Srs

[Aprilrain]

This is it, my surgery is tomorrow with dr Meltzer!
Wish me luck!

[paulaprimo]

wishing you the very best of luck and a very speedy recovery! :)

[AllieSF]

Good luck, may you sleep well, wake refreshed and renewed, and reborn.

[Suzanne F]

Good luck! May you be blessed with a speedy recovery. Please let us know how things are going.
Suzanne

[Sandra]

Good luck April :hugs:

[Persephone]

Hugs April! May all go well!

Persephone.

[MsMargaret]

Good luck today!

[jaleecd]

I hope all your dreams and desires are finely are realized. I pray the Surgeons hands are skilful and true as he releases the woman you are to a comfortable and true life.

[Rianna Humble]

From what I have read here, you are in safe hands with Dr Meltzer, so I won't wish you luck, but a good recovery :bighug:

Hope you have someone to look after you when you come out.

[Jannis]

Good luck and a speedy recovery.

[GabbiSophia]

good luck April have a safe journey

[arbon]

So happy for you April :)

[Barati]

Good luck and I hope your recovery will be less painful than mine.

[charlenesomeone]

Good luck and all the best.
Hugs

[I Am Paula]

I hope everything goes perfectly, and you blossom into your true self quickly.

[PretzelGirl]

It will be good and it will be rewarding. So a speedy recovery is the wish!

[kimdl93]

Very best of luck, April. I hope you have a very speedy recovery and the excellent results you deserve!

[becky77]

Best of luck April, I hope all goes well.

[traci_k]

Wishing you the best. May all go well and a speedy recovery.

Hugs,

[Alexis.j]

Best of luck to you. And i am so jealous right now.

[Megan G]

Best of luck April!!

[Kaitlyn Michele]

April you are in great hands!!!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Enjoy the bowel cleanse!!:devil:

[DeidraDee63]

Good luck and God bless!!

[Annaliese]

It over now, you are who you were meant to be. Good luck with your recovery.

[pattyjones954]

good luck April hope all go well and a speedy recovery

[Jorja]

See you on the other side of the fence. Hope all goes well and your recovery is quick.

[whowhatwhen]

(n)thing You a speedy recovery!

[Nigella]

Wishing you a speedy and comfortable recovery, see you soon :hugs:

[Di]

Wishing you a speedy recovery :hugs:

[marsha leanne]

congrats on reaching this part of your journey. May the day dawn bright and the results bring smiles to your spirit!

[Bria]

Good luck April and be sure to push the little button as often as you need to for pain.

Hugs, Bria

[Barati]

Good luck April and be sure to push the little button as often as you need to for pain.

If there will be a little button. I got nothing for the pain except some weak/uneffective stuff and that turned my recovery into hell.

I hope she won't go through similar experience. So again, best wishes and good luck. Everyone needs luck on their side. :)

[Jorja]

Yes Barati, we Americans are big wussies when it comes to pain. We demand good drugs with our surgeries. ;)

[LeaP]

After FFS twice, you'll be telling THEM how to speed your recovery! May it go faster and with better results than you could wish for.

[Leah Lynn]

Best wishes, and a speedy recovery!

Hugs,

Leah

[Barati]

Yes Barati, we Americans are big wussies when it comes to pain. We demand good drugs with our surgeries. ;)

I said something similar to one of the doctors while complaining about the pain after surgery. His response was something like: "Compare the number of complications in american surgeries, and compare the number of complications here."

But I suspected they just wanted to put some extra money in their pockets instead spending it on a decent painkillers. :D

[Emma Beth]

Hugs and best wishes for a speedy recovery.


Liz

[wanagione]

Good Luck!

[Starling]

It's too late for me to say good luck, April, so I'll just say congratulations!

:) Lallie

[Aprilrain]

Thanks everyone! You're all so kind.

I will give an update tomorrow. I'm too doped up to type right now, lol.

[Starling]

April, I'd swear your avatar has morphed ever so slightly in the last 24 hours.

:) Lallie

[Barati]

Ooo, you are alive! That is excellent! :)

Remember to hold your legs together to minimize bleeding.

[Donna Joanne]

Congratulations April...hope you enjoy as pain-free and quick as possible recovery!

