Allyda - I totally understand the issue about insurance coverage. I myself am from Germany. Many things "trans" are insurance covered, including GRS, hair removal and in many cases (after some struggle) breast augmentation. It is hard to judge if it is worth it to really spend a lot of money for something that is covered just because it seems to be better. Still - if I am going to do a voice sugery at all, I will do this. Started sayving money for it last year actually. Voice surgery would be covered if I would do it in Germany, bit I have not heard any really good results from here, and I amy really concerned about hings concerning my body and the rest of my life. Health is more worth than money. Greetings

Quote from: anjaq on April 25, 2014, 11:05:32 AM
Allyda - I totally understand the issue about insurance coverage. I myself am from Germany. Many things "trans" are insurance covered, including GRS, hair removal and in many cases (after some struggle) breast augmentation. It is hard to judge if it is worth it to really spend a lot of money for something that is covered just because it seems to be better. Still - if I am going to do a voice sugery at all, I will do this. Started sayving money for it last year actually. Voice surgery would be covered if I would do it in Germany, bit I have not heard any really good results from here, and I amy really concerned about hings concerning my body and the rest of my life. Health is more worth than money. Greetings

Again Anjaq I reeeaaally appreciate your concern and advice. However before I could even examine the possibility of going to Seoul to get this done I'd need some Idea of the cost involved for both the surgery and the trip. Even then as stated my only option to come up with the amount needed will be to use part of what I get for my refinancing of my current home. Most of this money though will be needed for putting another home on my extra lot to rent out along with my current home when I make my move down south to Okeechobee.

I don't need to know an exact figure, but if one of you girls could pm me with an estimated cost of round trip tickets and most important, Dr. Kim's fee's for the surgery it would help me make a better decision.

Another issue I have is with my age. Being 49, I'm concerned about how many years it might take me to save up enough for the trip and the surgery. If I had an approximation of how much I'd need it'd go along way with helping me make the decision to wait and have Dr. Kim do it, or, just have it done here as planned.

Again I thank every one of you for your concern and opinions.

Ally

Quote from: Allyda on April 25, 2014, 12:58:31 PM
Again Anjaq I reeeaaally appreciate your concern and advice. However before I could even examine the possibility of going to Seoul to get this done I'd need some Idea of the cost involved for both the surgery and the trip. Even then as stated my only option to come up with the amount needed will be to use part of what I get for my refinancing of my current home. Most of this money though will be needed for putting another home on my extra lot to rent out along with my current home when I make my move down south to Okeechobee.

I don't need to know an exact figure, but if one of you girls could pm me with an estimated cost of round trip tickets and most important, Dr. Kim's fee's for the surgery it would help me make a better decision.

Another issue I have is with my age. Being 49, I'm concerned about how many years it might take me to save up enough for the trip and the surgery. If I had an approximation of how much I'd need it'd go along way with helping me make the decision to wait and have Dr. Kim do it, or, just have it done here as planned.

Again I thank every one of you for your concern and opinions.

Ally

You're so nice in your responses, Allyda! I am happy to help however I can

Here was my cost breakdown:
Procedure: $7,900 (includes botox and conversion rate)
Hotel: $1,350 (for two)
Food & Travel: ~$1200 (this included some shopping )

Total for me: ~$10,500

I stayed in a cheap hotel, if I did it again I would get a nicer hotel with full kitchen!

Thank you soooooo much Jennygirl. That is less than I was thinking it would be. I may be able to swing that out of my refinance as it will still leave me plenty to do the other things I need to do with it.

Looks like I have a big decision to make. I'm seeing my loan officer for the refinance next week on Tuesday. I'll know more then regarding the amount being offered then. Because I only owe around 3-4K on my current home I've alot of equity to deal with.

I of course will keep you all posted on what transpires and my final decision. It's my voice and I have to live with the results so I'd prefer Dr. Kim. There's no substitute for experience.

Thanks again Jennygirl,
Ally

Hi all,

today I had my final checkup with Dr. Kim and everything looked fabulous in the laryngoscope. He was happy and so was I. He didn't even suggest Botox anymore, so I'm the first one in this forum who will blog about the recovery process without Botox and thus add a different perspective. So Dr. Kim suggested instead to take 1 clonazepam pill/day in the evenings for the first 2 months and 1/2 pill for another month. Next I received the instructions for the vocal exercises I'm supposed to start in 2 months, and that was it. Quite anticlimactic ;-)

Anyway, I'm feeling as good as ever (even though I'm still not allowed to talk yet), had a wonderful stay in Korea (I'd definitely like to come back sometime) and can't wait to see how things will develop further. I'll keep you posted.

