SRS with Dr. Chett, December 5th 2014

[Donna Elvira]

Am I prissy and demanding for not wanting to have insects and reptiles in my room when I'm recovering from a major surgery?

I'm afraid all this is gonna disturb my recovery, I'm in bed most o the time and I only get up to get something from the fridge or empthy the cathater, but today there were 2 of those extra curricular episodes that were not planned, nor were they peaceful and stress-free for me. I WANT TO BE HOME. Lizard and cockroach free.

Hi there!
If you want a straight answer, yes, I'd say you are being a bit prissy. Unless the room was absolutely infested, what possible impact do you think a coachroach or a lizard is going to have on your recovery?

I'm assuming you are in one of the bungalows in the Rama with direct access to the garden which naturally includes a certain amount of "wild life"  .  If this is the case, how can you conceivably imagine that no insects would ever get into your room?  However, if that kind of thing really does bother you, you should maybe consider moving to a room in the main building of the hotel. That's about the only way you can be sure of avoiding  such "extra curricular" episodes.

Another little piece of advice, like most East Asians, the Thais are very warm, polite and non-confrontational. If you are too direct they will quickly take offense. That does not mean you can't ask questions etc.. I just suggest you pay particular attention to do it in a manner which is friendly and respectful.
Most of us thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Bangkok and I would go so far as to say I loved it. It just requires a little adapting and unless something is going really bad, why let yourself get upset so quickly?

Relax Poison Ivy (interesting pseudo BTW  ), barring accidents, within a week you should already be able to start enjoying life again.
Hugs
Donna

[Poison_Ivy]

Haha well, it just came as a shock since I had no such problems while staying here prior to the surgery. Well there were those little ant bugs, but they didn't bother me that much and the housekeeping sprayed my room the next morning and everything was fine.
My first ever cockroach was not a pleasant experience, but I killed it and asked housekeeping to spray the bathroom.
But the lizard just threw me off xD I had to switch rooms, coming from Poland, we don't get a lot of those in the house, and I just wouldn't be able to sleep knowing it's still here. So I flipped out. I'd expect to see such things outside my room, not inside. It's a hotel with a staff afterall, not a safari kind of thing :3
What I meant by the disturbing of my recovery was all this moving I did today, and the reflexes I have in an event when something like this happens. I get up immediately, or move away, or jump. It's not something I have control over, it's just my reflexes. And I'm worried if it will affect the healing of the area... Oh well.
On the plus side, my emotions today seem to have taken a back seat xD

[Poison_Ivy]

Oh and also, since I forgot to ask Ms. Sri this morning ( I was kinda emotional then and only mentioned the estrogen ).
The outer part of my left tigh is still feeling numb, as if there was nerve damage or something. Is this only temporary or should I be concerned?
I asked one of the nurses back at the clinic, but she just said that the surgery was only around the genital area and the tighs have nothing to do here, and that I should just exercise the muscles. So I did, and still am exercising, but this feeling isn't going away.

[Poison_Ivy]

So the nurses just left, when they came in I was prepared for excruciating pain, but surprisingly it only hurt towards the end when she was removing the packing. I have 6 inches. It didn't really hurt when Ms. Sri was inserting the dilator, so I said "This doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would", but she said it will hurt tomorrow, so I was like oh great. And I felt kinda dumb, because I assumed the cavity was located behind the labias, and it's actually kinda under them? To my surprise xD Don't judge, I'm gonna go study my anatomy now.
But I can eat normal foods again and take a shower ;3

[Poison_Ivy]

I'm thinking to wash my hair by wearing a poncho then stopping the water runoff with a towel beneath my neck...I cannot even stand not washing (shampooing) my hair at least once a day.

I personally can go days without washing my hair, but it never got greasy like it did now. I can go 5 days without washing it, and it looks good, but for some mysterious reason when I was post op at the clinic it was already greasy. Hormones? Possibly ;o
Oh and I asked about my thigh and Ms. Sri said it was normal and I shouldn't worry so I won't ;3

[Poison_Ivy]

Well I'm just gonna keep posting updates, maybe it will help someone else who's also young, stupid and unprepared and scared of all this c:

I am also greatful for all your posts that are helping me through this much love <3

I'm not emotional/crying anymore, now I'm kinda angry? When I got off hormones back in Poland I warned my friends  "If I act crazy keep in mind it's because of hormones", but oddly enough I didn't have any significant mood changes until I was post-op, the day I got back to the hotel. Doctors have also warned me before starting HRT "your personality might change", but honestly I don't think it did. I went through some changes of course, and self-realizations, but that's natural for everyone as we grow up and grow in general as people, I think.
Well anyway, since I'm angry I kinda went off on my family for not calling/texting/messaging or trying to get in contact with me generally. I know we're not exactly as close as we could be, but I would think under such circumstances, they should at least ask how I am from time to time?

