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Approaching GCS!


Kylie

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Hello All!

 

Haven’t been posting much as of late, but I have been following all the posts and smiling. I’m glad so many are having successful roads despite all the hiccups along the way. 
 

As the title states, my GCS is approaching quickly; March 25! I am having my procedure done at The Hospital at Westlake by Dr. Ashley DeLeon with Crane Center for Trans Health. 
 

exciting!

 

For those that have went through the surgery, any pointers to have a speedy recovery? I’m planning to stay out of work 8 weeks, if needed more. I have applied for my FMLA and for Short-Term Disability (still nervous about the approval of it?). My coworkers are having a ‘Taco Tuesday’ party for me and asked me to create a registry at Target for items I need. Any recommendations on things I should ask for? So far I put some bed sheets, cleaning supplies, bleach, lube and an assortment of pads, shirts and loose fitting bottoms. 
 

Thank you all for any pointers!

 

Kylie❤️

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Congratulations!

 

Your GCS is the day after my birthday! So happy birthday from me to you!

 

I'm going in next week. Things I've already gathered include:

 

Bed pads in case of leaks.

Depends for the same reason.

Laxatives, because you mustn't strain... and they want you on a high protein diet.

Topical antibiotics (Hibicleanse) to ward off infections.

I'm also starting on an anti-scarring protocol... tomorrow, yikes! ...with Arnica tablets.

A donut to sit on. I'm told the one they give you at the hospital is... in a word... crap.

 

I'll be wearing my long shirt style pajamas for much of my recovery, so I've got that down. Loose fitting clothing for the actual hospital visit. I'm thinking my dark skirt and a nice top. Sweatpants, but you already probably have those. I still need to buy... and probably buy stock in... lube. I bet I can set up a monthly delivery service with Amazon once I figure out how fast I go through it.

 

It's a brave new world for me too. I'm looking forward to seeing what the girls that have already been there have to offer.

 

Hugs!

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@Jackie C. how awesome! I have been stocking up on stuff as well such as anything and everything to prevent an infection. I am an RN, so I know how things can go bad if not cared for properly. I didn’t think about just wearing PJs. I’ll be in Austin Texas for about 2-3 weeks before I can come back home to N.C.  so praying this all goes well! 

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I figured I'd be confined to the hotel room for most of a week, so why NOT just live in my comfy PJs? No clue how I'm going to be navigating much of anything with the catheter/bag attached but I imagine I'll be able to work something out. I've gotten so used to being active, because, "as close as you can get to the best shape of your life," I've no idea what I'm going to do with myself during the recovery period. My morning has included a three-hour plus gym session for almost a year now... What else am I going to do in the morning? Sleep? I mean we're only allowed to even sit up for "short periods to take meals."

 

They're only keeping me for a week though. We're leaving Sunday and I start the trip home on Wednesday. Then regular Skype consults with the doctor to make sure everything is healing properly. I am both excited and terrified.

 

Hugs!

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How cool! My surgeon has me staying locally in TX for 2-3 weeks pending an issue with recovery. I’ll be in the hospital 3 days then hotel for the remainder. So look forward to this. Please post your experience so I can gain some perspective!

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I will absolutely do that as soon as I'm able. I plan to have my tablet with me, but I'm not sure how much typing I'll be able to do from my nest. If anything breaks me, it'll be not being able to sit up or missing friends.

 

Or Susan smothering me with a pillow because I asked for "just a glass of water" one too many times.

 

Hugs!

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Maybe not at Target, but at Sams Club or Costco get a large package of "hospitality grade" (ie' motel) white washcloth's (about 24 count).  They are kinder to the wound area than Kleenex and some other paper products and washing them out is easy enough.  They also give your nice towels and washcloths a safety break.  You won't feel bad about getting rid of the heavily stained ones although they do last pretty well.

 

Get a couple of bottles of Hydrogen Peroxide for cleaning the washcloths and your underwear, it is a miracle cleaner for blood stains on them.  Plain cotton underwear at least one and possibly two sizes bigger than you currently wear.

 

Word of caution on the Antibiotic stuff is that you have good and helpful bacteria on your skin naturally which keeps a balance with good and natural fungi (yeasts).  Even following my doctors orders on a prescription antibiotic gel that I used my first two weeks, the balance went to snot and I had a YEAST infection that turned dilation into AGONY.  I saw my new gynecologist at 21 days post to get that taken care of which she did quickly.  Later on, about 6 weeks the two, then cooperating micro life forms will help your new genital arrangement progress and be happy.

