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im nervous of course, and i even had some second thoughts (because what if i end up not wanting this after all?) but after much thinking and deciding, I have waited long enough for this. (eight years is more than enough time to decide whats best for me)

and so im taking the plunge and getting surgery! Itll be done through Dr.Jed Horowitz in California. He's really awesome, and his sidekick girl is a real treat to be around, so it should go well.

He doesn't have any pictures of the actual procedure, but he's definitely done the procedure before. He also hesitated a long time and then apologized that he wouldnt be able to pull off the procedure without scarring, which I was totally aware of. He never stopped saying how sorry he was and told me that theyd to everything they could to minimize the scars. Im not that worried about that.

this year so far has been the worst thing. My beloved pet rat died, i broke my tooth which required two deep cleanings (i am HORRIBLE with needles, i had to be numbed multiple times in one sitting) and a root canal, i had a convention (which was fun but stressful), my phone broke and its just been one thing after another. things have finally started to calm down, and im hoping that surgery is the last hurdle i need to jump before celebrating my boyfriends (getting his OWN surgery in two weeks) 21st birthday in beautiful Las Vegas.

i have my pre op appointment the day after tomorrow, my surgery the 5th and hopefully everything goes well.

everything is all worked out with driving and being taken care of. How long was it before everyone got back up and were able to go out and return to normal? if it depends on the type of surgery, im getting the usual two scars across the chest type which i cant remember what its called right now.

Congrats!  That's really amazing - and pretty cool that you'll both be having your surgeries within a few weeks of one another.

I'm only 6 days post-op, so I don't know when the return to normality is.  I'm feeling pretty good, just sore - so I would imagine it would be a few weeks most likely.

Hi FlightyBrood,

Congratulations. I hope your procedure goes well for you. Being nervous is nothing unusual. May mean there are some unanswered questions still hanging about. Do you know the exact procedure you need to follow on the day of admission? What happens post-op etc, etc. The plethora of little details like this can make such a difference to some.

Don't expect too much of normality to exist post-op. After all this is a brand new life you've created. You don't want baggage from your past to haunt you.

Keep us in the loop and let us know how you're coping.

Huggs
Catherine

Quote from: Catherine Sarah on January 29, 2014, 12:14:50 AM
Hi FlightyBrood,

Congratulations. I hope your procedure goes well for you. Being nervous is nothing unusual. May mean there are some unanswered questions still hanging about. Do you know the exact procedure you need to follow on the day of admission? What happens post-op etc, etc. The plethora of little details like this can make such a difference to some.

Don't expect too much of normality to exist post-op. After all this is a brand new life you've created. You don't want baggage from your past to haunt you.

Keep us in the loop and let us know how you're coping.

Huggs
Catherine

I had my pre-op appointment yesterday, and I got all the details about the procedure, a double incision procedure, and went over every single bit of the aftercare with the nurse in charge. She even went through each medication I was prescribed and the physical feelings that would come just after waking up from anesthesia.

She also gave me every particular detail about what will be going down the actual morning of my surgery, so I am up to date on that. I think the only questions are how tired will I be after the surgery, when can i get back to my daily life (there is a new wardrobe in my future!) and when will I be able to leave the house, even if it's just to pick up milk or something. Not that I would need that, we are doing a shopping trip before Wednesday, which is when my surgery is scheduled for. (I thought it was tuesday for some reason.) I also have my boyfriend, who i live with, to take care of me, and my mother who lives down the street.

I guess a general update of how I am feeling is...just done with waiting. It's all I can think about at night, not really worried about living through it so much as just general thinking about the healing process. I'm not worried about it at all, just...thinking things like "I wonder how it will go" and "I wonder if I will be able to go out to eat right after". i know i will probably not even want to do anything but go home after the surgery but i seem to have it in my head that ill just get up and be on my way. I know that is not the case, so i dont know whats up with that!

My only fear, my absolute only fear with surgery is the needle for the anesthetic. I am HORRIBLE with needles, to the point of me whining and panic when I get my T shot still. It doesnt hurt, i am just terrified of the things. It is so bad that when i gave blood for this surgery, my blood began to run backwards and I almost passed out. They had to use a tiny needle. A lot of people tell me to just think about something else, but i cant bring myself to not notice the feeling of a needle in my arm no matter how hard i try. im afraid im going to panic when they put the needle in and something weird is going to happen or something.

I am hoping that, since my surgery is at 7:30 in the morning, i will be so tired that i wont even care about the needle going in. 

thanks for all the support i am getting! i am so excited, this week can not got any slower, it seems!

You won't feel like eating after. Get your guy to make you some soup for the evening. They didn't give me enough pain meds in the drip so I felt like ->-bleeped-<-. Save your big out to eat party for the day you get your drains out.

Hi FB,

Sounds like all the right things passing through your head. It's quite natural when you're headed for surgery. As for your own real fear; don't worry there'll be soooo many people round your gurney in pre-op all wanting a part of the action, you'll think it's a concert you're going to. You won't even notice when the needle went in or who did it.  ;D

Good luck and a speedy recovery.

Huggs
Catherine

Don't work yourself up too much about the needle prick, mate.  It is literally only a tiny second or so of pain and it's over - in my case, I didn't get gas to inhale, just the needle in my arm.  It was a sharp prick and she said she was giving me something to make me sleepy and that was the last thing I remember!  You'll be fine.  :)

i wasnt aware i would be having drains actually. is it possible that i wont need them or something? it wasnt mentioned to me at all, and it seems like kind of a big thing to leave out...

ive been doing top surgery research for years and years though, so i know how to handle drains, i think. I didnt think id need them because they werent mentioned to me by the surgeon or either of the two nurses i talked to.

The drains are a bit uncomfortable. But really I don't like blood but I was very okay with them. I guess while I knew the blood and stuff we from me, I was able to kind of cut myself off from the knowledge. You are all wrapped up and can't see it coming out. You can get a local anesthetic for the IV, but I have heard it is really cold and so on, so it might be worse.

--Jay

The vast majority of people having top surgery have drains from what I have seen.  You can always ask about them point-blank beforehand to prepare yourself, if you want.

But I agree with aleon - I didn't really pay much mind to them being there and I faint at the sight of blood.  You really are mummified pretty much so you can't see where they come out of your body unless you get unwrapped to bathe and even then, you would have to deliberately look to see them. 

They stung a bit when they removed them, but other than that - it was really just basically uncomfortable having them in - but no more so than anything else (considering you will have just had major surgery).

I'm actually not going to be bandaged up. I will be put in this weird vest thing-basically a binder.

I do have nipple tape things, but no bandages. I have heard top surgery being done without drains, but I will make sure to ask about them. In fact, I will drop the nurse an e-mail to ask. Drains don't bother me at all, but obviously I would prefer not to have them! I don't really know where they would go with that weird vest thing anyways.

I'm really zen right now about the whole thing, i have managed to keep myself occupied with preparing which is good. Tomorrow i start these weird herbal things they gave me to help with healing.

keep ya'll posted!

Drains will go in your hairy armpits.

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 01, 2014, 10:44:02 PM
I'm actually not going to be bandaged up. I will be put in this weird vest thing-basically a binder.

I do have nipple tape things, but no bandages. I have heard top surgery being done without drains, but I will make sure to ask about them. In fact, I will drop the nurse an e-mail to ask. Drains don't bother me at all, but obviously I would prefer not to have them! I don't really know where they would go with that weird vest thing anyways.

I'm really zen right now about the whole thing, i have managed to keep myself occupied with preparing which is good. Tomorrow i start these weird herbal things they gave me to help with healing.

keep ya'll posted!

