Mariah's GRS with Dr. Meltzer 10/27/16 and Post surgical journey.

[jujubes1986]

I'm not sure. I have been using thee dilators since November 16 when I started using number 2. They have us keep using 1 at the same time to ensure your getting the full depth. Hugs
Mariah

seems like you are getting g the hang of it


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[Mariah]

mm Thank you.

good for you, Mariah, you are making nice progress.

[Mariah]

So I missed my last dilation last night and only got two in as a result yesterday. I compensated this morning knowing it would be tight by using 1 before using 2 this morning. It was a little tight on 2 but I wanted to make sure everything was alright by not having near enough dilations in yesterday. All went well and we move forward. Otherwise some bleeding is still occurring but very light and on the most part any discomfort is far less than it was a couple weeks ago so all in all everything is going well. Hugs
Mariah

[stephaniec]

good to know

[Lyndsey]

I know, I'm so not good at waiting and yes it's 70 days away at this point, but I couldn't resist.

I have been itching to start this thread for a little while now and I guess I won't make myself wait any longer to do it. I have one last doctor's appointment and that is my yearly appointment with the Endo. Yet, all the gatekeeper hoops and related appointments are past me now. It's hard to believe it took over 2 years to clear all of those hoops including the health related ones that I recently had to clear which were the reasons the case manager with the transgender services program with the insurance thought would never happen. In the process, I proved that not only would I be able to get SRS, which I so dearly need, but also improve my overall health in the process.

I have a little over two months and and week tell my SRS or 70 days to be exact and basically taken care of all the preparations I can now that I can do before arriving in the Phoenix area. I'm leaving for the Phoenix area 65 days from now. I will use this thread as a sort of blog that I will post in sharing all my experiences related to my SRS procedure that I know will help others along their journeys too. As it gets closer, I will update this thread much more often maybe and hopefully daily eventually.  The schedule at this point is like this. Here we go!
9/29 last HRT injection before SRS
10/22 I leave for and arrive in Phoenix
10/23 going to something with a good close friend
10/24 Any last minute things I may need for my time in Phoenix that I didn't already have but needed to get.
10/25 likely just a down day to prepare for my surgery 10/27 with DR. Meltzer
10/26 pre op appointment, liquid diet and the bowel prep.
10/27 I check in the hospital at 11am (all tests, if needed, that they want to run will be done at this point EKG, Blood, urine, Chest X-ray) for an 1pm surgery
10/28 bed rest
10/29-11-4 various things will occur over these days
11/5 I check out of the recovery center in the afternoon
11/6-18 I spend a good amount of time resting, dilating along with a little time doing a few activities.
11/19 I leave Phoenix and arrive home.

To my Dearest Friend and sister

I'm so proud to be part of your life as we have became so close. You are a dear friend and I can't begin to tell you how happy I am and with your upcoming completely new live with your Partner in life. I will an as you know be here for you and your sister. Love You Sweetie.

Hug's
Lyndsey Marie Burke LS/PHD/PWS

[Mariah]

It's safe to say that I won't be starting number 3 on Wednesday like the schedule calls for but then it says it could be 2 or 3 weeks from the previous level so I'm inclined to possibly start using 3T though and start getting some expansion up front which will make 3 easier when the time comes. We will see what happens but all is going well with number and probably very close to shedding 2T anyways which might be the sign that it really is time for 3. I guess we will see. Hugs
Mariah

[Inarasarah]

Mariah,

I know I said it on the other thread, congratz.  

I never found dilating all that much fun...still don't.  but my advice is keep doing it and do your very best to stick to that schedule up front, because it is a lot harder to go up in size the longer it has been since SRS.  At least that has been my experience.  Once you can start going a few days without, really try to stick to a schedule.  Age just tightens everything up, once again I speak from experience.  <3

-Sarah

[Mariah]

Schedule mentions 2 or 3 weeks which is why it is that way. Pretty sure though that at least partially I will hit dilator number 3 2 weeks out from starting dilator number 2. That two week point is this Wednesday so we will see. Thank you for that advice, yeah I have been pretty good at sticking to the schedule as best I can and have stuck pretty closely to it other than having to adjust to three dilations instead of four do to my schedule. It just couldn't be helped. Body seems to be responding fine to that change though. I figured as much though that is why I have tried to stick very closely tot hat schedule because of how hard it can be if you don't. Thank you again. Hugs
Mariah

Mariah,

I know I said it on the other thread, congratz.  

