Hello Everyone!
Wow, I have not been here for a while! I have had so much life going on lately like getting engaged to an amazing woman! :D
Anyways,
I just had quite a scare concerning SRS today. My Fiance sent me a quote from a post that she read from another trans woman who is post-op. She listed the top ten things that she wished she would have known before having surgery. The things that stood out to me and scared me a bit was the feeling of fatigue that she explained. It was mostly due to her T levels dropping to pretty much zero. I was hoping that this would increase my energy levels as I wouldn't have to be on Spiro anymore and the hopes that the lack of genital dysphoria (which I have a lot of) would also aid in my energy levels. Another thing that scared me was weight gain. I currently weigh 198 pounds. I'm not exactly thin. Gaining weight really scares me. The last thing that really scared me was recovery time. If increasing weight is a factor, i want to be able to exercise somehow. The person that made that post said that they were still recovering after five months. Am I not going to be able to be active for over half a year???
I am really scared right now. I have my surgery in September. Could any of you post-op women give me some pointers? Things that I should do to prepare? Could any of you respond to the items that scared me and tell me if your experience was the same or if your experience was different?
I am going to Dr. Satterwhite if that helps anyone in answering my questions.
Athena,
my SRS has been with Dr. Suporn in 2014. Maybe I have been lucky - three weeks after the surgery I was completely off painkillers and running around all day with the other girls, but the three dilation sessions each day were still a welcome and necessary opportunity to lay down and rest.
Two months after the surgery I could go shopping, climb stairs and walk longer distances without becoming fatigued. My T levels have been below the detection threshold since adding cyproterone acetate to my HRT 10 months before my SRS, but I have more energy since starting HRT because my sleep is much better and I am therefore no longer tired during the day as I have often been before.
For the first three to four months I was careful about pulling my knees up too far or spreading my legs too much so that the skin sutures would be stressed as little as possible, but other than that I could move and exercise as much as I wanted after two months.
The first time I could ride my bicycle was after four months, but it was uncomfortable. After six months it became as easy as it had been before.
Sitting down became easier after three months and almost normal again after six months.
Gaining, keeping or losing weight works exactly as it did before.
If you have more questions, you are quite welcome to ask.
First, I'd say try to relax...
you could use your imagination to your advantage and imagine a positive outcome...
maybe you sipping on your favourite fruit juice...
you could do something to work off stress hormones... maybe a bit of exercise, a few situps daily... or taking a walk for a few minutes...
concerning hormones after srs you might have a look here:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,190296.msg1695059.html#msg1695059
in principle menopausal women have kind of similar needs, so its not uncommon.
This is one reason why low dose testo implants are available, and low dose testosterone gels.
Some people simply don't know, so if you know you can take the right steps.
It might seem unusual first but a very low dose of testo might really help with drive.
You might think about bioidentical hormones... because of different side effects of non bio identical ones ...
Concerning recovery time, not smoking should help...
a bit of regular exercise before srs...
This is from another posting:
My gynecologist who is experienced with transgenders with srs instructed me to use neosporin, coconut oil to dilate, and cicaplast as well as vitamin E oil/serum. So far my healing is going phenomenally faster than I ever imagined.
(This is after the phase of the first months)
Bruising can be reduced (many believe) with Bromelain 500 mg twice a day, Arnica montana (Boiron brand) dose 30C (take 4 small tablets sublingually, 4 times a day), vitamin C 500 mg (3 times a day) starting 1 week before surgery.
bromelain may reduce swelling, bruising, healing time, and pain following physical injuries and surgery.
All at your own risk... talk this all exactly through with your doctor and endo. Some say to start bromelain after srs.
All in all I'd say relax...
do a few exercises...
and keep to mental images of a good outcome.
have a big *hug*
To a large extent it depends on how determined you are. I was very young early to mid twenties, I was quite drained for a few days, but within three to four week I was breaking up rocks to make my patio, demolishing an old driveway and loading lumps of concrete into a skip (dumpster to those you who are American).
Its not the testosterone levels dropping so much as the kick back from the anaesthetic and all the healing that saps your energy. So if you eat well, sleep well and try to enjoy life then you'll help yourself bounce back.
Unfortunately everyone is different, but if you are young and fit then it need not be that dramatic.