You'll be fine - I didn't have bandages either, but instead have this binder they gave me.  Emailing the nurse is a good idea.

Quote from: Alexthecat on February 01, 2014, 10:56:32 PM
Drains will go in your hairy armpits.

Actually, they didn't my drain holes in my armpits, but instead they put them on the sides of my ribcage.

Well, we've hit something of a...hurdle.

The nurse gave us some herbal things that we are supposed to take three times a day starting three days before the surgery.

It's got flour in it, and the boyfriend is gluten intolerant. It's also got gelatin in it, i think the only food allergy i have. The office is closed today, so I can't call them to ask if it is super important we take these things until tomorrow.

We didnt think there was anything bad for us in them until after i took them and started feeling ill.  Everything happens for a reason, and i think me getting ill was so that we would read the ingredients on the pills, because me taking them isnt going to kill me, but the boyfriend taking them would have seriously messed him up three days before his surgery.

im not too worried since they are just an herbal supplement thing that says its supposed to help with healing or something. i cant imagine something that contains wheat would be important, as gluten intolerant people are out there by the handful, and i think vegetarians cant eat gelatin.

just an update, really. im calling the office first thing tomorrow morning, then its food shopping and a hockey game!

I didn't have to take anything like that. You probably will be fine without them.

Well my arm pits WEREN'T hairy since you are supposed to shave them (and I would definitely advise doing this-- tape coming off of hair is painful). I think the idea that these drains come out of you, well you know it intellectually, but I haven't met people who were bothered by the actual drain goo. (It's not all blood, that's why I use the scientific term. :)  )

You will have a vest, bandages or something, so it's not like you are going to actually see the goo go from you to the drain, if you have them. And if you don't, well there are many unpretty things re: top surgery.

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on February 02, 2014, 04:55:16 PM
Well my arm pits WEREN'T hairy since you are supposed to shave them (and I would definitely advise doing this-- tape coming off of hair is painful). I think the idea that these drains come out of you, well you know it intellectually, but I haven't met people who were bothered by the actual drain goo. (It's not all blood, that's why I use the scientific term. :)  )

You will have a vest, bandages or something, so it's not like you are going to actually see the goo go from you to the drain, if you have them. And if you don't, well there are many unpretty things re: top surgery.

--Jay

I'm not worried in the slightest about the drains. Goo doesnt bug me, blood does but ive looked up pictures and i wasnt squicked at all so i think ill be fine, provided i actually have them. I'm calling tomorrow to ask. I'm also not worried about the actual incisions. I'm a bit...weird about my skin not being totally clean, so if anything is going to bug me its all the inevitable crap thats going to be gathering around the incisions. but, its nothing i cant handle.

I dont have many people i can turn to for support-not because they dont support me but because i am stealth with nearly all my friends. A few people that know, some friends that watched me grow up, have offered to send good energy and thoughts my way, and one friend ive known since gradeschool asked if id like her to pray for me. I said yes, because having so many people think about me and doing everything they can to wish me well puts me at extreme ease! No more nerves, really!

Even about the needle. I decided I'm going to tell the anesthesiologist about my best friend the whole time. Thinking about her will calm me down while the needle goes in. I'm set for this, I'm ready to have this off my mind (and body!) And thanks to you guys for all the support im getting! It means worlds to me. I'll keep everyone posted about the drains and pills situation.

P.S. Jay, that cat in your icon looks EXACTLY like mine! (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4_LJPuoFgA8/UhFyCnlrwdI/AAAAAAAAA3k/OuBoP2DGH7I/w769-h577-no/IMG_20130817_205431.jpg)

No the cats don't really look identical from face forward, but I can see the resemblance a bit. He's actually got points, but it's the same color. Padfoot just died this week. Very sad about this. :(  Your's is a cute one to be sure.

It's good to let the doctor know about your fears. It helped me a lot to talk to Dr G. He was like you are the most healthy guy in the world and why could you possibly worry about this.

--Jay

Sorry to hear about padfoot losing a pet is the worst thing. I just lost my beloved pet rat last month.

My mother is sick with the flu. She's freaking out cause I was around her minimally last night, and she doesbt want my surgery to have to be rescheduled. She's really upset she can't make it to the day of too. The boyfriends been given the command to call her right after I get out of surgery.

The nurse called me back today and said instead of taking the pills we are allergic to, we can drink pineapple juice! Much better than pills. Also she said there likely will not be drains. So that's cool too.

We just did our pre surgery shopping trip. Got a bunch of food and juice. We got called ladies at checkout though...

Even that can't ruin my excitement though!

Ask for a small IV needle. They're more comfortable. Other than the initial sting, the worst part of an IV is the soreness, which takes a long time to set in. You'll be asleep by then. Don't be dehydrated or they will have trouble finding a vein. From my experience (many, many IVs...), the side of the wrist is the best place to get it. The skin there is really not sensitive.

You sound like me. The IV and the drains are bothering me more than anything else when I think about getting surgery, lol.

here it is, the day before my surgery, and i cant stop coughing.

Ive been coughing for a couple weeks now, left over from when i got sick, but now i woke up with a tiny bit of a scratchy throat and im coughing more than usual. Im drinking all the orange juice in the world right now, hoping im not getting sick. It was a bit windy so maybe its just dry.

if im sick the day before my surgery i dont know what ill do. i seriously have the worst luck of anyone...

Here's the kicker- looked up the facts about the stuff they've been making me take. It's pretty unsafe. When taken by mouth it causes throat irritation and freaking extra bleeding during or after surgery.

Ive never heard of anyone else taking this stuff and it's herbal so screw this! If my surgery gets cancelled tomarrow because of the dumb herbal stuff THEY gave me, I'm going to be so mad.

You can take Zycam, unless your surgeon doesn't allow it. There's nothign on Dr G's website against it.
I've found it effective, but not 100%.

--Jay

so i have a fever

they cancelled my appointment until i get better

i dont know why this happens to me all the time

i should be used to it by now i guess theres no real point in updating this thread so i guess i just wont

thanks for all the support from everyone i really appreciate it

Man, I'm really sorry.  I hope it is rescheduled soon.

Sorry to hear about that, mate.  But honestly - better safe than sorry.  They have cause and concern to not go ahead with things so it's better for you and your well-being to wait.  I'm sure they'll get you scheduled back on in no time.  Chin up and get feeling better! :)

The soonest date that we could reschedule for is the day after my boyfriend's surgery. Otherwise it messes up our precariously planned out next few months.

Right now we are scrambling to find someone to drive me to and from my appointment, and for someone to take care of us both. About how long do we need someone around before we can do things on our own?

Things are just not looking good for ol flighty...

Well perhaps you'll have a bit of luck, hoping so anyway.

--Jay

How was everyone feeling the day after their surgery?

The Boyfriend is extremely worried about me, since the way it is currently set up, I won't have any support at the surgery. I have a good friend driving me, but my mother is working and Boyfriend will have just had his surgery.

He's hoping, since there isn't much moving around, that he'd be able to make it to mine. He gets his early morning (maybe 7?) the day before, and mine is scheduled for 11 am the next day. Is it possible for him to make it, considering its a short walk to the car, sitting during the car ride, short walk to waiting room, sitting until i get out, and then home the same way? he would be worrying even more if he wasnt one floor down from me.

i really hate the fact that i dont have anyone to wake up to, but im willing to do it.

He's gonna be to doped up on pain meds to want to leave the house.

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 06, 2014, 06:17:53 PM
How was everyone feeling the day after their surgery?

The Boyfriend is extremely worried about me, since the way it is currently set up, I won't have any support at the surgery. I have a good friend driving me, but my mother is working and Boyfriend will have just had his surgery.

