Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm living in Utah currently so I'll have to email photos of my chest and do the consult over the phone. Then travel for surgery, hopefully by early summer. Do any of you have firsthand experience traveling to Ohio to go to Medalie? I Just emailed the online gender therapist to work on getting a letter within the next couple months. Hopefully I can have the consult and schedule right away though. Thanks for any help!!!!

I live in Ohio so I didn't have to travel but after you are all scheduled a packet comes in the mail with forms and hotels that can be called. Once you have your letter get surgery scheduled so that you have plenty of time for flight and hotel reservations. Medalie has two surgery centers, one is cheaper so ask about that.

I'm curious about people's experiences traveling to see Medalie as well and how that went in the context of impairment from surgery.  Thanks for sharing folks.

Quote from: Alexthecat on January 20, 2015, 06:06:43 PM
I live in Ohio so I didn't have to travel but after you are all scheduled a packet comes in the mail with forms and hotels that can be called. Once you have your letter get surgery scheduled so that you have plenty of time for flight and hotel reservations. Medalie has two surgery centers, one is cheaper so ask about that.

Hey thank you!! Do you know if I need the letter before my consult and/or before I schedule surgery? Or can I get scheduled as long as I have the letter in time for the actual surgery?

You need to send in the letter when you send in the initial pictures. After that you schedule.
Read his trans section on the website it explains it all mostly. http://www.clevelandplasticsurgery.com/transgender-surgery Nakey chest pics warning.

Quote from: Jaiden on January 20, 2015, 06:10:48 PM
I'm curious about people's experiences traveling to see Medalie as well and how that well in the context of impairment from surgery.  Thanks for sharing folks.

The first 2-3 days sucked and I tried to stayed doped up on pain meds. I had pain from the drains more than the actual incision line. Plan surgery so that you have the drains in the least amount of time possible. He makes you keep them in 5 days at least. I had mine on a monday and had to keep them in till the next monday. I had barely any drainage.

Quote from: KamTheMan on January 20, 2015, 04:57:59 PM
I'm living in Utah currently so I'll have to email photos of my chest and do the consult over the phone. Then travel for surgery, hopefully by early summer. Do any of you have firsthand experience traveling to Ohio to go to Medalie? I Just emailed the online gender therapist to work on getting a letter within the next couple months. Hopefully I can have the consult and schedule right away though. Thanks for any help!!!!

Hey there.  I am in SLC.  I'm curious on why are you going to Ohio?  I'm working on getting my surgery set up here.  I already had a consultation with Dr. Agarwal. 

Dee

That's smart thinking about the drains, great tip :)  Do you think you would have been up for traveling after you got the drains removed?

Quote from: Jaiden on January 20, 2015, 06:27:31 PM
That's smart thinking about the drains, great tip :)  Do you think you would have been up for traveling after you got the drains removed?

Oh I was fine after that, I went to eat lunch in a restaurant. Take a pillow for the seatbelt. They do not clean your chest when they take everything off so you will probably want to go shower first thing. Drain removal hurts like 1000 suns btw.

Quote from: Alexthecat on January 20, 2015, 06:32:55 PM
Oh I was fine after that, I went to eat lunch in a restaurant. Take a pillow for the seatbelt. They do not clean your chest when they take everything off so you will probably want to go shower first thing. Drain removal hurts like 1000 suns btw.

Ick.  That's scary.  I'd be coming from mn most likely, so flying probably makes more sense.  Is it really safe to shower with fresh wounds like that?

There is tape over the incisions and you do not let the spray go on your chest. Basically you wash everything else and gently try to get the marker and dye off the chest parts. GENTLY  and TAKE YOUR TIME and use a scrubby with a long handle, reaching your feet is not really safe at that point.

Quote from: SyrBigDog on January 20, 2015, 06:25:14 PM
Hey there.  I am in SLC.  I'm curious on why are you going to Ohio?  I'm working on getting my surgery set up here.  I already had a consultation with Dr. Agarwal. 

Dee

I'm getting the Peri surgery and love Dr Medalie's results.

Quote from: Alexthecat on January 20, 2015, 06:23:31 PM
The first 2-3 days sucked and I tried to stayed doped up on pain meds. I had pain from the drains more than the actual incision line. Plan surgery so that you have the drains in the least amount of time possible. He makes you keep them in 5 days at least. I had mine on a monday and had to keep them in till the next monday. I had barely any drainage.

Are the drains used for the peri surgery too? Or just DI?

Not sure but there is a video on his website of him doing a peri. It probably shows it or you could ask him for sure.

Quote from: KamTheMan on January 20, 2015, 09:05:10 PM
I'm getting the Peri surgery and love Dr Medalie's results.

Gotcha!  Good Luck! 

Quote from: Jaiden on January 20, 2015, 06:37:58 PM
Ick.  That's scary.  I'd be coming from mn most likely, so flying probably makes more sense.  Is it really safe to shower with fresh wounds like that?

You just simply don't.  You have to wait until the bandages are removed.  Even after this, Garramone told us to not let the water directly hit our chests for two weeks.  You are supposed to stand with your back to the shower and just let the water trickle over your chest for washing purposes.