Jackie Goes For Bottom Surgery

[Jackie C.]

Six Months, yeah...

 

So here we are, six months after the big event. I've had consults with all my doctors last week to try and put together a decent idea of what's going on. I'm healing pretty well overall. My gynecologist was duly impressed by my girth and depth. He says that it's better than what a lot of cis women have and coming along nicely. We've had a few tweaks, but one of the reasons I selected him is that he's dealt with trans-women before.

 

• Spotting. Yeah, so apparently I have a little bleeding going on up towards the front if you poke it enough. My gynecologist says that it's super minor and a normal part of healing.
• Swelling. Still a bit swollen. You can't tell when I'm wearing pants, but there's still quite a bit of swelling. It gets worse when I exercise. I make it a point to exercise daily so it took me a while to put two and two together here. Still, it's been going down pretty consistently. The swelling shouldn't surprise me honestly. I'm delicate.
• Appearance. Hard to say. I'm still a ways off from my "final form." I don't think I'll ever be a porn star and my swelling is such that some of the structures are still obscured. Even so, I have high hopes for the future. My scars are pretty gnarly though.
• Dilation. This is still part of my day (and will be forever). I'm down to once a day though. My current routine is five minutes with the #1 dilator, ten minutes with the #2 and then twenty minutes with the #3. That's keeping my pretty stretchy and, while not what I'd call comfortable, it's not too bad. I usually read a book while I dilate. I will say that once a day makes it MUCH easier to keep everything clean.
• Health. My gynecologist did a swab the last time I was in. I apparently don't have syphilis, gonorrhea or vaginitis. I'm not sure where any of those things would have come from, but I'm glad I'm not suffering from any of them. I've got some scar tissue that we're treating with a couple of ointments. My gynecologist (and my endo) don't care for the applicators (and neither do I) so I've been applying everything manually. I'm not sure how they expect me to apply ointment to the top AND bottom with one finger. I don't have that kind of range of motion with my wrist. So two passes, one with my index finger and another with my thumb.
• Hormones. I'm happy to report that my adrenal glands have picked up the slack for T-production. I'm female normal with just my estradiol.
• Sensitivity. I've still got a couple of numb patches. They aren't really a big deal. We've been treating the area with some estradiol cream to help with healing and softness.
• Orgasm. Works fine. It takes a lot longer than it did before and there was quite a bit of exploration and experimentation involved, but I can orgasm on my own. As a side benefit, it's also upped my game with my spouse. First hand experience is a great teacher.

So yeah, everything is coming along pretty well at this point. No regrets.

 

Hugs!

[Kylie]

Appreciate the update! I’m only nearing two weeks since surgery and must say, I hope mine speeds a long like yours has! I remember you having the surgery!

 

Kylie

[Heather Shay]

From what I've read and seen from so many you are progressing wonderfully @Kylie. 

[Jackie C.]

54 minutes ago, Kylie said:

I remember you having the surgery!

 

I don't. Whatever they hit me with knocked me RIGHT out. ?

 

Hugs!

[Kylie]

Ha! I know. I kid you not, I remember as they started rolling me back the CRNA gave me a little Versed. I don’t even remember rolling into the OR Suite! 

[Heather Shay]

not a good thing for a nurse to say LOL

[Jackie C.]

I remember the OR. The didn't hit me with anything until I was off the bed they wheeled me in on. They had me scoot up a little to get my shoulders into some blocks. Then somebody put a mask over my mouth and nose.

 

Then I was waking up, slowly, in recovery. It took me two or three tried to come around all the way. I was OUT for something like three hours before I was awake enough for my wife to come in and visit.

 

Hugs!

[Heather Shay]

@Jackie C. - CONGRATS - didn't know it was that recent great you are doing so well.

[Jackie C.]

24 minutes ago, Shay said:

@Jackie C. - CONGRATS - didn't know it was that recent great you are doing so well.

 

Thanks!

 

It was back in February. I JUST squeaked through ahead of Covid-19. I wanted to have surgically transitioned for my 50th birthday though so... made it! Lockdown in my state happened the day after I felt good enough to go back to the gym.