He's hoping, since there isn't much moving around, that he'd be able to make it to mine. He gets his early morning (maybe 7?) the day before, and mine is scheduled for 11 am the next day. Is it possible for him to make it, considering its a short walk to the car, sitting during the car ride, short walk to waiting room, sitting until i get out, and then home the same way? he would be worrying even more if he wasnt one floor down from me.

i really hate the fact that i dont have anyone to wake up to, but im willing to do it.

I think it will be too hard for him to do so and honestly, not healthy.  He needs to rest.

If it is important to you (and him), that he be there with you, I would suggest putting your surgery off.  Neither of you can help the other either when it comes to recovery.  It would really be better for both of you if you just put your surgery two weeks further out MINIMUM.  What's a couple more weeks?  I know you are excited to get it done and everything, but in the big scheme of things it is minor.

That depends on a lot of factors. None of us can answer that question without knowing more about what he's having done, his medical history, etc. He needs to ask his surgeon for advice.

Quote from: Brett on February 06, 2014, 06:39:32 PM
I think it will be too hard for him to do so and honestly, not healthy.  He needs to rest.

If it is important to you (and him), that he be there with you, I would suggest putting your surgery off.  Neither of you can help the other either when it comes to recovery.  It would really be better for both of you if you just put your surgery two weeks further out MINIMUM.  What's a couple more weeks?  I know you are excited to get it done and everything, but in the big scheme of things it is minor.

I literally cant put it off. Not only does it conflict with some scheduling (which isnt all that important, but its already payed for and such) but i have anxiety fueled insomnia, so I have been barely sleeping. The first time in a week (almost two now) that i have actually fallen right to sleep is because I have had a really high fever the past few days. Its incredibly bad for me, and i cant just not think about it. My brain wont let me. Its not a matter of excitement at this point, its a matter of getting to sleep.

We have a person staying with us up until our first post op appointment, around the clock. We made sure that we would have someone that is able to take care of us since we will not be able to take care of each other as originally planned. We are covered in having a caretaker, as well as rides anywhere we might need to go.

We dont have high hopes that he will be able to go with me to my surgery, so if he cannot its alright. He says he isnt too worried about not being there, and that hell probably just sleep until i get home. The surgery center is a stones throw away from the house, too, so its not that big of a deal. We will ask the doctor if it would hurt him to come with us, if he feels up to it, and if it will in any way then he wont be there. it sucks but im an adult and ill be asleep for most of the time im away from him, as will he. it just sucks he wont be there when i wake up, but im not really stressed too much about that.

If it's close, I don't see why he wouldn't be able to if he used a wheelchair at the hospital. I'm no doctor, though.

Quote from: Declan. on February 06, 2014, 08:09:28 PM
If it's close, I don't see why he wouldn't be able to if he used a wheelchair at the hospital. I'm no doctor, though.

Thats what we were thinking, having him in a wheelchair. BUT we arent doctors either, so we will definitely ask if thats a good idea. He needs to be in a sitting position anyways when hes home in bed, i dont really see how thats much different. Hes also going to have pain medication if he needs it, which a lot of people say they only used because the bandages were rubbing their skin raw, so he wont have to worry about pain. We have anti-nausea things they gave us, too. i cant imagine with all that, there should be a problem, but then i dont know. i still dont have too high of hopes with it.

but, we will see.

It's surgery, so when you have surgery you have had a pretty major (in the case of top surgery) trauma to your body. You can't expect a person who has just had surgery to do a lot of walking around, etc. Lots of get up, do this, drive over there, etc. sounds stressful to me. I didn't need a lot of help the day after surgery, but that doesn't mean I was up for a lot of activity.

--Jay

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 06, 2014, 06:17:53 PM
How was everyone feeling the day after their surgery?

The Boyfriend is extremely worried about me, since the way it is currently set up, I won't have any support at the surgery. I have a good friend driving me, but my mother is working and Boyfriend will have just had his surgery.

He's hoping, since there isn't much moving around, that he'd be able to make it to mine. He gets his early morning (maybe 7?) the day before, and mine is scheduled for 11 am the next day. Is it possible for him to make it, considering its a short walk to the car, sitting during the car ride, short walk to waiting room, sitting until i get out, and then home the same way? he would be worrying even more if he wasnt one floor down from me.

i really hate the fact that i dont have anyone to wake up to, but im willing to do it.

I know that some of the guys here talk a lot about how they didn't have much pain, etc. after their surgeries, but I would like to stress that I was in pain the day after surgery and they pain meds I was given didn't do much for me.  I was constipated, weak and feeling like I'd been hit by a train. 

I know that in the US, it seems like guys are basically kicked out of hospital same-day and thus probably seems a bit like the surgery is "no big deal" as it's seen as a "day surgery", but it's a major operation.  I can tell you from my own experience, I would no way in hell have been able to walk to a car, sit for a drive and walk around a hospital and sit and wait.  I was barely able to hobble to the toilet.  Again, these are my experiences, take what you will from them - but I wouldn't advise that your boyfriend try to make it to your surgery the day after his own.  No way would I have been able to do that - everyone is different, but I wouldn't advise it.

If he is going to go ahead and do it anyway, be sure to have some kind of pillow for cushioning for the seatbelt.

I emailed the doctor and was told that Boyfriend should in no way be out of bed. So, that settles that. It's what we were both expecting anyways, so we've decided that we'll try to do a video call on our phones so that he can be home resting.

The lack of support is really no big deal, but it's a bit of a shock to us both since we have been away from each other maybe a grand total of three or four days max in the past two years. Its a bit weird being away from each other is all. Nothing I can't handle, though. I think I am anticipating being away from him as worse than it will be. Then I get to go home and heal along with him, which I think is pretty cool.

Main thing I'm keeping in mind-Everything happens for a reason, so if he isn't meant to be there with me then that is just how it is. Nothing we can do to help it.

All that said, I've become increasingly worried about complications. I know they are unlikely but I have some bad anxiety issues I've stopped taking medications for. I was all fine until I got sick and had to miss my first appointment. Maybe its because nobody will be there with me that im suddenly all worried.

bluh.

In some ways, I think it will be a good chance for you to learn just how independent and strong you can be. 

In regards to worrying about complications, I think that's normal to a certain degree.  Educating yourself about what the complications can be and how to avoid getting them will be helpful to alleviate your anxiety IMHO.  That way, once you have an understanding of the factors that contribute to problems post-surgery, you can at least feel that you have some power over not letting them happen (i.e., keeping wounds clean, not reaching and lifting, etc.). 

Just be sure to understand that it's always possible for complications to happen no matter how vigilant you are about things - it's the nature of surgery.  But talk about your worries and don't keep them inside.  I'm also a believer in the Law of Attraction - if you obsess about complications too much, you may just end up attracting that into your life.  So just have cautious optimism and don't work yourself up too much about it.  Talk it out - that's what we're here for. 

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 06, 2014, 08:01:12 PM


We have a person staying with us up until our first post op appointment, around the clock. We made sure that we would have someone that is able to take care of us since we will not be able to take care of each other as originally planned. We are covered in having a caretaker, as well as rides anywhere we might need to go.

That's fantastic.  You guys may really enjoy having each other to recover with!  You have the same surgeon, I assume?

Quote from: Kreuzfidel on February 07, 2014, 03:42:08 AM
I know that some of the guys here talk a lot about how they didn't have much pain, etc. after their surgeries, but I would like to stress that I was in pain the day after surgery and they pain meds I was given didn't do much for me.  I was constipated, weak and feeling like I'd been hit by a train. 

