I had surgery (DI) on Friday. Felt surprisingly ok afterwards, minus feeling nauseated from the vicodin. Puking and being nauseated freaks me out, gives me panic attacks, so I haven't taken my vicodin just plain tylenol. I tend to have a high pain tolerance though so that's probably in my favor.

On Friday my left side was way more swollen than the right side which had hardly any swelling at all. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac so it worried me and I used ice on that side and the swelling has gone down since the first day but it's still more swollen than the right side. But everyone I've talked to said that's normal. I'm just ready to get my drains out next week cuz this ace wrap around my chest as a post surgical dressing is driving me crazy cuz its loosening itself up and sliding around.

Surgery was yesterday, at home recovering now. So far, no real pain, just a little tightness where the bandages are. Had a little nausea right when I woke up in recovery, but it went away immediately.

Thanks for all the contributions to this thread and others on the board. They all really helped me get myself together and feel mentally ready. I'll post some pics after my unveiling next Tuesday.

Two days post-op here, double incision with nipple graft.  Had it on Thursday, 23 April, at 7.30am.  Dr Farzad Nahai did it.  He's in Atlanta and is much less expensive than Dr Lincenberg.  Dr Nahai took photos of my body after the surgery and showed them to my friend Faerycake, who has been my biggest cheerleader.  Faerycake assures me that it looks great.

So far the only problems I had were just before surgery and right after.  They were putting a mask over my face in the operating theatre and I lost it.  Three people had to hold me down, I was freaking out so bad.  Everything went black after that and I had weird dreams, then I remember hearing my name being called.  A nurse asked if I was in pain.  Oh yes, I was.  I pointed to my left pectoral, which hurt like a mofo.  Took two injections of Dilaudid to get rid of it.  Since then, I've had hardly any pain.

I actually feel really good.  The drains are cumbersome, annoying, and a little uncomfortable.  The Percocet makes me itchy.  If I move the wrong way I feel the incisions sting.  But otherwise...this is a bloody cake walk compared to my gallbladder surgery back in 2010!

And the nurses were just...wonderful!  There were a couple of missed pronouns, but they were fine referring to me as 'he' and 'him'.  My pre-op nurse actually looked a little upset that she had misgendered me, so of course I felt bad and I told her, "Look, it's all right.  Until these are gone [prodded mannaries] I'm not making a huge fuss."  But my friends did gently correct everyone for me before and after surgery.

But the coolest part...Northside Hospital is fully staffed.  No joke!  I stayed overnight and there was one nurse per patient in that recovery ward.  She and I got on really well, she answered all my questions, just made me feel really good.  Said I was her "A+ patient".  Le blush.  The food was even decent.  And before I left, the pre-op nurse came to check on me, wished me luck.  I've never felt so loved in a hospital!

So if you're in Atlanta and want top surgery, I definitely recommend Dr Nahai and Northside Hospital.  Whenever I have my hysterectomy I'm going to see if I can have it up there as well, it was just that great.

Had to have a second surgery on Thursday because I developed a huge amount of swelling and a hematoma on my left side. My right side is fine, drain already taken out and my stitches are all internal so my right side is feeling ok. I go back on Tuesday to have my drain removed from the result of the second surgery on the left side. I can't wait to get this bandage off and wear normal clothes again, wearing a button up shirt for the last week and a half is driving me crazy! And laying here with Xbox and Netflix, I'm still bored to death. sitting around all day without working or doing anything is definitely not for me

Quote from: jumpthenexttrain on April 26, 2015, 02:25:25 AM
Had to have a second surgery on Thursday because I developed a huge amount of swelling and a hematoma on my left side. My right side is fine, drain already taken out and my stitches are all internal so my right side is feeling ok. I go back on Tuesday to have my drain removed from the result of the second surgery on the left side. I can't wait to get this bandage off and wear normal clothes again, wearing a button up shirt for the last week and a half is driving me crazy! And laying here with Xbox and Netflix, I'm still bored to death. sitting around all day without working or doing anything is definitely not for me

That sucks you had to go back in.  I hear you on the 'going crazy' part.  I was so bored yesterday that I made banana bread.  Just not enough Archer and Family Guy on hulu+ to keep me sane.  Anyway, hope everything is okay on Tuesday.  Keep us updated!

