Im a quite a switched on girl and while new to susans im not new to the scene and if im honest kept away from it so I could make my own choices with out influence from other ts's having read this forum this is the bare minimum list of questions you should be asking others or your surgeon.
a lot of comments on here dont relate to surgeon so if you are post op can you if you comment say who your surgeon was this may help the pre ops


dilation schedule
peeing
preop photos immediately post op photos
whats it going to look like after surgery a split frankfurter labia lips with a prune clit hood ......
depth this is usually pelvic depth and douglas pouch
granulation how to deal with it
clothing to wear
lube used
douching point to stop etc
how to clean up if you are out and about
How to deal with constipation piles etc
recovery time against surgeon and your body no two are the same
orgsam time frame and what its going to be like
queefing or vagina farts
complications.....
And how you are expecting to feel against how you do thats an important one

Good points. 

The other questions I'd have in mind are whether or not they'll take my insurance or plastic, because I won't have that kind of cash readily available until 2/16.

These in my opinion are all good questions,  even though I didn't ask but a few when  had my surgery,
I answered a couple questions,  and as for my surgeon it was Chettawut, and I am very happy with my results, if anyone has any questions feel free to ask and I'll try to answer them 

Quote from: Julieb1 on June 18, 2014, 05:32:41 PM
Im a quite a switched on girl and while new to susans im not new to the scene and if im honest kept away from it so I could make my own choices with out influence from other ts's having read this forum this is the bare minimum list of questions you should be asking others or your surgeon.
a lot of comments on here dont relate to surgeon so if you are post op can you if you comment say who your surgeon was this may help the pre ops


dilation schedule3/2 times a day for first year(combined 2 hours) some cheating I. E. miss 1 session or day
peeing  No guaranty it's gonna be in a straight line,  be prepared for an underneath golden shower at least in the begining
preop photos immediately post op photos
whats it going to look like after surgery a split frankfurter labia lips with a prune clit hood ......
depth this is usually pelvic depth and douglas pouch
granulation how to deal with it silver nitrate,  but only after 3 months
clothing to wear  skirts, and loose clothing- jeans till 8 weeks
lube used water soluble, I used KY bought it in bulb on eBay,  not am using vagisil
douching point to stop etc every 3 to 4 weeks with water and betaine solution,I did this for first 6 months and not it's just when ever
how to clean up if you are out and about this is a bit vague of a question,  I'm gonna say just to,  and I don't dilate out of the house
How to deal with constipation piles etcstool softeners,  actually need to see a doc on this
recovery time against surgeon and your body no two are the same back to self at 8 months, started serial relations at 4.5 months
orgsam time frame and what its going to be like first orgasm at 6 months, Undescribable , nothing like guy orgasm, get better and change over time, still can't describe them other than Omg amazing
queefing or vagina facts not unless you have a fistula
complications.....minor granulation which cleared itself up at 3 or 4 months, FYI avoid collegen supplements as my doc advised it was the reason, to much collagen can encourage scar tissue
And how you are expecting to feel against how you do thats an important one

What's queefing? What's a granulation? What's a fistula?

Thanks girls!

Quote from: crowcrow223 on June 19, 2014, 06:25:48 AM
What's queefing? What's a granulation? What's a fistula?

Thanks girls!

Queefing - The expulsion of air from a vagina.  A pussy fart.  I've only done it once to my knowledge.  That was when Dr. McGuinn pulled the nine yards of packing from inside me.  Once the last of the packing was removed, I "queefed".  I giggled uncontrollably.

Granulation - From WiseGeek ->

QuoteGranulation tissue is collagen-rich tissue which forms at the site of an injury. As the body heals, this tissue fills in the injury, and may eventually scar over. The scar may fade over time, especially if the wound is small. In some cases, the body produces too much granulation tissue, in a condition known as proud flesh, in which case medical treatment may be required to halt the overproduction.

They put it better than I could.  Basically granulation is not necessarily a bad thing, but can lead to scarring at the suture sites.

Fistula - An opening in the vaginal wall between the vagina and the inner abdomen.  Fistulas can occur between the abdomen, the intestines, bladder, or rectum.  This is a very serious condition and can lead to peritonitis, and other serious infections.  They can exhibit themselves as fecal matter, gas (not queefs), or urine, being expelled from the vagina.  If you notice anything like this, see your surgeon or doctor ASAP!

They are rare, but do occur.

My doctor was Dr. McGuinn, and over seven years on, I am still feel astounded!  I am very happy.

Going into the surgery, I felt that it wasn't as important as the other parts of transition I had accomplished.  I had completely transitioned in society and my life by that time.  No one would ever see what was between my legs, so what did it really matter?  Before surgery I thought it was the icing on the cake and nothing more.  The last step.  The last piece of the puzzle.