[Aprilrain]

I said something similar to one of the doctors while complaining about the pain after surgery. His response was something like: "Compare the number of complications in american surgeries, and compare the number of complications here."

But I suspected they just wanted to put some extra money in their pockets instead spending it on a decent painkillers. :D

I believe you're right Barati, it sounds like he was just insensitive and dismissive of your plight. His comment was rather glib and meaningless. Surgical complications do not arise because of POST operative pain management. People have better recoveries when they are comfortable. Sure, pain won't kill you but it will cause significant stress, greatly reducing ones quality of life whilst recovering.

To be sure, I have the "happy button" (Diluadid)! I'm making good use of it though I don't find it necessary to press it as often as I could if I wanted to. That just makes it impossible to keep my eyes open! Lol

I'm feeling good, the pain is controlled, it's not my face for a change! And I'm really glad I finally did it!

[Barati]

This are good news! :)

Second day after the surgery was the worst in my case, I felt the horrible pain like someone stabbed the sword into my genital area.

But they gave you much better painkillers so I hope you will be great. :)

[Kaitlyn Michele]

I am so very happy for you and I hope your recovery is swift!

[whowhatwhen]

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW VAGINA!
..
Sorry, I kinda had to :P

[Aprilrain]

Thank you all so much for your kind words and well wishes.

[whowhatwhen]

What does it feel like?
I know that they use all the parts in the creation of the new vagina but does it "feel" different having it done?

[MonicaJean]

Congrats April! Hope you truly enjoy rhis new chapter in your life!

[Barati]

What does it feel like?
I know that they use all the parts in the creation of the new vagina but does it "feel" different having it done?

Yes it does.

[Aprilrain]

Just now it feels like a mild ache in that general area. Earlier I had the distinct sensation of something like a painful erection and I could feel pain like I'd been cut around the head of my penis weird huh?

[Brianna_H]

So glad you are doing ok! I was sure I would never want surgery, but that certainty is fading.

Anyway, we are all sending you healing thoughts and gentle hugs. Be well, April.

[Nigella]

Wishing you a speedy, comfortable recovery :hugs:

[Sandra]

Pleased to hear you are ok and relatively comfy...now just take it easy.

[Marleena]

Congrats April! Sending healing thoughts your way.:)

[whowhatwhen]

Have you seen it?
Sorry if that's an inappropriate question but I'm legit curious.

At the very least I'm unbelievably jealous of ball removal.

[Barati]

Seen what? A bunch of bandages, swollen tissue, drainages and catether pipe?

Healing requires time and patience.. You cannot see everything right away.

[Aprilrain]

Actually, yeah i JUST saw it!!...at least what I was able to see with all the stuff in the way. The nurse practitioner came in and she wanted a look so we took a peek. I didn't even realize, there is no bandaging on my outside, just packing on the inside and there are three tubes coming out, one catheter and two drains, otherwise I just have on disposable undies and some tape here and there to hold tubes in place. I've been too scared to pull down my underwear to have look but WOW! It's really there!! It's finally the way it's supposed to be!:battingeyelashes:


What does it feel like?
I know that they use all the parts in the creation of the new vagina but does it "feel" different having it done?

It feels either achy, numb or a combination of both. I don't dare touch it directly yet:eek:

[kimdl93]

Wow! For some reason I imagined one would be wrapped up like a mummy for days afterward, and perhaps too sedated to look. Seeing that things have been made right must be an astonishing realization.

[chelseababy]

Congratulations :) I hope your recovery goes well!

[Aprilrain]

I hope so too:)

[Barbara Dugan]

Congratulations:)...I wish you a safe and speedy recovery

[traci_k]

Love that line, Finally the way it's supposed to be. Congratulations and continued speedy recovery.

Hugs,

[Aprilrain]

So I'm off the pain button and just on Percocet every 4 hours now. I'm a little achy, just enough to let me know not to over do it! The pain is very manageable though. I'll be taking my first steps later this morning. First stop, my girlfriends room to see how she's doing. She's a day behind me, surgery wise. I'm quite anxious to take a little stroll and best of all a shower...sounds like heaven!

[Jorja]

So have you been reading the owner's manual for your new equipment? ;) It works a little differently that the old equipment.