If you have an iPhone or Apple TV, you can get a free month of HBO Now (you don't have to have cable AT ALL). Tons of TV to zone out to.

Well, I am now two weeks Post-Op.  I'm a little concerned because my nipples both look really red today and my results don't look as good as the pics I've seen of others at two weeks out, but I am still glad I was able to have it done and I will be be even happier when my nipples heal enough that I don't have to keep them covered

Not such a good angle, but no one else was home to assist with the picture-taking.

One week out. Just had all my bandages and drains removed. The white pads over my nipples are to be removed tomorrow in the shower. There is some bruising in my left armpit from the drain, and around the incision. I have a lot of sensation throughout my chest (nip area is in and out, no sensation directly over the nips). No pain whatsoever the entire week, and I haven't exactly been gentle with myself.

Quote from: ftmax on April 28, 2015, 02:40:16 PM
Not such a good angle, but no one else was home to assist with the picture-taking.

One week out. Just had all my bandages and drains removed. The white pads over my nipples are to be removed tomorrow in the shower. There is some bruising in my left armpit from the drain, and around the incision. I have a lot of sensation throughout my chest (nip area is in and out, no sensation directly over the nips). No pain whatsoever the entire week, and I haven't exactly been gentle with myself.

ftmax!

Looking great!  Keep us updated, including a picture of your new areolas! (wait...that sounded weird).

Congrats on the surgery!!

Somehow I missed 3 other guys getting surgery done.  Usually I am on top of this thread.  Congrats to JandJ, Amadeus, and jumpthenexttrain.

JandJ and jumpthenexttrain, who were your surgeons?

JandJ, try not to worry too much about what you are seeing right now.  There is swelling and craziness that goes on with the skin before it settles down.

jumpthenexttrain, how are you healing up now?

Quote from: Brett on April 28, 2015, 05:42:49 PM
ftmax!

Looking great!  Keep us updated, including a picture of your new areolas! (wait...that sounded weird).

Congrats on the surgery!!

Haha, will do. I am interested to see them as well. Dr. Fischer said she was very pleased with them.

Thanks Brett . My surgeon was Dr. Morehouse in Albuquerque.  So you think it's normal for the nipples to be bright red?  I don't have another appointment until next Thursday.

It's normal for the healing nipples to go through color changes for a few months.  Mine went from brown with tints of green and yellow cause i think  i had a small infection....to bright red....to bright pink....then back to their normal color of a mix between dark pink and dark puprple

whatever your nipple color was before the surgery is what they will be when they heal

How many months did it take for your nipples to even out AleksiJason?  Mine are still mixed with dark brown+light pink after 2 months.

Quote from: AleksiJason on April 29, 2015, 07:12:38 AM
It's normal for the healing nipples to go through color changes for a few months.  Mine went from brown with tints of green and yellow cause i think  i had a small infection....to bright red....to bright pink....then back to their normal color of a mix between dark pink and dark puprple

whatever your nipple color was before the surgery is what they will be when they heal

Thanks - I'm just a little concerned because I'm only 16 days  out a and they have been BRIGHT red ever since the day after the stitches were removed - Friday (day 11).  Hoping I'm just being paranoid!

1 day post op oophorectomy and di top surgery. It all hurts in various way, but getting more awake. I should be discharged today.

Quote from: MacG on April 29, 2015, 12:53:37 PM
1 day post op oophorectomy and di top surgery. It all hurts in various way, but getting more awake. I should be discharged today.

whats an oopherectomy

Quote from: JandJ on April 29, 2015, 10:31:01 AM
Thanks - I'm just a little concerned because I'm only 16 days  out a and they have been BRIGHT red ever since the day after the stitches were removed - Friday (day 11).  Hoping I'm just being paranoid!

dont worry, its an impossibility for your nipples to change color permanently just because they were operated on....it took 2 months or even more for me to get my normal nipple color back....doesnt come back til they are 100% fully healed....theyre just irritated right now like a wound

i've seen guys whose natural nipple color is dark brown

but after surgery they are bright pink or red until 2 or 3 months post op and then become dark brown again

Quote from: AleksiJason on April 29, 2015, 01:03:08 PM
whats an oopherectomy

An oophorectomy is the removal of the ovaries. I had my uterus removed several years ago.