My SRS with Dr. Kathy Rumer

[suzifrommd]

OK. Lots to report.

Went downstairs to get the catheter removed and for the "clowns in the circus car" show as Dr. Rumer calls it. I watched the yards of packing come out (though I was freaked out over the possible pain, which never happened, so I didn't really enjoy it). She gave me a tour of my new parts and how they were made. Everything was there and I had no complaints, and I will wait three months before I judge the outcome. Right now it's swollen and misshapen and looks from above like I've been injured, so I probably should reserve judgment.

She brought out my dilators. There was a narrow purple one, which I was to find out was just for show. There was a slightly wider orange one, and then a scary looking blue one.

She brought the orange one to bear. "It needs to go in until the last dot" she insisted, and I watched it do just that. I later measured about 5 1/2 inches, or about 13 cm., so that would be my post-op depth. Not sure whether this is good or bad. Probably unimportant. Not likely anyone's ever going to be in there. She declared this an excellent result and told me not to tell anyone because most of her patients don't do that well.

She pulled the orange one out and reached for the blue one. "You've got to be kidding" I thought to myself, but she lubed it up (spreading lube over the forward one third of the tube) and managed to get it to go in. So I'm already on the biggest dilator she uses.

This sounds very different from other womens' experiences with other surgeons. She did mention how she "had a lot to work with." I asked whether that meant I didn't have a small peeny, and she sort of reluctantly nodded.

Among other information I received:
* I'll dilate 4x/day, 10 mins on each dilator for a total of 20 mins. Drops to 3x/day after 1 month, and 2x/day after 3 months. After six months, only once/day, to continue forever.
* Before dilating, wash hands and dilators with anti-bacterial soap.
* Don't explore inside with my finger for at least six weeks. No sexual stimulation for "6 weeks to 3 months". I suppose she's leaving sort of up to me.
* Douche 1/week with iodine based douche and then immediately after with saline.
* Detailed washing instructions to keep the area clean.
* Nothing strenuous for at least six weeks.

And the she sent me out into the world with my new neo-vag.

[ZoeM]

Woo! Congrats!
How're you feeling now, sister? Excited? Elated? Interested?

[Pickles]

Clowns in the circus car? LOL That is just too funny.

[AnneB]

I was tearing up, knowing you are where you wanted to be (well, minus the forever-after-care), hugs for you and hope you heal really quickly!

[Jill F]

Clowns in the circus car? LOL That is just too funny.

*cue circus music*

[mrs izzy]

Yah, Hard plastic and KY jelly.

Oh what a life we lead, day              after day                    after day.................................................

LOL.

Glad things are going good up to this point, Welcome to the sisterhood.

Just keep up with your aftercare and healing should be on track.

Isabell

[suzifrommd]

Woo! Congrats!
How're you feeling now, sister? Excited? Elated? Interested?

At this very moment, I just finished my first solo dilation. I had really been scared, that I'd screw something up or make a mess or not even be able to get the narrower one in.

None of those things happened.

The only mishap was that I missed the final timer alarm and left the blue guy in a few minutes longer that I was supposed to. No harm done.

How do I feel?

Ecstatic. I have a vagina. It works. Something really big goes in there and does no damage. I'm going to be able to make this work. So many of the things I was concerned would be obstacles turned out not to be.

Clitoris is still a a raw mess, feeling like it's been crammed into one tenth the space it should be (this is normal, right?) I felt a little something there as the dilator went by - sort of like the feeling I'd have if I had to pee with the old body. Nothing like sexual excitement. But it seems to have some feeling (and seems to get uncomfortably erect at inopportune times) so there most be some nerve activity in there. I'm taking this as a good sign.

Yah, Hard plastic and KY jelly.

Oh what a life we lead, day              after day                    after day.................................................

I know you're joking, but actually, that doesn't sound so bad. To spend time each day reminding myself I finally have a girl-shaped body. I so could live with that.

I was tearing up, knowing you are where you wanted to be (well, minus the forever-after-care), hugs for you and hope you heal really quickly!

You are really sweet. Thanks for the hugs and the good wishes.

[Hikari]

This is so great of you to keep us posted like this! I am taking notes lol.

Do you have any idea the diameter of the dilators? I also am amazed that you didn't have any trouble with the larger ones, I have read some horror stories about then, hopefully the recovery will proceed swiftly and without complication.

Also, do you feel Rumer was attentive enough, like she checked up enough on you?

[suzifrommd]

Do you have any idea the diameter of the dilators?

I don't have anything to measure here. But I'd say the blue one was just a tad more than an inch in diameter.

Also, do you feel Rumer was attentive enough, like she checked up enough on you?

No question about that. She came to see me every day since my surgery, and looked at the site each time. She always stays to answer every question to my satisfaction.

[yayapineda]

She declared this an excellent result and told me not to tell anyone because most of her patients don't do that well.

Thats kinda scary considering i plan on only being with men!!

[suzifrommd]

Thats kinda scary considering i plan on only being with men!!

I'm more than thrilled. There is a lot of depth there. I'm not sure how she measured it, but she came up with 7 inches of depth.

