GRS with Dr. Thomas Satterwhite July 21st, 2016

[TC]

Mm, it would see that I am having an extraordinary recovery.  Perhaps all the good wishes in advance from Ruby and others. [emoji136]. 

Ruby is like Trans-yoda or something. You can return some well wishes to her as she just flew to buenos Aries today to get some revision work done.

Congrats on your speedy recovery, tell dr Satterwhite hi from me and thanks for the hospital staff update. I'll be there in March.

[KrisAvery1969]

I had to have emergency surgery on 7/29 so yeah. Fun times. It's been rough but I'm going home day after tomorrow.

[mm]

What happened  KrisAvery1969?  I hope you have a fast recovery.  Let us kown how you are doing.

[jujubes1986]

I had to have emergency surgery on 7/29 so yeah. Fun times. It's been rough but I'm going home day after tomorrow.

Oh no what happened? I will pray for you!

[SadieBlake]

Best wishes and hopes to you Kris. We are thinking of you!

[RubyAliza]

I had to have emergency surgery on 7/29 so yeah. Fun times. It's been rough but I'm going home day after tomorrow.

Oh no! Wishing you the best. We're all thinking of you, sending you good vibes.

Ruby is like Trans-yoda or something. You can return some well wishes to her as she just flew to buenos Aries today to get some revision work done.

Congrats on your speedy recovery, tell dr Satterwhite hi from me and thanks for the hospital staff update. I'll be there in March.

I wish I was, but surgery can be very unpredictable I'm a bit scared of my upcoming revision. Kris was doing so well but healing can take a turn for the worst. I hope she let's us know if everything turned out okay

- Ruby

[moonrise]

Oh Kris,

So sorry, you were doing so well.  I have been following you to girls having you turn with Satterwhite very closely as I;ll be having my turn next month !   

What went wrong girl?  Was it the trip to gym to practise soccer? 

[KrisAvery1969]

Well, overall, things are still going great.

I made it home Saturday after 19 fun days in CA.  I had the bottom level of a $4M house to hang out in with an awesome view of the bay. I am still able to got 5-6 hours of car riding/shopping/doctors visits before I poop out - daily.  Yes, my life is that busy at home. I held it to 2-3 hour outings while in the Bay Area.

In many ways I have had it extremely easy. I always said if I had any luck at all...it was bad luck.  Now I am not so sure about that.

I had a bleeding hematoma in the vaginal area...it just happens sometimes.  Swelling, blood underneath, rupturing, then spurting blood. I couldn't control it with ice and pressure after hours of trying so I had to be repacked...awake..7/28 at 8 pm in the clinic - followed by emergency surgery the next day after I fasted again. 

The result was that I spent 12 - not 6 days packed and I was also packed 3 different times.  It wasn't so bad by the third time but the two surgeries tired me out a bit.

I still have scars from the bolster sutures cutting me in two.  I think this was the result of the super pliable and supple skin I have.  Lumberjack I am not.  Satterwhite said surgery is way easier and a way better result potential if you aren't working with shoe leather.

I didn't mind the catheter as I didn't have to get up to pee.  LOL. Can I keep it? Just kidding.

I'm now a week behind on dilation schedule for my original date - but it's going extremely well. I guess I'm lucky again with a good cosmetic result and good depth. I think he said 5.5".

I hit the drugs in the hospital good but tapered quickly to ibuprofen after only 10 days.  I bet it would have been much quicker without the packing and 2nd surgery 8 days after the initial one.

I do have a few problem areas that are dying- but that's typical at the bottom of the vaginal opening and at the top hooding the clit.  I'm off to my local gynecologist today  - who also happens to be a reconstructive surgeon.  (Luck) so she is well versed in wound complications and treatment.

I have nothing bad to say about the care I received at B&C.  Satterwhite is charming and adorable.

I had an awesome set of nurses at CPMC and nothing bad to say there either (gasp).
Satterwhite did say they got sorted out after Ruby.

Am I glad I did it? How soon did that point happen? LOL. Yes, (the moment when I woke up) from the big surgery.  Regrets? Never..

I'm happy to keep people informed and am also glad to answer your questions. 

I'll also be returning to the Bay Area in February for a 6 month checkup.

Hugs

Kris

[mm]

KrisAvery1969, glad you are home and doing fine after the problems you had.  Having a good GYN dr will be great for you, can caught any little problem you have with wound problems and treatment. Keep us updated.

[moonrise]

Kris,

I'm glad to hear that you are home and safely recovering.

I have been following your journey with Satterwhite because I have my own surgery scheduled with him next month.  I am both excited and nervous about it.  When I read that you had to have an emergency surgery it really scared me.  My stupid response to you above was the result of my nervous fear.

I met Satterwhite in Seattle the day you flew home.  I totally agree with you, he is extremely pleasant!   

Thank you for the follow up and you luck be forever positive. 

Rachel

[SadieBlake]

Glad to hear you're OK and thanks for filling us in - I'm 2 months from my interview with Satterwhite and nearly a year from surgery. Like moonrise I was a bit freaked when you said emergency surgery.

I can see how a hematoma would be a risk, do we have any idea how common these are?

The notion of losing tissue at the clitoral hood is also daunting. All's well as ends well, and if it's just part of the process of (re)constructive surgery I am sure I can deal. Happily I know I recover very fast from injuries / surgeries and my skin repairs with relatively little scar tissue.

hugs and welcome back home!

