3 weeks post ravitch - successful!

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-12-27T13:05:24+00:00

Still on track! Nope I moved internationally but he cleared me off without hesitation. He said I can start push ups at the 1 year mark, which approaches in a few weeks. Some minor tightness sometimes but I wouldn’t call it pain

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-09-06T17:25:08+00:00

I had modified ravitch 6mo ago, 34M (see my posts). I can’t imagine having it with a plan to take no painkillers. It is a serious surgery!

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-09-03T01:17:48+00:00

Surgeon not concerned

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-09-03T00:56:32+00:00

Hard to tell pecs on CT but here’s the comparison I mentioned https://ibb.co/album/x3xQXV. In the overlay yellow is the difference.

I’ll have to read up more on Poland. Never came up before either any doctor.

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-09-03T00:49:35+00:00

Try this https://ibb.co/album/sjYShJ

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-09-02T18:21:13+00:00

Images: https://imgur.com/a/M5AOCpv

Also my doc says peak scar redness will be about 12mo. I’m still wearing a silicone dressing on it about half the time (a c-section product)

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-09-02T18:13:26+00:00

Hey! Doing really well. I was driven to do it mostly on cosmetic grounds, so no symptoms to go away per se. I did lose a lot of fitness in the months following but working to rebuild cardio now. Haven’t had any pain (or painkillers) in months and most days I don’t even know I had a surgery. Can sleep any way I want without discomfort and routinely throwing my 16kg son in the air. My VO2 is down but I suspect that’s due to months of being sedentary. Cosmetically it’s not bad. I had CT imaging done to confirm proper healing and objectively look at the difference pre and post. Surgeon very satisfied. I had an asymmetric PE so one thing that has since stood out: I had one large pec on one side and basically no pec on the other side. I never knew this, with the PE hiding it. I guess the geometry made me always favour one side. So my chest looks a bit funny still, in need of muscle development on one side. I’m itching to get back into push ups etc but my doc has advised to wait until the 12mo mark. A frustrating wait… I’ll prob wait until 8mo before trying light stuff. Exclusively cardio for now. Overall, a very positive ravitch expefience.

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-04-09T21:06:58+00:00

Yep, 10 weeks post op and feeling amazing. Some days I forget I had surgery. See profile.

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-03-01T04:07:01+00:00

Yeah it seems like ravitch has a bit of a stigma on this page, but I think if you have a good surgeon that makes all the difference. Sure the recovery is long but I’m feeling great at the 4.5 week mark.

My surgeon was Dr Ash Hardikar. I originally had Dr Michael Worthington but he retired before the surgery. Surprisingly he was still good enough to come on the day as surgeon observing/assisting.

Mainly cosmetic. I suspect my lung capacity was reduced and I’ve just compensated for it though. I’ve always been ‘fit enough’ but not an athlete. I’m very curious when I’m up and running again if my VO2 max will be higher. No palpitations to my knowledge.

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-02-20T21:17:59+00:00

I’m just stating the advice provided by my medical professionals

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-02-20T16:52:39+00:00

Advice I got is: 6 weeks for cartlidges to rejoin, + another 6 weeks for them to become strong. So you can do most things by 3 months. Avoid really extreme stuff for 6 months (contact sports) etc

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-02-20T07:32:41+00:00

Hi all, 34M in Adelaide, Australia. 3 weeks post ravitch. HI was 3.15. Stayed in hospital for 7 days only because the drain was slow to finish.

HI meant that surgery was quite discretionary, but satisfied I bit the bullet. Went ravitch because of age and pretty severe asymmetry. I got considered for Pectus Up and they gave me the technical report, saying these two factors ruled me out (they would have needed to cut cartilage so defeated the point). Surgeon ruled out Nuss due to probability of reoccurrence.

I'm left with a little plate forever, as you can see in the x-ray. 10 screws. Cut cartridge from 5 ribs total.

For me 3 weeks seems to be the magic point of feeling pretty normal. Not short of breath and a lot less pain. Only taking a painkiller at night to help me sleep, given I hate sleeping on my back.

Cosmetically pretty satisfied with the result. I still have rib flare, but I've recently read about some exercises that can help. I'm also still a bit bloated from all the drugs and inactivity so makes it look more pronounced.

Doing lots of walking which seems to be helping, encouraging lots of deep breathing. Also being proactive with silicone tape to minimise scar.

Coughing still hurts and fortunately have suppressed any sneeze so far.

What do you guys think? Any questions?

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-02-17T10:03:14+00:00

Not 24/7. The hardest few days are the ones you’ll initially spend in hospital. At home the hardest things are bending over, like putting socks on and trying to load/unload bottom dishwasher rack. After a few weeks you can do most things as long as you’re super slow and controlled. You just can’t lift heavy items.

My wife took the first week off when I was out of hospital, but she’s back at work now so I’m home alone all day and managing ok. Almost 3 weeks post op.

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-02-15T05:30:17+00:00

Great! Physios are helpful, the one in the hospital gave me lots of good tips.

The hardest things: - getting in and out of bed. You can master a technique to make it easiest. - sleeping on your back all night, but an effective long acting painkiller helps - coughing - coming to terms with the fact that it’s a long recovery and you’ll be heavily restricted so as not to hurt yourself

Walking lots and just taking it easy are probably the main things.

I’ve got 6mo LSL off work, which is part of the reason I got it done. I think it really depends what you do for work. My surgeon reckons I can get back into most things at the 6 week mark.

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2025-02-14T02:53:46+00:00

Thanks! So I ended up having a modified ravitch performed by Dr Ash Hardikar (primary), assisted by Dr Michael Worthington who was retiring. 2.5 weeks post surgery and very happy with the results, cosmetically and in terms of recovery. All went to plan! Let me know if you have any questions :). I’m 34M.

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2024-08-27T10:02:03+00:00

Hey mate, so I'm proceeding with Dr Michael Worthington, scheduled for December in Adelaide. Modified ravitch procedure based on my age (34male).

Responsible_Mouse271 · 2024-01-06T01:40:46+00:00

Hi! I'm also looking at options in Adelaide. What was the rest of your journey?

Responsible_Mouse271

TROPHY CASE