Solo GRS With Chet on 07/26/2016

[jujubes1986]

Just had the "drain" removed. The second of three tube things in me. The first was the IV and the catheter is still in me. That'll be removed in a couple days alongside the vaginal packing.

Idk exactly what it was "draining" but that was the first thing that had a piercing, stabbing pain when it was removed. It lasted for a bit too, but it's fine now. Definitely tolerable. Tomorrow morning, I head back to the hotel. And it shall be glorious.

Though i should say - the food here at the clinic has been pretty good. First day or so you got warm soy milk and hot chocolate. Then, after that, it's hot chocolate, some kinda creamy corn soup, and cheese crackers. Even so... To be able to control my own meals (within limits) is the ultimate dream.

hoping for a speedy recovery lots of love from canada

[IWentWithChet]

Troubling development today. As I was extending my arm, it got flooded by a spasm of pain and I couldn't control it for almost a second. Just kinda flailed and hurt. This was after they battered my nerves again with the blood pressure checker. I want to ask for them to do it on the other arm, but it's always the lady who doesn't speak English, so I can't.

The nurse the other day said that this lack of sensation is common and can last 3-6 months!?! She doesn't know about the spasm yet, so I'll tell her that when I see her next.

Getting dressed was another "English adventure" as I didn't bring underwear for fear of them being too tight on the padding. So I had a conversation that went like this:

"You no bring panties?"

"No. I was afraid of them being tight"

"You no bring panties?"

"No."

"You no bring panties?"

"I no bring panties"

"You no bring panties?"

<takes out iPad>

[IWentWithChet]

Well, I'm now in my hotel room and typing on my laptop, rather than my iPad. Bit weird when I have so little feeling in my thumb and pointer fingers, but it works.

First bit of legit advice I have for people going with Chet - choose the hotel that is CLOSEST to the clinic. The drive from the clinic to the hotel was kinda legit the worst. So much pain sitting down.

Bizarrely, I'm super okay walking. Maybe it's because I work out with a personal trainer who works out my calves and legs a lot, but I had no issue walking around. This is not true for most people, apparently. But sitting - oh boy. That HURT.

[EmmaD]

Good news - you are home!  Get Sri or Noi to look at your arm when they call tomorrow.  It seems something has got squashed and is taking a while to come right.

Everyone is different.  I found walking hard but the ride to the hotel was fine.  That said, I found the plane trip home and then another trip a few days after that (home in Australia to New Zealand - about 4 hours) very painful

People - be prepared for the Chet timetable!  I was booted out at 5:45am so we had breakfast, bed bath, teeth etc dressed and out the door quite early.  Someone must have been upstairs ready to come down.  They even had a sick bag in the car for me!  The driver promptly put it on his head and wished me "Merry Christmas"!!

"You no bring panties?" is hilarious.  I did bring them and it was all made clear when we hooked the urine bag onto them for walking.

I think all the hotels are about the same distance from the clinic.  The Vertical Suite where I stayed is probably the longest distance away and it is not far past the Dusit.

Do nothing until the Grand Unveiling in a few days.

[Sharon Anne McC]

*
I did not see the answer, so allow me to comment.  Two of your hoses were to keep your vagina drained - one tube on each side.  Yes, it can sting when Dr. Chettawut removes it; place a towel in your mouth and grab hold of the bed railing.

Another, future sting will be when Dr. Chettawut removes your leftover stitches; that will be at your 'final exam' day.  If any do not absorb, then Dr. Chettawut snips them and pulls them out one at a time. 

Most computers, or the Internet, have access to language translator apps.  The written translators are better than voice.  Try them with your nurses.

Did Dr. Chettawut provide your meds sheet yet ('Home Medication Instruction')?  Point to which meds you need.  Dr. Chettawut will provide refills if you really need them.  Some people do report intense pains through their recovery days while others ask 'What pain?' the day after surgery.

Some meds can cause you to vomit - usually the antibiotics.  Dr. Chettawut may direct you to take your antibiotic on an empty stomach (at least one hour before any food).  Don't be embarrassed if you vomit, many patients do; use the nearby container provided to vomit.