[KrisAvery1969]

Thanks ladies.

My visit yesterday with my local (in-state) gynecologist who is also a surgeon herself - and has been for many years is obviously now complete.

She was shocked and amazed that my result is so incredibly good and healing is coming along so well at only 3 weeks post-op. She could only say 'wow' and 'amazing work' as she examined every part of my new vulva and vagina.

She did some housekeeping by cleaning up some aspects of healing such as 'cirrus fluid residue' as well as a full assessment.  Noting like a spit shine and evaluation.

She addressed a very small area of necrotic tissue at the bottom of the introitus (which is extremely common due to the thin, tightly stretched, and poorly vascularized tissue). 

The other area of clitoris hooding isn't as bad as I thought initially since there is extreme diversity in the cis-female population and I have great labia that shroud it as well.

All and all, I'm super excited and feel great about myself between the surgery and the result of healing thus far.

Also, I have no data about the hematoma occurrence rate.  I was told I was only one of 2 patients he had that had to be repacked.  I don't know how many vaginoplasty he is up to at this point.

Also, I had such little pain in the overall process and no issues waking up from anesthesia (both) times - I'm not wanting to say it is easy to do this.  I will say overall I'm very happy with what I have thus far.

Kris

[KrisAvery1969]

Update:

I had another appointment with my local gynecologist and we had previously received permission from Satterwhite to remove the sutures based on my healing and how my bodies' chemistry was reacting to them.  I further clarified if he meant ALL or just the surface ones. He said all.  I then asked if snip only or snip and remove.. He said snip and remove.  Well ladies... I would recommend snip and remove the surface ones... If sufficiently healed of course.....

However...OMG. I must say that you probably don't want to entertain snip and remove the deep plastic like ones holding the clitoris structure together.  Based on feeling I have there - this is clearly the very last thing on planet Earth I will *EVER* undertake again.  First, they didn't all come and second, imagine putting a the head of a carrot through a French fry maker wire screen.. Again, do NOT recommend..ever...

Summary:
Sutures out of medically indicated.. Yes
Deep plastic sutures out? NEGATIVE  just pull a bit and snip.


However, on the happy side:
I'm no longer getting poked with every movement and the surface incisions are laying down great. 

I can also say I feel better sitting and walking than I have since surgery 4 weeks ago today!


New fun:
I have some tissue in the vagina bulging more now that's been there since the first surgery so I'm taking things real easy.   Both physicians are following carefully and in getting great care.

I'm still exceedingly happy with the outcome and highly recommend Satterwhite.(big surprise)


Very happy woman!

Kris

[KrisAvery1969]

Well, the bulging continued and part of the vaginal lining is being ejected. Normal but nothing like having part of what you worked so hard for seem to rot away and die.  I have been told by both surgeons that it will slough off, smell, not hurt, and then new skin eventually form over the raw meat.  Great.  Check for the smell for sure.  So gross.  I am in a bad place.

[SadieBlake]

So sorry Kris, sending best wishes.

[TC]

Hey Kris,
I just caught up with your extra adventures and am glad hear you are past these difficulties. The things we do. maybe you could start a home catheter kit company for people that don't want to get out of bed ??

[KrisAvery1969]

Well, thanks for making me laugh.


I have been having chunks of skin fall out of my 5 week old vagina in my panties and on the floor and also out my pants all day.  I hope this phase gets over quickly.  I would be out of mind had I not just had a pelvic exam just Wednesday and my gynecologist said its OK and not to worry - there is pink tissue underneath and the lining will regrow within weeks - healthy.  I'm going to hold her to it but am optimistic that she has seen and dealt with this before.

The bad news is that all this rubbery tissue makes dilating rough.  I feel like I'm working against what's left - which of course - I am.  Slow and steady.  The gross part is that what's left has to go back inside as I insert the dilator... Ewwww.

Anyway, I'm pressing on and not in any great pain so I feel blessed.  Still maintaining depth and width through all of this.

The external suture lines are laying down nicely and a lot of the associated redness is gone.  I'm very happy with the external look of the vulva and vagina - as long as I get past this string cheese/cow intestine phase.

P.S. Did I mention it stinks and rubs between my labia? :/

Still very happy female here.

[KrisAvery1969]

Another update.

I had an amazing week of recovery and my gynecologist was floored and actually cleared me for a BATH two weeks ahead of schedule. OMG how glorious 6.5 weeks later. 

Life is good, the shedding skin has shed.  The area continues to heal and is already at the 'as good as cis' state and its been only 6 weeks today.  Wow!

Love that Doctor Satterwhite!

[SadieBlake]

So happy for you (and relieved to hear this news, my consult with Satterwhite is 32 days, 8 hours, 53 minutes away).

Has dilatation through this complication been more difficult or painful?

[KrisAvery1969]

Actually dilation through it all is not too bad - but then again I only took Percocet for 10 days and I had the second surgery 8 days into the 10. Perhaps I have a high pain threshold.

It was worse to have wet cold skin hanging between your legs and sticking in the crotch area. Thank God it is gone.

Now that the skin is gone, yes, it's sore where there is no skin inside. It will regrow and then I'll be set.

I'm so glad that you have enjoyed hearing all this.  Sometimes I wonder if anyone is interested.

Tell him you know Kris from late July and he will be sure to smile. BTW, he is adorable - you will love him.

If you, or anyone else, has any questions at all, feel free to ask. I'm an open book.