In short I think you are probably worrying needlessly.
OH and PS - my surgery was over 30 years ago - back then it was a rather bigger operation so if anything these days it should be easier.
The one huge negative that scares me about SRS is something nobody talks about.
I've read (from a medical source) that a neovagina has a completely different bacterial flora than cis women. That this bacteria flora creates a different kind of enzyme and 'waste products' which cause ongoing irritation to the internal lining. Prolonged irritation poses a cancer risk. There are no long term study's that shows a risk factor though. So I really don't know. But it's something to think about.
Quote from: Evelyn K on June 11, 2015, 06:17:31 PM
The one huge negative that scares me about SRS is something nobody talks about.
I've read (from a medical source) that a neovagina has a completely different bacterial flora than cis women. That this bacteria flora creates a different kind of enzyme and 'waste products' which cause ongoing irritation to the internal lining. Prolonged irritation poses a cancer risk. There are no long term study's that shows a risk factor though. So I really don't know. But it's something to think about.
Hm... there are studies and experiences which do not quite support this...
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,149304.msg1682002.html#msg1682002
"From months to sometimes years after skin grafting, the graft loses all of its skin properties and adapts to its environment, becoming a mucosa... (Sherfey, 1973)."
This is from another posting:
In the UK they are sold as INTRAFRESH over in the US they are FEMINA FLORA. In Australia / NZ I imagine there will be another name wich you will have to find - Google "Probiotic Vaginal Pessaries"
For the first two to three months you may want to douche with an iodine based antispetic solution that will promote healing.
We used to get told to use it at least once a day after dilation and to douche with weak salt water solution in between.
Google Videne and/or Betadyne / Videne - basically it is a Providone Iodine solution and you dilute it about 5 to 1 before use. It's very gentle and safe, specifially made for treating post operative wound sites and it speeds up healing.
After the three months is up the healing is all done and you no longer need the iodine so you can switch to the probiotics quite safely. They work well too!
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,68720.msg463356.html#msg463356
I then got from a health food store a probioitic designed for the vagina and is inserted into the vagina. It will fix the vagina flora. You'll get some discharge after from the pill dissolving, and you'll use it for a few days, laying down and inserting it at night.
That pill made a huge difference. I smell and taste amazing. I feel healthier down there and all over. I self-lube better. And I haven't had any re-occurring yeast infections or BV. I swear by this product! I've read on other forms about it, which other people also swear by -- I've read stories of women having problems for 10 years and taking a vaginal probiotic stopped it.
Well... talk it through with your doctor...
hugs
Quote from: Rejennyrated on June 11, 2015, 06:01:50 PM
To a large extent it depends on how determined you are. I was very young early to mid twenties, I was quite drained for a few days, but within three to four week I was breaking up rocks to make my patio, demolishing an old driveway and loading lumps of concrete into a skip (dumpster to those you who are American).
Its not the testosterone levels dropping so much as the kick back from the anaesthetic and all the healing that saps your energy. So if you eat well, sleep well and try to enjoy life then you'll help yourself bounce back.
Unfortunately everyone is different, but if you are young and fit then it need not be that dramatic.
In short I think you are probably worrying needlessly.
OH and PS - my surgery was over 30 years ago - back then it was a rather bigger operation so if anything these days it should be easier.
I am 23 and my height is 5'11". I would consider myself to be somewhat fit. I definitely have a lot of muscle mass, especially in my legs. I am no where near my goal weight though. I have a considerable amount of belly fat. I was hoping to get my weight down to 170 but that never happened. I've been teetering from 200 to 198. A few months ago I lost my job, my genital dysphoria has been getting really bad, i have been having roommate troubles, and I have chronic depression\anxiety with semi regular panic attacks. All of this has left me unable to exercise as much as I want and sometimes eating a little too much. My mood has been starting to pick up lately and things are getting less stressful for me. Should my weight worry me?
Here is a picture of my belly that better illustrates my weight condition.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m115/Athena_Lynn_Harting/20150521_135625_zps0xo0zrqk.jpg
Quote from: Laura_7 on June 11, 2015, 06:46:28 PM
Hm... there are studies and experiences which do not quite support this...
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,149304.msg1682002.html#msg1682002
"From months to sometimes years after skin grafting, the graft loses all of its skin properties and adapts to its environment, becoming a mucosa... (Sherfey, 1973)."
