Heeeello, beautiful ladies!
Making this post has been overdue for at least a couple of weeks, but Miss Ally here likes to procrastinate lol.
So, here I am, making this post, only two weeks away from finally being able to get GCS!
I am basically making this post to share my excitement about this grand event in my life. I remember so much back when I was 19, wishing with all my being to win the lottery so that I could afford GCS. And now, I'm 33 (just turned 33 this past Friday), and will be getting GCS in a little less than two weeks!!
It is literally a dream come true.
My surgery is scheduled for July 8th, will be a PI technique. I'll be having surgery in Mexico, with Dr. Carlos Guerra Castañon. I'm unsure if other girls have already talked about him on this forum, but he trained with "Sava Perovic Foundation" in Belgrade, Serbia, and has been doing GCS for two or three years now.
He is very young (I believe he is 36), and hasn't been doing GCS for a long time, which initially made me kinda reluctant to trust my surgery to him. But then I pondered a bit. My options were, go to Thailand, have the surgery one ocean away, put up with the journey back home, and have the surgeon who performed the surgery being one ocean away. OR, have the surgery in my home country, in a city that is just one short hour away by car, having my family there to support me, and having the surgeon who did the surgery being so close. The answer was pretty easy. And, on top of that, the Doctor really looks very confident in his experience, technique, and on the results he can provide. I had a consultation with him back in September of last year, and one more this past April, and he clear out all of my questions with confidence.
I did some research, and even came across some R*ddit posts of three different girls who got their surgery with him one and two years ago, and they all look very good. So I do feel pretty confident about my choice of surgeon.
Now, I do want to as a favour. If any lady here has already been through this journey and would like to share some advice, tips, or words of encouragement, I would very very much appreciate it.
I'm not gonna lie, I have started to feel very nervous these past couple of weeks, and hearing stories about other women who've been through the same thing I will soon go through, might help ease my nerves.
I think I have prepared myself quite well; I'm on therapy twice a week; I made a rather long list of things that would help me during the hospital stay and during my recovery; and made a list of things that would keep me sane lol, so I *think* I am prepared, but I might be omitting some things, or forgetting some things.
Or, you know, could be the fact that I'm only human, and being nervous is just part of the journey of going through a major life event -I must also admit that I have a nervous predisposition lol-.
So, any words of encouragement, any advice, tips, and tricks on how to make the next six months of my life more bearable would be highly highly appreciated.
And I will, of course, be making another post in which I'll share the whole journey with all of you.
I remember so much, years ago, reading all of the posts of women who had had GCS, and being all excited for them, and wishing to one day be writing such posts, and my time has finally come, so, yes, Susan's Place will basically be my diary for this journey lol.
Thank you all for reading this!
I wish you a great week ahead!
Hugs,
Ally.
I think you made the right choice.. having a surgeon close to hand is, in my opinion, much better than being on the end of a phone or video link and having clueless local people try and manage anything that may need attention. Others may disagree, but I think this is a positive for you and your surgery. I had to go back to my surgeon 6 weeks later for some minor work.. yeah, it could of been done by someone else, but it felt reassuring to have the guy who did the actual surgery, do the final bits too.. I also trusted my surgeon and when he proclaimed I had a "great result from surgery" I thought it was definitely worth it going local.
As for advice and tips.. first off, don't worry about anything now. I know that is impossible, but I thought I would start with the hardest stuff first. But seriously, don't worry.
Then, this is a big one, do everything they tell you to do.. If they ask you to get up, do it, if they ask you to stay in bed - do it.. Follow the regime they give you to the letter. Dilate and take pain meds as prescribed and basically - be a good girl and don't think you know better (I am talking from experience here!)
There are no medals for the 'fastest recovery' - it usually takes about 6-8 weeks for the wounds to clear up don't worry if it is taking longer. Full recovery takes 12 months. There's a lot going on there and sure, you will be up and around and living life in a month or so.. but take it easy for the next year.
and then.. finally, if there is anything you become concerned with, don't understand or are worrying about then ASK YOUR SURGEON. it really is that simple. Ask on a forum like this and you will get 20 different answers. Ask your surgeon and you get the right one for you when you need it. From my experience, surgeons are not upset when people they operated on get in touch, in fact, the opposite. They want you to have the best outcome as well..
