SRS/GRS Question

[Charley Bea(EmeraldP)]

Firstly it will be awhile before I can have(afford) SRS/GRS myself and also if this is answered in another topic I apologise. Anyway onto the reason behind this topic, I was watching a video and something was said that caught my interest and as such left me with a question. In the video it was said that after the surgery that you need to use a device(dildo etc) to keep the hole created otherwise it will closeup the comparison made was to a piercing where you have to keep using earrings to make sure the hole(piercing) doesn't close up. My question is is this true at all?

[Catherine Sarah]

Hi Emerald,

ABSOLUTELY. It's the most important part of your post op care. It's called 'dilating.'  Most Drs. have there own method of doing it. Some require you to dilate 3 times a day for the first 6 months, others ask for 5 times a day.

Usually each session takes roughly an hour including setup and clean up. Lots of fun to keep you amused and not think about your pain. (That you've just created from dilating a post operative site     )

You'll really look forward to this. A life long relationship with your dilator. Having said that, you can go for the "biological" one. Apparently THAT one works a whole heap better AND is much more fun.   

Enjoy
Huggs
catherine

[Charley Bea(EmeraldP)]

Oh so that is what they meant okay. So on top of extra fluids and being unsure what care I might have before I would be cleared to go home I will have six months of that to deal with lol

Is it only 6 months? The video made it seem it is like something you would have to do for the rest of your life

[Beth Andrea]

Well, the frequency tapers off (no pun intended). Let's say it's 4x/day for the first month, then 3x/day until 3 months, 2x/day for the first year, etc.

I think it slows down after that, to once a week. Of course, if one is having vaginal intercourse, that counts. (I am not experienced in this matter, though (dilation, not vaginal intercourse...well, I"m not experienced with THAT yet, either, except on the wrong end of the intercourse...))

I better shut up now. 

[Charley Bea(EmeraldP)]

Ah okay I think I understand it, so basically it is but it isn't a life long thing? Wait do cis women have to do that? *mind melting*

[blueconstancy]

Brassard has dilation at once per day for 20 minutes for the second six months, and at the one-year mark it's once a week for 15 minutes for the rest of your life (which isn't so bad, relatively). Doctors' regimens vary, but most do end up recommending very brief, infrequent dilation sessions forever.

No, cis women don't have to do it. (If they did, well, what would happen with babies and little girls? It'd be closed up before any child grew up.) That's because when the body is "programmed" to have a vagina, you don't have to work to keep it open, just like nostrils don't close up but new ear piercings do. A cis vagina does collapse somewhat when not in use, but it won't heal closed. There *are* post-op women who say that they have given up dilation and their body now remembers that it should have a vagina and it's not a problem anymore; seems like that's the luck of the draw, just like some women end up self-lubricating and some don't, etc.

[Catherine Sarah]

.........  I am not experienced in this matter, though ............  I"m not experienced with THAT yet, either, except .........)

I better shut up now. 

Good idea Beth. Very wise decision. I could only see you digging a deeper hole than the Marina Trench if you continued

But don't give up on it all. You've got the years and looks that could see you paying "Capital Gains Tax" on your "Assets", as well as "Depreciation" (wear and tear on Assets) yet. I mean to say; that's what it's there for.        

Huggs
Catherine

[Catherine Sarah]

Oh so that is what they meant okay.

Yep.

So on top of extra fluids and being unsure what care I might have before I would be cleared to go home ........  lol

I'm not sure of what you meant by extra fluids?

Before you mind melts completely, go to the following link and you'll get a better understanding of the procedure with it's immediate before and after processes. If you're still alive after that and haven't taken up a Monastical life, let us know.

http://www.marcibowers.com/grs/expect.html

P.S.The "packing" refers to a stent that is inserted into the neo-vagina during surgery in order to form the new organ. That is removed shortly afterwards round day 5-6 whatever. Oh the joys   .

Huggs
Catherine

[Beth Andrea]

Good idea Beth. Very wise decision. I could only see you digging a deeper hole than the Marina Trench if you continued

But don't give up on it all. You've got the years and looks that could see you paying "Capital Gains Tax" on your "Assets", as well as "Depreciation" (wear and tear on Assets) yet. I mean to say; that's what it's there for.        

Huggs
Catherine

LOL..."Marina" is a name...you're referring the Marianas Trench, which is not a good thing to mention in the same sentence as "vagina"....ROFL

I can't wait to start "wearing and tearing" my assets...well, maybe not "tearing" so much...and I *hope* someone appreciates my...ummm...yeah.

Bye!

*blushes, runs out of the thread*

[Catherine Sarah]

             

............. and stay out of this thread Devlyn Marie.

Beth has got herself into enough trouble for the day.

Change subject please !!!!!

Wasn't the weather nice today???

Huggs
Catherine

[eli77]

I blame my girlfriend and her inability to live in the same city as me for still having to dilate. Sigh. But, ya, after a year, you're healed and it will close very, very slowly. I rarely remember to dilate every week. (Okay, I hate dilating and it makes me want to break things.) And while it's uncomfortable when I do it, I haven't lost significant depth.

It's during the early period (first year) when you are still healing that it is absolutely crucial to dilate and when you really risk losing your depth or having complications as a result. After that it becomes less of a deal. And irrelevant if you are having regular penetrative sex, or never plan on having penetrative sex. Just BEHAVE and follow the doc's orders for at least the first 6 months or you'll screw up everything.

[Charley Bea(EmeraldP)]

Well that is my main concern is just the remember to part as I get distracted/sidetracked so easily..sometimes I forget to eat and then when i do remember I tend to pig out

By extra fluids I meant like drains, I have seen footage of FTM's post top surgery having drains attached to well drain extra blood and what not so that is what I mean or is that a non issue with SRS/GRS?

[Catherine Sarah]

Hi Emerald,

By extra fluids I meant like drains, I have seen footage of FTM's post top surgery having drains attached to well drain extra blood and what not so that is what I mean or is that a non issue with SRS/GRS?

No. It is the same issue. You will have a catheter, drain and IV's attached post operatively. As recovery occurs, they are removed. Most Drs. have you discharged from hospital in 3 to 4 days, so that would be the longest you would 'attached' to all that stuff. Albeit the catheter which should be removed the day your packing is removed.

Huggs
Catherine

[Charley Bea(EmeraldP)]

Ah okay, well I guess I don't need to worry as it will be quite some time before I can have the surgery as I as yet am not living full time(bit tricky with current circumstances) and then there is the funding, finding somewhere to go for it. Flights, accommodation oh and getting a passport so definitely awhile off yet. But I was curious, thanks everyone