Top Surgery Recovery Updates (a place for all members to update after surgery)

[Elijah3291]

I long for the day I can sleep on my side again...

when I was in the hotel after my surgery I found it helpful to sleep on the couch rather then the bed, so if you have a couch available you can prop yourself on the back of the couch and lean part of your back against the back cushion so that way it kinda feels like you are on your side, obviously be careful and if it hurts don't do it.

[Jackop]

Wow, Jackop, you have really had a rough go of it.  Sorry it has been so tough for you.  I hope things only continue to improve.

Be careful about that tape on your chest.  I thought that it wasn't good for us to have it on for such a long period of time?  I guess when you see your surgeon in two days he will mention this if it is a problem.

Yes, it would be great if you posted pics, when you are ready.

Hang in there and thanks for adding to the thread!

Hi there!
I got back from the doctor's not too long ago, and he said the tape still being on is perfectly fine. They have started to peel and I've peeled some back to take a look and the scars look good! I was mainly keeping them on while my right side was healing up from the hematoma (and I'm just a little bit of a baby).
What Dr. Morehouse instructed was that once I take them off (which will be done soon now that I know all is well), just massage with Vitamin E oils, and press down on the scars, the harder I press and massage, the better they'll look in the end. Surprisingly, he only took 15cc of blood out today from the right side that was still swollen a bit from the hematoma (that's all he said was in there) and I'm looking much flatter, and feel so much better.
These last two days have been amazing with how fast I'm suddenly recovering! I was able to close my car door yesterday on my own without swinging it to gain momentum first, and that meant a lot to me.

Thanks for the support all.
I'll update soon and take pictures! Dr. Morehouse does such great work.

[Jackop]

Hey Albuquerque! I'm in ABQ too, and know who Dr. Morehouse is, several of the local guys have been to him. (Though I went to Dr Garramone.) I wonder if I know you? We have a very great support group here run by the Transgender Resource Center of NM. If you are not familiar check out: http://www.tgrcnm.org/

The Scope patch can be nasty stuff!! I have used it on boat trips and cut it in half (which you are actually not supposed to do, but it is strong stuff!). Anesthesia can have bad effects on some people, and they think that post-anesthesia depression might be caused by it sometimes. Didn't have these problems but I know people who did.
Wow, oxycodone is powerful stuff-- be careful!! Sorry about the complications and hope you are on the road to recovery.

I think 2-3 week were most unpleasant for me, so hang in there.


--Jay

Hey Jay!
We've met thrice before (I was really wondering why your picture looked so familiar to me!). Adrien and everyone at the Transgender Resource Center are amazing! I've been to two meetings there, and have gotten so much information from these great people. I've been volunteering lately at the LGBTQ Resource center on UNM campus, and hear very often about the TGRCNM!
Will you be at the next meeting, Jay? If so, I'll see you there. I'm going in this Thursday to deliver my old binders for the guys who need any!
My name is Jack, and I'm young (25). I don't know if you remember me!

[Jackop]

Hey guys, FB is having trouble eating today. He gets nauseous every time he eats. Taking nausea pills helps, but as soon as he starts eating again, he feels sick. We've tried soup, solid food, yogurt, etc. Any advice on getting him to eat something? It's making him feel awful because he's barely eaten all day.

I would suggest applesauce and yogurt. I survived for ten days off of those after surgery.
Good luck! I hope both of you are feeling better!

[aleon515]

Hey Jay!
We've met thrice before (I was really wondering why your picture looked so familiar to me!). Adrien and everyone at the Transgender Resource Center are amazing! I've been to two meetings there, and have gotten so much information from these great people. I've been volunteering lately at the LGBTQ Resource center on UNM campus, and hear very often about the TGRCNM!
Will you be at the next meeting, Jay? If so, I'll see you there. I'm going in this Thursday to deliver my old binders for the guys who need any!
My name is Jack, and I'm young (25). I don't know if you remember me!

I'm thinking I know you too. But lots of new people. THere is no meeting this Thursday but I will be there the next one (the 6th I believe). The LGBT Resource Center is awesome as well.