As for technical/medical aspects. I am now 6 days post-op. Pain-wise, there's no pain. Just slight tingling sensations and discomfort from the cathater, which is coming out tomorrow. I am mobile, at least around the room, I am not going to take chances and try taking walks around the hotel for a while. Today I got a big headache, but I slept and it went away. I don't feel dizzy or noxious, just randomly sleepy sometimes.
Right now I'm on the toilet trying to #2 for the first time since the operation, but I'm kinda scared and can't relax, because I'm afraid I'll pop stiches or something. But I feel it's time and it's in there, I'm just taking my time. Then I'll take a shower c:
Ms. Sri said that I will feel pain tomorrow during dilation, as I posted before there was barely any pain during today's procedures. So I'll post an update when that happens. But me and her are cool now xD

[AnonyMs]

Regarding the cockroaches and lizards, we get that and more Australia and its hard to keep them out in some places. I really don't like cockroaches but its more that I find them disgusting. Lizards are kind of cute. Spiders though, they freak me out, even the harmless ones. Its not rational or something easily controlled, especially when they surprise you. A phobia is not being prissy.

[possessed]

How is your recovery going?

[Poison_Ivy]

a lot has happened  since my last post, i was writing a long update but my laptop ate it and deleted it and i dont feel like writing it again xD but basically i felt super bad, fever, shivers, cold sweats and headaches, i was begging to go back to the clinic, then having massive diarrhea for over 3 days, then getting constipated and pushing so hard my downstairs got all swollen and burning and it hurts until now they had to double my meds. and they allowed me to go back on estrogen.
as of now i feel better, but my vagina still hurts and burns from being constipated and trying to pass stool xD
also i cant sleep here very well, dunno if its the place or the surgery, but i keep falling asleep, then waking up and i have such bad nightmares and i always wake up dripping in sweat.

I am a lot better now, I've been walking all over the place today doing laundry and I'll try going to the 7/11 tomorrow maybe if I feel like it. I can walk normally by now, not carefully like a duck or anything. The only discomfort now is the fact that the area around the stiches near 'the hole' is hmm... right around the stiches it's flesh-coloured, but a really unhealthy shade, when I look at it steamed flesh comes to mind, and then the rest of the area around it is red and still burns a bit. And the trouble sleeping.

It looked a lot better before I tried to poop xD And I did by now. So for anyone reading, don't make my mistake and try to push it out xD

I think that sums it up ;3

[Donna Elvira]

a lot has happened  since my last post, i was writing a long update but my laptop ate it and deleted it and i dont feel like writing it again xD but basically i felt super bad, fever, shivers, cold sweats and headaches... , . and they allowed me to go back on estrogen.

also i cant sleep here very well, dunno if its the place or the surgery, but i keep falling asleep, then waking up and i have such bad nightmares and i always wake up dripping in sweat.

Hi Poison Ivy,
Many of the symptoms you describe match those I had before I started on hormones again. My first couple of nights after I got back from the clinic were among the worst I ever had in terms of sleeplessness, shivers, sweating etc.. It improved very rapidly after I restarted, same dose as you as it happens...
Glad to hear things seem to be going reasonably well otherwise.
Take care!
Donna

[calico]

Wow a lot has happened ivy!  I think I had a similar experience  but it happened after the catheter was removed maybe a day or 2 after.  I was so cold and shivering, had the ac off and covered in blankets, it was 108 degrees there at the time,  and Sri told me to get some patches, which when I did it cleared it up.  (Btw you may want to edit the amount out of your post)    I didn't have to deal with the bathroom issues but that was prob because of some of my meds I brought.  Something you may want to try is lay a towel on the bed and just go commando and leave the undies off so you can air.  Sometimes the humidity can be a bit much there and we'll being to moist down there isn't good for healing.
Hang in there girl!!

[Poison_Ivy]

Sri told me to sleep in underwear xD Although 2 days ago she told me it's better to not wear underwear. So everyday she says something different, I've been in underwear all day and I'm laying in bed now in underwear also. Well back home pre-op I also always wore underwear, I'm just not a naked person xD

[calico]

I'm not a naked sleeper so I understand but , it can be helpful for the wound and also its keep pressure off already swollen bits. try at least for a couple hours you may be surprised. when I had to be in the hospital recently I was completely naked except for the gown so it made me feel weird so I'm totally with you on the feeling.

[Wynternight]

Following this thread with great interest. My SRS is down the road a wee bit and will likely be with Bowers but every account of the experience garners new nuggets of wisdom.

