Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Rather than railroad other threads too much, i wanted to try to make a common one for asking preparation questions for forthcoming trip to Thailand with Dr Chettawut. (Confirmed 28.07.14 - yay!) however i dont want to close the door to other surgeons so ill try to keep things generic.

Helping Hands
Obviosuly the first four days are bed rest, and then transfer to hotel. Do most patients then need regular help to move around for the first few days? / weeks? (Very individual i suspect)

Are visitors able to stay with you in the hospital / clinic phase or should they book hotel seperately? (Im lucky, my mother will travel with me for the first week).

How strong is the recovery community? Im guessing there will be a few girls in the same hotel around the same time but guessing it is fairly spontaneous....

Visa / durations
Most clinics like you to stay as long as possible after the operation. Flying back will always be uncomfortable, so does it make sense to get extended visa?
(It could be useful to be back in switzerland after 24 days post op but i want to make sure im not risking anything)

For extended visa's, the Thai website seems to say the flights have to be pre-booked. Is that normslly the case, and have visa's ever been turned down?

Recovery Equipment / Materials
Is it worth traveling with your own pack of dilators before the operation? (Soul Source... Or other recommendations)

I remember reading somewhere about cleaning pads / towels etc, but any good brands which can be preordered (switzerland is not so easy to find things). Any critical things vs not needed?

A 4-year post op friend was having intercourse pain and was given hormonal cream for inside treatment which helped massively. Are such creams recommended / supplied in Thailand? Or i rely on my gynacologist (a transman).

Post Op clothing
Hmm i realised i only own one pair of non-tight fighting trousers. And couple of skirts... So what is the best type of recovery clothing... Comfortable and easy clean?

Same with Underwear. Im mostly Sloggi hipsters as they work wonders for tuck n hide. But im guessing they might be a bit tight for post op.

Post op Hotel food
Unfortunately im dairy intolerant and bread / yeast doesnt like my stomach. Although Staying in a hotel (Dusit) ill problably skip their breakfasts for fruits n nuts and other yummy produce. However is this recommended?

Restaurants, take outs or energy bars? At which pount in recovery phase were you comfortable for which?

Post op compus mentus...
Im planning on using the enforced relaxation time to relearn my functional anatomy as I hope to study Rolfing later in 2015. However is the recovery period a forgetful time? Or am i being far too over optimistic / impatient (laughing).

I know i wont be able to do my regular level of sports / exercise, and yoga. Pilattes etc is banned for 3 months. Im not supergirl or superwoman, but i would at least like to be able to help with my recovery. Bed rest is good for the soul but not the muscles or cardio system, so did anyone find some helpful exercises which could be done?

Im sure ill figure out more questions as i go along but would be grateful for a discussion on experiences, or a general link (s) on where to find out more...

let me explain my experience with Dr Chettawut. Even though it is a personal experience, it will help u understand what is the recovery like having in mind that each recovery is an individual process as you said. I have found here posts that really freak you out when you read about the pain levels after SRS, about painful dilation..... My SRS was not that bad and most of the other ladies I met there. After 4 days in hospital you are fit enough to look after yourself, of course doing only light things... Having your mom is a good thing.... Pain was not an issue for me and it is controllable with painkillers. I made some very good friends with other patients there. Most of them are friendly because being in recovery is a very boring process and everyone needs company. The clinic is super helpful, so you can ask them about any kind of help you need... They seemed to go out of their way to keep patients happy. Maybe just the thai mentality... Dr Chettawut is a skilled doctor so don't worry you will be in good hands:) I wish you a successful surgery ;)

Good luck with your surgery !

I had it done with Dr.Kamol in September last year ..

I am VERY VERY happy with the result. :)

Good luck with your surgery 'Monkeymel'!

QuoteGood luck with your surgery !

I had it done with Dr.Kamol in September last year ..

I am VERY VERY happy with the result. :)

Hi DianaWonderWoman! earlier today I replied to your Yeson VFS post...I hope you are able to send images to Yeson soon and get confirmation that the surgery will help you!

As you've mentioned you went to Kamol for your SRS though, I'd love to take this opportunity to ask you about your experience with him.

I currently feel torn between Suporn and Brassard...but Kamol is one of those interesting surgeons, who whenever I've read about him, I felt a positive feeling like I should consider him too. From my understanding, he's done a lot less procedures than Brassard or Suporn but what I've read and seen (mainly photos on his website..sadly I can't find any elsewhere), his results do look great. So yeah, love to hear anything you have to say about him and your result...maybe I could be swayed to go to him! I know he's very popular with Brasilian and Japanese patients, for instance.

Thanks,

Gigi

@Monkeymel, I am 9 weeks post op also with Dr Chet. Congrats on your date and choice of surgeon!

As far as visa's, I was there for 29 days and did not require one being from South Africa and staying less than 30 days. Im not sure of the requirements for your country.

