My SRS with Dr Chettawut

[EmmaD]

Hi Susan,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your journey with us.  I was meant to be enjoying Chet's services on 20 November but had to defer a month while I recovered from having my gall bladder removed!  So I am now scheduled for surgery on 22 December instead.  In 2 weeks, I will be ensconced in my very own Vertical Suite!

Your posts have provided another perspective, particularly for another non-spring chicken! As I will be on my own, I will focus first on preparation for the immediate period after returning from the clinic and then on just being happy and positive.  My gall bladder adventure has severely limited my fitness preparation but that is what it is.

All the very best for your continued recovery. 

Emma

[sashaburn]

Day 15, Thursday 3rd December.  First off thank you to everybody who has commented that my rambling story has helped in any way. I'll make a pint of replying to any questions I don't address here individually. I'm very pleased that you have found it useful, because i found MonkeyMel's story re her SRS with Chett very useful including her advice on what to bring and how to prepare.

Today is the first day of normalcy (iPad hasn't marked that as a weird word so I guess I'm ok with it!!). By that I mean normalcy for my future. Fact is that I move on to three separate dilations each of 30 mins all on my own. This will stay at 3 a day and slowly rise to two and a half hours per day.  OMG, as I said before, it's just really settling into this dumb brain of mine just how much of the next year of my life will be spent on this. Stupid me, I always thought that the month out here in Thailand was going to be the big deal, but now I am beginning to really get it. The next year is going to be tough for sure - we all lead busy lives and to suddenly take 10% of our time (and that includes sleep and weekends and trips and holidays ...) is a big BIG deal. Plus as those of you in the process like me already know, being a woman is a full time job in itself  and that doesn't include all the other things we have to keep going like laser, electrolysis, blood tests, gender counselling, and .... Oh well, it's what I wanted, so I have to pay the price.

Nurses Sri and Noi arrived at 8am in the morning, checked I was okay and set me on the road to dilation as they ran out to deal with their crazy schedule poor things. Sri did tell me that my stitches - and trust me when I tell you there's a lot of them - are all self dissolving. That's a bit of a relief, I can't imagine how horrible manual removal would be!!

So, how about dilation?  It's not a fun experience, it certainly doesn't arouse you  , but it's not painful - or hasn't been so far for me. The first push is the worst, it kind of feels like you're pushing a pooh back inside you if that makes any sense, then as you work your way up to the depth you've been given you get used to it.  Take a deep breath using your diaphragm rather than your chest, let it out and push a little more, repeat until you're in enough. Two ways of knowing you're where you should be and shouldn't be going any further, the first (not the best) is when pain arrives - you've reached the end of the line!  The second (as advised by nurse Sri) is to watch the depth on the dilator via the Hello Kitty mirror that you get as part of your starter set. Now this sounds easy and it no doubt is for all you lucky young things, but for us oldies whose sight is going, trying to work out where you are on the printed scale on a transparent pole of plastic through a mirror held between your legs is, to put it mildly, challenging!!  I addressed this by putting a plaster (bandaid) at the point I need to stop and this helps a lot (also stops you from telling yourself its deep enough when it's not!!).

I'm finding deep sleep hard to get at the moment. This has rarely ever been my problem and I suspect that it's probably got something to do with my body working its way through all the procedures and changes, unpacking, catheter removal, dilation, drugs etc. I confess that genetically I am very lucky and tend to heal very fast plus everyone tells me I have a high pain threshold (they want to try it from my side!!), but the fact is I really haven't experienced any pain at all in any of my three major surgeries (FFS, BA, SRS) and I have only taken a few paracetamol when I had to prep myself for the unpacking and then the catheter removal.  However, I do feel the effects of not sleeping well and I've severely limited by little wanders across the road to the shopping centre with Fran.

Talking of Fran (she's out shopping right now!), she leaves early tomorrow morning so the next two weeks will be in my own. I think that will be fine, much as I'll miss Fran's wit, charm, chat, warmth and advice. I do pity those of you who won't have anyone here at all while you do this. I'm very good at managing on my own and dealing with my own company, but having Fran here for the past week has been absolutely invaluable and so if you get an offer from anybody to hold your hand, even for a few days, take it. It has especially helped because Fran has been so down to earth in telling me what a natural woman experiences and how to deal with these feelings and functions - and there are plenty of these things that will now be part of your life so having a sister like her is such a blessing.

