Post-op departure

[Valentina]

I've noticed that a lot of the post-op girls have left Susan's & the few that remain don't post anymore.  Normal (Yeah I know..that word again ) life is so addictive, so it isn't that difficult to comprehend why they/we leave.  I've been seriously considering leaving too because I feel that there's nothing for me here anymore .  Do you feel the same way or is it just me?

[rejennyrated]

Well as someone who lived most of my postop life before places like susans were even a glimmer in someones eyes I have to say that I don't feel  the same. I'm also pretty active but I joined as a postop too!

Admittedly I find it faintly amusing to watch some of the same old topics coming around again and again but I enjoy being able to share a bit of my experience, hopefully be supportive, and a little provoccative at the same time. It also helps me to feel better and have a purpose at a time when my writing career is taking a very LONG time to get properly started.

Some of us have to stick around otherwise the younger generation are doomed to repeat all the same mistakes that we did. Girls like Sarah B. and Northern Jane presumably come here for similr reasons.

But ultimately you must follow your heart whereever it may lead you.

[Jessica.C]

Well as someone who lived most of my postop life before places like susans were even a glimmer in someones eyes I have to say that I don't feel  the same. I'm also pretty active but I joined as a postop too!

Admittedly I find it faintly amusing to watch some of the same old topics coming around again and again but I enjoy being able to share a bit of my experience, hopefully be supportive, and a little provoccative at the same time. It also helps me to feel better and have a purpose at a time when my writing career is taking a very LONG time to get properly started.

Some of us have to stick around otherwise the younger generation are doomed to repeat all the same mistakes that we did. Girls like Sarah B. and Northern Jane presumably come here for similr reasons.

But ultimately you must follow your heart whereever it may lead you.

From  someone who's has yet to cross that bridge, I thank all who have stuck around to share your experiences. They have helped me tremendously!!

[V M]

Everyone is different

Some post ops up and leave like they are flushing a toilet. Others at least say goodbye

But some remember that the people here are people

Some are friends, acquaintances or people yet to know... But all are human beings (As far as I know)

Human beings that will remember you good or bad, funny or not, Helpful or not, a friend or not

Flesh and blood that goes far beyond the computer screen

[LordKAT]

And some of us are aliens or aliums if you watch rug rats.

[FairyGirl]

And some of us are aliens or aliums if you watch rug rats.

and some of us are fairies

I agree with Jessica that I'm thankful for those who have remained to share their post-op experiences. There are some who have gone whom I quite miss. But I completely understand moving on with our lives after the transition phase is over, and absolutely can't fault anyone for that.

[K8]

I think I understand both staying and leaving.  I am very thankful to those who have been here for me as I struggled through transition and now surgery. 

As for what the future will bring, I'm not sure what I will do.  I'm struggling now to get my life back on an even keel, to be normal (for me) and to do the things I have found fulfilling.  Being here on Susan's has been part of my life for over a year now, and I don't see that changing, although I expect my interests to be a little different.  I used to hang out on the cross-dressing threads but haven't for quite a while because my issues aren't those.  In the same way, I would expect the areas of the forum in which I participate to shift with my shifting life.

We go through phases in our lives.  This forum has become very important to me - the forum and the people here helped me immeasurably - but I expect my participation to ebb and flow as different parts of my life also ebb and flow.

- Kate

[Northern Jane]

I am in the same boat as Jenny. With SRS in 1974, I did what everybody else did back then - "woodworked". It wasn't until 30 years later that I ventured into the on-line world to see what was happening.

I consider myself the "resident historian" - like Great Grandma, regaling ya'll with stories of "the old days" LOL!

[missyzanta]

I think it depends on your personality.  Some people are pioneers and some are followers,  The world needs both.  These types of forums are to give help and once that is achieved, you move on.  Now some people get enjoyment and fulfilment from passing the knowledge to others and those who are the ones who stick around and others dont.  Neither one is right or wrong. 

[Sandy]

I'll be staying.  I feel the need to give back.  So many have helped me along my journey I feel that I should be there for others.

At some point I may take a hiatus, but for right now, I'll be here.

-Sandy

[Blanche]

I don't frequent this place as much as I used to, but, but I'm still here.  It's very hard to leave a place after you've gotten used to it.  So in my case it's a post-op hiatus.

[Jessica.C]

One area of the site that is lacking is post-op life support. I've seen few posts that go beyond the first few weeks of surgery, unless there is some complication that arises. Reasons may be that many post-op life topics are too intimate to share or the new life is too busy.

There have been several topics I would have liked discussions on, but there doesnt seem to be enough available post-ops for conversation. The last few days have left me a little frustrated at not getting conversation on dilation, for example. Lubrication of the dilator and bacteria concerns me, but there have been no responses. I guess I should have been more explicit with my question.

That may be a sign that it is time to move on. We all need people to relate to of things going on in our lives. Will just have to see. And there is life to live out there.

Not suggesting there's anything wrong with this form, but have you tried yahoo groups - Trans-surgery. Might have better luck there. At least in reguard to the dilation topic.

[Laura91]

While I'm not post-op (and I will never be as such), I plan on sticking around for awhile.

[FairyGirl]

well there are quite a few of us having our surgeries this year. No way to tell of course who will stick around and who will move on. I would like to see more post-op topics too but I'm thinking that "new life is too busy" thing catches all of us to some extent. A few weeks after surgery I'll be returning to Australia and my home and life there, and l can't say where it goes after that. One thing I know is I'll always have a computer because my work is there, so you can probably expect me to be rattling on for a while at least lol

[FairyGirl]

Maybe we do reach the end of the rainbow.

aww that's so sweet! Yes, I think that perhaps we do.

[rejennyrated]

Lubrication of the dilator and bacteria concerns me, but there have been no responses. I guess I should have been more explicit with my question.

Valerie fel free to pm me any specific question. There are various issues. The issue of bacteria is not a huge one as long as you observe basic cleansing ie wash the dilators in soap and hot water and rince well before drying them an putting them away in a clean case.

The vagina is naturally kept clean by the presence of lactobacilus vaginalis. As you will not naturally have any present, during healing you use a douche or antiseptic gel/pessary as recomended by yoru surgeon. However for the longer term a lot can be achieved by using probiotic pessaries - there was a thread on this about six months or more ago - worth looking up.

Hope that helps - if not feel free to Pm as I said.

J. x.

[Butterfly]

Everything has become so mainstream for me in the last year that responding to threads and talking about dilation, post-op orgasms, & neo-vaginae is a tad weird for me now, but I post the news everyday, so I guess that counts as "posting"

[jesse]

i dont think im going anywhere even post opp too many people here are like my extended family
jessica

[LordKAT]

i dont think im going anywhere even post opp too many people here are like my extended family
jessica

Ditto

[Nigella]

I just want to thank those of you who responded to my worries, successes and thoughts. You have helped me through the process of transition and now in the throws of having my SRS hopefully in the next few months I am sure I will stick around. It is however the nature of transition that we change and in that change I have already found myself posting less. I suppose its because I have less questions to ask and there is a life to live fully as a woman. There is a thought however in the back of my mind that I shall however stay around and hopefully help those who are next.

Many thanks to all,


Stardust