I did some looking around and didn't find a list here. If there's a preexisting thread, I'll append to that and delete this one.
Laptop, headphones books, phone charger
Pre-op
2x fleet enemas
Magnesium citrate
Post-op 3 weeks of recovery in SF
Maxi pads 18
Panty liners 12
panties, cotton, cheap 8
Regular clothing, long skirt
Arnica sublingual & topical
Aspirin, ibuprofen
Bacitracin
Surgilube
Douche bulb
3@ syringe, needles estradiol valerate, alcohol swabs
15@ progesterone
Vitamin E
Probiotics
Shampoo and conditioner
Things to get in San Francisco
Cranberry juice
Adult diapers?
Chux
Sitting ring
Vinegar
Sadie, this is a great list! Some of the items are personal choices, some are your specific prescription, and I won't touch bacitracin with a 10 foot pole (allergy; blisters and rash), but yeah, the detailed checklist is excellent. This is better than the nebulous handout I just got this morning from the medical provider, which was a bit TOO general. (Same list for MtF and FtM patients)
Packing for GCS is a pretty unique sort of thing to be doing. It only happens once for each of us (I hope!).
You will need to consider light entertainment. It might be net flick or preloaded movies but something that doesn't require intense concentration. You will need a big supply of maxi pads but those can be bought anywhere. Plan on changing them out at least 3 times a day because they will be collecting your dilation mess. While you are dilating, you will drip on the bed unless you have a disposable pad under you or an old bath towel. There may be some blood mixed in so it would be best to avoid new bath towels. You will also need a pile of paper towels to clean up after dilation. I don't know where you will be getting the lube you will use for dilation but you will go through a tube about every two days so you may want to have a box shipped to you. Let me know if you need a good place to buy it.
Cough drops or syrup?
Dena, thanks and a link for surgilube in bulk would be great, I may also bring some j-lube for modifying whatever lube I decide to use.
The chux on the list are hospital slang for disposable absorbent mats, I'm staying at an airbnb and certainly don't want to stain their linens/towels or be making trips to the laundromat to do towels. And yes, the laptop and my phone both do Netflix, I'm thinking a Buffy marathon.
Michelle, thanks, I started this list selecting from Andrea James' site the tsroadmap
http://www.tsroadmap.com/physical/vaginoplasty/shopping.html
I basically never use antibiotic ointments and probably won't use it, I'll talk with the doc about it. It's main purpose is to keep a wound from scabbing over and AFAIK there are better ways to do that.
Quote from: SadieBlake on April 04, 2017, 06:27:23 AM
I may also bring some j-lube for modifying whatever lube I decide to use.
Do you think that J-Lube is secure/sterile enough for dilation during the first weeks after SRS ?
You should order this lube (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZQFQP08/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) as it's low cost and used by Meltzer's office. I use it and I like it better than what I buy in the store because it has a thicker consistency so it stays on the dilator better and you need less. If you have another brand you want to use, Amazon may be able to offer it in quantity but I doubt that you will beat the price for this one.
Quote from: Dena on April 04, 2017, 08:54:39 AM
You should order this lube (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZQFQP08/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) as it's low cost and used by Meltzer's office. I use it and I like it better than what I buy in the store because it has a thicker consistency so it stays on the dilator better and you need less. If you have another brand you want to use, Amazon may be able to offer it in quantity but I doubt that you will beat the price for this one.
+1
This particular brand has an outstanding price. I bought this in the small single use packet form for use in intermittent urinary catheterization. It seemed to 'stick' better than other brands, and had a more comfortable, better lubricated feel when running in a catheter, so it should work very well on a dilator. In the big tubes, a case of 12 sells for what I had to pay for one tube of Surgilube, which was also less comfortable. (I got fixed last year so I don't have to cath any more.)
I just returned from the Meltzer/Lay and Greenbaum Specialty Surgical Hospital where a dear friend had her GCS. The one item I went out and got for her were the softest unscented baby wipes I could find :D
I was impressed by the comprehensive, personable and professional services the staff provided. Being part of her support team was an educational and rewarding experience for me.
Having a support person or team may be optional but I suggest it should also are on the list?
Quote from: Lucie on April 04, 2017, 07:09:32 AM
Do you think that J-Lube is secure/sterile enough for dilation during the first weeks after SRS ?
I'm sure it will be fine, it's intended use, after all is large animal obstetric veterinary practice.
I may not need it but I figure better to have a small vial and not want it than vise versa :-)
The advantage of J-Lube is that its lubricating power is much higher than Surgilube-like lubricants. But I'd fear that bacteria might be introduced to the lubricant while mixing the powder with water.