My surgery was life changing, mind blowing and dispelled my gender dysphoria for good. I have never been so at peace or happy since I had it done. I hope and pray your outcome is at least as good. and Good Luck for the 8th.
Hi Ally,
Best of luck!
Marion
@allylionessDear Ally:Very exciting times ahead for you.
July 8th will arrive faster than you think... just 12 days from now
Everyone here on the Forum will be wishing you successful surgery
results... and we want you to have quick and problem-free recovery.
Please keep me and the rest of your avid followers updated only
as you feel comfortable sharing and posting.
HUGS and best wishes to you, Danielle [Northern Star Girl}
Quote from: SoupSarah on June 25, 2024, 10:33:32 PMI think you made the right choice.. having a surgeon close to hand is, in my opinion, much better than being on the end of a phone or video link and having clueless local people try and manage anything that may need attention. Others may disagree, but I think this is a positive for you and your surgery. I had to go back to my surgeon 6 weeks later for some minor work.. yeah, it could of been done by someone else, but it felt reassuring to have the guy who did the actual surgery, do the final bits too.. I also trusted my surgeon and when he proclaimed I had a "great result from surgery" I thought it was definitely worth it going local.
As for advice and tips.. first off, don't worry about anything now. I know that is impossible, but I thought I would start with the hardest stuff first. But seriously, don't worry.
Then, this is a big one, do everything they tell you to do.. If they ask you to get up, do it, if they ask you to stay in bed - do it.. Follow the regime they give you to the letter. Dilate and take pain meds as prescribed and basically - be a good girl and don't think you know better (I am talking from experience here!)
There are no medals for the 'fastest recovery' - it usually takes about 6-8 weeks for the wounds to clear up don't worry if it is taking longer. Full recovery takes 12 months. There's a lot going on there and sure, you will be up and around and living life in a month or so.. but take it easy for the next year.
and then.. finally, if there is anything you become concerned with, don't understand or are worrying about then ASK YOUR SURGEON. it really is that simple. Ask on a forum like this and you will get 20 different answers. Ask your surgeon and you get the right one for you when you need it. From my experience, surgeons are not upset when people they operated on get in touch, in fact, the opposite. They want you to have the best outcome as well..
My surgery was life changing, mind blowing and dispelled my gender dysphoria for good. I have never been so at peace or happy since I had it done. I hope and pray your outcome is at least as good. and Good Luck for the 8th.
Sarah! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post! I really really liked your advice! I think that, having read so many posts of so many women about their surgery, and their recovery, and their hardships and whatnot, I kiiiind of was thinking that I knew (as much as I could) about the recovery, and what to do, or what to try. But you are so so right! The only one I should listen to is my doctor. So thank you for this reminder!
Right now I am trying to get the topic off my head lol, and, as you mentioned, I'm trying not to worry about it at the moment. Been staying busy, but still I've been preparing the things I think I'll need for the post-op. Still, whenever I think about the 8th, omg my stomach contracts a little because I start feeling nervous.
I am so happy to hear your surgery has changed your life for the better, and that your dysphoria is gone! I can't wait to be able to say the same!
Thank you!! 💓💞
Quote from: Maid Marion on June 25, 2024, 11:13:38 PMHi Ally,
Best of luck!
Marion
Marion! Thank you so much!!💗
Quote from: Northern Star Girl on June 26, 2024, 10:22:59 AM@allylioness
Dear Ally:
Very exciting times ahead for you.
July 8th will arrive faster than you think... just 12 days from now
Everyone here on the Forum will be wishing you successful surgery
results... and we want you to have quick and problem-free recovery.
Please keep me and the rest of your avid followers updated only
as you feel comfortable sharing and posting.
HUGS and best wishes to you,
Danielle [Northern Star Girl}
Awwe Danielle!
Thank you for taking the time to wish me good luck, and for your words!
Exciting times are ahead indeed!
Hugs for you!💖