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 Depression?


Guest kelise

  

13 members have voted

  1. 1. Did you experience any negative feelings related to your SRS when you became post-op?

    • yes
      2
    • no
      11


Recommended Posts

Ok, I've read and heard many a horror story of regret, remorse, depression, what have you, coming on after surgery. For those of you who experienced this, when did they begin? Immediatly? One month? Three months? A year? Longer?

Link to comment
Guest KimberlyF

I have zero experience w/this but from what I've read (and who knows if it's true since there isn't the Mayo Clinic TS wing)In one case it's about the same time periods as a lot of post partum depression when it's the same cause-rebalancing of hormone levels. So I'd GUESS 2-6 weeks would be fairly common if that were the cause of the depression.

My wife had PP at about 3 weeks after #2. Just couldn't stop crying.

Kim

Link to comment

Here is a link Michelle H posted October 23, in it she says "For reasons that are not clear, the depression hits its peak around the end of month 3. From what Dr. McGinn has said, this peak around the end of the third month is very typical. I went in to see my gender counselor for one of my regular visits, she took one look at me and wanted to call 911 and send me to the hospital – it took the full hour of the session to talk her out of it – that session was at the 90 mark. In another week, I will be at the 120-day mark and the depression is finally clearing."

http://www.lauras-playground.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=25729

Paula

Link to comment

Actually, I read that post, but already can see my and MichelleH's experiences are very different. For one, I have experienced phantom limb and it's very annoying. Getting better though. And as for depression, other trhan that small amount while on painkillers I have felt nothing but being on cloud 9 since my surgery. I am now almost 1 month post-op and I was just wondering if this is something that comes later. We'll see what happens at 3 months.

Link to comment

I think regrets and depression are quite different things. So, not sure in your poll there lumping them together is fair.

Some do experience a bit of depression right after surgery from almost immediate to months after, but the far more common result is a great deal of relief. It is almost a state of euphoria and many do describe it as the post-op euphoria phase.

By far the most common period of depression among those I know seems to occur 2 to 3 years after surgery. This is not the most visible within the community as by that time most post-op have drifted away. The roots of this depression are fairly clear and easy to understand in my opinion. While I didn't get depressed, and many don't, I been through the associated mental processes. I believe this very different than the depression one might encounter a few months after surgery. I can't really comment on the near term depression but if you would like me to elaborate on the roots of the further out depression, just let me know or drop me a PM.

Link to comment
I have felt nothing but being on cloud 9 since my surgery

lol, you posted that while I was posting. So you are experiencing common post-op euphoria!! I say enjoy it and not to worry. It probably won't be wearing off anytime soon.

Link to comment

You're right. I know regret and depression are very different. I modified the poll to just say negative feelings. I would love to hear more on any sort of depression at any time, because I just don't see it. I feel happier than I've ever felt in my life!

Link to comment
Guest Jenni_S

I did have some negativity immediately afterwards, mainly in the form of a big emotional drain. So many emotions surging around in my head in the last couple of months leading up to my hospital visit, and just getting stronger and stronger! Then BOOM!, it's done. There was a lot of relief, but then, all those emotions (excitement, nervous, apprehension (never had *any* surgery previously), happiness, giddiness, and many, many more!) had no reason to be there anymore. I'd just achieved a major goal, which had taken up a sizable chunk of my time, and, "Well, what NOW?" echoed through my head.

That only lasted a few days, though. It just took some thinking and realizing "Now? Get out there and get on with your life!" After discussing it with my therapist on my return, it was a lot like when you complete any big goal in life; graduating from school, getting married, having a child, or what have you. Things have suddenly changed immensely, and it takes a bit of time to get used to the new. And you can always set a new goal, too!

So now, a new goal? I'm just being the best parent I can be, and really loving it!

Link to comment
Guest Donna Jean

I have felt nothing but being on cloud 9 since my surgery.

Well, Honey

All that I can add right now is to wish that this is the only feeling that you get from it.....forever!

Huggs

Dee Jay

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

As I understand it post surgical depression-regardless of the surgery -is a common phenomenon. I have read different theories about its causes-the major ones being the over production of adrenalin leading up to a surgery causes a depression when it drops back to normal and a lingering reaction to anesthesia in sensitive individuals. Apparently some traces can actually take weeks or months to completely clear your system.

I had an emergency surgery several years ago and my Dr cautioned me about the possible depression after the surgery.

If you aren't showing any signs I'd just enjoy the happiness you are feeling and not anticipate any depression.

The depression that occurs years later is also not an across the board occurrence

but more related to the personality of the person than any results from SRS. If you have lived many years of your life with depression it becomes a default mode to life stressors. And there are plenty of those whether you are trans or not.

