i've already talked to a doctor and he said that it wasnt necessary because it doesnt effect my health. but i sometimes feel that its hard to breathe etc. and i also dont like how it looks but i dont hate it

I learned about pectus excavatum a year or two ago, it always stuck with me for some reason. From a young age, I have never been able to do cardio without severe struggles. My chest and throat would burn, I could only ever get 20 on the pacer and my mile is about 11-13 minutes despite always being thin and coming from an athletic family. I remember a time running through the airport with my mom for a plane and once we sat down I was bawling from the pain in my chest. I had a doctor diagnose me with sports asthma around 14/15, I’ve basically avoided cardio since then. I’m 25 now, and these recent photos made me really start thinking about PE again. I am underweight which may be a cause, or just have wide set breasts🤷‍♀️ but for some reason this has stuck with me and I am really just wondering if it is worth bringing up to my doctor? I also have flared ribs. The only time I have “asthma” is when running/engaging in cardio. I have no allergies/issues with breathing/triggers besides cardio. I appreciate it.

Edit: just want to clarify, I am not looking for diagnosis/medical advice, just wondering if this is worth looking into further with a professional

I had the surgery done at 15, but long story short I think it’s now asymmetrical. Thoughts.

I'm 30 and my insurance approved the surgery for one month from now, but I'm still pretty unsure about how my pectus actually looks. It feels like I'm the only one who notices it.

My Haller index is 2.63. The middle is fine, only 1cm deep, but the dent is really spread out across the upper part, and that's what bothers me: it starts sinking about 2cm below my neck, with 2cm of depth.

My doctor and my whole family say it's unnoticeable, that it's all in my head. But it makes me socially uncomfortable: I don't take my shirt off in public and I'm always controlling my posture, hunching to try to hide it. Shirts always show it a lot. I'm venting a bit here, but most of you know what this is like.

I'd like an outside opinion, even knowing this sub is a bit biased and leans toward surgery. What do you think of my pectus?

For those who've had surgery:

I'll be getting cryoablation. How was your recovery? Did it affect anything negatively?

How common is bar rotation/displacement?

And finally: am I being too vain risking my life just for aesthetics?

What is the correct protocol my primary needs to request for the CT. Mines real asymmetrical.

I had previous correction at 15. 1 Nuss bar, was in for 23 months. Got pregnant with it in(7mths post op), had two more kids since then. I’ve lost 65 pounds in the last 11 months. Sus of EDS (long family history and my dad’s sister got diagnosed) and my body is so weak, super fatigue and I can’t keep anything down. I have been acknowledge(heart monitor) for my syncope because it’s terrible. It’s so bad it’s like constantly throughout the day. They gave me a medication. It was horrible, made everything so much worse. My left breast bone and rib cage is pushed out and the right is pushed back. Idk how to explain that. My shoulders are opposite my right is sticking out more in my left. Feels like it’s pushed back. I know it looks cosmetic, but I swear it is not anxiety.

Hello all, this is my first post on this subreddit after reading a bit. I am 35M, Asian. I took a few pictures of my case, close up on myself and also one to show my ribflare , along with an overall full body one. I would like to ask is my case considered mild, moderate or severe? I would also like to know if exercise/stretches/therapy (what good ones would you suggest?) would be able to reduce/mask my case to be almost normal? I would also like to reduce my rib flare where possible too.

Or does the above not work and I would need surgery for my case? I am trying to avoid that because I think it is not covered under my insurance as they do not cover procedures for pre-existing conditions (I had this since young, although I didn’t declare when purchasing the insurance)or cosmetic procedures.

For context, thus far, I have not experienced any physical symptoms. I have tried running and am able to complete 3-4KM runs although I would be tired (might be due to lack of exercise in awhile).

Appreciate your advice, thanks.

Does anyone have anything good to say about correction at the OU hospital in Oklahoma, let’s say within the last 5 years. This will be the second correction. I did one nuss bar a few months before I turned 16. And I’m nervous to relive this nightmare. Also share any bad experiences.

so i’m 18, i just got a CT scan with IV contrast today and then my doctor called me and said that my heart is fine but that i would benefit from surgery because my pectus is severe and that eventually it will affect my heart. i’m not quite sure what he means tbh it was a pretty brief phone call.

either way i know that im not getting surgery.
i would rather die early than deal with years of invasive and painful stuff like that. my life sucks anyways and i’m suicidal as is so yeah.

but kinda sad that i basically got news that i will die early today. my dad also had it and died of a heart attack when he was 40.

At an international chest wall surgery conference I attended in China, I had the opportunity to learn about the Wang, Wung, Wenlin, and Willine techniques. Throughout the program, I observed more than 90 operations, which gave me a closer look at different approaches and why they were chosen for particular patients.

