Support Network- before and after surgery

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

  Post op depression topics seems to pop up every now and again, which as usual got my brain ticking over...

Part to the criteria for being selected for government funded surgery was one must have a social support structure/network in place before and after surgery...

Now understandably one would think that having "major" surgery one would have people on hand 24/7 for at least the first few days once out of hospital, and then a network of friends there to help/support if the need should arise...

I was fortunate in that not only did I have cisgender friends in the local community who offered to assist me[genuine offers to help I might add] I also had my sister and cousin who flew out from the UK to be my support people[or personal assistances]...They were with me for 6 weeks- and boy did I make them work...

So I wonder how many post op members here did it alone, that is having no real on hand support ? And how many of you who are about to have surgery have a support network in place ?

Metta Zenda

[Kristyn]

Do you honestly believe anyone would be brave enough to admit that they have nobody in their life?

[Muffins]

I'd say it's pretty well known that some of us do go it alone and it's definitely nothing to be ashamed about.. damn I for one am proud of anyone that can and does go it alone. Even if it's not by choice. It's obviously not impossible to do it alone but it does help having at least one friend/family member around. Just like it helps if you can get extra extra time away from work!
Good chance for people that did go it solo to share hints and tips to make it a little easier! 

[peggygee]

I'd say it's pretty well known that some of us do go it alone and it's definitely nothing to be ashamed about.. damn I for one am proud of anyone that can and does go it alone. Even if it's not by choice. It's obviously not impossible to do it alone but it does help having at least one friend/family member around. Just like it helps if you can get extra extra time away from work!

Good chance for people that did go it solo to share hints and tips to make it a little easier! 

I'm one of those that went solo.

I tend to be uber-independent, and am very reluctant to ask for help unless I really, really need to.

In Thailand post operatively I rented an apartment, would go grocery shopping, do my own cooking, do light sight seeing, rest and dilate.
My apartment was near Pantip Plaza, the IT shopping mall and I always spend many hours wandering through the stores whenever I am
in the Land of Smiles.

I had my procedure in the Summer months, Thailand Summer, and it was hot as heck.

I like to think that recuperating in such a tropical clime, and getting my sea legs back really prepared me for getting back to work, and
the rigors of day to day existence.

For me, I would say that it was about 2 weeks or so before I felt that I was getting close goes to normal in my daily tasks. I did take it
easy, didn't want to pop sutures, or other-wise exert myself.

Again, I would say those hot weeks in Thailand really prepared and hardened me, so that when I got back to the states and a usual
environment it was smoother sailing.

As to my support network, the only folks that were aware of my GCS was my Mom, my doctor, and my therapist. My Mother is a retired
nurse, but we live in different states. I did ask her a few woman to woman questions, and a few post surgical ones. But for the most part
I had no complications from the surgery, and didn't require any medical intervention or assistance with my daily tasks.

[Anatta]

Kia Ora Peggygee,

Thanks for that and good on you for managing...  It would seem you were well prepared for what to expect...Did you have nursing care after your surgery whilst still in Thailand? I've heard some hospitals provide this [daily home visits] for a small fee....

I guess in my situation [government funded surgery] they take every precaution possible to insure tax payers money is spend wisely- The " Special High Cost Treatment Fund" was set up to provide the successful candidate[who was in need of specialist surgery] with a "Better quality of life" ...And with the support network "safety net"  in place there was less chance of a tax payer backlash...

In other words the government was insuring [well as best as they could] that the patient would be well cared for after have such major surgery [at the tax payer's expense]...

And at the beginning of the introductory post I commented on how depression seems to plague some post op people, and I guess what I'm getting at is, would/could this be somewhat lessened if they had some form of support network in place ?  In other words could not having a support network be one of the causes of post-op depression for some?     

Metta Zenda

[peggygee]

Kia Ora Peggygee,

Thanks for that and good on you for managing...  It would seem you were well prepared for what to expect...Did you have nursing care after your surgery whilst still in Thailand? I've heard some hospitals provide this [daily home visits] for a small fee....

I guess in my situation [government funded surgery] they take every precaution possible to insure tax payers money is spend wisely- The " Special High Cost Treatment Fund" was set up to provide the successful candidate[who was in need of specialist surgery] with a "Better quality of life" ...And with the support network "safety net"  in place there was less chance of a tax payer backlash...

In other words the government was insuring [well as best as they could] that the patient would be well cared for after have such major surgery [at the tax payer's expense]...

And at the beginning of the introductory post I commented on how depression seems to plague some post op people, and I guess what I'm getting at is, would/could this be somewhat lessened if they had some form of support network in place ?  In other words could not having a support network be one of the causes of post-op depression for some?     

Metta Zenda

Kia Ora Zenda,

While in my apartment I didn't have any nursing staff, only a woman from the property complex that would come by and change the bedding and replace toiletries, but for the most part it was like I was at my own home.

Which is not to infer that there was no post operative after-care. After my surgery I had a small army of health care professionals monitoring my progress: RNs, LPNs, nurses aides the doctors staff, I truly felt like visiting royalty

Once out of the hospital I would take a cab (never a tuk-tuk) every other day or so, back to the hospital to ensure that all was well. My surgeon's folks would also check in on me, in addition to the site-seeing tours that they offered.

I agree with you that a person should have a support network, and would dare-say that this applies to everyone, not just transwomen. However, as I am stealth there weren't many people I could share my experience with; a few family members, a few health-care providers, not even transwomen I knew on the net.

Folks that know me IRL know that I love to travel, that I am woe-fully struck with wanderlust, so I was at least able to say that I spent my vacation in Thailand. By the time I got back I was up to performing my job as usual, so my surgery never became known or an issue.

The same when I had labiaplasty years later, and liposuction another time, I take time off from work, heal in the city / country where the procedure was performed, and then return to work. None of my various procedures have been too incapacitating, though I will admit my breast augmentation hurt quite a bit, as did the 7 point lipo I had. For the lipo I stayed with my Mom the nurse, and reccupperated.

Yes post surgically there can be a period of depression, either due to anasthesia, to all the pain you are in, or after GCS, "the now what feeling".

I recsll of my nose job, tracheal shave, chin implant, looking like I had been on the loosing end of of bar fight, and looked at my face, and was somewhat depressed, and questioned what had I done. After healing I was back to my chipper self. When I was younger and prior to GCS I had an orchiechtomy, my Mother and Brother went with me and yes I will admit I was very glad they were there.

In life I have had to face many challenging moments by myself, as many of us have, more than a few I wish there had been someone with me to see me through. But as they say "that which doesn't kill me, makes me stronger", and while I am not a super-woman, I endure.