I like Brassard

[Guest meagan]

I like Brassard and Belanger is drop dead gorgeous. I had my surgery on the 6th. I went in relatively calm, a hot flash in the waiting room knowing I am about to be called in. Brassard looked at my materials and told me I have plenty to work with and everything should be routine and simple. Took my needles and lay on the table and waited to pass out. Instead I listened to the surgery team talking in french, doing counts, machines beeping and my body being shaken and jiggled around for 2 hours. I felt nothing and thought it strange to be conscious enough to be aware of the room and people in it. It took 7 hours to get feeling in my legs back. I had minimal pain and mostly discomfort with the feeling like I was carrying a basketball between my legs. The following morning after they want you to stand up and I tried. I stood up and lost my hearing and 3 nurses quickly grabbed me and tossed me back to my bed. As soon as I hit the mattress I felt normal again. That afternoon we did stand up number 2 and it was fine. I even got 2 laps around reception before having to return to my bed. I had one moment of pain that night after I needed a repacking to catch some bleeding and the rest of the time I was pain free.

I could have walked to the recovery house but took the wheelchair anyway. Walking does wear you down and my first few days were a struggle to just stay awake. By the 4th day it was time to take off the top packing and I was expecting some discomfort from it, but it was off and in the garbage without incident. 4 of the other girls were from the States and we convinced Florence who worked the kitchen to make us poutine for dinner just for the States girls to have the experience.

Day 5 the packing came out and again it was out without pain or discomfort and that afternoon was the first dilations and the first shower in about a week. Sitting was a joy without my basketball in me. I still had my catheter which I mastered feeling the flow so I could avoid the pinch at the end of a bladder drain. Prune juice, Cran juice, water and stool softener pills were my best friends and I had no problems with returning to regular bowl movements. On day 6, the catheter came out and my first real sit down and pee was not as messy as I thought it would be.

The team of nurses and both Brassard and Belanger loved my results as it was symmetrical and had no fibrin. Very little bleeding and touch more swelling then most. My bruising color was minimal and still I was pain free. Dilations were going smoothly. Sitting and standing were easy and I could manage sitting on firm surfaces without a donut.

We had one guy in the mix who got a Metaidoioplasty that looked pretty damn good and he was excited and happy. The rest of us being 9 girls seemed happy and more upbeat by the end after getting past the early discomfort. We had one girl with a minor complication that prevented her from peeing for 2 days but was back in shape quickly and good for her discharge day. I was discharged on the 14th and went out for an hour walk before I got my ride. I stayed in a hotel afterward to meet an old friend who was overjoyed to see me as it had been 17 years. The airport seats are not comfortable and sitting for an extra hour of delay time was ugh! I am glad to be home. This whole trip was really easy for me and I was that lucky one of 9 that had no pain and still have no pain. It looks great down there and as swelling subsides with time I think it will look great and very in the normal range of female genitalia. Super happy and excited to end the nagging demon of knowing I have a penis when with my girlfriends.

Hailey

[Guest]

My pleasure to approve this! I smile and laugh, I so relate!

Yes, ah the beloved Christmas present, the basketball. That, as if a small child, I couldn't wait to open.

Geez, I bled like I was slaughted. I was still so happy. I took my new boyfriend the I V stand and walked him all around the hospital.

So many things you have brought back fond memories of. Dilation though was not one of them. Each time I felt like I was being impaled. Now it's satisfying and fun. Recover well my sister. Hug. JodyAnn

[Guest meagan]

My roomy in the hospital was a bleeder and was always between 6-8 on the pain scale and had 5 or more repacks that came with plenty of screams. I felt bad for her every time. Also, one of our first meals after surgery was spicy Italian sausages, which were delicious as I love spicy. With the bowels being uncontrollable though, we were a recovery house of 10 farting machines that could not be stopped. There was no control haha.. Some of the visiting parents at first gave some funny looks, but really you could not help yourself lol.

[Cyndee]

Super happy and excited to end the nagging demon of knowing I have a penis when with my girlfriends.

Hailey

Congratulations and welcome home Hailey. The above quote really gets to the matter. I hope to be there soon.

Sounds like you had a pretty good experience overall. Thanks for sharing.

Cynthia -

[Guest Kayla Grace]

I think it's awesome that Brassard keeps getting good reviews. I plan to have my surgery with him. Did you go through CAMH to have Brassard?

[Guest]

Belanger is very very calm. I will have my surgery with her. She seem so cool as a person

[Guest meagan]

Kayla, I live in BC so our BCMed covered the cost and is now covering the 2k after care cost as well and will reimburse me since I payed before the current change to true full coverage. My steps started with my Doctor writing to BCMed to request surgery and then I had to do 2 assessments for approval and then wait for a date. I am not familiar with CAMH other than it being known as CAMevil and it as I heard while in Montreal, is closing to reevaluate and update its transgender program and update to current understandings and methods after a lengthy investigation. My info on CAMH is not a guarantee and may be wrong.

Hailey

[Guest Kayla Grace]

Hailey,

From my understanding, CAMH is closing its trans youth services after an alleged "conversion therapy". As far as I know, the adult program is still in effect. I was just curious, since CAMH covers srs if done through them.