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Sinister
Contributing Member
Posts: 169
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Oklahoma
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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My thoughts on results...
Overall, I am very pleased with the results. Dr. Pilegaard decided to use one bar during surgery, but he was able to correct most of the PE. He
told me after surgery that there was still a small excavatum present, but it wasnt worth putting a second bar in for and that it is now symmetrical.
I notice it, but it doesnt bother me.
My rib flare is about the same, but i expected that. I think it may be slightly less on the right, but on the left it is still pretty bad.
I am both excited and nervous about the possibility of how my body is going to change over the next 6-12 months, especially after I start working out.
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Sinister
Contributing Member
Posts: 169
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Oklahoma
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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I had initially planned on doing just one big post after surgery with all the pics to keep everything organised, but it didnt work out like that. So,
Im going to try and wrap it up witht this post and fill in the blanks.
Pre-op- I had initially scheduled with Schaar. I didnt feel comfortable with everything so contacted Pilegaard and scheduled with
him. I had already paid Schaar and Helios so it took about two weeks to get my money refunded, but it was not big deal.
I was working out 3-4 times/week, eating healthy and was in great shape. But once I actually had a date, for some reason I became depressed. I didnt
work out one more time and my diet went to [Censored]. I started drinking alot of coke again and eating alot of "comfort" foods, ie cheeseburgers and
fries. It was quite bizarre because I recognized it, but I just didnt care. Needless to say, I went into surgery possibly in the worst shape of my
life. And the pics show it.
Post op - Compared to others on here, my recovery was quite uneventful. Although going through it wasnt easy and at times even hard
for me, I tried to keep it in perspective. The two biggest issues I dealt with during recovery was pain/discomfort and constipation. The epidural
helped with pain most of the time, but there were times I had breakthrough pain, maybe 7-8/10. Also, just the overall discomfort got pretty annoying.
It was hard to get a good night sleep because I couldnt get comfortable and that was tough, because I NEED my sleep. I get real cranky when I dont
have it. The constipation was what it was. I ended up getting 3 dulcolax suppositiories in the hospital, with the third one kinda working. So they
sent me home. Well, it was another 2-3 days and I still hadnt had a good BM and was very, very uncomfortable from it, so we found a pharmacy in
Copenhagen and the pharmacist got me some pro-biotics and I believe it was a glykol suppository. Well, the next day everything worked. I felt so
much better, words really cant describe.
Post-op Pain Mgmt. - Pilegaard prescribed Oxycontin 30mg twice a day for a week, then 20mg twice a day for a week, then 10mg twice a
day for week. Also, he gave me percocet to take in between the Oxycontin if I was having pain. Overall, its worked well. I havent had much pain,
just more discomfort. We have a zero gravity chair and that feels good.
Misc. - I planned on keeping a journal so I could have a detailed post, but after the epidural, my right hand went numb. They
called it lazy arm and said its not uncommon. So, I was unfortunately unable to keep a journal and hence cannot remember all of the little things I
wanted to comment on.
OverallTextText I will give my overall impressions later, not so close to the surgery date.
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BullyBulldog
Member
Posts: 936
Registered: 4-30-2008
Location: UK
Member Is Offline
Mood: Nussed and back home
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Great results mate, you look good!
Recovery is amazing, if you'd gone to berlin you'd still be there with your drains in.
Nussed in the UK (NHS) on May 21st 2010 by Hans Pilegaard at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.
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edgey
Posting Freak
Posts: 1108
Registered: 1-30-2005
Location: Toronto
Member Is Offline
Mood: Getting on with Post-PE life
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Results look great and your speedy recovery is amazing. I agree that you didnt need another bar. Pilegaard has done a fantastic job. Well done.
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Pectus Dude
Member
Posts: 971
Registered: 9-2-2009
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Mood: Onwards and Upwards
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Wonderful result.
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Sinister
Contributing Member
Posts: 169
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Oklahoma
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Week 3
I am now in week three of recovery from the nuss. It has been exactly how I though it would be minus two nights.
About a week ago, I woke up with a nagging pain underneath my left nipple (the side of my stabilizer). Throughout the day, it got worse. Then by
evening time, each time I took a deep breath, I got this horrible pain on the left side of my rib cage, deep and it would bounce around. I was unable
to pin point it. Then it would radiate up my back and into my neck. It was horrible. I would not wish it on anyone. It lasted two nights and I was
almost resigned to thinking that I would some how have to live with this for three years. If I didn't breathe deep, it didn't hurt. Then I awoke the
next morning and as quick as the pain started it was gone. It has not returned and I pray that it does not.