Gradually wean your food intake.  Your bowels have been inactive for a week or two.  Eat light at first - fruits and vegetables - until you resume your regularity and can begin easing into normal foods.  You do not want to experience constipation down there!

Yes the more you add to GCS / SRS (FFS, BA), the more likely you will encounter pain.

It's clearly a no-no to walk around in public with your bladder bag still attached.

You'll know when you are more than ready for the urinary catheter to be removed - your muscles will want to go on their own.  Park yourself at the toilet and let go; it may hurt your first time, relax as you would without the catheter.  Then begin learning to use the bidet.

It's too late now, but yes, you do need one change of clean clothes for your return ride to your recovery residence; the best attire are loose dresses or jumpers.  Panties will not be too tight.

Yes, Dr. Chettawut orders early wake-up call for your return to your recovery residence - 4 am or 5 am is common.  Someone is coming later that morning to take your place in the ground floor room because someone is set to arrive for the second floor room.

Sit on your donut pillow during your ride home; you do not want to be bouncing in the car without it.  Sit on it in bed.  Keep your feet up so that they do not swell.  Later, take this pillow with you to the Chaengwattana federal complex; you do NOT want to spend a full day sitting on the hard chairs at the Foreign Ministry Office as you wait for the agent to issue your notarised surgery certificate.

Follow Dr. Chettawut's orders about walking; he will limit your ambulatory time.  You require bed rest to heal properly no matter how much you want to get up and walk; do not walk too much otherwise you risk impeding healing and thus requiring correction surgery before you pass your 'final exam'.

Relax until your unveiling.  Be prepared.  Take in the experience for all that it is - once in a lifetime.  Watch with your mirror.

At the airport, be certain to show the ticket agent your travel letter so that you can get special seating inside the airplane - maybe a row of three seats to yourself to spread out.  Get up and walk in the plane during your ride home - it is a long flight, you now need the exercise to prevent blood clots. 

Sahwdee kah!
*

[jujubes1986]

Keep us updated! I'm so excited for you!

[IWentWithChet]

Sharon's message is much appreciated, in particular since it's what I'm going through as we speak.

I'm in solo recovery now. It's basically the single worst thing. THIS is where the solo vs non-solo SRS experience is found. Mostly... It's very boring, with lots of pain. And you're not allowed to turn to your sides for any length of time - so it's just you on your back. Can't even prop your legs up by bending them. It's an awful position to keep up for a length of time, ESPECIALLY since you now lack an adjustable bed. Going to sleep is a constant struggle.

I feel like I need to pee CONSTANTLY and there's constant pressure on my bladder/vagina. It's... Yeah. Let's say it's not comfortable and I keep a close eye on the hour for when I can retake pain meds.

Walking is still absurdly easy - I eat my food standing since sitting is much more painful. Scrambled eggs, toast, and juice. It mostly sucks getting dressed before the person arrives to deliver your room service. Then getting undressed in a way where your clothes aren't just gone forever (since bending isn't really an option - if you're solo, the floor is basically a bottomless pit).

I wish the nurses came daily, but since they get Sunday off, I've been alone since I got here. I'll be seeing someone tomorrow.

Also, for those keeping up with my arm problem - the tingling is intense as heck in my thumb now and in part of my palm, but mostly gone elsewhere. I also see some pretty serious bruising on my arm where that blood pressure monitor was. So there's your explanation.


I mostly want this whole experience to be over. I want to pee. I want to take a shower (be prepared to be WELL acquainted with your body odour). I want this pressure to go away. I want to be able to sit without crying. I want to order a big, honkin' hamburger with fries.

[EmmaD]

I feel for you. The lonely thing is what I remember as being the worst thing. Pain wasn't too bad for me but I was very careful for the first few days.  I was dropped back at my hotel on a Saturday too and it is a bit of a shock after the clinic.  Be sure to let the nurses know what is bugging you when they call tomorrow.  They may be able to connect you with other patients too.