Best wishes,

Amy

Hooray - that is pretty neat - no Botox. Thats a first! So your recovery will be faster then? Great that all went so well. Do you have pictures? From Korea and from your laryngoscopy of course

Congratulations Amy!

I'm pleased for you too Amy, congrats! 

Yes Amy I'm happy to hear your doing spectacular! Congratulations!!

Hi all,

thanks for sending so many good wishes. It feels good to know you all care.

We (my S.O. and I) just arrived back in Berlin after a long and exhausting travel day, had a bite to eat, unpacked our things, started the washing machine and by now are totally knocked out.

To answer Anja's question: I was given a comprehensive medical record folder and assumed it also contained the laryngoscopy pics. Well, they're missing. I guess I'll have to get back to Jessie to email them. The other findings are complete. In the coming days, I'll summarize that information for you.

Expect to hear from me soon,

Amy

Amy,

Congrats on your surgery and returning home without problem. I was visiting Hawaii while you were in Seoul. People in Seoul surely were not at good mood, because of the ferry accident. Here we cancelled or delayed all upcoming outdoor events.

Hoping a smooth recovery and satisfactory results for you.

barbie~~

Yes congrat's Amy on a succesful trip and a safe return. My best wishes for speedy recovery.

Ally

Dear Barbie,

thanks for the good wishes. Yes, everybody was still quite in shock over the ferry accident and at the entrance to Seoul Children's Grand Park (near which we stayed) they put up a wall where everybody that was grieving the loss of a loved one could hang a commemorative ribbon. So the mood was quite subdued.

Still people were very friendly and warm-hearted and we're thinking about coming back to Korea for a holiday. We'd need to learn more Korean though, because many people cannot speak English.

Being not able to speak anyway, I learned to write Hangeul, which proved an enormous asset when placing an order in a restaurant and similar situations.

Regards,

Amy

P.S. @ Anja: Re pictures of Korea: we did take a lot. However, since we're both "chrome age" camera buffs, we shot film. In the course of the next days, I'll set aside some lab time to do the developing. Expect more news when I'm done.

Hi everybody,

I'm now going on 2 weeks post-VFS and "officially" I'm allowed to say 1-2 words a day. However, when I tried, one time, my vocal cords did not make a sound at all, the other time it was sounding all "wobbly" and unstable. So I stopped immediately in order to not mess things up.

Can anybody with postop experience clue me in if this is something to worry about or not? Today is postoperative day 12.

Regards,

Amy

Quote from: AmyBerlin on May 05, 2014, 03:25:30 AM
Can anybody with postop experience clue me in if this is something to worry about or not? Today is postoperative day 12.

Lol... Well not only is it common to not be able to make any noises that early on, it is also very common to have extreme anxiety about it

I'm sure you're doing just fine Amy! Hang in there! I know how impatient one can get while waiting to hear the new voice

Thank you, Jenny, for easing my mind a little!

Quote from: Jennygirl on May 05, 2014, 06:17:51 AM
I'm sure you're doing just fine Amy! Hang in there!

I'm trying my best! Up to now, I think I deserve a gold medal for following Dr. Kim's instructions (I STILL miss morning coffee, though *g*). My mind knows it's more than likely everything will be just fine, it's just the sceptic in me that refuses to believe.

Hugs,

Amy

Quote from: AmyBerlin on May 05, 2014, 11:44:27 AM
Thank you, Jenny, for easing my mind a little!

I'm trying my best! Up to now, I think I deserve a gold medal for following Dr. Kim's instructions (I STILL miss morning coffee, though *g*). My mind knows it's more than likely everything will be just fine, it's just the sceptic in me that refuses to believe.

Hugs,

Amy

Not allowed to drink coffee at all during the healing? How long must you resist coffee?


-MegC

Quote from: MeganChristine on May 05, 2014, 05:23:16 PM

Not allowed to drink coffee at all during the healing? How long must you resist coffee?


-MegC

To me the ice cream would more than make up for the lack of coffee, lol!

Congrats amy!!! Welcome back home.. Be patient and you'll be hearing your new voice soon! i cant wait for my surgery in june. Yayyy! Thanks to all the girls here who have experienced it. Kisses to all!! Xoxo

Quote from: Allyda on May 06, 2014, 05:28:18 AM
To me the ice cream would more than make up for the lack of coffee, lol!

But my V60 with Ethiopian coffee, my morning fix... There is no ice cream, oh wait, pistachio! *drool*

I guess I can manage )

-MegC