Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi folks, I know I haven't been around Susan's much of late (first time in a few months I guess), some of you probably don't have a clue who I am but hi anyway! :)

Life has been pretty busy and an increase in work hours and a desire to spend less time online were the main reasons for my absence. But also the fact I've been spending the last few months preparing for my surgery in Melbourne with Andrew Ives has keep me pretty busy.

I haven't really felt a desire or need to discuss it much until now, and I'm not going to go into much detail right now except to say that eight days following the op I am doing well, I feel very happy I've taken this step - personally I feel "right" for myself for the first time ever...complete. Fortunately I had almost no pain (I've been pretty solidly doped up on pain killers though) and, so far, no apparent complications.

More updates soon?

Thank you Ms Grace.

Were you able to take in Melbourne before the surgery?

Glad to hear that you have less pain, and here is to no complications


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congratulations Grace! It's nice to see you back here at Susan's. 😊

Hi Grace,

I was wondering what happen to you, you're such a great part of Susans.  Glad your surgery went so well. 

Take care,
Paige :)

So glad everything is going well for you Grace. Yeah pain killers will for sure do that. I hope everything continues to go well for you and Congrats. Hugs
Mariah

Congratulations!

Congrats Grace! Glad to see you back :)

Welcome back and I'm very happy for you. X

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1279.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy537%2FDevlynMarie%2FModstuff%2Fp120128b_zps5bb84833.jpg&hash=392b515c1c1b611e038eedc089df3bda42da5ccb)

Hugs, Devlyn

congratulations Grace. Glad to hear that things are going well for you.

Thanks everyone - day 9 and swelling and bruising has started to diminish enough for me to see the outlines of the doc's handiwork. Bladder was much more under control last night now it is getting used to being de-cathinated.

Hi Grace! ohhhhh we remember you, all too well!  ;) ;D

Good luck and have a speedy recovery! can't wait to read your post-op story, if you have any.

Congratulations, I am very happy for you.

I am glad you are back :)

You again  ;D !!

How exciting for you...I hope you remain comfortable and look forward to hearing you overall opinion on the experience.

Take care

Liz

Welcome back,  I was not sure what had happened to you, but you were definitely missed!

What is is this, both you and Mariah at about the same time?  I know that it is two different continents, but did you get a group discount??

Emily

Completely different doctors and everything. Mine was covered by insurance completely. So I believe that would be a nope we didn't. Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Emily R on December 06, 2016, 06:47:05 PM
Welcome back,  I was not sure what had happened to you, but you were definitely missed!

What is is this, both you and Mariah at about the same time?  I know that it is two different continents, but did you get a group discount??

Emily

So nice to hear form you! When I saw you post, I actually started tearing up! Wow! I have missed your comments and support. All the Best inn your recovery.

I'm sorry and a bit sad that I haven't been around of late. I had a fairly lengthy chat with the lovely Cindy and realised at the time, that in the case of my upcoming op, needing to have time for myself was the most important form of support I could give myself so that I was able to focus on my health, my mental health and logistics. It seems to have paid off well, I feel very fortunate to know that Susan's is a place I can pop back to for help, or to offer help, but it needed to not be my touchstone for a bit.

Quote from: Emily R on December 06, 2016, 06:47:05 PM
What is is this, both you and Mariah at about the same time?  I know that it is two different continents, but did you get a group discount??

Yep, that was definitely odd synchronicity but that was all...but Mariah's journey, so close to but slightly ahead of mine, definitely helped prime me for mine. Many thanks, Mariah! :D

Congratulations! So happy for you and glad to hear everything went well  :)

Your so very welcome as always. Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Ms Grace on December 07, 2016, 01:09:11 AM
I'm sorry and a bit sad that I haven't been around of late. I had a fairly lengthy chat with the lovely Cindy and realised at the time, that in the case of my upcoming op, needing to have time for myself was the most important form of support I could give myself so that I was able to focus on my health, my mental health and logistics. It seems to have paid off well, I feel very fortunate to know that Susan's is a place I can pop back to for help, or to offer help, but it needed to not be my touchstone for a bit.
Yep, that was definitely odd synchronicity but that was all...but Mariah's journey, so close to but slightly ahead of mine, definitely helped prime me for mine. Many thanks, Mariah! :D

WOW, what a surpise .

