Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm so excited for this. Having surgery with Dr. Satterwhite in 8 days. I'm looking to see if you guys can give me any feedback on my plans.

1. Flying. I'm anxious about TSA giving me a hard time so I'm planning on showing up 2 hours before my flight. Maybe 2.5 hours? My plan is to bring a typed letter that says something along the lines of
"I am a pre-operation transgender man which is why your AIT screening showed an anomaly. I appreciate your professionalism in following TSA rules and regulations (i.e. pat down by a male officer and not requesting I remove my shirt.) If you cannot be professional, please call a supervisor." I plan to print out the transgender TSA page and highlight key phrases (http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/transgender-travelers).
What do you think? Good idea? Will this make it harder on me? I don't mind outing myself to security personnel but I don't want to have this conversation in front of all the other travelers. I will just tell them I need a pat down for medical reasons and hand them this note.

I'm flying alone both ways and plan to pack things in a traditional backpack. I'm going to pack pretty light; I don't have a laptop or anything.

2. I'm a teacher and I need to return to school 3 weeks after surgery. I can take it easy but I don't have any more sick days and I can't leave my students with a sub for that long. Any advice for returning to work? I have a high stool with a back at a table in the front I could instruct from if that is necessary.

3. I'm also not sure what to think about the constipation warnings. I have never been anything close to constipated in my life, even when I was taking opiates recreationally (oops). I have sort of an irrational fear of laxatives. Could a strong cup of coffee work? What about kombucha? I plan to have some kombucha for the probiotic effect anyway.

4. I'm lucky that my mother will be caring for me the first 3 days and I have various friends staying with me for the first couple weeks. After 2 weeks I assume I'll be okay enough to putter around my house and take care of myself.

Am I totally off the mark? Anything I'm missing? Oh, also, do all surgeons require you to wear a binder or equivalent after the post-op appointment at 1 week? I'm antsy to put binding behind me.

Congrats!

Quote from: Whynaut on March 08, 2015, 05:22:39 PM
I'm so excited for this. Having surgery with Dr. Satterwhite in 8 days. I'm looking to see if you guys can give me any feedback on my plans.

1. Flying. I'm anxious about TSA giving me a hard time so I'm planning on showing up 2 hours before my flight. Maybe 2.5 hours? My plan is to bring a typed letter that says something along the lines of
"I am a pre-operation transgender man which is why your AIT screening showed an anomaly. I appreciate your professionalism in following TSA rules and regulations (i.e. pat down by a male officer and not requesting I remove my shirt.) If you cannot be professional, please call a supervisor." I plan to print out the transgender TSA page and highlight key phrases (http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/transgender-travelers).
What do you think? Good idea? Will this make it harder on me? I don't mind outing myself to security personnel but I don't want to have this conversation in front of all the other travelers. I will just tell them I need a pat down for medical reasons and hand them this note.

Won't you go through that x-ray machine?  If you don't "pack", then you will go right through

I'm flying alone both ways and plan to pack things in a traditional backpack. I'm going to pack pretty light; I don't have a laptop or anything.

Traditional backpack will be hard if you are the one wearing it.  I suggest a light bag you wear on your shoulder.  Like a messenger bag that you don't wear across your chest.

2. I'm a teacher and I need to return to school 3 weeks after surgery. I can take it easy but I don't have any more sick days and I can't leave my students with a sub for that long. Any advice for returning to work? I have a high stool with a back at a table in the front I could instruct from if that is necessary.

I think you will be fine going back at 3 weeks as a teacher

3. I'm also not sure what to think about the constipation warnings. I have never been anything close to constipated in my life, even when I was taking opiates recreationally (oops). I have sort of an irrational fear of laxatives. Could a strong cup of coffee work? What about kombucha? I plan to have some kombucha for the probiotic effect anyway.

I think one of the main reasons people get constipated is because they don't drink enough water.  Drink a lot of water!  Anesthesia causes dehydration, as do narcotics.

