Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Gender Correction Surgery => Topic started by: KerstinVienna on July 10, 2009, 02:48:41 AM

Title: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: KerstinVienna on July 10, 2009, 02:48:41 AM
Hi!
I'll have my srs on nov 27th (140 days!  :icon_yikes: *G) and I'm really concerned about pain! I know that it will be uncomfortable etc but I'm afraid of REAL pain. like morphium doesnt work etc (I read some diaries and perhaps I just found these where it didnt work?)
Last year I had full FFS (except of jaw reduction) and I had NO pain, although I was prepared for the worst. But i was told that SRS will be more painfull than FFS (of course) and now I'm afraid that FFS was "too easys" and when I'll have SRS the body will react more heavily!
I'm glad to have SRS done by dr suporn, but my fear covers my joy!  :eusa_think:

Does anyone else have experience with SRS and FFS and the pain level?

Yours Kerstin
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Hannah on July 10, 2009, 03:04:54 AM
Just out of curiosity, did Dr. Suporn do your ffs too?
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: KerstinVienna on July 10, 2009, 03:24:07 AM
yes he did and I looked totally diffrent (thats good!) afterwards ;)

when I came back people didnt recognize me ;). the changes where not that big but very powerful!

that was it worth, and with no pain i was the best ;)
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Hannah on July 10, 2009, 03:38:54 AM
I agree with you that he is an artist. I can't wait to meet him  :angel: Did he give you a discount for being a return customer? Again, just curious.

I don't know about pain, it sounds like your body responds nicely to pain meds. It's too bad you can't just keep an epidural for like 3 months isn't it.
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: KerstinVienna on July 10, 2009, 03:44:58 AM
yes there was a discount of about  45.000 Baht (i guess)

when will you be there again?

well i dont know why my body reacts that good! i used to smoke, to destroy my body with eating disorders etc but I never become ill .. NEVER!  ;D

I'm just afraid of lying around and passing out because of the pain or not working morphium (like I read in two diaries)

in 150 days I'll see it ;)

Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Hannah on July 10, 2009, 03:57:06 AM
I'll be there in February for ffs. 45000 Baht translates into roughly $1400, it's like he's throwing in the airfare and hotel, what a champ.

Ok I'll quit hijacking yer thread now  :icon_flower:
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: KerstinVienna on July 10, 2009, 04:04:03 AM
well in  €uro that will cover the costs for the hotel (~ 900€) but yes I'm glad i got it! nice suprise!

if there questions about my ffs, just ask me ;)
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Krissy_Australia on July 10, 2009, 08:05:12 AM
Hi Kerstin

I guess I might see you over there Im booked for FFS on 26 Nov
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Nero on July 10, 2009, 08:27:41 AM
hmm I've actually heard the opposite from ladies who have had both done. I've heard that the FFS pain is much greater than SRS. We have lots of ladies who've endured both. Hopefully, some will be along.
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Sandy on July 10, 2009, 08:37:29 AM
Kerstin:

I've had FFS, GRS, and an orchi.

Because of an injury many years before, I have endured a constant level of pain for that time.  I was absolutely unprepared for the dramatically higher level of pain from the FFS.  It was almost unendurable.

In comparison, the orchi and GRS were at most very uncomfortable to start and became mere discomfort after a few days.

On a scale of 1-10, the FFS was 10.5, the GRS 4.

If you did not experience that much pain from your FFS, you are a remarkably lucky girl!  I would say that you should not have any worries about your GRS.  Morphine may be used in the first day or so, but I would think that you would not need any long term pain relief.

There are more nerves in the face than in the groin so you shouldn't have that much difficulty.

Best of luck!

-Sandy
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: mmelny on July 10, 2009, 09:28:30 AM
Hi Kerstin,

I can't speak for SRS (yet), but FFS was painful but controlled by pain killers for four days post-op, then it was just a swelling ugly nuisance for another 3-4 weeks.  The first day after FFS I was in horrible pain even with pain killers.  I did have the jaw done, and about everything else, so not many parts of my face weren't bruised, swollen, scarred or tender.

But from most everything I read, and several friends accounts, SRS isn't painful, especially in comparison to FFS, and mostly uncomfortable.   Good luck, Happy Surgery to you!

And to give you another pending patients viewpoint, pain isn't even on my mind to worry about for SRS... complications and revisions concern me more.  Praying for a 'perfect' surgery :)  To you too!   