 

Hugs!

[Heather Shay]

again congrats younster (I can say that being 68)

[Heather Shay]

ooops there was supposed to be YOUNGSTER or maybe YOUNG'N

[Jackie C.]

Pfft. That's the same age as my friend Ray. She's not old either.

 

Hugs!

[Kylie]

Ha!

 

Days like this have reminded me of I’m still going to have ups and downs. 
 

blah! 

[Heather Shay]

just keep thinking "I DID IT!!!!! I DID IT!!!! YAY FOR ME!!!! I DID IT!!!!) and pat yourself on the back (if you can - I'd do it if I could).

[Wichita]

17 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

Six Months, yeah...

 

So here we are, six months after the big event. I've had consults with all my doctors last week to try and put together a decent idea of what's going on. I'm healing pretty well overall. My gynecologist was duly impressed by my girth and depth. He says that it's better than what a lot of cis women have and coming along nicely. We've had a few tweaks, but one of the reasons I selected him is that he's dealt with trans-women before.

 

• Spotting. Yeah, so apparently I have a little bleeding going on up towards the front if you poke it enough. My gynecologist says that it's super minor and a normal part of healing.
• Swelling. Still a bit swollen. You can't tell when I'm wearing pants, but there's still quite a bit of swelling. It gets worse when I exercise. I make it a point to exercise daily so it took me a while to put two and two together here. Still, it's been going down pretty consistently. The swelling shouldn't surprise me honestly. I'm delicate.
• Appearance. Hard to say. I'm still a ways off from my "final form." I don't think I'll ever be a porn star and my swelling is such that some of the structures are still obscured. Even so, I have high hopes for the future. My scars are pretty gnarly though.
• Dilation. This is still part of my day (and will be forever). I'm down to once a day though. My current routine is five minutes with the #1 dilator, ten minutes with the #2 and then twenty minutes with the #3. That's keeping my pretty stretchy and, while not what I'd call comfortable, it's not too bad. I usually read a book while I dilate. I will say that once a day makes it MUCH easier to keep everything clean.
• Health. My gynecologist did a swab the last time I was in. I apparently don't have syphilis, gonorrhea or vaginitis. I'm not sure where any of those things would have come from, but I'm glad I'm not suffering from any of them. I've got some scar tissue that we're treating with a couple of ointments. My gynecologist (and my endo) don't care for the applicators (and neither do I) so I've been applying everything manually. I'm not sure how they expect me to apply ointment to the top AND bottom with one finger. I don't have that kind of range of motion with my wrist. So two passes, one with my index finger and another with my thumb.
• Hormones. I'm happy to report that my adrenal glands have picked up the slack for T-production. I'm female normal with just my estradiol.
• Sensitivity. I've still got a couple of numb patches. They aren't really a big deal. We've been treating the area with some estradiol cream to help with healing and softness.
• Orgasm. Works fine. It takes a lot longer than it did before and there was quite a bit of exploration and experimentation involved, but I can orgasm on my own. As a side benefit, it's also upped my game with my spouse. First hand experience is a great teacher.

So yeah, everything is coming along pretty well at this point. No regrets.

 

Hugs!

Awesome news. Congrats!

[Jackie C.]

Update: Curses! Foiled again!

 

So I talked to my surgeon today. She's seen the pictures and would like to give me a revision to shape things up cosmetically. It's basically going to be like the first time around. I'm going to be down for four weeks. One week with a catheter and packing. No hospital stay though because everything is external and she trusts me to sit on my backside for a day if she asks. No bowel prep though, so that's awesome.

 

The hard part is going to be organizing the time off and the hotel stay. I wish I knew somebody in downtown Philly to stay with. ? That would be SO much easier on my spouse.

 

Hugs!

[Heather Shay]

Good Luck and BIG Hugs,

 

Shay

[Jackie C.]

At least this time I know better than to take the train. Yeowch!

 

Hugs!

[Heather Shay]

wise move....