I know that in the US, it seems like guys are basically kicked out of hospital same-day and thus probably seems a bit like the surgery is "no big deal" as it's seen as a "day surgery", but it's a major operation.  I can tell you from my own experience, I would no way in hell have been able to walk to a car, sit for a drive and walk around a hospital and sit and wait.  I was barely able to hobble to the toilet.  Again, these are my experiences, take what you will from them - but I wouldn't advise that your boyfriend try to make it to your surgery the day after his own.  No way would I have been able to do that - everyone is different, but I wouldn't advise it.

If he is going to go ahead and do it anyway, be sure to have some kind of pillow for cushioning for the seatbelt.

Yes they do (the kick you out and let you fend for yourself after surgery). However, this is a typical US surgery situation, and though it was started to save money, I think that there is no reason to think that it is dangerous in anyway. (Not saying you said this.) OTOH, yes, I think it does give some guys the idea this is no big deal. Everybody is affected differently and you have guys who refill their bottle of Vicodin, and guys like myself who didnt' take any. And many people in between.

Second day, I think I finally changed my clothes. But I wasn't really up for much. By day 3-4, I was so stir crazy I could hardly stand it. :)

Everyone is different. I can't say I felt great, I was tired and so on. But I did walk around but it was more casual walking around, without having to get anywhere. Walk around the pool, walk downstairs and back upstairs, that sort of thing. They told me that it's good to walk around (though not elevate your heart rate). So a tiny bit of activity isn't bad, but don't overrate what you can do. Perhaps you could stay back (the day after), and let the other guy who is going with you, go to the hospital with your bf. I know it's a big deal for him but by day 2, he is going to understand COMPLETELY.


--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on February 07, 2014, 06:12:11 PM
Yes they do (the kick you out and let you fend for yourself after surgery). However, this is a typical US surgery situation, and though it was started to save money, I think that there is no reason to think that it is dangerous in anyway. (Not saying you said this.) OTOH, yes, I think it does give some guys the idea this is no big deal.

Yeah, it's funny.  It seems completely appropriate to me that we would be discharged the same day.  There were no dressings to change or anything like that, just drains to take care of.  I could get to the bathroom no problem.  I have a hard time understanding what the purpose is of hospitalization?  What do the nurses do for you that your 24 hour assistant ( the person who "agrees" to watch you for 24 hours after surgery) can't?

Brett, I don't believe same day surgery centers have taken off in the UK and Australia. I think it was mainly a cost cutting thing in the US as well as the fact that there is minaturizing of things like units for anesthesia and that kind of thing, so you can put a whole operating room in a smaller space (at least I recall reading that). Due to the fact that our health care is MUCH more expensive, saving bucks is a big thing here. I think there are benefits to same day like infection control as well.

I don't think there is anything they can do unless you have complications, and severe complications are very rare. I felt very safe in the Same Day. The drains are easy to care for, though I had a little trouble coordinating doing it, once I got the hang of it, I did it by myself.

--Jay

Quote from: Brett on February 07, 2014, 10:17:01 PM
Yeah, it's funny.  It seems completely appropriate to me that we would be discharged the same day.  There were no dressings to change or anything like that, just drains to take care of.  I could get to the bathroom no problem.  I have a hard time understanding what the purpose is of hospitalization?  What do the nurses do for you that your 24 hour assistant ( the person who "agrees" to watch you for 24 hours after surgery) can't?

Yeah. Everyone  in the office kept telling us how this surgery isnt that big of a deal, since its only skin and there is no muscle involved in the surgery. Of course its still a surgery and they made absolute sure i had everything taken care of after our first plan of having boyfriend care for me, then me care for boyfriend failed.

They told us in no uncertain terms that he will NOT be able to be there with me though, so he will not be.

Im stressed about unlikely complications. My biggest fear is not making it back home to my boyfriend. Its nothing to worry about right?

Quote from: Brett on February 07, 2014, 10:17:01 PMI have a hard time understanding what the purpose is of hospitalization?  What do the nurses do for you that your 24 hour assistant ( the person who "agrees" to watch you for 24 hours after surgery) can't?

I don't know any particular reasons as far as official ones, but they gave me an intra-IV antibiotic drip for 2 days.  They came around every hour the first night to check my temperature, blood pressure and O2.  I agree in that my wife could have helped me to the toilet, changed my bottles, etc. as well as the nurses could have - but I suppose that since cutting costs for patients isn't as much of an issue here, they hospitalise you because a) professional carers (nurses) can look after you and administer your pain meds, etc. and b) because this service is available and isn't costing much to us so why not use it? 

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 07, 2014, 11:01:26 PM
Yeah. Everyone  in the office kept telling us how this surgery isnt that big of a deal, since its only skin and there is no muscle involved in the surgery. Of course its still a surgery and they made absolute sure i had everything taken care of after our first plan of having boyfriend care for me, then me care for boyfriend failed.

They told us in no uncertain terms that he will NOT be able to be there with me though, so he will not be.

Im stressed about unlikely complications. My biggest fear is not making it back home to my boyfriend. Its nothing to worry about right?

I pretty much disagree with summing it up as "it's only skin" because it's not.  It's not open-heart surgery, but it's a surgery nonetheless.

You will make it home to your boyfriend, mate.  Nothing to worry about.  You will be observed under anaesthetic by professionals - observed afterwards by professionals and you won't be discharged if they have any worries.

Quote from: Kreuzfidel on February 08, 2014, 04:58:57 AM
I don't know any particular reasons as far as official ones, but they gave me an intra-IV antibiotic drip for 2 days.  They came around every hour the first night to check my temperature, blood pressure and O2.  I agree in that my wife could have helped me to the toilet, changed my bottles, etc. as well as the nurses could have - but I suppose that since cutting costs for patients isn't as much of an issue here, they hospitalise you because a) professional carers (nurses) can look after you and administer your pain meds, etc. and b) because this service is available and isn't costing much to us so why not use it? 

Oh, yes, if it is available why not use it, makes sense to me.  I am confused about us trying to cut cost here in the U.S., yet with National Health Service I thought there was such a long wait due to cost? 

So if that is the case, why wouldn't NHS try to cut cost by doing same day?  Then they could get more people through, no?  Or, perhaps I don't understand the reason why people must wait so long for health care through the NHS?

Someone school me, please!  ;D

All this cost cutting talk is very interesting! I didn't know that they didn't discharge people same day outside of the US.

My fevers been gone for two days and I'm just awaiting my cough to fully f-off. Boyfriend managed to avoid it, so far, lets hope he doesn't end up with the same fate as me. Otherwise our entire year is RUINED.

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 08, 2014, 03:46:06 PM
All this cost cutting talk is very interesting! I didn't know that they didn't discharge people same day outside of the US.

My fevers been gone for two days and I'm just awaiting my cough to fully f-off. Boyfriend managed to avoid it, so far, lets hope he doesn't end up with the same fate as me. Otherwise our entire year is RUINED.

That's great news!  Fingers crossed for both of you to have a healthy year ahead.  It will all work out :) 

Quote from: Brett on February 08, 2014, 09:43:31 AM

Oh, yes, if it is available why not use it, makes sense to me.  I am confused about us trying to cut cost here in the U.S., yet with National Health Service I thought there was such a long wait due to cost? 

So if that is the case, why wouldn't NHS try to cut cost by doing same day?  Then they could get more people through, no?  Or, perhaps I don't understand the reason why people must wait so long for health care through the NHS?

Someone school me, please!  ;D

Well, I'm in Australia and the NHS is in the UK, so what we have here is called Medicare (nothing like the US' Medicare program, though).  There are long waits only if you are having surgery in the "public system" - or through a public hospital.  Basically what that means is that if you don't have private health insurance, the government will pay the majority of your costs through your Medicare, but you go on a long waiting list. 

