GRS end of Feb. UK what you wish you had known?!!

[calicarly]

Hi ladies,

Time has come for my GRS after 6+ almost 7 years of having transitioned. I have done a lot of research and I am happy and confident  to be having it done here in the UK by a private provider, NHS funded.

So after a lot of anxiety over wether hair removal would be needed or not, when I had my appointment Dr Thomas said hum yeah you're gonna need hair removal (start panicking) then he says hum let's see actually that little are might be cleared up afterwards or might not even need it then he says problem is there's not enough tissue, so then he asks if the scrotal tissue is naturally like that or did I shave against nurses advice before my preop I said no that's just how that is there, so he says well luck was on your side because I will need that tissue to give you more depth and unlike 99% of people you won't need any hair removal, so you're ready to go. Turns out there are about 65 patients whom have their signed letters for surgery just waiting to finish hair removal, or weight loss . So anyhow. I threw little screams of happiness and the Dr and nurse laughed and got my date and all. I wanted to mention this because if you are hairless in the scrotal area and the tissue needs to be used then you should be fine, might also be worth considering hair removal for people who think Penile inversion alone won't be enough. Or you might have to wait and do electrolysis for around 9 months.

I am less than 3 weeks from admission to hospital now. And there's one little thing I would like to ask that I'm sure has been asked many times before. What is it nobody told you and you wished you would have had during recovery? Was a certain kind of food better to stock on? Should I make sure I don't let my cats sleep on my tummy and chest as sometimes they like to do? Would that be dangerous? Lol. Just anything that crosses your ladies' minds.

A girl I know told me she had some horrible cramps in her abdomen from trapped air that apparently can be left inside you during surgery and kind of has to just be reasoned through like osmosis type thing and they had her crying, she initially thought it was trapped gas but a nurse explained that to her. Things like that are good to know in case they happen hence my question but like I said even if you think you should have stocked up on ice cream then let me know.

Ok I have typed an essay already! Any crossed fingers, prayers, good wishes etc would be also appreciated.

Thanks ladies

[Serenation]

Congrats Calicarly, I think if you look about you will find many threads giving advice, maybe even a what I wish I knew one. Everything differs surgeon to surgeon.

If i had three weeks to go I'd be exercising a lot, building pelvic floor muscles, building upper arm strength to help move about in bed. Getting an E implant. Buying a lot of lube and pads.

Cats will be fine, just be careful about them standing on your new bits, icy poles are good for nausea

[calicarly]

Thanks I actually have some of them in the freezer and I easily suffer with nausea as it is so I will remember to have them now I know! I have read some of the old threads. I will read thoroughly through them again 😊

[TG CLare]

Well, if you're going to cough or sneeze while dilating, take it out first! Don't ask how I know about that little trick!! :-)

Your kitties should be ok on your chest and tummy but watch out for below the waist line. You don't want kitty standing down there for quite a while!

I found the first 3 weeks were hell but after that I improved quite a bit, almost daily! Depression is a big watch out for as well but in time you get past that as well. 6 weeks in and it will all seem like a bad dream.

I wish I had been prepared for what I saw the first time. Your new vagina will be swollen and bruised, congealed blood around some stitching and not at all what you will think it's going to look like. That's only temporary thank goodness!!!! I think I almost passed out when I saw mine and I said., "Hell! What did I just do to myself!" My doctor, Dr. Christine McGinn, laughed and said, "Well, what do you expect? Right now it's a Frankenpussy!" That helped but be prepared for something that initially looks awful! Thing is, I had seen some post op pictures but that's someone else. Feels a lot different when you see it on yourself. Now everything looks lovely! :-)

Rest up. Don't expect miracles for a while and pay attention to your doctor's orders and instructions and you'll be just fine.

Good luck with your surgery.

Love,
Clare

[calicarly]

Thanks! That's a tip I didn't read in the old threads!! I will take the dilator out if I cough or sneeze!

I have seen a couple of timelines in pictures from girls who went to Dr Thomas . Who I'm going with, and a few more from other patients that have gone to other Drs including Mginn  and yes the first few days to couple of weeks for all of them are so bad I could even hardly look at the pics. I will remind myself of it being temporary. I am after all a pretty patient person in general.

It's only 10 days now! Feeling ready, had my preop bloods, Mrsa test, and urine test. And they all came out ok, so I just have to show up at the hospital!

Thank you for your lovely message Clare

[Serenation]

Just got to be strong for the first bit, it heals more each day. Mine looked looked like a baseball mitt when I first seen it.

[TG CLare]

Wishing you all the best on your surgery. It will be rough, no doubt about it but the final result will be worth it in the end.

Love,
Clare

[calicarly]

Just got to be strong for the first bit, it heals more each day. Mine looked looked like a baseball mitt when I first seen it.

LOL

Wishing you all the best on your surgery. It will be rough, no doubt about it but the final result will be worth it in the end.


Love,
Clare

Thanks for the good wishes ladies, one week today I will be on the other side. I can't believe it's finally happening after all these years!!