Having Surgery Alone

[clydeT]

Has anyone here gone to have top surgery by themselves, as in no one came with you? I'm stealth to everyone I interact with on a regular basis, not in a relationship, and my family is problematic to say the least. It seems like every story I've read of someone having sugery they go with a family member of partner, but surely someone else has been in my situation.

[lost.cowboy]

Hi Clyde,

Yes I have. I don't have contact with any family and live totally stealth as you do. I had surgery in London and stayed overnight, the day I left I stayed in a hotel pretty much opposite the hospital, then caught the train home the next day.

I told everyone I'd had a knee operation when I took time off. In terms of around the house, I rested as much as possible and just tried to move the rest of my body rather than reaching and stretching.

Let me know if there are any questions etc I can help you out with?

[randomroads]

Remember that there are plenty of people who are willing to help out however they can without outing you. If I were local to you I'd volunteer to do whatever you couldn't do for the few weeks following and I know I'm not the only person who enjoys helping others out.

Knee surgery? Didn't people wonder how you could walk so well but couldn't reach up to the top shelf?

[Nyri]

I'd help out too, if I were local.  (where are you, anyway? haha)  I'm a complete loner, but the idea of someone going through something like that by themselves makes me kind of sad, anyway. 

I've never had a surgery of any sort, so I can't really say anything else, I guess.

[Simon]

Not sure where you live but some surgeons demand that you have someone accompany you for surgery. I'm almost positive that Dr. G is like that and won't do the surgery otherwise. Not sure what doctor you're planning on either but that is something I would make certain of well beforehand.

If it is Dr. G (seems like most go to him) I think the New Beginnings Retreat staff has someone who will go with a person who has nobody to go with them. If you're going there that would be something to look into.

I'm still stuck on what doctor I'm going with but if it's Dr. G I'll probably end up going alone as well (if I have someone down there to go with me). Just because top surgery isn't that big of a surgery (basically outpatient) and not worth my gf losing a week's worth of pay just to sit in a motel and stare at me while I heal.

Let us know how it goes for you.

[King Malachite]

Not sure where you live but some surgeons demand that you have someone accompany you for surgery. I'm almost positive that Dr. G is like that and won't do the surgery otherwise. Not sure what doctor you're planning on either but that is something I would make certain of well beforehand.

If it is Dr. G (seems like most go to him) I think the New Beginnings Retreat staff has someone who will go with a person who has nobody to go with them. If you're going there that would be something to look into.

I'm still stuck on what doctor I'm going with but if it's Dr. G I'll probably end up going alone as well (if I have someone down there to go with me). Just because top surgery isn't that big of a surgery (basically outpatient) and not worth my gf losing a week's worth of pay just to sit in a motel and stare at me while I heal.

Let us know how it goes for you.

Simon beat me to the punch.  I'm going to be in a similar position where I will not have family to support me and I doubt I will find a girlfriend so this has been my big concern.  I've been stressing out about finding a private nurse for hired as well as the extra costs associated with that until I heard about there New Beginnings Retreat.  They can shuttle you from the FL airport to the retreat and they will drive you to Dr. Garramone's surgery location.  I've even heard of guys out of the county going alone to the New Beginnings Retreat.  From what I've seen, they take very good care of you.   You might want to look into Dr. Garramone for that option. I am definately going there when the time comes for my surgery.


Then, there is also Gateway Transhealth to look into as they offer top surgery packages that includes a private nurse to go with you. 

[randomroads]

I had no idea about New Beginnings! I'll have to give it a look and see if it's doable for me. There are many aspects of going out of state for top surgery to worry me, including the fact that we have multiple pets and would have to board them which is $$$$ and the added cost of a second plane ticket to boot.

[spacerace]

It is hard to ask someone else to put work etc on hold for the week or whatever you need to be in the area, so I can understand the consideration of going it alone

The only thing I would be really afraid of when going alone is the airport coming home. Handling  luggage alone with fresh surgery incisions seems like not the best of ideas, nor does dealing with screening and boarding the plane in small, cramped spaces. I think I want another person to act as a shield for all this, if possible.

The retreat place seems to have its own benefits though, so it does seem like a good option, even if you have someone with you. Has anyone that reads this stayed at New Beginnings by themselves? Was it sad and lonely, or was it friendly and comfortable enough that it worked out?

[King Malachite]

The only thing I would be really afraid of when going alone is the airport coming home. Handling  luggage alone with fresh surgery incisions seems like not the best of ideas, nor does dealing with screening and boarding the plane in small, cramped spaces. I think I want another person to act as a shield for all this, if possible.

You make an excellent point and I've thought about this too.  I've decided that it would be best for me to save a little bit more money to stay an extra week so I will have a bit more time to get my bearings back together.  Staying for about one week does seems like rushing it to me.

[Make_It_Good]

I was going to suggest New Beginnings retreat too if you are having the surgery with Dr Garramone.
   I am completely stealth, but happen to be friends with another guy who has gone through transition. He saved up to go to America to have his surgery with Garramone (we are from England) and asked me to go with him. We stayed at New beginnings and they genuinely are great there. They always have people there, and its only open to guys having surgery, so everyones in the same boat and its very social if you want to join in, but youre also given your space and privacy.
Plus, they pick you up and drop you off at the airport/your pre op/your surgery etc.
   Also, if you just explain at the airport that you have had surgery, then the workers are usually happy to help carry your luggage etc. On the way back, my friend used the airport wheelchairs, this helped loads, a worker  pushed him (I handled the suitcases) and since he was in a wheelchair, we skipped all the queues!

If it helps, I had my 2nd stage of lower surgery, which was pretty hefty and taxing on the body, much more than top surgery, and I did that by myself. Part of the whole experience included me dealing with the hustle of busy London! So  coping with being recently post op, is not impossible

[King Malachite]

I was going to suggest New Beginnings retreat too if you are having the surgery with Dr Garramone.
   I am completely stealth, but happen to be friends with another guy who has gone through transition. He saved up to go to America to have his surgery with Garramone (we are from England) and asked me to go with him. We stayed at New beginnings and they genuinely are great there. They always have people there, and its only open to guys having surgery, so everyones in the same boat and its very social if you want to join in, but youre also given your space and privacy.
Plus, they pick you up and drop you off at the airport/your pre op/your surgery etc.

Was food included in you friend's stay there or did he have to pay out of pocket for that seperately.  How did that work?

[Make_It_Good]

We bought our own food, they take you out to go buy food though. Youre free to use their kitchen and cook at any time, and alot of people leave food once theyre gone, so there was sometimes extra, but mainly it was down to the individual.

[clydeT]

Thanks for the replies guys. I've been looking at the New Beginnings page and it looks like a really good option. I should have mentioned that I live near Baltimore so going to Dr. Fischer would be local for me, it's maybe a thirty minute drive away. However, I've seen a lot of excellent results from Garramone, so I'll definitely be considering that. I'm still in the saving money phase though, so I have time to think about the options.