I have private health insurance which is why it is quicker (and most people do have private health insurance here that are looking to have trans* related surgeries).  What I understand is that the US doesn't have anything like our Medicare, so the entire burden of cost is on the patient if they don't have private insurance, hence cutting costs by having top surgery as a day surgery since I think that there are a lot of guys having it that don't have insurance.

Cost is part of our waiting times, there's only a certain amount of funding allocated for trans stuff each year, one of our gender identity clinics has run out of funding for this financial year, so aren't taking on any new patients until April.  (For anyone reading this from the UK, you can still get referred to Charing Cross, they just can't process the referral until they've got the new funding allocation and have cleared the existing backlog of referrals.)

Then there's jumping through the hoops, you've got to have been living as male for a year before they'll give you surgery here, and 6 months for T.  I'm not sure this happens in America, it seems like all you need there is therapist letters.  Private places here do speed things up in that respect, but they're not so common as far as I'm aware.

And it's simply a massively over stretched system, particularly with trans stuff, as it's not physically life threatening.  For example, Charing Cross has to schedule appointments further appart than all the rest because it's the biggest and being in the captial, closest for a lot of people, and that's the only way it can fit in all of the patients that it has.

Doesn't help that some GPs don't understand how to refer, and don't have the time to do their own research, or can't wrap their heads around the documentation shown to them.  I saw my GP first in mid-October last year, again with more documentation and a phone number for him to call 3 weeks ago and I've still not heard anything back from him.

Uk health care costs a fraction of the cost that health care in the US  (Can include any other country in Western Europe as well as Canada and Australia). Medicare IS actually somewhat like Australia, I believe. It is a single payer but not provider. Though I don't know which systems are single payer or single payer/provider. NHS is the latter. However or medicare it is only for people over 65, as well as disabled people.

One reason to cut costs is for "cosmetic surgery", I don't agree but this is where top surgery is. And insurance doesn't normally cover. So a good reason to cut costs.

I think there are some of these in Canada, but the concept doesn't seem to have gotten across the pond. It might actually make sense.

I think there are other things pro for same day, like lowered infection rate and that kind of thing. You are probably less likely to get a nasty hospital staph infection. Another thing is that moving around is good for you, short of raising your heart rate. I walked around a LOT. Didn't do anything greatly vigorous but being in a hospital connotes being incapacitated.

Most same day surgery centers are connected with a hospital, so if you get an infection (or other serious complication) you could be admitted, if it were necessary. I'm sure ,say, Dr G has admitting rights to the hospital that is next door to Memorial Same Day. I've never heard of anyone getting admitted, but I heard that there are guys he must do in the hospital-- for instance if you had a serious medical condition. (I saw a video of someone who had gotten hydrocephalus treated which involves shunting fluid away from the brain.) I have never read that you are usually in any serious danger after top surgery. It isn't exactly trivial but it's not like heart surgery either.

Most people are not in a terrible amt of pain, so I don't think most surgeons will use drips and so on. Most of the time you are given a prescription of Vicodin or similar drug. Frankly I didn't even take the Vicodin and know many people who maybe took 2-5 of them max. I know a couple guys in the UK, and they took some prescription pain meds (no drip). Top surgery is more uncomfortable than out and out painful, imo.

You wouldn't need your bp and so on taken actually. But since you are in the hospital they are going to justify you being there by doing it. If they didn't do it, they would have a hard time explaining themselves to the local health care boss. :)


--Jay

They prescribed us Norco along with celebrex and something for nausea. I know very little about the healthcare system, I'm on my father's insurance through his big name drug company.
I do know that here in California we have medical, which sounds like how it goes in Australia. It actually covers trans things, as does most higher insurances here.

Be careful though-they found out I was close to reaching the requirements to qualify for top surgery and they cut all my gender benefits. Id imagine it's similar if you go through medical. (which I don't qualify for)

Quote from: aleon515 on February 08, 2014, 07:13:19 PM
Uk health care costs a fraction of the cost that health care in the US  (Can include any other country in Western Europe as well as Canada and Australia). Medicare IS actually somewhat like Australia, I believe. It is a single payer but not provider. Though I don't know which systems are single payer or single payer/provider. NHS is the latter. However or medicare it is only for people over 65, as well as disabled people.

One reason to cut costs is for "cosmetic surgery", I don't agree but this is where top surgery is. And insurance doesn't normally cover. So a good reason to cut costs.

I think there are some of these in Canada, but the concept doesn't seem to have gotten across the pond. It might actually make sense.

I think there are other things pro for same day, like lowered infection rate and that kind of thing. You are probably less likely to get a nasty hospital staph infection. Another thing is that moving around is good for you, short of raising your heart rate. I walked around a LOT. Didn't do anything greatly vigorous but being in a hospital connotes being incapacitated.

Most same day surgery centers are connected with a hospital, so if you get an infection (or other serious complication) you could be admitted, if it were necessary. I'm sure ,say, Dr G has admitting rights to the hospital that is next door to Memorial Same Day. I've never heard of anyone getting admitted, but I heard that there are guys he must do in the hospital-- for instance if you had a serious medical condition. (I saw a video of someone who had gotten hydrocephalus treated which involves shunting fluid away from the brain.) I have never read that you are usually in any serious danger after top surgery. It isn't exactly trivial but it's not like heart surgery either.

Most people are not in a terrible amt of pain, so I don't think most surgeons will use drips and so on. Most of the time you are given a prescription of Vicodin or similar drug. Frankly I didn't even take the Vicodin and know many people who maybe took 2-5 of them max. I know a couple guys in the UK, and they took some prescription pain meds (no drip). Top surgery is more uncomfortable than out and out painful, imo.

You wouldn't need your bp and so on taken actually. But since you are in the hospital they are going to justify you being there by doing it. If they didn't do it, they would have a hard time explaining themselves to the local health care boss. :)


--Jay

I think we will just have to agree to disagree, Jay.  I think it's preferable to be admitted and stay at least overnight and you believe that there are more pros to day surgery.  Either way, whatever works for the country they're in - good on 'em.

Flighty, you will be fine.  Please keep us updated.

Quote from: Kreuzfidel on February 08, 2014, 05:59:41 PM

That's great news!  Fingers crossed for both of you to have a healthy year ahead.  It will all work out :) 

Well, I'm in Australia and the NHS is in the UK, so what we have here is called Medicare (nothing like the US' Medicare program, though).  There are long waits only if you are having surgery in the "public system" - or through a public hospital.  Basically what that means is that if you don't have private health insurance, the government will pay the majority of your costs through your Medicare, but you go on a long waiting list. 

I have private health insurance which is why it is quicker (and most people do have private health insurance here that are looking to have trans* related surgeries).  What I understand is that the US doesn't have anything like our Medicare, so the entire burden of cost is on the patient if they don't have private insurance, hence cutting costs by having top surgery as a day surgery since I think that there are a lot of guys having it that don't have insurance.

Interesting stuff.  Your Medicare sounds like our Medicaid.  Medicaid is for people who can't afford insurance.  Only one or two private insurance companies pay for trans surgeries.  Most top surgeons won't take the insurance, anyway, so pretty much everyone pays out of pocket in the U.S.

I find it interesting that you all separate out the "haves" from the "have nots" when it comes to medical care (I am assuming non emergent medical care).  The "have nots" go on a waiting list, while the "haves" don't.  That sounds rather American, and yet, we actually don't even do that when it comes to our public/private insurance!   ;D  Those on public insurance (Medicaid) would get the same care, on the same time frame as those with private insurance.  What is the downside to Medicaid?   Hmmmmm....besides the fact that it means you don't have much money, it is kick ass insurance with no deductibles/no copays!

lxnder, thanks for the information.  I had a hard time understanding if you were saying you had to live as male for 6 months before you got T?

