Susan's Place Transgender Resources

My top sugery is January 13th with Medalie. :D

Congrats!!!! That's so exciting. I know he does good work.

The best Holiday gift ever, isn't it!  I chuckled when I saw the name of your thread.  I actually was going to cut/paste an update post from another site, but I realized I didn't really have anywhere to put it here.  I think I will start a "top surgery recovery" thread for all members who don't want a whole thread.

So I emailed the secretary about if I would wear my own underwear and socks. She said I wouldn't wear underwear during surgery and they would provide me with socks. Does that sound right or should I directly ask the surgeon?

Quote from: Alexthecat on December 24, 2013, 05:52:34 AM
So I emailed the secretary about if I would wear my own underwear and socks. She said I wouldn't wear underwear during surgery and they would provide me with socks. Does that sound right or should I directly ask the surgeon?

That sounds right.  I wasn't allowed to wear my own underwear or socks for the surgery. 

No underwear at all? I wore hospital pants, they were pretty much seethrough but it was something at least. I also had compression socks - though they did allow me to wear my slippers (sorta like uggs) over the top so I would be warm :D

That sucks. Don't feel comfortable without my underwear...

I had my socks (compression-- which was weird as they have this little device that pumps your legs sort of) but had to give up my underwear. It was no big deal at that point as I was so out of it at that point.

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on December 24, 2013, 02:09:08 PM
I had my socks (compression-- which was weird as they have this little device that pumps your legs sort of) but had to give up my underwear. It was no big deal at that point as I was so out of it at that point.

--Jay

Now this is funny.  I was just about to post that Garramone didn't make me remove my underwear, but thought that maybe I should ask my partner who is in the same room as me, first.  She said that at some point my underwear had to have been removed because she helped me put them back on after recovery.  I have no recollection of my underwear being removed/removing it myself.  I actually don't remember anything past them starting to wheel me into surgery.  I think they may have knocked me out with something prior to going in there.  What do you remember, Jay?

They said I could take them off at the last minute which I did. They told me to take it off the underwear right before they put the, well what ever they put in there, as I was knocked out before I went into the operating room. Some guys say they recall something about putting their arms down. I have no recollection of anything about that at all. I don't recall the operating room. And very vaguely recall taking off the underwear so I am pretty sure that some guys didn't recall it as it was so close to being knocked out, at least that's what I am guessing.
I recall having to put away the phone and stuff more so.

Dr G had nothing to do with this. This seems to be a thing of the surgery center, they said something to do with being flammable, which is odd as the socks are 100% synthetic and would burn up like crazy, while the underwear is cotton and you wear the lovely manly garment, and that's cotton.

I don't really recall putting anything back on, including my clothes. LOL.


--Jay

You don't have to take off underwear if you don't want to. I didn't have to fight anything with regards to that as I was simply told to leave them on. Top surgery is a quick surgery on an area no where near downstairs! There's no reason to take them off and, as a patient, you have every legal right to refuse. If you refuse you need only sign consent that in the event of a need to remove your underwear you consent to them being removed. I didn't even have to do that in the case of top surgery. I have had a ton of surgery and I have never removed underwear unless the surgery was near that area.

The only way they can refuse is if they're not 100% cotton or they're too tight. So wear something comfortable, tagless and 100% cotton, I'd advise carrying an identical set in case you have to prove this, and it is your right to keep them on.

Edit: http://patientmodesty.org/tipsforpatients.aspx General information on rights to modesty as a patient. More in depth laws can be sourced but this is more overall generalised advice. Don't be afraid to stand up for your rights. You're not being difficult when you refuse to remove underwear. They do not (and without consent should absolutely not) insert catheters for short operations. If they were to do so they would face serious law suits for unnecessary procedures, only made worse by being on such an intimate area, without prior consent or reasons pertaining to a medical emergency. You should be asked if you have used the bathroom before surgery and then the simple act of fasting makes that a non concern!

Ah I will insist on keeping them on then. I don't want a cath in. I also want to be fully conscious when I leave and before I have any visitors. Did not appreciate being not "all there" when I had wisdom teeth removed. Plus they managed to get me in the car and if they would of waited 10 mins I would of been all there to walk myself.

