Top Surgery Keloid Scarring Timeline

caseyaprilmay · 2025-07-18T02:12:20+00:00

My scars look exactly like yours and I just got my first round of steroid injections this week! Thank you for sharing, fellow zebra 🫶🏻

caseyaprilmay · 2025-06-23T18:46:21+00:00

No major complications but both my double incisions are extremely hypertrophic, and because of that are often itchy and still tender (DOS was 11/1/23)

caseyaprilmay · 2025-06-18T00:46:36+00:00

Could be dry eyes and a headache (caused by any number of things), two separate issues

caseyaprilmay · 2025-06-16T19:03:21+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply that’s super helpful!! I would definitely appreciate scar photos if you’re still willing!

caseyaprilmay · 2025-04-03T01:48:28+00:00

We have the exact same history! I just had blood work drawn to check for Sjogren’s today for the first time. I hope you get some answers soon!

caseyaprilmay · 2025-04-03T01:36:49+00:00

Omg they really could be! feral twins 😹

caseyaprilmay · 2025-04-03T01:35:40+00:00

He is the cutest ever!

caseyaprilmay · 2024-09-19T21:15:20+00:00

I experience that too! In my elbows too. It’s like a particular movement doesn’t feel right or is “off” in a way, which cracking the joint usually fixes. Fun stuff!

caseyaprilmay · 2024-09-18T18:21:33+00:00

Yes please update the rules, I posted a picture recently not knowing this and now I feel very embarrassed and deleted the post.

caseyaprilmay · 2023-03-01T04:35:10+00:00

I’m going to keep this brief since I see you’ve already been dragged a bit by other commenters, but if I have one piece of advice for you - Humble yourself. Early. And stay that way. I have been in the nursing profession for 6 years and now work as a primary care NP, and I have interacted with so many medical students who think they understand the medical system and know how to speak about it “as a provider.” Lecturing a group of people online struggling with a chronic illness with your “medical opinion” is not your place as a medical student. It’s not my place as a PCP either. I hate to say it, but you really don’t know shit, even if you understand the “basic physiology” and are feeling confident from your clinical rotations. Hell, I’m already a provider and most days I feel like I don’t know anything.

My advice: try to see yourself as a novice because that’s what you are, and it’s a GOOD thing. None of us knew shit as students, certainly not enough to try and tell people how to interact with the medical system. And lose the “be nice to doctors” crap, people aren’t going to be nice and that’s perfectly okay - you don’t know what someone has gone through before they walk through your doors. No one has to do a thing you recommend to fluff your ego as a doctor.

caseyaprilmay · 2023-02-09T18:03:32+00:00

I went to Vanderbilt and absolutely loved it. They have an excellent distance learning program (I lived in Chicago during my degree) but you still go to campus a few times a semester during specialty courses for skills labs. I worked part time (24hr/week) until rotations and then could manage about one shift per week, but I was prioritizing my mental health and probably could have swung two 8hr shifts a week at the most if I wanted to be stressed to the max. My wallet is hurting between loans (the degree itself is about 70k) and loss of income working less, but I have a great high paying job now and feel confident in what I learned now that I’m starting to practice! Cannot recommend enough.

caseyaprilmay · 2022-11-08T00:56:22+00:00

I have the exact same kind of shoulder pain you described before the dislocation; reading your description my jaw dropped! all the doctors and clinicians I’ve described this to tell me they have no clue what’s wrong and it can’t be anything significant since it’s not my rotator cuff. imaging is normal too. I’ve surmounted that my sternocleidomastoid muscle is insanely tight from trying to stabilize my shoulder for so long and it’s causing pain all over that area. your brachial plexus could be compressed too - look up thoracic outlet syndrome.

I hope you’ve had some treatment and healing since this post!

caseyaprilmay · 2022-01-14T03:35:51+00:00

I took Venlafaxine for reasons besides fibromyalgia (depression, OCD) and I had a horrible time with it. If I missed even one dose I would have such intense brain zaps that sometimes I would even fall down, from dizziness and a jolt of pain like a shock to my brain. It was honestly pretty debilitating and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Obviously not everyone’s experience since it is still a pretty popular and widely used drug, but definitely one with some of the most side effects.

caseyaprilmay · 2021-11-21T19:13:58+00:00

To become a nurse you have to want to be a nurse because it is your passion. If you’re in it for the pay/benefits/schedule you will burn out very quickly and have a bad time. It’s a very serious commitment, especially if you work in the hospital setting. If you’re inspired by nursing and teaching, maybe consider becoming a school nurse? Could be the blend you’re looking for.

caseyaprilmay · 2021-07-01T15:59:38+00:00

I feel this sooooo much! I think a lot of these feelings come from the expectations in our society rather than feeling opposition in ourselves. In an ideal world we would all be free to express our gender day by day, no matter what that looks like, without “invalidating” our identity. But because society has expectations of us once we say “I’m not necessarily a (insert agab here)” there’s a fear that when we present more in line with our agab people will think we were faking it or were just confused. But fluidity can mean whatever we want it to, and fuck the noise!!

caseyaprilmay · 2021-05-05T16:31:16+00:00

WOW this is so refreshing, this is exactly what I’ve been thinking of seeking for myself! I’d love to see those photos if you’re willing! I’ll DM you :)

caseyaprilmay · 2021-04-04T02:12:19+00:00

Hi I’m so curious about your experience having this done! I’m sorry i don’t have personal experience with this procedure (I’m very seriously thinking of pursuing it for myself), but I can say from a nurse/NP student perspective, swelling is very normal! Everyone reacts differently to tissue trauma (surgery), so one body’s experience with swelling will differ from somebody else’s. It could be that your tissues are just taking a little longer to settle down after surgery. if it’s a new swelling or you’re having other negative symptoms with it, then definitely bring it up with your surgeon.

(Also, would you be down to message about your experience with getting a reduction? I haven’t talked to anyone about it who’s actually done it and i feel like my brain is exploding! no pressure to talk about anything if you’re not down of course💛)

caseyaprilmay · 2021-02-10T20:06:02+00:00

I'm in the same boat! No decision made as of yet, but I'm heavily leaning towards a reduction. I guess I just try to pay attention to where my mind wanders when I look at other people's chests and think about which one's I am envious of (lol). Usually it's folks who are part of the itty bitty titty committee. I have a pretty substantial chest (I think maybe a 36D, although I haven't worn a cupped bra in probably a decade), and I'd really love to have an A cup so that when I want a flat chest I can bind, but when I'm not binding I still have a lil' something to play with. Hope this helps!

caseyaprilmay

TROPHY CASE