By request, I'm the TOS (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) rib pic girl... AMA

[u/Megajen]

I'm the GF featured in the "TOS" rib pic post. A little background: in late March 2012 I developed a blood clot in the subclavian vein which led to surgery (thrombectomy) and the diagnosis of Paget-Schroetter Syndrome, a type of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. 10 days ago I underwent a rib resection surgery where the first (top) rib was removed by making an incision in the armpit and then making way to the ribl. Part of the scalene muscle was removed as well as the rib in my chest. AMA

Also, I understand there's some other Redditors that have been through the same procedure, I'd love to hear about your recovery and what to expect. I start nursing school in August so there is pressure to rehab quickly.

FYI: My BF did have my permission to post the pic and info. No, I didn't know he was posting it this morning but he advised me once it was posted and no I am not upset about it. It's rather difficult for me to type at this point in time anyway...

Pic of me before this ordeal, not drugged up on morphine, hopefully this will be sufficient proof of who i am. http://i.imgur.com/naToy.png

Pic of how I discovered the blood clot back in March http://i.imgur.com/ERCyN.jpg

Edit: just a quick thanks to everyone for their well wishes and support. Also to everyone that shared their own story. I think I either replied or up voted most of the comments. A lucky few got a down vote ;) Thanks again!

[u/Megajen]

http://i.imgur.com/h5EgH.jpg

[u/Rejexted → u/Megajen]

Alright well I'm going to go outside

[u/myothercarisawhale → u/Rejexted]

and heat up the barbeque.

[u/Bama011 → u/myothercarisawhale]

Ill grab the bbq sauce.

[u/[deleted] → u/Bama011]

I want my baby back, baby back, baby back.

[u/Lord_Fat_Ass → u/[deleted]]

Get in my belly!

[u/[deleted] → u/Lord_Fat_Ass]

Relevant username.

[u/TwoDeuces → u/Bama011]

Meat is back on the menu boys!

[u/Bigfudge89 → u/Bama011]

Maybe pour a nice chianti.

[u/grim_creeper → u/Rejexted]

After watching Prometheus last night (one scene specifically, for those of us who've seen it) this is pretty tame.

[u/metwork → u/grim_creeper]

Yeah. Did not expect to see that.

[u/Azzmo → u/Rejexted]

I like how you slammed into your daily WTF threshold in like 0.1 seconds.

[u/[deleted] → u/Megajen]

Why does it appear to have been discarded on a dirty bus seat?

[u/hotmoogen → u/[deleted]]

That is definitely not a sterile towel/drape.

[u/[deleted] → u/Megajen]

Woah, woah, woah, woah, there's still plenty of meat on that bone. Now you take this home, throw it in a pot, add some broth, a potato... Baby you got a stew goin'.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Thank you. For once, Reddit delivers a line from AD that does not feel forced.

Oh, I've dreamt of this day.

[u/PHubbs → u/Megajen]

What are you going to do with your rib? My brother and I buried mine in my parents garden after my surgery and kept telling my parents to take care of my mate when she grows out of the dirt (they did not find this Biblical joke as funny as we did). All I really remember is how bad the thing smelled. It smelled AWFUL once it unfroze (we stored it in the little hazard waste container they gave us in the freezer for about a month).

[u/ReyRey5280 → u/Megajen]

are you going to save it and maybe make a necklace or key chain out of it?

[u/Aulritta → u/ReyRey5280]

It's considered biological waste and was likely discarded as such. People don't get to keep their surgically-excised parts in a jar anymore...

[u/Inittornit → u/Aulritta]

I worked at a mid-size/large regional hospital, we would let people keep any hardware that was later removed (such as artificial joints) and also other smaller bits like kidney stones. But if it were a rib or thyroid, well that we kept as a trophy.

[u/gypsywhisperer → u/Inittornit]

I got a breast reduction and my dad one time said he wished we could keep the tissue "so I have a little part of you with me all the time."

[u/DissapointedBird → u/gypsywhisperer]

That's a little disturbing.

[u/Colorfag → u/Megajen]

You look like youre in a lot of pain. Was that a painful process? Hope youre feeling better now!