So, we're almost through today. Now I'll be counting down the days until I can head for home. I know it's freezing in England right now, but the heat here is like a smothering blanket and I can't wait to feel the chill of home!!  Don't get me wrong, the Vertical Suite is a great place to stay, but now I ache for my own home (amongst other places I'm currently aching 3x30 mins every day!!). I'll be back for responses later girls.

[sashaburn]

Great stuff Sasha!  Free at Last!  So happy for you.
Thanks for the compliment on my pic.

Your comments RE: the long wait for transition and surgery very much mirror my own.  I was married for 38 yrs.,
raised 3 sons and worked in the oil & gas industry for over 30 yrs.  Transition during that period of my life would have been a disaster for me and my family.  As many of us do, I suffered in silence not knowing if this would ever become a reality.  It has come late in life and now it's within reach.  Fortunately,  I'm healthy enough to qualify for the surgery.
I am so exited. Just counting the days and will soon be sorting out my packing list.

Hugz,

Joi

Hi Joi,

Well I'm glad for you that you've finally made it happen.  I know from my own experience what a relief it is.  Whilst there's a bit of regret that it took so long, we have to be grateful for what we were able to achieve in our male disguise and what we were able to provide for our family.  I do so hope you've had acceptance and the love has continued from your family.  Personally, I've experienced difficulties with my ex (but that's no less than I expected), but my two daughters are having a hard time with this, particularly as I've essentially been forcibly separated from them due to distance - they are in Australia and I'm in the UK.  I totally understand their difficulty, although there's been a huge drop suddenly when I started surgery from their previous understanding and support when all they said was that I should be myself and they understood.  I have no real idea what caused the sudden change, but I have faith that they will come around understand that, as someone else put it - think of me as your favourite book, the cover might have changed but the inside is still the same.

Regarding your packing list.  MonkeyMel gave a good list of things to bring in her account of SRS with Chett and I plan to post a list soon too which you might want to check out.

My only concern for you (and my Mum who has been following all this feels the same) is that you will be totally on your own.  A month here with no one at all can be pretty hard, especially in the week following release from the clinic/hospital.  If there is no option for you, then you need to make sure that you're stocked up with things that you might need and I'll try and make sure that I think through this for you and post it. 

On the plus side, Nurse Sri visits you every day to check on you and your progress, although her work load is so intense that, lovely as she is, there's not much that she can really be expected to do for you other than to make sure you're healing ok.  The cleaners here at the Vertical Suite are very sweet and they are also in every day, so that's a bit more company you'll have.  Finally, I should also mention that Chett's staff are very diligent and very responsive.  Even late on a Sunday night (the day they don't work), I was able to reach Dr Chettawut himself, so I don't think you'll ever be totally on your own.  You should also prepare FaceTime and Skype so that you can chat with friends and family back home (although the internet connection can be very shaky at times here).

Good luck with the prep, stay positive and excited and if you have any questions or anxiety please feel free to just ask.

Hugz back,

Susan

[sashaburn]

I just want to let you know I'm reading your posts with great interest. I've nothing much to say, but I'm here.

If my ramblings are either interesting, useful or entertaining AnonyMs (clever name, but a bit impersonal!) then I'm glad.

[sashaburn]

I really appreciate the detailed account. Thanks for being so open about it!

Thanks Carrie, I'll confess one of the main reasons I started the story was so that my friends and family could keep up to date with all the events.  It helps a lot for those close to you to know what's going on.  When I got my brain around the fact that I could perhaps add some info that might help others on their journey I figured that its often the detailed spikes and shocks that we miss out on that can sometimes help and then I was a bit concerned that the detail might be a little much for some of my family.  Generally I find its the guys who just want an thumbs up and leave it at that, but the girls all want to know everything  so I guess the initimate details serve two purposes!!

