Chapter 2: In Which Michelle_P lives her life post transition

[Jessica]

@Michelle_P

The surgery was scheduled for late March. I got a phone call yesterday afternoon though. Surgery is now February 26.

Wow Michelle...excited much! 

At least the date isn't getting farther away!

I'm busy getting ready.  I have help coming.

The honey badgers will keep the help in line!

Hugs and smiles, Jess

[Michelle_P]

I had a surprise waiting for me when I got home to grab some dinner before evening meetings!



Yes, @Laurie , I will be your valentine!



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[LizK]

I had a surprise waiting for me when I got home to grab some dinner before evening meetings!



Yes, @Laurie , I will be your valentine!



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Awwwwwh [emoji8][emoji8]


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[Jessica_Rose]

The surgery was scheduled for late March. I got a phone call yesterday afternoon though. Surgery is now February 26.

*PANIC*
I'm busy getting ready.  I have help coming. [emoji177][emoji3590][emoji177][emoji178]

Sounds a bit like my GCS date be bumped from 65 days away to 22 days away! It is awesome when a date suddenly becomes much closer, but it does put one into panic mode trying to get everything ready in time, including getting mentally prepared! Hope your pre-op went well.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[Donica]

I had a surprise waiting for me when I got home to grab some dinner before evening meetings!



Yes, @Laurie , I will be your valentine!



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That is so sweet! Happy Valentines day you two!

[Michelle_P]

I had my pre-op consult for a revision to my Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS) and breast augmentation (BA) week after next.

On the GCS revision, the plan is to fuse the very top of the labia majora to construct a clitoral hood, produce a pair of folds within the labia majora so as to reconstruct the labia minora, and at the posterior end the fourchette or labial frenulum, a fold of tissue joining the labia, will be lowered to be level with the introitus or vaginal entry.  (This will make dilation much easier.)

I'll be off dilation for 3-4 days after surgery, and may have to restart using a narrower dilator at first.  Not a big deal.

I will be using that donut pillow again for a while, though.

For the BA, I'll be getting 275-300cc implants.  These will be circular smooth-surface lightly cohesive with medium profile.  (Other profiles may be flat to extended or conical).  With my particular anatomy and pectoral muscle form, I will probably have the most natural appearance and improved aureole placement with an over-muscle implant, with incision in the new breast fold.

I'll be on restricted activity for a month, and won't be able to lift my arms above shoulder height for a while.  I'll have to shuffle the kitchen around quite a bit!

Here's what the 'test drive' for this size implant gives me...




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[Jessica]

Very nice Michelle! 
I'm confident that Laurie will be able to take care of you during your recovery.....but if she needs help, I'm only 26 miles away.  Shopping for food, two person lifts, if she needs a nap, etc.  I can be there for you.

Hugs and smiles, Jess

[Michelle_P]

Very nice Michelle! 
I'm confident that Laurie will be able to take care of you during your recovery.....but if she needs help, I'm only 26 miles away.  Shopping for food, two person lifts, if she needs a nap, etc.  I can be there for you.

Hugs and smiles, Jess

Thank you, Jessica.  I feel very fortunate to have such good friends.

[LizK]

Looks great Michelle and I hope the surgery turns out exactly as it needs too. I am sure the BA will give you the added boost.

Take care

Liz


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[Michelle_P]

OK, Estradiol stopped for a few days now.  No NSAIDS, ibuprofen, naproxen, no herbals, no supplements...  And they want me to cut back on COFFEE!

AIEEEE!!!!!


At least there is breakfast...

[Jessica]

OK, Estradiol stopped for a few days now.  No NSAIDS, ibuprofen, naproxen, no herbals, no supplements...  And they want me to cut back on COFFEE!

AIEEEE!!!!!

Big oof there!

[Anne Blake]

Michelle, I know that this surgery is important to you but, cut back on coffee!!!! Now is the surgery that important?