This is from another posting:
In the UK they are sold as INTRAFRESH over in the US they are FEMINA FLORA. In Australia / NZ I imagine there will be another name wich you will have to find - Google "Probiotic Vaginal Pessaries"
For the first two to three months you may want to douche with an iodine based antispetic solution that will promote healing.
We used to get told to use it at least once a day after dilation and to douche with weak salt water solution in between.
Google Videne and/or Betadyne / Videne - basically it is a Providone Iodine solution and you dilute it about 5 to 1 before use. It's very gentle and safe, specifially made for treating post operative wound sites and it speeds up healing.
After the three months is up the healing is all done and you no longer need the iodine so you can switch to the probiotics quite safely. They work well too!
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,68720.msg463356.html#msg463356
I then got from a health food store a probioitic designed for the vagina and is inserted into the vagina. It will fix the vagina flora. You'll get some discharge after from the pill dissolving, and you'll use it for a few days, laying down and inserting it at night.
That pill made a huge difference. I smell and taste amazing. I feel healthier down there and all over. I self-lube better. And I haven't had any re-occurring yeast infections or BV. I swear by this product! I've read on other forms about it, which other people also swear by -- I've read stories of women having problems for 10 years and taking a vaginal probiotic stopped it.
Well... talk it through with your doctor...
hugs
Yes that study. I imagine the vaginal probiotics are used for cis women specifically since their cellular physiology 'in there' is very different.
That's an interesting tid-bit about the skin grafts turning into mucosa. Can you say you've experienced this?
Quote from: Evelyn K on June 11, 2015, 06:57:57 PM
Yes that study. I imagine the vaginal probiotics are used for cis women specifically since their cellular physiology 'in there' is very different.
That's an interesting tid-bit about the skin grafts turning into mucosa. Can you say you've experienced this?
Well as other girls have reported bacteria from cis girls was able to flourish.
Imo its like seeding a garden.
Concerning mucosa, there are many who reported they can self lubricate... sometimes it might be a matter of time...
Quote from: Athena on June 11, 2015, 06:46:59 PM
I am 23 and my height is 5'11". I would consider myself to be somewhat fit. I definitely have a lot of muscle mass, especially in my legs. I am no where near my goal weight though. I have a considerable amount of belly fat. I was hoping to get my weight down to 170 but that never happened. I've been teetering from 200 to 198. A few months ago I lost my job, my genital dysphoria has been getting really bad, i have been having roommate troubles, and I have chronic depression\anxiety with semi regular panic attacks. All of this has left me unable to exercise as much as I want and sometimes eating a little too much. My mood has been starting to pick up lately and things are getting less stressful for me. Should my weight worry me?
Its good your mood is getting better...
you could do a few exercises regularly... a few situps twice a day or taking a walk...or bicycling or swimming for a few minutes...
what might help is a bit more vegetarian nutrition... apples for example consist mostly of water, if used as snacks one or two more would not hurt...
eating veggies instead of fat meat... all in a healthy variety...
and avoiding carbonated and high sugar drinks... high sugar drinks might give a mood spike and a low later...
if this would be changed gradually over some time it should help...
hugs
I was definitely very fatigued, but it was temporary; probably a couple of months of exhaustion and another few weeks of tiring rather easily. From the people I've talked to (cis and trans) this is typical of major surgery, because the body burns through a lot of resources while healing. It DOES go away.
I was able to exercise, albeit lightly and without lifting too much weight, by about 2 weeks post-op. I was able to get back to weightlifting and vigorous exercise by 2 months post-op. I wasn't able to ride a bike for a year, alas. :) If you're very fit going into it, you should both recover faster overall and have less of a problem with losing condition.
I did gain a little weight, but it's hard to say how much was GRS and how much that I'd worked hard on *losing* weight for surgery - in effect, I regained back to about what I'd been before I started dieting, maybe 15 pounds, but not more than that. I think that's normal, too.
Overall, it's major surgery and you should expect significant recovery time, but you won't be totally incapacitated unless something unexpected happens. I was able to do basic household chores and walk half a mile by the time I came home at 8 days post-op, for example (and they had us climbing stairs and walking slowly for exercise at 48 *hours* post-op).
