Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

Post-Op GCS question for using the restroom


Recommended Posts

Hello All:

 

I have a question and wanted to know and have heard very little about it so I will also try to keep it as clean as possible.  So after your GCS surgery and you need to use the restroom, I have heard that the first month or 2 when using the restroom that it tends to spray more than be like a stream and when it sprays, it tends to get everywhere and usually due to the swelling and getting used to the new part for going to the restroom.  Then I heard that after awhile when the swelling starts to go down that it becomes less of a spray and more of a stream in time and also you then learn how to better control it when using the restroom.  So was wondering if this is correct and what is some of the post-op girls out their experience with using the restroom from right after GCS surgery and going to the 1 year after or more?

 

Thank You All

 

Side note, I have 46 days and counting till April 21st for my GCS surgery with Dr. Crane

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

A folded piece of toilet paper held in front of your genitals will keep you from making a mess. There's a little spray but it's actually easier to control than when, for example, you get up to urinate in the middle of the night and the stream from your penis initially forks because the universe has decided to punish you in particular tonight. So yeah, a little foresight and preparation and you're good to go.

 

After a couple of weeks, I just sat, urinated, cleaned myself then got on my way. Here we are a year later and there are no issues. I'd recommend keeping your Kegel muscles strong with regular exercise, but that's more for sexual health and to prevent leaks.

 

Hugs!

Link to comment
  • Admin

My spraying was mostly on my self inside my vulva and not the toilet seat, floor or ceiling, and it required simply drying myself off with a fold of TP, which is still a habit 8 years later.  As you sit down spread your legs and butt cheeks and sit straight with your body a bit forward, heels under your butt  My spraying lasted the first 6 months gradually getting better and will happen even now if I have been sitting too long.

 

I kept some moist towelettes in my purse and on the bathroom sink at home, the ones with Aloe in them, but check with YOUR doctor there. 

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Its a bit erratic for awhile until the swelling subsides.  I still frequently get a wet bottom.  Vicky's idea of moist towelettes is a good one.

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Yeah, I keep feminine wipes in my purse (Summer's Eve on suggestion of my surgeon). I haven't had to use one in forever, but I still keep them on hand.

 

Hugs!

Link to comment

Thank you all. So I now know what to expect as I am preparing for my surgery.  I have been preparing with getting things that I will need.  So I have gotten 64x 12.5 tubes of surgilube and a hand mirror to see down their for when I start to dilate.  I have gotten some wipes, and some pads for after surgery.  I have some loose clothing like PJ bottoms, sweats, dresses, skirts all for after surgery

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

You sound well-prepared. Did your surgeon suggest diapers? Buy them at your destination if possible, they really destroy your luggage space.

 

Hugs!

Link to comment

I just got out of the hospital (today!), and I have to admit that I did a horrible job with packing. I erred on the side of having way too much. I recommend finding out about the hospital you will be staying at, and if it’s local, visit the hospital shop. Jackie’s right that diapers take up a lot of space, but so can taking lots of clothes. The hospital probably provides gowns for you to wear during your stay, and the hospital shop might have diapers and other little items you’ll need. I had a tough time getting home because of all my stuff—most of which I never used. Don’t forget entertainment, though. That’s most important, I think. Something to keep your mind distracted after surgery. Good luck!!!  Thanks for bringing up this thread. I am worrying about this, too, so the answers were really helpful for me. I still have a catheter in, so I won’t have to face that hurdle for a couple more days. 

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Fortunately after the essentials (diapers, pads, wipes) there wasn't a lot of room for clothes. I packed a couple of outfits but I was expecting to be in a gown for my hospital stay. I only needed like two or three outfits and my pajamas. I packed my tablet and my kindle though. Mostly I was using my smartphone and the TV at the hotel. Though the TV was more for my spouse. I would have liked it quieter.

 

Hugs!

Link to comment

After talking to Dr. Crane.  I will only be in the hospital for 3 days and then be sent to where I am staying.  I picked up some cheap cotton underwear that I really don't care to much if they get messed up.  Then I am really thinking on dresses and sweats for my 3 weeks in Austin TX.  I will most likely be just wearing dresses as I heard if I can wear a dress or gown that would be ideal while I am doing my life around dilation.  I am planning on once I get to Austin TX on picking up enough wipes, pads to last me 3 weeks

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

You're going to want some adult diapers. There is a LOT of ick while you heal. I didn't go back to "just pads" until I'd been home, oh, a couple of weeks anyway. At least a month before I felt brave enough that I wouldn't be soaking completely through whatever I was wearing while I was sleeping. The diapers were gross, don't get me wrong, but I didn't wreck anybody's sheets.