[sashaburn]

I also wanted to say I really appreciate you for sharing your experiences.  I plan on having my GCS with Dr. Chettawut next summer so this is of great interest to me.  Thanks so much and I wish you all the best as you continue with your recovery.

Thanks Starfire, I'll try and stay on topic  and I wish you the best on your journey.  I feel pretty confident in telling you that I think you've made a good choice with Chett.

[sashaburn]

How much depth did u get?

Six (6) inches.  I did tell Dr Chettawut that depth was my least important requirement of the three (sensation, appearance, depth).  Fortunately he (and my body) allowed for a depth that even Fran wow'd at!!  Apparently the big question is just what exactly he finds inside when he starts the process and there's nothing that you or he can do to prepare for that.  If there's scar tissue caused by surgery or an infection of the bladder or intestine sometime in the past, then there's not much he can do to get round that.

[sashaburn]

Hi Susan,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your journey with us.  I was meant to be enjoying Chet's services on 20 November but had to defer a month while I recovered from having my gall bladder removed!  So I am now scheduled for surgery on 22 December instead.  In 2 weeks, I will be ensconced in my very own Vertical Suite!

Your posts have provided another perspective, particularly for another non-spring chicken! As I will be on my own, I will focus first on preparation for the immediate period after returning from the clinic and then on just being happy and positive.  My gall bladder adventure has severely limited my fitness preparation but that is what it is.

All the very best for your continued recovery. 

Emma

Hi Emma, Glad to be of any help.  Good luck with your surgery and I can understand the frustration you must have felt with suddenly having to deal with something totally unrelated that slowed your progress down and delayed your date.  You seem to have a very good attitude though - exactly my philosophy - what is, is - we just have to accept it and make the best of it.  I guess this is what we've been thinking (at least us older babes!) and having to deal with for most of our lives, so we've been pretty well trained!!

Stay positive, I really believe that its the number one pillar to rely on.  MonkeyMel impressed us all with her prep and Reikki and fitness fanaticism.  I guess I can give you hope in that I'm not the best on all that.  It's not that I'm unfit, overweight or a druggie - I'm none of those things - but I run minimally (because I hate it, despite the fact that I feel I have to!!), drink tons of coffee, smoke (minimally) and still enjoy the occasional McD's!!  Despite all that, I seem to be doing ok and have managed to come through three pretty major surgeries in just five months.

So, don't stress, I'm sure you'll do well!  Good luck.

Susan

[Butterflylover3]

Girl you done so well and I am so happy for you! I had surgery with him in Oct. So this makes me two months posted op and I can't be any happier. Chett is the best and he really meant what he said when he say I'll do my best. He too was able to achieve and give me 6" depth and my vajaja looks great. I'm very happy with my result.

In no time you'll be feeling better and ready to go home. I wish you a speedy recovery hunny. Much love to you.

[AnonyMs]

If my ramblings are either interesting, useful or entertaining AnonyMs (clever name, but a bit impersonal!) then I'm glad.

Yes, that about sums me up.

[sashaburn]

Hey Butterfly,

Thanks for your message.  Nice to hear that you're still happy 2 months later - that's also almost 15% through your first year of dilation!  How are you finding it?  I've just come out of dilation number two for today and i look at myself in the mirror and think OMG this goes on for a whole year!!  And I'm not even at the 2.5 hour level yet.

i agree with you re Chett, he does come across as very sincere in his aim to get you the best possible result and, as you and I have both experienced, he delivers on his promise.

i hope you're healing keeps going well.  Are you based in the UK or somewhere else?  Love & hugz to you too

[sashaburn]

Day 16, Friday 5th December.  I'm going to try and keep this up even if it becomes a little boring because I suspect each day will be same old, same old.  Today was a little bit different because Fran left here at 3.30 this morning, eager to get back to her sons and having given her wonderful help.  I saw her off and then went back to bed.

I did my first dilation, had a shower by which time it was almost 12 and first the cleaner, Khong, came (she really is very sweet) and the Nurses Sri and Noi arrived to check me out.  Healing ok, still a bit of swelling, but average progress – I'll live with that!  I was given a date for my follow up with Dr Chett and some other little logistic stuff.  Sri also tells me that it's the King's birthday tomorrows and they'll be big celebrations everywhere, but especially in the Seacom (shopping) Centre across the road.  Everyone will be wearing yellow – now that's an excuse to go out shopping if ever I've heard one!

