My SRS with Dr. Rumer

[Barb99]

I received my pre-surgery info package and had my pre-surgery exam with Doctor Rumer's Clinical Director via Skype on Friday 10/14/16

A little background on myself so others can determine if this may be relevant to yourselves or not.
I will be 61 years old as of my surgery date of November 29. I'm 5'7", 130lbs and in good health.
I had a major surgery about 6 years ago (not gender related) and recovered very well.

The information packet contained several forms that I need to complete and return to Doctor Rumer. There are also forms that my primary doctor will have to complete.
There are some forms that I need to complete and return to the hospital.

Complete pre-op instructions are included along with the agreement and information about her recovery care program. (I will be staying at Dr. Rumer's recovery center above her office after surgery.)

I will need to stop all hormones 4 weeks prior to and until 2 weeks after surgery.
I need to complete a pre-surgery physical exam with my primary care doctor. My doctor says this is more than a standard annual physical exam, I had to schedule a longer appointment.
I will need an EKG and complete blood work.
Since I had a major surgery a few years ago I will need a clearance letter from my pulmonary doctor. (I had lung surgery)

All of the exams and tests need to be completed less than 4 weeks before surgery and the results in Dr. Rumor's hands no less than 2 weeks before surgery.
Doctor Rumer's office will be sending prescriptions for all of the drugs I will need and orders for all of the tests. I should receive these in the mail in the coming week.
I will need to pay all of Dr. Rumer's fees 3 weeks prior to surgery.

It's getting closer, but it still feels like it is taking for ever for this to happen. I'll keep posting updates.

[EmilyMK03]

That's a lot to do before the surgery!  But I'm very excited for you Charley Ann!  Thank you for sharing your experience thus far, and I look forward to reading this thread as you update it.

BTW, we should get together again sometime for lunch or something before you leave!    (I'll send you an email, hehe)

[Maybebaby56]

Yes, Charley Ann, please do post updates!  I have a consultation with Dr. Rumer next April, so I will be very interested to hear about your experience, especially recovery. 

With kindness,

Terri

PS - I hope you get to do lunch with Emily.  I didn't get a chance to see her when I was in Chicago, but she is a real sweetheart

[Miss Clara]

OMG!  I lived in Crystal Lake, IL for 25 years!  Good luck on all your medical screening and preparations for surgery, Charley.

[Rachel]

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Barb99]

Thanks everyone!

Hi Terri, I saw your FFS thread, WOW that was a tremendous amount of work to get done all at once! Yes, Emily is a sweetheart, we've meet a couple of times, looking forward to seeing her again.

[mac1]

Lot of tests and a very tight schedule for completion and notification.

[Barb99]

Last week I received all of my scripts from Doctor Rumer's office. This included:
Prescriptions for: Flagyl, Neomycin, Bactrim and Percocet.

Scripts for testing included:
An EKG, basic metabolic panel, complete blood count, urinalysis, a coagulation study and a Nasal Swab.
She also sent a script ordering a pulmonary clearance letter. My pulmonary doctor has ordered a Pulmonary Function Test and a CT chest scan that he says he needs in order to write the letter.

I have everything scheduled for next week and the week after so everything is looking good so far!

[Maybebaby56]

Good Luck, sweetie! I hope you do well. Let us know how things go when you are able.

Blessings to you,

Terri

[Mohini]

Hi Charley,

Can you please explain why Dr. Rumer considers her procedure a one-stage modified penile inversion vaginoplasty?  What is different about this method versus the "usual" penile inversion method?

[Barb99]

I never asked her why she considers her method "modified" so I'm not completely sure about this but I don't believe the modified method is unique to her. I think the modified part goes back many years to the techniques used by Dr. Bowers.

[Barb99]

I completed all of my tests last week and just now heard from doctor Rumer's office that they have received everything. All of the test results look good and I am ready to go!

I have filled all of the prescriptions that doctor Rumer sent me and completed shopping for all the supplies I will need during recovery.

Hard to believe the time is almost here. In 11 days I leave for Philly! I will be taking my laptop with me so I will try to make daily posts about how recovery is going. I'm so excited!! this is going to be a long 10 day wait.