Quote from: Lucie on April 04, 2017, 03:41:43 PM
The advantage of J-Lube is that its lubricating power is much higher than Surgilube-like lubricants. But I'd fear that bacteria might be introduced to the lubricant while mixing the powder with water.
I'll be sticking to a known - sterile lube for the first few days in any case but once I'm past basic healing of the incisions and sutures, I'm not that fussed about 'bacteria'. Skin is supposed to have bacteria on it after all.
IAC PEO (what's in j-lube) isn't something that bacteria survive in and I have access to deionized water and full lab apparatus for ensuring fundamental cleanliness.
So not to worry, I'll be fine :-)
Quote from: SadieBlake on April 04, 2017, 07:37:55 PM
I'll be sticking to a known - sterile lube for the first few days in any case
That's safer.
Quotebut once I'm past basic healing of the incisions and sutures, I'm not that fussed about 'bacteria'. Skin is supposed to have bacteria on it after all.
I agree. This is true for mucous membranes as well.
QuoteIAC PEO (what's in j-lube) isn't something that bacteria survive in
For what I know J-Lube contains some sugar. Bacteria love sugar.
QuoteI have access to deionized water and full lab apparatus for ensuring fundamental cleanliness.
That's fine, but once back at home only.
Wet Wipes. It was that little thing I forgot to get when I had SRS. I had pads, liners, 4 extra tubes of lube... Not fun when you can't leave to buy.
Most probably you can find all sort of lists, but my personal one of mandatory stuff you should always absolutely bring with you is:
Clothes: Dresses or baggy pants, easy to slip on. Velcro or slip in footwear. Even buckles are going to be a major pain. Hairbands and elastic. I would go the extra mile and say "Hammerpants". Underwear one size bigger than usual for the swelling period.
medkit: Laxatives, stool softener, gas buildup meds. You are going to need this. And since you don't want to add more discomfort, bring cold remedies and throat pain pills. You are on risk of catching this from the plane trip and / or moving countries. Also, moisturiser (esponge baths will be agressive for the skin), and something to treat skin rashes. you are bound to get them after so many days in bed.
Electronics: elongators, even USB elongators. Unless you have a smart surgeon that bothers to put a power strip on the bed, you are going to need it. And for the love of everything holy, buy a pre-paid sim card if going to Thailand. Also, if in a non free speech country with restricted and monitorised internet, get a good VPN. Even if you don't need the security, you can use it to get US Netflix.
And I'm going to say this: You will never have enough pads. During the first postop weeks you will be using a minimum of 3 a day, swapping them at least after each dilation. You will be burning through a minimum of 21, and that if your discharge is ok or you are not bleeding badly. Stock that crap in industrial size
Also make sure to consult the surgeons office as well because some things they provide and you won't need to buy and other things they won't and you do need to buy and bring. Remember you don't want to be carrying to much stuff weight wise because you shouldn't be lifting much weight after SRS. Entertainment really is crucial though. Then again I didn't need to use my entertainment as much as planned because I had my now husband and Dena around for that. Hugs
Mariah
Which reminds me loose fitting comfortable clothing is a must. Hugs
Mariah
Quote from: Lucie on April 05, 2017, 01:27:52 AM
For what I know J-Lube contains some sugar. Bacteria love sugar.
Ahh, good call -- still not a worry, I used the trade name because at least some people will recognize it, what I'll actually be using is pharma grade pure PEO because I have access :-)
Thanks Audrey for the link, the list of supplies you give sounds quite relevant and useful !
Thanks Audrey, on your list, my surgeon specifically recommends vinegar douche (massengill is the one they specifically state).
I would add a probiotic and stool softener.
Pick up snacks that are easy to grab and yogurt.
A mirror to aid in dilation and check out your vagina.
Thanks Rachel! Yes, yogurt is central to my post op nutrition plan and probiotics were already in the list. I'll be bringing the laxatives the doc recommended. I don't want to risk bad luck by packing a mirror (breakage) but my phone camera should serve :-).
Quote from: SadieBlake on April 08, 2017, 03:02:12 PM
I don't want to risk bad luck by packing a mirror (breakage) but my phone camera should serve :-).
For year I used a makeup compact with a mirror on the inside. It was a bit small but it worked and I still have it intact. A mirror is real useful when dilation to make sure you hit the entry.
Quote from: Lucie on April 08, 2017, 03:46:28 AM
Thanks Audrey for the link, the list of supplies you give sounds quite relevant and useful !
glad you found it useful.