4. I'm lucky that my mother will be caring for me the first 3 days and I have various friends staying with me for the first couple weeks. After 2 weeks I assume I'll be okay enough to putter around my house and take care of myself.

Yes

Am I totally off the mark? Anything I'm missing? Oh, also, do all surgeons require you to wear a binder or equivalent after the post-op appointment at 1 week? I'm antsy to put binding behind me.

I would think that Crane's office would have sent you some paperwork by now/told you by now all that would happen at post op, including whether or not you have to wear a binder.  It depends on the surgeon.  Maybe it is on their site?

Good luck and congrats!

Congrats!

I also flew alone, and I only had a backpack style bag so I packed light and wore it loosely over one shoulder.

One tip I would have - I had a small suitcase (checked in baggage) and on the way back i ended up using a shipping service rather than taking it with me, as I knew I wouldn't be able to take it off the belt, lift it onto bus etc.

But if you have light carry on only, you'll be fine. All the best!

Thanks guys!

@Brett: Some airports have body scans and they cause trouble for trans people. I'm 1 year on T and pass fully so they'll select the male body outline for me and my chest will make it appear as though I am hiding something there. :/ Pretty lame. Seems like some people make it through but it's more likely that you will set off the device.

Quote from: Whynaut on March 08, 2015, 07:30:47 PM
Thanks guys!

@Brett: Some airports have body scans and they cause trouble for trans people. I'm 1 year on T and pass fully so they'll select the male body outline for me and my chest will make it appear as though I am hiding something there. :/ Pretty lame. Seems like some people make it through but it's more likely that you will set off the device.

Ok, you are saying that when you wear the binder you would be alerted?  Pre-T I went through the male body scan while wearing a binder, and no problems.  On the way back with no binder i had no problem for obvious reasons.  I thought packers were more the issue for guys in the scans.  This is the first time I have hyeard of binders.  Interesting.

I don't think it's so much the binder as it is the unexpected chest lumps.

You aren't going to be able to go thru the scanner post-top surgery because you can't raise your arms. You have to ask for a (gentle) pat down (which they could easily do).  Perhaps they will allow you to do pre-clear (they only do a metal detector). (Fun facts re: scanners, they have to chose your sex to run it, so they may chose and come up with something they weren't expecting. Over half of all scanners don't work and they have no money to fix them. Doesn't bother me, it's security theatre anyway.) Good idea re: printing out instructions and having something to say if you need to.

Lots of good alternatives re: luggage. No backpacks, unless it has wheels.

You can certainly putter around by yourself. I definitely preferred it. A few things I couldn't do two weeks post-op. Garbage (weight), cat litter (weight), laundry (weight and angle that you put the laundry in), shopping (driving part of shopping). You might get help a few times a week. My friends were very happy to help out here (actually my best friend nearly drove me mad, but that's another subject).

--Jay

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Had surgery this morning at 7:30 and everything went well. The opiates are making me nauseated which is really annoying but other than that I'm fine. Got a nice view of the bay from my couch.

I wanted to reply to update people on my plane ride. Printing out that letter was a huge help. I just showed it to TSA at the body scan, they read it and I didn't out myself. I did end up showing as an anomaly on the scan so I got a chest part down right there (took 5 secs) got my hands swabbed and was okay to go. Definitely a good option for anyone who might be worried about being harassed.

Excited to finally have this behind me (the binder is definitely annoying but I can handle it for a week).

Quote from: Whynaut on March 16, 2015, 08:50:52 PM
Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Had surgery this morning at 7:30 and everything went well. The opiates are making me nauseated which is really annoying but other than that I'm fine. Got a nice view of the bay from my couch.

I wanted to reply to update people on my plane ride. Printing out that letter was a huge help. I just showed it to TSA at the body scan, they read it and I didn't out myself. I did end up showing as an anomaly on the scan so I got a chest part down right there (took 5 secs) got my hands swabbed and was okay to go. Definitely a good option for anyone who might be worried about being harassed.

Excited to finally have this behind me (the binder is definitely annoying but I can handle it for a week).

Congrats!  I am glad to hear the surgery went well!