Thank you for the warnings Stephanie but that feeling of family is one of the strongest take aways that I have received from Susan's, something that I treasure......golly, now you have made me emotional and a bit teary eyed.
This morning I had my final visit with Dr. Ley before heading home. Tomorrow morning we head off to Santa Fe and then back home on Saturday, eighteen days after leaving home (it sure seems longer, perhaps a lifetime ago) Yesterday was the two week mark since surgery so I thought that I would give a mid-course summary of where I am in this phase of the "Amazing Journey".
- Two weeks ago I had a partial vaginoplasty performed by Dr. Ley of Dr. Meltzer's office. My partner and I chose partial for simplicity, lower risk, lower maintenance, age and low expectations of use of a full vaginal canal.
- At this point I have to tell you that I absolutely love not dilating. There may come a point where I regret this choice but for now, that point is not even on the horizon.
- I have been very pleased with Dr. Meltzer and Dr. Ley's organization and the choice of Dr. Ley as my surgeon. I have been pleased in every way and can think of no dissatisfied instances, two thumbs up for her services!
- My healing to date, while glacially slow has been without complication. Yes, I am sore and wish that I was whole and fit but I have never had good patience for required healing time. I am constantly being told, "you just had major surgery, slow down and let time do its job" but I don't listen well.
- At some point in the past month or two I foolishly thought that I could get through this experience on my own. I now know that it would have been foolish for me to try it (absolutely no disrespect for those that have done this solo, actually total respect for their determination and strength). I want to thank my partner for putting up with all my crying. I also want to include a huge thank you for Dena for stepping in and helping us so much when we needed it. Thank you Dena!
- I fully believe that the two months of fitness training at the gym with a trainer was significantly beneficial in the ease of my recovery. If you can work this in, I highly recommend it.
- There have been postings on this site that query, "When is transition complete?". While I am still early in my recovery phase of GCS, I in no way sense a completeness, a definite milestone but not completion of becoming me. My next step is documentation changes but the biggest part of all of this for me is to figure out and integrate into what being "me" is all about and I hope to spend the next twenty or thirty years figuring that part out.
I plan to continue posting about my recovery and stepping back into whatever "Normal" life is like. I also realize that my journey of pursuing partial GCS at nearly 70 years of age is not the common path (if there ever was such a thing) that most women on this site take. Please feel free to ask any questions that may arise, either through this thread or via pm's.
Many thanks and hugs to my sisters and brothers here at Susan's,
Tia Anne