Evelyn : I'm about 3 years post-op now, and at my physical this year I requested a vaginal swab b/c I was curious. The doctor basically humored me, but the results were basically normal according to what they'd expect to find in a cis vagina. (Two perhaps relevant points : I, um, there's no delicate way to say this, but transferred some natural flora from my wife, and I do not have PIV sex with men - which is one of the primary factors I've seen listed in the other studies as correlating with "bad" bacteria traveling from nearby unsanitary regions.)
Jenna that's fascinating stuff to me.
I'm actually seriously open to dating a transwoman because of this. :D
But. I'm just very picky. =(
I was 30 when I went through surgery and my recovery was hell because of my stupidity but I may be able to help you. I lost 5 pounds while I was in the hospital because even at that age they weren't putting enough food on my tray to keep me going. As you get older you will find weight gain becomes even more of a problem. I am currently about 186 at 5'14" but working on hitting the 170-175 range where my body shape is the best. Portion size is critical. Your body may not be hungry at meal time but you overeat anyway. You may not need that desert but you eat it anyway. Food selection is important as well because foods like oatmeal will fill you up in the morning without a huge calorie count.
Because I messed up a leg a while back and I am not as young as I once was, I stay away from extreme physical activity. In the Phoenix area it is hot right now so I wait till 7PM and walk away from the house for 15 minutes. I then turn around and head home. After surgery you will be weak so I would start with about 5 minutes away from the house or stick to a small area until you find your stamina level. Bump the time up a little each trip as you find you are able to handle more.
While your are healing just worry about maintaining your weight and forget about losing it. That can come latter when you can handle more of a workout.
I have seen people put on the pounds after surgery but I also have seen people maintain their weigh. If you become food aware, weight gain shouldn't become a problem.
Quote from: kimberleeanne47 on June 13, 2015, 04:50:18 AM
Hi never been here before I am a MtF 49 year male born with klinefelters syndrome which is that I have the extra chromosomes xxy which mean I have boobs and make penis my wife to be doesn't want me to change to full female so I am wondering if I have a better chance of growing bigger breasts
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk kimberleeanne46
Growing bigger breasts after srs ? Maybe, some people have, it might take a while...
You might add a topic of your own in the welcome section, where people might discuss your topic a bit better...
hugs
Hi never been here before I am a MtF 49 year male born with klinefelters syndrome which is that I have the extra chromosomes xxy which mean I have boobs and make penis my wife to be doesn't want me to change to full female so I am wondering if I have a better chance of growing bigger breasts
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk kimberleeanne46
Ok but where do I go to write this thing you talking about cause this is the first time on here and don't know where to post it on here
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk kimberleeanne46
Quote from: kimberleeanne47 on June 13, 2015, 08:24:31 AM
Ok but where do I go to write this thing you talking about cause this is the first time on here and don't know where to post it on here
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk kimberleeanne46
You might go here:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/board,8.0.html
then click on "new topic" and write a few words about yourself... imo you already made a good start by what you have written...
but this was a suggestion... don't want to keep anyone from posting here...
hugs
OK I'm going to cut to the chase and ask the question we all wanted to but were too afraid to ask....
How long after SRS will I be able to get back on a motorbike? ;D
That is a hard one but I would say a month or two. It is how shall we say it, very painful down there and they gave me a cushion with a hole in it which helped some. You are going to be on 4 wheels for a while.
Quote from: Squircle on June 13, 2015, 02:47:23 PM
OK I'm going to cut to the chase and ask the question we all wanted to but were too afraid to ask....
How long after SRS will I be able to get back on a motorbike? ;D
We would need someone like S pock to calculate that...
or make an educated guess as someone said...
hugs
Quote from: Squircle on June 13, 2015, 02:47:23 PM
OK I'm going to cut to the chase and ask the question we all wanted to but were too afraid to ask....
How long after SRS will I be able to get back on a motorbike? ;D
Sadly YMMV... it depends on too many things from your healing rate to you pain threshold to all sorts to predict.
Quote from: Dena on June 13, 2015, 02:57:12 PM
That is a hard one but I would say a month or two. It is how shall we say it, very painful down there and they gave me a cushion with a hole in it which helped some. You are going to be on 4 wheels for a while.