Take care.  This part passes.

Emma




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[TinaVane]

Do the driver walk you to your rooms or you just walk alone to ones room ? I would be so embarrassed to pass out in the lobby (but I have a high pain tolerance or so I think I do )


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[EmmaD]

When I was returned to my hotel, I was met at the door by a wheelchair and wheeled up to my room by the nurse and driver. I then piled into bed for a few hours. It was 6:00 am though so not too many people around.


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[IWentWithChet]

When I was returned to my hotel, I was met at the door by a wheelchair and wheeled up to my room by the nurse and driver. I then piled into bed for a few hours. It was 6:00 am though so not too many people around.


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I was walked up. They offered me a wheelchair, but sitting was (and is still) WAY too painful. Even in the car I kinda laid all the way back and propped my body up with my legs in a little squat. And walking was super easy for me, so it was nbd. Like even the day of, I felt like I could have done like jumping jacks or squats or something (not many, mind you). Not that I would have - it could hurt the vagina. But it felt possible.

Like Emma said though, it was 7am or 7:30 or something, so the lobby and everything was pretty clear.

But people WILL see you at your worst when you order food to your room. Nothing really you can do to avoid that.

And remember - breakfast ends at 11:00, but if you order it after 10:30 they'll charge you. So what I do is eat an early lunch so I can order free breakfast twice. On the second breakfast I order it HUUUGE and eat the remainder for dinner. You can get by basically free.

Get breakfast attached to your room TRUST ME.

[IWentWithChet]

Welp. Packing is removed and I seem to have gotten 5.5 inches. Chet initially said like 4.5 after the surgery, so I'm quite pleased.

And BOY does getting the packing removed help my quality of life!

There's so much less pain! In everything I do! I can lie down in any crazy position I want and it doesn't hurt! I was literally moaning and tossing and turning all morning trying to not hurt. And now that's completely gone. I can also now sit down, though that still hurts and feels uncomfortable. Basically, besides that everything feels practically normal, except my now-aching-like-crazy arm. That's aching, but feeling has mostly returned to it at this point. It just hurts - but I'm sure that will go away. Also - I no longer feel like I need to pee, do number two, etc. on a constant basis. That's NICE.

Vagina looks good, has a good depth, and I'm going to ORDER A GODDAMN HAMBURGER TONIGHT as celebration. I also GOT TO TAKE MY FIRST SHOWER IN A WEEK. The smell of opening that shampoo and smelling the beautiful scented aroma is something I'm not likely to forget.

Now, I've still got my catheter in, which sucks. But that's manageable compared to that awful packing.

I don't really have any phantom limb anything. Maybe because I'm only in my (mid-late) 20's? Or maybe because my old member was literally like 1-2 inches in length? Or some combination? But it did feel, at first, like something was missing there. Which, I mean, makes sense. I also found myself compensating around those areas when I was scrubbing up - gonna take some learning, methinks. Anyway - now, about an hour later, my body feels pretty natural honestly. Don't feel like something's missing anymore. Just kinda feel like normal. I'm pleased with this.


Now that's the good. Onto the bad. There's not much of it though!


Removing the packing felt... Weird. Hurt a little bit in parts, but mostly - boy was it strange. Makes sense, but should be noted so others know what to expect.

Now the dilation.... I had a demonstration after having the packing removed and it HURT. Like nutso. And it felt crazy weird. Now, the nurse says that if I learn to relax, it won't hurt. So that's my current goal for when she shows up tomorrow.

I'm sure I'll improve, but it'll take time and pain to do so. Nurses don't seem too patient haha. But they clearly care.


Overall, of course everyone's mileage will vary, but Chet's amazing and I cannot recommend him highly enough. You just gotta get through a bit of hell in order to start feeling okay again. For me, that moment was clear as day - removing the packing. Idk if other people have had the same situation or not.

[jujubes1986]

Welp. Packing is removed and I seem to have gotten 5.5 inches. Chet initially said like 4.5 after the surgery, so I'm quite pleased.

