UPDATE: Top Surgery - A Question of Safety&Concerns About Nipples

[Tom]

Hey All!

I know it's been ages since I've been active here. Like sum up to a year, I imagine. But I'm still here! I love you guys and everyone's always been so helpful. A brief update of Tom would be: it's been two years of testosterone, discovered I identify to be more genderqueer but yet still an FtM (complicated? lol), AAAAND~ I got my top surgery! April 10th! ^^ And after that, my hysterectomy is May 31st! It's all very exciting indeed. X3

BUT. I have a question.

It's been over a week. There's no gauze, no bandages, no bleeding of course. I don't have an infection, so recovery is going well. Albeit, my one nipple is healing a little rougher, but both won't heal the same. I know that. Besides, this one had sutures so tight the nurse fought with them lol. I've been resting lots and being careful. I don't stretch, or lift, or do anything I think might strain at all. But I have been having some issues sleeping.

So my question is, if I am extremely careful, and I can't believe I'm asking this:
Is it safe to masturbate?
Is it safe to do anything sexually active?

Thank you guys! ♥

EDIT: I moved it from the "Just for Us" section as I learned most people check topics here more often. X)

EDIT/UPDATE: So it's been about two and a half weeks since surgery. Really? Only that long? That's intense! Anyways, and of course new things have developed. About four days ago, I became really concerned with the fact that my nipples had turned into giant scabs. Now, I've seen and heard that this happens and isn't necessarily a bad thing. What really concerned me is that they were getting darker and starting to seriously dry up. Like flake and look scaly. -shudder- So I called my surgeon and he said to just put polysporin on them and that it is likely due to the fact that I live with two heavy smokers.

So I did that. I'd put on a thick layer twice a day. Two days after, a lot of the scabs fell off. Naturally, it looked really gross underneath. All raw and weird looking - makes sense, scabs just fell off. I don't know if I'm being impatient but I just have NO IDEA what I am supposed to expect. Right now, where there is no scabbing anymore, it's all multi-pigmented and still looks rather raw as well it's....this is hard to explain...it's not all evenly raised or flat or smooth. It's all bumpy but in a warbled type? Does that make any sense lol? Anyways, my concern is how should my nipples be healing. I know they won't be the same pigment they were before or as the rest of me, it'll take awhile. I know I need to make sure they stay a healthy pink so they aren't dying. It doesn't look infected. Just as I said, raw. Tis be normal?

[Nygeel]

Yes and no. Don't use much arm motion and you'll be okay. There's ways to go around it.

[Tom]

Ah, okay, thank you! Naturally, as I have never had a surgery before and it's easy to overdo it, I'm extremely paranoid. But I mean...with my increased testosterone and everything, I have needs. XP lol. If it isn't too explicit to inquire further, so as long as I'm careful and paying attention as to if I feel pulling or pain, and I don't use arm motion but more hips, then I should be okay?

EDIT: I'm just really terrified of hurting myself and overdoing. Like, I can't reach out and shut a window. I can't stretch my arms over my head. I do the smallest thing absentmindedly sometimes, such as grab something to rotate my chair and push off, and it doesn't pull or strain really, but I get the slightest twinge of pain. At this point, I'm aware of a constant discomfort. Like constantly, I'm just at that stage. In my mind, it's akin to that dull throb you get used to from a piercing healing. But I fear even holding my arms up to type might be too much sometimes - I just have no idea. :/

I don't know how others have been with recovery from top surgery. I'm sure we have all had our share of frustration and fear.

[Amygdala1]

I had my surgery at the start of the year, there was no issue with being sexually active. I'd recommend just being careful and listen to your body. I waited a week, but that was only because it was too awkward to move a lot with drains in. The only thing that I found could be a bit of a problem was that i had some areas which were quiet numb (and still are) and it was really difficult to judge if I was over stretching because I couldn't feel anything.

If you no longer have bandages on, try masturbating with your shirt off, then you can see the scar if it stretches Also I found if you use the muscles in you wrist more then upper arms it was easier. If you pay attention to it while you go its quiet easy to differentiate and preferentially use certain muscles.

(That's my experience anyway, everyone's body is different)

[Jamie D]

@Amygdala

Though I have not had a breast reduction (I'm trying to go the other way!), I did have my chest cracked for open heart surgery.  I have a scar several inches long which runs down my sternum, and other scars from the drain tubes.

It took several months for the nerves to reconnect and for the numbness to go away.  For some reason, my nipples responded first, and that was quite enjoyable. 

[Al James]

The main reason they advise against sexual activity after surgery is in case it raises your blood pressure which could then have an effect on your healing. but saying that I think it was only a week before needs got the better of me!

[Tom]

From the various responses I'm receiving here and even elsewhere, it appears to be a matter of 'depends on the person and the situation'. Obviously, it isn't advised to engage in such activity immediately after. But it seems to be that a week or two weeks after (two being better sounding to me) doesn't seem to pose any serious risk. If I feel pain or pulling, I'll stop. And if I am aware I am more sore one day, then I may not engage in anything. Seems to be what make sense, what you're comfortable, what is logical, and what is safe. And that all depends on the person too. Everyone reacts differently to surgery and recovers differently.

I don't want to make another post about my top surgery so I'm going to make an 'Edit' on my main post, I have another concern/question/query.

And thank you everyone!!! It's really nice to get feedback rather than sitting here freaking out. Thanks! ♥