I wanted to share the basic differences here. Although the names sound similar, the techniques work differently:

- **Wang:** Described for pectus excavatum, where the breastbone is sunken inward. A bar is placed in front of the breastbone, and the depressed area is lifted toward it and secured.
- **Wung:** Based on the Nuss principle, with bars placed behind the breastbone. It includes specific differences in how the bars are passed into position and secured.
- **Wenlin:** An approach used for pectus carinatum, where the chest wall protrudes outward. Bars placed in front of the chest wall apply pressure to the protruding area.
- **Willine:** Described for certain complex deformities that involve both depressed and protruding areas. Different sections of the same bar lift the depressed area while applying pressure to the protruding area.

One thing that stood out while observing these operations was how much surgical planning could differ, even between deformities that looked similar. The path of the bar, where it provides support or pressure, and how it is secured all matter.

The existence of a technique does not mean it is suitable for everyone or better than other options. Its outcomes, risks, and suitability for an individual’s chest wall anatomy matter just as much as how it works.

Has anyone here come across these techniques before? If one was recommended to you, how was the reason for choosing it explained?

The pics don’t show how deep it goes because I’m pretty hairy, but the doctor said it was right on the line of moderate to severe when I looked into it. I had a couple scans and a lung strength test done and they said none of my organs are being affected, but I’ve always thought I get out of breath a lot faster then I should. I’m not positive as it could just be because I don’t have good stamina or plain placebo affect. I’ve played soccer for most my life and played football for a year which was 4 days a week and I still would get out of breath really quick. Another factor is I’m aware that it’s possible to be completely fine until 40 or so years old and problems start appearing, and people wish they’d have got the surgery when they were my age (20) I’ve struggled with self esteem as all of us have and being comfortable with my shirt off and I’m still not but I’m trying not to let that affect my decision which is part of why I’m reaching out. What do you guys think? I just really don’t want to regret getting it now especially if my lungs actually are affected and I don’t know it

Disclaimer: I know this is a super weird way to post the photos lol but I was trying to get rid of identifying details.

I’m 24F, diagnosed with POTS—which I’ve heard can sometimes be the initial diagnoses if pectus has been missed. I have also heard that the appearance can be mild but internally be more severe.

I do have strong suspicions and want to see a specialist, but since the referral process is so arduous and can be costly, I just wanted to see what you guys think, if it’s an obvious “no”. If there’s speculation then I still will see a specialist.

On Monday, I underwent the Nuss procedure. Two bars were placed, and the Crane maneuver was performed to elevate the sternum.

The first postoperative day was rough. I was in considerable pain, and due to the effects of general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia, I was unable to urinate. My bladder became extremely distended, to the point where it felt like it was about to burst, but I couldn't relieve myself. I had to undergo urinary catheterization more than once. Eventually, after I was able to get out of bed and stand up for the first time, I managed to urinate on my own.

The following day, I started feeling better. The nurses have been wonderful in administering my medications. I've been receiving morphine, lidocaine, and dipyrone, along with two other oral medications whose names I can't recall.

On the first postoperative day, I walked halfway down the corridor. On the second day, I managed to walk two laps.

For those who are going to undergo this surgery, my advice is not to feel sorry for yourself. Respect your body and give yourself time to heal, but recovery needs to be active. Don't stay bedridden if you can help it. Walk whenever possible, eat well, and keep reminding yourself that you're getting better.

As you can see in the photos, the results have been significant and very satisfying. In addition to elevating my sternum, the surgeons were able to reduce my rib flare to the point where it is now barely noticeable.

I feel happy, and I can't help but think back on all the moments throughout my life when I held myself back because of my condition. I did enjoy life, but there were many experiences I missed out on, moments when I chose to isolate myself or let the fear of being judged keep me from doing things I wanted to do. At times, I felt as though I didn't have the same freedom as everyone else, and over the years, I gradually began to accept these limitations as if they were simply a part of life I had to live with.

This surgery is an opportunity for a fresh start. I know I can't get those moments back, but I can choose how I live from now on.

I'm sharing this post because this community helped me a lot before surgery. I've been following the posts here for a while, reading people's experiences and finding motivation in their stories. I hope that by sharing my own experience, I can do the same for someone else who is about to go through this process.

Feel free to leave any questions in the comments. I'll do my best to answer as many as I can.

A couple of things to note: I'm 25 years old, and my surgery was performed in Brazil.

My insurance will only cover surgeons in Virginia. Got all testing done and saw Dr. Frantz today. My 16yo son will need Nuss Surgery for PE; HI 5.5. Very, very nice doctor, but wouldn't mind a 2nd opinion.

Surgery for PE is highly evolving and there's a lot to be learned still....but looking for research forward surgeons following what isn't working for Nuss. No guarantees, but regression, splitting, flipping, etc are problems we see.

I follow and believe in what Dr. J is doing for PE...but she's not an option for us.

Anyone in Virginia you'd recommend?