And BOY does getting the packing removed help my quality of life!

There's so much less pain! In everything I do! I can lie down in any crazy position I want and it doesn't hurt! I was literally moaning and tossing and turning all morning trying to not hurt. And now that's completely gone. I can also now sit down, though that still hurts and feels uncomfortable. Basically, besides that everything feels practically normal, except my now-aching-like-crazy arm. That's aching, but feeling has mostly returned to it at this point. It just hurts - but I'm sure that will go away. Also - I no longer feel like I need to pee, do number two, etc. on a constant basis. That's NICE.

Vagina looks good, has a good depth, and I'm going to ORDER A GODDAMN HAMBURGER TONIGHT as celebration. I also GOT TO TAKE MY FIRST SHOWER IN A WEEK. The smell of opening that shampoo and smelling the beautiful scented aroma is something I'm not likely to forget.

Now, I've still got my catheter in, which sucks. But that's manageable compared to that awful packing.

I don't really have any phantom limb anything. Maybe because I'm only in my (mid-late) 20's? Or maybe because my old member was literally like 1-2 inches in length? Or some combination? But it did feel, at first, like something was missing there. Which, I mean, makes sense. I also found myself compensating around those areas when I was scrubbing up - gonna take some learning, methinks. Anyway - now, about an hour later, my body feels pretty natural honestly. Don't feel like something's missing anymore. Just kinda feel like normal. I'm pleased with this.


Now that's the good. Onto the bad. There's not much of it though!


Removing the packing felt... Weird. Hurt a little bit in parts, but mostly - boy was it strange. Makes sense, but should be noted so others know what to expect.

Now the dilation.... I had a demonstration after having the packing removed and it HURT. Like nutso. And it felt crazy weird. Now, the nurse says that if I learn to relax, it won't hurt. So that's my current goal for when she shows up tomorrow.

I'm sure I'll improve, but it'll take time and pain to do so. Nurses don't seem too patient haha. But they clearly care.


Overall, of course everyone's mileage will vary, but Chet's amazing and I cannot recommend him highly enough. You just gotta get through a bit of hell in order to start feeling okay again. For me, that moment was clear as day - removing the packing. Idk if other people have had the same situation or not.

I love reading your updates

[EmmaD]

Yay, a very good day for you.  So pleased.  I had the catheter in for a week after unpacking.  Bit of a nuisance but it didn't stop me much.  Once I was signed off to start going down for breakfast, I had that thing attached to my waistband, dress on and out the door!

I think part of the relaxing part for dilation is understanding what to expect.  I tried it the day of unwrapping and was on my own after that!  The  next day, Sri was late and rang me to tell me to just go ahead without her!  Anxiety moment, that one! 

You will be fine.  You will get sick of hearing this but it is early days and everything needs a lot more time to heal and all that stuff.  Enjoy the burger and showers and better movement and ...just everything!

[IWentWithChet]

Hamburger was freaking amazing, by the way.


Anyway, the first (real) dilation was today. 15 minutes with the smallest one.

(By the way - I'm glad to see that the nurse they send to do the dilations is the nice one who speaks English really well. This could explain why I was constantly seeing the less fluent ones when I was at the clinic)

After yesterday's absolute disaster of a dilation demonstration, which involved me crying out in pain after like 3 seconds, I was... Worried.

But, I was able to do a lot more of it myself and that helped a lot. Not that the nurse isn't great - she is! But, this is your internal anatomy and she can't see or feel around inside there, so...

Still, it hurt.

Going in, that is. And coming out later (though much, much less).

But, once you're in and you're "to your depth" - it's mostly just uncomfortable. Not really any pain. I'm a lot less worried about doing 2x20 tomorrow. Seems very doable.

Now I'm in the aftermath and it feels weiiiiiiird. Like, I didn't have phantom limb syndrome at all from the penis, but I have crazy phantom limb syndrome from the dilator haha. It still feels like something's in there.

