GCS with Dr Wittenberg April 2017, thanks for y'alls help!

[SadieBlake]

My Wednesday 2 week followup appointment with dr Wittenberg went great and my entire day was brightened by a local Susan's member who spotted me a ride from the airbnb to Marin, shared coffee and then dropped me back with friends in mission terrace where I'm staying for the remaining week of recovery.

At the appointment dr Wittenberg noted that yes, there's slightly more than normal swelling (I'd been sitting or standing for 2+ hours at that point with a bit if quality horizontal time on the couch in the brownstein crane waiting room.

The neovagina has essentially healed, including a section at full depth where the pi skin hadn't fully stuck to the wall. I'd been dilating for 30 minute intervals and using the blue dilator when I felt up to it. Now I am ok to just continue with 10 minute sessions (I'm doing 15 because over achiever) and I'm still able to use the blue but not sweating it every time.

I definitely still fatigue quickly. I made a trip across town yesterday (no pain meds this time) and visited with a friend who's doing a bit of a career change, made a stop for maxi pads --- thanks everyone for the tip on Always brand! Then I headed back to where I'm staying with a stop at a local taqueria for lunch. I decided to walk the half mile back to my friends and did regret that a little but also definitely survived.

That left me pretty fatigued and i lay down while Mike fixed dinner, waited for his wife to get in and enjoyed family time with their 3 yo daughter a bit frazzled by her long day at preschool but happy and a tired little bundle of energy.

Then I was again out like a light at 9pm. Woke at 2 am and dilation was fine and easy.

Now I think it's time to sleep again. I'm doing a lot of that still

P.s. second post op estradiol injection yesterday, feels so good to have that back!

And I did indeed take off 12-13 lbs. I'll be glad if most of that stays off, only time of course will tell there.

And I can just fall asleep on my stomach now, no discomfort there

[Michelle_P]

Sadie, it sounds like you are healing very quickly.  That's some major surgery, affecting the body core, with a huge impact on a person.  Strength will return over the next few months, so don't try to be an overacheiver in the next few weeks.  Just let yourself heal up.

Sleep is good, and being able to roll onto your stomach, wonderful.  (I had bladder surgery several years back.  Similar impact to GCS, but a less interesting, if useful outcome.  But 3 weeks with a Foley catheter!  Ow.)

Take care, now!

[SadieBlake]

Ouch, 3 weeks of a Foley would verily suck :-(. Yes I seem to be healing well (forgot to take ibuprofen last night and realized mid morning that's why things were feeling a bit more ouchy / swollen). Anyhow, I'm taking today as a mostly horizontal and see how that compares to the last few which have all included 2-4 hours out and doing some stuff (yesterday was pretty awesome, spent a couple of hours in the shop of a local glass artist and really enjoyed seeing his particular take on technique and design.

This morning I played around with exploring some erotic feelings and it felt good to feel a little bit aroused. Being continually sore down there isn't easy - dr Wittenberg warned me about depression in the month of post-op and so I'm trying to stay engaged in ways that aren't too prone to building fatigue.

[SadieBlake]

I missed a dilation yesterday so gaps of 13, 14 hours between the last two and yet everything went fine. It was a shade tighter getting in but still under a half minute. I did increase the duration back up to 30' to accommodate the longer time between.

I'm a little worried that my labial swelling hasn't much gone down, I'm sure it's all going to be all ok in the long run and it's easier to feel good about the outcome as pain subsides and my energy is slowly increasing.

[SadieBlake]

Feeling a bit more energetic today (and not having forgotten ibuprofen) I'm out for a visit to my favorite SF neighborhood, Hayes Valley where I've just finished a spectacular decaf espresso at blue bottle coffee and about to go pickup some lunch and then scout out some bread and cheese requested by the friend I'm staying with.

I even did some upper body exercise this morning. Still sore "down there" but it's manageable.

[Michelle_P]

It sounds like you are healing up pretty well.  The easy dialation sounds pretty nice, compared to some of the other experiences we read about.  It might get a little harder around 4-6 weeks out as scar tissue tries to form.  Soft tissue tightens a bit as the collagen fibers form and tighten, but the dilation combats that like massaging other areas might.

It's great to hear that you are getting out into the neighborhoods and exploring a bit.  Blue Bottle is just the best. They've turned brewing a pour-over into a whole ritual, which I find sort of amusing to watch.  (They're as bad as I am about brewing coffee just right!  My kind of OCD...). The varietal coffees they have are always interesting, and I really enjoy seeing how the flavors can vary.

Just don't overdo it on the exercise!  Heal up, Sadie. 

[Jacqueline]

Sadie,

I am sorry I have been so busy lately, I missed most of your surgery and recovery. Work just nailed me for 2 weeks or more. I just caught up.

Sounds like you are in great shape. Good to hear. Thanks for sharing and keep up the recovery.

