My GRS with Dr. Chettawut

[Laura_7]

Congradulations Clara.  I am very happy for you and that all went well.
I just wired my deposit to Dr. Chettawut's office for a June 16 surgery next year. 
If you don't mind sharing our thoughts, why did you select Dr. Chettawut for your surgeon?  Were the facilities clean and give you a feeling of a professional environment? 
To be honest, after all my research I just ran across a website for Victums of Dr. Chettawut.  It kind of scared me a bit.  Your experience has settled my nerves a bit.  I thank you for that.

Take care,
Stephanie

here were some hints:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,193427.msg1724551.html#msg1724551

If you are alone you might consider:
-at the rama you might make a friend who could help you during the first few days
-at the dusit the room service and service is supposed to be quite good... being more pricey but they might speak better english, and have a larger variety of meals... especially liquid ones...
and you might ask for a list of other patients so you might meet...


hugs

[Princess_baby]

Great!  Around noon then.  I'll call up to your room from the Dusit lobby.  Let me know your room number via PM.  We can stay at the Dusit or go over to Seacon Square as you prefer.  This will be so nice!  Hugs.

I can't PM yet but my room # is 205. I will upload a profile pic so you know how I look.

[Miss Clara]

I love the free breakfast buffet that is provided to guests at The Vertical Suite hotel in Bangkok.  There's plenty of variety of foods to choose from and tipping is not expected.

[Carrie Liz]

Thanks for the detailed report, Clara!

(Hopefully going to Chet myself at the end of next summer.)

[Miss Clara]

You're welcome, Carrie.  I love to share for what's it's worth.   

[Miss Clara]

Day 17 post-op:  I've moved up to the #2 dilator today.  I do #1 to depth of 6" for 30 minutes, then #2 to a depth of 5" for another 10 minutes.  This is done 3X a day for a total of 2 hours of dilation a day.  I don't know how someone who had to return to work could maintain this schedule.

BTW, getting #2 in the first time was quite uncomfortable.  It took me 5 minutes to reach the 5" mark.  I'm hoping it gets easier sooner rather than later.  No sign of bleeding, so that's a good sign.

BTW, clitoral sensation is so intense I can't take touching it for more than a few seconds.  I expect that will settle down in time.

[Princess_baby]

I can't PM yet but my room # is 205. I will upload a profile pic so you know how I look.

Looks like I can't upload a profile pic yet either, so here's a pic to know who I am. See you Sunday.
<Link Removed at request of poster>

[Lucie]

Wow, Princess_baby your are a so much beautiful princess !!!

[Miss Clara]

Hi Princess,

Thanks for the picture.  You are so beautiful!  See you soon!

[Myria]

Day 17 post-op:  I've moved up to the #2 dilator today.  I do #1 to depth of 6" for 30 minutes, then #2 to a depth of 5" for another 10 minutes.  This is done 3X a day for a total of 2 hours of dilation a day.  I don't know how someone who had to return to work could maintain this schedule.

I've wondered this myself. If you look at the chart he gives you it fairly quickly ramps up to having you do fifty minutes three times a day. I just don't see how that's sustainable, especially not for the couple of years he wants you to keep to that schedule.

BTW, getting #2 in the first time was quite uncomfortable.  It took me 5 minutes to reach the 5" mark.  I'm hoping it gets easier sooner rather than later.  No sign of bleeding, so that's a good sign.

FWIW I had surgery with Dr. Chettawut September 30th (wrote about it here). Getting used to #2 did go fairly quickly for me, #3 was a lot more of a struggle. At this point it's no biggie -- pardon the pun. A bit of a push needed first time in the morning, but for the second and third session I don't have any issue. I look at the rapidly approaching time when #4 will be used with more than a bit of trepidation, though.

BTW, clitoral sensation is so intense I can't take touching it for more than a few seconds.  I expect that will settle down in time.

For the time I was in Bangkok the nurse poking around to see how healing was going caused me to jump so hard I worried I was going to end up clinging to the ceiling like a hyper-caffeinated feline. Since getting home things have calmed down some, the whole random shooting pains and such seems to be mostly done, but to be honest I avoid touching any more than I need to in order to get dilation done.

Anyway, your comment about maintaining dilation schedule is something I've been wondering a lot about since I frankly don't see it as maintainable long term and I really wonder how or if most people do it.

[Joi]

Still following you Clara! Glad I switched to the to the "Vertical" after your recommendation.

Still waiting on my passport.  If it's not here by the end of the 1st week in Dec., I'll likely start to get really pissed off.

The dilation routine sounds challenging. But I know you are determined.  "This too shall pass"

Hugz,

Joi

[Miss Clara]

Anyway, your comment about maintaining dilation schedule is something I've been wondering a lot about since I frankly don't see it as maintainable long term and I really wonder how or if most people do it.