Post back on if you didn't feel pain, I'll be with Suporn in January.   Don't post back if you felt pain, lol.. .I'd rather not know  ;)

*huggs*,
Melan
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Rebecca Liz on July 10, 2009, 11:28:32 AM
Kerstin,

That's my daughter's middle name!!! I love it!!

I have had FFS, BAS, and GRS now. My FFS caused me absolutely no pain. I took zero pain meds. Same with my BAS. Due to a small oversight, my GRS caused me intense pain immediately after I awoke - but only until the expected postop pain meds were finally provided. After that, the pain quickly went to about 2 out of 10, and pretty much stayed there. As others have said, it's more of a discomfort than pain, and although it lessens each day, will last for about 6 weeks usually, and then be gone completely. Seriously, it's nothing to be concerned about.

Rebecca
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: KerstinVienna on July 10, 2009, 02:13:11 PM
Hi!

@Krissy:
would be nice to see you there! I'll arrive on nov 24th, and will stay there till january 3rd! are you staying in the chon inter too?

@nero, sandy, melan, rebecca:
there are more nerves in the face? really? hmm .. I thought that the genitals have especially more nerves than the face.
well i dont know what kind of drugs i was given, perhaps it was a good mixture ;) I asked a nurse about the infusion and she told me that it was only (hmm whats the english term for it) well it was no pain killer. All I got were the many colorful pills! *G

@rebecca:
uhi! where did you have your grs? in chonburi someone will stay with you the first night so i hope no PRAY that there wont be a gap where i could feel real pain; in chonburi they all said "kIrstIn" to me, after a whilte i gave it up and so i was called kirstin all the time ;)
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Rebecca Liz on July 10, 2009, 03:09:40 PM
Matilda, I often hurt the same thing about SRS, and so was actually expecting to awaken to minimal pain. This was not the case. Even after the initial pain issue was resolved, there was significant pain - but I would describe it more as serious discomfort pain. Nothing like a kidney stone or other stabbing pains. More like very serious bruising. Not in the least bit intolerable. My kidney stone had me writhing in pain and tears, and nearly vomiting.

As for FFS, the pain will depend upon what you have done. Dr. O tends to be rather invasive and do a lot of bone reconstruction. Of course this will be painful. What I had done was soft tissue work and cheek implants. These were a non-issue where pain was concerned.
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: pretty pauline on July 10, 2009, 05:50:33 PM
I had a lot of pain for about a week after my srs, it was painful when I had the cath removed, but painkillers particularly morphine does work.
My BA wasn't too bad, a lot of swelling, I had them redone.
FFS was painful, but eased with the painkillers, I had a full facelift, I had surgery on my forehead, scalp advancement I also had cheek implants which caused a lot of numbness, I had my jaw and nose done as well
I have to say my FFS was more rewarding than SRS, it was very important for me to look as feminine as possible, people just didn't recognize me, Iv also had fillers and botox, resently I had my lips done making them more fuller and feminine, I now look totally female, I think I found SRS painful because I had the surgery under pressure, my Mam was anxious for me to have it so as my transition was fully complete, but Iv no regrets, as well as looking completely female (which was very important to me), but I feel completely female as well.

You'll look back KerstinVienna and feel it was all worth it, you'll have no regrets, I don't, take care, it will all be fine girl.
p
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Audrey on July 10, 2009, 05:58:07 PM
HMM I had alot of pain with my srs.  I cant even imagine ffs if its a 10.5.  :o :o

The worst part about the srs isnt so much the pain level but duration and that you do your business there, you sit on it, even when laying theres some pressure or was for me with the stent in.  Oh and then it was trying to work its way out pulling on the stitches that are sew to hold it in.  I had to take the pills constantly cause it was really hurting.  Not too mention the catheter in for a week causing bladder spasms and pulling on the stitches.  Wow.  Im soo glad I don't have to go through all that again.

One night i was so uncomfortable I slept on my belly with the donut under my crotch area.  The nurse was a little shocked i think. lol

Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Rebecca Liz on July 10, 2009, 06:02:25 PM
Exactly, Audrey!! That's what I meant by discomfort. You have tubes and packing down there for 6 days (for me, at least), but even after that, sitting, lying down, standing, moving at... everything caused that aching. It got better daily, and then suddenly... gone.

