Timeline for SRS?

[SophiaW]

Not sure if this has been mentioned before, but can anyone say what a typical timeline is for srs surgery?

I mean, how long before you can shower, how long before you can get out of bed, how long before the pain starts to go down, and how long before the pain goes?

Yes, I realise all these things are different with everyone, but what have people experienced here?

[AnonyMs]

Its also different for different surgeons, so if you have one in mind it would be a good idea to mention it.

[Snöfrost]

It depends on what technique the surgeon is using. I am actually not sure what kind of technique the surgeon used on me, but it's a two step surgery. Where the last is a aesthetically surgery and eventually some corrections if needed and is done about 6 months after the first surgery.

When I was on the hospital for my SRS, I had to lie down in bed on my back and I was not allowed to move my body for 5 days. Though I was allowed to take a shower after a week on the hospital. Also I was not allowed to take a bath/swim during the 1st month, I am not allowed to excercise or any heavy physical activities during the first 3 months, I am not allowed to have sex during the first 6 month.

The pain is individual. I had excessive pain for 1 months and manageable pain after 2 months.

[SophiaW]

Thanks for the replies, girls,

It's penile inversion surgery from Professor Monstrey, in Belgium, if that helps.

The BA was showering after 2 days, and discharge after 3, but I know this is far more complex.
But 5 days on your back, and you couldn't move?
Wow!
You must have been hooked up everywhere and the nurses wash you, I guess.
Showering after a week is something good though.
I know the pain is going to be intense, but it does subside, so everyone says.
So, after 3 months, in most cases, you are back to exercise and normal things again?

Just so curious now.

[warlockmaker]

When I was on the hospital for my SRS, I had to lie down in bed on my back and I was not allowed to move my body for 5 days.

Wow. This is new to me, and not what any other surgeon has required. Was this the norm for this surgeon?

[iKate]

dr Marci Bowers has a detailed timeline on her website. Very informative and I'm guessing since she's been through it herself she knows what she's saying.

Of course ever surgeon is different but her procedure is what you can expect more or less unless you go with someone like suporn in which case there is a longer period, IIRC:

[Snöfrost]

When I was on the hospital for my SRS, I had to lie down in bed on my back and I was not allowed to move my body for 5 days.

Wow. This is new to me, and not what any other surgeon has required. Was this the norm for this surgeon?

Thanks for the replies, girls,

It's penile inversion surgery from Professor Monstrey, in Belgium, if that helps.

The BA was showering after 2 days, and discharge after 3, but I know this is far more complex.
But 5 days on your back, and you couldn't move?
Wow!
You must have been hooked up everywhere and the nurses wash you, I guess.
Showering after a week is something good though.
I know the pain is going to be intense, but it does subside, so everyone says.
So, after 3 months, in most cases, you are back to exercise and normal things again?

Just so curious now.

I did my SRS in Stockholm, Sweden. There is in total 3 hospitals in Sweden that can do SRS, and they all have different routines regarding techniques and healing. In my case, I had to lie down in bed on my back for 5 days when they put Epidural through a tube into my spine before anesthesia. That is for the pain and also so the new vagina can heal properly when I am laying still. This is normal and Stockholm do this for every patient who does SRS. I was allowed to move my arms though.

However, I am not back with excercise. I want to wait for at least 1 year, just to be safe.

[Blush]

I'll try to make this quick (in class)

This summer will be a year since I had SRS, I'm 24 if age plays into any of this

The worst pain for me over the entire time was a lidocaine injection into my hand prior to my IV placement (yes really)

Extended period of laying on my back hurt my ribs, I'm 5'8", 123 lbs, so had no extra weight pressing on my ribs

The actual pubic area felt like a big bruise all over, not bad not great; pain generally all gone within about a couple months (I can't recall exactly, it's very gradual)

Morpheine in the hospital, down to hydrocodone before discharge, down to tylenol before 2 weeks passed

I was out of bed the second day after surgery, baby steps around the recovery ward, there's a "swing" technique to get out of bed - raising the knees almost to sit up position, tipping onto one hip, swinging yourself around to the side of the bed, lifted gently out onto your feet, back in bed is the same thing reversed; upper body strength really isn't needed, just a feel for momentum and motion

Wasn't literally standing under the shower until near the end of week 2 (this usually is to do with bandages and stuff)? But of course sponge bath is fine, I tipped my hair into the shower to wash it before this though

One important thing to note is one of the biggest obstacles for me was just fatigue, this is from blood loss, anesthesia, drugs, so although in terms of pain down there I'd be all fine to take a shower, I just couldn't stand and move around in the shower for that long, the first time I tried taking a shower I just wasn't able to get enough oxygen into me from laying doing nothing for so long, so I had to get out of the shower and lay down, I found it's little side things that pop up that pose challenges, not necessarily the site of the surgery itself

And like you said a lot of it is dependent on the individual, the surgeon, and other factors like diet, predispositions

P.S., you're so beautiful Sophia!!