Other than those two nights, It has been a lot of walking and stretching and taking it easy. I can feel the bar most of the time when I am awake and
sometimes it is uncomfortable, but that's about it. I plan on starting to work out around week 6 and return to work a week after that, so around week
7.
Most of my swelling has gone down, except around the left nipple. It still looks disfigured. Pilegaard said this can go on for 5-6 weeks, so I am
not worried about it.
This forum has become part of my life. I check it usually on a daily basis, if not more than once. I have followed the stories of Troy and Randy and
Edgey and GongoBongo for years and feel like I actually know you guys (crazy, huh). And I realize that as we either come to accept living with PE and
accept ourselves or just learn how to deal with it and move, it is inevitable that we will eventually all move on from this forum. That is just part
of the process. So, I want to say thanks to you guys for everything you have taught me about PE and life in general. You all have been through so
much and been kind enough to honestly share your journeys along the way. I know Edgey will be moving on soon and possibly Troy. It will just be hard
to see you guys go. 
Although I still have minor PE with rib flare, I REFUSE to allow it to stop me from having fun. I refuse to not enjoy the beaches and sunshine in
public. No one is suffering from my PE other than me and I refuse to suffer from it anymore. I will just be the best me I can be and that's it. I
can't continue to live the next 30 years of my life the same way I've lived the last 15 years. As Troys status update says "onwards and upwards". I
think that says it all.
I will try and get some new pics up soon.
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Young_Man
Member
Posts: 657
Registered: 10-10-2006
Location: London UK
Member Is Offline
Mood: Healthy
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Great mindset, this is how it should be.
And very good result imo.
All the best to you too, have a fantastic life and do everything you want.
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Sinister
Contributing Member
Posts: 169
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Oklahoma
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Thanks for the kind words, young man.
Here are pics at week 3. More than anything, I just need to get back in shape and lose the PE demon. Working on both.
Nussed 7 Jul 2010 by Pilegaard
Aarhus, Denmark
" Whatever you have, you must make the most of it. Rest assured that you can
transform yourself, no matter where you started from. The most important body part is
the mind.”
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Davy1
Member
Posts: 277
Registered: 5-23-2008
Member Is Offline
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Wow your results look fantastico!
Good luck with your future!
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BullyBulldog
Member
Posts: 936
Registered: 4-30-2008
Location: UK
Member Is Offline
Mood: Nussed and back home
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Great results, the nipple thing can happens as the skin tightens around the bar, I had similar crease but under the nipple and it's nearly gone now
and I'm 10 weeks post up. You look great I think one bar has done the trick.
Btw where are your scars? 
Nussed in the UK (NHS) on May 21st 2010 by Hans Pilegaard at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.
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ecurbliam
Contributing Member
Posts: 46
Registered: 6-19-2010
Location: UK
Member Is Offline
Mood: Onward and upward!
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Congrats Sinister , you look great ! 
Cheers Bruce
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Sinister
Contributing Member
Posts: 169
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Oklahoma
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Well I thought I would update now that it's almost 8 weeks.
Since the last update the recovery has continued to go well. I am now off all pain meds. It wasn't too hard to come off of them considering I was
only taking 1 Oxycodone before bed. Now I just take an occasional Aleve. I have some discomforts which may continue to have for awhile but I had
discomforts before surgery so it's all good.
I returned to work about two weeks ago and everything has been fine there. I was almost completely broke at that point so I had no options but to go
back. In all honesty, I was getting a little bit stir crazy, so it was nice to have something else to do other than walk around the block. I've
started trying to swim but I'm still not comfortable enough really to take my shirt off at the pool. I really want to start working out again and
feel good enough to do it but Pilegaard says 12 weeks, so I'll be patient.
At this point, I feel as if my results have actually gotten slightly worse. I think that immediately after surgery and even three weeks post-op there
was enough swelling to hide the remaining PE. Pilegaard told me there was small PE left but it wasn't worth putting in a second bar. At the time I
agreed but now I really wish he would have just put it in. Sadly, at this point I obsess more over my small dent than I ever did when my Haller was
5.9. I'm not sure why. It's too late to change anything now so hopefully once I start working out it will look better. Also, one thing that won't
show on the pics is that the left side of my rib cage is elevated more than my right, maybe 1/2 inch. I'm really considering going to Schaar for bar
removal and see if he can do anything to even it out and maybe fix some rib flare, as I know that Pilegaard doesn't do "touch up" work at removal.
There is also still edema of the left chest around the nipple area. I thought it would be gone for sure by now, almost 8 weeks, but its still there,
it's easy to see in the pictures.