--Jay

[FlightyBrood]

I was feeling kind of woozy today, it honestly feels like I'm drunk or something...It's hard to keep my head up. Other than that, totally fine.

I was suddenly starving to death, and i really REALLY wanted french fries. Luckily we had some frozen ones, and we cooked them up and I ate a whole plate. I feel totally fine! The only thing is the weird dizziness.

Day after tomarrow is the big day! Couldnt come faster. Will post pictures.

[Sebryn]

I was feeling kind of woozy today, it honestly feels like I'm drunk or something...It's hard to keep my head up.

I feel totally fine! The only thing is the weird dizziness.

Could be side effects for the pain medication and/or the meds for muscle spasms if you got any. Certain anti nausea medications do the same thing to me. If you're taking Benadryl the "drunken stupor" feeling is exactly what it does to me. And remember that even after you stop medications they still remain in your system a certain amount of time, just like T.

Glad you're feeling better.

[Bimmer Guy]

Could be side effects for the pain medication and/or the meds for muscle spasms if you got any. Certain anti nausea medications do the same thing to me. If you're taking Benadryl the "drunken stupor" feeling is exactly what it does to me. And remember that even after you stop medications they still remain in your system a certain amount of time, just like T.

Glad you're feeling better.

I'm thinking dehydration.  People don't realize the body needs lots of water to heal.

[FlightyBrood]

Could be side effects for the pain medication and/or the meds for muscle spasms if you got any. Certain anti nausea medications do the same thing to me. If you're taking Benadryl the "drunken stupor" feeling is exactly what it does to me. And remember that even after you stop medications they still remain in your system a certain amount of time, just like T.

Glad you're feeling better.

Aha! I've been taking benadryl every night to sleep! Well that solves that then.

I'm thinking dehydration.  People don't realize the body needs lots of water to heal.

I have been keeping meticulously hydrated after a terrifying incident, what basically triggered my downhill fall was that I let myself get dehydrated. Since then it's gatorade and lots and lots of water. I check my pee to make sure its nice and clear every time i go i am so parranoid!

I ate a good dinner and I managed to get back to walking outside, though not all the way down the street because of the benadryl feeling. ill skip out on taking one tonight as im pretty tired and ill see how i feel tomarrow. Last day of this torture! day after tomarrow the bandages come off and ill never be itchy again!

a big part of my trouble was that my stress levels were through the roof. everything i do to relax (shower, play scary video games, other...things) i can't due for various reasons. I am dirty and greasy and it really messes me up. thankfully its at the point where i went from "how can i do this for X more days??" to "just two more days". Two is much more doable than even five or even three.

An afterthought to add to the actual healing thread: for a while all I could do was walk around and sob uncontrollably. apparently this is common and a side affect of anesthesia. watching toy story 3 definitely didnt help that...

[aleon515]

Exactly why I didn't take various meds. (Vicodin and Benadryl in particular). I hate all those sensations as much as I hate feeling pain, which I didn't have that much of tbh. More discomfort. Not much you can do about being uncomfortable, even very uncomfortable, imo. Also read the side effects for the Scope patch, if you are on that one.


--Jay

[FlightyBrood]

Greetings gents! I'm on my phone so no pictures, but our work is AMAZING. it's so perfect. I've got some swelling on the right side from having to stop the cat from jumping on me, but the Dr gave us two thumbs up! We are having our first binder free victory meal and well post pictures when we get home.

Seriously, this guy is AMAZING. you guys will freak.

[NathanExplosion]

Nine days post op

Finally... pictures!!! Of mine at least. FB is worn out from today so he's resting a little before more pictures commence.







Special guest star, Harvey... 

Everything looks AMAZING. I did get to see my nipples and they look fantastic, too. Everything is taking well. I barely have any bruising or swelling, except for on the sides (you can probably tell)... hoping that flattens out because so far it's my only complaint! Everything feels great. The surgeon (a different one did our post-op - not who actually performed the surgery) was NOT gentle removing my foam and stuff though.

Seriously, I almost cried on the way home. Everything looks incredible. You can't really tell, but our incisions are SO thin and tiny.