 

That's about the same schedule I had. Surgery Tuesday, discharged from the hospital on Friday. I did buy some cheap towels to use while dilating though. Like I said, there was a LOT of ick.

 

Hugs!

Link to comment

I have been told those puppy piddle pads work wonders as well and can just throw them away.  I am so glad that I am staying in an Airbnb and have access to a kitchen so I can meal prep everything before surgery so my mom can just pop something in the microwave for me and it's real super easy.  

 

Another question I have and my previous major surgery reminded me to ask is when you have the involuntary cough and sneezes, does it cause pain?  I remember on my stomach area when I coughed or sneezed it would hurt right on the scar and had to use a pillow over my stomach to help lessen the pain.  Would that be the same but further down?

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator
12 hours ago, Kasumi63 said:

I had a tough time getting home because of all my stuff—most of which I never used. 

You never need as much as you think.  I tried to be careful packing but had too much anyway! 

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator
2 hours ago, Aurora said:

Another question I have and my previous major surgery reminded me to ask is when you have the involuntary cough and sneezes, does it cause pain?

 

Coughing was OK, but I am a cough virtuoso. I've been coughing for years for one reason (mostly untreated allergies and asthma) for my entire life. Sneezing though. Sneezing sucks. That'll hurt. I was in terror of sneezing.

 

Also, do not sneeze while dilating. Remove dilator first, then let fly. Not only is it uncomfortable and can injure you, I about shot the thing across the room.

 

Hugs!

Link to comment

I’m afraid my experience on coughing and sneezing was different; they hurt A LOT. Laughing, too, but I’m not feeling much temptation to laugh these days. Oh, it occurs to me, that this would be worse for me because I had a sigmoid colon vaginoplasty operation which is much worse on the stomach area.

 

Diapers might feel embarrassing at first, but with a catheter in, putting on underwear might be difficult for a while. I packed several pairs of underwear but haven’t worn a single pair yet. I admire your courage and determination; my pride and embarrassment went away pretty quickly. 

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

I can cough using only my upper chest. Like I said, I cough at the pro level. If you cough with your diagram, yeah, that's gonna hurt.

 

Hugs!

Link to comment
4 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

I can cough using only my upper chest. Like I said, I cough at the pro level. 

Wow! Is there a trick for doing that? I don’t feel in control of my coughs at all. Though at times like this, I wish I did!

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Unfortunately, it's all practice. Cough for three to six months of the year plus any time you're exposed to... well, seasons. I have like four weeks a year where my asthma isn't kicking my butt without intervention. Of course my asthma meant I COULDN'T use my lower chest. It just wouldn't inflate.

 

It's not GOOD for you of course, but I can keep my abdominals rock-steady during a cough and can mitigate a sneeze a little.

 

Hugs!

Link to comment

First off, I am getting really excited.  45 days and counting till April 21st for my GCS.

 

Then also, when I had my major surgery on my stomach area back in early 2009 for cancer.  I found that just holding a pillow over my stomach area really helped out with pain when I sneezed or cough.

Link to comment

I bet you’re excited! Congratulations! Even if there are some painful moments, you’ll get through it! I wish you all the best!

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   7 Members, 0 Anonymous, 177 Guests (See full list)

    • Carolyn Marie
    • Abigail Genevieve
    • RaineOnYourParade
    • MaeBe
    • Ivy
    • awkward-yet-sweet
    • Selkimur
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.7k
    • Total Posts
      768.4k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,029
    • Most Online
      8,356

    Selkimur
    Newest Member
    Selkimur
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. Anyatimenow
      Anyatimenow
      (23 years old)
    2. Aria00
      Aria00
    3. Ava B.
      Ava B.
      (24 years old)
    4. Claire Heshi
      Claire Heshi
    5. CrystalMatthews0426
      CrystalMatthews0426
      (41 years old)
  • Posts

