my surgery yesterday.  I'm sure all will go well.  Looking forward to hearing about your experience!

[Bikkembergs]

I'm FREEEEEEE! 

What a day. Back home now and feeling fantastic.

Felt pretty lonely on Friday night to be honest, not sure it was great idea being alone. Got over it though and got there for 8am. Bumped into Alex on the way up which was quite funny. Had a little chat before I got to reception and to my room.

Alex came in around 20 minutes later, took photos and discussed some things. I asked him how typical my case was and he actually said "I think you have a heavier amount of gland than average, which is good because the transformation is going to be huge". Then we discussed anaesthesia, and he says (he probably says to everyone) "Don't worry, my anaesthetist is great, he used to do my wife so I trust him" hahah legend...

But then I thought..I hope he hasn't just found this out today and is really beat up about it on the day I go under 

Went down about 10am. Feels weird downstairs, empty. Was quite funny with the anaesthetist he said:

Him : Ok we're putting it in now. First is a sedative and you'll probably feel like you're drunk now for 30 seconds, then the anaesthetic will kick in and you'll be away.
Me: Haha me drunk on a Saturday? No different to any other Satur....zzzzzzzz

Woke up, went back to my room just after 11. Had lunch, plenty of water, spoke to Beth (fit) but went downhill from there. Just couldn't shake the anaesthetic off. Was in my room at 11 and at about 5:30 I only begun to feel alright, started doing some laps of the room and was able to piss again. Then the nurse went to take out the feed on my arm and...I fainted. Used to roll my eyes at people who got funny at injections etc but I fainted, never happened before. Lay me down again, oxygen on, lay there for another hour before she took my blood pressure which was fine and I eventually left at 7pm. Jeez.

Got back to hotel, still felt quite light headed so I paced around the room a lot which helps. Watched match of the day whilst walking around but eventually went to sleep. Woke up at 1am and this woman next door was singing phantom of the fucking opera at full volume (How out of order is that?) but couldnt find the strength to do anything about it.

Back home now after a stiff train journey. A little sore and the vest is annoying but it's not so bad when you're used to it. I can see what people mean about the sore throat too but mine wasn't bad really at all. Luckily I've had no leakage either, my clothes and skin are clean. Took out my pads and just left the tape on in the arm pit incisions, much more comfortable. About 35 hours post op now so that should be subsiding around now anyway, looks like Ive missed it

I've had a sneaky look too, even with tape and bandages on I can see the contour is smooth and flat, instead of smooth along my pecs until it hits a pair of breasts.

Still very tired but I've an empty house tomorrow so will sleep a lot. So thankful it's over though and I can concentrate on getting better now. Gonna be a difficult 3 months or so with scar tissue developing etc but I'm ready for it 

Thanks again to everyone, legends!

[Bikkembergs]

Gosh..I've been absolutely taken to town by the GA. 60 hours post op now and still a little light headed, not too bad just seems like I'm half a second off the pace. Anybody else struggled to shake off the anaesthesia? Unless it's the compression vest being tight lol  

[ChestMan]

Hi Bikkembergs,  good to hear that everything went OK and thanks for sharing your experience. I don't know much about anaesthesia, but I'd give Karidis a call if you're not fully with it by tomorrow. The one thing I forgot to ask was the longer term effects of GA.

Hope everything is OK.

[shaknbake]

Sounds like you had quite the experience post op! LOL!  It's all kind of funny in hindsight now though isn't it?  But geez, that seems to be a really long time to still be affected by the anesthetic.  I was good to go within about 2 hrs after surgery.  Sore of course, but not light headed, or otherwise under the influence in any way.  At least not that I remember!    I would definitely give your PS a call if it still gives you trouble.  Some people have adverse reactions to general anesthesia, perhaps you fall into this category?  If so, there may be something they can do to help.  Worth a shot.

[Bikkembergs]

What a fantastic day.

I figured out what was wrong with me - vest was too tight. I took it off for 2 hours this morning before work and the lightheadedness I spoke off just went in about 45 minutes. I then started wearing it with the bottom 4 rungs undone, just so my midriff had a little relief. Huge difference, it's still very tight and compact up top but that little bit of relief down below has made all the difference. I consulted A.K and the office and they said that should be fine.

Felt great so I decided I'd go to work. Felt good, looked good. Honestly, walking into the office looking trim and confident, it may as well have been the diet coke advert mark ii  

Pain is very little at the moment too, sleeping is a killer but bearable, yet to sleep through the night though  .

Day 3 and I'm ecstatic, sure there's darker days still to come but I'm cool with that. I'll have my before and after pictures up soon enough too.

What a wonderful feeling, all day I've made the Cheshire Cat look like Jack Dee on a wet weekend in Bognor  

[chopper]

I remember those sleepless nights, they were utter shit lol
They were probably the worst times i had through the whole thing, 2 weeks of crappy sleep and then a while longer before i could sleep on my front. i don't miss those times at all

If and when it all starts to go to shit around week 6 don't panic mate, it happens to pretty much everyone

[Bikkembergs]

6 days post op. Took my armpit tapes off a minute ago, incisions are hilariously small. Anybody reading this who's worried about scars (With Karidis) - Don't be.

Right nipple is a little dented. Not sure how this fills out exactly, I'd be a little more confident if the dent was around my pec muscle, you cant understand how that area will fill out in time...the areola though? Not sure. Hmph.

Oh well, can't knock the contour. I'm a little sore but I've never not been able to raise my arms really, it'd hurt to be punched for example but overall I overestimated the pain.

[Mickydubs]

Reading your thread then about being light headed because vest being tight brought back some memories mate.
I can also remember unpinging some vest hooks at the bottom and getting almost instant relief, not sure if I put it in my thread though, think it was to help me sleep in the bloody thing around the 2 week stage.

( main point, I cut the bloody thing in half and made a kind of crop top, probably looked awfull but never rode up and worked fantastic for keeping your chest tightly compressed but stopped you feeling like shit when lead in bed )   

[Bikkembergs]

Ha! I was thinking of doing exactly that Micky. Think I'll give it a go if you did. Got these bits flapping round at the bottom at the moment, under my shirt it probably looks like my trousers are undone 

What do you think about the dent Mick?

[Mickydubs]

Not sure mate, everyone seems to get a dent somewhere or other, the main dent I had above chest / armpit area has just about gone now.
I also had a bit of a crease in one nipple and that has gone but still only have 50% feeling in nipple and surounding area, long process mate.

[Mickydubs]

Sorry mate correction on the 50%, more like 75% feeling at the moment but seems to flucturate up and down for some reason on a daily basis ?