Hi, Sebryn,

I haven't tried that tape, but KZ mentioned it before. 

I use the silicone strips, so that would be a problem there.  However, I also have the serum (I just feel more confident in the strips).  Perhaps what I will do is use the serum at night with the micropore tape on top of it.  I wonder if I am doing most the the stretching during the night?

Thanks for the tips.

KZ, I really believe that the wrinkling will go away with time.  I don't think it will be too long of a wait, either, if it was about the tape.  I had some puckering that is almost all the way gone, but that is connected to the stitching of the incision.

ETA: My girlfriend picked me up the tape while she was at the store.  I will start this tonight!

Thanks for the reassurance, guys.

Yeah I'm hopeful that it's temporary. Not much I can do about it anyways - looking to hit the gym this year or at least get some half decent home equipment.  Very tired of chicken wings!

Quote from: Kreuzfidel on February 25, 2014, 02:48:57 AM
Thanks for the reassurance, guys.

Yeah I'm hopeful that it's temporary. Not much I can do about it anyways - looking to hit the gym this year or at least get some half decent home equipment.  Very tired of chicken wings!

You and me both Kreuz. Well... I'm a little more on the side of bat wings than chicken wings. Went shopping yesterday and found it very frustrating to not like my body but not be able to work on it for a while! When would you guys suggest would be an acceptable time for me to hit the treadmill?

Quote from: NathanExplosion on February 25, 2014, 11:35:21 AM
You and me both Kreuz. Well... I'm a little more on the side of bat wings than chicken wings. Went shopping yesterday and found it very frustrating to not like my body but not be able to work on it for a while! When would you guys suggest would be an acceptable time for me to hit the treadmill?

three weeks like the dr said nate!!!!! (im watching you)

I'm glad that I had been lifting weights three times a week and running everyday before surgery for the last year. (With a binder on...ugh...had to run in the wee hours of the morning to avoid the heat. Not going to miss that.) I think that is one of the major issues behind my stir craziness. I can't lift weights, or work out. Also I can walk but no running because it gets my heart rate up, something my surgeon said to avoid for six weeks. You guys might want to check if that's the same for you Nathan and FB before climbing on a treadmill since it can be easy to get your heart rate up right when you first begin a new exercise regimen. And yes FB keep an eye on Nathan lol. In the greater scheme of things six weeks is nothing....well besides mildly annoying when you feel the best you've ever felt in your life.

Quote from: Sebryn on February 25, 2014, 03:50:44 PM
I'm glad that I had been lifting weights three times a week and running everyday before surgery for the last year. (With a binder on...ugh...had to run in the wee hours of the morning to avoid the heat. Not going to miss that.) I think that is one of the major issues behind my stir craziness. I can't lift weights, or work out. Also I can walk but no running because it gets my heart rate up, something my surgeon said to avoid for six weeks. You guys might want to check if that's the same for you Nathan and FB before climbing on a treadmill since it can be easy to get your heart rate up right when you first begin a new exercise regimen. And yes FB keep an eye on Nathan lol. In the greater scheme of things six weeks is nothing....well besides mildly annoying when you feel the best you've ever felt in your life.

You dont even know, this guy is over here trying to carry groceries and reach high shelves...hes a monster in the making! Just one of the many questions to ask the surgeon...along with what it was like to hold a disembodied nipple.

in healing news, im 12 days along and my nipples have started to turn pink!!

Nathan, my surgeon said the same as Sebryn's surgeon.  6 weeks before cardio (heart rate up).

I'll definitely have to ask the surgeon - our post-operative care sheet says three weeks!

Six weeks before cardio?  That sounds pretty excessive, but if that's what the doctor ordered...

I'm just glad I took a full 6 weeks post-op off.  I intend to start cardio after I go back to work - but will probably not hit the gym/weights until after a couple of months.

anyone know why you cant get your heartrate up? whats the reason behind that?

Increased stress on your system, mainly the blood vessels I believe. When your heart rate goes up blood pumps faster through your body, especially muscles, to deliver them oxygen. So since you have had surgery which involved cutting the muscles I believe the reasoning behind it is that it could stress the healing inner incisions which in most cases haven't fully sealed until that six week mark.

Just keep it at a nice slow pace or walk outside maybe? I was cleared for long walks on week three. (A couple of miles if I wanted.)

Remember you both went through a major surgery even though it doesn't feel like it now. I actually personally had to look into exactly what was involved in the surgery for it to sink in how much was done. Not for the weak stomach or easily grossed out, but it does make it hit home once you realize what all was cut and then sewn back together internally.

Quote from: Sebryn on February 25, 2014, 09:56:27 PM
Increased stress on your system, mainly the blood vessels I believe. When your heart rate goes up blood pumps faster through your body, especially muscles, to deliver them oxygen. So since you have had surgery which involved cutting the muscles I believe the reasoning behind it is that it could stress the healing inner incisions which in most cases haven't fully sealed until that six week mark.

Just keep it at a nice slow pace or walk outside maybe? I was cleared for long walks on week three. (A couple of miles if I wanted.)

