Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I really want top surgery but it makes me VERY nervous. I'm more scared than excited. I had surgery once (a tonsillectomy in my 20s). Anybody have this experience?

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on August 01, 2013, 11:09:05 PM
Anybody have this experience?

Yeah, surgery is always a bit nerve racking. I've had a lot of surgeries and hate them but top surgery is really a small procedure. Granted it is life changing but it's not considered a major medical procedure. It's in and out in just a few hours. They don't cut any muscle. The most complicated part is the nipples.

I always try to remember that the only thing they are going to do while you're awake is give you an IV. Seriously, that's it. Some surgeons will allow you to have a shot of ativan before they take you back if your nerves are shot. That is something you need to discuss with them beforehand so they can have it ready for you.

You can do it Jay! Just keep your eye on the prize...Summers with no binders.

I'm mtf and when I was in my teens I always said I'd never have surgery or transition whatsoever cos I'm horrified of needles and have phobia of needles and surgeries. So I didn't want to cos I was afraid to pierce my ears for earings, I was afraid they pierce my arms with needles to extract blood and to do the anesthesia and I was also very afraid of surgery it deforms my face, gives me an ugly boobs or an ugly nonfunctional vagina but with time I've learnt to ignore that. It's just like jumping into the waters for someone who never swam before. I was also very scared of hormones that I die. I have had so much phobias before but by the end I thought it was even more scary to die a man than die struggling being a woman, so I just jumped in and whatever happens happens. You need to take everything easy like bread and butter as if it was nothing and learn to IGNORE & TAKE THINGS AS IF IT WAS NOTHING.

Quote from: Simon on August 02, 2013, 12:17:40 AM
Yeah, surgery is always a bit nerve racking. I've had a lot of surgeries and hate them but top surgery is really a small procedure. Granted it is life changing but it's not considered a major medical procedure. It's in and out in just a few hours. They don't cut any muscle. The most complicated part is the nipples.

I always try to remember that the only thing they are going to do while you're awake is give you an IV. Seriously, that's it. Some surgeons will allow you to have a shot of ativan before they take you back if your nerves are shot. That is something you need to discuss with them beforehand so they can have it ready for you.

You can do it Jay! Just keep your eye on the prize...Summers with no binders.

That is a wonderful post Simon. Lots of good stuff to think of here! Not sure that it is quite so minor, but still I liked the way you said this. And a good idea to discuss the Ativan.

--Jay

yes, I got sleeping paralyziz and was scared of it being connected with surgery,  :embarrassed: but my surgery went fine beside being pretty ill afterward.

I think its normal surgery isnt really pleasent, I just thinking about how I would feel afterward rather than the exact moment.

Quote from: Natkat on August 02, 2013, 09:01:30 PM
yes, I got sleeping paralyziz and was scared of it being connected with surgery,  :embarrassed: but my surgery went fine beside being pretty ill afterward.

I think its normal surgery isnt really pleasent, I just thinking about how I would feel afterward rather than the exact moment.

Yeah I'm pretty sure it's really anesthesia phobia. It probably isn't *entirely* irrational. Same feelings with the tonsilectomy, but I did fine. It hurt like all get out. But I have been happy without my tonsils as they just caused me grief,  and pretty sure I will be even happier without my chesticles (and binding esp in the summer).


--Jay

I definitely have a surgery phobia, and I've fortified that phobia by talking to surgeons lol. Best I not even go there with what surgeons and other doctors actually say about surgery in confidence, to someone who's not getting surgery ;)

Quote from: insideontheoutside on August 03, 2013, 08:06:31 PM
I definitely have a surgery phobia, and I've fortified that phobia by talking to surgeons lol. Best I not even go there with what surgeons and other doctors actually say about surgery in confidence, to someone who's not getting surgery ;)

No, no, I certainly don't want to know this.
I am pretty certain Dr G is an excellent surgeon, but I don't want to know what stories even he could possibly tell.
Actually I am finding the youtube videos kind of helpful. I think knowing EXACTLY what to expect, even negative, is kind of helpful.


--Jay

I don't think I have a surgery phobia, I've never had surgery before so I know I'd be a bit nervous before any operation, major or small. I just don't always have the fullest faith and confidence in the medical industry, we do some medical malpractice at the firm I work at, and man, some people really screw up on minor things that leads to horrible and even fatal consequences. At least I know how to properly document things if a doctor ever screws up on me.

I think I'd feel more comfortable if nurse practitioners did everything. I know it sounds weird, but most doctors I meet are insensitive and always seem to be in a hurry, I like nurse practitioners much better. They're always more caring, they don't rush you, and I'd feel more confident being under the knife if the person doing the cutting wasn't a jacka**. Though I've seen Dr. Garramonne's videos, and he doesn't seem like a jacka** so I'd probably feel fine with him doing the cutting. I'd have to spend a lot of time talking to doctors before deciding on doing any elective surgery.

Wouldn't want  a nurse practitioner to do this-- yikes!!


--Jay

I used to fear not being conscious and given the 'snake oil' they give you  to knock you out. People tend to talk  under it.

Then I had emergency surgery, don't remember much after getting to the ER. Now it doesn't seem to bother me. I do not know why so can't offer any advice on how to defeat it.

I was a bit worried about what I would say while I was still conscious but after they shot me up with joy juice. I was told that I would not remember what happened past a certain point, and I don't. So I still don't know what, if anything, I said under the influence. It still kinda bothers me when I think about it.

I was kind of scared of surgery before I realized that I couldn't live without it. Then I was apprehensive for a little while, and then I just didn't care--I needed it so badly that my need just sort of crowded out the fear, and all I felt was anticipation and excitement.

I didn't think of that, Arch. That could be why a hysto didn't bother me but some earlier 'offered' surgeries did.

Thanks guys. I think I genuinely am phobic in a sense, as I think a lot of people are apprehensive about going under but seem to be ok after they have done it once. But I am still apprehensive. However, I think a certain amt. of that is to be expected. I will definitely let Dr G know about it, and, no he is not a jacka**. Watching the videos even though people report a lot of discomfort definitely seem to help me.
Not too worried what I might say under anesthesia though, hadn't even thought about it.

--Jay

I didn't have any surgery phobia until the night before. Suddenly, I was nervous, stayed up all night staring out the hotel window. Everything was fine though. Didn't feel a thing.

I was kind of cranky about having to get up early on the morning of the surgery, even though my procedure was scheduled for the afternoon. We had to drive up (one hour), allow for traffic jams, go through all sorts of presurgical nonsense, and so forth.

Then, I realized that I would definitely be catching up on my sleep that afternoon--and probably for days afterward!

I gather the whole idea is to get you to the surgery center or hospital as much in advance as possible, and have you wait the longest time possible. If you aren't phobic already you get more anxious. I do recall that I told the doctor is was scared of anesthesia and they were quite nice about it, and seemed to feel it was "normal". I did live to tell about it the last time around. :)

--Jay