Major Surgery

[jenny c]

HI friends
I have been away for a while due to having emergency heart surgery but i am making a slow recovery.
I was wandering if any other members have been in the same situation as me recoverying from a major illness/surgery etc and how did they get back into dressing i am still interested in dressing fully when i get back on my feet.
I would love to hear your views, comments and experiences.
thanks
take care all

[sterling12]

I had my by-pass about 17 years ago. It DID NOT diminish my desire to dress! As soon as I felt up to dressing, that was what I did. Actually several factors made it easier to return to CD. They had shaved my body for The Operation, and I wasn't used to my legs without hair. I certainly wanted to try nylons on those smooth legs as quickly as possible. I got to spend a lot of time at home alone while I recovered....guess what I did?

I quit the cigarettes, I quit the Coffee, I quit my frantic, stressful, lifestyle, and I started to eat food low in fat. What I couldn't quit, was the CD, (like I would even try.)

Your going to go through some depression, your going to get rehab, your going to have to change your lifestyle. But, it's very easy to become what's called, "A Cardiac Cripple." These are people who decide that they will just do nothing, because of their fears about more problems. If you had by-pass or a stent put in, the purpose is to relieve The Angina. That in turn, will enable you to do most of the things you want to do!

Talk to your Doc about activities, sexual and otherwise. He will advise you on appropriate levels and what to avoid. If you start changing some of the factors that caused your problems, you probably will have many more years of life....no reason why that life shouldn't be lived as you wish.

Treat each day like it's your last day of life, do things for the now! Not for tomorrow or next year. That's what I did, and it's 17 years so far....17 good years!

Peace and Love, Joanie

[tricia_uktv]

Sorry Jenny can't help but I suspect it will come in time,

I hope, and am, sure you'll fully recover. You've got something to look forward to

Don't worry and get better first,

See you soon

[Angie G]

I't been almost 3 years ago I had 18 inches of my Colon removed do to a tumor home for 6 weeks to recover about week#3 I started dressing when my wife was at work the dressing thing never went away and I don't think yours will hun. G lad you made it and get well soon :hugs:
Angie

[uknowhoo]

Hiya Jenny, and welcome back! :hugs: I'm glad you came through it okay and just wanted to wish you the best going forward. xoxo Tammi

[Lissa Stevens]

In Feb. I inhaled some chemical laden steam at work. The next morning I woke up with classic heart attack signs. I did take the time to remove the polish from my nails, I know stupid. When I went to the ECC they thought I was having a heart attack also. I started to pass out so they rushed me to surgery where they performed an emergency Catheterization. They found nothing. Come to find out I was having angina from the lung injury. It took several months before I was feeling very good. It didn't really keep me from cding as most of my clothes are femme. I didn't enjoy myself much as I felt too bad to go out but it just took a little time.

[Nicki B]

Well I'm feeling sorry for myself atm, with a broken hip/thigh and hand, so dressing is out for a good few months yet - and I'll probably be wearing pants/long skirts for a long time, 'cos of the train tracks down my leg where it's been pinned.

But I'll be back? :)

And until then, I've got lots of happy memories to keep me going..

[trannie T]

I had a colostomy five years ago, it has had almost no affect on my life. Once I recovered I went back to my usual activities. I retired at the same time as my surgery so now I'm able to get out more.

[Niya W]

I knew a person that had part of her lung removed do to and infection. THen she had a heart infection. THey came close to pulling the plug on her. Made her realize life was short and and went full time after a year.

[LADI]

Hello Jenny,

In 1995 I experienced a heart attach while jogging 10 miles. I didn't know it for three weeks and continued to exercise. That only made the condition worse. I had angioplasty in the spring of 1995 to open one of the coronary arteries that closed soon afterwards. I had a stent placed in the fall of 1995. By early 1996 the stent had closed causing angina during intense exercise. I had a double bypass in June of 1996.