 

Get a few ordinary plastic shoe boxes with lids that are dishwasher safe and use them for keeping your care supplies.  I say dishwasher safe with the idea they can be easily kept clean.  Two of the wash rags kept in the box with your current "boy friend" as I called my dilators, make clean up a breeze.  The process is messy.

 

At first you will be going through a lot of lube, so I recommend getting the pump bottle type of stuff that Wall Mart has.  At first I went through about a bottle a week or less, so having a good supply on hand keeps panic away.  It is a dream of some people to buy lube in a 55 gallon drum which from time to time is on the internet, but you need the exercise of going out and buying the stuff, so don't go that whole hog on getting it.  

 

Index my posts from January 2013 in the Post Op Forum for some fun about my adventure, I think they begin on page 6 over there.  DO be ready for one negative experience a few months in to your healing process.  Now you are very excited and under stress to get this done and its a high of sorts.  I would say about June or July when this stuff becomes dull and boring routine you will feel a let-down or some actual depression come in then, it is part of healing, but not the fun part.  I cover that in a couple of my posts there and did it to help others. 

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Good luck to you both. I imagine waiting to be rolled up to the ER will seen forever, then getting moved around and IV'ed will be a distraction, your doc will drop by to say hi, and you will wake up in a recovery room with a whole new set of challenges before you, but finally healing in the right direction. You go, Grrls.

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I'm following this thread with interest, since I will be going for my surgery in about five weeks.  Great information so far.

 

Good luck to both of you, Kylie and Jackie!

 

Regards,

Kathy

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Congratulations and good luck to both of you, Kylie and Jackie. 

 

My own GCS is scheduled for February 21, so I am reading threads like this with great interest.

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  • 3 weeks later...

So.....

The month of March is here! Begins the count down to the 25th for surgery! My Friends and Co-Workers planned and hosted a party/shower for me and have given me so many gifts and essentials as my surgery date is now close. This was such a tremendous surprise and blessing!

 

I have now completed all the necessary intake w/ my surgeon and all appropriate stuff is done. :)

 

Can't wait to follow along with everyone else as they go thru this journey as well!

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Congratulations!

 

Also, the day after my birthday. I shall raise a slice of cheesecake in honor of your day of fasting and bowel purge.

 

Hugs!

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Awe I will be thinking of your Birthday while I suffer the bowel prep!

 

I am ready to be done, yet so nervous!

 

Kylie

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Once you start the bowel prep... well, you won't be thinking of much else. ?

 

The bowel prep was just the worst. Probably better than the nausea I had after surgery (my body does not care for being confined to a 30 degree angle or less. May your digestive system be more forgiving), but it's not going to be one of my cherished memories.

 

I'm ready to be done too. ? Happy I did it, but so ready to be done with the healing. May you heal faster than I am as well.

 

Hugs!

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I followed your journey very closely and only thing I noticed differs is my surgeon is getting me out of bed post op day 1. With me being an RN I am very much aware of everything that can occur and want to prevent anything! I am not letting the staff know that I nor the friend with me are Nurses, don't want them to worry all the time about wondering if we are judging. My surgeon has giggled at me for keeping it hush hush.  

 

I am patiently waiting, today marks 20 days until I go under the knife!

 

as my friends have said, "snip snap, its a trap!"

 

 

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Oh, that'll be fun. I'm only just starting to walk like a human being again. My surgeon was more concerned with everything setting in before I was allowed to move. If I might ask, what flavor procedure are you having? I'm curious about differences based on procedure.

 

Hugs!

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40 minutes ago, Kylie said:

I am patiently waiting, today marks 20 days until I go under the knife!

 

 

Patiently, my #$%^!  :)  Take deep breaths: you'll be fine.  I go in six days.  I'll be home in time to give you a proper send-off.

 

Kathy

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@Jackie C. I am having the one step inversion procedure.Possibility in needing a graft, but will not know until in the procedure. She has said depending on what she encounters will determine where she uses a graft from (colon or skin).  Hopefully nothing extra needed!

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Huh, same procedure I had. My surgeon said, "Lie there like a dead fish so everything has time to attach." I'm curious as to the difference in reasoning.

 

I can walk about a half hour at this point. Susan wanted wanted to go antiquing today. I got through the short store and about one aisle of the the clothing resale before I was holding onto shelves for support. Fortunately, Susan was perceptive enough to call the death march short when she realized I was going pale. Usually I enjoy browsing the resale clothing shop but something in my undercarriage was screaming at me and I desperately needed a break. Not healed yet. ?

 

Maybe to keep your legs from swelling up? I got these automatic leg massage things. They actually felt really nice.

 

Hugs!

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