I've watched your journey and been amazed at your attitude and strength.

Enjoy! You earned it.

Hugs

John

Link to comment
would love to hear more on any sort of depression at any time, because I just don't see it. I feel happier than I've ever felt in my life!

You make me chuckle Kelsie and I totally mean it in a good way. I could say I could tell you more and ruin it, but really, at this point, virtually nothing can ruin it. I know quite well the feeling and I look forward to future intellectual discussion on the subject. You WILL understand be you find it depressing at the time or not.

The depression that occurs years later is also not an across the board occurrence

but more related to the personality of the person than any results from SRS. If you ave lived many years of your life wit depression it becomes a default mode to life stressors. And there are plenty of those whether you are trans or not.

The emotional process resulting in the depression is one that virtually all MTF will go through a few years post SRS. It may not lead to outright depression, but it will have its impact. Of course those more prone to depression will experience it more in a depressive way.

The really cool thing, in my opinion, is the mental processes are needed and its too bad they almost never happen before SRS.

I think Jenni touched on some of it in her comments.

Link to comment
Guest KimberlyF

I feel happier than I've ever felt in my life!

OMG you could have lead with this :P

I made my post cause I was wondering what was up with where you were at and I know a few girls who had issues with the being pulled off the estro around the surgery time and then getting the lower dosages after and no more spiro and it just took a little adjustment period.

Kim

Link to comment
Guest sarah f

Kairi I hope you never have post-op depression but if you do we will be here for you and to comfort you until you get passed it.

I will say that when I was in the hospital for 5 days this year because of stomach problems, I was severly depressed. My heartbeat dropped in the 30's after a procedure and had to wear a heart monitor for 4 days until it stabilized. Along with a IV bag it was not fun. All I could do was lay there in the bed 24 hours a day. At least they had me on morphine and it didn't hurt that much.

What got me through this was the members of Laura's. I was on here with my phone of course reading and replying to posts. I am very appreciative to everyone here. We will do the same for you Kairi if needed or anyone else that needs help.

Link to comment

Thank you all! You are too sweet! Like I said, I'm not experiencing depression of any sort right now. It just seems lately I've seen a barrage of disscussions about it, both on and off LP. People saying it comes later. Some saying regret, others saying definately not regret. I just wanted to know the average amount of time after surgery these feelings came on, So I know when I can officially say, "Nope, didn't get them," or when I should expect to get them, or what.

Link to comment
  • 4 months later...
Guest DésiréeG

I'd just achieved a major goal, which had taken up a sizable chunk of my time, and, "Well, what NOW?" echoed through my head.

I was worried that this would happen to me, so I did two things well before surgery. One was to not think of GRS as the culmination of my life. I'd be the same person after as I was before. Any problems I went into the hospital with I'd be taking home with me. If you can understand that, you cut down the risk for depression a lot. GRS removes the physical package, not the emotional baggage.

Second, I made sure I had other goals, plans and challenges in my life. Yes, going through RLT, HRT and evntually GRS was a huge part of my life, no denying it. But ultimately, it's really only a small part of who I am, so I made sure not to be in a situation where afterward I'd say "I've reached my biggest goal in life. What do I do now?"

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...
Guest valeriedances

Ok, I've read and heard many a horror story of regret, remorse, depression, what have you, coming on after surgery. For those of you who experienced this, when did they begin? Immediatly? One month? Three months? A year? Longer?

I had depression after surgery for several reasons. Mostly because it was painful and I had complications (a real bad fourchette tear) to cope with. There seemed to be alot of trauma to the area overall and this was hard to deal with emotionally. My body was in a state of shock. This was a recovery issue, not regret. It would have been the same for any other body part that was affected similarly.

I was also affected by not understanding my new body, if I had a clitoris or not. There was numbness that lasted many months and my mind couldnt reconcile the various parts of my vagina compared to photos of natal women. Because of swelling, scabbing, numbness, I didnt really know if I had one. I thought if I did, it must be buried under the skin.

Thirdly, I was affected negatively by disclosure. I tried too soon to meet men, and dealing with rejection while still in a healing mode was not good.

I am doing much better emotionally now. My healing is complete (I am one year post-op tomorrow) and I have had a whole year to adjust. I love my vagina and BA, my body is just amazing to me. I'm very happy. The dysphoria is gone. This was the best decision of my life.

peace to you all. I'm glad to be here.

-Valerie

Link to comment
Guest kelise

Welcome, Valerie! I wonder if I know you. Are you near Orlando?

