This is a copy of my Transition Log entry for December 14th, 40 days post-op.
I'm writing this on the plane with just 7-1/2 hours left until we land at O'Hare Airport in Chicago. God, this is a long flight. It seems endless, but I know it will end, and the adventure will be over.
Dome (our Chet driver) picked us up at 10:20 pm Bangkok time on Sunday the 13th and drove us to the airport. The traffic was amazingly light and it only took about 10 minutes to get there. He dropped us off, got a couple of baggage carts for us and said goodbye (sa wa de krap). We gave him a $20 tip for having to work so late on a Sunday night. Thai people don't normally give tips for services, but we felt uncomfortable not doing so in some circumstances, so we often gave tips to the delight of the recipient.
We experienced the usual initial confusion about where to go to check in, but soon found the Qatar Airways Business Class check-in and got our two 50 lb suitcases checked through to Chicago. Business class tickets cost double over economy class, but when the travel date actually arrives it's so nice to avoid the long lines at the airport, not to mention having 3 times as much space and great service on board the aircraft. We coughed up the money for business class expecting a difficult time on such a long flight after just having had bottom surgery. Although with the our extended stay in Bangkok, it's now 40 days post-op and I must say that I experience very little discomfort sitting even for long periods of time if the chair is cushioned.
Our flight took off on time. Our bird was an Airbus A380 double-decker. I really like that aircraft. It's very quiet and the design of its BC seats is very practical and comfortable. I didn't sleep much on the 6-1/2 hour flight to Doha, Qatar. There was a modest but persistent amount of turbulence that bothered me all the way there. It gave me restless legs. God, I hate restless legs...
The food was good, but I can't remember what I ate. Oh, yeah, it was some kind of breakfast consisting of yogurt and toasted granola, along with bread rolls, orange juice, and coffee. It was enough. I've really got to cut down on calorie intake when I get back home. I'm a bit over the weight I came at.
We arrived at Doha at around 9:00 am Bangkok time. We made our way to the huge BC lounge area which we made use of on our way from Chicago to Bangkok back on Oct 27th. OMG, that seems so long ago. I was due for a dilation and wondered if there was some way to accomplish it there at the lounge.
We looked for a woman's restroom and found one behind a rather classy restaurant deep into the lounge. There were nice private spaces with floor to ceiling walls and lockable doors. It was perfect. I went into the room for handicapped patrons for the extra room and the lavatory. I used the stool, but soon discovered that performing the dilation while sitting on the pot was not going to work. The geometry was just not right. Fortunately, I brought along my doughnut cushion from Dr. Chet's. I placed it on the floor next to the wall, placed a large disposable blanket pad over it (I saved my last one for the flight back), and got out my dilation kit, K-Y lube, moist wipes, and a few paper towels.
I had no trouble inserting Chip, the #2 dilator, but then heard what sounded like cleaning people outside the door. There were voices and sounds of mopping the floors. There was a knock on my door. I yelled, "Occupied" and continued to perform my usual dynamic dilation as described in Dr. Suporn's manual. I switched over to #3, Dale, after 10 minutes while the cleaning crew continued to work. I felt rushed, and only did Dale for 15 minutes which is actually all that's needed with dynamic dilation, but I usually go longer just to be sure. It was a good session, though, and I knew that it's very important to do something even if it's short in duration. I cleaned up and went out to find my companion who was sitting in the lounge waiting for me as expected.
We each had some diet soda to drink. I logged in to Facebook on my laptop and chatted awhile with a trans friend who lives in Florida. Time passed quickly and we soon left the lounge to locate Gate C5 where our Boeing 777 aircraft was being boarded for the flight to Chicago.
I don't like the 777 as well as the A380, but it does have the advantage of giving the A seat business class passenger more privacy than any comparable seat on the A380. And it so happens that my seat number was 5A. We still had a 14-1/2 hour flight home, and I would ideally want to squeeze in another dilation a some point on the flight.
The flight left at around 1 pm Bangkok time. I had another breakfast meal, this time steak filet and scrambled eggs, after which I tried to get some sleep. I did fall asleep, and when I awoke it was a little after 4 pm Bangkok time and the cabin lights had been dimmed way down. I was overdue for another dilation so I thought I would try to perform one in my seat under a blanket. Most everyone was sleeping, including my spouse, so it seemed like the perfect time to do it.
I got down my carry-on bag from the overhead bin and took out my dilator kit, pad, and wipes. I spread the large pad down on the seat cushion to protect it from any dribbles. I brought a mostly used up tube of K-Y lube which passed security inspection. I got everything ready and settled into my seat pulling the blanket over me. I undid my jeans and pulled them and my panties down to my ankles. I then put a little bit of K-Y on my finger and pushed it into my vagina and worked it around to get it loosened up and ready to accept Chip. It was rather dark in the cabin, so I took care coating the dilator with lube so as not to make a mess. Chip went under the blanket and in a minute or so, he was at full depth and I began the stirring motion, alternating with a spell of inward pressure as described in the manual for dynamic dilation. That lasted 12 minutes. I then switched over to Dale for another 20 minutes of dynamic dilation. Everything seemed perfectly normal. I was convinced that if I had no further opportunity to dilate, I'd be fine waiting until I got back home for my next one.
Business class is the way to fly, but not just to ease the discomfort after surgery. I hate flying coach with a passion. But even in business class, there was a child that cried incessantly for long periods of time. Thank heaven for head phones and music!
I was getting a bit hungry at about 5:30 pm Bangkok time so I ordered a prawn and potato cold salad and a cup of coffee followed by a tasty white chocolate mouse dessert. I think I'll read some. Reading is how I pass the time while dilating. I'm on my 6th book since starting this adventure way back over six weeks ago. It's entitled "What Happens in London" by Julia Quinn. Yes, I developed a liking for women's literature selections. And why not? I am now a woman from head to toe....
