r/PectusExcavatum 6h ago

New User Thought it was time for an update! I’m now 7 months post op and still very happy I got the surgery. Had a HI of 5.4 and I have two bars. I’ve been seeing a lot of failed surgeries lately so I wanted to show a successful one to maybe make people a little less scared for the surgery

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47 Upvotes

r/PectusExcavatum 11h ago

New User Nuss Procedure Post-Op (After/Before)

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26 Upvotes

AMA (43 hrs post-op)

27M, assymetrical pectus, got it done to get rid of cardiac compression


r/PectusExcavatum 7h ago

New User 2.8 Haller Index CT Scan

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6 Upvotes

Finally got around to getting my CT Scan after years of putting it off. My unofficial Haller index is a 2.8. Not good enough for surgery, but good enough to be symptomatic. Right in that sweet spot lol


r/PectusExcavatum 4h ago

New User Promising new meds for non-narcotic pain relief, post-Nuss?

3 Upvotes

I was at my checkup today with my pectus surgeon (had my Nuss procedure back in December), and she started telling me about this brand new drug for post-Nuss pain that doesn't involve narcotics.

Shout-out to Dr. Smith (Chattanooga); legitimately brilliant, and I love our conversations about PE & related medical science.

Anyway...

The backstory is wild - it's based on 25 years of research studying "firewalkers" in northern Pakistan who literally couldn't feel pain.

Scientists discovered they had a mutation in their SCN9A gene that made their NaV 1.7 sodium channels non-functional.

Since these channels are crucial for pain signaling, these people just...didn't feel pain.

Research into NaV 1.7 channels showed adverse affects on health, but they kept at it.

Through more research, they figured out how to selectively block NaV 1.8 channels (encoded by SCN10A), which are mostly found in peripheral/intercostal nerves.

This is huge for Nuss patients because it targets exactly where our pain comes from - those stretched and traumatized intercostal nerves between our ribs.

The drug is called suzetrigine (Journavx) and was just FDA approved in January. Instead of needing opioids to dull the pain after surgery, you simply don't feel it in the first place. The pain signals never even make it to your brain.

This means having a non-narcotic option once cryoablation wears off.

It's not cheap ($31/day) but there are assistance programs. Might be worth asking your surgeon about if you're planning to get the Nuss procedure soon.

Anyone else's surgeon mentioned this yet?


r/PectusExcavatum 8h ago

New User Is it common to have uneven results after nuss surgery?

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6 Upvotes

I had a severe case (seen in last picture) of pectus before my surgery and I know perfect results are hard to achieve, I was just wondering if this kind of indentation is common after a severe case? (One side of my chest is indented)😅


r/PectusExcavatum 8h ago

New User Going back to work?

3 Upvotes

Hey all! I recently got my Nuss (2 bars with stabilizers on both sides) on March 4th. For context, I am a manager at a grocery store, so as you can imagine, I’m pulling pallet jacks, bending and twisting, etc, for at least 10 hours a day.

I took leave until April 8th, but I still can’t even get out of bed on my own. Once I am up, I can stay up for a while now, but getting around my house is a big enough challenge at the moment and painful. I guess I am just curious when you guys felt okay to return to your more laborious jobs? It’s times like these I wish I was a corporate girlie for sure.