Having a travel companion is a good thing, and they would continue to stay on at the hotel for the duration of your hospital stay. Dr Chets drivers travel between the hotel and clinic many times every day, so, would collect them and take them back to the hotel after visits.

You are supplied with your dilator kit upon being discharged from hospital, and they are quite sufficient to begin with, so, you do not need to purchase any others. I have just started on no 4 this week, so, would probably be looking at purchasing the soul source in the next month or so when I am ready to go up in size.

They provide pretty much everything you need but you can also purchase extra pads, bed liners, lube etc from Som or also from one of the pharmacies or Tesco's in the mall across the road from Dusit.

If you have specific dietary requirements, id recommend discussing them upon your arrival with the hotel. You would start bowel cleansing 3 days before surgery, so, only clear fluids then till your surgery. Upon arriving back at the hotel, you are not allowed to leave your room for a few days, although you will be more than capable of looking after yourself. You will probably rest most of the time, but have to get up to empty your catheter and eat.

They remove the vaginal packing on around day 7 and the catheter around day 9 depending on your recovery, so, you will be confined to your room for at least 5 days after returning to the hotel. They deliver breakfast to your room every morning and for me it was enough food for breakfast and lunch. They provide a high protein diet to aid in your recovery, but again, discuss your requirements with them beforehand.

I stocked up on lots of water, extra food like instant noodles, soups, and snacks before my surgery as I was alone and did not know for how long I would not be able to leave my room afterwards. The hotel does have room service aswell.

Once the catheter is removed, you will be allowed to shower and move around in the hotel, go for meals at the hotel restaurant and a few days later you will be encouraged to take walks to the mall every day. There are restaurants, and food stalls, lots of choices.

My first walk was on day 11 after surgery and I spent 2 days in bed recovering after that, lol! One does not realise the effects of the surgery and that it is actually major surgery, so, listen to your body. I also had many plans to use my 3 weeks of recovery to study etc, etc, but my mind just was not in that space. Comfy, loose fitting clothes are a definite must, tight underwear, pants, denims etc, will be very uncomfortable.

I never really had 'pain' as such, but alot of discomfort from the vaginal packing and especially the stitches. You will however have more than enough pain medication should you require it.

There are other patients in the hotel, all in different stages of recovery, so, you will definitely connect with other people.

I hope you find some of the info useful and I wish you the best of luck on your journey! Keep us posted on your recovery.

Adrienne.

Adrianne,

Cong for your surgery:) Are you happy with the results so far?

Angelized,

Thank you and yes, I am extremely happy. It far exceeds any expectations I had. There is still some swelling, which is normal, and the final stitches are now disappearing, but from the way things are healing so far, I am confident that in the not too distant future, any signs of surgery in that area will be relatively undetectable.

Finally being able to see the end result, if one reads Dr Chets description of the various structures and how he positions them, his selection and placement of skin etc, then what he has created for me is exactly according to that description.

He is a very capable and very talented man.

Thank you flygirl - and I'm so glad to hear you are recovering well; and that I've made the right decision. Tomorrow book the flights!

Thanks everyone else for their replies

An impatient Monkeymel

Quote from: Flygirl on April 26, 2014, 09:49:20 AM
Angelized,

Thank you and yes, I am extremely happy. It far exceeds any expectations I had. There is still some swelling, which is normal, and the final stitches are now disappearing, but from the way things are healing so far, I am confident that in the not too distant future, any signs of surgery in that area will be relatively undetectable.

Finally being able to see the end result, if one reads Dr Chets description of the various structures and how he positions them, his selection and placement of skin etc, then what he has created for me is exactly according to that description.

He is a very capable and very talented man.

That is amazing :)
As dr chet girl i can tell you you will have mostly invisible scars after the surgery... I am glad it all turned out great for you as well :)

Hey MM -The Dusit is very nice, & very western.  I stayed at the Rama cottages last winter (JAN-FEB).  I was there for FFS (which I've been very pleased with), and I plan on going back to Chet for SRS & BA next JAN.    The Cottages were a little divy, but very nice and the way they were situated led to quite a little community of "Chet girls" from around the world.  Sounds like Fly girl checked most of the blocks already.  As far as the visa goes, their website says you need tickets in hand prior to getting your 60 day tourist visa.  I didn't have to show my itineraty and I was in and out of the consulate in minutes.  Of course Murphy's law would dictate that if you didn't have your itinerary with you they'd ask for it.  It also appeared to me that the recovery was very individualized, and some girls are up & about very quickly while others take much longer.  Youth and good physical health are a huge plus! 

Chet's clinic looks pretty divy as far as western standards go, but he and his staff were great.  I'm looking forward to seeing them again :).

Cheers & congrats!
Kim

I second everything Flygirl said; the only thing I'd add is that Tesco (either in Seacon Square or across from the Rama) is a great place to go for cheap, light clothes for your stay, as well.