Well had the big dream of having surgery last night. Can't imagine it will be the last, 18 days left.

Thanks for the information, Jay.  They must have taken mine off.  That's ok.  It doesn't bother me.

Quote from: Brett on December 26, 2013, 06:20:23 PM
Thanks for the information, Jay.  They must have taken mine off.  That's ok.  It doesn't bother me.

It seemed weird but I was wearing a gown, I don't think they are going to go and look and see my equipment. I think they are pretty busy.

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on December 28, 2013, 05:48:03 PM
It seemed weird but I was wearing a gown, I don't think they are going to go and look and see my equipment. I think they are pretty busy.

--Jay

Exactly.

That's true, but for me it's more just the idea of things slipping down and being revealed.  They put you into a more upright position when they're looking to where to put the nipples for example and things could slip down there.  There's a part of me that doesn't care and there's a part that just sees it as entirely unnecessary in this case.  When it comes to actual procedures down there then yeah, I get that, but when the procedure is nowhere near that area, I just don't want that area being seen.  There's just no reason for it.  Could they pull underwear down and take a look?  Yeah, but then that'd attract attention from the other staff.  A lot of people would feel the same regardless of dysphoria.  Remember that anyone taking testosterone has growth in that area and people can have an interest in seeing that, it makes us different and something of medical interest.  For me - they can see that in someone else, I don't want to parade it.

It really is just the fact of whether that area needs to be bare at all.   In the case of top surgery, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for someone not to be allowed to wear cotton underwear.  Just absolutely no reason.  So in my mind the idea of asking someone not to wear anything there or making it some rule becomes a concern.  Why can't I wear underwear?  Are you going to be looking there?  Why?  There's been a lot of cases in the past of medical students performing exams on patients without their consent while under general anesthetic.  Since those cases they've been a lot stricter on things like that but the possibility is there and the knowledge that it has occurred is out there.  So it's a genuine concern for people and while I'm against scaring people into thinking it does take place (trust me, it's a lot stricter now and very rarely happens at least here in the western world) I still see it as being very, very wrong to tell people that surgeries of this sort require you to remove underwear and that it is some rule because it is a lie and as such I view it as unethical.  We do have rights here and for some they couldn't care less, and all power to you, but for others having to remove underwear can be an added concern and worry for them.  In some cases, you have to be without and that can't be helped, but the reality is that unless it is a very long operation or it's a surgery involving that area, it is a concern easily erased in just allowing that individual to wear their underwear.  And in this case, if any surgeon demands you remove underwear, then it's, in my opinion, a red flag.  Not necessarily because they're going to do something bad; more because they're not respecting your rights on something so trivial and unimportant to the actual surgery.

14 days!

That's so exciting!!!

You need to put up a top surgery ticker, Alex.  Darrin is down to 23 days!!!

Had my call with the nurse. She said I would be awake before I went home and that I would eat something. They said no underwear in case I wet myself. They want to easily be able to clean it up. Though I can request mesh underwear.

2 days! Any last minute things I should remember?

Don't lift your arms!   ;D

My power lift recliner chair has arrived. Got it for a great deal of $33 until the 1st of Feb.

In 24 hours I will be out cold on the operating table!

Congrats! Good luck!

I survived my surgery. They didn't use enough pain stuff when I woke up and hurt real bad on the hour ride home plus probably another hour for my oxycodeine to take effect. I'm having trouble peeing it seems on the first day. Like I will start just fine but once there is a pause in my stream it takes some effort to start up again to empty the bladder. So every four hours I take the oxy then every two hours between the oxy I'm taking some ibuprofen. Appetite is fine. I ate three bowls of mrs. grasses soup. That was after the pills took effect. I've been in and out of sleep since I got home. My chair only goes back to a certain position that causes me to snore when I don't snore normally. Kitty has been a champ and kept my lap warm on top of the four blankets I have. Oh I was kind of bitchy when I woke up and a bit nauseous but I was in pain so yeah. But I was well enough for the 5 minutes it took in the pharmacy to pick out a roll of those giant sweet tarts for later plus a few butterscotch discs. Butterscotch didn't really help with nausea that much, had better luck with a candy cane. Emptied the drains 3 times I think so far. This left side hurt worse to start but it was bigger by a bit so it will be interesting to see how it all looks in a week.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2FDSCN0229.jpg&hash=4c67a033372bda4bb1cb15079aba4172902a4dec)

It's not unusual to hurt a lot the day of. It's surgery you know. I'm sure you'll be doing great in a few days. Heal well, and feel better. :)


--Jay

Congrats!

