Hey Everyone,
Well it's been a month since my surgery and I realized I never really posted anything about my experience. It's amazing how time goes by so quickly.
Surgery went well. I'll admit the worst thing after, for me, was laying flat on my back in a hospital bed for so long. I had a lot of back pain, and asked to sit up a bit, probably too early. This actually ended up pulling on the catheter a bit and causing bleeding from my urethra. This necessitated me having to lay flat on my back for three more days with a sandbag and ice on my groin until the bleeding stopped. I also spent an extra day in the hospital because of this. Advice, don't ask to sit up until they say it's time, the back pain actually goes away after a while on its own, if you have any.
As for pain, I didn't really have much. I felt more pressure from my BA than I did from my GRS. I mostly just used the morphine because they said I should to stay ahead of the pain. In the end the nurses were surprised how little pain medicine I used throughout my stay in the hospital.
On the fifth day I was discharged to the hotel. The first three days out of the hospital were very uneventful. Mostly laying down in bed, sitting is not at all comfortable or recommended with the packing still in. Again, no real pain. Only took one pain pill when I felt some pain beginning to grow.
The tuesday, the week after surgery, I had surgery on a Monday, I had a follow-up with Dr McGinn. During that appointment the packing was removed, and I was introduced to dilation. At this point I was very swollen, partially probably a result of the days of having the sandbag and the urethral bleeding. The next two days were again spent in the hotel room, keeping up with the dilation schedule of six times a day. On that Thursday I had a second appointment to have staples removed, and Dr McGinn did a speculum exam and confirmed that the grafts had all taken. That was a relief to hear.
I went out to lunch that afternoon, and actually found it quite uncomfortable to sit, even with a donut pillow. This made me a little nervous about travelling home the next day. When traveling home, when you check in at the airport, ask for a wheel chair. It's the best way to go. Zipped through security, well except for a secondary screening because the dilators caused issues until they realized what they were. It was kind of funny since they were in my moms carry on. I had wheel chairs at my connection and at my arrival home.
Since then, all is going well. Last week my swelling went down dramatically, and my energy level went way up. Each day I feel better and better. It will still be a little while before things look good down there, but they are looking better and better. I feel great, and I am so happy to have things finally aligned. I have had not one moment of regret, and just finally feel that my body is right!
Good to hear everything went well. You should get a rebate on the pain meds :laugh:
I wish, I have a bottle full of vicodin I'll never use. It's like when I had my rhinoplasty last year, they prescribed valium, and I never used a single one. I have a history of not needing or using pain meds or anti anxiety meds. But, I fill the precriptions anyway just in case. I can imagine the one time I don't fill them I'll need them.
Quote from: katgirl74 on June 10, 2010, 11:21:27 AM
I wish, I have a bottle full of vicodin I'll never use. It's like when I had my rhinoplasty last year, they prescribed valium, and I never used a single one. I have a history of not needing or using pain meds or anti anxiety meds. But, I fill the precriptions anyway just in case. I can imagine the one time I don't fill them I'll need them.
I'm pretty much the same way. I must have about six prescriptions lying around for various meds that I never really needed but held onto just in case the need arises
One of my to do's this week is to take them to the pharmacy for disposal. Prefer not to have them laying around, especially the valium considering it's in my old name.
Thank's for sharing your experience. I'm glad everything went a -okay.
Hi Kat :) I'm so glad to hear everything went well for you! Sorry about the little complication but thank you for the advice about sitting up too soon. I'm not really looking forward to that 6 times a day dilation schedule, but I have the utmost confidence in Dr. McGinn and I'll do whatever she says :angel: (and I'm wondering now if I can mail my dilators to Australia when I'm ready to go back home lol)
Congratulations on your successful surgery from another soon-to-be McGinn girl! :)
Quote from: katgirl74 on June 10, 2010, 11:10:39 AM
I am so happy to have things finally aligned. I have had not one moment of regret, and just finally feel that my body is right!
Amen. I know precisely what you mean. ;)
I'm glad things went so well for you, Kat. Thanks for the update. Welcome to the beautiful new world. :icon_bunch:
- Kate
Great news that you are on the mend, heal quickly and take care. Thanks for the update.
Stardust
Congratulations, Kat!
I spent four days flat on my back after my surgery too. The pain was excruciating. I ended up asking for morphine for that, while my groin was only sore.
After Dr. McGinn let me sit up I promptly passed out. Ain't blood pressure (or lack thereof) great?
Anyway, welcome to a new world!
-Sandy
after reading dr, McGinn s site i think im going to have my srs done by her when i have the funds saved
Congrats! I am so happy that everything went well. How are you doing energy level-wise? I have a friend who had her srs about a month ago and she finds that she gets tired very easily still, does that match your experience so far? I am a week away from my op. This time next week I'll be getting admitted to the hospital on the day before my operation!!!
~Wendy
looks like we will be having ours on the same day Wendy! Congratulations ;)
Where are you going for yours FairyGirl? I am going to Dr. Brassard. And congratulations to you as well! <3
I'm seeing the same surgeon as Kat, Dr. McGinn in Philadelphia. I figured Summer Solstice was an auspicious day for surgery lol ;)
Congratulations, Wendy!
I found that my energy returned around week 6 or 7. But it's all good great.
- Kate
Congrats to you Kat!
Best wishes to you Chloe and Wendy.
Awesome girl! Thank you so so much for sharing. I know I have a long ways to go yet but I am definitely interested in all these types of during-op and post-op stories. =)
it is good to hear from so many couragous women.