This is certainly the norm and sounds about right as a guess - however just to show you what I mean, the (sadly now deceased) wonderfull lady who eventually became my partner for 25 years was still having issues after a year - whereas I was riding a pushbike within a fortnight ... So ...
Quote from: Laura_7 on June 13, 2015, 03:33:13 PM
We would need someone like S pock to calculate that...
or make an educated guess as someone said...
hugs
Actually this is spot on!
Quote from: Rejennyrated on June 13, 2015, 04:08:55 PM
Sadly YMMV...
Quite literally!
I won't push it. Hopefully my surgery will be over winter when the good bike is in storage.
After my FFS I was so lacking in energy for a good week afterwards from the aneasthetic. For the first few days any overexertion made me feel sick. I am expecting that to be considerably more with SRS considering how major an operation it is.
One other thing that I experienced was post operative depression. I didn't recognise it at the time but in hindsight thats what it was. It took me by surprise but at least I'll know to be prepared for it after SRS.
Quote from: Squircle on June 13, 2015, 04:38:41 PM
Quite literally!
After my FFS I was so lacking in energy for a good week afterwards from the aneasthetic. For the first few days any overexertion made me feel sick. I am expecting that to be considerably more with SRS considering how major an operation it is.
One other thing that I experienced was post operative depression. I didn't recognise it at the time but in hindsight thats what it was. It took me by surprise but at least I'll know to be prepared for it after SRS.
No problem, you spend the first 6 days flat on your back and you can't even get out of bed. The next couple of day regaining enough strength so you can travel and the next 6 to 8 weeks not doing much of anything.
That is unless you are stupid like me and return to work the week after you get out of the hospital. I spend 10-11 hours a day sleeping, 8 hours a day working, a couple of hours a day commuting and the rest feeding, cleaning myself and trying to get all the dilations done. As I said, I was stupid.
Squircle : Well, you can take my time to get back on a bicycle and extrapolate, I guess. :) I don't ride motorbikes, so I don't know whether that's be better or worse... but you might. Though I said a year, and I realize it was actually more like 9 months before I could get on an exercise bike (but another couple months waiting for the weather to be decent to be able to take the road bike out.
I also had my GRS with an epidural plus twilight sedation, which meant I bounced back from the operation a lot faster than was likely if I'd had general anesthesia; no ongoing weakness or nausea or depression from GA (though I did get pukey from the morphine for a few hours afterward).
Dena : Wow, 6 days flat on your back? They had us all up and walking by a maximum of 18 hours post-op! I liked that a lot better; I heard some horror stories of boredom and discomfort from lying still for too long, whereas I was a little cranky to be walking so soon but it was fine physically.
Quote from: Squircle on June 13, 2015, 04:38:41 PM
One other thing that I experienced was post operative depression. I didn't recognise it at the time but in hindsight thats what it was. It took me by surprise but at least I'll know to be prepared for it after SRS.
This is remarkably insightfull and will stand you in very good stead.
You may get luckier the second time, some do, but at least you are well prepared.
As a matter of fact I have a suspicion that a lot of so called "postop regret" that is held up by our skeptics and detractors is actually really unreccognised and misdiagnosed post Anaesthesia depression. I was very lucky that I escaped it but I have seen it in others.
I used to do some regular voluntary counselling and support work with newly postop patients for a certain UK psychiatrist, and on a couple of occasions I ended up having to put back together women who had unfortunately first seen other "therapists" who had wasted no time in telling them that it was obvious that their depression was a "clear sign" that they had made a "horrible mistake" and that then never should have had this "terrible and inappropriate operation". This of course had left them even more depressed and confused...
I'm happy to say that in both cases I was able to help them refind themselves and both went on to become successful and happy women - however its is clear that if someone with insight had not been available these two might easily have been pressured into damaging detransition and a life time of sadness and confusion.
So forewarned is forearmed - and please join me in spreading the message to others, that postop depression is NORMAL and ABSOLUTELY does NOT mean you made a mistake!
Quote from: Jenna Marie on June 13, 2015, 05:54:58 PM
Dena : Wow, 6 days flat on your back? They had us all up and walking by a maximum of 18 hours post-op! I liked that a lot better; I heard some horror stories of boredom and discomfort from lying still for too long, whereas I was a little cranky to be walking so soon but it was fine physically.