So that's what I did this afternoon.  I confess I was a little bit naughty because I was trying some beautiful skirts on and did stretch myself a little too much so I had to scale back a little.  Problem is, you see these lovely clothes and they can be very cheap, but they are on a stall in the middle of the shopping centre and there's nowhere to try anything on so you have to do it in situ.  This is when wearing a skirt comes in very handy because you can just pull one up inside the other and you're done!!  However, it's not the easiest of exercises.

Now this is one area where Mel and I disagree – she said bring some sexy stuff with you because you never know what might be going on (she was here for the Queen's birthday ironically).  I disagree – bring the basics because there's plenty of stuff to shop for here and if you don't use the big stores it can be really cheap and yet the quality is good.  Popped into Tesco to pick up some food and then headed back for dilation number 2 and some supper.

I find I still need to take a few very deep breaths when I start, getting the thing all the way in isn't exactly hard, but not really what I would call a pleasant experience then the first few minutes are a bit uncomfortable until you get used to it and then it's just bbbbboooooorrrrrriiiiiiinnnnnnggggg.  I balance my iPad on my tummy and try to read stuff.  You can't do that much because you only have one hand – the other being occupied.  My Mummy FaceTimed me in the middle of my dilation yesterday and that certainly helped pass the time, although FT and the internet in general struggle here which can be very frustrating.  Coming back this evening I took a picture of the wiring which runs down the street (Vertical Suite is the tall building on the right) because looking at that you wonder how anything gets connected at all here!  There are broken wires hanging down to the pavement everywhere.  To think Thailand used to be one of the biggest satellite users in Asia once I wonder how they manage to cope without it these days!

I'm going to try and insert the pic here, but I'm struggling with how to do this ... failed!

[SorchaC]

Hi Susan,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your journey with us.  I was meant to be enjoying Chet's services on 20 November but had to defer a month while I recovered from having my gall bladder removed!  So I am now scheduled for surgery on 22 December instead.  In 2 weeks, I will be ensconced in my very own Vertical Suite!

Your posts have provided another perspective, particularly for another non-spring chicken! As I will be on my own, I will focus first on preparation for the immediate period after returning from the clinic and then on just being happy and positive.  My gall bladder adventure has severely limited my fitness preparation but that is what it is.

All the very best for your continued recovery. 

Emma

Hi Emma 

Sorry to hear you were delayed but I hope your healing is going well? Christmas with Chett, I'm almost jealous  Hope it all goes really well when the big day comes.

Sasha, I've been following your thread although until now there hasn't really been anything much I could add because you've done a great job Mel's thread was the first I read after choosing Chett and it was a great help to me so reading you found it helpful brought back some memories for me; You've also managed to remind me how much I enjoyed my month over there when I had my op so thank you.

You commented at the beginning about not liking the perceived production line feeling some experience with Dr Suporn, I am being careful not to insult anyone because I've never met him. I noticed while caring for Bootifulone in October that since my op in March Chett has actually refined his procedures, My external packing was removed while I was still in his clinic the night before I was released back to the hotel at the same time as the drains came out which doesn't now happen. Bootifulone also had an extra row of stitches on each side of her vagina as did another girl I met than what I had and the biggest change is the dilation schedule. My schedule is slightly shorter by about 10 minutes per session than yours will be when you reach number 4 but I have to continue it for 2 years  The reason I mention this is firstly to make you and all those still to come feel better about your dilation but also I feel it demonstrates that Dr Chett even after more than 10 years performing the surgery is still looking for ways to improve the results he gets and make things easier for his patients 

I hope your last 2 weeks over there go well and that when you get home everything is crisply cold and white 

Hugs

Sorcha 

[AnonyMs]

