Orchi before GCS/SRS or skip Orchi - current thoughts?

[Jeneva]

I had an orci and could not be more pleased. Estrogen shots now work without T or other chemicals. Mentally losing my boys has been outstanding because they are really the center of maleness. Clothes fit better as I have a small penis and now with no boys I can wear woman's clothes without an obvious bulge. Of course it is up to your doctor and therapist if it is right for you. Dr. Bowers says the is no problem with my SRS next year. It is very likely you can get your legal documents changed because an orci is "irreversible genital surgery". I already have all mine changed, even my birth certificate. An orci withDr. Bowers only requires HRT, living full time and a letter from your therapist, not a RLT. Although I have will have SRS next year, I am already functioning as woman and have no male thoughts. Losing my boys has really had an extremely positive effect on me; girls do not have testicles.

Susan

So you had no problems with your SSA and passport?  TN is a bit picky so I'm not sure about the driver's license, but I'm going to try.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.  Hopefully I can post Monday 23rd or Tuesday 24th with positive news.   

[eli77]

Best of luck!

[mementomori]

Wasn't there a recent quote somewhere on here from Dr. Bowers saying it didn't really make that big a difference in terms of shrinkage vs just blockers?

I didn't really have a lot to work with either and HRT has caused significant shrinkage already, but depth isn't as important a criteria for me since fingers tend to be smaller than other parts  .

im confused does having an orchi cause shrinkage ? i know hormones dont shrink the actual penis but just the testicles . but does having a orchi actually shrink tissue ?

[Shantel]

im confused does having an orchi cause shrinkage ? i know hormones dont shrink the actual penis but just the testicles . but does having a orchi actually shrink tissue ?

Within a few years post-orchiectomy the penis atrophies as a result of a total and complete lack of testosterone other than what little the adrenal gland produces. So what happens is that the erectile tissue inside the penis shrinks and the little unit becomes smaller and seems to retract. No big problem according to my discussion and examination with Marcie Bowers who says, the erectile tissue is what she removes during SRS anyway. I clearly recall her looking at my pathetic little member and telling me not to worry, that I'd have an excellent outcome. Prior to that conversation I had undergone an orchiectomy several years earlier, a single incision in the scrotum and two small dissolving stitches.

I share personal insights and experiences just for the sake of others who may be considering surgery and have apprehension and fears.

[susanewing]

Social Security requires surgery. What surgery actually depends of the individual office; The offices in the large liberal cities seem to be less restrictive. SFO for me. Passport is not a problem as there has been an official change of policy and if you are being treated you can get your passport marker changed. Dr. Bowers says an orci will not affect SRS. I believe you and your therapist need to be absolutely sure you have GID and are going to transition before you have an orci; it is irreversible. For me it was wonderful because I desperately wanted to get rid of my male parts and an orci took me a long way toward my goal to be physically a woman.

Susan

[Shantel]

I believe you and your therapist need to be absolutely sure you have GID and are going to transition before you have an orci; it is irreversible.

Susan

Excellent advice, there are no do-overs!

[Renee D]

If I can't come up with the complete surgery money in the next couple years, I'm leaning towards this option as a stopgap as well. Only this time, I won't try to do it myself.

[Jeneva]

Social Security requires surgery. What surgery actually depends of the individual office; The offices in the large liberal cities seem to be less restrictive. SFO for me. Passport is not a problem as there has been an official change of policy and if you are being treated you can get your passport marker changed. Dr. Bowers says an orci will not affect SRS. I believe you and your therapist need to be absolutely sure you have GID and are going to transition before you have an orci; it is irreversible. For me it was wonderful because I desperately wanted to get rid of my male parts and an orci took me a long way toward my goal to be physically a woman.

I've been out to my therapist for over two years.  Early on we focused more of my family driven anxiety (not wife/kids but parents/siblings).  Well over a year ago we started focusing on transition and steps I could take.  I've been out publicly and living full time since last Labor day.  I had FFS and a BA with Dr. Z on 12/29/2011.  I have NO second thoughts.  My only concern about the surgery is the loss of money from my GCS fund, but it is going to be soooooo long before I can afford GCS.  So any question of GID or not and transition or not has been answered months ago with yes to both.

[Jeneva]

Ok, I'm going to sort of make this like my FFS thread.  However there will be NO PICTURES! 

I'm going to pay when I finish up with work and then I fly out tomorrow at noon.  I'll probably post a few more times to relieve the hurry up and get here anxiety.  I'll also post afterward a few times about swelling and pain.

[JenJen2011]

I wish you the best hun! Say goodbye to the nasty T!

[chloe23]

Good luck on your surgery Jen, wish you a speedy recovery

[Shantel]

Ok, I'm going to sort of make this like my FFS thread.  However there will be NO PICTURES! 

I'm going to pay when I finish up with work and then I fly out tomorrow at noon.  I'll probably post a few more times to relieve the hurry up and get here anxiety.  I'll also post afterward a few times about swelling and pain.

Good luck Jen, you'll do fine!