Remember you both went through a major surgery even though it doesn't feel like it now. I actually personally had to look into exactly what was involved in the surgery for it to sink in how much was done. Not for the weak stomach or easily grossed out, but it does make it hit home once you realize what all was cut and then sewn back together internally.

We were told to walk week one, so we did do some walking around the street. Not miles and miles or anything but we could walk if we wanted. It made me feel much much MUCH better. Around i think three days or so for me, we started walking outside. We've got a little dog who was SO excited to go for his walk! Made sure mom held the leash though.

I was told there was no muscle involved in my surgery, that it was all skin based. Either way, increased blood flow makes sense. I'm not particularly a runner myself, but I know Nate's dying to get back to working out.

I wouldn't recommend running (not sure when you are though). But walking is good for you. I started maybe 2nd day and think it helped quite a lot.

--Jay

Hah yeah I think I was told to rein in on the miles since I am used to running miles and miles everyday. I could walk after day one and did but was told not to overdo it, to the point he even gave me a distance limit. Now I have to relearn how to run...no more slouching. Yay. I hear you guys on the dog walking...we have two little poodles. One is mine and I am very thankful I trained her to walk next to me so I can walk her hands free by tying her leash to my belt/belt loop. Very useful. And she despises running so she keeps me in check lol.

All in all none of us can really advise you on exercise restrictions since each surgeon has different restrictions. Ask your surgeon since there is normally a clause in the surgery agreement about complications and revisions not being covered if you don't follow the surgeon's post-op care and restrictions. A lot of surgeons have varying restrictions and restrictive periods.

Most of the six week periods are based off of the far end of the average healing time for people in general. You'll see six weeks quoted a lot for healing times, such as piercings and tattoos. Even though those types of things don't really register as a big deal they really do put a strain on your system as it heals. A lot of times you'll be told to avoid caffeine and alcohol as much as possible and to be "chill" until healing has completed, on average one and a half to two months (6-8weeks).

I believe there is some truth to the cardio thing personally. I have tattoos and piercings, some I got before I started being diligent about running and some after. The ones before I was running everyday never swelled, almost at all. Kind of freaky hah, like my near zero swelling after top surgery. Now the second and third part of my forearm tattoo were done after I had been very diligent in my running (minus down time for my hysterectomy and kidney surgeries) and both swelled excessively, especially the third time which was weird since it was the least time I'd ever spent in the chair. The only thing that changed was the running every morning. So at least for me I believe being as chill as possible about the cardio is the way to go to promote a good healing period.

Also don't forget the vitamins and veggies. I think I'm driving people around here insane with my health nut diet.

11 weeks mini update

I tried running again for the first time since surgery yesterday, it felt pretty amazing to not have things bouncing around but what little bouncing I did feel felt weird and pully. So I am settling for brisk walking for now. I plan on weights tomorrow and shall report back!

Also, I went clothes shopping, after years of hiding under XL button down shirts I am now wearing size small t-shirts, they fit on the shoulders and  don't hang all the way down to my freaking knees - so awesome (why do clothes manufacturers assume all XL wearing people are tall anyway?)

so im just short of two weeks along and my nipples are still black and kind of gooey. going in tomarrow for my two week post op, but its been bothering me. is this normal? just want some peace of mind until tomarrow...

also, one of them has a little holeish thing near the bottom of it, and the other bled a little bit. Are those things normal?

11 weeks is fine for running. I thought there were some guys who were under 8 weeks in.
Not sure what the doctors instructions were but a lot of doctors don't like you to raise your heart rate before about 6-8 weeks.

--Jay

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 26, 2014, 04:35:50 PM
so im just short of two weeks along and my nipples are still black and kind of gooey. going in tomarrow for my two week post op, but its been bothering me. is this normal? just want some peace of mind until tomarrow...

also, one of them has a little holeish thing near the bottom of it, and the other bled a little bit. Are those things normal?

Yeah, I'd say it's normal.  I was terrified because I couldn't find any information on it or how they should look.  I'm 5 weeks today and my right one is still gooey.  It can take a long time to heal.

So two week post op was today, and the doctor said everything looked good. My left nipple looked to be mostly pus (not the areola, just the nipple), but the doctor said to just keep an eye on it. He said I could stop using gauze and just put normal bandaids on it. However, he was out of bandaids that were big enough, so he put gauze and tape over it and said to put a bandaid on it when I got home.

However, when I got home and went to take the gauze off, the pus-y nipple stuck to the gauze and seemed to start pulling off in a big chunk and bled. I FREAKED OUT and put the gauze back and left it alone.

Is my whole nipple coming off or was it just a big scab? The areola looks great, nice and pink. I called the surgeon but he didn't pick up and his mailbox is full, GRRR.

It's fine, I'd say.  Give the surgeon a ring again and keep trying - but mine is doing the same thing.  The areola is fine, but the center nipple part is essentially just a little lump of dead tissue attached to new granulating tissue underneath.  It's essentially a big gross scab and if you pull it before it's ready to detach it'll bleed.  Just keep the gauze on it and keep an eye on it.