I'm sorry you had so many complications. Who was your surgeon? I had a lot of success with Dr. Bowers. She gave me a grand tour of my anatomy, so I knew right where my clit was. Only took me a few weeks to find my G-spot, and my clit started working again after 3 months. I'm six months now, and apart from a little hypersensitivity along my incisions, I seem to be 100%. Worst problems I had was a little granulation on the back of my vaginal opening, and a case of bacterial vaginosis, both of with have gone away. I'm also lucky enough to have a LTR with an amazing woman, so I'm not worried about relationship issues at this time. I guess I'm just REALLY lucky:)

Link to comment
Guest valeriedances

Welcome, Valerie! I wonder if I know you. Are you near Orlando?

I'm sorry you had so many complications. Who was your surgeon? I had a lot of success with Dr. Bowers. She gave me a grand tour of my anatomy, so I knew right where my clit was. Only took me a few weeks to find my G-spot, and my clit started working again after 3 months. I'm six months now, and apart from a little hypersensitivity along my incisions, I seem to be 100%. Worst problems I had was a little granulation on the back of my vaginal opening, and a case of bacterial vaginosis, both of with have gone away. I'm also lucky enough to have a LTR with an amazing woman, so I'm not worried about relationship issues at this time. I guess I'm just REALLY lucky:)

Hi kelise :)

I live in South Florida, so it's possible we've met. I dont seem to venture out of my area too often. I had surgery in Montreal with Dr. Brassard. My result appearance is quite excellent with good sensitivity. I'd more detail, but that is beyond the scope of this thread, so will save that for another time.

Wow, A G-spot. I've tried to find one but havent really noticed an area internally that feels extra wonderful while trying to ...you know, learn about my body.

Glad to hear your healing went so well and that your feeling 100% well. Also, happy to hear the good news on your relationship. It's wonderful to be accepted by a lover.

Disclosure is very difficult, especially with men. But my hopes are strong and will keep dating and looking for the right guy for me. I have a promising date for Friday and will just see how it goes.

thanks for the welcome.

-Valerie

Link to comment
  • 7 months later...
Guest Donna Jean

Just thought I'd update. I am now 1 year and 1 month post-op and still feel no depression or regret regarding my surgery.

Good for you, Kelise........

I'm sure that the dreaded "Post OP Depression" doesn't hit everyone.

Another of those "Everyone Experiences It" myths.......

Good luck, Hon!

Huggs

Dee Jay

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, 142 Guests (See full list)

    • Mirrabooka
    • Petra Jane
    • Adrianna Danielle
    • Betty K
    • KymmieL
    • AllieJ
    • elizamichellex
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.6k
    • Total Posts
      767.9k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,014
    • Most Online
      8,356

    Quillian
    Newest Member
    Quillian
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. l.demiurge
      l.demiurge
  • Posts