As Joanie mentioned earlier heart surgery requires all hair below the neckline be removed by shaving. I had my surgery on Friday and went home on Monday. I also wanted to try pantyhose on shaved legs. The first week I could walk as much as I wanted, so I started walking in the evening with pantyhose. That is when I discovered the benefits of pantyhose regarding swelling of the ankles. Support pantyhose can help minimize swelling of ankles.

I returned to jogging 14 days after surgery, and returned to work 21 days after surgery. Unfortunately, the blockages returned within six months. In 1997 I had another stent placed to open one of the grafts that had closed. In 1999 I had six additional stents placed, three in May and three in June. By 2000 these had closed and I had a procedure called an athrectomy to open the coronary stents that had closed.

In 2003 I had a follow-up catheterization and the coronary stents were still working, and I had good blood flow. I have had to modify my exercise routines slightly. I cannot jog 10 miles a day anymore. But, I can walk, swim, and bike as much as I want.

As far as crossdressing I did not notice a difference in desire after surgery as compared to before. But, in 2001 I started wearing support pantyhose regularly because I liked the feel and also because they helped reduce ankle swelling.

As Joanie mentioned you may experience some depression. I found that walking and jogging helped me through that period of depression. But, as Joanie also mentioned, it is best to consult with your cardiologist to determine the appropriate exercise routine.

I wish you the best of health and a speedy recovery.

Best regards,

LADI

[jenny c]

Thanks for all your replies and nice comment and words of encouragement i am sure i will be dressing again soon i have the urge still.
i have talked it over with my wife and she is fine with it all too!!!!

thanks again

[lisa_e_love]

Jenny,

I don't have experience dressing while recovering from surgery. But I just wanted to stop in and say that I hope you feel better and have a happy recovery!

[Eugenie]

First of all, let me wish all the best for a quick recovery.

Concerning your question I had a serious health accident last July: I was on my way to a meeting Tuesday morning and I ended up awaking on an hospital bed on Wednesday morning...

In depth medical testing showed that I had heart rhythm problem which in turn causes minute blood clutters to go to my brain... This causes small Cerebro Vascular Accidents ( free translation from the French: Accident Vasculaire Cerebral). The Cardiologist told me that I was really lucky as it could have been a fatal accident. He said that I was also lucky as, since this time the consequences were rather minor, this acident enabled the finding of my heart problems which weren't visible during day time, even by a real heart specialist. It took a 24 hours exam to detect the problem...

As far as my X-dressing is concerned, for a couple of month after that accident I didn't feel very much like dressing. But as I started again some meetings in Brussels, I got the urge back... I just feel great going out. I figured that I wasn't going to let this problem come across my best moments in life...

:hugs: Get well and keep enjoying life, actually enjoy it even more... :love:

Eugenie

[Lindahexi]

Hi Jenny
I am recovering from a tripple bypass op so I know what you are going through. For the first 2 weeks I was unable to even type let alone dress, but now after 12 weeks of pain I'm finally getting back to fully dressing again, and I love it as much as ever. I do hope that your recovery will be swifter and less painful than mine, it seems to vary from person to person. If you'd like to Pm with me or Yahoo please do.

Linda.

[DonnaT]

Welcome back Jenny, and I hope the recovery continues to go well.

Well, after a stroke in May, and having my thyroid taken out a month ago, I haven't had any changes in my dressing. Except my right ankle doesn't take to well to heels now as a result of the stroke.

I didn't have a chance to go out for a while, but went out to a party last Saturday evening. Tammi (http://crossdressers.com/forums/member.php?u=8217) was there! That girl can dance up a storm in heels.

[Kris]

Well I'm feeling sorry for myself atm, with a broken hip/thigh and hand, so dressing is out for a good few months yet - and I'll probably be wearing pants/long skirts for a long time, 'cos of the train tracks down my leg where it's been pinned.

But I'll be back? :)

And until then, I've got lots of happy memories to keep me going..

Oh Nicki that is horrible news. When did you break your hip, thigh, and hand? Good lord how did you break so many bones at once?