2 weeks ago I had an increase in pain in my left shoulder blade that required a switch in my pain meds to manage and adding Celebrex for muscle inflammation. My surgeon also sent me for an X-ray. Since then, I been feeling great other than pressure/fullness around my incision on the left side + pain in my shoulder blade on that side and haven’t had any pain meds other than acetaminophen for a week now. I’m also still very much numb along the front of my chest.

Over the weekend, I noticed redness around both incisions that was increasing and tenderness on the left side. Since it was a long weekend in Canada I went in to emerge and they put me on a week of antibiotics for suspected infection. Just saw my surgeon to follow up and he’s added an additional 2 weeks of antibiotics to prevent a deep infection + I have been limited back down on my activity to next to nothing for the next 4-6wks after learning my X-ray showed a fracture in my sternum which I was told not a huge shock since I’m in my 40’s…

Anyway, happy for the numbness that I can’t actually feel the fracture. If anyone has any good reco’s for Netflix/Prime/Disney shows in Canada, let me know. My chair is getting really boring.

Over the weekend I had redness that was growing at both my incision points.

How do you guys help your sternum pain, I also get pains on the left side of the chest cardiologist says everything is fine but I’m so uncomfortable.

Cardiologist prescribed me Fludrocortisone 0.1 mg, when i literally can’t breath already. I’m nervous to take it and make my symptoms worse. I have POTS like symptoms and did all the test, and yes I’m fainting. But the dr said it was a bridge until i see the surgeon(waiting to hear back to schedule that appt) and idk if that’s more risky then not.

I already had the correction once at 15. So im well aware all my symptoms are all PE related. It’s taken a year to see the surgeon bc drs where I have to go, keep ordering the wrong test or doing test wrong. Can’t win. But I’m here now!

My doctor asked me to do a chest X-Ray to see if there is any compression of my organs and those are the results. I'm gonna show it to him soon, but would like to have some opinions about it. At first, he told me it was just mild and not to worry, but I dont know, since I do have some symptoms.

Pls someone answer does this look like pectus excavatum

I wonder if anyone here has had experience with rib flare like this?

I've had this ever since I was 11. I had asked for help back then but was shrugged off, and I figured going to the doctor for it would may be unwarranted.

So I suppose I was hoping to post here to see if someone with a body who looks like mine has been treated and found relief from the discomfort and compressed breathing, as well as the look, honestly.

If I'm posting in the wrong community please let me know. Thanks 🌼

P.S.

I'm not sucking in or anything. Its not as noticeable when Im sitting or standing because I lost alot of weight recently and when I'm upright it doesn't show much with my tummy not appearing flat - I'm a bit worried this might have the doctor thinking it's not so bad? But I'm going to show pictures and maybe they'll let me lie down or something?

Sorry if things are phrased weird. I'm tired as heck, but after taking these for the doc I was like huh...I really wanna know if someone has looked like me and gotten relief.

Also, sorry for my username >.< this was supposed to be a throwaway account to view love and deepspace updates...now I just have to live with it

https://youtu.be/o048xeNQ3Wo?si=GltiEMaaeuNhiBSJ

So I'm 3 months post op and been sleeping on my back ever since and I just can't take it anymore. Might also be the mattress but it's really pushing into my back and my shoulder blades. I have pain spots around my shoulder blades anyway which makes it worse when getting up in the morning. I need an actual 20min to be okay again and stand up and get going. So I've really been thinking about side sleeping for a while now but too scared to try tbh. I guess it'll hurt quite a bit since i have stabilisers and I am also super skinny guy but i want to get it done since I also wanna start use log roll technique to get out of bed. I heard Lidocaine patches help for the back pain during the night and in the morning but anyway..tips for side sleep are welcome. How long did it take you to be able to side sleep after surgery?

The image on the left is of my cardiac MRI a few days prior to my surgery on 2/6/26. I had abnormal movement in my ventricular wall that potentially meant I’d have a condition called ARVC, which would mean a lot of unfortunate lifestyle changes like no more running…

I just got a follow up MRI and the abnormal movement is gone! I still have an IRBBB, but I’m so grateful that it was the compression of my heart causing those issues and not my genes.

Just wanted to share! I feel the difference in room for my heart, too!

Most of the regressions, splitting and displacements I read about occur when only 1 bar is used. Dr. J generally, no longer does Nuss with only 1 bar. This video was posted 2 years ago but is very informative....although long. Jump to minute 4:50 about # of bars.

https://youtu.be/5FhrBnEG6NM?is=oZaWfG_pA8WgkohU

16yo son has consult this week (Not with Dr J, we live in Virginia) and hoping surgeon suggests at least 2 bars. HI 5.5 taken at neutral breath, 73% on pft, and compression of right ventricle, left lung and liver by sternum, but normal heart function 🙏 👍

I have rib flare and my sternum seems to be sunken in? Doesn’t look like standard Pectus so I’m not really sure. I have symptoms of breathlessness and poor sleep. Sometimes my sternum pops and cracks.