You commented at the beginning about not liking the perceived production line feeling some experience with Dr Suporn, I am being careful not to insult anyone because I've never met him. I noticed while caring for Bootifulone in October that since my op in March Chett has actually refined his procedures, My external packing was removed while I was still in his clinic the night before I was released back to the hotel at the same time as the drains came out which doesn't now happen. Bootifulone also had an extra row of stitches on each side of her vagina as did another girl I met than what I had and the biggest change is the dilation schedule. My schedule is slightly shorter by about 10 minutes per session than yours will be when you reach number 4 but I have to continue it for 2 years  The reason I mention this is firstly to make you and all those still to come feel better about your dilation but also I feel it demonstrates that Dr Chett even after more than 10 years performing the surgery is still looking for ways to improve the results he gets and make things easier for his patients 

Sorry, I can't resist... This continuous improvement is a classic feature and advantage of production lines...

[SorchaC]

Sorry, I can't resist... This continuous improvement is a classic feature and advantage of production lines...

It could also signify that Chett doesn't have faith in his technique but I don't believe that any more than I believe he operates a production line 

Hugs

Sorcha 

[Butterflylover3]

Sashaburn,

Dilation is going good. Although I feel like that is all I ever do now. Lol those little dilators are the only friends I spend time with beside my boyfriend. I am Iowa in the united states.

When do you go home? Did you go there on your own?

[sashaburn]

You commented at the beginning about not liking the perceived production line feeling some experience with Dr Suporn, I am being careful not to insult anyone because I've never met him. I noticed while caring for Bootifulone in October that since my op in March Chett has actually refined his procedures, My external packing was removed while I was still in his clinic the night before I was released back to the hotel at the same time as the drains came out which doesn't now happen. Bootifulone also had an extra row of stitches on each side of her vagina as did another girl I met than what I had and the biggest change is the dilation schedule. My schedule is slightly shorter by about 10 minutes per session than yours will be when you reach number 4 but I have to continue it for 2 years  The reason I mention this is firstly to make you and all those still to come feel better about your dilation but also I feel it demonstrates that Dr Chett even after more than 10 years performing the surgery is still looking for ways to improve the results he gets and make things easier for his patients 

Hi Sorcha,  I really appreciate your info and thoughts on Chett - very, very interesting and actually very relieving too.  I do so feel for you to have to manage two years rather than one, that's a big difference.  Your points about Chett modifying his technique as time and experience carries him forward are very insightful and I totally agree with you.  Many people questioned why I would choose Thailand over the UK, Europe or the US and my response was always that I believe that the surgeons here (Chett of course, but others as well) have been far more innovative and keen to advance the procedure than other countries.  I have a friend who went for a consultation with one of the top surgeons in the UK (no names!) and she came away literally disgusted by both his technique and his complete refusal to explain anything of worth.  She told me he had effectively told her that half of her male genitals would be dropped into the rubbish bin whereas Chettawut, Suporn and others work hard to make use of everything you have and achieve the best possible results.

I also wouldn't want to criticise any other surgeons out here, but we make our choices based on the best research we can do.  Quite honestly, I felt that Chettawut and Suporn are the best and that the decision between which to go with would be something of a tossed coin  .  Either way, now having come through it all (almost!) I feel very happy with the decision I made on several fronts.  Perhaps I would have felt the same had I gone with Suporn, but I am confident in standing up and stating that choosing Chettawut isn't a mistake.  Sounds like you feel similarly confident.

Thanks again for your info.  I really appreciate it.  Hugs, Susan

[sashaburn]

Sashaburn,

Dilation is going good. Although I feel like that is all I ever do now. Lol those little dilators are the only friends I spend time with beside my boyfriend. I am Iowa in the united states.

When do you go home? Did you go there on your own?

Hi Butterfly,

Nice to hear that your dilation's going well.  Pleased for you and relieved that I might be on the same track!!

I personally am finding that the initial push in is uncomfortable, kind of like poohing backwards  , but once in its just how do you best occupy your time.  Fortunately I'm reading a great book at the moment (I am Pilgrim) and that helps time pass reasonably quickly!

I'd be interested in knowing whether you experienced the same and if that slowly improved?  I have to assume it does because otherwise there's not that much attraction that I can think of to use my new facility to its full purpose!    I'd also be interested in how the jump went between sizes ... was it like starting all over again or just a little bit more difficult (perhaps painful?) before it settled down and felt normal?