So happy to hear things are going well.

I do not spend much time on Susan's, but when browsing, if I see a post or comment from you I always  read, as your comments are always, thoughtful, caring or helpful to others facing up to reality in this sometimes difficult world for girls like us. So if you can please keep delivering such messages, sometimes a positive thought to someone else can boost them up when down.

Personaly speaking from my own experiences, you will not believe how quickly your body will adjust to your new lady bits. In no time at all, you will forget what it was ever like before, it will just feel perfectly natural and you will become so comfortable with what you now have.

Congratulations and enjoy your life, you deserve it.

Regards
Shelly

a major congrats

Day 9+... swelling and bruising continues to reduce. Getting bouts of energy which I'm careful not to over use. My current ambulatory condition today however is about where I had originally expected to be when I take the plane home in a week's time, so I now hope I'll be in even better shape by then.

Welcome to the post-op club girl. Someone will be along shortly to show you the secret handshake 😏

Glad to hear that recovery is progressing so well. ❤️

It would be nice if you could write about you experience with Dr Ives sometime. There's not much written about him and I'm sure it would help other Australians considering SRS in the future.

You will see that for sure, but you may have times where that tiredness creeps up on you rather fast and is to be excepted still for awhile as your body heels. Still happens to me at times and I'm 6 weeks out. Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Ms Grace on December 08, 2016, 02:31:03 AM
Day 9+... swelling and bruising continues to reduce. Getting bouts of energy which I'm careful not to over use. My current ambulatory condition today however is about where I had originally expected to be when I take the plane home in a week's time, so I now hope I'll be in even better shape by then.

Quote from: AnonyMs on December 08, 2016, 03:10:14 AM
It would be nice if you could write about you experience with Dr Ives sometime. There's not much written about him and I'm sure it would help other Australians considering SRS in the future.

I will look to write more once the dust has settled. For me the process has been quite positive and the support nursing staff were lovely. So far everything has fallen within expectations if not actually exceeded them. I'll add though that I have had virtually no pain and appear to be healing and recovering well which I suppose would colour my perceptions more so than others who might, for whatever reason, struggle immediately post-op.

Quote from: Mariah on December 08, 2016, 06:19:19 AM
You will see that for sure, but you may have times where that tiredness creeps up on you rather fast and is to be excepted still for awhile as your body heels. Still happens to me at times and I'm 6 weeks out.

Thanks for that, good to know!

Congratulations, you'll soon be back horse riding!

Day 12...can hardly believe it's been 2 weeks. Been dropping back on the painkillers (only paracetamol so nothing hard core anyway), not feeling any pain although I am verrrry tender betwixt me nethers... TMI?

Took it really slow today, had been sleeping ok but probably not enough since I got out of hospital so fixed that with a great three hour nap after lunch. I don't think I've been overdoing it the last few days but it was good to pretty much do nothing today.

Finishing my last round of antibiotics tonight. Guess they've been keeping me infection free for 12 days but it will be good to get that stuff out of my system.

Have my first post op appointment later this week, fingers crossed for the all clear.

I'm so glad everything is going well for you. I hope things continue that way. Hugs
Mariah

Day 21 - three weeks already! My first post op consult with Ives went well and he was very pleased with how everything was healing. I flew back home from Melbourne two days ago, it was great to get home and I just spent most of yesterday crashed out on the lounge or in bed.

Things continue to improve., pain is minimal although there is some discomfort from sitting but I've fashioned a ring cushion of sorts which deals with most of that. As the swelling and bruising goes down betwixt my nethers it looks less and less like a Frankenvagina...will be glad when the stitches dissolve out though!

Been having insane dreams too, much more vivid over the last few weeks than I can ever remember.

I'm starting to get a sense that this op will be much more profound for me in terms of my gender journey and identity than I ever could have thought possible. :)

I have a brilliant idea , put your dreams into cartoons and post on Susan's so we can grade them using the A+- F- grading system.

That is one thing that took me by surprise is how other things in regards to that journey were affected in a very profound way. I guess it goes to show this affects us on so many levels and often we may not even realize that tell things change that take us by surprise. So glad to hear your doing well. Yeah I crashed when I got home a little over 3 weeks after my surgery. Your still healing so that is definitely normal. hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Ms Grace on December 17, 2016, 02:58:30 PM
I'm starting to get a sense that this op will be much more profound for me in terms of my gender journey and identity than I ever could have thought possible. :)

Wow Grace, well done with your progress. It sounds really positive and a great encouragement. Most people say that GRS is easier going on the body than FFS?

