I'm having surgery!

[Gene]

Hey y'all, I'm really excited to announce that my top surgery has been scheduled for mid-June with Dr. Peter Raphael in Plano, TX! I'm so excited, this is the first step I'm taking towards my medical transition (I socially transitioned last year in February). I'm also a little scared because surgery has always kinda terrified me. I know I'm gonna get through it, but it will certainly be an anxious time for me. I've also found out how overwhelming it is to try planning a transition while living a normal life. I have to start coming out at school and work (I am a work-study, so same place thankfully), work on getting my family to accept this, figure out how to tell my nephews and niece so they'll understand, etc. Is there any advice y'all can give me, or anything y'all found useful or wish you had when you had your surgeries? Any information would be greatly appreciated, thank y'all so much.

[Kreuzfidel]

Congrats, Gene!  That's fantastic news!  The time will really fly. 

As for advice, mostly what I would say is to use the time between now and your surgery to get yourself organised.  How far will you be travelling to Plano?  Get yourself a little overnight bag or backpack and put your hospital necessities in it (toothbrush, toothpaste, chapstick, etc.) to carry with you.  Exercise as much as you can  to build up your chest and help your body get in shape in general and ready for surgery.  Do you have someone coming with you?  I don't know about Dr. Raphael (I'm in Australia) - does he keep you overnight or is it same-day?

[Bombadil]

Congrats on getting surgery. That's exciting

i have no advice, this is all still new to me.

[aleon515]

AFAIK, most surgeons in the US use a same day surgery center. But I did take a little backpack with me to the one I went to for my glasses, a sweatshirt, my iPad, and so forth. It was kind of a good idea. I lay around several hours, so it was good to have a little entertainment and a jacket as the place was cold.

--Jay

[Timo]

Same here!!!! Mine's gunna be on the 17th!! I'm not nervous yet but I can imagine myself the night before the surgery sleepless... :[

[aleon515]

Same here!!!! Mine's gunna be on the 17th!! I'm not nervous yet but I can imagine myself the night before the surgery sleepless... :[

Yes. Had trouble sleeping a lot for the week before surgery. (Before my flight, before my pre-op, before my surgery, before my post-op.) OTOH, I did a LOT of sleeping after I had surgery!!!

--Jay

[Timo]

How did you calm yourself down? I mean the excitement and nervousness were overwhelming right?

[aleon515]

I wasn't really able to calm myself down tbh. I sort of lived with the feelings and after you have the surgery you will have LOTS of time to sleep.   Sorry if that isn't so helpful!!

--Jay

[Ethedon]

My top surgery is 3 weeks away!!! How soon are you able to start T again? I just took my last shot yesterday.

[Darrin Scott]

I don't think I've said congrats, but congrats!