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I would really love to go to Thailand but I may face resistance in that I have to share child care duties and can't stay out of the country for a month and a half. Staying at home and recovering there would be better. I know it means I won't get the advanced techniques of the Thai surgeons but I can't wait forever and I don't see my situation changing.

With that said, what is recovery time like for US surgeons where you can get up, walk around and finally return to work? 6 weeks or so? What about driving?

I can only speak from my experience so take it with a grain of salt. I didn't have any complications or even granulations. I was able to walk albeit slowly on 3rd day after the surgery. By the 1st week I was able to drive even though at granny pace, so no long distance driving. I got back to work pretty much around week 7 after the surgery. Oh and I went to Brassard.

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Hey Kate,

I know I'm on the other side of the fence, but on my end I've heard to plan to stay locally near the surgeon for around 3 weeks at most (typically 12ish days is what I'm hearing), and return to work around 4-6 weeks barring any kind of complications that would make that difficult.

I'd be surprised if it was significantly different for you ladies. I know the range is so broad for us based on what combination of things we get done at once, so that may be something to think about as well if that's similar for you all.

I was about a week and a half in the hospital figuring out how to pee and I returned to work 4 days out of the hospital. I was exhausted and my bottom side hurt. I should have had 6 to 8 weeks recovery but the answer is you can do pretty much what you want as long as it doesn't involve lifting heavy weights. Come to think about it, I lugged groceries up the stairs but I didn't know any better.

The biggest issue is you need the time to recover your strength and cover the initial dilation but you can drive, cook and do most everyday tasks if you allow sufficient nap time.

Quote from: iKate on January 04, 2016, 06:49:32 PM
I would really love to go to Thailand but I may face resistance in that I have to share child care duties and can't stay out of the country for a month and a half. Staying at home and recovering there would be better. I know it means I won't get the advanced techniques of the Thai surgeons but I can't wait forever and I don't see my situation changing.

With that said, what is recovery time like for US surgeons where you can get up, walk around and finally return to work? 6 weeks or so? What about driving?

I went to Kathy Rumer in Ardmore PA.

I was up walking around after 3 days. Was able to drive after a few weeks. I went to work after 8 weeks. Might have been able to start earlier but I recall being glad I didn't have to, because I was still uncomfortable. I used a doughnut cushion until about 4 months out, though I think that's atypical.

Well, I went to a North American surgeon (Brassard). I was up and walking within 18 hours and by the time I went home at 9 days post-op I could do almost anything I needed to, as long as I did it slowly and carefully. I even drove us part of the way home. (The one restriction was that I couldn't lift over 10 lbs for 2 months.) I went back to work at a desk job by 4 weeks post-op, and while another week would have been nice, I did fine.

As for the advanced techniques... if it's any consolation, I think some of that is marketing, and some is personal preference. I ended up with a result that passes for cis and works like it's supposed to, and that's all I really needed. :)

Hello everyone, underwent SRS in Los Angeles with Dr. Sinclair.  He was not too happy after learning I attempted returning to work 12 days after surgery. That was a very bad idea.  Driving hurt despite measures to reduce pressure on vaginal area.  Most of my discomfort was in pubic area.  Ended up going home 3 hours later.

Did not return again until my first official field assignment 3 week post-op.  I had planned to return at 4 weeks but a scheduling mistake shorted me a week.  It was a very unpleasant and painful experience.
Swelling and heavy smelly discharge from urethra aggravated by requirement to wear jeans made life miserable.
Once again surgeon was pissed!  Very sure it set me back at least two weeks and made my next assignment, a mission critical field one at that, extremely difficult.

  Took two weeks off from work and returned at 6 weeks.  Sense of normalcy returned at 8 weeks.  I ever got the green light for sexual intercourse!  Went swimming at 12 weeks.

  Honestly folks plan on 6 weeks off work or prepare to experience setbacks in your recovery.  I ended up healing well with good results.  Bright side to my experience is, transsexualism is all behind me now.  It's Womanhood 2.0 from here on out!