Yes, it is a question that lingers with me too, Myria.  I'm thinking that doing a quality dilation in the morning and another in the evening is all that can be reasonably expected of a girl once she goes back to her full-time employment.  Getting to dilator #4, however, is going to require a much more thorough dilation regimen than that.  Chettawut's dilation schedule shows that taking 10 weeks.  I wonder how many girls actually get to #4 and maintain their original depth.  I've arranged my schedule to be able the follow his dilation plan for 3 months.  After that, we'll have to see.

BTW, I did my third dilation with #2 this morning.  It was a lot less painful than the first two.  Yay! 

[Miss Clara]

November 21, 2015 - Day 18 post-op:  I'm healing up very well with no sign of bleeding and only slight discomfort sitting even without the doughnut pillow.  I'm wearing my skinny jeans for the first time today.  How nicely they fit now without all that 'junk' in the way.....

[AnonyMs]

As far as I understand it, your body will tell you how much dilation you need, and its different for everyone. You can do more or less depending on how it progresses, but only time will tell.

[Myria]

I'm thinking that doing a quality dilation in the morning and another in the evening is all that can be reasonably expected of a girl once she goes back to her full-time employment.

That's kinda my thought as well. Even without the complications of a full-time job at the moment, working in an hour+ in the middle of the day can be problematic. With a normal work schedule I just don't see it being reasonably sustainable.

Getting to dilator #4, however, is going to require a much more thorough dilation regimen than that.

Eh, I dunno. #4 is daunting, to be sure, but then so was #3 and yet at this point it's not any real issue. I hope that for both of us the same will be true of #4.

I wonder how many girls actually get to #4 and maintain their original depth.

I'd like to think most that want to, do, but it's impossible to say. I will say I'm rather surprised, much as I probably shouldn't be, by how quickly the whole thing becomes normal, 'just one of those things you do', and how rapidly your body adapts. The swelling and all going down helps, though the nerves coming online semi-randomly is a tad problematic for a while. Aside from a bit of a setback caused by not being able to dilate for the 30+ hours of travel back to the US and the week or so it took to get used to dealing with #3, dilation has been pretty consistent for me with variation in depth between #1 and #3 being minimal to nonexistent, depending on session.

I've arranged my schedule to be able the follow his dilation plan for 3 months.  After that, we'll have to see.

Pretty much the same. I figured I'd give myself until sometime mid-January, by which time hopefully much of the healing will be done, and figure out what to do from there.

BTW, I did my third dilation with #2 this morning.  It was a lot less painful than the first two.  Yay!

Glad to hear it .

[Latebloomer2]

Clara, Your story is so inspiring!! I have followed your threads from BN to here, and just so you know, the information and details you give us are important to many of us. For me, the biggest hurdle will be the finances but I know I will find a way. Thank you again.........

[Miss Clara]

Thanks for meeting me for lunch Princess Baby.  It was fun! XOXO

[Miss Clara]

Day 20 post-op.  My energy level seems to be back to normal.  I'm still tender, but pain-free.  There's still evidence of swelling in the lower abdomen, but it's gradually subsiding.  Functionally, and aesthetically, Dr. Chettawut did a good job.  I have no trouble peeing, and sensation is fine.  Pubic hair is coming back with no sign of it in the vagina or the inner labia at all.  It's now just a matter of maintaining depth and expanding the width through daily dilation.

I found that a gentle stirring motion (a la Suporn dynamic dilation method) helps to prepare for the insertion of the next sized dilator.  Dilation is initially painful (during the insertion), but once it's in, it can be very boring waiting out the clock.  My solution is to read a book.  Time flies when I read.  I'm already on my third book.

[Princess_baby]

Thanks for meeting me for lunch Princess Baby.  It was fun! XOXO

No, thank you! I had a blast with y'all! You're both such sweethearts & I really appreciated y'all coming & getting me out of that room for the first time & treating me to lunch. Thank you so much!

P.S. I'm at The Vertical Suites now. Good luck on Wednesday I pray everything goes well! See you soon.

[Miss Clara]

November 27, 2015 - Day 24 post-op. 

Today would have been my departure day, but we are staying for a couple more weeks.  I decided, and Dr. Chettawut agreed, that we could go ahead with an SMAS face/neck lift while I'm here in Bangkok.  The face lift was performed two days ago, with one overnight stay at the center.  My recovery is focused on that now.  I found that it was every bit as serious as my FFS surgery.  Fortunately, my GCS surgery has healed up nicely with almost no pain, so that helps me deal with the facial surgery recovery.  It's not a walk in the park, that's for sure.  I really hate the tight bandaging that makes it hard to breath at night. 

I'm doing 40 minutes of dilation 3X per day with the #1 and #2 dilators.  On December 1st I graduate to the #3 dilator and the sessions increase to 50 minutes each.  I know that getting that #3 dilator in the first time is going to be a challenge.