[Susan R]

I wish you the very best on your upcoming revision, @Jackie C.. Revisions are one of the things about modern GRS that I’ve been most surprised about since getting back into the ball game here. I knew several ladies and had a roommate that had these surgeries back in the 80’s and I don’t recall a single one of them ever needing a revision.

Fast forward to today...I’ve gotten to know many more post-op trans women but it seems that most of them have needed at minimum one small revision with the exception of a couple ladies. I think I need to be realistic about whether I will need this too. Maybe the level of precision by today’s surgeons has increased to an extent that it’s become common place.

 

Thanks for the update Jackie,

Susan R?

[Jackie C.]

I consider myself fortunate that my revision is going to be cosmetic only. There's a patch of skin I lost in the initial surgery that Doctor Rumer thinks she can fix and I need a little evening out. I'm slightly lopsided. Insides work. My depth is great and I'm orgasmic so this is about aesthetics. Even out of pocket, there's no fee from the doctor so all costs will be the anesthesiologist plus renting the space in the hospital. Because I'm such a good patient, she's going to do me outpatient this time around. I still need to stick around for a week to get the packing and catheter out though. I am not looking forward to the catheter. Catheter's suck. They're also a pain in the butt to lug around everywhere. No bowel prep though. That will be lovely.

 

Hugs!

[Susan R]

3 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

I am not looking forward to the catheter. Catheter's suck. They're also a pain in the butt to lug around everywhere.

I’ve never had a catheter...well, surgery of any kind actually so a catheter is something I wonder about whenever someone mentions it. I know I’ll need one during my surgery but I’m hoping I won’t feel the original insertion...just the removal.  Catheter insertion sounds very painful if I was to feel it. After it’s in, does one experience discomfort like periodic a sharp pain, dull pain, or a feeling of having to urinate badly? What is the feeling like...if you might describe it? Can I should ask if the pain is isolated to the insertion point or completely internal?

 

Susan R?

[Jackie C.]

22 minutes ago, Susan R said:

I’ve never had a catheter...well, surgery of any kind actually so a catheter is something I wonder about whenever someone mentions it. I know I’ll need one during my surgery but I’m hoping I won’t feel the original insertion...just the removal.  Catheter insertion sounds very painful if I was to feel it. After it’s in, does one experience discomfort like periodic a sharp pain, dull pain, or a feeling of having to urinate badly? What is the feeling like...if you might describe it? Can I should ask if the pain is isolated to the insertion point or completely internal?

 

Susan R?

 

Good news then! They insert it while you're under. It feels like... it's an uncomfortable fullness? Not quite like you need to pee, just discomfort in your urethra. It doesn't hurt, just uncomfortable.

 

Hugs!

[Kylie]

Mine was also put in while I was under anesthesia. Had it 6 days, they had me take bladder spasm medications so they catheter honestly didn’t bother me. The removal was painless as well. It was nice to have it. One less thing to focus on. 

[KathyLauren]

2 hours ago, Susan R said:

I’ve never had a catheter...well, surgery of any kind actually so a catheter is something I wonder about whenever someone mentions it. I know I’ll need one during my surgery but I’m hoping I won’t feel the original insertion...just the removal.  Catheter insertion sounds very painful if I was to feel it. After it’s in, does one experience discomfort like periodic a sharp pain, dull pain, or a feeling of having to urinate badly? What is the feeling like...if you might describe it? Can I should ask if the pain is isolated to the insertion point or completely internal?

 

Susan R?

 

You won't feel the insertion.  You'll be asleep.  While it's in and connected to a bag, you won't even notice it, other than the hose is something to avoid getting tangled when you move. 

 

When they disconnect the bag and give you a valve instead, then your bladder has a chance to fill.  You open the valve to pee.  I found that when my bladder got almost empty, I could feel the balloon at the end of the catheter.  It was a bit uncomfortable.  Don't forget to close the valve!  (Ask me how I know about that! )

 

Removal of the catheter is uncomfortable, but it only lasts for a few seconds.