I can't imagine any guy dissatisfied with what I've got. If so, a cis woman is not going to fare any better.

I think this is a great result.

[suzifrommd]

We're leaving Dr. Rumer's recovery facility shortly. I'm glad we stayed here. It provided a place for my companion to stay all 9 nights (night before surgery, 3 in hospital, 5 here). Other advantages:
* There is a large TV in every room with a lot (to my mind) of channels.
* If something runs out during office hours, Dr. Rumer is happy to send someone up with a replacement. Though sometimes you might need to ask more than once.
* The rooms are spacious, and well furnished.

However, if you're having surgery with Dr. Rumer and plan to stay here, please be cautioned. You are largely on your own. There is no personal care. When people hear that it's a recovery facility, they think of nurses coming in to check on you, rooms being cleaned every day, etc. Do not expect anything like this. It's a few rooms to help you be comfortable, but not a staffed facility by any means.

Some suggestions on what to bring:
* Bring a companion. This is a must! Do not imagine you will be in any state 3 days post-op to take care of yourself.
* Bring extra pillows. There is only one per person and there are lots of uses for them.
* Bring a tall back cushion. The couches are low and deep.
* Bring a doughnut cushion. Saved the day. Enough said.
* You will need to buy your food. Keep that in mind. If you don't feel like going out the day before surgery, you might want to bring some stuff so you have something for when you get back.
* Bring hand towels, especially if you want to wash your hands each time you empty your catheter. They provide washcloths, a floormat, and bathtowels, but no hand towels.
* Consider bringing a rubber bathmat. There is a bar by the bathtub you can grab onto, but nothing providing friction when the tub gets slippery during a shower.

[yayapineda]

I'm more than thrilled. There is a lot of depth there. I'm not sure how she measured it, but she came up with 7 inches of depth.

I can't imagine any guy dissatisfied with what I've got. If so, a cis woman is not going to fare any better.

I think this is a great result.

Oh you have 7 inches depth ? Sorry i thought you said only 5 1/2

[suzifrommd]

Oh you have 7 inches depth ? Sorry i thought you said only 5 1/2

I did. The doctor declared I had 7 inches. I measured the place where the dilator stopped going in and got 5 1/2. Not sure which is the right number.

[ZoeM]

I did. The doctor declared I had 7 inches. I measured the place where the dilator stopped going in and got 5 1/2. Not sure which is the right number.

Swelling in the vaginal cavity may temporarily decrease the amount of depth you have available. It should self-resolve...

[FrancisAnn]

I did. The doctor declared I had 7 inches. I measured the place where the dilator stopped going in and got 5 1/2. Not sure which is the right number.

Suzi, I just wondered how you are doing???Are you feeling well & how about the depth. 7 inches would be so nice.?

[suzifrommd]

Suzi, I just wondered how you are doing???Are you feeling well & how about the depth. 7 inches would be so nice.?

I'm doing OK, thanks for asking. I'm moving around OK, but as little as possible, because I'm really achey when I move. I've gotten the hang of dilating 4x/day. Theoretically only 20 mins, but with all the setup and cleanup, I don't seem to be able to do it in less than 45 mins. So I'm spending 3 hrs/day dilating.

Good news: Clitoris is sensate. I can feel it a definite tingle there when I pull the dilators out. Not really when I want to be aroused. Oh, well, bodes well for things to come.

As for depth, it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference to me. I've never been into men in the past (though now that I have one of these, who knows...) and if anyone is dissatisfied with any piece of my body, it really is their problem.

[mrs izzy]

Suzi,

Glad to her things are on track with your healing and going as scheduled.

Keep up the good work, Air as much as you can. Clean and dry it the key.

Hugs
Isabell

[FrancisAnn]

I'm doing OK, thanks for asking. I'm moving around OK, but as little as possible, because I'm really achey when I move. I've gotten the hang of dilating 4x/day. Theoretically only 20 mins, but with all the setup and cleanup, I don't seem to be able to do it in less than 45 mins. So I'm spending 3 hrs/day dilating.

Good news: Clitoris is sensate. I can feel it a definite tingle there when I pull the dilators out. Not really when I want to be aroused. Oh, well, bodes well for things to come.

As for depth, it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference to me. I've never been into men in the past (though now that I have one of these, who knows...) and if anyone is dissatisfied with any piece of my body, it really is their problem.

Suzi, Thanks for your reply. It sounds rough for you still. I feel for your pain & I know every SP member feels the same.   She is having a tought time GF's. A get well/heal up note to her would be nice to send.

[suzifrommd]

Dr. Rumer called today for my two week follow-up. She basically asked how I was feeling (no major complaints) and whether I was having any problem with the dilation. I told her that the orange (narrower) dilator goes all the way in to the last spot as she instructed, but that the much wider blue one goes only to the second to last spot. She told me not to be concerned – more depth will be possible as the swelling goes down. She encouraged me to keep trying to work it in a bit further.

My next (phone) appointment will be four weeks from now, when I would be cleared for normal activity if all goes well.

I can't wait. Just can't wait.