I actually thought seeing my nipple was really cool, even though it was a little gruesome looking (nothing terrible, just a little bloody and scabby). And then suddenly... the room was spinning and I was nauseous. I guess it subconsciously freaked me out? Thought that was kind of funny, actually.

Will get FB to take and post pictures soon - his looks amazing too. And one last question... any idea how to get this medical adhesive off of him? He's still got a pretty solid layer of it - the adhesive came off of the foam and stayed on him. Blankets are sticking to him in bed currently.

[Kreuzfidel]

Man, oh man!

You look amazing, Nathan!!!  I'm so happy for you!  That is great work!  You have every right to feel proud!

Keep those incisions nice and thin - no stretching or straining for a while!

Normal to feel faint after seeing your nipples looking bloody.  I get that way, too.

Regarding the adhesive - I don't know what's available to you there, but here they sell these little individual wipes in the pharmacy that are called "adhesive remover" and they're packaged kind of like alcohol wipes.

[FlightyBrood]

Eight Days Post Op

ive got mine in! here they are!




Here is some close ups of the little swelling ive got. im really worried about it...its leaking a little bit. But they dabbed at it at the drs office and didnt say a thing. then again...that dr didnt even take our incision tape off! (hes not the one that usually sees us...)



all that darkness is red leaky stuff. should i be worried about that at all? its leaked onto my bandages a bit.

[Kreuzfidel]

Crikey, Flighty!  Absolutely amazing!  You must be on Cloud 9!  You're flat as a pancake

Regarding the leaking, sounds like fluid to me - what is normally drained out in the drains.  If they weren't worried about it at the doctor's, I wouldn't worry too much.  But if you really are concerned, can you get in touch with the surgeon who did the operation?  Otherwise, ring your GP and ask them.  Where is it leaking from (as in, incision, hole, etc.)?

[FlightyBrood]

Crikey, Flighty!  Absolutely amazing!  You must be on Cloud 9!  You're flat as a pancake

Regarding the leaking, sounds like fluid to me - what is normally drained out in the drains.  If they weren't worried about it at the doctor's, I wouldn't worry too much.  But if you really are concerned, can you get in touch with the surgeon who did the operation?  Otherwise, ring your GP and ask them.  Where is it leaking from (as in, incision, hole, etc.)?

yeah! im totally in love with this surgery...my chest...i cant believe its not that of a cis dudes! i honestly can not.

the leaking is coming from the actual incision, i think. they werent worried in the slightest at the doctors, in fact they didnt even mention it. i only just noticed it was leaking at all when i took my bandage off and it had the smallest spot of fluid on it. my fear is just that the incision tape might fall off or something if it gets too saturated or something...

im a worrier. pain i can handle just fine (though ive got none right now!) but ill worry for ever about everything.

[Bimmer Guy]

Hey, guys, you are both looking, great!  FB you have practically NO swelling.  Fantastic! 

Congrats, guys!

[Calder Smith]

Nathan and Flighty, you both look awesome! Congrats on the top surgery.

[Kreuzfidel]

my fear is just that the incision tape might fall off or something if it gets too saturated or something...

It's just micropore tape from what I can see.  You can get it at any pharmacy.  If it gets wet and comes off, just put some fresh on it. 

[Sebryn]

Amazing looking guys. Guess I'll have to post some pics of mine...once I hunt up a camera better than my iPhone.

In regards to the tape residue if you aren't sensitive to baby oil it can help break up the stickiness so you can gently remove the residue.

As for the leaking my surgeon had me cover the incisions with those gauze pads for a week after my surgery (I had no wrapping/binding/tensor wrap at all) to keep the incision "goo" from getting everywhere.

4 week update:

Incision lines are very narrow and I am keeping them that way with a trick I learned from a piercer about treating hypertrophic scarring using micropore tape over the scars after I let the silicone gel dry. (The tape compression treatment was okayed by my surgeon prior to using it.) Nipples are still scabby but the surgeon says its normal. My left nipple is more advanced in healing than the right. I am still covering my nipples but am happy overall. No work still but I can drive a little bit. The tape on my incisions seems to help remind me not to over reach, which helps considering I feel good otherwise. I still have bouts of nausea and dizziness from the anesthesia but that is pretty normal for me.