Day 2.

Itching like you wouldn't believe. It is driving me crazy. I think I'm backed up with about 10cc output today on each side. The left side appears to be swollen. I called the surgeon and he said to loosen the vest and not move my arms much and to call if it gets worse. It's like my whole side is bruised and painful to the touch. Not sure how I will survive the week. Took some benedryl and colace. Some farts coming out but no bowel movement yet. Eating is normal. Still sleeping a lot and pretty tired. Put some bactarician(sp) on my drain holes. They look swollen too.

Day 3

Still very itchy. Taking a baby wipe and going over all the places not covered in foam on my chest seems to help me feel better. It got all the blue stuff off of me without having to scrub. Swollen by the drains and along my sides. Already less than 30cc a day. I want these drains out now! Felt real sick to the point of almost throwing up. I think it is the mixture of meds and not pooping that caused it. The swelling in my left chest has gone back down. I called the surgeon and hopefully they will call me back so I can get these drains out Friday instead of Monday.

Day 4/5

The power lift chair I got really killed my back. It's hurting worse than my chest or the drains. The itching mostly went away. I occasionally feel tingles on my chest. It's probably the incision healing. Day 4 I pooped so no problems downstairs, though every time I pee it's like a waterfall. Wiping hasn't really been an issue. Neither is reaching once in awhile. The worst part is having to wait 3 more days for drain removal.

Day 6

Felt some tingling in my nipples and all over the chest. Drains really really started to be painful. Mostly the stitch in my armpit was irritating me. Back was mostly better but I kept a heating pad on it most of the day and night.

Day 7 Drain Day!@!@!

Got the drains out. When she pulled them out it was like the burning of 2000 suns. I think my chest looks pretty good. There's some puffiness on the left pec that I hope goes down. I really need to work out now, my lower half is way bigger than my upper half. I am concerned if he left me with bigger nipples? The middle bump not the areola. The right nipple looks bigger in the middle than the left one. Y/N?


Edit: Forgot to add that I can already feel sensation in the nipples as of day 6. Just sitting here they tingle and when water went over them in the shower I felt it on both. Though the right has far more sensation right now.

1 week post op.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2FDSCN0233.jpg&hash=240bc6b927282304fd557b5120ee627ac3abfbf3)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2FDSCN0235.jpg&hash=8d1f9724fa597d43697316bd2f5fa61560fbf934)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2FDSCN0236.jpg&hash=8a6e1d0297c2ac0060d7aa6a8a431bbabd94924a)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2FDSCN0240.jpg&hash=233e081f619539deacc3e58d71c5647fcbdc8a07)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2FDSCN0239.jpg&hash=9c20cad021e997b0852dcee050e8b8f4d3e3caf3)

Day 8

There was some bright yellow colouring on the nipple pad when I took it off today. I hope it's nothing serious. Everything else seems to be good. Showering is easy and sleeping is easier, though I get a sweat buildup right where the vest is on my back.

Quote from: Alexthecat on January 21, 2014, 09:45:19 AM
Day 8

There was some bright yellow colouring on the nipple pad when I took it off today. I hope it's nothing serious. Everything else seems to be good. Showering is easy and sleeping is easier, though I get a sweat buildup right where the vest is on my back.

Sounds like the stuff Dr G used (bright yellow xeroform which had yellow color petroleum yellow) or it could be some kind of antiseptic. I understand it's a common thing to coat everything in a bright yellow/orange antiseptic.
So normal.

Honestly sounds like any of us could have written your review. Brings back all the lovely memories. (Itch itch itch).

--Jay

Day 9

My left nipples areola turned white almost like it is showing the skin layer underneath it. The right nipple is bigger, it's like he didn't cut it down at all. Compared to the left it is gigantic. It's most noticeable looking down at it as it sticks out like a nub.