Quote from: Dena on April 08, 2017, 05:03:23 PM
For year I used a makeup compact with a mirror on the inside. It was a bit small but it worked and I still have it intact. A mirror is real useful when dilation to make sure you hit the entry.
agreed! Both of mine broke in my luggage. shoulda kept it in my carry on bag.
Quote from: SadieBlake on April 08, 2017, 03:53:16 AM
Thanks Audrey, on your list, my surgeon specifically recommends vinegar douche (massengill is the one they specifically state).
vinegar douches will dry out your vagina very quickly and can make them dry, itchy and burn.
the medicated Summers Eve have iodine which actually promotes healing of the incisions and helps to prevent infection and keeps things nice and sterile in there.
I'll never understand why surgeons say to use a vinegar douche. smh.
Quote from: audreytn on April 09, 2017, 11:04:03 AM
I'll never understand why surgeons say to use a vinegar douche. smh.
Ya, my surgeon told me in no uncertain terms DO NOT use a vinegar douche.
Whatever, I didn't write this thread to debate the pros vs cons of various hygiene approaches. My doc says vinegar, and only 1-2 times a week and that's what I'll be doing.
Povidone iodine douche is indicated for bacterial vaginosis, which I don't plan on inviting. My first intent after initial healing is to establish a naturally healthy lactobacillus vaginal flora. How we get there is secondary.
Here's my amended list complete with 20:20 hindsight
A few notes:
I made do for the first 6 weeks of dilation with KY jelly, finding time to buy surgilube didn't make it into my list. Several people in this thread have posted recommending McKesson lubricant. I found it's main lubricating ingredient is polyacrylic acid polymer (trade name carbopol) with the pH corrected using sodium hydroxide. While i like both of these better than KY for their using polyethylene glycol instead of glycerin, PAA doesn't strike me as being as body friendly as the ingredient in surgilube which is the cellulose polymer HPMC (trade name hypromellose). HPMC is used as a lubricant in eyedrops and I've used it as an excipient in drug development, I'm more comfortable with surgilube. Also a single 4 oz tube of lube lasts me about 2 weeks so the expense isn't so much.
I never felt the need for adult diapers (huge amount of waste there as well as expense, I try to stay as green as possible), instead have relied on the mesh underwear from the hospital stay -- they wash out easily and Always maxipads have worked well along with sterile gauze pads used to line the suture lines where the sutures had separated some (this was directed by Dr Wittenberg). Thinking pantiliners would be useful was clearly far too optimistic in my case, maybe in a couple more weeks, I'm sure the ones I have will be used eventually.
Vinegar douche has worked fine, a couple of times a week and I've just made my own by putting 10% vinegar 90% water. Ive been adding probiotics to that which seems to help with odor.
Laptop, headphones books, phone charger
Pre-op
2x fleet enemas
Magnesium citrate
Post-op 3 weeks of recovery in SF
Maxi pads 18
Panty liners 12
panties, cotton, cheap 8
Regular (loose) clothing, long skirt
Nightgowns because it's SF and runs cold
As many mesh panties as can be snagged from hospital. That was 4 and has been enough, I've been washing these out daily in the shower
Arnica sublingual & topical
Aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen
Surgilube or similar
Douche bulb
HRT supplies for time away from home
Vitamin E
Probiotics
Shampoo and conditioner
Things to get in San Francisco
Cranberry juice
Lots of maxi pads
Chux (aka underpads)
Sitting ring
Vinegar for douche
More yogurt than I can believe I actually ate
Gelatin or Jell-O (as a dietary source of collagen for healing)
During recovery I've really let my appetite be my guide for what to eat and ive felt very little desire for sweets or pastry, lots of desire for protein and nutrient rich veggies. When I was training hard for triathlon and rock climbing food had been all about fuel and protein for recovery from the stress of training. I'm very much back in that habit, which feels pretty good.
Great list, Sadie! Shopping lists based on real-life experience are much more thorough than the handouts I've seen from surgeon's offices. I've saved this one in my planning notes.
Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Hope the healing is going well! I'm having surgery 8/11 and I know it will be here in the blink of an eye. I'm making lists and beginning to stock pile items. . . . :)
I'd be careful with the vitamin E.
The effects of topical vitamin E on the cosmetic appearance of scars.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10417589
I think aspirin is prohibited before surgery, and probably some time after.
I believe surgilube contains chlorhexidine, a powerful disinfectant. I know some surgeons reccomend it, but I cant understand how that's a good idea.