Like Kim I also stayed at the Rama cottages. I personally think they're a nice option because they offer a nice secluded area in back, and Seacon Square (a major selling point of the Dusit) is just a cheap cab ride away when you need it, as is The Mall Bang Kapi. And most importantly of all for me, they're cheaper. :P

One thing I'd strongly encourage is getting out and seeing the Bangkok sights during the 2-3 days you have before surgery! It's a really neat city, and I personally regret not getting to see more of it before being resigned to the hotel—I fully intend to return someday to take in more.

hello,
how is the clinic and care of dr. chettawut?
beautiful room? TV?

"Private" room photo
Right after the surgery You will be put to the "post-op" recovery room, which also has the digital tv & fast wifi internet. And remember for most of the time You will probably be sleeping for those first days in the clinic.

From my pov care was excellent (You have a phone handset to "call for service") they probably remember me as that annoying girl which was calling all the time either for water, either to ask for emptying the urine bag :D

Hey all.

I'm monitoring this thread closely as I am planning on going with Dr Chett when the time comes (probably around 16-18 months away)

One thing I have been trying to find out though is how long on average his waiting lists are?

What was every bodies experience with the list? Did you have to wait a long time after contacting them?

I'm also really torn between a hotel room at the Dustin, or one of the cottages at the Rama, any other pros/cons people can say to sway me one way or the other? ^^

Glad to hear so many girls having good experiences with Dr Chett :)

Quote from: Danniella on May 02, 2014, 09:53:06 AM
Hey all.

I'm monitoring this thread closely as I am planning on going with Dr Chett when the time comes (probably around 16-18 months away)

One thing I have been trying to find out though is how long on average his waiting lists are?

What was every bodies experience with the list? Did you have to wait a long time after contacting them?

I'm also really torn between a hotel room at the Dustin, or one of the cottages at the Rama, any other pros/cons people can say to sway me one way or the other? ^^

Glad to hear so many girls having good experiences with Dr Chett :)

Dr Chett's office will ask you your preferred month. I gave them a month that was three months away, and got it.
I don't know if there are times of year that are busier, or if I just got lucky.

Hi
A couple of weeks ago I got an opening to get my GRS done and contacted Dr Chettawut's office to find out the earliest date they could take me after end of July. The answer was 20th August ie. just under  four months from when I sent my request. I contacted Dr Brassard's office to  ask the same question and the answer was mid-Sept....ie. almost 5 months.

In both cases, I expect they do more business in the summer months than other times of the year and in the case of Dr Brassard, they also shut down for vacation for a good four weeks mid-summer. Looks like Québec is even worse than France.. :)

I believe 3 months minimum  is a good rule of thumb to have in mind and probably also a good lenght of time to really get your head around what you are about to do.

Hope that helps.
Donna

   

Hey Daniella - I stayed at the cottage last JAN/FEB (FFS) and I plan on staying there again when I go back next year (GRS).  The Dusit is really nice and it's next to a large mall, but the cottages were a lot more like a small apartment, and for a long stay it's a better way to go.  The area the cottages are located in is very quiet, fairly private, and there is a nice little park, swimming pool, and nice pathways to walk around on.  Also, the way the cottages are situated is much better for interacting with other Chet patients.  The Dusit (visited there) was much more formal, and while the rooms are very similar cost wise, not having access to cooking and laundry will end up costing more

Have you looked at Bambi's guide yet?  It was a great source of information and she also highly recommends the cottage. 

Hope this helps, I'm tentatively planning on being there in January.

Cheers
Kim

Thanks for the responses,

So it seems like 3-4 months is the average waiting list, which is not bad at all to be honest :)

I did read Bambi's guide obsessively for a while, but I always like a second...third and even fourth opinion before making up my mind, especially in relation  to picking a comfortable place be trapped in for weeks while you recover from major surgery ^^

as is food in the Dusit hotel?you ordered and costs?
sorry for my bad englisch!!!

I'm really lucky and will be joined by two people during my time in Bangkok. However it would be nice to know of recommended places for them to visit (day trips). Water temples?, diving? Fabric markets? So any useful hints would be greatly appreciated for them and future visitors

Can I say you should go over a few weeks earlier and enjoy the country, its an amazing place, so much history and so peaceful, the people are so wonderful.

I second Nicole's suggestion.  The highlight of my "pre-surgery" tourism was spending a few days at Ko Si Chang Island.  It's about a 2 hr bus ride south of Bangkok to Sri Racha, then a 45 minute ferry ride to the island.  The main (almost only form) of transportation is mopeds.  There's a port on one side of the island with a nice hotel, and a really nice beach on the other side with a slightly lesser quality hotel.  I was there three nights, had a great time, and the room(s), moped, food etc, came to about $150 US.

Cheers
Kim