Yes, here most follow the WPATH standards of care.  As of 9/2012, even a GP can deem you as trans (or rather, they can deem you as having the ability to give "informed consent", meaning that you are able to verbalize and understand what HRT will do to your body), and refer you for HRT. It doesn't have to be a therapist anymore.  The WPATH standards of care say that you need one therapist letter for top surgery.  For bottom surgery you have to live as male for one year and have two letters from mental health professionals.

There are some top surgeons who do not follow the WPATH standards of care and don't require a letter.

You do not have to be on testosterone here to get surgery.  That has never been a requirement here.

Quote from: Brett on February 08, 2014, 11:31:34 PM
lxnder, thanks for the information.  I had a hard time understanding if you were saying you had to live as male for 6 months before you got T?

Yes, normally they require you to live as male for 6 months before giving you T, with proof from your work that you have been living as male with a male name. Fortunately its very simple to change your name here compared to everywhere else. Sometimes they won't start counting your "real life experience" until you get to the gender identity clinic, but I know some people who have gotten round that by proving they were doing it before.

Its normally if you cannot hold down a job, education, or voluntary work, but they can give you T on the basis of just seeing you for 6 months and councilling you, but they don't like doing it at all.

Quote from: lxndr on February 09, 2014, 03:11:03 AM
Yes, normally they require you to live as male for 6 months before giving you T, with proof from your work that you have been living as male with a male name. Fortunately its very simple to change your name here compared to everywhere else. Sometimes they won't start counting your "real life experience" until you get to the gender identity clinic, but I know some people who have gotten round that by proving they were doing it before.

Its normally if you cannot hold down a job, education, or voluntary work, but they can give you T on the basis of just seeing you for 6 months and councilling you, but they don't like doing it at all.

It really is interesting how it depends on the country where you live.  I assume they have the same expectation of MTF individuals? 

Quote from: lxndr on February 09, 2014, 03:11:03 AM
Yes, normally they require you to live as male for 6 months before giving you T, with proof from your work that you have been living as male with a male name. Fortunately its very simple to change your name here compared to everywhere else. Sometimes they won't start counting your "real life experience" until you get to the gender identity clinic, but I know some people who have gotten round that by proving they were doing it before.

Its normally if you cannot hold down a job, education, or voluntary work, but they can give you T on the basis of just seeing you for 6 months and councilling you, but they don't like doing it at all.

Living full-time for some length before getting hormones seems like a really strange requirement to me. It's hard to live full time as your proper gender if nobody reads you as such. Some are lucky enough to pass without hormones, but some also can't pass without them.

Don't mind disagreeing politely with anybody,Kr.
There are advantages and disadvantages to various systems and our's always goes to having money. I'm guessing that is actually the case in Europe. I know of guys who tire of waiting for the approval of their government insurers and just go out and go to the US or go "private" which is an option in some places.

One option here we have in getting T (and surgery in some cases) is informed consent, basically saying you know what you are getting into. I am guessing this is almost not ever the case for lower surgery. Though there are doctors who will do this for someone who has lived as male for very many years (Dr Crane will do this for one). I know a few guys who have lived as male for decades, so this is a good option for them.
I'm guessing you could do informed consent in Canada, and this might be something that will spread. Except that one way to lower costs is to create artificial shortage, i.e. waiting lists. Sadly.


--Jay

Quote from: CursedFireDean on February 09, 2014, 10:30:41 AM
Living full-time for some length before getting hormones seems like a really strange requirement to me. It's hard to live full time as your proper gender if nobody reads you as such. Some are lucky enough to pass without hormones, but some also can't pass without them.

This always boggled my brain.  Most pre-T trans* guys do not pass well (or, if they do, pass as young boys) in general.  I don't understand how it's expected that one (safely) live full-time being unable to pass.  I see nothing but negatives in this - constantly being misgendered and contributing to mental distress, putting oneself in danger potentially in less open-minded societies and the potential of being accused of presenting a false identity when one is claiming to be male and using a different name.  I don't see the benefits.

I think the "living full time" thing is straight from the MTF side, as the MTFs I know have mostly done this. (Though not all, I know someone who was a gal in some situation and not others. Seemed to work very fine for her.) The idea that one even HAS to be "full time" is quite a binary expectation.

I think a lot of us just start living as male when we start being read as male. This only happened for me at about 8 months on T. I think in some areas might even jeopardize someone's safety if they are required to live in a way that might not be accepted by the community.

Really outdated, imo.
I really think informed consent makes the most sense.


--Jay

I have never heard that you have to live full time before you can even get t! Here it's usually a letter from a therapist after three months of therapy. I didn't even need that though.

I lived full time for...maybe four years or so before t? I can tell you it was not fun in the least. I ended up giving up on explaining to people and just denied being trans. Too much of a hassle. Strangely people believed me when I denied it. I definitely didn't pass, I don't even pass after a year and some change on t!

I've also heard of guys getting told "you'll pass well" (or you won't) as some kind of condition, where I imagine guys who they think won't, get a harder time. I can tell you (and  you can look at a pre-post picture of me and see-- check it out in the testosterone forum under a thread on compounded cream) that I didn't pass in the slightest and there was nothing at all that would make you think I would. I do pretty much most of the time, but even that, well it's how you would feel on T (and top surgery). Not whether you pass or not.

--Jay

well here we are back on track of things....we decided to take the stuff they told us to, all the herbal stuff just in case.

the kind of complications im really worried about is just...death. im just worried about not waking up, or something going wrong and i just die on the table. its not even dying so much as it is leaving my boyfriend and things. i know its really highly unlikely, almost impossible, but no matter what i think or believe, i have bad luck. its never been fatally bad, though.

im not TOO stressed about it, its in the back of my mind. literally the only thing im worried about is the surgery itself. healing is no problem for me, but the surgery....its a bit unnerving is all. ive never been under anesthesia before or had a surgery or anything.

I take my boyfriend not being able to come with me as a test or how ready i am. im not worried about him not being there, in fact, hes more worried than i am! i can do this, its go in, go to sleep, wake up and come home. its just kind of tough cause we are so rarely apart from each other. i just hope we wont end up having to.

boyfriends surgery is the day after tomarrow-the day before my surgery is where i got sick. lets hope things go well for him, he feels fine right now so lets hope it stays that way!

The odds of dying as a result of anesthesia are around 1 and 200,000 - 500,000. To put this into perspective, the odds of dying in a plane crash are not much higher than that, but you rarely hear about plane crashes even though millions of people fly every day. Remember, they knock people out for routine operations that you could easily have under local anesthetic. If it were that dangerous, that wouldn't be the case (it would be reserved for emergencies).

Quote from: Declan. on February 10, 2014, 10:15:51 PM
The odds of dying as a result of anesthesia are around 1 and 200,000 - 500,000. To put this into perspective, the odds of dying in a plane crash are not much higher than that, but you rarely hear about plane crashes even though millions of people fly every day. Remember, they knock people out for routine operations that you could easily have under local anesthetic. If it were that dangerous, that wouldn't be the case (it would be reserved for emergencies).

that is pretty much all i needed to hear. statistics put me at ease, mostly. im still going to think, what if i am that ONE?? what if??? but ultimately, its not such a big deal. its just hard venturing into the unknown!

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 10, 2014, 11:06:15 PM
that is pretty much all i needed to hear. statistics put me at ease, mostly. im still going to think, what if i am that ONE?? what if??? but ultimately, its not such a big deal. its just hard venturing into the unknown!

