Surgery 28/08/2013 with Levick with pics!!

[ScaredGuy]

Hi mate, had my surgery 3 days ago still very sore and I'm reading through everyone's threads

I used to order from myprotein.com but stopped since the addition of vat to supplements. Can you let me know what is worth getting to prevent muscle wastage? I'm hugely into gym as well and not lifting is stressing me out, I'm going to be gutted when I get back and my strength is sapped so I'd like to prevent that from happening as much as I can.
Thank you

[Keep_It_Moving]

Hi mate, had my surgery 3 days ago still very sore and I'm reading through everyone's threads

I used to order from myprotein.com but stopped since the addition of vat to supplements. Can you let me know what is worth getting to prevent muscle wastage? I'm hugely into gym as well and not lifting is stressing me out, I'm going to be gutted when I get back and my strength is sapped so I'd like to prevent that from happening as much as I can.
Thank you

What is vat in supplements? I've never heard of that before. Is it something that increases estrogen?

[ScaredGuy]

Haha no, V.A.T. as in value added tax increasing the cost of protein shakes by 20% or so.

[Keep_It_Moving]

Haha no, V.A.T. as in value added tax increasing the cost of protein shakes by 20% or so.

Gotcha...haha.
Thanks for the clarification.

[Myers]

Hi mate, had my surgery 3 days ago still very sore and I'm reading through everyone's threads

I used to order from myprotein.com but stopped since the addition of vat to supplements. Can you let me know what is worth getting to prevent muscle wastage? I'm hugely into gym as well and not lifting is stressing me out, I'm going to be gutted when I get back and my strength is sapped so I'd like to prevent that from happening as much as I can.
Thank you

Hey, congrats on your surgery, hope it all goes well now you're on the other side. Ive basically been keeping my protein intake high, so im using impact whey from my protein and some bcaa's also. Not sure how much good they've been doing and i have lost muscle but that couldn't really be helped, plus it gives me a nice goal to aim for by christmas. Hope this helps mate

[Myers]

Just been to the gym and went for a swim after. I'm back to my normal routine now and its all feeling good. Was doing some overhead press today and i thought i wouldn't be able to do it but i was doing 40kg for 5x5 and there was no negative feeling at all. Usually at the end of sronglifts 5x5 workout B i'll do some pullups However i tried to hang off the bar and slowly move my legs off the ground reducing the support gradually but it felt more and more tender as i let myself hang more so i decided i'd wait a few more weeks. I'll probably swap pull ups out for some pull downs for the time being. I've lost a fair amount of strength after being inactive for a month and a half but i should be back to where i was in no time. It's funny when i was swimming on holiday i was so conscious of my chest and it was hard to turn that off and get on with it, now it feels awesome to just go swimming and not care about it when getting in and out.

[ScaredGuy]

Thanks for the update it certainly was interesting. I'm really not looking forward to the loss in strength, I'm a heavy guy at just over 15 stone so pull ups are hard for me but I was able to do a set of 12 full motion pull ups I wonder how long it well take to get back to that. Also I've always had weight problems which I offset by going to thegym a lot so I'm really gonna have to keep my diet in check now, maybe go for ketosis or something but I'm worried how oit might impact my healing. Really happy to hear you're back at the gym anyway, how long would you say it was before you could comfortably go jogging?

Not sure if you saw my pics in my thread but swimming was an absolute no go for me as I had proper women's breasts. The reality of them now being gone hasn't sunk in yet probably won't until I take my bandages off.

[Myers]

Thanks for the update it certainly was interesting. I'm really not looking forward to the loss in strength, I'm a heavy guy at just over 15 stone so pull ups are hard for me but I was able to do a set of 12 full motion pull ups I wonder how long it well take to get back to that. Also I've always had weight problems which I offset by going to thegym a lot so I'm really gonna have to keep my diet in check now, maybe go for ketosis or something but I'm worried how oit might impact my healing. Really happy to hear you're back at the gym anyway, how long would you say it was before you could comfortably go jogging?

Not sure if you saw my pics in my thread but swimming was an absolute no go for me as I had proper women's breasts. The reality of them now being gone hasn't sunk in yet probably won't until I take my bandages off.