Speaking of which - things going "in there" is still a weird as heck sensation, but I'm slowly getting used to it. But the nurses swab you daily and it feels straaaaaangeweird.

[annquance]

Absolutely love reading your posts. I was out there earlier in the year for ffs and ba. i am booked in for end of march for my srs. So if anybodys out there then would love to see you. The boredom in the hotel is horrible. keep the posts running please x

[IWentWithChet]

OOF. Nurse arrived. Being swabbed still SUCKS. Worst part of my day by far. Not awful, but WEIRD feeling and occasionally painful.

Anyway, first of today's 20-minute dilations done. They remain basically the worst, but I'm starting to 'get' it.

But I had to kind of fight the nurse off when I wasn't making any progress and she wanted to push it in. Since it's YOUR body, only you can really feel your way around without pain, so whenever she offered to help me, I had to be like "NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO LET ME DO IT AHHH.' Not her fault, of course. Maybe most people are okay with it, but my pain tolerance levels have always been reallllllly low, so I've GOTTA do this myself.

Anyway, it's kind of an art. You go in kinda diagonal, then you gotta go almost horizontal at a specific point, then you slowly push in maintaining that horizontal-ness and keeping it in-line to your torso. But you gotta feel around your own body (as the nurse herself kept saying) to not get into massive pain. And it's VERY gradual.

Like, for me, my depth is about 5.3-5.5". Getting in that first 4" is easy peasy. But getting in the rest of the way takes almost double, if not triple (or even quadruple), that of the first 4". This is also where like 95% of the pain comes from.

It really does hurt. Though I think a lot of that is skill related (I'm still low skill - like I said, it's kind of an art). But, once you're to your depth, it's just uncomfortable. The pain is found getting there.

Now, getting out this time was painless, I'm glad to report. The nurse had a lot of good tips for me this time around going in and I used my experience there to 'plot a course' out. Happily, I got out without a single bit of pain.

This makes me hopeful for my second of today's two dilations, which is going to be entirely solo (*GULP*), in 9 hours. I just gotta remember the 'path' to the end of my vagina and traverse it - then I should, very theoretically, be able to do it without pain.

Wish me luck haha. I'll need it.

(For those considering SRS - Dilation is a bit of a 'thing' so please take that into consideration)

[IWentWithChet]

I've now done solo dilation twice. It's not fun, and it kinda hurts, but I've got a method now that doesn't feel like I'm dying.

The rest of this is a bit TMI, but again I want to be as clear as possible so others who find this know what to expect. And to help people who might go through something similar.

However, there's an unfortunate other side - since the doctor basically prevents you from doing number two for a long time, those muscles get, uhh, weaker. As a result, since I've been unable to go since before the surgery, I'm quite backed up. I definitely feel there's a lot in there, and I've felt the need to run to the toilet several times, but no matter what I do, it doesn't want to come out. Been flooding my body with yogurt, oatmeal, fruit, pulpy orange juice, etc.

I wouldn't normally share this, but it DOES genuinely matter for dilation, since you press up against your bowels naturally. The more stuff in there, the more it's going to hurt and the more trouble you will have. Right now, after dilating today, my body feels TERRIBLE down there. Sharp, pointed pains. They're gradually going away, but BOY do they hurt. This is the first time it's hurt this much after the fact. Thankfully, my nurse gave me some laxatives, but they're the ones that didn't do anything before.

I'm really hoping this gets resolved because it genuinely is quite important for comfortable dilation.

[Dena]

Talk to the nurse about the constipation. You should have moved by now and if you haven't there are laxative that will bust the dam. They gave me one and within a few hours everything thing came out. Once you take it, don't leave the room because the one I had tied my insides in knots. In my case, I think I received the laxative about day 4 after surgery and then I received a bulk laxative after that. It was worst for me because I wasn't permitted out of bed until day 6 and the lack walking reduces the urge.

[AnonyMs]

Constipation is a common side effect of painkillers like Tramadol/Tramol and I think antibiotics. I understand its important to fix it because otherwise you won't be able to dilate to depth, and that's bad.