Warmly,

Joanna

[SadieBlake]

Thanks Joanna and no worries, we all understand busy.

Yes things are well, the last couple days I've been quite a bit more sore down there and takes to a nurse at brownstein Crane who said yes, it's from some nerves making new connections and probably after effects of a more active Sunday.

Really appreciate everyone's support.

[SadieBlake]

Whew, back to the blue dilator this morning after a couple of days of only purple and only 2 dilations yesterday. Took a little longer to get it in but still less than a minute so I'll certainly not be complaining. I fly home this afternoon so this is the last travel ordeal before being reunited with my partner and my cats - who will doubtless be punishing me for having been away so long.

My last post op appointment went great yesterday, I still love Dr Wittenberg! She did a fairly thorough cleanup of protein/wbc accumulation around the labia and along the suture lines. Ouchy but feeling better today.

I've bought extra thin pads for the flight as sitting on the thickness of a full pad has been an annoyance and I'm stuck on the flight for 5.5 hours.

Wish me luck friends, last big pull for this trip.

[Jacqueline]

Sadie,

Good luck!

I hope the waiting, boarding and flight goes easily. I get the impression that is the hardest part for some girls. A positive outlook always helps so keep a smile going if you can.

Take care of yourself and I hope the arrival home is not too fraught with cat rage.

Warmly,

Joanna

[mm]

Have a good flight home. Do check that your mini pad stays in place and doesn't get too soaked before you change.

[SadieBlake]

Thanks Joanna, mm! I've done everything I can to smooth the way, will board early etc.

And I've got plenty of underwear including 2 pr of the mesh panties provided by the hospital in hand so I anticipate even if there are some leaks -- there will be, I test drove the thin ones yesterday I'm pretty well prepared and won't be afraid of popping one of my breakthrough pain oxycodones if necessary.

[Michelle_P]

Sadie, have a safe flight home!  Don't forget your donut.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to San Francisco and Marin.  It's a good place to be for recovering from surgery.  Heal well, and I hope you find great success with your amazing glasswork talent!

[Barb99]

Sadie, have a great flight home! Say hi to the kitties, they'll only punish you for a little while.

[HappyMoni]

Sadie,
   Thinking about you. Hope there is no turbulence. I am wondering what's  worse a 5 1/2 flight or a 3 hour car ride. Guess we will be able to swap stories soon.
   I find myself  also wondering if you are singing "I left my _____ in San Francisco". Could be a new twist to an old song.lol
Moni

[SadieBlake]

Home, arrived around 1am, cats are all around and I'm just glad to be here. I'm getting in the last dilation of the day and aside from a little hot it's so very good to be home.

The first half of the flight was actually worse than the second half, I was tolerably comfortable for the last 2 hours.

I'm a little concerned that my dilators all got some scuff marks worn in from vibration in the flight cargo area.

As ever, thanks everyone for your amazing support.

[SadieBlake]

Omg, just being home is so nice. It's a bit overly hot in Cambridge and I'm fine with that.

My friends were amazing to put me up but it's difficult feeling you're imposing and their precocious toddler and 2 month old puppy are a hell of a handful to deal with while just trying to wade through the steps of daily recovery.

Labia swelling is coming down (yay!) And things are still painful but the flight home wasn't as traumatic as I'd expected. I'm taking today slowly as recovery from the day of traveling and that feels just fine.

So one day at a time, it's all feeling much better now

[Dena]

I'm a little concerned that my dilators all got some scuff marks worn in from vibration in the flight cargo area.

There are several ways to shine plastic including a cloth buffing wheel with jewelers rouge but you might be able to use auto rubbing compound to remove the worst of it.

[SadieBlake]

As I noted in another post, pain is up a bit, mostly the suture lines. I think this is because per the surgeon's request I'm caring for those areas more aggressively (hydrogen peroxide and keeping dressing to absorb exudate). Needless to say I'd really like things to move along, still on balance I feel better today and went into my office to pickup a check from a sale that happens while I was away and say high to people.

Michelle P, you were right about things tightening up some wrt dilation. It's now taking a bit more work to get both the purple and blue ss dilators to full depth. On the other hand dilation itself isn't meaningfully more painful than it was last week so I think all is good. I'm not, however risking any missed dilation times and focused on doing them on even intervals.

All other things have been great, my trans bff was over to visit and we have had both a brunch and a dinner with my older daughter, so pretty good days.

[SadieBlake]

Nearly 5 weeks post op, I am going to have a go at some work this week.

Ok, there's been some improvements; swelling is definitely down - not gone but reduced substantially. Pain has also moderated and I seem to be ok on 3 doses of ibuprofen in a day rather than 4-5. Discharge is only slightly reduced but again, the trend is positive.

My daughter has also been by a fair amount before heading back to school and then her new job. It's been great to connect and I was glad to talk with her in some more depth about transition than we've done so far.