Day 11

My nipples are bleeding! I think the areola turning white might be it scabbing over. I hope it scabs all good and I don't lose it. I actually rolled over on my side for a little bit last night. I felt the pulling but I have a feeling it is just a big bruise that hurts and not the actual incision pulling. All my tape is still on but it is coming loose in a few places. I imagine in a week it will have fallen off. I have been taking a shower each day so that helps it. It probably isn't as bad as I think it is, just the marker under the tape looks big. I can't wait until the ten days are up then I don't need to wear my vest any more and I can start just putting lotion and vaseline on them instead of the special ointment.

Alex, you are going to have ups and downs along the way of your healing.  Meaning, things are going to look worse before they look better.  Then worse again, then better.  So, when you see something that distresses you (one nipple too large), try not to let it stress you because 3 days from now it may look completely different or the other nipple may change and match the way the first nipple looks.  Keep in the front of your head that how your chest looks at any given time is only a possibility as to how it will look later. 

Brett, being my clone is mostly right. :)
It's true though. It's funny, my right nipple looked much better, than it was my left. It's funny how it shifts back and forth like that. There are going to be many changes while you heal, and it is best to think of this as a kind of journey, which you are on, but don't really have that much control over. (I don't mean zero, but you just can't change a lot.)

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on January 24, 2014, 10:07:31 PM
Brett, being my clone is mostly right. :)
It's true though. It's funny, my right nipple looked much better, than it was my left. It's funny how it shifts back and forth like that. There are going to be many changes while you heal, and it is best to think of this as a kind of journey, which you are on, but don't really have that much control over. (I don't mean zero, but you just can't change a lot.)

--Jay

Mostly?  MOSTLY?  lol

Yes, my left nipple looked best at first and now it is my right (left is a little too large for my liking).  I am happy with both areolas, though.   :) 

Quote from: Brett on January 25, 2014, 01:19:01 PM
Mostly?  MOSTLY?  lol

Yes, my left nipple looked best at first and now it is my right (left is a little too large for my liking).  I am happy with both areolas, though.   :)

Haha well... okay ALWAYS, but I'm not always right. NOt sure how that would work. :P

--Jay

Day 14 - 2 Weeks post op

Nipples be peeling like crazy. The edge of the tape has started to come off also.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek2.jpg&hash=c9e689428df395e851adcd7cec00f3cc55dc7c5b)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek2-2.jpg&hash=9f22cde49aeb792a7a8e3302824fb18d0704ac23)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek2-3.jpg&hash=9958426145912b0e2263358084fbf94c0741635b)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek2-4.jpg&hash=6455d07c38334bd97105566892bb1075e8062211)

Day 16

I pulled off all the tape today. There is still glue on though. My vest smelled like an old shoe so I washed it. The paper tape hurts to have it on and old stretchy bandages do not stay in the right place. Then the paper tape just wants to come right off and I need it to keep the nipple dressings on. I can't believe I did it but I put on an old sports bra and everything is staying in place. I don't need the vest any more but I will probably keep using it when it dries as it just keeps everything where it should be.

Day 21 - 3 weeks post op. Little late to posting

I haz perdy nipples.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek3-1.jpg&hash=7c695c77cb86ba77b7e9264870263880a836618e)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek3-2.jpg&hash=e1270cd6eb75476298ea85b23a2e79dd9698b0c4)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek3-3.jpg&hash=fa53e0c3ef47fd0de746351ba1934839c0333683)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek3-4.jpg&hash=b4f45a351888d52ad61f5a12e0cd028c2a453933)

Day 28 - 4 weeks post op

Starting scar strips today.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek4-1.jpg&hash=e372a1e3aa6e1338023b797144716b4633b7c3cc)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek4-2.jpg&hash=7688b25be63681c9c5c9f9d32b48866fd043d51a)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek4-3.jpg&hash=cd192d8516dc52c347ac63b7e858e42bc85cf260)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek4-4.jpg&hash=d1f668ed0337018069bf802b8d9bb28e89e38a5a)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe107%2Fscoobyses%2Fsurgery%2Fweek4-5.jpg&hash=df19279dfbec1c13422c4d1a2d4f9c8e2660f469)

Alex the Cat, you look very awesome.

--Jay