I was torn between wanting to not increase my bf% and getting the best possible recovery but you have to put things into perspective. I opted to eat above my maintenance to give my body the nutrients it needed for recovery, as it stands ive not put too much fat on, I'm not as lean as i was pre op but im more determined than ever to get back to that. I use myfitness pal to record everything ive eaten, its a ball ache for most people but i prefer doing it that way so i know everything ive eaten and the breakdown of protein, fats and carbs. I'm a bit of a nerd for things like that, you could try using it, i know a few others on here have mentioned it. About jogging, I'm not actually sure, others have gone a couple of weeks after surgery but I'm not really the biggest runner so i couldnt say, I do remember jogging across the road at about 4 weeks and it didnt feel too great tbh. I was cycling a couple of weeks after However and id probably go for that if you're not comfortable jogging.
It's a pretty surreal experience when you take the bandages off, i wish you all the best with it!

[Jonny5]

I would consider myself a runner and the thought of losing fitness was hard to take. I felt fine walking around after 2/3 days and by the end of week 1 was going for a 6 mile brisk walk after breakfast every day (had time off work). I think it was day 12 or 13 post-op that I broke into a jog but still had the vest on. I did a few slow miles and felt fine so foolishly carried on for a few more miles at my pre-op pace. The chest was not a problem but I tweaked my calf and had to take it slow for another week or so icing it after every run. Back to normal now thankfully and no discernible loss of fitness, today is just over 4 weeks out. Moral of the story - even if your chest is ready, the rest of you might not be Take it easy!

[Myers]

Just sent an email trying to sort out a follow up. Nothing much to report really, I'm still swollen and the scar tissue is still there, I just want Levick to check me over. I've been swimming loads and it feels great, my chest still has a ways to go yet but I'm really happy at the moment so any improvement is a bonus. I was reading that the worst of the swelling and scar tissue is around 10-14 weeks and I'm approaching that time so it could very well get worse.

[Myers]

Really been hammering the massage, it helps so much with the swelling and i love how my chest looks after a good session. Just bought a 200ml bottle of bio oil so I'm good to go for a while.

[jamie10]

Hey Myers, glad you are doing well at about 7 weeks post op. Seems like you are making good progress!

Where is most of your scar tissue located? I am not sure whether it is swelling or scar tissue with me. I think, if it is scar tissue it is near the nipple and running up the outer sides of the pectorals...

I am glad to hear massaging is working well! Can I check, have you ditched the compression vest completely now? I am about 3.5 weeks post op and think I will just wear it at night for another couple weeks. Wearing during the day was actually causing me pain because my nerves are recovering and my left side has been really aggravated by a tight vest occasionally rubbing the chest!

[Myers]

Hey Myers, glad you are doing well at about 7 weeks post op. Seems like you are making good progress!

Where is most of your scar tissue located? I am not sure whether it is swelling or scar tissue with me. I think, if it is scar tissue it is near the nipple and running up the outer sides of the pectorals...

I am glad to hear massaging is working well! Can I check, have you ditched the compression vest completely now? I am about 3.5 weeks post op and think I will just wear it at night for another couple weeks. Wearing during the day was actually causing me pain because my nerves are recovering and my left side has been really aggravated by a tight vest occasionally rubbing the chest!

Hey Jamie, thats exactly where mine is. It feels hard from where the incisions are along the pec towards the bottom, it softens after massage though. I have a lump of scar tissue underneath my nipple on the right side which i hope will go away eventually, its not that big so im not too concerned about it. Yeh ive pretty much ditched the vest, i was gonna wear it for longer but i just kinda forgot about it, plus im used to not wearing it now so i dont see the point. I think i had it on 24/7 for 3 weeks then just at night for another 2. I found it was hurting me in the gym as well cos my chest was squashed against it so i stopped wearing it and its amazing how much more mobile you are without it. Yeh you should be fine wearing it just at night for a couple of weeks although i actually preferred wearing it in the day and keeping it off at night, i was getting really sweaty in bed it was pretty grim.

[Myers]

Wow seems like forever since i posted on here. Just over 7 months post op and life without gyne is awesome. My chest is still not 100% perfect but i doubt it ever will be and tbh i dont really care that much, just being able to wear normal t shirts and not hunch my shoulders is awesome. I still have a large lump of scar tissue under my RHS  so when i eventually book a follow up with Levick I'll see what can be done about that. I'll try and get some pics up in the next few days so you guys can see how my chest looks now. Honestly can't wait for summer, just knowing that i don't need to hide is just incredibly exciting.

[Samispeed]

Looking good mate! Well jealous and really hope I look as good as yours post op!! My surgery is 2 weeks time and I'm going to cut fb as much as I can now so I'm lean for the op!
Your story is inspirational!