Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hey everyone, so it's just under a month to my visit to Montreal for GRS.  Starting to get really nervous about the surgery.  I'm terrified that something might go wrong in the weeks leading up to the visit, and I wont be able to have it done, or that my paperwork wont be complete.  Did anyone have similar fears?

I was nervous too, so I emailed them to make sure they have everything they need. And they did which calmed me down considerably.

Its completely ok to be a bit nervous...
you could do a few things you like (within reason :) ), and some light exercise to work off stress...

and you could imagine a positive outcome, and holding tight to that picture :)

There were many who successfully went through this, it will be ok :)


hugs

Thanks I took your advice and just emailed them Jfong.  Yup Laura... positive thought!  I see the light at the end of the tunnel and can't believe that it's been 7 years since i started all of this.

Yes, definitely. I actually traveled with duplicate copies of *everything* they might need, just in case. :) Test results, everything.

Hmm 27 days that would put you there when my hubby will be there for his part 2.

Anyway we live in Montreal so could stop around for a visit anyway if his is changed.

Let me know if you would like a visit. 

Thanks Mrs izzy.   I actually have a bunch of friends coming up with me the first few days at least.   Thanks for the offer though.

Ok glad you have company.  

I will be around with my hubby so should catch you around first few days.  

If you need anything when they are not around just send a Pm. 

Mrs.  Izzy

I have never had any worries regarding the distance or duration of my flight to Thailand or me going and staying there all alone, and I have never feared the surgery itself or the possibility of complications or the pain and chores of the recovery period.
But the months leading up to my SRS date were full of ever worsening anxiety that something in that delicate chain of events could go wrong and derail everything completely. I was worried that my flight could be cancelled, so I booked an additional backup flight with another airline months in advance (and then my flight actually WAS cancelled two days before the due date). My referral letter obviously was very important, and I must have checked a hundred times whether it was still there while I was travelling. I knew I had stones in my gall bladder, and I could only hope that they would not act up at the worst possible moment. Two days before the surgery I almost fainted during breakfast, but I told nobody, fearing the surgery could be postponed or cancelled (they checked my heart rate and blood pressure anyway at least four times the morning before the operation, and everything was alright).
In the end, things turned out well and I managed to have my SRS, but more than anything else I was relieved when I woke up that nothing on earth could come between us anymore.

Prepare well, be careful, and you will be fine.

I'm super excited for you!  Congrats and just be sure to confirm with the surgeon's office everything is clear!  Have doubles as many have already advised and then you can be extra safe. 

I have anxiety disorder and I find that overkill with these kinds of situations helps me IMMENSELY!  :D Also, the offices seem to appreciate you having your **** together, ha ha!

Good luck!
Everything about the experience at Dr. Brassard is wonderful.
Lol only thing I hadn't expected, was my snoring roommate in the recovery centre. Since following surgery you have to sleep on your back, people who snore are worse. I had to get ear plugs and take sleeping pills before she went to sleep. It was that bad.

Lol yeah I might bring some ear plugs then.  Thanks for the tip muffinheart.  Not sure if I fall in the snorer categorie so I hope I don't bother my roommate.  The office said that they have all my tests so I think I'm good to go!  Stocking up on lube has been fun.  The girls face at the cash when I walked up with 5 bottles of lube lol.

Quote from: katiew88 on March 25, 2015, 07:23:20 PM
Lol yeah I might bring some ear plugs then.  Thanks for the tip muffinheart.  Not sure if I fall in the snorer categorie so I hope I don't bother my roommate.  The office said that they have all my tests so I think I'm good to go!  Stocking up on lube has been fun.  The girls face at the cash when I walked up with 5 bottles of lube lol.

Lol
Keep in mind, the recovery centre replenishes all your pads, lube, saline solution for douching as needed.

Stupid me, before I went to Montreal, I stocked up with lube, pads, etc from Walmart.
A tiny tube of lube at Walmart is like $8.
Found out there is a medical wholesale place in Ottawa where I buy the same lube as Montreal - 10 tubes for $20. Each tube is twice the size as the Walmart stuff. And very cheap for these dental bibs (wrapping up your dilators) and blue pads.

Good luck! I know the anticipation you feel. Feels like yesterday.