    • MaeBe
      1.  I think there are some legitimate concern.   2. Thoroughly discussing this will consume many threads.   3. I disagree partially with @MaeBe but there is partial agreement.   4. The context includes what is happening in society that the authors are observing.  It is not an isolated document.   The observation is through a certain lens, because people do things differently doesn't mean they're doing it wrong. Honestly, a lot of the conservative rhetoric is morphing desires of people to be treated with respect and social equity to be tantamount to the absolution of the family, heterosexuality, etc. Also, being quiet and trying to blend in doesn't change anything. Show me a social change that benefits a minority or marginalized group that didn't need to be loud.   5. Trump, if elected, is as likely to spend his energies going after political opponents as he is to implementing something like this.   Trump will appoint people to do this, like Roger Severino (who was appointed before, who has a record of anti-LGBTQ+ actions), he need not do anything beyond this. His people are ready to push this agenda forward. While the conservative right rails about bureaucracy, they intend to weaponize it. There is no question. They don't want to simplify government, they simply want to fire everyone and bring in conservative "warriors" (their rhetoric). Does America survive 4 year cycles of purge/cronyism?   6. I reject critical theory, which is based on Marxism.  Marxism has never worked and never will.  Critical theory has problems which would need time to go into, which I do not have.   OK, but this seems like every other time CRT comes up with conservatives...completely out of the blue. I think it's reference is mostly just to spark outrage from the base. Definitely food thought for a different thread, though.   7. There are groups who have declared war on the nuclear family as problematically patriarchal, and a lot of other terms. They are easy to find on the internet.  This document is reacting to that (see #4 above).   What is the war on the nuclear family? I searched online and couldn't find much other than reasons why people aren't getting married as much or having kids (that wasn't a propaganda from Heritage or opinions pieces from the right that paint with really broad strokes). Easy things to see: the upward mobility and agency of women, the massive cost of rearing children, general negative attitudes about the future, male insecurity, etc. None of this equates to a war on the nuclear family, but I guess if you look at it as "men should be breadwinners and women must get married for financial support and extend the male family line (and to promote "National Greatness") I could see the decline of marriage as a sign of the collapse of a titled system and, if I was a beneficiary of that system or believe that to NOT be tilted, be aggrieved.   8.  Much of this would have to be legislated, and this is a policy documented.  Implementation would  be most likely different, but that does not mean criticism is unwarranted.   "It might be different if you just give it a chance", unlike all the other legislation that's out there targeting LGBTQ+ from the right, these are going to be different? First it will be trans rights, then it will be gay marriage, and then what? Women's suffrage?   I get it, we may have different compasses, but it's not hard to see that there's no place for queer people in the conservative worldview. There seems to be a consistent insistence that "America was and is no longer Great", as if the 1950s were the pinnacle of society, completely ignoring how great America still is and can continue to be--without having to regress society to the low standards of its patriarchal yesteryears.    
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      Cadillac parts are pretty expensive, so repairing them costs more.  But they don't seem to break down more than other makes.  Lots of Lincoln models use Ford cars as a base, so you can get parts that aren't much more expensive.    My family has had good luck with "Panther platform" cars.  Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Marquis, Lincoln Towncar or Continental.  4.6 V8 and 5.0 V8.  Reasonable fuel economy, and fairly durable.  Our county sheriff's office was running Chargers and SUV's for a while, but has gone back to older Crown Victorias for ease of maintenance.  GF rebuilds them here.  But they are getting more scarce, since the newest ones were made in 2011.    1992-1997 years were different than the later years.  1998-2001 they did some changes, and apparently the best years are 2003 to 2011.  Check Craigslist, and also government auctions.  GF has gotten a lot of them at auction, and they can be had in rough-but-running shape for around $1,000.  Ones in great shape can be found in the $5,000+ range.  Good for 200,000 miles without significant rebuilding.  Go through engine and transmission and electrical systems, and they go half a million.    Some Chrysler models are OK.  The 300 mostly has the same engines as the Charger and Challenger, so parts availability is pretty good.  But they tend to get timing issues.  The older Chrysler Sebring convertibles were pretty reliable, sometimes going 200,000 miles without tons of problems, although after that they were pretty much worn out. 
    • Abigail Genevieve
      I think I have read everything the Southern Baptists have to say on transgender, and it helped convince me they are dead wrong on these issues.  They can be nice people.  I would never join an SBC church.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      You come across as a thoughtful, sweet, interesting and pleasant person.    There are parts of this country, and more so the world, where evangelicals experience a great deal of finger wagging.
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      It has been an interesting experience being in a marriage in a Christian faith community, yet being intersex/trans.  I stay pretty quiet, and most have kind of accepted that I'm just the strange, harmless exception.  "Oh, that's just Jen.  Jen is...different."  I define success as being a person most folks just overlook. 
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      Well, I live in an area with a lot of Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, etc...  We've experienced our share of finger-wagging, as the "standard interpretation" of Scripture in the USA is that the Bible only approves of "one man, one woman" marriage.  My faith community is mostly accepted here, but that has taken time and effort.  It can be tough at times to continue to engage with culture and the broader population, and avoid the temptation to huddle up behind walls like a cult.    Tolerance only goes so far.  At one point, my husband was asked to run for sheriff.  He declined, partly because an elected official with four wives would have a REALLY tough time.  (Of course, making way less than his current salary wasn't an option either). 
