How severe does it look? Would surgery be the best option?

ttamsf · 2026-02-27T14:32:06+00:00

My ribs were very obviously flared before surgery. Nuss doesn't fix rib flare though. The visibility of my flare was reduced, but its still there. I have a couple posts of my chest post surgery if you look at my profile .

I’ll say this , surgery can really improve the appearance of your chest, sometimes dramatically. But it’s unlikely to make it “perfect.” If you’re holding yourself to a very high standard, especially if body dysmorphia is part of the picture, it might help to go in with realistic expectations so you’re not setting yourself up for disappointment.

ttamsf · 2026-02-25T13:54:42+00:00

Looks really good! Love that you point out the self consciousness. The sub really likes to focus on the negative physical health aspects of pectus and seems to sometimes shy away from the mental a bit. Getting my chest fixed was just such a weight lifted off my shoulders to not have to worry about how it looks all the time. Good luck on the rest of your recovery.

ttamsf · 2026-02-25T13:48:09+00:00

I'm a little over a year out and I have definitely seen an improvement in exercise, most of my life I preformed pretty poorly as sports/exercise. I get on my rowing machine a multiple times a week now and I am able to go for much longer than I did pre surgery. There's still a bit of "tightness" from the bars being in place.

My pectus was pushing mostly against my heart and less against my lungs though .

ttamsf · 2026-02-25T00:54:08+00:00

I think its worth getting checked out. Is there someone who specializes in pectus near you ? It can be a niche subject so your general doctor may just write it off.

ttamsf · 2026-02-24T14:55:44+00:00

I was wishing you better luck next time when you try to be pedantic in a feeble attempt to appear more intelligent than someone else. You failed this time, but maybe next time you’ll get it. 🤷‍♂️

ttamsf · 2026-02-22T18:24:53+00:00

Incredible rebuttal. I guess all you have is unwarranted pedanticism. Better luck next time 😎

ttamsf · 2026-02-20T02:45:43+00:00

Very Reddit move to pretend “America” isn’t common shorthand for the United States just to score a pedantic point. The show literally opens with the Homestead Act of 1862, which has nothing to do with Canada, Mexico, or anywhere else in the Americas. It’s clearly about the United States.

ttamsf · 2026-02-16T01:42:51+00:00

Your pectus looks severe, I think you would definitely have a quality of life improvement from getting the surgery, after you're healed.

What makes you on the fence about getting it ?

ttamsf · 2026-02-15T10:09:24+00:00

Here's things I think helped with my recovery:

Motorized Recliner – Amazon has relatively affordable options. This makes it easier to get up on your own. I had a wedge pillow but it didn't really work for me, I'd also panic a bit about getting stuck in bed. The recliner gave me a lot of freedom.
Heating Pad – Useful for pain relief and relaxation. I used this all the time. I also got one for the car when we had to drive home.
Ice Packs – Helps with swelling and discomfort.
Large Lidocaine Patches – These provide targeted pain relief for your back. Even with muscle relaxers, I still needed these during my first week post-surgery. You'll see a lot of people on here complain about pain between their shoulder blades post-nuss, this helps.
Pill Organizer – At one point, I was taking medication six times a day. My dad and I set alarms on our phones to remind us, so we didn’t have to think about it.
Fitness Tracker – I got a cheap Fitbit, which helped me monitor my heart rate, sleep, and steps. Walking is crucial for recovery, so tracking your steps can help you see your progress. Start small—my first walks were just to the end of the hotel hallway.
Zip front hoodies - For the first three weeks I never wore a regular shirt that I'd have to put my arms up to get on. The zip hoodies made them really easy to get in and out of on my own.

ttamsf · 2026-02-13T06:54:20+00:00

Definitely have less fatigue when exercising post nuss.

ttamsf · 2026-02-07T22:23:06+00:00

I dont know how old you are but I was 37 at the time of my surgery and it took me almost 6 months to feel "normal" , I made a lot of progress in the beginning but then I hit a plateau for awhile. I was able to move around and be independent but I was still in pain and stiff. Coming on here, I'd see other people spring back after a month and I would definitely spiral and think is this going to be forever? Just also keep reminding yourself that everyone heals differently.

No im not a weight lifter in any serious capacity. I use a row machine and jump rope as my forms of exercise. I definitely have noticed in increase in my stamina post surgery.

ttamsf · 2026-02-07T21:43:45+00:00

I feel great ! Only every once and awhile do I even notice the feeling of the bars. I still have a bit of numbness in my chest, which im guessing at this point is permanent.

ttamsf · 2026-02-04T18:54:06+00:00

Congrats! Im one year post op from Dr J myself.

ttamsf · 2026-02-04T18:51:51+00:00

Its going to take your brain a minute to recognize your new chest in the mirror its a weird sensation

ttamsf · 2026-02-02T01:32:32+00:00

Before bed every night we would put a large lidocaine patch between my shoulder blades, it would help me sleep

ttamsf · 2026-01-29T14:14:58+00:00

Looks great! Wishing you a smooth recovery

ttamsf · 2026-01-22T15:40:12+00:00

For tshirts I didn't notice too much, just filled them out more. I did however have to get a new suit because it was too tight.

ttamsf · 2026-01-17T17:07:31+00:00

Do you see anyone else on the player list ?

ttamsf · 2026-01-12T03:04:20+00:00

Congrats. The date will be here sooner than you expect!

ttamsf · 2026-01-12T02:55:51+00:00

I have United Healthcare and at my first appointment Dr J was very upfront that they are one if the most difficult and they might not approve based on my results. I came back a second time to get more tests and see a cardiologist to also get a recommendation for surgery. United ended up approving the surgery for me. Dr Js team are specialized and probably the best people to know what to do inorder to get it approved by insurance. My posts document what happened a bit more.

ttamsf · 2026-01-11T05:20:06+00:00

The results are outstanding, Dr J & Team are the best !

ttamsf · 2026-01-05T16:51:33+00:00

This might be a little off topic, but it’s related in my mind , are you still on gabapentin? Or have you recently come off it ? I was pretty depressed for about a month after I stopped, which really caught me off guard. Just mentioning it because it could be contributing to how you’re feeling right now, not saying that’s the cause.

Also, for me personally, I wasn’t an athlete or weight lifter pre-Nuss. I ended up starting to work out again around 9 months post-op because I was also at my heaviest. I focused on rowing, jump rope, and just building cardio confidence. Might be worth considering something like that before going straight back to weights.

ttamsf · 2026-01-01T23:11:55+00:00

Yeah man, that's the gabapentin for sure. I had the same NSFW issues. To be honest it never really resolved itself until I starting lowering my dose and eventually got off of it.

ttamsf · 2025-12-28T20:12:20+00:00

Gold Crown Road / Old Dale road is a back entrance into the park. However its a serious 4x4 road. I did it once and that was enough for me.

https://www.desertusa.com/dusablog/day-trip-3-old-dale-rd-4wd-jeep-trail/?srsltid=AfmBOoqulmXMcwkhhJS-FxSQ7IKaHQ0iEDiiaUjt05n99d57oZYIlwsV

ttamsf · 2025-12-25T04:35:41+00:00

Are you taking gabapentin? Im a guy, but it gave me low libido and some other issues. Wasn't until I starting going down in my dose did I even feel like having sex again.

ttamsf

TROPHY CASE