Surgery booked with Karidis - scared/nervous/excited!

[frozen]

UPDATE:

I finally did the UE(Urea+Electrolytes) blood test this morning, unfortunately with a trainee nurse who botched the job as I got a call later in the day telling me she didn't take enough blood! Now with 9 days left until surgery this was a nightmare as Karidis stipulated all tests need to be back 15 days before the operation!

BUT! Not to fear!! It so happens that the original doctor I saw by some miracle actually booked me in for a UE blood test too, even though I forgot to ask her for it! I'm over the moon with my good luck.

All tests came back within normal levels, including my hormone tests; indicating that my gyne isn't caused by excess oestrogen / etc.

9 days left - I cannot wait. I thoroughly intend to keep you all updated and take lots of pictures.

Thanks to everyone for your help so far and a special shout out to Thetodd and Merlot!

[thetodd]

No problem mate, make sure that karidis's team get the results asap id get them faxed over

Because the "patient co-ordinators" are in a word, shite! Really poor communication with the patients with blood tests etc and then their all nice on the phone. It doesnt wash with me though

Good look with your OP, karidis is a life saver! Will change your life!

[merlot]

UPDATE:

I finally did the UE(Urea+Electrolytes) blood test this morning, unfortunately with a trainee nurse who botched the job as I got a call later in the day telling me she didn't take enough blood! Now with 9 days left until surgery this was a nightmare as Karidis stipulated all tests need to be back 15 days before the operation!

BUT! Not to fear!! It so happens that the original doctor I saw by some miracle actually booked me in for a UE blood test too, even though I forgot to ask her for it! I'm over the moon with my good luck.

All tests came back within normal levels, including my hormone tests; indicating that my gyne isn't caused by excess oestrogen / etc.

9 days left - I cannot wait. I thoroughly intend to keep you all updated and take lots of pictures.

Thanks to everyone for your help so far and a special shout out to Thetodd and Merlot!

No worries. I found it so useful getting "pre-info" from a few on here. It kind of normalises it all, and gives you the feeling that you're not alone.

Was the hormone test an additional test to the 3 they did at K's ??  I don't recall getting that one ?

9 days to go, cool. Take some good pre-pictures, as a lot of mine were sh!te and didn't really show it well.

cheers

[no more]

Hi frozen, just wanted to post because I am in the exact same situation as you and the same age lol. I am going to get the ball rolling again 2moz and going 2 the doctors to have a last try the NHS route as I have lost a stone and am in perfect shape now. I eventually plucked up the courage to tell my mum about my gyne about 4 days ago and she insisted if the doctors goes bad again 2moz she will pay for my operation so I will be on the phone to Kardis 2moz evening if the doctors goes badly again. All in hopes to get rid of this shitting condition before I start my second year at uni and can eventually relax and get on with my life. Just wanted to let you know your not alone at all man in your situation and I hope everything goes well for you. Just wondering, Im from manchester where are you from?

[frozen]

Hey Merlot, yeah it was different to the 3 tests (FBC+COAG+UE) that Karidis' team wanted. When I was talking to my doctor she told me that the surgery was pointless if my gyne would come back afterwards due to a hormone imbalance. I wasn't sure exactly how true her statement was, but being happy with getting the 3 blood tests I needed for free I didn't argue and let her do the 4th test!

The test measured my "serum oestradiol" levels, which is the most important form of the hormone oestregen. My test came back as "86 pmol/L", which was below the range of <130, meaning all is cool and hormones aren't to blame!

8 days left now! Getting really excited, which is really annoying actually as before it just felt like something I had to do, like a dentists appointment or something, but now I'm really looking forward to the whole thing! 

Don't worry about pictures, I intend to take loads before and after.

[frozen]

Hey no more! Good on you for trying to get this sorted mate.  I wish I'd done this a year ago so it didn't bother me so much in my second year at uni!  In my first year, being a fresher and whatnot I just used to get wasted all the time and used to be superconfident having so many people around me all the time; so gyne didn't bother me half as much.