I don't mean to sound completely like a debbie downer, I have a lot to be thankful for and I realize this. I had a great recovery without any post-op
complications and that alone is enough to name a day after. And my PE is nearly gone, I just wish it was all gone. I want to have my cake and eat
it to.
Anyways,
Here are the pictures.
Nussed 7 Jul 2010 by Pilegaard
Aarhus, Denmark
" Whatever you have, you must make the most of it. Rest assured that you can
transform yourself, no matter where you started from. The most important body part is
the mind.”
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Sinister
Contributing Member
Posts: 169
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Oklahoma
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Heres my chest x rays from this morning
Nussed 7 Jul 2010 by Pilegaard
Aarhus, Denmark
" Whatever you have, you must make the most of it. Rest assured that you can
transform yourself, no matter where you started from. The most important body part is
the mind.”
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edgey
Posting Freak
Posts: 1108
Registered: 1-30-2005
Location: Toronto
Member Is Offline
Mood: Getting on with Post-PE life
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Honestly, I can't see anything wrong with your chest. I think its a fallacy to think that a "normal" chest is perfectly flat. Go to a beach and spend
the day looking at guys' chests, ( with your sunglasses on) and you will see a lot of variation, and a little bit of a dip where yours is, is very
common and perfectly normal. In fact, when you can get to the gym, you will see that it will even help to make your pecs look bigger.
It is very common to lose some of the apparent post op flatness over the following early weeks and months of recovery. A lot of fluid is generated by
the healing process, and this causes swelling. As this dissipates, the real underlying bone structure becomes apparent. I went through this and its
pretty common. And I think the tiny dip you have is preferable to the "overcorrected" look that many of Dr Schaarschmidt's patients have. What's also
pretty common post op is to have this hyper critical phase where we tend to focus on every little imperfection, however small. I don't think anyone
other than you would ever notice the imperfections you describe. Certainly nothing looks amiss to me in your pics.
If you are seriously considering a Dr Schaarschmidt "touch-up", just remember this. Sometimes it doesn't work. Sometimes his rib flare fix results
in people having WORSE rib flare than before. Read Pectusdude's posts. I regret having my bar removal "touch-up" as I think I look worse than before.
Dr S will say he can fix you up 100%, but the reality is, the end result may be better, or it may be worse. All of us here need to be able to separate
his marketing hype from the hard cold reality that there are absolutely no guarantees, and although some get the promised results, some do not. Some
end up worse off. My own opinion, for whatever its worth, is that there is no way you should take a risk on a touch up. I think your chest looks
great the way it is.
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OldButYoung
Contributing Member
Posts: 7
Registered: 8-24-2010
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Well said edgey. Sinister, from what I can see the results look great! I only hope to do as well.
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Sinister
Contributing Member
Posts: 169
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Oklahoma
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Edgey,
Thanks for your input. I told myself prior to surgery that I wouldn't be hyper critical of results at all. That I wouldn't judge ky results until
being in the gym for 6 months. I remember reading pd's thread and thinking he was crazy for not being completely happy with his results. Then I
thought I wouldn't be like that and I would be happy with a good result and that it didn't have to be perfect. And here I am feeling the same way.
Time heals, i'll be fine.
Nussed 7 Jul 2010 by Pilegaard
Aarhus, Denmark
" Whatever you have, you must make the most of it. Rest assured that you can
transform yourself, no matter where you started from. The most important body part is
the mind.”
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rugger52
Member
Posts: 28
Registered: 9-10-2007
Member Is Offline
Mood: never give up!
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Sinister, A lot of people with PE would be happy to trade places with you right now. You look great...
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Sinister
Contributing Member
Posts: 169
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Oklahoma
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Rugger,
Thanks. I'm not completely unhappy with the results. In fact, I'm actually pretty happy with them, just not 100%. Pilegaard got probably 90% of the
PE removed with one bar and I'm thankful for that. But its clear on the lateral chest x ray that I have a small dent remaining just above the bar.
Pilegaard clearly didn't think it was worth putting a second bar in for. I wish he would have. Obviously one would never go to surgery for such a
small dent but since I was already there and getting one bar, personally I would have liked to receive the second bar and have it all gone.
And my left chest is still just as swollen as the day after surgery. I wonder when that will get better?
Nussed 7 Jul 2010 by Pilegaard
Aarhus, Denmark
" Whatever you have, you must make the most of it. Rest assured that you can
transform yourself, no matter where you started from. The most important body part is
the mind.”