In answer to your question, yes, I came here on my own and then my sister Fran flew out to be here when I was released from the clinic.  She then stayed for the next ten days helping me through the tough bit before she left two days ago.  I feel very fortunate to have had the level of support I had and at exactly the right time.  So I leave here to return to the UK on the 17th - be sad to miss some of those who are scheduled to come out this month and who have commented on this thread, but it will be nice to be home again.

Good luck and positive progress on your continued dilations and if you do have any other thoughts about what I and others can expect going forward I'd love to hear them.

Hugs, Susan

[sashaburn]

Day 17, Saturday 5th December.  Happy Birthday Your Majesty – it's the Thai King's birthday today and the royalty are very popular with the people here so it's a big event day.  I'll be out later dressed in the yellow top I bought yesterday (traditional support for the King I'm told) to see what's happening because everyone who has any English has said that the celebrations are fun, intense and everywhere.  I was planning on going down one road to an event suggested by Khong, the lady who cleans my apartment, but it seems the rainy season has arrived in force – thunder, lightning and rain coming down in buckets.  Not quite sure how I'll even make it to the shopping centre across the road without drowning!

I slept well last night, headed into dilation quite early and was 20 mins through it when the knock on the door came from Nurses Sri and Noi.  I wasn't quite sure what to do, but finally I gave up and pulled the plug (literally!!) and managed to catch them before they left for their next stop.  I mentioned that I'd pushed things a little far yesterday and felt a bit of a painful twinge, Sri checked and assured me that everything was just fine, I hadn't pulled any stitches and that my healing was going well, swelling was reducing and she's happy with the direction I'm going.

Having curtailed my first dilation I felt obliged to extend my second (which quite honestly wasn't a hardship, just allowed me to read another few chapters of my book!).  Generally, I have to say that dilation isn't much of a hardship, it hasn't been painful in the slightest (yet ... who knows, that may come!).  My new style of weeing has also gone without a hitch, no pain, burning sensation or anything like that.  It's all felt totally natural.  My digestive system has slowly been getting itself under control after almost two weeks of liquids and I'm essentially back to normal now, just 5 days after being unwrapped – what a Xmas present!  I only mention all this so those of you about to embark on SRS with Chett have some idea what to expect.

[SorchaC]

Hi Susan 

My agreed dilation schedule once I reached number 4 was 10 minutes on each of the 4 (40 mins) 3 times a day for 2 years. Anticipating that once people return to work they will struggle to have 3 sessions a day Chett told me as long as  I do 2 sessions a day totaling 2 hours he will be happy. I know many many posties find that they do not need 2 hours a day especially after they become sexually active but Chett said this was a deal, He will do his best for me (he said I was going to be his most difficult surgery) and I had to promise to do what he said to look after what he achieved. So I gave my word and I stick to it.

You asked about moving up to bigger sizes, For me 1 and 2 were quite easy once I got over my own hesitation about dilation. I just was too tense to have an easy time but once they were in I had no trouble. I found that getting to 4 inches wasn't so bad but most times at the beginning full depth wasn't happening. My solution was to let go of the dilator and distract myself for a few minutes with anything I could and then just push it in and that worked for me. Number 3 was a small pain for the first week. The pain lasted about a minute then my body relaxed and it was fine. I had a friend who was 4 days in front of me and she warned me about how painful 3 and 4 were so that again caused me tension. Number 4 was delayed by lube problems so by the time I got there I found it easy. One thing I'll add, I contacted Chett when I couldn't move to number 4 on time asking for advice, He told me for him number 1 and 2 are the important ones. 3 and 4 are optional. He says 1 and 2 are all you need for maintaining depth. I mention this because we don't get to number 3 until after we go home and not everyone will be ready for moving up and this can cause tensions and even fears. The other thing is as I've said; Be relaxed, Do not rush and remember that this is what we all knew we'd have to do. 

Would it sound crazy if I told you that when I felt pain from standing too long or maybe doing more than I was ready for doing a dilation was what stopped my pain?

Hugs

Sorcha