Fabulously well done,

Rach xx

*
Grace:

Congratulations!!!

You are well on the mend when you can give us 'decathinated' and 'frankenvagina'.  Tee-hee

TMI?  Find ways to enjoy 'duty' rather than see it as a chore.  Now is your time to explore those new nethers, muscles, and whatnot. Those dreaded 'dangly bits' are gone, eh.

Dreams?  If I might add, I experienced pregnancy dreams.

Okay, you have much on your assignment desk.  Do as best as you can to keep a journal for your memories that you want to hold dear.  Don't be too reluctant to take digital pictures - you can hardly go back and do this again if you missed a shot; they are yours alone, no trips to the film developer shop.

Now you can provide insightful post-op expertise to the same as you did for pre-op advice barely those few weeks ago.

*

I am so glad things are going well and are uncomplicated. Ives will be my only option I should think,  I am really pleased to read that your recovery has been steady and seems as though nothing has occurred that you did not expect. I am so happy for you.

"I'm starting to get a sense that this op will be much more profound for me in terms of my gender journey and identity than I ever could have thought possible. "

Wow and just wow....Fantastic for you.  :)

Hugs

Liz

 :o

barbie~~

Day 28...almost a whole month now. Discomfort when sitting has reduced significantly but I still need to be careful. Bruising and external swelling largely gone although I believe internal swelling and healing will take a month or three...will be glad once all the stitches dissolve. Bladder seems to be behaving itself now, or at least as much as it ever did before. Been walking more, taking care not to overdo it and usually catching the bus if I go shopping. Moving up a size with the dilator from Monsieur Petite to Mister So-So.

Quote from: Sharon Anne McC on December 23, 2016, 07:32:49 PM
You are well on the mend when you can give us 'decathinated' and 'frankenvagina'.  Tee-hee

I like having fun with words, that's for sure! ;D

Quote from: ElizabethK on December 23, 2016, 08:05:56 PM
"I'm starting to get a sense that this op will be much more profound for me in terms of my gender journey and identity than I ever could have thought possible. "

Wow and just wow....Fantastic for you.  :)

It's very hard to describe, but yes "profound" sums it up. So far in my life I've met many trans women in person, they're either pre or post and it's hard to judge the before and after mindset of the post ops since I never knew them beforehand. Currently I've only known one woman both pre and then post. It was hard for me to say why but she seemed lighter, happier, more dynamic after her op. At the time I wondered if that was just her or more common in other women satisfied with their op. I'm certainly feeling lighter and happier that's for sure!

Quote from: Ms Grace on December 25, 2016, 03:23:49 PM

It's very hard to describe, but yes "profound" sums it up. So far in my life I've met many trans women in person, they're either pre or post and it's hard to judge the before and after mindset of the post ops since I never knew them beforehand. Currently I've only known one woman both pre and then post. It was hard for me to say why but she seemed lighter, happier, more dynamic after her op. At the time I wondered if that was just her or more common in other women satisfied with their op. I'm certainly feeling lighter and happier that's for sure!

For those of us pre-op it is so heart warming to know that, the sense of peace, light and happiness is obtainable.

Liz

Grace,

I'm very happy for you.  Excellent!

Hugs

Jen

Quote from: ElizabethK on December 25, 2016, 06:16:01 PM
For those of us pre-op it is so heart warming to know that, the sense of peace, light and happiness is obtainable.

There are those who might not be. I suspect one needs to have some degree of self acceptance and also a realistic understanding of what the op result will and won't be like.

I agree. If you haven't done your homework before surgery, you will have to do it after surgery. Any problems in life will still be problems after surgery. One of the reasons for RLE is to expose any issues you might be dealing with and it gives you plenty of time to address them. I spend 2.5 years in RLE and the only issues I had after surgery were new ones, like loss of a job. The additional time was because of financial issues but I now see that the additional time helped me to become more comfortable with myself and better prepared for surgery.

