Hello everyone! I promised to relay my experiences of getting the surgery so here I am.
The surgery was done by Dr. Bartlett in Brookline, near Boston, MA. Overall I am fairly happy with my experience. The entire staff there was very polite and thoughtful. The doctor is well known for taking his time during his procedures. My surgery took 3.5 hours. He told me before we started that would take his time and make sure everything went well. Which is exactly what I wanted to hear.
I had to be at the office at 6:45 AM for prep so I could begin the actual procedure at 8. Before I left I had to wash with this extra strong medical grade soap. It was strange washing my chest, knowing that in a few hours it would be completely different. The feeling was bittersweet because they had done a lot for me. On the other hand they were holding me back from where I needed to be. There was paperwork to be completed and instructions to go over. The nurse made sure the medical binder that I'm going to have to wear about a month fitted right. They gave me 2 Tylenol, a strong painkiller and other pills to relax me. They all worked pretty well. I was nervous for certain but it wasn't anything unmanagable. Dr. Bartlett came in and made me pose for photographs from several angles which I'm never a fan of but that's how it goes. Then he spent a very long time drawing on my chest, mapping out exactly how the work is to be done.
I hugged my partner goodbye and walked into the surgery clinic they had right there in the office. I've had surgery before so it wasn't that intimating. I laid down, they took my blood pressure and put my legs into a sort of massaging tube. Just to keep the blood circulating when I was laying there for 4 hours. Everyone fussed all over me and the IV was eventually started. I don't remember falling asleep. When I woke up I was in the recovery room I believe and the nurse was there telling me everything had gone perfectly.
According to my partner, that was the third time I woke up but I have no memory at all of the first 2 times. He must have gotten me to the car somehow, but I have no idea how. We drove back to the hotel where were we stayed in case there was any complications. I think he might have stopped at CVS, although I'm not sure. He laughed at me for asking the same questions over and over again. It's just that my memory after the anesthesia was basically shot for the rest of the day. Everything would be black and then I would wake up in someplace completely new. Very strange. Good thing Greg was so patient and willing to be there for me. Who knows where I would of ended up otherwise.
I have two large squeezable bulbs dangling on the front of my body. They keep filling up with blood and so on. I have to measure the amount and then throw it away. It's a bit gross but it doesn't bother me. It bothers Greg a lot more which makes me laugh. So far they've been half way filled, about 50 MG, 3 times a day. I'm hoping the seeping will taper off so I can get them off next Monday when I visit Dr. Bartlett again.
The painkiller they gave me, hydromorphone, works very well. So I'm not in that much pain. Just slightly spacey and out of it at the moment. The sorest parts right now are under my armpits and down a bit to my ribs. Although if I stand up and start moving around everything on my chest hurts. So I think I'll just take it easy for a few days. They also put a patch on the neck, under my ear which stops the nausea which I'm also grateful for. It makes me a bit thirsty but that's a small price to pay.
Until Monday I have to keep this binder on, morning, noon and night. I can't even take a shower, which is going to suck after a bit. Worse though I can't see how my chest looks now. I have a good imagination and I can picture it well but there's nothing like the real thing.
If you have any questions about how everything went down, let me know. I'll be happy to answer them. I also have some very nice but used binders from LoveBoat if anyone is interested in those.
It must be great to finally get that off your chest. ;D
Congrats, man!
Yeah it's very nice. I waited 3 years for this surgery and now it's nearly done. It will truly be done when I can stop wearing this post surgery binder and just be free. It's going to be so nice to go out running without a binder on. Just for starters of course. I know I'm going to be so confident in many different ways.
Glad it's going well for you! It sounds like the treatment was top notch, which is what you deserve. Hugs, Devlyn
Congrats! Sounds like a very good doctor and experience so far.
Not showering for a week, wow!
What type of surgery did you get?
also, what sizes are your binders?
I know we don't know one another, but I thoughts that this was in order!
Congratulations!
I'm glad everything went so well for you in the surgery and I hope the seeping will taper off ;) I'll keep my fingers crossed.
-Dalex
Thank you! Unfortunately I had to have the Bilateral mastectomy. My chest wasn't that big at all, but thanks to binding for years the skin was really loose. I also got the nipple graft which isn't the best option, but they were droopy and if he hadn't moved them, the nipple would absolutely be in the wrong place.
I have two 3rd Gen. Velcro Short Binder size small, Sports Pullover Short Binder size small, Tank Top Style Chest Binder size small and a Strapless Velcro Binder.
I saw that we are not allowed to sell binders on here though. So I'm going to have to find another way to give them to guys who need them.
Thank you Devlyn and Dalex! It is so thrilling, damn I waited so long.
Congratulations on your surgery! I am 19 days post surgery. The daily process of showering, then cutting the medicated squares for the nipples, then the ointment, then bandages over that (bandages, which at this point are really tearing up my skin), then putting on the Scar Away strips on the incisions (I will wear daily for 12 weeks), is becoming a royal pain in the ass!
It is fantastic without a binder though! (I had Garramone so my process is different).
It is wild to feel the wind press your t-shirt against your bare chest.
Good luck, rest up, don't move your arms, and you will be good!
@Chipper - I would recommend Dr. Bartlett, at least based on my experience so far. He is a bit abrupt at times and it's possible he just sees his patients as a body to sculpt. When he was marking up my chest I might as well have been in the next room. Still I will always appreciate someone who is willing to put in extra time to get the right result. The staff generally was very nice and understanding. If you do go to Bartlett I would further recommend getting the procedure done in the office instead of at a hospital. Provided you are healthy and don't foresee complications. They are more comfortable on their own turf and would be more likely to take extra time if they needed it.
@Brett - Congratulations right back at you! Yes the after care is a pain but I know it's important to stick to it for the best result. You can do it, it's not forever. Not moving my arms is not easy, but I'm doing my best to let other people help me out. I'm a very independent person, so it's hard for me. Good thing it's only temporary.
I heard that some guys get post surgery depression. I was worried about that because I have a tendency towards depression. Fortunately I'm really feeling happy so far so that's all good.
Thanks for the support everyone. :)
Congrats, Squirrel! Healing will come sooner than you think.
Jay
Thank you Jay! :D I certainly hope so. So far it's been very good.