I had my surgery in Colorado and the rule was 6 day on your back or sides By day 3 or 4 you felt like you were developing bed sores and I wanted to lay on my stomach because that was the only place that didn't hurt but that was forbidden. The laxative crew came in and clean you out because without moving you didn't feel like moving. When they finally let you out of bed, it was all you could do to sit on the side of the bed without passing out.
I don't know what they used on me but my head was fogged for two days after the surgery and I didn't feel like getting out of bed. I refused all pain medication in an attempt to get my head cleared out but that didn't help. With out physical movement you only felt like sleeping a couple of hours a night so I would lay there away listing to them clean the bed pans. The idea for keeping you in bed that long was so everything would remain in place and start healing.
When you do get out of bed you can't walk very far without needing a nap. Sometimes I would return after a walk, sit on the edge of the bed and lay back because I didn't have the energy to properly get in bed. That would happen after my nap. In a way I was luck because the swelling prevented me from peeing so they held me several additional days till we got that working and I was better able to handle the trip home. The only thing on TV was the local farming channel and I didn't much feel like doing the brain stuff I brought along. Mostly I was in a room by my self because the person I was to stay with was a smoker. I am allergic and after that airway was remove I couldn't quit coughing.
I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Walking 18 hours post op. WOW. Looks like I need to brush up on the modern procedures because they have changed a great deal. I must have had my surgery in the stone age and we thought it was advanced because it could be done in one surgery with an optional touchup.
Dena : It really is fascinating how surgeons' preferences and the times change, isn't it? I know some of the big Thai surgeons still require sustained bedrest, mind you; they do a more intricate surgery and don't want to risk prolapse or tears. But I had penile inversion (one-stage, modified with a scrotal skin graft for additional depth as a lot of PI surgeons do now), and we not only had to try to walk every 2 hours on the second day, the residence was deliberately designed with stairs so we'd have to climb them to get to the rooms by day 3. I admit I cursed Brassard a few times on those stairs. ;) I celebrated the first time I managed the 2-mile round trip walking to our local library branch, and I think that was about 2 weeks post-op, so I have to admit the policy of getting us up and exercising gently seemed to have worked.
Still, I'm amazed when I hear the stories of 30 years ago and how well the results turned out, given the state of plastic surgery (in general, for cis people) back then.
Yes, as I'm now being trained to do general surgery myself, I can tell you the reason for the change too. Back in the day it was thought that making someone rest would increase the healing, reduce the risk of sutures failing, and also, because you could then fast for a longer period, would reduce the need for bowels to open etc thereby reducing infection risk.
I recent years most of this however was found to be decisively false. In fact gentle exercise gets the heart working and thus improves circulation and perfusion of the wound which in turn speeds healing. Improved suturing techniques using vycril and monocryl disolvable sutures, and in some places staples, has also vastly reduced the risk of suture failure and thus it is also safe. Clearly you dont want someone doing a marathon, but there have been very convincing clinical trials, which showed consistently better results from earlier mobilisation and good nutrition, and in fact so much so that the much much faster healing actually reduced the infection risk by far more than avoiding the need for bowel movements.
All of this also vastly reduces the risk of serious complications like DVT... so its actually a no brainer. While you dont want someone straining, the faster you can get them mobile and back to normal the better for them.
The result of this is that these days they get you in, prep you, operate the same day, and get up and out within three or four, and you get better healing a nd afr fewer complications than us oldtimers who had the seven days (or six).
Being a woman is not easy. You cant have your cake and eat it too.
Mod Edit- remarks that make a group more or less legitimate for doing or not doing something are against TOS 10.
Jenny : Yes, that's more or less exactly what the nurses explained. As a matter of fact, they also strongly *encouraged* a bowel movement by day 3; anyone who didn't report having one was going to be pursued with prunes and stool softeners. Since morphine and other painkillers can cause constipation, the worry wasn't the bowels working per se, it was the straining - better to have an early, soft movement than to hold it for days. Along the same lines, I was offered a full meal (roast beef and mashed potatoes, as I recall) 3 hours after I got out of the recovery room. Brassard's policy is to feed patients well. ;)
Thank you all for your information! This has been really helpful and has calmed me down a bit. :)