Quote from: Dena on December 25, 2016, 11:33:12 PM
I agree. If you haven't done your homework before surgery, you will have to do it after surgery. Any problems in life will still be problems after surgery. One of the reasons for RLE is to expose any issues you might be dealing with and it gives you plenty of time to address them. I spend 2.5 years in RLE and the only issues I had after surgery were new ones, like loss of a job. The additional time was because of financial issues but I now see that the additional time helped me to become more comfortable with myself and better prepared for surgery.

I see your point that homework needs to be done, what difference does it make doing it after vs before?

After surgery, you run the risk of blaming the problems you are having on the surgery and I suspect that's one of the reasons people de transition. If you are logical and willing to face reality, I think there is much less risk of this occurring.

The feeling I had after surgery was that is was truly done and there was nothing more to do. Admittedly this may have partly influenced by the fact that this was the first time in my life that my testosterone levels were in the feminine range but I no longer was required to attend therapy or ask permission before requesting medical care. Most important, I could change my paper work and I no longer was required to carry my get out of jail free card.

Quote from: Dena on December 25, 2016, 11:50:15 PM
After surgery, you run the risk of blaming the problems you are having on the surgery and I suspect that's one of the reasons people de transition. If you are logical and willing to face reality, I think there is much less risk of this occurring.

I'm not really sure I understand your answer, but that may be because I and very logical and try to face reality. I don't see what surgery has to life's issues unless they are related very directly to the surgery.

I often read about women having SRS and because its the last step in the process they find themselves lost afterwards. They have dedicated themselves to transitioning for so long that when its done they have a void in their lives that they don't know how to fill. I expect of you did surgery well before completing transition there wouldn't be such a clearly defined end and you'd have a very different experience. Its a bit academic as I've never heard of anyone doing that.

Quote from: AnonyMs on December 26, 2016, 12:15:18 AM

Quote from: Dena on December 25, 2016, 11:50:15 PM
After surgery, you run the risk of blaming the problems you are having on the surgery and I suspect that's one of the reasons people de transition. If you are logical and willing to face reality, I think there is much less risk of this occurring.

I'm not really sure I understand your answer, but that may be because I and very logical and try to face reality. I don't see what surgery has to life's issues unless they are related very directly to the surgery.

I often read about women having SRS and because its the last step in the process they find themselves lost afterwards. They have dedicated themselves to transitioning for so long that when its done they have a void in their lives that they don't know how to fill. I expect of you did surgery well before completing transition there wouldn't be such a clearly defined end and you'd have a very different experience. Its a bit academic as I've never heard of anyone doing that.

Well the logical argument is that if people have surgery first and it does not solve any issues to do with their gender ID then there is no going back. HRT, socialisation, lifestyle can be walked away from (I have to admit I do not know how personally) but surgery cannot be walked away from.

There are several instances in the media of people claiming that the were coerced into surgery and it ruined their life, the people I am thinking of where quite wealthy and bypassed the 'system'. I believe one is an UK anti-TG activist nowadays. I forget the names.

I think some people can be fortunate in the direction they take when it is an unusual or 'against the standards' method. But they may be unusual people who have a very strong self identity and of course the intelligence and willpower to follow through on their direction.

I saw it happen with my roommate. She managed to get her surgery at 6 months and was still dealing with a very hostile work environment. Most were accepting but some were not and they hid their identity. Had I not been around, I think she might have attempted a de transition. The surgery was the right decision for her but she had difficulty seeing it with what she was dealing with.

I never really felt lost after surgery but I had established a life such as it was. I had work, I still was doing follow up therapy as requested and I knew my to be roommate so I had somebody to spend part of my time with. The goal of RLE is to establish that life you will be stepping into. It may be one you already have or it may be newly created.

Maybe why not ask the lady herself?

Grace, how do you feel life would have panned out if you had gone for surgery your first time as compared to now, when you have had a full transition prior to surgery. I'm not sure if I have worded that right but I think the crux of the question is there.

If you do not wish to answer of course don't

Hard to say, had I successfully transitioned in the 1990s I might not have had the surgery for many years due to lack of funds.

There was a lot about me at the time that was, at least in the face of it, not trans related that I really needed to sort out. I'm glad I got those sorted out in the intervening years...issues such as confidence, social skills, emotional perspective, self acceptance and self love. Of those last two points in particular, at the age of 24 I struggled with self acceptance because I was overflowing with internalised transphobia and yet I hated my male body with a passion.