@Pauline - I agree that my FFS changed my life. I went from looking decent to completely passing, virtually overnight! My BA (which was almost a year later) was a huge confidence booster, but my FFS was the ticket I needed. GRS, for me, was another life-altering experience, but only internally. Before it, I just felt.... fake.
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Butterfly on July 11, 2009, 12:35:08 AM
FFS is definitely more painful than GRS.  The pain was excruciating & not even the pain pills seemed to work at times.  Not only that but the recovery time is longer too.  I was under the knife for 12 hours for FFS, and it took me almost a year to recover fully.  With GRS I feel that I could deal with the pain more easily If I found better ways to organise my time for dilation & the mess that it causes.
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Buffy on July 11, 2009, 12:47:03 AM
I had FFS and SRS with Suporn, two years apart.

I can honestly say that FFS was more painful and lasted longer than SRS did. SRS was uncomfortable and painful when first dilating, but FFS particularly my jaw and bottom lip area seemed to take an eternity to recover.

I had recovered from SRS in six months, FFS was over 12 months.

Buffy
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Rebecca Liz on July 11, 2009, 01:26:59 AM
I still stand firm that the pain levels and recovery time for the surgeries are definitely dependent upon the individual and the type of FFS done. I had zero pain from FFS and was pretty much completely healed within 6 weeks, but I had no bone work done. With my GRS, there was definitely pain, and although I had virtually no discharge after the packing was removed, at 10 weeks I still have a decent amount of swelling and some tenderness around the suture areas. I will add that I was able to achieve orgasm at 8 weeks, although penetration caused some minor bleeding, so I fully expect to be virtually healed by 3-4 months tops.
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Audrey on July 11, 2009, 01:57:12 AM
god i would die if i got face work done  :P.  If I could stay in montreal at the esclepiade again then it would be worth it.  Hmm maybe i will get something done. 

Rebecca, may i ask what the o was like.  im 1 month post op and im kinda scared as far as that goes.  :embarrassed:

the packing seemed to get more uncomfortable as time went on,   >:(  but now dilatings getting better.
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Krissy_Australia on July 11, 2009, 07:14:29 AM
Hi Kerstin

I get in on the 23rd and am staying at Chonburi, You look so good.
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Natasha on July 11, 2009, 09:32:23 AM
Quote from: Rebecca Liz on July 11, 2009, 01:26:59 AM
I still stand firm that the pain levels and recovery time for the surgeries are definitely dependent upon the individual and the type of FFS done.

ok i get it.  you've said so twice.....thrice?... already.  why don't we let other people answer the question?

QuoteSRS Pain vs FFS Pain?

simply put..grs hurts..it hurts a lot.  haven't had ffs so i can't help you there.

Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Jenny Jackson on July 12, 2009, 02:15:39 AM
I can't talk or SRS as I've not had it ... yet, but after my 'full works' FFS last year I wasn't so much in pain as intensely uncomfortable which, though it slowly faded, seemed to last a hell of a long time and a year on I still have areas of my face which remain pretty much totally numb. Of course, I don't know how much pain I would have experienced if not for the strong medication (percocet) with which I dosed myself liberally for the first few days. I understand from others that SRS is far less painful than FFS and I sincerely pray that'll be how I'll find it too as I'm a fully paid up, card carrying coward.
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: pretty pauline on July 13, 2009, 02:28:50 PM
Quote from: Rebecca Liz on July 10, 2009, 06:02:25 PM


@Pauline - I agree that my FFS changed my life. I went from looking decent to completely passing, virtually overnight! My BA (which was almost a year later) was a huge confidence booster, but my FFS was the ticket I needed. GRS, for me, was another life-altering experience, but only internally. Before it, I just felt.... fake.
Rebecca Liz- Yes FFS is certainly a huge confidence booster, in your avatar photo you certainly pass as a very pretty and attractive woman, srs is for ourselves, but FFS is for the world to see how pretty attractive and passable  we are as women, we're typical girls, we just want to be pretty, I don't know any girl who doesn't.
p
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: Julie Marie on July 13, 2009, 04:13:59 PM
My FFS, full face & neck lift, brow reduction, lip lift, was horribly painful. I was told when I awoke I would feel no pain but instead was in such pain that I threw up. For four days I needed heavy pain killers just to tolerate the pain.

When I had GRS I awoke in no pain at all. I didn't even ask for any pain meds until about 8 hours after I came out of recovery and then it was only because the nurse suggested I take something so I'll get a good night's sleep. I didn't even sleep until close to midnight the day I had surgery. Coming out of BA was more painful.

But FFS discomfort was very short lived, less than a week.  GRS discomfort however has lasted months.

Julie
Title: Re: SRS Pain vs FFS Pain?
Post by: LondonBridge on July 14, 2009, 03:52:45 PM
Im having BA and SRS with Suporn on November 12th...bring on the pain! haha