How did you feel after 3 and 6 weeks?

[FTMKyle]

I just wanted to know from the guys who have had top surgery, how did you feel after six weeks? Did you still have any pain or tightness or any other feelings in your chest? Could you move freely without worries or pain?

Also, so I have something to go by now, how did you guys feel at three weeks?

Overall, I feel ok. Sometimes I'm still sore. I went to San Diego pride today, and after walking around, I felt pretty uncomfortable. My surgeon removed the tape from the incisions yesterday, and he said I can start weening myself off the vest if I want, so I went without the vest. I came home and took two Tylenol and put the vest back on. I feel ok now. Sometimes, it feels a little difficult to stand up straight. And sometimes it feels like I did too many bench presses. Having no tape over the incisions is a completely different feeling, and I think that is why I feel like I can't stand straight, especially after sitting for long periods.

I am asking because I have to go back to a very physically demanding job, and I am still debating if I should go back at six weeks like the doc said, or if I should ask for 2 more weeks. I have no idea what to expect at that point, and if someone were to ask if I was ready to return now, I would laugh at them. 

[aleon515]

It's  a little difficult to say because everyone is different. I think some surgeons i have heard say that 6 weeks is the sort of magic number where you can go back to normal activity.

I think at 3 weeks I still felt the uncomfortable feeling of the incision line and so on (actually that goes away slowly, and I can still feel it 8 months out doing certain activities (though not others), though MUCH decreased. 3 weeks is still pretty early, I still had nipple bandages on and so on, but obviously I was much better. Sounds like you are healing totally normally. But I don't have any advice beyond that.

You will feel better each week for awhile so don't feel that you are healing slowly. SOme people find it hard to gain back strength and energy. This is serious surgery and you get cut into and all that.


--Jay

[FTMKyle]

Thanks Jay.

I know it's still early, and I figured that everything is normal. I just don't want to go back to work and end up hurting myself there because I went back too soon. I will see how I feel with each week. Actually things aren't as bad as I thought they would be. Maybe 6 weeks is the magic number. lol

[Kreuzfidel]

If I had a physically demanding job, I'd take as long off work as I could get away with to be honest.

At three weeks, I was sore and not feeling so great - quite uneasy with standing up straight and still pretty uncomfortable.

At six weeks, still uncomfortable but was standing up straight.  I wasn't doing any heavy lifting until 8+ weeks post-op, though.

Even now, at 6 months post-op, I still feel a little uncomfortable doing really heavy stretching/lifting from time to time.

[Bimmer Guy]

Just to clarify, how many weeks are you right now?  I would take as many weeks as I could if I did a physical job, like Kreuzfidel said.  If you can afford and won't get in trouble at work, I would for certain take the 8 weeks.

[SX0877]

I felt no pain at 3 weeks, able to run but did not try to lift, also a little bit uncomfortable raising my arms above shoulder. I was able to do any kind of exercise that I could do before the surgery at six weeks and went back to my job which was also somewhat physically demanding.
Everybody heals differently so take as much time as you need. Try to walk around and keep as active as you can feel comfortable with.

[FTMKyle]

I am at a little over three weeks. I need to be able to lift my arms completely above my head when I return to work. Right now I can get far enough to wash my hair. I don't think I can get in trouble at work for taking more time off. They might be a little disappointed, but they will live. They wouldn't want me to hurt myself on the job.

I don't think I want to even attempt running because I think it might aggravate the incisions close to my arms. As far as lifting, I can pick up my 10 pound cat. I haven't tried lifting anything heavier than that.

[aleon515]

Padfoot (cat in the photo) was 17 lbs, I did not lift him post surgery!! Just as well, was not the pick up and carry around type cat. I did walk distances about 6 weeks, but I actually didn't work out until 4 months, more to make sure my scars wouldn't stretch. I think weight is an issue here, so if your job is like a UPS driver or warehouse, the longer the better imo. But you are going to feel dramatically better by the week, or I did anyway.

--Jay