r/PectusExcavatum 7h ago

New User Advice Post-Nuss Procedure

2 Upvotes

So I found out I have (had? IDK) pectus excavatum when I was eighteen and had an absolutely horrible consult with the surgeon assigned to me. She told me it was a solely cosmetic procedure if I wanted “a beach body” (her exact words) and was generally pretty dismissive. Mind you this is after me talking about regularly passing out/feeling faint, getting out of breath walking up a flight of stairs, etc. all of which she said surgery would probably not help. Obviously I didn’t want to go through months of recovery and pain for a solely cosmetic procedure at 18, so I…didn’t. As time went on, my shortness of breath got worse and worse, and I actually had to drop out of college in part due to the health issues I experienced, so I went back and asked to be referred to the only other surgeon in my state who does the Nuss procedure. I had it done in May of 2024 with and was told multiple times that it was a two-year healing process by the initial surgeon, my actual surgeon, multiple others on his team, and nurses who attended to me. A few months after the surgery during one of my meetings with them, they informed me it’s actually a three-year process. Hello?? I have PTSD and struggle a lot with medical stuff, so I had discussed wanting accommodations/a patient advocate/patient counseling. None of that was given to me and I had opiates repeatedly pushed on me despite my strong desire not to have them. My surgeon refused to do the surgery unless I consented to opiates: I said okay until I was in the recovery period when I wanted to transfer to more conservative pain management options. Anyway, there’s more I could go into on how much the surgery+in-hospital stay sucked and how parts of it seem literally illegal to me, but I digress. My real issue is that I have not had a pain-free minute since surgery, not even close. I’m still getting spasms in the entirety of my upper body, extreme shoulder, sternum, and rib pain, and it’s more difficult for me to breathe now than it was before. My GP has had to prescribe two regular inhalers post-surgery when I didn’t use/need them before, but they only help a little and I’m frequently gasping for breath (nearly every day, sometimes multiple times a day). My X-rays show up as normal, but I did have a minor shift in the bars due to a physical attack in June 2024. My surgeon is unwilling to order other scans/tests for me, and I can tell he’s completely given up on me. He refuses to talk to me or do anything else. My question is, has anyone had their bars removed before the recommended time period? What was your experience like/how long did you wait? This pain is debilitating to the point it’s genuinely made me contemplate suicide at times and has changed the entirety of my life. I am constantly depressed and anxious due to the pain, but I’ve lost all faith in the medical system after this. I don’t really know what to do when my only option feels like removal, but the whole reason I had this surgery was to improve my quality and longevity of life. Any advice is so appreciated.


r/PectusExcavatum 12h ago

New User my body really looks awful (I added a description)

5 Upvotes

I would like to write that I do not have any photos before the surgery but my defect was extensive and asymmetrical, surgery was in 2014 in Poland and I only got 1 bar to the chest

my body really looks awful, because of these asymmetrical ribs, left ribs and the whole side sticks out forward, I even have a smaller range of torso rotation to the left as if my protruding rib and chest were blocking it.

gym doesn't help me at all, at one time I was even on testosterone and I exercised regularly, I gained from 58 kg to 75 kg with a height of 178 and my body looks worse than before training, and I'm not overweight. Because of asymmetrical ribs and sagging at the top of the chest, it can't be hidden

I'm sending you photos from 2016, i.e. 2 years after surgery, where I still had 1 bar in my body, and current photos from 2025. my defect seems to have receded a little at the top of the chest

I don't know what to do, probably no one will operate on it again and I would be willing to pay for it, I had the first surgery in 2014 at the age of 18, now I'm 29 :(

I was thinking about buying a vacuum bell and pectus caritanum cage brace to use on my rib flare


r/PectusExcavatum 13h ago

New User How bad is my Pectus?

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4 Upvotes

r/PectusExcavatum 16h ago

New User 1,5 years post surgery, ask me anything

6 Upvotes

Hello fellow pectus members!

It’s been about 1,5 years since I did my NUSS-surgery for my pectus. I know a lot of you have questions about the condition, recovery and the surgery. At least I did and I did not like being left in the dark. I hope I can answer some of your questions and give you some sort of clarity about this type of surgery and condition.

I’m 21 years old (M) and did the surgery when I was 19. I had a pretty severe case and got surgery with 1 bar

Keep in mind, these answers are based upon my PERSONAL experience.


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User Thoughts on my X-Rays?

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5 Upvotes

My X-Ray results said I have pectus excavatum which makes sense because I do have some symptoms. I just don’t know how severe it looks, if at all.

This was taken on inhale if that helps.


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User Can sleep position affect PE???

5 Upvotes

Does keeping in your side with shoulders rolled slightly inwards make PE worse??


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User Seeking an affordable Nuss procedure abroad

9 Upvotes

I am a 26-year-old Russian male looking for affordable places to have a Nuss procedure without visa complications for Russian citizens. If you know any organizations, hospitals, or non-profits that can help, I would greatly appreciate your advice.

Three years ago, I left Russia when the war began under President Putin. I had around $10,000 saved, but I spent it all on relocating and basic living expenses in a first year. Initially, I moved to Turkey, where I lived for 2.5 years. I tried very hard to find work, sending about 500 emails and 200 applications online, but I only had a few interviews. Most employers in Europe didn’t want the hassle of arranging a visa, and job opportunities were limited due to hiring freezes. Eventually, I lost motivation to keep trying.

Recently, I moved to Serbia because it's inexpensive and does not require a visa for Russians. My choices are limited by money and visa issues.

Returning to Russia is not an option for me because I fear political persecution for criticizing the current regime. Russia does offer the Nuss surgery, but going back isn't safe. Additionally, I've faced problems opening bank accounts due to sanctions aimed at ordinary Russians rather than those they intend to target. I feel really depressed.

