Hey guys I'm planning to have my gender confirmation surgery hopefully around June or July of 2015 and I'm at the point where I'm wanting and needing to gain some knowledge on GCS so I can start preparing. I like to know what I should know and getting myself into well in advance actually. If all goes well I will get it soon enough but I have until 2017 when I turn 26 at the end of July as I'm under my parents insurance. I'm one of the lucky ones whos insurance will pay for GCS as I'm under New Yorks Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield state insurance. Has anybody have experience with NYBCBS and would be able to relay any information? Living on Long Island I'm seriously considering Dr McGinn for many reasons including that she is trans and went through the surgery, have heard excellent reviews and is about a 3-4 hour drive from my house. Would anybody be able to tell me of they're experiences with her, I did read about JennX's experience with her and wouldn't mind hearing about others. Lastly about her is does she accept insurance?

Getting the surgery: How does insurance work with it and what should I expect it to cover? How long before the date should I call to start getting the ball rolling with consultations and actually getting a set date? How about my letters of recommendation, my therapist works at a clinic, would getting my second from the head work out just fine after speaking with her? Lastly does my presentation have a chance of me not getting accepted as I don't really dress and present as female all the time but for me this whole physical transition is very needed? I'm worried about gate keepers outside of my therapists practice.

About the surgery itself, how is the recovery from the surgery? Would I expect to go back to school and work within a month or two afterwards? Also how about exercize, especially bicycle riding? I am hearing recovery is painful and does feel rather drawn out, what should I expect, especially the first month? I read that I should still be able to orgasm and how does it compare from before the surgery. I also hear mixed things about self lubrication, is it possible or more like a case by case basis? Lastly why is hair removal down there needed?

Most doctors do require that the therapists' letters say you're living 100% full-time as female for at least a year pre-GRS.

As for recovery time, I was back at work within a month (29 days, to be precise) and managed OK, though I wish I'd had one more week off. That first month consisted basically of aftercare - dilation, sitz baths, etc. - and napping/resting; I wasn't in a great deal of pain at the hospital and it never got worse than "moderate sprained ankle" level at home, but I was *exhausted* all the time. A 10-minute walk and I needed a nap!

It took me about a year to get back into bike-riding at my previous 30-50 miles a week, but I was able to get on a bike for short periods by six months.

As for orgasm, yes, I was orgasmic in my sleep at 3 weeks post-op and awake around 3 months (?); it's really impossible to describe how it feels different, but it does in some ways and doesn't in others. I am self-lubricating to some degree, too.

Brassard didn't require hair removal, but I assume for surgeons who do, it's so no hair grows inside the vagina. That would be bad!

If you are interested in Dr. McGinn doing the surgery, just call or e-mail her office on the details of what to do about the insurance.  They will take it or they won't, but I am mostly sure they will.  I am a Bowers girl and I know that her office is experienced with all sorts of insurance haggling, and Dr. McGinn's staff are no less competent.  Call and let them deal with the headaches of them getting paid.

For recovery, the first two weeks will be the worst, and while I had no restrictions on my physical exercise, I was just too darn tired to do much for several weeks.  You will not be comfortable sitting much until your major exterior sutures dissolve at 5 to 6 weeks, so school could be a problem.  Your time will be taken up with dilation quite a bit the first 60 to 90 days, so a full, normal schedule will be rough, but some people have done it quite well. 

As one of those from the old "hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and take what you damn well get" school of planning,  I would say that if school is involved, make it an online course or three that you can do at your own pace, and maybe just sit for a single test at school if you can do it.

At this time last year I was like a chicken with its head off getting ready for my surgery last January, so I would also recommend having a month or six weeks before surgery with your deck clear of life or death issues too.