The big day is near. How can I help

[marctravis]

So, my spouse's surgery is next week in Philly with Dr McGinn. I'm filled with equal parts excitement and nervousness. We have to travel for the surgery, about a 4-5 hour flight, which won't be such a big deal on the trip there, but may be a challenge on the way back. Especially since we have a layover and have to change planes on the return. With all this in mind, I do have some questions and I'm hoping that some of the experts on this page can chime in. Also, just any general advice on what I can do to make this a safe and pleasant experience would be appreciated as well.

Hospital. Should I stay in the room with her if it's allowed? What should I have planned for when she wakes up? Will she even remember the first day? Is there anything that would make this part and the stay at the hotel more pleasant?

Pain. How bad is it going to be and for how long? We leave for home about 10 days after the surgery. We'll be using a wheelchair whenever we can find one, especially at the airport. But will the pain be so bad she can't even walk from the car to the hotel room after checking out from the hospital?

Travel. Any advice on what to do at the airport and on the plane ride home? We already have a wheelchair set up from the airline. They will push us from the check-in, through security to the plane. I'm assuming that means they'll also wheel her to our connecting flight. Not sure what happens at our home airport.

At this point, I'm a bit delirious so not sure I'm even making sense. Grateful for any info. Thanks.

[Dena]

The first and possibly the second day she will be out of it more than she will be awake. You can hang around as much as you want but consider getting a good nights sleep as you will need to be able to handle what's needed. I would suggest if you have a hotel room, you should plan on sleeping there and only spend the night in the room if your needed.

They should have her out of bed and walking the second day after surgery so pain isn't that much of a problem. What will be a problem is weakness from the surgery and laying in bed. She will need to walk as much as the doctor permits after she is allowed back on her feet. If she fails to do this, you need to motivate her to get out of bed.

The amount of pain depends on the person. I didn't use any pain medication after surgery and I didn't use a wheel chair. The doctor will give her what she needs in the way of pain medication but most likely she can get by on over the counter stuff if she needs it.

[HappyMoni]

I will miss you by a few weeks. I go to her the end of June.   JennX had a very detailed thread about surgery with Dr. McGinn.    https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,137774.0.html   It was a while ago but it might be of help to you. My PCP told me to get up as much as possible with surgeon permission of course. The concern of blood clots from laying down and being on hormones is something to take serious. Good luck to both of you.
Moni

[marctravis]

Thank y'all for the help. We've been waiting for this moment for so many months and it's finally here. I hope we are able to sleep tonight. Hoping for an uneventful trip and no complications.

[Rachel]

The pain for me was a 3 to 4 the first two days and then went down from there. I stood on Tuesday was walking on Thursday I think.

Make sure to take a pic of the butterfly ceiling lights as it will be something she will be seeing for 4.5 days.

If you are staying at Gaea then you are on the edge of New Hope business district. There are places to eat there like MOO burger, not to far away. By doctor McGinn's office there is a giant and you can buy snacks and such. I stayed at my sisters for a week.

Make sure you have a donut, pads and doggie pee pads.

GCS can be trying on the care giver so I would get your rest. I took a sleeping pill and an oxi on day 3 with the sleeping pill. The dull pain gets old and you are just laying there so to sleep I needed something.

Dr. McGinn, Chrystal, Brianna, Debbie and Lori are awesome and your spouse will be in good hands.

[marctravis]

Thanks Rachel that info is very helpful. We're in the Philly area now getting ready for the big day. I see you had labiaplasty recently. We may want to ask you about that in the future. My spouse is considering it and wants to know about the healing process with that procedure. Thanks again.

[Rachel]

I had to have a two step process. Most of the time the labia can be covered during GCS, hence the one step process. It took 20 minutes in the office and I had skin cover my labia. The only pain was a nerve was hit that was not numb but they numbed it. It is nothing like GCS and I just need 1 month no exercise and two days now water contact to recoup. I have plenty of skin with the exception of where my clit is. It is tight but everything worked out very well.

Papillion does revisions for labia and labia tattooing. I am pretty happy with the labia as it is and my vagina looks really good. I think that chapter closed.

For me, when I had GCS my genital dysphoria vanished and never returned. It was immediate. It felt a bit odd how it positively impacted me. Something I dealt with for so long was gone. Really good outcome.

I know your SO will be in discomfort but she will need to sleep and have alone time. When that happens there are plenty of little shops in New Hope and Lambertville to go through. Also there is a great chocolate store on Main street New Hope by Havana, just do not give any chocolate to your SO. Havana is a good spot to have lunch outside. Also, Lambertville station has some nice outdoor seating buy the canal and RR tracks, nice flowers.  The Raven has really good food and is up the hill on bridge street on the way to Papillion. Most everything is expensive, it is a tourist destination and Central Bucks is flush with professionals.