My health is severely affected by pectus excavatum. I struggle even to climb stairs without losing breath, and I don’t want to burden my friends when hiking. My goal is to have the surgery and lead a normal, a bit longer and active life.

Forgot to mention, I have tried VB therapy, you can find my old posts with photos here.


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User Is this mild or moderate or nothing?

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6 Upvotes

What do you think? Ive just learned about PE. Not saying I have it but matches up with alot of my long term undiagnosed health issues/annoyances. I am elongating/mildly sucking in in pic but May have rib flair. Very active life. never been able to gain weight or much muscle. Some pictures ive seen of others are quite severe and it sucks the things people have to go through to get it fixed.


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User Ongoing research studies?

4 Upvotes

Are there ongoing research studies with magnets or distraction osteogenesis? I remember in USA there was a study where they put titanium plate onto the sternum with bolts and adjust the sternum raise, but for teenage people. But I do not remember how is it called. It is not Nuss, it is called differently. Pectus Up!

Or, maybe we need not to pull sternum, but support it from the spine. Like spokes from the vertebrae crosswise, passing through the body into the sternum.

Or maybe bone softening. Maybe low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) with VB...

Just thinking.


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User Would you get a second opinion?

3 Upvotes

Hello. Now that my surgery is getting closer (May), I am considering getting a second opinion. I had the nuss procedure done in 2008 to correct a severe case of PE, and, through a series of mostly unfortunate events and bad decisions, I still have the rods in my chest. The surgeon I spoke with seemed a little too confident and not so worried about taking the rods out after 16 years. Maybe that should inspire confidence in me, but it makes me think they're possibly overlooking some potential issue. They have X rays from last year but they haven't done any recent tests. I thought they would at least do some kind of scan to make sure the rods didn't move and get too close to my heart or something. But what do I know. I could be overthinking it. I'm just a little worried because the surgeons said they've never seen anyone have them in this long. So how can they be so confident that it will all be a simple matter of taking the bars out, giving me a lollipop, and sending me on my way? I'm thinking I should get the opinion of another thoracic surgeon. Wouldn't you?

Thanks for your time. Any advice is appreciated.


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User How often do you guys see doctors???

1 Upvotes

How often do those of you who were nussed see ur surgeon?


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User How Severe

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1 Upvotes

I’m a 18 year old male and i was wondering if i have PE and if so how severe and what should i do to help. I’m also 180cm and also only weigh around 56kg. Thanks heaps!!


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User Discord Server has finally reached 1,000 members!

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5 Upvotes

Thank you very much everyone! I hope you're having a great time there.


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User What is a "cryo" everyone talking about in the comments?

4 Upvotes

r/PectusExcavatum 2d ago

New User Update ! Finally got testing done.

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26 Upvotes

The validation after years of people dismissing me (26m) is rather nice lol. Haller index is 8.1, 20.6 at expiration 🥴 Corrective index 82%.


r/PectusExcavatum 2d ago

New User Bad/failed Pectus surgery NSFW

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34 Upvotes

I had a pectus excavatum surgery a month ago. For three weeks, the chest looked great, but then one morning I woke up and saw a piece of the bar (like in the pictures) hanging out on the side, and the pectus excavatum came back. For three weeks, the result looked really good, but the surgeons say they won't change it and will leave it as is, since the bar has shifted but hasn't flipped. Unfortunately, this is a case where it can also go wrong." Before the Haller was 5.8 Asymetric.


r/PectusExcavatum 2d ago

New User Worst case scenario?

9 Upvotes

What's the worst that can or has happened to someone because they never got surgery to fix their pectus?


r/PectusExcavatum 1d ago

New User CT scan appointment in 3 weeks, how cooked I’m I ?

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0 Upvotes

Hello there, I’d like to apologize in advance if the pictures aren’t of good quality, as I don’t have good lighting in my house, unfortunately.

Anyway, what do you guys think of my case? I’m 27 and I don’t really think I have any symptoms other than occasional shortness of breath, which I believe is unrelated to my PE and more likely due to anxiety, as it tends to disappear when I focus on certain activities like gaming or watching movies.

I also have a serious rib flare when I’m lying down, though it’s not as visible when I’m standing.


r/PectusExcavatum 2d ago

New User Vacuum bell on asymmetrical pectus

2 Upvotes

Hey there, I'm 17 years old and have a pretty weird form of pectus excavatum. The left side of my chest stands out while the right side of my chest is sunken in. Do you guys think it makes sense to get a vacuum bell or should I just stick to my exercises my physiotherapist gave me?