Susan's Place Transgender Resources

With a rigorous dilation schedule, how do you do it when you have to go to work?

I ran much along the manner Val describes...never did try at work even though privacy would not have been an issue (was the afterhours analyst which meant there was me and three or four other peeps handling teletypes from law enforcement agencies in the entire building). 

I really wonder why there are so many different schedules from various doctors. Why does 1 dr want 6x a day whole the other suggests 3?

I start back to work this Wed. I'm on the 3x a day schedule. It should b easy enough to manage but I start work at 6am so it's going to require me being up extra early for a while ... Ugh

Hi,

You dont say when you are back to work or your current schedule but i was a ChX bunny, i was signed off for 12 weeks as is the norm,  i did 3x for first 8 weeks, then 2x for week 9, felt a bit eeky so went back to 3x for remaining weeks before work as i was worried that if i didnt but later needed to then i would struggle.

Fortunately i went back on week 12, did 2x and it worked out fine, waking at 5am for number 1 and then the eve one has been about 7:30pm.  26th May i went to 1x (as off for 5 days) and so far seems ok.  Will be nice to get that extra 30mins in bed again in the morns!

Are you seeing a Thai surgeon?  From my limited readings on here the recovery period tends to be longer and more onerous, as long as you are at 3x then i think you will be fine to do early morn, straight after work and then again before bed.  Again, ChX recommend trying to drop the frequency and increase the interval every 4 weeks, reverting back to the previous for another 4 weeks if it gets too uncomfortable again. 

Has worked out for me so far, knowing that the extra early morns may be for 4 weeks only, somehow it all comes together.

Nat

I have a consult with Dr. McGinn in July but I think she makes you do 3x per day.  I'm thinking if I sleep for 6 hours a night, I can dilate when I get home from work, when I wake up, and right before work.  Of course I'd be taking some time off for the first few weeks so that wouldn't be a problem.

I've come to realize being post op, at least for a little bit, is even going to be even more trouble than being pre-op.  But it will be so worth it.

Quote from: Maddie Secutura on May 29, 2011, 04:30:00 PMI have a consult with Dr. McGinn in July but I think she makes you do 3x per day.

Actually sweetie she makes us do 5 times a day for the first 8 weeks, 30 minutes per session. :o  After that it drops to 3/day until 6 months, then one/day until 1 year, and after that once a week.  The 5 times/day schedule was rough but it passes.

You might discuss this with her on your consult if you plan to go back to work before 8 weeks.

And you are absolutely right- it will be sooooooo worth it! Congratulations!

I am almost 3 weeks post op with Dr. Mcginn, the 5x a day schedule for the first 8 weeks takes up about 45 minutes every 3 hours, but it is so worth it, i watch old episodes of bones to help pass the time, she told me i could go back to work after 6 weeks so i scheduled all my vacation and holiday time for this year to make 6 weeks off, i telecommute from home so the last 2 weeks back at work i can easily keep my 5x a day schedule.

Dr. Mcginn continues to impress me, she called last night, Saturday  at 8:30pm to see how i was doing, there are not many doctors or surgeons that do that these days.

Paula

Sorry to get OT, but congratulations Paula! Dr. McGinn is truly amazing, isn't she? And I love your sig quote ;)  Happy Healing!

Well crapola I only have 2 weeks of vacation time.  I'm sure I can work something out.

Quote from: Maddie Secutura on May 30, 2011, 06:58:10 AM
Well crapola I only have 2 weeks of vacation time.  I'm sure I can work something out.

I am sure you will be fine...I was actually back in the office barely a week after getting home from Montreal.  That was roughly fifteen years ago...

 sorry to disagree with you but 2 weeks is not enough(in my opinion ) , Dr.McGinns schedule is grueling and 5 times a day takes over your day so going back to work at 2 weeks is def. not possible ..... after week 8 you go to 3 times a day...  at that time I  would think would be the best time I am sure you know how important it is to follow what ever your  doctors regiment is .I have followed her instructions to a tee and thank god to this day I havnt had any problems with dilation ,I now dilate 3 times a day in the morning ,early evening and at night before bed . I start with #3 for 10 mins thenI used #4 for 20 mins

I'm almost past my 3 month mark where I can go down to 2 dilations a day but until then I've been dilating in the morning, after work, and before bed. It means the time between was not exactly even but seems fine.

Morning -> 10 hrs -> after work -> 5 hrs -> before bed -> 8 hrs

Quote from: Maddie Secutura on May 30, 2011, 06:58:10 AM
Well crapola I only have 2 weeks of vacation time.  I'm sure I can work something out.

Maddie, if you have full benefits at your job, check into using Family Leave time for a "major life event".  SRS/GRS definitely qualifies, and you should use every day to which you're entitled.

Another McGinn girl checking in here.  There was no way I could go back to work in less than 2 months.  Sometimes medical things happen and they happen.

     She has her schedule and she does it for a reason.  We are all different and she handles us all differently.  I was one of those who followed her instructions *to the letter*.

     This is a major, life-changing event and is not to be messed around with.   It takes what it takes.  If you had a heart attack, you'd have to do what you have to do.   So just do it.  :)

      I could not be happier with my outcome and I love Dr. McGinn.  I've passed the 2 month mark, on the 3-times-a-day schedule and back to work.  It's no big deal now and I look and feel beautiful.

     I don't need a cushion to sit on and I can sit on a hard surface with no discomfort.  I gave up my donut at the 2-month mark.

      My only regret is that I can't take pictures and share them with all my friends....  lol
     

Quote from: Caith on June 03, 2011, 03:04:10 PM
Maddie, if you have full benefits at your job, check into using Family Leave time for a "major life event".  SRS/GRS definitely qualifies, and you should use every day to which you're entitled.

This might work, I'll have to look into it!

Quote from: paulault55 on May 29, 2011, 08:23:17 PM
Dr. Mcginn continues to impress me, she called last night, Saturday  at 8:30pm to see how i was doing, there are not many doctors or surgeons that do that these days.

Paula

Dr Brassards office does this

Quote from: Maddie Secutura on June 03, 2011, 10:33:51 PM
This might work, I'll have to look into it!

Isnt the family medical leave act a federal law? They told me under the law my job was protected for 12 weeks

Well as long as SRS recovery is protected under that there shouldn't be too much of an issue then.  I'm starting to feel much better about this.

No offence or disrespect to anyone ,but Dr.McGinn herself calls not the office .... there's a big difference ,again no  discredit to  anyone

Maddie,
FMLA can be used for SRS as I know other girls who have done it. However, I know where I work I am not eligible for FMLA until I have worked at my company for a year. Check into that bit.

However, at my job I can get time off as long as it is a procedure deemed medically necessary. That would require a letter from a doctor basically saying that.

I will have been there for a year before I get the procedure done.  This is looking more and more doable!

I took most of last November off for my SRS, including the time I had to dilate 4x's daily. As soon as it went to 3xs, I returned to work, and would dilate before going to work, as soon as I got home, and before bed.

My routine, was before work, after work, and then before bed-time, as stated by others.

The logistics are very do-able.