As most of you know by now I live with a form of Muscular Dystrophy and I'm confined to a wheelchair. I have a lot of help with personal things such as bathing and getting dressed, amoung other things.
Now I had up till today never really considered SRS an option because of the long healing time and in all honesty it would make my life a lot harder in some aspects. If I were able-bodied I would without question have SRS.
But with todays news that Medicare might look into the possibility of over turning the ban of covering the surgery has got me thinking that maybe I need to rethink things. If the ban is lifted I really think I would seriously consider having the operation. Even with all that I would face.
So my question is if you were in my shoes and going by what I said so far in this post. Would you have SRS?
Hum... That's a tough one. I think I might. You could have your doctor order you a little extra help for 8 weeks after surgery. I think it's the same in all states. I know in Florida we can do that. I mean if srs is going to make you happy and increase your quality of life . Then As a nurse I say go for it :)
I'd probably at least have a consult with a physician. Getting personal, one on one information would be best before writing it off completely.
I'd probably be more concerned about the healing time, my husband has SB and has been in the hospital for over 3 years because a surgery had never healed correctly, so I am just a little paranoid now.
If it would make you happy, go for it :)
For me it is a case of wanting to be normal. In your case Bethany it depends if you could handle the daily maintenance. Or alternatively you could go for cosmetic reassignment, with no need to dilate.
It is a big step for any of us of course.
Thank you all for your replies. Right now it's just a big if Medicare decides to remove it's ban on not covering SRS. So until they lift the ban I have reallt nothing to think about as I dont have the money to pay for anything more than an Orchiectomy. Which I am in the process of scheduling.
I personally would try to have the SRS done yesterday. I want it all day every day, and if it was paid for... no brainer.
I hate still not packing a vag.
I don't know what it's like for you Bethany.
For me, every time I see a GG, I feel a pang of unhappiness that she has something I don't have. That there's a vital part of the female experience that I'm missing. Whenever I read a forum post by a post-op woman, there's a feeling of jealousy and regret that I haven't made my body the shape I want it to be.
I hope this isn't TMI, but I used to try to create a vagina by sticking my finger as far as it will go into the skin where mine ought to be. (Don't try this at home. It doesn't go in very far and it hurts).
I know that I will never be at peace with my body until I have SRS.
If you feel like I do (and only you would know this), I would definitely go ahead and do it.
Beth I doubt you need to be told anything about pain.
Being in your position though, and daily having people looking after you in such a personal fashion, it must hurt you a bit inside that you are constantly being made to wonder if they are thinking is she really female, all thanks to that nuisance.
If you think you are up to the challenge, I think you would profit from it.
Discomfort, no one can talk you about discomfort:) you are an expert on discomfort. SRS recovery doesn't take forever.