[Jenna Marie]

I was walking by 18 hours post-op and climbing stairs at 48 hours. First shower (normal, standing up) at 5 days, unpacking and dilation at 6, catheter removal at 7. The pain was about a 5 maximum on that 1-10 scale on the first day, dropped to 3-4 by day 2 and I was off all painkillers but regular Tylenol by day 3. By the time I went home on day 8 it was basically about a 1 unless I overdid it walking or plopped down in a chair too hard, and then  it would be sore for a while; that stage lasted for weeks. I second the "deep tissue bruise" description, too - it wasn't excruciating, more of an ache.

Since I didn't have general anesthesia, I bounced back faster from the actual surgery; I did wake up nauseous from the morphine + spinal but that wore off in a few hours.

I could walk half a mile and do household chores by the time I went home, but was exhausted for the first month and tired easily for months after that. And it took me a year to be able to ride my bike. I *was* told not to lift over ten pounds for the first month and to avoid full-immersion baths (sitz baths were required) and swimming pools for 3 months.

I did have tremendous swelling - even the nurses were shocked - and that didn't go away entirely until, no joke, about a year and a half post-op.

I went to Brassard, who does penile inversion, and I was 34 at the time.

[suzifrommd]

Stayed in the hospital for three days, basically immobile. After that, was up and walking around, with a catheter. Was easily able to climb two staircases, so not much impairment there.

I think I showered on day 4 or 5.

Pain was never a big deal, though I needed a doughnut to sit. It was still a little uncomfortable to walk until about 8 weeks out. It took about 4 months to jettison the cushion, though I'm told that was atypically long.

Oddly, though, I was able to dilate comfortable pretty much from the start.

It was a good six months before the thing started to look like it belonged on a human.

[SophiaW]

Thanks girls, for all your replies and different experiences.

The thing that surprised me the most was the pain level people felt; generally it was tolerable, OK and quickly subsided.
I had visions of screaming in agony and unbearable pain for at least a week.

Just had BA done, and that was fine; no pain meds needed at all.
For the SRS, there seems to be some surgeons who give a lot better results than others.
Also, not rushing into too much exercise seems the best option.
Bruising can be a problem, but it eventually goes down...but a year and a half? Wow.

Knowing all this is a tremendous help. Thank you everyone

[Jenna Marie]

Yeah, I expected screaming agony too, and was pleasantly surprised. I was back to work at 4 weeks post-op, too.

(The swelling was non-painful and not a problem, just meant things looked weird/took longer to see the final result. Bruising was gone in a week or two, I think.)

[SophiaW]

Back in 4 weeks...really?
That's fantastic!
The main thing is, it gets better as time goes on...some take longer than others, but it is essential.

It's something I just have to do, and get through, but all your stories have been so inspiring.

Has anyone any experience of Dr. Monstrey in Belgium?
He doesn't seem to be mentioned at all; only in lists of people that do the op...

and thank you, blush 
Nice P.S.

[iKate]

All of these experiences of not a lot of pain are extremely encouraging to me. Pain was one of my biggest fears of GRS. Some nights I would cry because I was thinking either I had to live with this thing between my legs forever or undergo excruciating pain to get myself fixed.

[jetchick]

Hi Sophia,

I'm wondering if you've had any luck finding further information on experiences with Dr. Monstrey?  I'm considering him for GRS, but it seems difficult to find anyone talking about outcomes for MTF with him.

Thanks for being here!

Back in 4 weeks...really?
That's fantastic!
The main thing is, it gets better as time goes on...some take longer than others, but it is essential.

It's something I just have to do, and get through, but all your stories have been so inspiring.

Has anyone any experience of Dr. Monstrey in Belgium?
He doesn't seem to be mentioned at all; only in lists of people that do the op...

and thank you, blush 
Nice P.S.