    • Betty K
      This whole Cass Review thing is breaking my heart. I keep imagining how it must be to be a trans kid in the UK atm. I am halfway through reading the review so that I can effectively refute it if and when people cite it here in Australia.
    • Mirrabooka
      One thing I took on board from a former boss who was an absolute gentleman and fluent conversationalist but a hopeless leader because he was the classic yes man to his superiors, was to take the emotion out of the equation when arguing. Don't use hyperbole. Don't exaggerate. Stick to what you know and defeat your adversary with logic. Of course, your adversary will double down and make an even bigger fool of themselves, and not even realize that they have lost the argument, nor will they realize that people are laughing at them and not with them. It also helps if you can separate them from their minions.   A conservative elderly uncle, who left school at the age of 12, swears black and blue that taking Ivermectin (sheep dip) prevents Covid because he knew someone who knew someone else who took it and despite that person being momentarily in close contact with people who had Covid, didn't come down with it. "Well, you're the one with the science degree!" I said.   A lot of people argue out of ignorance. They base their points on populism and rumor. I rarely argue, but when I do, it is in an attempt to push back. Another favorite saying that I use is "Rumors are started by haters, spread by fools and believed by idiots." I then ask, "Which two are you?" 😉
    • April Marie
      Good morning, all!!! Cloudy today with some light rain coming. Not a day to work outside.   I will vacuum the house and the head out to our local hardware store after I get cleaned up. Time to buy a new bird feeder for the back porch.   I'm sorry the job didn't work @KymmieL! Hang in there.   It sounds like a busy time for you at work @Willow. Finding reliable people is so hard these days.   Time for another cup of coffee before I start cleaning!!   Enjoy this beautiful day we've been given.  
    • Heather Shay
      RIP Dickie Betts  
    • Heather Shay
    • Heather Shay
      Which  do you pefer to refresh yourself - Music, Movies, Reading, Gaming, Nature, Other?
    • Heather Shay
      HRT visit always NP brings joy.
    • Heather Shay
      Nostalgia is an emotion. It is the feeling of enjoying events from the past. People with nostalgia will often look at or use old things that they were familiar with years ago. This is because people feel more connected to those past times that they enjoyed, usually because it reminds them of how long it has been since they last connected to such past times. Examples where people may have the feeling of nostalgia includes watching old TV shows, using old technology that was very enjoyable, and playing with toys that you played with as a child. These memories are usually misleading, and can make someone wish that they could be young again, even if their childhood was mediocre. Human brains often leave out boring or bad memories, which can cause incorrect feelings about their childhood.
    • Heather Shay
    • Heather Shay
    • Heather Shay
    • Heather Shay
      Welcome. Love your photo. Glad you are here and see you've already met 2 of the amazing people here. Hugs
    • Heather Shay
      CAT FACTS A cat's jaw cannot move sideways. The only domestic animal not mentioned in the Bible is the cat   A house cat’s genome is 95.6 percent tiger, and they share many behaviors with their jungle ancestors, says Layla Morgan Wilde, a cat behavior expert and the founder of Cat Wisdom 101. These behaviors include scent marking by scratching, prey play, prey stalking, pouncing, chinning, and urine marking. Cats are believed to be the only mammals who don’t taste sweetness. Cats are nearsighted, but their peripheral vision and night vision are much better than that of humans. Cats are supposed to have 18 toes (five toes on each front paw; four toes on each back paw). Cats can jump up to six times their length. Cats’ claws all curve downward, which means that they can’t climb down trees head-first. Instead, they have to back down the trunk. Cats’ collarbones don’t connect to their other bones, as these bones are buried in their shoulder muscles. Cats have 230 bones, while humans only have 206. Cats have an extra organ that allows them to taste scents on the air, which is why your cat stares at you with her mouth open from time to time. Cats have whiskers on the backs of their front legs, as well. Cats have nearly twice the amount of neurons in their cerebral cortex as dogs. Cats have the largest eyes relative to their head size of any mammal. Cats make very little noise when they walk around. The thick, soft pads on their paws allow them to sneak up on their prey — or you! Cats’ rough tongues can lick a bone clean of any shred of meat. Cats use their long tails to balance themselves when they’re jumping or walking along narrow ledges. Cats use their whiskers to “feel” the world around them in an effort to determine which small spaces they can fit into. A cat’s whiskers are generally about the same width as its body. (This is why you should never, EVER cut their whiskers.) Cats walk like camels and giraffes: They move both of their right feet first, then move both of their left feet. No other animals walk this way. Male cats are more likely to be left-pawed, while female cats are more likely to be right-pawed. Though cats can notice the fast movements of their prey, it often seems to them that slow-moving objects are actually stagnant. Some cats are ambidextrous, but 40 percent are either left- or right-pawed. Some cats can swim. There are cats who have more than 18 toes. These extra-digit felines are referred to as being “polydactyl.”
    • Willow
      Good morning,   I over slept yesterday was a couple minutes late clocking in.  But no breakfast or coffee.  Got caught up but it was go go go all morning.  I had to ask for a refresher on how I was to enter something but once I got a quick answer it came back to me.    @KymmieL sorry Ford didn’t work out.  We are always looking for good reliable people, I could get you a job here but the commute would be rough.  Today I have three audits to get done, plus other things during my shift on top of the regular things.  Since I am opening that puts me in the drivers seat.  The Asst Mgr comes in part way throuh my shift but she will have to handle customers while I do the work she would be doing if she opened. Tail wagging the dog.  Guess she’s getting punished for not following the Mgr’s requests.  They do tend to butt heads a lot.     Butting heads with people is a thing the Asst is known for.   @awkward-yet-sweet do you think just maybe this new graphics request was in the offing?  And why you were asked to go to work with your husband?  Obviously, he cares about you a lot and is trying to do things to help you.   speaking of meeting people @Adrianna Danielle we have a youngish customer who comes in frequently, I’d like to approach her but I’m just not certain yet.  She still dresses male but has long hair and early chest development.  My approach, if I ever decided I should would just be supportive but I really can’t be sure that is what is going on here or what and I would not want to make a big blunder if that’s not what he is doing.  A male with early teen boobs doesn’t want to be noticed.   well, I can’t be late again, I’ve got to leave now.  See you again later for afternoon tea and crumpets or scones. Mmm scones!   lol   Willow
    • Carolyn Marie
      https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-health-and-wellness/scotland-pauses-prescriptions-puberty-blockers-transgender-minors-rcna148366     Carolyn Marie
  • 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...