It's a fear I think ultimately of being out of control, not really of dying. It's very safe and there are a lot fo things that they do. YOu should tell the doctor and anethesiologist. I have heard they can be very helpful about easing your mind. I was really scared but then by the time I talked to Dr G I felt really calmer. I think talking to the doctor is a really good thing because you can tell how confident they are.

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on February 10, 2014, 11:46:04 PM
It's a fear I think ultimately of being out of control, not really of dying. It's very safe and there are a lot fo things that they do. YOu should tell the doctor and anethesiologist. I have heard they can be very helpful about easing your mind. I was really scared but then by the time I talked to Dr G I felt really calmer. I think talking to the doctor is a really good thing because you can tell how confident they are.

--Jay

That's it right there! It's a fear of me not being in control and not knowing what my outcome is for sure. A fear of the unknown one could say.

I'll let the Dr know-i actually met the anesthesiologist by accident. He's very cool, reminds me of a guy from the tv show archer. I'm in good hands, for sure, but it's still that leap of faith that spooks me.

Talking it out here is really making it easier... Thanks all :D

The boyfriends scop patch is on and he's ready to go tomarrow morning! I'll keep you all filled in.

I finalized my plans with my driver on Thursday so we are all good on that! Here's hoping I don't get sick again...

Good luck to both of you.  Please keep us informed when you're feeling up to it :)

P.S. - You'll be fine  ;)

Boyfriends home from surgery! He did fine the ride home, he's now asleep.

I'm due in tomarrow. I hope all goes well, since I won't have anyone around. The staff is super friendly though so I should be fine. Keep Ya posted!

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 12, 2014, 02:02:39 PM
Boyfriends home from surgery! He did fine the ride home, he's now asleep.

I'm due in tomarrow. I hope all goes well, since I won't have anyone around. The staff is super friendly though so I should be fine. Keep Ya posted!

Good luck!

This is hard. This whole month has been hard. I'm sitting here fighting tears because I'm apparently more stressed out about this than I thought.

I'm terrified of the IV, freaking terrified. I'm making a big deal about nothing, I know, but it's just...it's hard. This is a part of my body that has always been there being taken away. And it's not like I WANT them there-If I were to not go through with the surgery then I would just spend my whole life hiding them and praying that nobody finds out. What the heck is the point in that? There is no doubt in my mind that I want this but it is dang HARD. Something I am so used to being GONE. Forever. No going back.

It's kind of scary. I am most definitely ready to be done with binders and hiding and the like but...I don't know, I guess this month's stresses have caught up with me.

I'll be fine. Chin up, brave face, it'll all be over soon and everything will be fine. 

Flighty, what you're feeling is perfectly normal IMHO. 

Regarding the IV - it's okay to be scared.  It really only pinches for a moment, then it's done.  I am also afraid of needles, so my advice is not to look at it and you'll be just fine.  Imagine that you're getting a pimple squeezed in a really sensitive area - sounds ridiculous, but that's what I thought when it happened! lol

As far as the feelings you're having about a part of you being gone forever - I felt the same way.  It's not that you want them there - but it's your body and it's a major thing.  Even post-op, I'm feeling a bit weird still.  It's something that you get used to - and when it's not there anymore, it's just a little different.  I feel great that they're gone - but it's an adjustment and everyone will experience it differently.

Just breathe and imagine the freedom of not having to worry about binding anymore.  Envision yourself a year into the future and all the things you'll be able to do with your new chest. 

I think most of your anxiety comes from having it rescheduled. If you psych yourself up for something and it gets rescheduled, you have to start all over again, and with much less time to prepare yourself.  It's human nature to be freaked out that a part of your body is being removed. People get freaked out when they have an extra finger or toe removed, too. You're used to your body. That's a normal feeling.

If you're really worried about the IV, you can usually request a local anesthetic. That may hurt a bit more than the IV itself, but it may make you feel better. Have you ever had an IV before? Do you know what to expect? Is it the unknown that's bothering you?

Remember, you are in control. At any point before you're asleep, even if you're sitting in the chair with the IV in, you can say "I'm not ready," and they'll let you go. The anticipation is always the worst part of any kind of procedure, so reminding yourself that you have the power to back out if it proves to be too much to handle will make you feel much better.  :)

Quote from: Kreuzfidel on February 12, 2014, 07:17:27 PM
Flighty, what you're feeling is perfectly normal IMHO. 

Regarding the IV - it's okay to be scared.  It really only pinches for a moment, then it's done.  I am also afraid of needles, so my advice is not to look at it and you'll be just fine.  Imagine that you're getting a pimple squeezed in a really sensitive area - sounds ridiculous, but that's what I thought when it happened! lol

As far as the feelings you're having about a part of you being gone forever - I felt the same way.  It's not that you want them there - but it's your body and it's a major thing.  Even post-op, I'm feeling a bit weird still.  It's something that you get used to - and when it's not there anymore, it's just a little different.  I feel great that they're gone - but it's an adjustment and everyone will experience it differently.

Just breathe and imagine the freedom of not having to worry about binding anymore.  Envision yourself a year into the future and all the things you'll be able to do with your new chest.

its good to know this is pretty normal. im ready for the after, just not the...before.

Quote from: Declan. on February 12, 2014, 08:19:15 PM
I think most of your anxiety comes from having it rescheduled. If you psych yourself up for something and it gets rescheduled, you have to start all over again, and with much less time to prepare yourself.  It's human nature to be freaked out that a part of your body is being removed. People get freaked out when they have an extra finger or toe removed, too. You're used to your body. That's a normal feeling.

If you're really worried about the IV, you can usually request a local anesthetic. That may hurt a bit more than the IV itself, but it may make you feel better. Have you ever had an IV before? Do you know what to expect? Is it the unknown that's bothering you?

Remember, you are in control. At any point before you're asleep, even if you're sitting in the chair with the IV in, you can say "I'm not ready," and they'll let you go. The anticipation is always the worst part of any kind of procedure, so reminding yourself that you have the power to back out if it proves to be too much to handle will make you feel much better.  :)

ive never had an IV before. Im catastrophically bad with needles that have to sit in me for longer than it takes for my T shot. im worried about panicking and not being able to get my mind off the needle in my hand. Boyfriend said its fine and that nothing was too bad. Its literally just the anticipation thats destroying me.

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 12, 2014, 08:28:28 PM
ive never had an IV before. Im catastrophically bad with needles that have to sit in me for longer than it takes for my T shot. im worried about panicking and not being able to get my mind off the needle in my hand. Boyfriend said its fine and that nothing was too bad. Its literally just the anticipation thats destroying me.

No wonder you're so freaked out...

The needle is no bigger than your shot. If you request a "butterfly" needle, it will be even thinner. The needle goes in just under your skin and does not stay there. After the nurse puts the needle in, s/he will slide a very thin, soft and flexible plastic tube through the needle. As complex and weird as an IV looks, that's the only part that's in your skin.

Then s/he will take the needle out. It's over quickly. The needle will only be in your skin for 3-10 seconds. It feels similar to getting a blood test, but it's over in seconds as opposed to minutes. They do have numbing sprays they can use whether you get a local anesthetic or not as well. You don't feel the tubing in your skin (it's too soft), but your skin will feel a little uncomfortable because of all the tape.

The part about an IV that sucks is after it's been in for a long time, but it feels like a persistent bruise as opposed to a needle pain. If you get it in the crook of your arm, you'll be more uncomfortable because the flexible tubing can get bent (which sounds much worse than it really is). The funny thing is, the worst part of all is when they tear the tape off your skin to take the IV out. It feels like ripping off a giant band-aid. If it makes you feel any better, I've had quite a few IVs and that's what I hate most about them, even with my hatred of needles, lol.