[Jeneva]

They are gone. So far so good. No real pain yet but he wrote a script for viocdan so I'm set there. Getting up off the table was fine and walking/driving was no problem. Hecwarned the cords will swell and evidentially that makes some people think he didn't remove them so he shows you the after he is done.

Dr. Arnkoff was very friendly and is going to write me a letter with the ssa wording. No real pain during just a bit of tugging and sticks at first.

For me the worst part was having to lye there uncovered and exposed for so long. I had a hard time fighting the anxiety that triggered, but wasn't nervous about the surgery at all.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

They are gone. So far so good. No real pain yet but he wrote a script for viocdan so I'm set there. Getting up off the table was fine and walking/driving was no problem. Hecwarned the cords will swell and evidentially that makes some people think he didn't remove them so he shows you the after he is done.

Dr. Arnkoff was very friendly and is going to write me a letter with the ssa wording. No real pain during just a bit of tugging and sticks at first.

For me the worst part was having to lye there uncovered and exposed for so long. I had a hard time fighting the anxiety that triggered, but wasn't nervous about the surgery at all.

Try having it done with two other people (surgery students) watching. 

They will do that but it goes away after about a week or so.  I got a panic attack and wondered if my surgeon removed them.  But using a bag of frozen peas helped to reduce the swelling.

And after 2 1/2 yrs, I have not had much shrinkage at all.

Oh and you will have night sweats in a bit.    They will pass too.

[JenJen2011]

Aww, I'm so happy for you!

[Jeneva]

Thanks for all the well wishes.

Evidentially viocdan makes me ultra awake. I've only taken it before for my FFS. And then I always took it with diazepam. All morning I felt sleepy but after lunch I took one since it was tender and I remember my nurse's advice from FFS of take it BEFORE the pain gets out of hand. Once I did I was wide awake. So this evening around 9:30 I decide I had better take some of my klonazapam. Almost immediately it just totally hammered me. It has never affected me like that before.  So I'm really sleepy and get to rest. BUT it only lasted till 11 and now I'm wide awake again. I have to get up a bit past 4 to get to the airport to go home.

[justmeinoz]

Lots of good info here for sure. 

I am seriously thinking of an orchi, as I don't know if I could cope with the time spent on  the table,  for a number of reasons.   As it sounds like there are no contra-indications for SRS later, it could be a worthwhile step for me.

Good to hear you are recovering well Jeneva.

Karen.

[Jeneva]

Flight and airport treks not too bad.  I've had to take 1 Vicodin every 6 hours because I'm walking so much. Not terrible though. Back at home now and using ice again. He said only the first 48 matter for ice so I won't bother tomorrow.

[Shantel]

Flight and airport treks not too bad.  I've had to take 1 Vicodin every 6 hours because I'm walking so much. Not terrible though. Back at home now and using ice again. He said only the first 48 matter for ice so I won't bother tomorrow.

Good going Jeneva, I knew you could handle it, an atta girl for you honey!

[Jeneva]

Ok, so the second night was fairly painful (at least until I took a second pill and then it was just uncomfortable again).  I noticed that Dr Arnkoff wrote his prescription for 7.5/750 vs 5.0/500 that Dr Z used.  At home I've been taking Dr. Z's med since it is older and will expire faster.  So that night I had to take a total of 10.0/1000 (hydrocodone/acetaminophen).

The next morning when I cleaned the incision I saw why the prior night hurt.  The drain tube had come almost completely out, but was still sutured so when I moved it was yanking on the sutures and making the tube jab me also.  It was time to clip the suture and remove it anyway.  OMG, that thing was HUGE.  It was like 6 inches long.  I went ahead and took a small dosage of Vicodan that day since I had a laser hair removal appointment and figured it was better to not be in pain to start with.  One thing I did learn, the vicodan did NOTHING for the pain of LHR.  She had asked me to leave hair unshaven since it is very thinned now and she doesn't want to treat areas that don't need it.  That makes the pain go up quite a bit.  It was still bearable of course.

This morning I have not yet had any pain med (not even OTC acetaminophen) and it is only uncomfortable.  It is just a touch swollen and if I bump the swollen area it feels as if it is bruised.  His advice to wear tight underclothing is definitely spot on target.

He mailed me back my driver's license that got left in their copier and it arrived yesterday.   I am still surprised that I wasn't given too much hassle by TSA for not having my license.  He is sending me a letter that I think should work across the board for getting my markers changed.  I'm hopeful that our DMV head will take almost anything since she seemed genuine when she said sorry I can't change the marker without a letter when I got my name changed on my DL.

Here is the key phrasing I recommended to Dr. Arnkoff and he didn't feel it would dishonest or questionable.

On 04/22/2012, I completed an irreversible genital surgical procedure for the purpose of altering Jeneva's sex characteristics from male to female.

Please note I was careful to include these words I've seen that govt types want: COMPLETED, IRREVERSIBLE GENITAL SURGICAL and of course MALE TO FEMALE.

The only part I felt queazy about was saying that it altered my sex characteristics.  While that is true because males have testicles and females don't, I am intentionally hoping that they read that as full GCS.  I feel bad about the misleading intent, but the M on my license and other documents is very hurtful.

So overall, this surgery was very minor and low pain in my opinion.