    • Abigail Genevieve
      My bone structure is far more female than male.  I can't throw like a guy, which has been observed by guys numerous times, and moving like a woman is more natural.  It just is.  I'm not going out of my way to act in a fem. way, as you say, but I am letting go of some of the 'I am not going to move like that because I am a guy' stuff I have defensively developed.  The other breaks through anyway - there were numerous looks from people at work when I would use gestures that are forbidden to men, or say something spontaneously no guy would ever say.   At one point, maybe a year or more ago, I said it was unfair for people to think they were dealing with a man when they were actually dealing with a woman.    Girl here.  'What is a woman' is a topic for another day.
    • Willow
      Mom, I’m home!  What’s for lunch?   Leftover pizza .   ok.    Not exactly our conversation but there is truth in the answer.     @KymmieLsorry you are sick. Feel better soon.   Girl mode, boy mode no mode, not us. Nothing functional for either of us.   anyone here have or had a 10 year old (plus or minus) Caddy, Lincoln or Chrysler?  How was it?  Lots of repairs?  Comfortable seats? Anything positive or negative about it?  I need to replace my 2004 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer, it’s eating $100 dollar bills and needs a couple of thousand dollars worth of work and that doesn’t even fix the check engine code.  Obviously, it isn’t worth putting that kind of money into a 20 year old car with a 174 thousand miles.   Willow
    • Ashley0616
      Oversized pink shirt, pink and black sports bra
    • Abigail Genevieve
      I think you mean the worst possible interpretation of 2025 situation.  Keep in mind that there are those who will distort and downright lie about anything coming from conservatives - I have seen it time and time again.  It's one of the reasons I want to read the thing slowly and carefully.  They want you to be very, very afraid. 
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Here is where the expectation is that the stereotypical evangelical comes in finger wagging, disapproving and condemning.    Not gonna do that.   You have to work these things out.  Transgender issues put a whole different spin on everything and God understands what we are going through. I have enough trouble over here.  :)
    • Ivy
      You do you. You seem to be in a safe place if we end up with a 2025 situation.  But a lot of us are not.
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      Well, my marriage is different.  I'm actually part of a multi-partner marriage.  Like you see in the Book of Genesis.  My husband has four wives...and me.  I was kind of an accident, as our community sets the "reasonable maximum" at four wives, but that's a long story.  Plural marriage is approved in my faith community, with the exception of spiritual leaders, as described in 1 Timothy 3.  We believe that anything that isn't specifically prohibited is permitted.    The purpose of marriage is for people to work together, demonstrate the love of God, and to have children.  My faith believes in exponential reproduction - big families with lots of kids, both as a blessing and with the intention of using the size of our population for political ends.  Being intersex/trans and unable to bear children, I wouldn't have been a good candidate to be somebody's only spouse (the majority of our community tends toward traditional couple marriage).  Since my husband has other partners, I don't have to worry about the childbearing aspect, and I help out with raising our family's kids.  I'm a "bonus parent."    I'm not 100% open about my intersex/trans nature, although my community's leaders are aware of me.  Being transgender isn't condemned, but it is seen as a health problem derived from an imperfect, fallen world and an environment polluted with chemicals.  Since I'm married, I have a safe place to be, and I can live how I need to live.    I firmly believe the advice given in 1 Corinthians 7.  We don't totally own our bodies.  God gets a say, as I believe He created us to be male or female, not something outside the binary.  I don't think that transition without discussion with partners is OK....again, we don't totally own ourselves.  When I started to figure myself out, that was actually the main thing on my mind - will my partners accept me?  How will my position in the family change?  Since my partners don't really have a problem with the mild version of transition that I wanted to do, it has all been good. 
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      Indeed.  While it seems like the majority of LGBTQ+ folks vote for Democrat candidates, not everybody drinks the Kool-Aid.  I'm a registered Independent, since I vote for individuals rather than party.  One of my trans friends is very pro-Trump - wears her MAGA hat and everything.  I find it interesting to see the reactions she gets... folks aren't always as tolerant as they claim to be.  Even on this forum, you get some real flak from Democrat voters....many will insist that the California way is the only way.    In my opinion, "Project 2025" isn't the real problem.  Check out UN "Agenda 2030."   
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      While Biden may be more friendly to trans folks, I'm not a single-issue voter.  I just can't choose a Democrat candidate, as I believe their actions will destroy my community and way of life.  Biden just announced that he wants to significantly increase capital gains taxes.  Maybe he intends to "tax the rich" but that is going to affect everything from land sales to grocery prices to the cost of electricity and even folks' retirement savings, as most companies make a large amount of their profits through investing in the market.  It is absolute lunacy to think that increased cost or reduced profits won't be passed on to the rest of us.  Things are going to get way worse at this rate.    Mostly, I vote in elections for state and local issues, as the national government is about as pleasant as a Porta-Potty in July.  So, either I'll do a write-in vote for president, or I'll check the box for Trump.  Anything but Biden.     
  • Upcoming Events

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...