GCS with McGinn (After so many years waiting)

[EmmaLoo]

Hi Moni,

Congratulations on this life-changing milestone. It might be a slightly rough go for a few months, but you'll get through it like everyone else. The changes you'll see from the week one to week 12 will blow you away. Be patient and don't underestimate them.

[Laurie]

Mom, Laurie's picking on me!

Thanks Terri, you are nice! (Tongue sticking out toward west coast)

Moni

  Hey now, I said the picture looked nice, didn't I?

Sheesh there's no pleasing That WOMAN. 

[KathyLauren]

Moni, you look good in that pic!  Glad to hear that your recovery is going well.

[SadieBlake]

Moni,I know not this stitch you speak of, a mcginn thing, clearly.

By scars, you mean the ones to either side of the mons and labia? I suspect mine will be visible a long time. However there are scar remedies that are really good these days.

Hugs and hugs and hugs! Love the new photo! I'm about 10 minutes from home, tired sore and hungry, the latter is about to be addressed with a bowl of chili :-) a beer (my 5th in 3 months) will help with the soreness. Gonna try to stay awake for game of thrones ... That may not happen.

[coldHeart]

Moni
I just love your new avatar, speedy recovery.
Sara

[Kendra]

Moni, WOW!  Your new avatar photo is amazing. 

And not a trace of Clyde.  Have you named Clyde's little sister yet?  I vote for Bonnie. 

[Rachel]

LOL   

[Kendra]

...and Bonnie (the replacement for Clyde) rhymes with the correct pronunciation for Moni.  Nobody other than Laurie would attempt to pronounce Bonnie the wrong way. 

[HappyMoni]

Thanks Kendra, I will think about it. Thanks for the comments on the picture everyone, my casual slutty look must fit me. Sorry but not much energy today. Spent most of the day in bed not feeling well. Two days in a row, I could use an up day right about now. Maybe its the hormones I seem to cry about the dumbest things.
Moni

[Laurie]

Thanks Kendra, I will think about it. Thanks for the comments on the picture everyone, my casual slutty look must fit me. Sorry but not much energy today. Spent most of the day in bed not feeling well. Two days in a row, I could use an up day right about now. Maybe its the hormones I seem to cry about the dumbest things.
Moni

You best start feeling better. You hear me?
  You don't want to make me have to come out there....

PS Crying over dumb things is ok.

[SadieBlake]

Thanks Kendra, I will think about it. Thanks for the comments on the picture everyone, my casual slutty look must fit me. Sorry but not much energy today. Spent most of the day in bed not feeling well. Two days in a row, I could use an up day right about now. Maybe its the hormones I seem to cry about the dumbest things.
Moni

Aww, I can relate to the return of hormones post op resulting in fragile emotions. Also Wittenberg had warned me to expect a month of post op depression and she was spot on, it wasn't easy and happily it's not forgotten but definitely passed. I used this to simply remember that feeling low was a predictable and temporary response to recovery.

And permit me to go a bit academic, I happened on some recent research the other day, it seems there's a very tight connection between the immune system and depression. This sure squares with my post op experience.

Hugs, sending you wishes for an up day.

[Maybebaby56]

Terri, this is emphatically not what I've said. The immune system is obviously going ape>-bleeped-< after a major surgery, any effect of hormones would be relatively infinitesimal.

I think I was also quite clear in prior posts that I really wouldn't have noticed the presence or absence of estrogen in the first week post op.

Okay, sorry.  I thought you said "there's a very tight connection between the immune system and depression", and Monica was talking about post-op depression. I found it relevant, but apparently I was mistaken. I'll delete my post.

Yes, your previous posts were quite clear, thank you.

~Terri

[HappyMoni]

For the record, I think I am not depressed. I have to pee a lot. It is no longer a neat proposition. I am cleaning up the surgery site a lot. It  gets sore. I have sores on legs from pads  rubbing. A shower and 2 1/2 hours a day dilating, not sleeping because I wake up every couple of hours, hormones going crazy and hot flashes constantly having me steaming or freezing. Given that, I am exhausted I wouldd  guess, not depressed. I push myself to get a little exercise but it starts swelling, rubbing on my sores. After two harder days, I could use a good day with a bit  more energy. I am still happy I had surgery, would not change a thing, and consider myself extremely lucky. In the back of my mind someone might read this thread and might be wondering how  it feels 3 weeks post op. I owe the thread the descriptionn of what it might feel like. I know it looks like I  might  be complaining, but I can't help that. Oh, on top of everything else, you start seeing changes. Some are easy. Bruising disappearing, good news. Other things, color changes for example play on your mind. Is this or thaat a start of an issue to watch out for, that might be a setback. I personnally think back to how bad my FFS turned, and there is some fear that I try to keep leashed. In everything I try to contribute to this site, I ask for others to be positive, take positive steps. I will not give in to negativity. Where are you Laurie, my therapy is giving you a hard time, ya stinker. Well dilation number 4 is done, one more to go. Now, smile, damn it!
PoopedMoni

[SadieBlake]

For the record, I think I am not depressed. I have to pee a lot. It is no longer a neat proposition.
....
PoopedMoni

Oh yeah I didn't mean to suggest you are, the mechanism is about mood and if it runs long enough it can become or feed into depression.

So for me, I have a history really prone to depression and along the way I've had to learn to distinguish simply being sad sometimes due to >-bleeped-< that happens in life and actual depression. -- and I very much needed to utilize that knowledge during recovery to keep faith and keep.my spirits up -- not feed my depressive tendencies.

And there have been ups and downs, better and harder days for 3 months.

Again, hugs, best wishes.

[Jacqueline]

Moni,

I am sorry to tell you but you are human . I think anyone in that situation would be where you are or worse emotionally. I am thrilled to see you keeping your chin up after all that and a lack of sleep.

It will improve and you will rock this.

Warmly,

Jacqui

[SadieBlake]

Moni,

I am sorry to tell you but you are human .

I'm not so sure about this proposition. I'm working on the proof that either Moni or Laurie cannot exist in the same universe as mere humans. Platonic archetype, cyborg, agent Smith, agent Elrond?

Oh and FTR, platonic doesn't describe my feelings for either of them.

[HappyMoni]

I'm not so sure about this proposition. I'm working on the proof that either Moni or Laurie cannot exist in the same universe as mere humans. Platonic archetype, cyborg, agent Smith, agent Elrond?

Oh and FTR, platonic doesn't describe my feelings for either of them.

You left out weirdos. Not feelin the 'sex goddess' thing lately. And human, that's a stretch.

ConfusedMoni

Jacqui, you didn't change your name to be more like Jeanette, I mean Laurie, did u?

[Jacqueline]

Absolutely!

I think it is for similar reasons.

Warmly,

Jacqui

[HappyMoni]

   Today brought more energy. I also heard from the doctor. She wants to see me sooner than scheduled. It is related to the removal of the black skin at the entrance. She will discuss the white areas then. I just gotta figure a way to get there. My partner will be away. Laurie, I need a ride. Not up for driving 7 hours yet.
   Tomorrow I will push it. I am having seven people from work over. Will get pizza to make easy. I figure it will help keep mood up. It will probably tire me out with the heat here. Won't last too long but would like to sit outside a while.
   One more thing of my personal preferences. I am dealing with whatever the surgery will throw my way. I will earn this vagina with my efforts and the luck life has thrown my way. It is my vagina. I will not call her a neo vagina. No no no!
Moni

[Gail20]

As you say, you'll take whatever this surgery throws your way!!! :-)  I guess I understand now why they want me to stay within an hour and a half drive for 3 weeks. . . .