NHS is a great route obviously because it's all paid for, but I'd reccommend you look around on the forum and try to find some before/after cases of people who have been down the NHS route. Some NHS surgeons are great and actually do a great job, but others have very little or no experience in male chest reductions and have been known to botch them quite badly! I once saw a surgeon that used multiple holes for lipo, so the patient was left with scars all over his chest!

Although £4000 is a lot of money to go with Karidis I personally think it's worth every penny to get the best results you can. I'm not trying to say the NHS route isn't viable though.

Have a look around on the forum - I found it was really easy to make a decision between NHS/Karidis/other private surgeons.

Good luck dude! Let us know how you get on.

Oh and btw I'm in Bristol! 

[frozen]

As an update it's 8 days left till the surgery, and at 5 days BEFORE the op I plan to start taking arnica at the reccommended dose (I bought some extra from Boots). I've looked around but can't see that it'll be a problem, and it also seems that some plastic surgeons even reccomend that thier patients start taking arnica before thier operation.

If anyone who is reading this knows otherwise, please let me know! Cheers guys!

EDIT:

Found a website that says to start taking arnica 3 days before the op and indicates how much to take.

http://robertfield3.wordpress.com/homeopathy-tips/homeopathy-tips-for-22409-surgery-protocol/

[thetodd]

dont worry to much mate about the arnica. Make sure youve got some healthy food for after the op


Karidis was actually just on Teen Embarrasing Bodies, doing a tummy tuck on a girl was pretty gruesome. Seen him loads latley in the media kim marsh etc. Id love to see his bank balance

[no more]

Hi Frozen, went to the doctors and it didnt go well again so my mum said its fine to go private and now I have a consultation with Kardis on the 20th of july because he had a cancelation lol. His work looks amazing and im glad im not going down the NHS route now because I cant afford the risk of a NHS surgeon making a mess of me, only get to do this once (hopefully) so I'm glad im going private. Hope everything goes as you want it to man.

[merlot]

As an update it's 8 days left till the surgery, and at 5 days BEFORE the op I plan to start taking arnica at the reccommended dose (I bought some extra from Boots). I've looked around but can't see that it'll be a problem, and it also seems that some plastic surgeons even reccomend that thier patients start taking arnica before thier operation.

If anyone who is reading this knows otherwise, please let me know! Cheers guys!

EDIT:

Found a website that says to start taking arnica 3 days before the op and indicates how much to take.

http://robertfield3.wordpress.com/homeopathy-tips/homeopathy-tips-for-22409-surgery-protocol/

Good luck fella, I believe ur Op is tomo or Thurs isn't it? 

Let us know how it goes, and if you need any info. 

[frozen]

Cheers mate! The op is in 2 days on Thursday. Soooo excited!!

I'm pretty prepared at the moment, going to start packing my bags later, got all my recovery supplies sorted out and even phoned the hotel to let them know I want a room with a river view () as I'll be spending most of my time in said room recovering!

My only question at the moment is what to do with my girlfriend while I'm undergoing the actual surgery.. Do you think she'll be able to go into my recovery room a little early? I'll give Karidis' team a call tomorrow anyway and see what they have to say.

*excited* can't wait!

[thetodd]

Its a hotel with surgeons mate, its not your typical hospital enviroment

So yes she can anytime she wants she can stay in there if she really wants to while your having the OP. She'd prob be better off going down the road to the park though. My old man saw paul weller walking his dog ... dont see that everyday . I saw peter barlow on the northern line on my consult day aswell (star struck!)

The rooms big, youl have an onsuite bathroom a telly and a few seats, one should be a fully reclinable electronic chair thing

[no more]

Hi frozen hope your surgery goes well 2moz man, make sure you let me know how it goes, got mine booked for the 15th of august!!! cant wait. Good luck

[frozen]

Sitting in my room, all dressed up in my gown and surgery stuff and waiting for Karidis to come down and see me! Few more hours until a new beginning. Wish me luck!

[JugsyMalone]

Best wishes, Matey!!

I hope everything goes smoothly.  Guess you are as nervous as hell!!  Keep us all posted when you are out the other side.  Can't wait to be sat in the same chair, so to speak....

All the best, JM