I never found dilating all that much fun...still don't.  but my advice is keep doing it and do your very best to stick to that schedule up front, because it is a lot harder to go up in size the longer it has been since SRS.  At least that has been my experience.  Once you can start going a few days without, really try to stick to a schedule.  Age just tightens everything up, once again I speak from experience.  <3

-Sarah

[Mariah]

Dilating with 2 is going so well that I will be able to tackle 3T and 3 tomorrow too. So everything is still on the faster window which is fantastic. It won't be long and 4 won't seem so big. Hugs
Mariah

[Mariah]

Today is my appointment with my primary care doctor to check on how I am doing since my SRS. Guess we will find what she thinks of how I am doing. Hugs
Mariah 


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[Rachel]

Good Luck.

[Mariah]

Have started using 3T but have yet to use 3 yet. Depending on how things go tonight I may use it tomorrow or the next day. All is going well though. It was a bit of a long night last night. I was bit sore and just couldn't find any comfortable position. I got up and wiped myself after going pee and well there was blood. The blood wasn't from peeing but from the pee hitting down farther and causing spots that were blood was but wasn't actively bleeding from the spots that are heeling still. Was able to sleep though really well. Hugs
Mariah

[Mariah]

Attempted 3 last night and it just didn't open wide enough for it go in. I'm probably going to try it again tonight now that 3T is going in a bit further I think that I maybe able start using 3 which will help allow 3T in even further. I'm still making progress, just that it is slow progress. Hugs
Mariah

[Beth Andrea]

Patience, don't rush things! 

[Mariah]

True which is why I'm working it gradually despite yesterday being the day by schedule it was supposed to occur. Your right though patience is important at this point Hugs
Mariah

Patience, don't rush things! 

[Rachel]

Mariah, I had a question about advancing in size. I think Monday when I see my doctor she will want me to split my dilations 15 minutes with #1 and 15 minutes #2.

My question is when I use the #2 dilator how do you know it is too big to go in verses push harder? Is there a maximum force I should use? Is it painful to go up in size and is that the limiting factor? I do not want to damage my graph.

A second question. When I am dilating with the #1 dilator and it is in all the way and I am pushing with about 4 pounds of force there is a very little discomfort. How do I know I am pushing hard enough?

Thanks

[Mariah]

When I started I probably didn't use as much force as I should have, but having said that you have push hard enough to get past the muscle up front. After that you go in slow and easy. If it starts to hurt to much, you stop maybe wait a few then if that subsides you can continue trying to go in deeper tell either it hurts much or you reach the back. I think so at first it is painful to go up a size. I'm  finding that even with the Tapered one I'm using it is but it is getting less so over time and as such going back further

Once you reach your depth and you didn't get stuck further up front because it wasn't ready to go all the way back don't use any more pressure than needed to maintain that depth, but if it hurts to much to reach that depth don't push it.

As long as you reach the full depth and can maintain that without having to keep adjusting it and it isn't causing any additional discomfort than great. Long as you feel the back your good. Hugs
Mariah

Mariah, I had a question about advancing in size. I think Monday when I see my doctor she will want me to split my dilations 15 minutes with #1 and 15 minutes #2.

My question is when I use the #2 dilator how do you know it is too big to go in verses push harder? Is there a maximum force I should use? Is it painful to go up in size and is that the limiting factor? I do not want to damage my graph.

A second question. When I am dilating with the #1 dilator and it is in all the way and I am pushing with about 4 pounds of force there is a very little discomfort. How do I know I am pushing hard enough?

Thanks

[Dena]

A simple way to think about it is use #1 to establish depth and #2 in order to gain width. When you use #1, you may feel a little discomfort but if you feel pain, you are pushing to hard. When you step up to #2 you are going for the same discomfort BUT at first the dilator may not want to go all the way in. If it doesn't just hold a a constant pressure about the same as you use with #1. Over several dilation periods, you will gain depth with #2. Don't discontinue using #1 until you feel you are reaching full depth with #2. Remember that you are working to prevent the formation of scar tissue and to do that, you need to work the tissue by stretching it.

When you are fully healed and working with the largest dilator, the discomfort will go away even when you are pressing reasonably hard. The doctors should have told you the depth to expect with #1 so that should tell you the feeling to expect when you are all the way in. That is the feeling to expect with any dilator when you are at maximum depth.

[Rachel]

Thank you Mariah and Dena.

[Mariah]

Going to stick with 3 dilations even though today was supposed to be the day to decrease the number. It's clear a bit longer to help allow 3 to go in is best at this point. I'm getting close and may even try three again this next time based on how 3T is going in now. Hugs
Mariah