[Barb99]

Saturday started my 10 day countdown to surgery. Included in the package Dr. Rumer sent me was a 3 page list of meds, foods and other things I can't have starting 10 days before surgery.
Most I don't really care about, but I was surprised to find tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, grapes and wine on the list. I'm missing these already!

Also on the list is aspirin and ibuprofen. Went out with some friends yesterday to watch football and since I can't have wine I went back to my old drink of choice, scotch. It's been over a year since I've had scotch and apparently it doesn't like me anymore seeing as it gave me a throbbing headache. Was really wishing I could have aspirin!

8 days until SRS!

[I Am Jess]

Good luck girl!  Such an exciting time.

[Barb99]

Started my Arnica Protocol today. This is "Arnica Montana 30x" it is a small white pill you can get at health food stores.
Dr. Rumer's instructions are to take 4 pills 4 times a day for the next 10 days. This is to reduce bruising, swelling and pain after surgery.

Had to have all of my no chip gel nails removed yesterday  . I feel naked without them!
I've been off of the hormones for 3 weeks now and am starting to feel the effects of no estrogen. I just yelled at a paper cup that bounced out of the recycle bin. Can't wait to get back on the E!!!!!!

I leave for Philadelphia tomorrow, only 3 days until surgery!

[Rachel]

I am excited for you. Good luck.

If you are still allowed to eat then enjoy those last few meals.

[HappyMoni]

Good Luck Charley Ann!  That Arnica really works well. Which hospital do you go to for your GCS?
Moni

[Barb99]

Dr. Rumer has just recently switched hospitals. I will be one of the first at Hahnemann University Hospital.

[Barb99]

I'm now checked into my room at Dr. Rumer's office. I flew out of Chicago yesterday afternoon and stayed at a nearby hotel last night.

I checked in here at noon today. I saw Dr. Rumer for a quick exam and then was shown to my room where I started the prep for surgery. The prep involves cleaning out my system and taking some anti-biotics at 1, 2 and 10pm. The last parts of the prep will be shaving my pubic area sometime tonight and then an enema at 4am tomorrow.

As of midnight today I have been on a clear liquid diet. I had black coffee and water for breakfast, apple juice and chicken broth for lunch and will repeat that for dinner. After midnight tonight I can't eat or drink anything.
The hospital will call me sometime this afternoon and tell me what time I need to check into the hospital tomorrow. As soon as I hear from the hospital I need to contact Dr. Rumer's office so they can arrange Uber transportation for me.

There is another girl here that checked in at the same time as I did. We are both going in for SRS tomorrow.

My room here is very nice. There is a bed, a Futon, HD TV, small microwave and a small fridge with a freezer section. The office is located in a very nice area of Ardmore. There are many restaurants and plenty of shopping close by.

I packed a lot of things. My bag was 47lbs. plus I have a large purse and a backpack with my laptop, files and meds.
This is what I unpacked. Hopefully I will use all of this because I sure don't want to lug it all back home.

6 pack of 8oz bottles of apple juice.
24oz bottle of chicken broth.
2, 10oz bottles of Magnesium Citrate.
4 packages of crystal light water flavoring. (For after surgery, as I drink mostly water.)
1 roll of paper towels.
1 package of bed pads.
1 package of depends adult diapers.
1 package of panty liners.
2 packages of feminine wipes.
Small travel bottles of shampoo, conditioner and moisturizer.
Small bottle of anti-bacterial soap.
1 bar of soap.
Razor and shave butter.
Large soft very warm bath robe
5 pajama tops and bottoms
Slippers
Extra pillow
Donut cushion.
2 tops, 1 skirt and 1 pair of leggings.

Hard to believe all of this added up to 47 lbs, but my bag (large 32" spinner) was stuffed.
I'm only taking my phone and Kindle to the hospital so my next update won't be until I'm back at the recovery center, which should be Thursday Dec. 1.

The hospital just called. I need to check in at 11am. They have made arrangements to have me picked up at 10:15am! The other girl that is here is going in at 6am.

[AutumnLeaves]

Good luck, and keep us posted as you are able!