Hi guys,

Early next year I should be having my chest surgery done! w00t! 

However Im quite a large guy and I was wondering if I was going to get told to lose weight before the surgery. Im about 5 foot 8" and about 224 pounds. (Told you I was big) Trouble is I have tried everything and I just cant move it. Im wondering whether being on T doesn't help. Ive been on over 7 months now.

My questions are:-

Would I have to lose weight?

How long does it take before you can properly move again?

Would long would it be before the scarring goes down so its not pink red?

When would I be able to swim?

Cheers

Jay

Quote from: Jay on November 20, 2008, 10:15:02 AM

My questions are:-

Would I have to lose weight?

How long does it take before you can properly move again?

Would long would it be before the scarring goes down so its not pink red?

When would I be able to swim?

Just wondered what the specificates for the surgery was too.

Cheers

Jay

1. Depends on the doctor. Brownstein would definitely want you to. And if you can, it's a good idea because it reduces the risk of dog ears and increases the chance of a good result.

2. I was up and walking around 45 min after surgery. Could take walks up to a couple of hours by the second day. The tricky bit is moving your arms. That you can't really do for three weeks or so, and it's best to go as long as you can so you don't stretch the scars.

3. Scarring depends on individual person. I think it was about six months before mine had settled.

4. Brownstein advises you not to go out in the sun for a year after surgery. You could swim with a rash guard on before then, as soon as your stitches are out.

5. Not sure what you mean.

Dennis

QuoteMy questions are:-

Would I have to lose weight?

How long does it take before you can properly move again?

Would long would it be before the scarring goes down so its not pink red?

When would I be able to swim?

Just wondered what the specificates for the surgery was too.

The more in shape you are, the better the result.

In one month, i felt completely comfortable running for the bus.  extending my arms over my head for long durations took about 3 mo.

Scarring takes 6mo-1yr to fade out, depending on the person, how they care for them, etc.

You can swim 30 days after, though it's best to avoid sun.

Specificates?

Jay it is really important to lose weight as hard as it sounds. In terms of surgery you are high risk with a BMI of 34. I am assuming you aren't heavily muscled. It is the surgeons' choice but many will refuse to do elective surgery as long as you are that overweight. The results will be better and the chances of complications will be less the more weight you lose. There are surgeons who will still operate but I think it is a sign of poor judgment in a surgeon to preform potentially dangerous elective surgery on someone not physically healthy enough. I will leave it at that but your results will be better if you are healthy and as ready as possible for surgery.

I was moving around that day and within a month I had majority of my abilities back. Just don't lift too much or lift your arms above shoulder level for as long as possible to avoid stretching the incisions. If you can restrict those things for about 3 months you should be golden.

Avoid swimming for at least 3 months post op because it stretches your incisions increasing scarring.

The scar healing you are looking for is called third intention healing and can take anywhere between 1 to 3 years. After first intention healing you can massage the scars and that will speed it up.

Yes loose weight but don't try any diets, diets don't work, life style changes are what work. Like you I am 5'8" and I was 215lbs. now I'm 175lbs. and I am still loosing weight, my life style change was to eat at the weight I wanted to be i.e. I want to weight 140ish so a 140lbs. person needs to eat about 1200 calories a day and that's exactly what I do within the first week I dropped 15lbs. and it just keeps coming off, soon I will have that girlish figure I want. Good Luck

Thanks guys. I knew I had to lose weight but I have so much to lose I cant see me doing it. Ive tried and when I mean Ive tried I honestly have. Its ALOT of weight to lose I cant see me having surgery until I am at a decent weight 125 pounds.

I was hopeing to have my surgery early next year. It doesn't seem that I will now.

I feel like crying.


*sigh*

Quote from: Jay on November 20, 2008, 10:15:02 AM
Hi guys,

Early next year I should be having my chest surgery done! w00t! 

Can I have what you're not using?   

Quote from: Jay on November 20, 2008, 03:47:45 PM
Thanks guys. I knew I had to lose weight but I have so much to lose I cant see me doing it. Ive tried and when I mean Ive tried I honestly have. Its ALOT of weight to lose I cant see me having surgery until I am at a decent weight 125 pounds.

I was hopeing to have my surgery early next year. It doesn't seem that I will now.

I feel like crying.

*sigh*

I'm gonna have to agree with what everyone's said--losing weight probably would improve your surgery results, particularly concerning dog ears.  However, 125 lbs sounds like a really daunting goal--that's almost a solid 100 lbs of weight to lose--and it might not be necessary to go quite that far in losing weight to improve your surgery results.  I'm gonna have to whip out the 'ol BMI charts again (I realize the they aren't perfect and don't account for differences in body composition, bone density, frame size, etc... but they're a rough guideline at least): http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm

Looking at that chart, for your height, 125 lbs is at the very bottom end of what's deemed a "normal" healthy weight (BMI=19; 18.5 being the threshold for "underweight").  The uppermost "normal" BMI is 24.9, which corresponds to a weight just below 164 lbs.  Just being in the "normal" range--even the upper end of "normal"--would probably help out your top surgery results a lot, so say 150-160 lbs.  I dunno, when I think about loosing weight (or reaching any goal, really), I find that if I shoot too high in my goal, I have a hard time just getting started with it--it just seems so daunting and impossible that I don't even want to try.  But if I shoot just a bit lower, to where it seems reasonable & do-able to me, I'll have an easier time getting on with it.