Thank you,
Anne

12 days: https://twitter.com/AnneEdwardz/status/606167072704307200
2.5 weeks: https://twitter.com/AnneEdwardz/status/610167554384855040
3 weeks: https://twitter.com/AnneEdwardz/status/611645967960424448

A side question: I drive standard shift, should I be thinking about getting an automatic?

Quote from: shoko on January 05, 2016, 11:16:30 AM
A side question: I drive standard shift, should I be thinking about getting an automatic?

If you can handle a few more weeks without driving then it should be ok. I assume switching to automatic will cost you more in the short term, but yeah it does help driving automatic.

Quote from: shoko on January 05, 2016, 11:16:30 AM
A side question: I drive standard shift, should I be thinking about getting an automatic?

I didn't have a problem with a manual transmission after surgery and I was driving the Orange County CA freeway system. If it is a problem, you might consider a rental car for 2 or 3 weeks until you are comfortable with a manual transmission.

^^ thanks :)  I think a rental in case is a great idea

Thanks for all the comments. I will likely be staying stateside. I probably can't go to Brassard. I might end up at McGinn or one of them locally here.

I do plan to take it easy but I'm negotiating the time away from work. Trying to do a work from home kind of deal for those few weeks.

I had Dr. McGinn do my surgery. The procedure took 4 1/2 hours and no complications. They tried to get me up on the Wednesday but I was too dizzy and wasn't able to. On the Thursday I was able to stand and walk a little but again became dizzy. On the Friday I was up and did 2 laps around the nursing station and released that day.

Stayed in New Hope and saw Dr. McGinn on the Monday and Thursday and once again before I went home. Drove home on the Wednesday, some 450 miles. Did it myself as my friend didn't drive. Had planned on driving part way but was comfortable and no pain so I did it.

Took about 3 weeks before I started to feel a lot more comfortable and noticed progress weekly. After 6 weeks, it seemed like a dream but I was a lot better.

After 8, I was just about "normal" in relation to discomfort like standing and walking. Huge difference!!

I did the post-op recovery with no pain meds other than over the counter meds like Tylenol and believe me, I'm a pain weenie!

I would say that each recovery time depends on the individual person but allow at least 6 weeks or so to be really mobile for any length of time.

Love,
Clare

thanks for the info

Girls that had srs the same day as me, same surgeon same place, recovered at different speeds than I did. So many variables.

Even the type of car you have will make a big difference. I could have a big auto town car with plush suspension early on but I found driving a manual with race suspension troublesome. Driving to my surgeons at 3 weeks in gridlock in a manual was pretty uncomfortable.

Also I notice there is a great difference in pain medication between surgeons.

Quote from: Serenation on January 12, 2016, 06:32:17 PM

Even the type of car you have will make a big difference. I could have a big auto town car with plush suspension early on but I found driving a manual with race suspension troublesome. Driving to my surgeons at 3 weeks in gridlock in a manual was pretty uncomfortable.

I drive a minivan which is basically a land yacht.

Drove myself all the way back to Canada from New Hope in a big Silverado pickup. Wasn't too bad!!!

I'm a ways away until GCS, but I'm leaning towards McGinn after reading more reviews and recommendations.
I was going to goto Thailand but then again if something happens while back in the US...OOPS? Add on all the customs and long plane ride ect.
What is more advanced about them that our US docs can't really do or might be doing already?

My Plan is to drive from Florida to PA and back instead of Flying. It's 13 hrs one way but might be worth it. I'll have a vehicle to get around while there.

I can always lie down in the back seat on the way home since there will be two of us travelling.

Thoughts?

Quote from: Jessika on January 15, 2016, 04:35:20 PM
I'm a ways away until GCS, but I'm leaning towards McGinn after reading more reviews and recommendations.
I was going to goto Thailand but then again if something happens while back in the US...OOPS? Add on all the customs and long plane ride ect.
What is more advanced about them that our US docs can't really do or might be doing already?

My Plan is to drive from Florida to PA and back instead of Flying. It's 13 hrs one way but might be worth it. I'll have a vehicle to get around while there.

I can always lie down in the back seat on the way home since there will be two of us travelling.

Thoughts?

I laid down in the back of an SUV on the way home from hospital, it was fine though It was only an hour trip for me. You still need lots of rest at that point.