Hang in there girl! 

I'm sure some bleeding is normal yet at the same time alarming.  But... you sorta had a tad more invasive of a procedure than having an ingrown toenail removed.  A tad.



Sending healing thoughts!


Brooke 

Hey Sara - glad you're settled in!

Don't let yourself get too worked up about post-op bleeding, after any/all procedures that is very normal. If it's an issue, you'll know it. Otherwise, try not to let it stress you out if possible.

Glad to hear you're now joining me on team Vicodin (that hydrocodone is what I take daily for my head stuff), even for a few days. It really can help with pain. Sorry that transition hour between doses is rough. ❤️. Hopefully with each passing round it will get easier.

Hang in there!

As said ^^^ bleeding is normal for a good few days, walking to the taxi and having a 3hr ride home and then having to climb 3 flights of stairs made me bleed a lot. Hope the pain clears soon like mine did, just the first night I needed the pump to help me sleep.

I actually bled for many months, off and on, and especially after intercourse. There was an area inside that just never healed. My gynecologist prescribed an estrogen cream and I used a big plunger to put it inside me. After a few weeks of doing that, I returned to him and he was so excited by the healing. I never looked back.

There can be various issues after a GCS that can cause bleeding, typically most of them are not serious. Myself, I had a wound vac on which was weird. So I knew it was bleeding, or oozing, or whatever because you see it being sucked up by the vac hose, but I didn't have to deal with it. It all went into the vac. My dr said, lay around don't do much, but make sure you walk around a few times a day. It was so weird, with the wound vac, the cath, oh yeah and a brand new vagina.

You got this girl!

Quote from: Oldandcreaky on February 24, 2024, 10:25:30 AMI actually bled for many months, off and on, and especially after intercourse. There was an area inside that just never healed. My gynecologist prescribed an estrogen cream and I used a big plunger to put it inside me. After a few weeks of doing that, I returned to him and he was so excited by the healing. I never looked back.

Ha!  The first time I read this, I took it to mean that the man you were having intercourse with was excited by the healing!  I was like, "Yeah, I BET he was!" 😂

I'm not really sweating it much.  After that initial bleeding, there has only been some spotting today.  I figure that unless there's something OBVIOUSLY wrong, it can wait until I grt my first time in the stirrups Monday morning at Dr. McGinn's office!

~Sara

Most men wouldn't be that excited about her using an estrogen cream inside prior to intercourse.  They'd get dosed too.

Quote from: TXSara on February 24, 2024, 12:13:18 PMHa!  The first time I read this, I took it to mean that the man you were having intercourse with was excited by the healing!  I was like, "Yeah, I BET he was!" 😂

I'm not really sweating it much.  After that initial bleeding, there has only been some spotting today.  I figure that unless there's something OBVIOUSLY wrong, it can wait until I grt my first time in the stirrups Monday morning at Dr. McGinn's office!

Happy Stirrup'ing Sara!

Good to see you being you, post-op.


~Jenn

Giddy up, Stirrup Monday   I was amazed at how vulnerable I felt when having the exam during my consult. Feet in those stirrups and legs spread wide. I can only imagine what it will feel like when they start looking inside. Focus on that happy place. Good luck and we all hope for a good report.
Hugs Gina

Quote from: REM.1126 on February 24, 2024, 09:36:06 PMMost men wouldn't be that excited about her using an estrogen cream inside prior to intercourse.  They'd get dosed too.

Not a lubricant.

Quote from: Oldandcreaky on February 25, 2024, 08:16:45 AMNot a lubricant.

HaHaHaHa!  No, it sure isn't! 😂

———————

Today has been a fantastic day.  I got to FaceTime with my mom for a while, then helped my daughter with her math homework, and also got to video chat with Lizzie and a bunch of friends that were at her house hanging out this afternoon.  It has been a very social day, and that makes me smile. 

Another girl checked into the room across the hall today with her husband, and I got to talk with her for a while.  She is here to get a small revision to her labia done since her original vaginoplasty was about 6 months ago.  She let me know a lot about what to expect over the next few weeks, and I am really grateful for that.  She and her husband also grabbed me lunch while they were out, which was super nice.  How cool!

I texted a few of my male friends to let them know that I have a brand new "top of the line" vagina now, and we've been cracking jokes all afternoon.  I can't repeat some of the comments, but just trust me... they're funny.

I'm excited to find out what Dr. McGinn thinks about how I'm healing up.  I'm hopeful that she'll be happy, but I still worry that there has been too much bleeding.  We'll see!