I feel that, had I gone ahead with GRS before I had been able to accept that I was trans,and before I could honestly say I didn't hate myself or my body for being bio male, then I might have found my post GRS period less fulfilled. Hard to know for sure.

Personally I'm glad I was in a good place about myself and my transition before GRS, that way I didn't see the surgery as the absolute solution to my gender identity, just a part of the process I'd been working towards. :)

I don't want to derail Grace's thread with this but...

I hear the words, but I can't really relate to this way of looking at things. I don't think I'm very normal at the best of times, so perhaps that explains it (that's not being negative, I like the way I am). Because of that I don't think this is a useful topic of discussion unless there's anyone else out there who shares the way I think. Since I've already written it, I'll leave the rest here:

I think of GCS as being a very personal thing and what it means depends on the individual. I want it solely for me, because it would make me happy, and its got nothing to do with transitioning. It wouldn't make transitioning easier to harder, or anything really. It certainly wouldn't make transition complete, unless it actually was the very last thing to do, but that's only complete in a very technical sense. I guess it could be good for people if it they can look at it as the point where they were finished with being trans, because I'd certainly like to put all this behind me.

Compared to HRT and social transition, GCS is very different for me. HRT makes me feel normal. Social transition scares me and I don't think I have much (if any) social dysphoria.

I tend to think why not? The risk for me is family. It might not go down too well, and I've so far avoid all that by not socially transitioning. Detransition? Not applicable, but even if it were I don't see what transitioning has to do with GCS (detransitioning because of not being trans would be an issue, but I am trans). Regret? Can't imagine it.

Grace and I were in similar situations I started my transition in the 1990's but due to financial reasons had to stop. I maintained a public male identity and a private female one. Close friends and family knew but that was basically it. I would have transitioned 30 years ago if I had the money.

For the last year I have been living full time, not because of any RLT requirements but because I had made the conscious decision with my surgery coming in the next year that it was time to kick my transition into high gear.

Do I regret coming out in a extremely public manner (Facebook with over 1,000 friends, local and regional Newspaper, speeches to local civic groups, National Magazine)? No, because i got to educate the local community and in doing so make it so much easier for myself and for other trans to do so. How did it help me? People got to have time to come to terms with my transition before they ran into the new me in public.

What about living full time as a woman before having genital surgery? No not at all. I have had good times and bad, i have learned a lot, and i have become a lot more comfortable in my own skin.

For that reason alone I highly recommend it.

You can read some of the stuff I did in transition here...

https://www.facebook.com/susan.elizabeth.larson/notes?lst=606866915%3A606866915%3A1482782899 (https://www.facebook.com/susan.elizabeth.larson/notes?lst=606866915%3A606866915%3A1482782899)

The last 5 notes. Before that was general stuff non-trans related.

Quote from: Susan on December 26, 2016, 02:05:24 PM
The last 5 notes. Before that was general stuff non-trans related.

I'm not sure I can see that. I don't have a Facebook account.

It's all public so give it a try...

LOL just noticed some christian hit sad on all my positive and uplifting trans related notes...

I've a feeling I'm missing something. I'm not very familiar with Facebook so I'm not sure what to expect, but I think its not there.

When I go to the face book page, I get a few facts and pictures with request to log in or create an account if I want any more. I don't have a face book account so it appear to view a public page, you must at least have an account with the current settings.

Hi Grace,

I am glad your recovery is going well. It is interesting, how you explained that GCS was part of the process, for when you were ready.

I never expected how I would feel toward my body after GCS. I never thought about how I would look and feel after GCS. I like how I look and I am happy. My genital dysphoria is completely gone. It is an odd feeling because I coped with it for so long and now where the dysphoria was there is happiness.

Quote from: Dena on December 26, 2016, 04:12:09 PM
When I go to the face book page, I get a few facts and pictures with request to log in or create an account if I want any more. I don't have a face book account so it appear to view a public page, you must at least have an account with the current settings.

The Best year of my Life (https://www.facebook.com/notes/susan-elizabeth-larson/best-year-of-my-life/10153961977511136) My coming out letter which I posted to facebook right after filing my name change.

Leadership Clarksville Religion and Social Diversity Day Speech (https://www.facebook.com/notes/susan-elizabeth-larson/diversity-day-speech/10153928335676136). Leadership Clarksville in Tennessee was founded in 1987 as an independent, executive leadership program to give community leaders a three-dimensional view of the Clarksville/Montgomery County, Tennessee community. The program is designed to identify and introduce to each other the recognized and future leaders of the area and to give them an intense look at the community, its strengths and weaknesses.

Renaming and Baptism Renewal Ceremony (https://www.facebook.com/notes/susan-elizabeth-larson/renaming-and-baptism-renewal-ceremony/10153962086636136)  My re-baptism ceremony. When the guests all said "We do" I wanted to cry right then and there it was that intense for me.

QuotePrayer: Gracious God, here stands one who has wrestled throughout life with the name she received at birth and the name she heard you calling. When Jacob became Israel, you recognized his perseverance and offered your blessing. Eternal Spirit, pour out your blessings on this your child today.

The pastor: How do you wish to be named?

Me: Susan Elizabeth Larson

The Pastor: Friends and family, you have heard this name and have received this request. Do you support Susan in this declaration?

All: We do.

Susan Larson's Transgender Journey from Fear to Acceptance (https://www.facebook.com/notes/susan-elizabeth-larson/susan-larsons-transgender-journey-from-fear-to-acceptance/10153961914771136) Ran on the front page of the Focus section in the Easter Sunday edition of the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle, and the next day in the Tennessean directly across from the Political updates for the Tennessee State Legislature for that week.

Susan Larson was advocating from inside the closet (https://www.facebook.com/notes/susan-elizabeth-larson/susan-larson-was-advocating-from-inside-the-closet/10154565275136136). Celebrating 45 years of continuous publication, The Advocate and Advocate.com serve as the world's leading gay news source. The magazine reports monthly on news, politics, business, medical issues, fine arts, and entertainment. Advocate.com is a source for breaking news and current events in all of those areas.

Those urls work if not logged into facebook, I tested them. 

Thanks.

If I had stayed with my transition last time I would have been forced to hold off on surgery to due to money so your not alone in that for sure. I got thinking about that one day and realized my surgery would still have been about where it was, but maybe as much as 6 to 9 months earlier. I don't imagine anything would have occurred before that point. Your feelings in regards to when and why it was better now are ones that have resonated well with me as well. Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Ms Grace on December 26, 2016, 01:40:21 AM
Hard to say, had I successfully transitioned in the 1990s I might not have had the surgery for many years due to lack of funds.

There was a lot about me at the time that was, at least in the face of it, not trans related that I really needed to sort out. I'm glad I got those sorted out in the intervening years...issues such as confidence, social skills, emotional perspective, self acceptance and self love. Of those last two points in particular, at the age of 24 I struggled with self acceptance because I was overflowing with internalised transphobia and yet I hated my male body with a passion.

I feel that, had I gone ahead with GRS before I had been able to accept that I was trans,and before I could honestly say I didn't hate myself or my body for being bio male, then I might have found my post GRS period less fulfilled. Hard to know for sure.

Personally I'm glad I was in a good place about myself and my transition before GRS, that way I didn't see the surgery as the absolute solution to my gender identity, just a part of the process I'd been working towards. :)

Day 35... five weeks! Can't say there have been any major changes since my update at week four. Everything seems to be settling down, my healing continues, swelling and bruising is probably minimal but it's hard to know just how much further it has to go until everything is what will pass as the new normal. Some tenderness when sitting on some seats, but for the most part no issue. I'm mostly able to do my regular daily tasks at about the same pace (or slower) but I'm still taking it easy. I'm nowhere near as exhausted as I was, say two or three weeks ago, so that is a great sign.

I quite look forward to my salt sit baths, I probably have to do them for a few more weeks but they are part of my routine now and I nice 'time out'. As is dilating... I've even moved up a "size" now... ;D

I'll be going back to work in a couple of days - shorter hours than usual but with the option to bail and/or work from home if I find I can't cope... judging by my progress so far I expect I'll do OK for three days at four hours and then the weekend and maybe do the next week at five or six hours a day. Have to say I'm really looking forward to getting back.  :)

In fact I'm really looking forward to the year. ;D

Sounds like great news on all fronts. X

Hi Grace,

Congratulations on your recovery! I am so glad all is going well post surgery! I would love to hear your opinions on your experience and satisfaction with the results as time goes by. So many tell us to go to Thailand for surgery!

Thanks for your help recently especially while you are recovering!

Hugs Riki

It is so wonderful that your recovery is going well! Time sure does fly. Hugs, Kelly

Day 42... six weeks! I went back to work on Wednesday last week. By arrangement with them I only worked for four hours for the three days. First day was quite exhausting, I made it through the work day OK but was really spent by the time I got home. Second day was a bit better, by the third day though I was pretty good. It was definitely a good thing to take it easy and have a gradual return. Monday, today, was  3 hours work but only because I had an endo appointment and arranged not to go back to work afterwards. Tomorrow I think I'll manage six hours if not the standard seven.

Just when I thought there was no more swelling to go down my body proves me wrong!

Can sit on most chairs without any major discomfort now. Haven't had to use my makeshift donut cushion shaped towel for two days now.

As I mentioned, saw the endo today and got a new implant. This one had to start running down at the ten month mark due to the GRS. My levels were actually quite good but I'm glad I'm back on the implant. The doc spoke to me about changing to bio identical progesterone if I wanted to...other than the additional cost it sounds like a good idea.

Quote from: Ms Grace on January 08, 2017, 09:53:59 PM
The doc spoke to me about changing to bio identical progesterone if I wanted to...other than the additional cost it sounds like a good idea.

Could you say more on that? I'm definitely interested.

I thought I saw a post from you saying you were using P made by a compounding chemist? I might be mistaken (probably!) but I thought that stuff was bio identical. My apologies if I've caused any confusion...it was P made by a chemist rather than the synthetic Provera he was talking about. He said most people reported feeling better on it, sleeping better, even if they felt OK on the Provera. I've never had any problems with Provera but am interested in trying this compounded stuff despite the extra cost.

Quote from: Ms Grace on January 08, 2017, 10:39:33 PM
I thought I saw a post from you saying you were using P made by a compounding chemist? I might be mistaken (probably!) but I thought that stuff was bio identical. My apologies if I've caused any confusion...it was P made by a chemist rather than the synthetic Provera he was talking about. He said most people reported feeling better on it, sleeping better, even if they felt OK on the Provera. I've never had any problems with Provera but am interested in trying this compounded stuff despite the extra cost.

I may have posted that, but I've not seen Dr Hayes recently. I'm still using Microgest I get from elsewhere and I'd rather get it though him. I'm not sure what he can do.

These are just "Progesterone Compounded Capsules" on the script...if he normally prescribes for you I don't see why he wouldn't be able to fix you up.

Quote from: AnonyMs on January 08, 2017, 10:45:42 PM
I may have posted that, but I've not seen Dr Hayes recently. I'm still using Microgest I get from elsewhere and I'd rather get it though him. I'm not sure what he can do.

Hi AnonyMs,

Dr Hayes put me on the compounded P which is a troche. I put them in between my cheek and lower gum and they dissolve. I like these as I can split the dose so I don't get too relaxed/tired during the day. I use the compounded P capsules for the bedtime dose.

Riki

Quote from: ElizabethK on December 25, 2016, 06:16:01 PM
For those of us pre-op it is so heart warming to know that, the sense of peace, light and happiness is obtainable.

Liz

There is  a scene in Cool Hand Luke where the prisoners all sit around and ask for a glance at the picture of the escaped Luke (who is standing in between two woman.) That is how I feel as a pre-op, just itching for news from those who have escaped through surgery. I am hopefully getting parole this year. :)
Monica

Well, I'm happy to help :)

I suspect the reports will grow less frequent in the next month as life settles down and... I was going to say "returns to normal" but I guess a more apt description is the "new normal". Certainly things aren't going to return to the way they were before, the old normal. No doubt the new normal will become everyday normal before too long but it will never be the same.

To me it has never been about escape, although I certainly understand and appreciate the metaphor. This has always been about journey, I may have completed one part of it but the next one awaits...the rest if my life! :D

Quote from: Rikigirl on January 09, 2017, 08:26:08 AM
Hi AnonyMs,

Dr Hayes put me on the compounded P which is a troche. I put them in between my cheek and lower gum and they dissolve. I like these as I can split the dose so I don't get too relaxed/tired during the day. I use the compounded P capsules for the bedtime dose.

Riki

Thanks