Tell them you're phobic and have never had an IV before. They'll be extra gentle with you, and they'll have the nurse with the most experience give it to you. If you get a good nurse, you may not feel it at all since they know how to avoid nerves.

Quote from: Declan. on February 12, 2014, 08:45:32 PM
No wonder you're so freaked out...

The needle is no bigger than your shot. If you request a "butterfly" needle, it will be even thinner. The needle goes in just under your skin and does not stay there. After the nurse puts the needle in, s/he will slide a very thin, soft and flexible plastic tube through the needle. As complex and weird as an IV looks, that's the only part that's in your skin.

Then s/he will take the needle out. It's over quickly. The needle will only be in your skin for 3-10 seconds. It feels similar to getting a blood test, but it's over in seconds as opposed to minutes. They do have numbing sprays they can use whether you get a local anesthetic or not as well. You don't feel the tubing in your skin (it's too soft), but your skin will feel a little uncomfortable because of all the tape.

The part about an IV that sucks is after it's been in for a long time, but it feels like a persistent bruise as opposed to a needle pain. If you get it in the crook of your arm, you'll be more uncomfortable because the flexible tubing can get bent (which sounds much worse than it really is). The funny thing is, the worst part of all is when they tear the tape off your skin to take the IV out. It feels like ripping off a giant band-aid. If it makes you feel any better, I've had quite a few IVs and that's what I hate most about them, even with my hatred of needles, lol.

Tell them you're phobic and have never had an IV before. They'll be extra gentle with you, and they'll have the nurse with the most experience give it to you. If you get a good nurse, you may not feel it at all since they know how to avoid nerves.

...it's a tube in there?! You mean I DONT have to have a needle in me just sitting there?! Suddenly everything is 50000 times easier! A bit of freakin tube in my skin is freaking nothing are you serious

Why did nobody tell me this sooner?! I can sit there with just about anything under my skin, long as its not a needle. Wow. Wow. This is gonna be cake.

Thank you so much dude I don't think you even understand how much that was worrying me!

Quote from: FlightyBrood on February 12, 2014, 10:22:13 PM
...it's a tube in there?! You mean I DONT have to have a needle in me just sitting there?! Suddenly everything is 50000 times easier! A bit of freakin tube in my skin is freaking nothing are you serious

Why did nobody tell me this sooner?! I can sit there with just about anything under my skin, long as its not a needle. Wow. Wow. This is gonna be cake.

Thank you so much dude I don't think you even understand how much that was worrying me!

Haha, no problem. I figured that was why you were worried. Glad I could help.

I don't think everyone knows or they probably would have told you. An IV really is just a tiny, soft, short tube held in by tape. The part that's under your skin is as thin as a hair - not an exaggeration. (So don't worry when you see the thick tubing coming out of the plastic hub - that's not in your hand!) I think people see the needle, look away so they don't watch what's going on, and assume that's what's staying in their skin.

Scop patch is on and I'm ready to go for tomarrow!

Good luck! Have a great day tomorrow. :)

Hey guys, FB's boyfriend here! I'm being told they took him back about twenty minutes ago! I'm freaking out for him... really upset I couldn't be there, but I just had my surgery yesterday, so what can you do? A great friend of ours is there with him, gave him a ride because his mom couldn't do it, and refuses money for gas. I'm just gonna have to buy her something really nice!

Anyway, send all your good energies, guys. We really appreciate the support. :)

FB is home and everything went fine. :) He's very, very tired... been asleep since he got home. I'm not worried, because that's all I did yesterday too. I slept ALL DAY!

I can't tell how his chest looks yet because his vest didn't fit either, so he's done up in a ton of foam and bandages. We'll see in a week I guess!

Good to hear :D

And happy healing to you both!  Don't forget to update in the Recovery Updates thread!

Hey all!

Waking up was the worst...I'm kinda dizzy from meds but I figure I'd say I'm ok! The iv was nothibg!w

Glad to hear everything went well. Thanks for updating us. Congratulations. :)

Well done!

This foam is maddening. It tickles under it and I can't do anything until next Friday about it when I get the stuff off.

It's torture. Other than that I feel pretty fine.

Edit for an update. Didn't get much sleep last night, I couldnt get comfy. We have a cat that's a climber and every time I heard his bell I had to watch him and make sure he wasn't planning on jumping on us.

I'm terrified I'm going to have a nightmare about when I woke up from surgery. I was shaking so badly I thought I was going to have a seizure. I was TERRIFYING. I hope I never have to go under again.

The pain is bearable. If it gets bad, I take a pain pill and it goes down. I'm up and about today, and a little miserable because I have to wear this way tight bandage for seven more days.

But every so often, I think, it's over. It's finally over and I'm home in bed with my boyfriend and we are recovering together. Our caretaker told us we are an inspiration to him (hes pre op). It feels great.

Hopefully this year is starting to turn up. I'm going to take a nap.

Take it easy, Flighty.  Rest up and stop thinking about things so hard.  You really seem to work yourself up - I know it's all pretty scary and new, but it's over now and you're fine.  It will only get better from here, mate.  8)

Quote from: Kreuzfidel on February 15, 2014, 02:47:21 AM
Take it easy, Flighty.  Rest up and stop thinking about things so hard.  You really seem to work yourself up - I know it's all pretty scary and new, but it's over now and you're fine.  It will only get better from here, mate.  8)

Getting himself worked up is right!  lol

FB, try to put all this in perspective.  You are going to be uncomfortable for a couple of months.  A short couple of months out of your life.  You are going to be tired, sore, itchy, frustrated.  Just ride it out.  Focus on your very good fortune that you got this done and never have to wear a binder again.  What would you rather...the binder you are wearing now for a short period of time or a binder for the rest of your life?  Look forward to seeing the chest you were supposed to be born with.  Try to not focus on the surgery itself.

Expect to feel like ->-bleeped-<-.  You just had surgery.  You are not going to become all energied and feel great.  Expect to feel like ->-bleeped-<- for a while.

Sleep as much as you can.  Drink lots of water to get the anethesia out of your system.  Relax your body and your brain. 

Chill and watch TV.  Think less.  And count your lucky stars...there are lots of guys who would kill to be in your position.

It only gets better from here!  :)

Thanks for all the encouragement. I'm super lucky and blessed I know. I have anxiety issues which is why I get myself worked up

Believe me guys, it's not as if we went into this expecting for everything to be pain and discomfort free - and we definitely are incredibly grateful for being able to have it done. But being able to vent a little through the pain and discomfort helps a little. ;)

Quote from: NathanExplosion on February 15, 2014, 11:46:46 AM
Believe me guys, it's not as if we went into this expecting for everything to be pain and discomfort free - and we definitely are incredibly grateful for being able to have it done. But being able to vent a little through the pain and discomfort helps a little. ;)

Nathan (great name btw, it is the only other one I considered), I didn't mean to imply FB was ungrateful, I was just suggesting to look at the positives to pull through.  I do get how venting helps.   :)

Hang in there, guys!

Quote from: Brett on February 15, 2014, 12:16:13 PM
Nathan (great name btw, it is the only other one I considered), I didn't mean to imply FB was ungrateful, I was just suggesting to look at the positives to pull through.  I do get how venting helps.   :)

Hang in there, guys!

Naw it's cool! Usually I'm all about the positives...but man not showering for a whole week! It's okay though, because a little pain and discomfort is nothing compared to having to worry about someone noticing my binder. There are clear silver linings here!