[Poison_Ivy]

I've been sleeping with no underwear for the most part, just the past 2 nights I wore it since Sri told me it would be better. Everything seems to be healing well, I asked about the area around the stiches, and that's because when I lay down, my knees are too high up instead of just flat down, but it's no call for concern.
Around 2PM I went to the 7/11 and bought 3 full bags of groceries, no light-headed feeling or anything, it felt as if I was pre-op, except for the obvious feeling downstairs that I'm not ( not pain but... hmm well. I can feel it's still healing ;3 )

[jojo702]

I still don't sleep in my underwear at home. Its been a month and a half but now I'm having terrible anxiety attacks. Been to thee hospital twice. One for uti and the other for anxiety.

After I started taking estrogen I've been feeling better. I take estrogen injections once a week and sometimes I get scares a blood cot might happen and I get a stroke.

[Poison_Ivy]

I still don't sleep in my underwear at home. Its been a month and a half but now I'm having terrible anxiety attacks. Been to thee hospital twice. One for uti and the other for anxiety.

After I started taking estrogen I've been feeling better. I take estrogen injections once a week and sometimes I get scares a blood cot might happen and I get a stroke.

I'm  sure nothing like that is going to happen ;3 I'm afraid of getting a uti though when I'm at home, there are no gynos that are familiar with post-op puss treatment in my town as far as I know. My sexologist is also a gyno but he's in a town 2 hours away, so it's a day trip just to see him. And he's only there on mondays :c So if I get a UTI on a thursday... xD

I wonder if I can just book a random gyno and put them on the spot. A uti is a uti, right, nothing any gyno can't handle?

[jojo702]

I'm  sure nothing like that is going to happen ;3 I'm afraid of getting a uti though when I'm at home, there are no gynos that are familiar with post-op puss treatment in my town as far as I know. My sexologist is also a gyno but he's in a town 2 hours away, so it's a day trip just to see him. And he's only there on mondays :c So if I get a UTI on a thursday... xD

I wonder if I can just book a random gyno and put them on the spot. A uti is a uti, right, nothing any gyno can't handle?

A uti can be prevented if you keep up with hygiene and make sure to not get anything dirty from the anus to the vagina cause you can catch bacteria that could cause uti that way too. Getting uti is common and we will all get it someway.

As far as anxiety, it's also something we'll have to deal with for a long time.

I had a few hospital visits after I got back home from thailand. First was my hormonal imbalance causing menopausal symptoms but I started taking estrogen again and felt better.

The next two visits was for uti and bronchitis. I never had these before and rarely gone to the hospitals but these things could get serious.

If uti reaches your kidneys, it could cause permanent damage or severe infection which could have life threatening results.

If bronchitis does not get treated, it could turn into pneumonia.

Other issues would be granulation in or out of the vagina, abcess, weakened immune system, prolapse, anxiety, fatigue. All these and maybe more are list of what we'll deal with for a long time. We can be our normal selves after three months but not with these health problems physical and psychological after we had srs.

Not trying to scare you but this is what cis women have to go through as well.

I finally did my research and asked gynecologist, doctors, endocrinologist, and they all said it's what we'll have to endure in.

[blackponyx]

I am post-op day 6 now. 2 nights out of the recovery clinic.

I'm not sure if my recovery is fast/slow/average but i do know everyone's rate is different.

My current issues are feeling hot and cold all the time at night and it's making it hard to sleep. As of last night, i also feel more intense 'zapping' pains but i don't wanna rely on the stronger painkiller (Tramadol) cos it causes nauseousness too. I take paracetemol if necessary.

I will probably look through some old threads now to see how people were like at post-op day 6.....but any help/advice would be helpful...

[Poison_Ivy]

Lovely, you did kind of scare me xD I can't afford to go to a hospital well because I don't have health insurance o.o I always go to private doctors, which are a better choice in Poland anyway. I'll just have to see and deal with the issues as they come.

But as of now my recovery is going very well, I've been walking around running errands, going to the store, doing laundry. The doctor will most likely have to fix some loose stiches though, in the lower area. But I don't feel any anxiety, I'm not emotional anymore, like Donna said now it feels more like a vacation. A very boring one since there's nothing to do, but near the end of my time here I'll go to the mall for some Christmas shopping :3

I only dilate 2 times a day though, but double the time of dilation each time. And it always goes in fine, to the same depth. Mostly becuse, well, I'm lazy, it's uncomfortable and since I started #2 it's a little painful too, when the dilators are going in. Once their in though, keeping them there is a much lesser problem, so I hold them in there. I've been doing that for a couple days now.