Sorry if the above sounded at all like a lecture on those charts; I figure you already know what they mean, I was just using the numbers to try & get my point across.  Best wishes to ya, dude.

Yeah, what Eryk said. 125 is WAY too little for someone 5'8". For someone without any muscle, 150 is a good goal for that height. If you want muscle, 180 is generally what you'd weigh.

Dude, you're not that big... I'm 5'3 and 180.  I expressed my concern to Brownstein and he said I should be okay.  So yeah, you may not get "perfect" results but you'll still get good results.  I suggest joining a gym and working out to see if you can build up your chest muscles as much as you can.  That'll help.  Don't stress out.

QuoteJust don't lift too much or lift your arms above shoulder level for as long as possible to avoid stretching the incisions. If you can restrict those things for about 3 months you should be golden.

Ah crap, that sucks.  I can't imagine not working out for three months.  Six weeks is what i heard and that's gonna be hard enough.

125lb is way too low, if you are T you need to be calculating based on male levels not female. I am 5'3" and weigh ideally 140lb (in good shape). Check out the yahoo group FTM fitness for more info but it is more important to be healthy and fit then a particular number on the scale. I know it can be daunting to try and lose weight so stop trying to. If you make an effort to walk 30 minutes a day, lift some weights, do sit/ push/ chin ups, take the stairs whenever possible, get off the bus 5 minutes from where you need, eat properly etc you will be healthier and the weight will come off on its own. The stress of trying to lose weight actually makes many people gain weight. A really good core work out trick is to use a big ball as a chair instead of your regular chair. You already sit so why not make it work for you.

1200 calories a day isn't a lot especially if you are at your ideal weight and working out. You could put your body into starvation mode if you do that.

The longer you behave and not lift your arms after the surgery the less scarring you will have. You can still work out but stick to aerobics and lower body work outs. It is your call. My scars got stretched when the damn home care nurse pulled my drains to early so it didn't matter for me and I was back lifting weights about 2 months later. 

->-bleeped-<-boy

l'll second what everyone else says. You would be way too skinny at 125. I'm 5'5 and for me the ideal weight is probably 150. Right now I'm 159. If you want to look like an anorexic gork then fine, 125. But at 5'8 you should be looking more 170-ish or 180 if you're built. That's not a big amount for you to lose. Just drop a bit of body fat.

What worked for me, and I've lost about 35 pounds, is first Atkins (which I don't recommend, although it worked for me), and then trying to eat more fibre and vegetables. And being as active as I can be with my work schedule.

Setting unrealistic goals is a surefire way to fail. Try and get under 200 and you'll be damn close to your ideal imo.

Dennis

Quote from: Dennis on November 20, 2008, 11:24:50 PM
I'm 5'5 and for me the ideal weight is probably 150. Right now I'm 159.
Dennis

That makes me feel better, because I'm 5'6" and 158. 

But I agree with what was said, 125 is way too low. Especially for someone of your height. You'd be like a walking barbie doll (no offense). You would be way to skinny. I would suggest somewhere between 150 and 170. That's not based on anything, but it seems to make sense as a healthy weight. Good luck. 

Thanks everyone for your replies. I guess I kinda freaked out last night. I am determinded
to lose weight. My losest that I can remember was 168 pounds and I would rather be that
again. I have big thighs as I used to walk about 12-14 miles a day when I was in the police
and that was about a year. I have muscles in my arms and on my chest. I have a big frame
anyway. I guess if I did go down to 125 pounds I would look anorexic.

I have never been the type of guy to want to look skinny, I just want to look a normal weight.

So my goal is to try and lose 56 pounds (4 stone) Then I shall be happy.

I will have a look at that group thanks ->-bleeped-<-boy.

I work in an office on the six floor and I will start taking the stairs at the beginning of the day an
and the end of the day. Ill do bike riding and start eating healthy again.


I am going to all Dr Dai Davies this morning to get a date to have my consultation.

Quote from: Reluctant Kim on November 20, 2008, 05:38:44 PM

Quote from: Jay on November 20, 2008, 10:15:02 AM
Hi guys,

Early next year I should be having my chest surgery done! w00t! 

Can I have what you're not using?  

Yeah sure.. *gives lumps*

Got my appointment with Dr Davies on the 2nd of December at 12:30! w00t w00t!!! Cant
wait I really cant! Only 10 days away! w00t w00t!

Quote from: Jay on November 21, 2008, 03:01:11 AM
Got my appointment with Dr Davies on the 2nd of December at 12:30! w00t w00t!!! Cant
wait I really cant! Only 10 days away! w00t w00t!

*High five*  BTW, random question: are your glasses in your avatar from Ted Baker (the brand, prolly written on the arm)?  'Cuz they look almost identical to mine, especially with that red on the side.

*high fives* No there osiris. From specsavers cost me £125 had them for over a year, Ive seen women and men wearing them so pretty sure they are unisex. But what the hell!!

I like yours though dude they are very similar!

Quote from: Jay on November 21, 2008, 03:01:11 AM
Got my appointment with Dr Davies on the 2nd of December at 12:30!

Random fact: that's the same day that the game I want comes out (Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories). Oooo... revel in the randomness. 

Congrats!

Dunno about other docs but Brownstein got a weight limit of 300 lbs. 300 lbs is alot weight & nobody gotta be that fat 2 start with  .  ur gonna breathe. move. heal better after surgery if you got a healthy weight so eat healthy. go 2 the gym & u should be cool bro!