I paid like 2.98$ for 4 Oz tubes of equate wal-mart brand in the states.

I was paying 3.99$ a  tube at local Canada pharmacy when sales.  I only shopped sales for my supplies.

I had over bought on pads being I could switch  to liners at end of 1st month.

Lube,  paper towels and wipes you use a lot at first. 

Sea salt and distilled water.  No longer use vinager and water doughs.

Do not forget a timer that counts down is the best to time dilations. 

Hubby will only be there for day surgery the 17th now is the schedule. Guess I will be the nurse lol.

Do you remember the name of the wholesaler muffinheart?   And do they ship?  Thanks Mrs izzy.  I've been stocking up for awhile on large amounts of paper towels and baby wipes. 

Quote from: katiew88 on March 26, 2015, 04:48:02 AM
Do you remember the name of the wholesaler muffinheart?   And do they ship?  Thanks Mrs izzy.  I've been stocking up for awhile on large amounts of paper towels and baby wipes.

If you Google "Ontario Medical Supply" as I think if I put a link it'll get deleted.
I'm pretty sure you can order from them, but I could always ship it to you.

Just an FYI, things I bought from them were exactly what we had in Montreal:
Lube was $2
Dental bibs - box of 500 costs like $35
Saline solution for douching was about $3 a bottle
Gauze - 4x4
Blue pads - I always buy and cut in half...and each 1/2 lasts about a week.

Whatever you do, don't buy one of those sitz bath inserts. Montreal wants you soaking in a bath, so the insert really won't get used.

Thanks Muffinheart.  I found the place.  Their ordering system is weird, being phone only... but i have family their that can pick some of it up and get it to me.

Also, going off of hormones is the worst :(  Hating it and it's only been a few days.

Quote from: katiew88 on March 28, 2015, 11:44:32 AM
Also, going off of hormones is the worst :(  Hating it and it's only been a few days.

Ugh!  Not looking forward to this when I am close.  What are you feeling?

Quote from: Girl Beyond Doubt on March 24, 2015, 04:14:35 PM
I have never had any worries regarding the distance or duration of my flight to Thailand or me going and staying there all alone, and I have never feared the surgery itself or the possibility of complications or the pain and chores of the recovery period.
But the months leading up to my SRS date were full of ever worsening anxiety that something in that delicate chain of events could go wrong and derail everything completely. I was worried that my flight could be cancelled, so I booked an additional backup flight with another airline months in advance (and then my flight actually WAS cancelled two days before the due date). My referral letter obviously was very important, and I must have checked a hundred times whether it was still there while I was travelling. I knew I had stones in my gall bladder, and I could only hope that they would not act up at the worst possible moment. Two days before the surgery I almost fainted during breakfast, but I told nobody, fearing the surgery could be postponed or cancelled (they checked my heart rate and blood pressure anyway at least four times the morning before the operation, and everything was alright).
In the end, things turned out well and I managed to have my SRS, but more than anything else I was relieved when I woke up that nothing on earth could come between us anymore.

Prepare well, be careful, and you will be fine.

This is beautifully written...

Coming from someone who booked surgery and flight was canceled due to snow... im in a city where it never snows... long story short.. 2 thousand of down payment was never returned to me. I still havent had srs... but my srs is in 3 months.. in june.. I would not let us depart anymore.

Ainsley,  just all the male energy starting to return.  I feel more stressed. 

Ah, I remember it well. ;)
Maybe it won't seem so bad knowing it is the last time I will have to feel that. heh

Yeah, the excitement of it all is sort of trumping the badness of the return of testosterone.  It's super weird to think that at the end of the month this will all be a memory.

Katiew88, just keep thinking that soon those t makers will be gone forever.

Quote from: katiew88 on April 01, 2015, 08:38:56 AM
Yeah, the excitement of it all is sort of trumping the badness of the return of testosterone.  It's super weird to think that at the end of the month this will all be a memory.

And soon you'll be looking forward to 1 month after (dilations went down from 4x/day to 3x/day), then 3 months(still 3x/day but no more sitz bath), then 4 months(2x/day), then 6 months (1x/day) and 1 yr after (1x/week).
Looking back, time will pass by pretty quickly as long as you are not focusing too much on it and don't look too far ahead.
Best of luck :)