[Suzanne F]

So happy for you! Keep telling us about the experience. It is starting to feel like I will be following you.
I couldn't say it for awhile. Anyway it is great that you are doing well!
Hugs
Suzanne

[Kaitlyn Michele]

I hope you continue feeling better and better...

I love the folks at dr meltzers office and I met some really nice folks out there when I was recovering.

[Aprilrain]

Everyone has been great. This really has been my best surgical experience so far and my experience in SF with Osterhout was top notch. There is just a level of intimacy that can't be achieved at a larger facility. Obviously I can't speak to any of the other SRS docs but I have had 2 FFS surgeries, a BA, lipo and now this. This has been the easiest so far. I'm just happy that my face isn't what hurts this time! Lol!

[Paulette]

Congratulations, you look wonderful even in your ever so chic hospital gown. Rest and be sure to follow all instructions and I am sure you will be pleased with your recovery.

[arbon]

Congratulations April!

[charlenesomeone]

Congrats April you look great. Love the smile. You look happy too.
Glad you are feeling better.
Big hug when you are up to it.
Char

[PretzelGirl]

Glad to hear the recovery is going well. I hope that walk tomorrow turns into a hop, skip, and a jump soon.

[Aprilrain]

Thank you so much everyone, I'm very happy to be here it feels so right. Even if it does actually feel as though I've been kicked in the crotch. Lol. But hey that's what semisynthetic opioids are for...right? Thanks Percocet!
This is the culmination of a lifetime of dreaming, wishing, envying, shame, guilt, gender conflict, sexual orientation confusion, self loathing, and finally acceptance. This is who I am and finally my body reflects that.
I've been so lucky in so many way with regard to transition. Thank you to all of you who've been around since my beginning here and to those of you who have arrived and joined us since I started.

[Anne2345]

Reading your thread, I am crying happy tears of joy for you and smiling my complete ASS off!!!

My god, you and E absolutely ROCK, and I couldn't be happier for the two of you!!

I really look forward to visiting you both soon!! I can't wait to see the new and improved REAL you!!!!

:<3:

[Frances]

Congratulations April!

[crystalann]

Congrats April and a speedy recovery :)

[Lilo]

Congratulations April! i am super glad for you may you have a healthy and speedy recovery.

[sterusjon]

Congratulations. Its been a couple of days now and I pray all is going well.

Stephanie

[whowhatwhen]

All in how much did the operation cost?

[Aprilrain]

About $22,000 US.

So I'm doing pretty good, they let us venture out today but we wore out fast. I slept most of the rest of the day. On Monday I get the packing taken out and have to start dilating. The doctor is very impressed with the lack of bruising. Now it's off night night land

[Starling]

Sweet dreams, April.

:) Lallie

[AllieSF]

Yes, very sweet dreams! Congratulations again.

[Rachel Smith]

I hope all goes well for you.

[Aprilrain]

Started dilutions today. It's not really that painful but it's uncomfortable and messy. The whole procedure is wearing on me!

[Jorja]

The uncomfortableness will go away. Get used to dilating though that is going to be an ongoing thing.

[Aprilrain]

Thankfully not 5 times a day like it is just now !

[Jorja]

After the soreness is gone you might enjoy it 5 times a day. ;)

[Aprilrain]

So I'm pretty disappointed. The pee wouldn't come out so they had to put the catheter back in. That means I'll be traveling with a rubber tube sticking out of my pee hole, oh joy:straightface:

[Sarah Ellis]

Not good but hopefuly you'll have that out soon. Good to know the general procedures went well. I had a couple of bleeds after mine in September, so spent another 2 nights in hospital. Other than that, no other real problems. Toilet functions were working well as soon as the catheter came out. I wouldn't worry though. It is common to have a few small 'complications' as things settle down. It's probably more so your dignity to suffer while traveling home. than anything else.

[Aprilrain]

I have a letter for TSA so hopefully there will be no problems there. I'm not attached to a bag or anything so it's pretty discrete. If I have to pee I just use the toilet like normal. But yeah having it put back in was a big disappointment for me. Hopefully my girlfriend who's a day behind me will be able to pee today! The dr says everything looks good otherwise. Dilating is still pretty uncomfortable even with the Percocet. Hopefully that gets easier soon as I have a very limited supply.

