Did anybody Post-Op find pain or post-op complications to be a problem?

[mazzycakes]

I'm Curious if anybody Post-Op had problems with pain or post-op complications? I have finally got both of my recommendation letters for vaginal surgery, and though I've looked forward to it since childhood, I am finding myself getting more afraid. I've read about people getting prescribed lots of pain medications and such, and as a recovering opiate addict on suboxone (opioid replacement therapy) the idea of needing such strong pain medications concerns me.

I very much want to go through with this, I just want to be sure I'm fully informed before doing so. That way I can make a plan on how to keep everything in control when I am post op and dealing with the pain.

[suzifrommd]

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I haven't had any pain per se, though it took me  more than a year of healing before some of the parts stopped being tender. Knock wood, I've had no major complications. My surgeon assured me that complications are rare but that they do happen

[AnonyMs]

I think it will depend a bit on the surgeon. Suporn has a more difficult recovery than most other surgeons due to his technique. There's quite a bit on pain and a minor revision in this pdf from someone who went to Suporn.

https://www.the-ress.net/files/SRS-With-Dr-Suporn-2015.pdf

[mmmmm]

I think it will depend a bit on the surgeon. Suporn has a more difficult recovery than most other surgeons due to his technique. There's quite a bit on pain and a minor revision in this pdf from someone who went to Suporn.

Not necessarily... some walked around 10 days after surgery almost like nothing happened. Without painkillers.

[AnonyMs]

Not necessarily... some walked around 10 days after surgery almost like nothing happened. Without painkillers.

There's always some people who are lucky/unlucky, but Suporn does say

"In our experience, Dr Suporn's patients require about twice the duration of total recovery period (3 to 4 months) compared with having SRS elsewhere."
http://www.supornclinic.com/restricted/scheduling/protocol.aspx

I'm not criticizing Suporn, I'd take that any day to get the advantages of going to him.

[mazzycakes]

Wow, Thanks for all the quick responses! I probably should also mention that I live in Canada, so my Provincial Insurance will send me to the Centre Métropolitain de Chirurgie in Montreal, Quebec, If anyone has been there any information about them specifically would definitley be a plus!

[JoanneB]

ALL major abdominal surgeries carry the risk of complications. Infections being on top of the list. GCS is no different. In a very small sub-set (ie: post-ops I know) the vast majority had 'issues' with different surgeons.

This would be an interesting Poll question. May already be on the post-op side of board where it is likely found

[Jenna Marie]

I went to Brassard; by 2 days post-op I was off all painkillers by Tylenol. (Unfortunately, bladder spasms from the catheter meant I did get a couple of days of oxycodone after that, but that was as close as I came to "complications.") Most of the people who had surgery around the same time seemed to have similar results - everyone was done with the heavy-duty painkillers by the time they left, which was 7 days post-op. One woman never used anything but Tylenol at all and was sitting curled up in her chair within a couple days, the lucky thing.

I had to be careful of  plopping down on hard surfaces for a few months, but within 2 weeks or so I was almost back to normal and in nearly no pain *unless* I sat too long.

Brassard's aftercare facility is fantastic, too; I was there with one woman who did have issues with the painkillers she could take (allergies, I think?) and they did a great job of finding alternatives. If you're up front with them about your own issues, I bet they can work with you.

[mazzycakes]

Thank you so much for the replies! My mind is definitley a bit more at ease. I guess I let my fear run a little wild. I'm 22, but I've been transitioning since I was 14. Problems prevented me from seeking surgery approval before, but now that I have it the fear and reality of everything kind of set in.

I'm extremely thankful that my vaginal surgery will be covered by my province, it takes a lot of the pressure off so I can focus on things besides how to pay.

[karenpayneoregon]

Three hours after surgery an examination was done and found that one more stitch was needed, other than that no issues.

Several hours after surgery.

[KayXo]

Went to Brassard, recovery was quite uneventful, pain was dealt with the first 2-3 days with morphine injections, then nothing...withdrawal was tough though. I walked the day after the surgery.

[AnonyMs]

Went to Brassard, recovery was quite uneventful, pain was dealt with the first 2-3 days with morphine injections, then nothing...withdrawal was tough though. I walked the day after the surgery.

You had withdrawal from only 3 days of morphine? Not just pain when you stopped?

[KayXo]

No pain, but panic attacks, yes, from feeling really good on morphine injected every 4 hours intramuscularly for 2 days and then taking pill with same substance for another day or two...forgot about that, just remembered.

[AnonyMs]

I've had something similar for about a week and didn't notice any withdrawal. I wonder why the difference.

[Ange]

I cried 3 days at the clinic from the pain, then went to the hotel totally sedated and slept 4 days straight, tramadol and paracetamol included.

There will be pain, there will be blood, there will be complications everywhere (minor ones mostly, if you see a good surgeon), so yeah, it's not something easy. I freak out for everything so it was super hard for me, even though everything went super well (except the pain).

Well I went to Chett (so longer recovery) and I got unlucky on the pain side. Most girls don't suffer like I did.

[cindianna_jones]

I was poolside in a bikini the day I returned. I took a long road trip one week after that. Yes, I was uncomfortable for a few weeks. But I've had other surgeries and this was no worse than they were. Certainly, there are inherent risks with all surgery, but this one seems to be straight forward.

[warlockmaker]

I had mine done at PAI by Dr Sutin. Wonderful experience and zero pain from the op. Follow the instructions when dilating and don't over exercise because you feel so good.

[Debra]

Any surgery will have possible complications.

vaginoplasty being in such a central part of the body where both your legsa nd torso meet along with your eurethra, genitals, and anus.....I mean it's a tough place to have surgery, period.

I, myself had vaginoplasty with Marci Bowers in 2011. It was a very tough recovery for me. I had a bleeding complication on Day 2 (wouldn't stop bleeding) and Marci had to come back in and stitch me up more to stop the bleeding (while I watched, eek!). That led to loss of blood, anemia, weakness, etc....and made me feel pretty horrible for the following week or so.

I also experienced a ton of swelling which made it so I couldn't pee....I had to literally pry my swollen labia apart to be able to pee for the first few days after the packing came out.

Finally, the stitches got stretched out a bit and I ended up with a good amount of granulation tissue....too much to really heal on its own.....so I had to make several trips to my family doctor who used silver nitrate to treat those areas. It was a tough few months of recovery.....I didn't wear jeans for 5 months.

Mind you I'm happy I did it.....and it's great now.....but it was the toughest recovery I've ever had. Breast Augmentation and hair transplants were SO EASY comparably.

[Lara1969]

My friend had surgery with Suporn and still has pain 11 months post-op.

I had grs here in Germany and I only needed Ibuprofen after leaving the hospital for 3-4 weeks. I only got Trampoline after surgery.  Today I am totally pain.  I ride my MTB and I do Krav Maga (some sort of mixed martial arts).

So no risk to get addicted to the painkillers for me. Needle Epilation is far more worse than recovery after Grs after leaving hospital.

Just be careful when choosing a doc.

[NikkiJ]

I was home for a couple of weeks after my surgery with Dr. Meltzer, and just for a brief period I was a bit sore, but not enough to make me seek out more painkillers. Rather, I think it was the nerves reconnecting.