You would be amazed at how fast you would heal and ask your doctor for Silvadene. They use it on burn victims but it also greatly reduces the looks of the scars. Or are you casted up and you can't put cream on them? I hope you are able to. They gave this to my mom when they took veins out of her lower legs for her open heart surgery and they told us it was because she was a woman and would want to wear dresses.

I wish you luck sweety!

Kris

PS Jenni I am glad you are back and able to type! Do what those doctors tell you!! LOL

[Jocelyn Quivers]

I had abdominal surgery earlier this year, which basically knocked me out of commision for about 1 month. After the post surgery pain wore off, I started getting desires to dress in about a week, but could not do due the surgery scars being around my waist. When I was finally able to dress again. It took me about 1 additional for month for me to get my pictue taking mojo back.

[Nicki B]

Good lord how did you break so many bones at once?

Builders in white van, v motorcycle at 50mph (no, it's not a Harley). :rolleyes:

[DAVIDA]

I have been through several knee surgeries, heart attack and stint, Knee replacement, and broken ankle. Never stopped dressing.

[Sinthia]

It will take surgery on the brain to remove my desire to dress, and I would probably opt not to have it. Dressing is a big part of my life, and I do not want to live without it.

[melissa michaels]

10 years ago i almost lost my life.i ended up on dialysis for about 5 years,and had a kidney transplant almost 5 years ago.when i got sick is when i did my one and only ever purge.slowly i started dressing again,now i have a better wardrobe,and i think classier taste for it than i had before.just take it one day at a time and don't set to high of expectations,and enjoy what you do.later this month i to have to have some surgery,i know my dressing will be non exsistent for a short while.but the need to do it will never leave me.and i'm totaly happy with that fact.

[Billijo49504]

Hi Jenny, I hope everything goes well for you. It is tough getting back into the swing of things when you are down in the dumps, and hurting.
In April I fell in the house and broke my knee cap. The funny part is that I had on a bra and panties and womens slacks. The nurse that helped me undress asked if I'd ever seen mens slacks with a side zipper before. Just to let me know she knew. But beyound that, nothing was said. The damn doctor said he made it better than new. When it was new, it never hurt like it does now...BJ

[jenny c]

Hi all
thanks for all the kind messages of support and thanks for sharing your own experiences with me too!!
I know i will bounce back i have a real zest for life and a massive urge to get back to dressing again.
one good thing is it gives me a chance to sort out my wardrobe i have just added to it bought more underwear an new stockings thats a start.
i do love this site its so friendly and helpful
take care all!!!!!

[Rita B]

Hi, I have had two (2) bypass surgeries, a triple A, and earlier this year they put in about 13" of stenting to correct a thoracic aneurysm. Add to this that I have COPD and CHF ( yes I finally quit smoking) and I am still dressing up and going out every chance I can, plus I am working part time. On the plus side, I think all these surgeries have caused a hormone imbalance or something because I have little or no body hair. So take it easy. . .baby steps at first. . .before you know it you will be dressing again!

[susanmichelle]

Jenny,


I really hope and pray that all goes well with you and your recovery. I too have had many medical conditions that prevented me from dressing for awhile but it all came back full strength as I healed. I had 2 strokes in 91 and then 2 years ago I had a major setback when my colon ruptured and I was really close to death. Thank my lucky stars I made it thru as the hospital and the doctor I had didnt help matters much.

I changed doctors after awhile and found a new one as I was with a clostomy bag and all and bleeding all the time. I found a new doctor and found out I had chrones disease which is an auto immune disease where the body thinks the colon is a foreign object and tries to kill it. I started on meds and 4 months later had a reversal surgery and got into physical therepy and back in the swing of things so to speak again. I'm doing well aside from the weight loss but its a good thing for the figure thing and dressing, Im down to 147 lbs now and 6 foot so makes for a good thing if your a crossdresser like we are.

Again hopeing you do well and in time get back to feeling great and can heal as much as possible.



Susan Michelle :happy: