Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Here's my list of things I took (and didn't take) to Trinidad for my GRS.  (There are probably a few other things I should add to this list, but I can't think of them at the moment.)

What I took and was glad for:
•   A good friend – invaluable.
•   Slippers I could just slide my feet into.
•   A light robe with a pocket for the hospital.  (The pocket is to hook the Foley bag onto – makes it easier to walk around.)
•   Flannel-lined shirt to wear over the robe when I got cold.
•   MP3 and earphones to drown out the background noise and for being engaged without having to think.  (Hospitals can be noisy.)
•   Laptop.
•   Shoes I could just slide my feet into for when I got out of the hospital.  (I was more than a week post-op before I could comfortably bend to fasten the buckles on the other shoes I brought.)
•   Scrubs pants a size too large.  I wore these a lot after getting out of the hospital.  They are loose and comfortable and don't look that bad.  And they are cheap enough that if you stain them you can throw them out.  (Mine are black and look like slacks.)
•   Plain white cotton panties two sizes too large – a pair for each day out of the hospital (unless you wash them out).  I was swollen and bruised and didn't want anything snug.  If I bled beyond the pad and couldn't get the stain out of the panty, then I could just throw it out.  (The hospital provided disposable panties and pads while I was there.)
•   Underpads to place on the bed or wherever you sit until you are sure you aren't leaking beyond your "personal protection."  I also use one each time I dilate.
•   Handheld mirror, for seeing where to insert the dilator.  Once it was started properly I would just ease it in, but especially in the beginning the mirror was invaluable in figuring out where to begin the process.  It's also handy for checking on the progress of the bruising and just checking out your new equipment.
•   A flashlight to use with the mirror.
•   Sox.  I never felt well enough to dress up in a skirt, so I didn't wear the stockings I brought.  Think comfort clothes.

What I whished I had brought:
•   Hand lotion.  I got awfully dry in the hospital.

What I took but didn't need:
•   Douche.  My Vaginas 101 nurse said a woman should almost never need to douche.  It pushes the bad bacteria farther up into the vagina and washes out the good bacteria.  Your surgeon may have other ideas.
•   Horseshoe neck pillow.  The donut was fine until I had the packing removed, at which time they said not to sit on the donut anymore.  It tends to pull the center stuff down while healing and you don't want that.    I carried a hand towel, which I folded to provide cushioning if needed, but they advised me to sit on flat surfaces (padded, hopefully, otherwise use the towel).
•   Kotex heavy flow pads.  My daughter got me Always Infinity pads that are far more comfortable and handled my seepage without fault.
•   Panty-liners – see above.
•   Triple antibiotic ointment – They gave me a small tube, which lasted well after my stay.
•   A&D ointment – see above.
•   Hibiclens.  The nurse said several times that the dilators need to be "clean but not sterile."  She said that washing with any kind of soap was fine – hand soap, dish soap, etc. – that it didn't have to be antibacterial, and that the main thing was that they be clean and all soap residue be rinsed off.  (We want to grow good bacteria in there and don't want to interfere with that growth.)

I of course took other things to Trinidad – toiletries, books, a sketch pad and pencils, clothes, etc. – but these are the GRS-related items that I can remember at the moment.  You may need other things for wherever you are going.

- Kate

Quote from: K8 on May 13, 2010, 06:59:22 PM
Here's my list of things I took (and didn't take) to Trinidad for my GRS.  (There are probably a few other things I should add to this list, but I can't think of them at the moment.)

What I took and was glad for:
•   A good friend – invaluable.
•   Slippers I could just slide my feet into.
•   A light robe with a pocket for the hospital.  (The pocket is to hook the Foley bag onto – makes it easier to walk around.)
•   Flannel-lined shirt to wear over the robe when I got cold.
•   MP3 and earphones to drown out the background noise and for being engaged without having to think.  (Hospitals can be noisy.)
•   Laptop.
•   Shoes I could just slide my feet into for when I got out of the hospital.  (I was more than a week post-op before I could comfortably bend to fasten the buckles on the other shoes I brought.)
•   Scrubs pants a size too large.  I wore these a lot after getting out of the hospital.  They are loose and comfortable and don't look that bad.  And they are cheap enough that if you stain them you can throw them out.  (Mine are black and look like slacks.)
•   Plain white cotton panties two sizes too large – a pair for each day out of the hospital (unless you wash them out).  I was swollen and bruised and didn't want anything snug.  If I bled beyond the pad and couldn't get the stain out of the panty, then I could just throw it out.  (The hospital provided disposable panties and pads while I was there.)
•   Underpads to place on the bed or wherever you sit until you are sure you aren't leaking beyond your "personal protection."  I also use one each time I dilate.
•   Handheld mirror, for seeing where to insert the dilator.  Once it was started properly I would just ease it in, but especially in the beginning the mirror was invaluable in figuring out where to begin the process.  It's also handy for checking on the progress of the bruising and just checking out your new equipment.
•   A flashlight to use with the mirror.
•   Sox.  I never felt well enough to dress up in a skirt, so I didn't wear the stockings I brought.  Think comfort clothes.

What I whished I had brought:
•   Hand lotion.  I got awfully dry in the hospital.

What I took but didn't need:
•   Douche.  My Vaginas 101 nurse said a woman should almost never need to douche.  It pushes the bad bacteria farther up into the vagina and washes out the good bacteria.  Your surgeon may have other ideas.
•   Horseshoe neck pillow.  The donut was fine until I had the packing removed, at which time they said not to sit on the donut anymore.  It tends to pull the center stuff down while healing and you don't want that.    I carried a hand towel, which I folded to provide cushioning if needed, but they advised me to sit on flat surfaces (padded, hopefully, otherwise use the towel).
•   Kotex heavy flow pads.  My daughter got me Always Infinity pads that are far more comfortable and handled my seepage without fault.
•   Panty-liners – see above.
•   Triple antibiotic ointment – They gave me a small tube, which lasted well after my stay.
•   A&D ointment – see above.
•   Hibiclens.  The nurse said several times that the dilators need to be "clean but not sterile."  She said that washing with any kind of soap was fine – hand soap, dish soap, etc. – that it didn't have to be antibacterial, and that the main thing was that they be clean and all soap residue be rinsed off.  (We want to grow good bacteria in there and don't want to interfere with that growth.)

I of course took other things to Trinidad – toiletries, books, a sketch pad and pencils, clothes, etc. – but these are the GRS-related items that I can remember at the moment.  You may need other things for wherever you are going.

- Kate

Very helpful, im gonna seriously ponder what to and what not to bring.

A handy dandy little list.  You should make it a sticky topic.

I think we have Miss-organisation, or rather Ms-organisation. What a very useful post. Many years ago when I had severe anal damage repaired they suggested I sit on a tyre pillow. It was agony. Sitting on a cushion was far better.

Like the mirror and torch idea, very clever.

Hugs Kate

Cindy

Quote from: CindyJames on May 14, 2010, 04:32:21 AM
I think we have Miss-organisation, or rather Ms-organisation.

;D 

Actually, I'm far less compulsive than I used to be - must be the hormones. ;)

- Kate

Thanks Kate,

A useful list.

Stardust