[Jorja]

Look at the bright side of it. At least you won't have to try and use one of those small airline bathrooms.

You must have posted while I was typing. I see you said no bag attached.

[becky77]

Your girlfriend is a day behind?? Who will look after who?
BTW you look amazing in that picture April.

[Sarah Ellis]

I was prescribed a limited supply of codeine (very similar to perocet, or oxycodone - but not in synthetic form). Not much of that left as it can be addictive over time. I'll switch to ibuprofen soon. But you will both need to ensure you have aftercare in place, as if the rules are the same, you'll likely be housebound for a while. This is both to reduce infection and prevent any risk of a prolapse.

Take care. Both of you........... It's great. But it's a long journey of recovery.

[Aprilrain]

Yes, I can see that it's going to be a long road to full recovery. I'm already tired of dilating, it's more painful and difficult than at first. It's probably just the long travel day I had yesterday, lots of swelling I'm sure.

[Barati]

I saw the omnipresent problem with unsuccessful peeing and re-catetherisation, but that is the american way I suppose... I mean, of course you cannot pee 5 days after the surgery, but many doctors just don't want to see that fact.

At first you can reduce the number / duration of dilations if needed. Let the wound and swelling settle a little bit. And make sure you have a good water-based lubricant, this is crucial.

I hope you are familiar with the proper dilation know-how.

[riki]

good luck

[Aprilrain]

Yes Barati, I'm familiar with "dilation know-how" I was taught, in the hospital, by a nurse plus I have a detailed post SRS instruction packet that I was sent home with. Dr. Meltzer was very upfront about the possibility of re-catheterization. He said that while about 60% of his patients are able to pee after 7 days the rest end up going home with the catheter. I was just really hoping to be one that could pee after 7 days so I wouldn't have to travel with a catheter. It turned out to be a total non-event though and was actually quite useful in the airplane as I was able to pee standing up and avoid sitting on a toilet of questionable cleanliness. Anyway out of the 2 other girls that I knew in the hospital I was the only one going home with the catheter.

Barati, while I'm sure your advice is sound and would love to reduce the number of dilations to 0, I will stick to the instructions I was given by my doctor, 4 times a day for now.

[Barati]

I am puzzled right now...

Who will remove your catether once you are at home? And what if something goes wrong such as infection?


He said that while about 60% of his patients are able to pee

Sorry, but that sounds too stupid to me. Uneccessary gambling with patient's well being - high risk and minimal reward - instead leaving a catether in place for just a few more days until the patient is 100% able to pee (minimal risk and a big reward).

Now I am happy that I didn't made my srs in the usa. :D

[Nigella]

WTF, you surely cannot be serious Barati, even in the backwoods of the UK our nurses are quite capable of removing a catheter, infact it was a nurse in the hospital that removed mine.

[Kathryn Martin]

you just pull it out .......

[Nigella]

Damn and I thought it was dissolvable :p

[Aprilrain]

You have to take the saline out of the little balloon that is inflated inside your bladder first otherwise that "pull" will do more than just hurt a little and feel weird! Still it's not hard, you just attach a syringe (sans needle) to the part of the catheter made for that and extract said saline, then you pull it out. Gently please!

[AllieSF]

I think that is called the Foley Catheter with the liquid filled bulb on the internal end to keep it in place until ready for removal. I had mine removed after my prostrate removal by a nurse in the doctor's office. Yes, it does field weird as they slowly pull it out for all of the about 2 seconds that it takes! Good luck, just one more inconvenience along the road to being oneself.

[Aprilrain]

Yes a small price to pay. Yeah they kept calling it a foley, I already had one taken out and another put back in, out is the easy part. In sucks!

[girlyj]

Very happy for you, April! Hopefully things are going better for you this many days on.

[Aprilrain]

Yes you are

[StephanieC]

Wow. The day has come. Best wishes for a quick recovery.

[Debglam]

Hope you are having a speedy recovery! It must be quite a joy to have reached "the mountaintop!" :-)

Deb

[Dana M]

Continue your speedy recovery April . Just take thing slow. Congratulations.