~Sara

How well did McGinn's office prepare you for post operative care and pain? 

Hi everyone!

I'm a bit late providing an update, so I'll just touch on what has transpired over the past few days:

I went in for my first post-op appointment on Monday.  I got my catheter and packing removed on that day.  There were 9 feet of gauze in there, so it looked like Kristal (Dr. McGinn's PA) was performing a magic trick!  It felt REALLY weird as she was pulling it all out.

There was a small wound at the entrance to my vaginal canal, so Dr. McGinn pushed off my initial dilation to my Thursday appointment.

I didn't really DO much at that appointment, but I was completely wiped out for the rest of the day.  I just have ZERO stamina right now.

I started dilation today at my second appointment.  It hurt.  I can tell this is going to be a struggle for a while until I (a) get used to it, and (b) heal up a little.  I'll live, though.  I got three dilations in today.

We fly home tomorrow afternoon.  I'm ready to see my girls and sleep in my own bed!  It has been a great experience, and I'm confident that everything will turn out just fine!

~Sara

Thank you for the update Sara & congratulations again. I am so happy for you, even happier you can say it was a great experience.

Have a safe trip home,

~Jenn

Always good to hear happy news. Thanks for sharing!

Hugs

I'm so glad the healing is going well and Dr. McGinn is happy with the progress. I hope you have a nice, smooth flight out today and continued healing. 
Thanks for the update. As you know I follow your progress with great interest as to what to expect for mine in a few months.
Hugs Gina

If dilating is a pain in the rear, you're in the wrong place!

Yes, dilation is rough for the first several weeks. Moving up to the next size may feel like going from a pencil to a telephone pole. Just go slow, use plenty of lube, and be patient. It does get better, and eventually you can reduce the frequency so it doesn't seem that your life revolves around dilation.

I'm happy to hear that recovery is going well, and I hope you have an uneventful flight home.

Love always -- Jess

Hi Sara

It's good to hear from you, I'm lucky I have not missed much I hope, I will make sure by rereading your posts since your surgery.

Quote from: TXSara on February 29, 2024, 08:12:28 PMHi everyone!

I'm a bit late providing an update, so I'll just touch on what has transpired over the past few days:

We all understand, well at least I do!  What with surgery, worrying about the bleeding, leaving hospital, visiting Dr. McGinn' office, dilating and flying home, no wonder there is no update.

Quote from: TXSara on February 29, 2024, 08:12:28 PMI went in for my first post-op appointment on Monday.  I got my catheter and packing removed on that day.  There were 9 feet of gauze in there, so it looked like Kristal (Dr. McGinn's PA) was performing a magic trick!  It felt REALLY weird as she was pulling it all out.

I was in hospital for a week not like you. My catheter was removed virtually the day before leaving the hospital no peeing no leaving. The magic trick, it seems like only yesterday, it took ages for the nurse to remove the packing material, I was watching it being removed and I wanted it to end.  The memories.  The sensation of it being pulled out comes to mind.

Quote from: TXSara on February 29, 2024, 08:12:28 PMThere was a small wound at the entrance to my vaginal canal, so Dr. McGinn pushed off my initial dilation to my Thursday appointment.

I didn't really DO much at that appointment, but I was completely wiped out for the rest of the day.  I just have ZERO stamina right now.

I'm sure it will heal as Dr McGinn has been doing these surgeries for a long time 12+ years that I know of.

Get as much rest as possible and if you have pain, have a hot shower, it helped me as far as I remember and drink fluids when you do.

Quote from: TXSara on February 29, 2024, 08:12:28 PMI started dilation today at my second appointment.  It hurt.  I can tell this is going to be a struggle for a while until I (a) get used to it, and (b) heal up a little.  I'll live, though.  I got three dilations in today.

It's good to see you are on your way, with your dilation, just relax and take your time.

Quote from: TXSara on February 29, 2024, 08:12:28 PMWe fly home tomorrow afternoon.  I'm ready to see my girls and sleep in my own bed!  It has been a great experience, and I'm confident that everything will turn out just fine!

~Sara

Have a safe trip home, enjoy the company of your girls and yes it will turn out all right for you. So don't worry. Remember the experience as I still do to this day.

Oh Jessica's post is very, very good advice.

Lots of Love, Hugs and a speedy recovery.
Sarah B

Sara, your transition progress is an inspiration. I'm looking forward to future updates. I know this goes without saying, but please take care of yourself and don't cut corners; do everything the docs tells you to do.

I guess you aren't going to the SEC MBB tournament this year.  Maybe next year?