Love you girlfriend and good luck with your procedures,
Tia Anne & Debi

[Michelle_P]

Michelle, I know that this surgery is important to you but, cut back on coffee!!!! Now is the surgery that important?

Love you girlfriend and good luck with your procedures,
Tia Anne & Debi

I know!  Tough choices I have to make.

Espresso doesn't count as coffee, right?   

[LizK]

I know!  Tough choices I have to make.

Espresso doesn't count as coffee, right?   

Isn't it a seperate food group like vege or meat? [emoji23][emoji23]


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[davina61]

That looks like my Sunday breky and a large coffee for me please , Give Laurie a hug from me when you see her and don't work her to hard!!!

[Donica]

Good luck with your revision Michelle. I would not like to have to cut back on coffee myself. You are looking very pretty these days.

Hugs.

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[Michelle_P]

I figured out why I have been feeling so 'off' yesterday and this morning.  I stopped estradiol on Thursday per surgeon's orders.  The hot flashes all night were a clue...

So... Breakfast started with coffee and Tylenol.  I then made my banana pancakes.  A banana, two tablespoons of rolled oats, one egg, 1/4 tsp baking powder in the blender. Blend, pour cakes into hot pan...


Better now, knowing that the lousy feeling is just Estradiol withdrawal/PMS.  Now, I've said it before, but it really is remarkable that ciswomen go through this quite regularly, yet they do not leave a trail of dead males behind them. 


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[Donica]

Yummy pancakes Michelle. Yes, I'm not looking forward to stopping E before my surgeries. I just saw first hand from my friend @AvaNovum the results. Hot flashes, night sweats and the whole just feeling crappy thing. Hang in there. You know how this goes.

Hugs.

[Northern Star Girl]

@Michelle_P
Dear Michelle:
Your start of your day was similar to mine...  I fell on the slippery sidewalk leaving my office yesterday when locking up and my hip and leg are all bruised and were hurting all night so this morning my first thing was to down 4-Ibuprofen and several cups of strong coffee... and an my regular every morning V8. 

Your terrific looking and desirable and tasty Pancakes would have be a nice addition but I ended up getting my breakfast at the coffee shop when I arrived at work...  a BearClaw pastry and more strong coffee...   Breakfast of champions!!! LOL 

Thank you for making my mouth water by viewing your Pancake picture!!! 
I will have to try out your recipe that you so nicely included in your posting.

Wishing you well with your next procedure coming up...
Hugs and more hugs,
Danielle

I figured out why I have been feeling so 'off' yesterday and this morning.  I stopped estradiol on Thursday per surgeon's orders.  The hot flashes all night were a clue...

So... Breakfast started with coffee and Tylenol. I then made my banana pancakes.  A banana, two tablespoons of rolled oats, one egg, 1/4 tsp baking powder in the blender. Blend, pour cakes into hot pan...


Better now, knowing that the lousy feeling is just Estradiol withdrawal/PMS.  Now, I've said it before, but it really is remarkable that ciswomen go through this quite regularly, yet they do not leave a trail of dead males behind them. 


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[Michelle_P]

I went into my bank to get a legal document notarized.  This is a service they offer for account holders at no charge, and I have used it before.  The notary and I ducked into a side office to conduct the legal ritual, with my ID, thumbprint, and signature.

The notary area had the usual "known to me as" language...

...and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity, and that by his/her/their signature ...

Rather progressive on the part of the lawyers!   The notary had to strike the inappropriate pronouns as part of the execution.  They rather sheepishly looked at me and said "Pardon me, no disrespect intended, but I have to ask which pronouns are right..."

OK.  Exactly the right thing to do here, and I reassured them of that.  We got on with the process and wrapped things up.

It still gave me a little twinge, as I am not at all sure that the notary would have asked this of another person.   I'm pretty sure I have been clocked and known as trans at this branch, where they have known me since early in my transition. 

Just another one of the speed bumps in life, I suppose.