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Maximus
Contributing Member
Posts: 38
Registered: 8-2-2010
Location: Smog City, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Nervous
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Sinister,
Here I sit, looking at your pictures (as I did with PD's), thinking that I would be ecstatic with your results. PE screws with your head. I'm
worried that I'll have "buyer's remorse" after I get surgery done even if I look like a greek god. In some ways, PE will never leave us, but you've
got a great start on fighting it.
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supertoobs
Member
Posts: 11
Registered: 6-23-2008
Member Is Offline
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Quote: Originally posted by Sinister  |
Pre-op- I had initially scheduled with Schaar. I didnt feel comfortable with everything so contacted Pilegaard and scheduled with
him. I had already paid Schaar and Helios so it took about two weeks to get my money refunded, but it was not big deal.
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Hi there,
It's been really good to read your journal - thanks!
As someone who is thinking of going with Schaar, I'd be interested to know why you changed your mind, if you're comfortable discussing it on the
board, of course!
Thanks!
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Sinister
Contributing Member
Posts: 169
Registered: 5-6-2010
Location: Oklahoma
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Super,
I think shared information is vital. It helps us to make decisions based off of real experiences and learn from those that have been through this so
we can either avoid making the same mistakes or share in the same successes. Ultimately it's darwinian, where the best methods are ensured to be
continued while surgeries like the ravitch fade out. It is just one of the many things that makes this website so important. So of course I will
share my thoughts
But let me preface everything that follows by saying that I believe Schaar is part of the top tier of PE surgeons worldwide and neither you nor anyone
else would ever be wrong to choose him as your surgeon.
I do a lot of reading. I always have. I won't do anything without researching the hell out of it first. I guess thats just part of being the son of
an engineer. So, once I figured out that my dent had a name and it could be fixed, the research began. I read up on everything from the Vaccuum bell
to the ravitch to the mini-rover to yoga to "specific PE" workouts (lol), and then finally the nuss. I knew after all my reading was done that the
nuss surgery was my best choice. Then came the next part and the most important, who is going to do my surgery?
I don't have health insurance and here in the US healthcare is so expensive I immediately ruled out having the surgery here. I just couldn't afford
it. So after reading probably all of the journals it became apparent Schaar was not only my best choice but maybe my only choice. So I initally
chose him. And I felt very comfortable doing so and quite excited. But one thing never sat right with me and it was that he kept all of his patients
in the hospital for two weeks. Now, being in the hospital that long predisposes you to all sorts of infection. So, I re-read a lot of the journals
without my "I'm super excited to get my PE fixed" blinders on and I realized that there was a higher number of complications going on over at Helios
than I felt comfortable with. But I had no other choices, so I was gonna do it anyways.
And then along came Bully. He just had surgery with Pilegaard. And he looked great. So I typed in "Pilegaard" into the search bar and started
reading. Now, I'll be the first to tell you, if you go back even just a few years, theres not much positive on here about Pilegaard minus maybe 1 or
2 journals. Lots of pain and 1 very, very unhappy guy named Josh that actually went to have a redo with Schaar, which he ended up in Helios over a
month and had a hell of a time. So I emailed Dr. Pilegaard with a lot of questions and his responses were to my liking.
I'll go ahead and just wrap this up. Me choosing Pilegaard to do my surgery was just as much me choosing Skejby Hospital over Helios Hospital. I had
read in more than one journal that Helios nurses outside the ICU weren't wearing gloves and to me that is unacceptable. Reported infections on here
seemed high. Now, that may not be Schaars fault but I would be exposed to it nonetheless. Hand sanitizer is just not adequate. I didn't want to be
exposed to that for two weeks. Also, the fact that Schaar feels the need to keep everyone in for two weeks didn't sit well with me. Why is he the
only one in the world keeping patients this long? I just have to assume it is because of their past experiences with complications. Now, Pilegaard
is also very experienced, only slightly less than Schaar, I think he has now done nearly 800 nuss cases, with over 50 on 30+ year olds and many more
in the 20+ age group. He was also 6.000,00E cheaper, very nice incentive for someone having to pay up front out of pocket. He also said I would
likely only be in the hospital 3-5 days. I left on the morning of the 4th. He also said he didn't leave in drains which I liked to because to me
that meant he didn't have a lot of pneumothoraces or fluid that needed drained post-op.
So, all in all, it really came to down to prioritizing what was most important to me. I had to seperate the fact from the hype and look at things
objectively. And at the end of the day, I chose to go to Denmark. I'm very glad I did and if I had to choose over again I would make the same
choice.
Teach you to ask me a question again 
Nussed 7 Jul 2010 by Pilegaard
Aarhus, Denmark
" Whatever you have, you must make the most of it. Rest assured that you can
transform yourself, no matter where you started from. The most important body part is
the mind.”
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