However when I awoke from surgery, I felt like I had been reborn!  I finally felt that my body truly matched my mind.  I attained a peace of mind I had never had before.  All the gears finally meshed.

I finally felt "normal".

If you have any questions, feel free to comment or PM me.

-Sandy

Thanks so much Sandy for responding! You have helped me a lot and it feels soothing to read how much better you felt after the surgery, I'm so happy for you!

What is douching usually done with? and most importantly, lol, how can I make my new vagina taste like strawberries lol? What would be the vagina regime for strawberry pussy? Have you heard about it before at all? Lol

What are the most important things to remember after the surgery apart from dilations, hygiene and taking things slowly?

Dr. Bowers' pre-op  and hospital discharge instructions answered the majority of Julie's questions, and most other girls I know of with North American surgeons received them early in the game as well. Dilation regimens do vary, and I was cleared for PV sex at an earlier time than many others (but it didn't happen, dang it.) I was told to take sitz baths instead of douching, and I had a gel based medication added to my dilator lube for two weeks when I first began dilating.  I did not have any great degree of granulation but I did get a painful and pesky yeast infection that my gynecologist quickly diagnosed and treated effectively.

My largest and most serious recommendation for ALL surgical patients is to have a follow up medical care team where you live lined up and informed of what you may be contacting them for and when.  If your family doctor or provider is going to have problems, he or she needs to help you find a provider you can deal with in advance of the surgery.  You will need some follow up care, you will, you will, you will!!  Be sure to provide medical releases to your surgeon and your primary care team so they can communicate for at least a year after your surgery. 

Quote from: crowcrow223 on June 19, 2014, 11:11:16 AM
Thanks so much Sandy for responding! You have helped me a lot and it feels soothing to read how much better you felt after the surgery, I'm so happy for you!

What is douching usually done with? and most importantly, lol, how can I make my new vagina taste like strawberries lol? What would be the vagina regime for strawberry pussy? Have you heard about it before at all? Lol

What are the most important things to remember after the surgery apart from dilations, hygiene and taking things slowly?

Thank you, Crow!

Most doctors who make recommendations for post operative douching is usually 1 part betadine to 10 parts water.  Many do not recommend douching because too much douching can inhibit healing.  So follow their recommendations to the letter.

Once you get past the post operative stage, you may avail yourself of the many fine scented feminine care products out there.  However, other than edible underwear, I know of no product that will make your pussy *taste* like strawberries.  Besides wouldn't you want your pussy to taste like, well, pussy?  After all isn't that what you always wanted?  Mine does, at least I've been told it does.   

One other important thing to practice post operatively, is orgasm.  Really.  You are going to have significant tissue resection and nerve reduction as a result of the operation.  You will have to retrain your brain to recognize what an orgasm is.  Also you will be blessed with a second type of orgasm, vaginal orgasm.  Playing with your clitoris is generally related to playing with the sensitive tissues at the head of your penis.  So a clitoral orgasm will feel somewhat similar to a penile orgasm, not the same, but similar.  A vaginal orgasm, attained through vaginal penetration and massage of your g-spot/prostate gland, stimulates a completely different set of nerves transmitted over the pudendal nerve bundle.  These nerves are not affected by the operation and even if you have no nerve sensation from your clitoris, you'll still be able to orgasm vaginally.  And the sensation is difficult to describe, but completely satisfying.

But you must practice, practice, practice!  Really.  Give it time, and don't rush things if it hurts, but you can be a sexually active woman and enjoy sex to the fullest.

-Sandy

You're so kind and knowledgeable, thanks so much for taking your time to respond, if I come up with any more questions/worries, I'll post it here, thank you!

Quote from: Julieb1 on June 18, 2014, 05:32:41 PM
dilation schedule
peeing
preop photos immediately post op photos
whats it going to look like after surgery a split frankfurter labia lips with a prune clit hood ......
depth this is usually pelvic depth and douglas pouch
granulation how to deal with it
clothing to wear
lube used
douching point to stop etc
how to clean up if you are out and about
How to deal with constipation piles etc
recovery time against surgeon and your body no two are the same
orgsam time frame and what its going to be like
queefing or vagina farts
complications.....
And how you are expecting to feel against how you do thats an important one

I went with Dr Reed (miami). The dilation schedule is a liberal "3-5x daily" although I used Brassard's schedule because it's more detailed over months. I didn't take any pre surgery pics but the post op ones are pretty much what can expect out of a lot of stitches and pubic drains. My depth was mostly limited by available skin to graft with.

Granulation tissue was mostly dealt with silver nitrate, painfully (lidocaine cream works wonders). I has loose clothing (surgical scrubs) as lounging wear so things were easier to move around with and get in and out of (the pants). I used generic sterile lube, cheaper the better. I used (moist) toilet paper for most cleanup. Constipation wasn't a problem because of limited amounts of opiate pain meds and antibiotic side effects. The biggest complication was bleeding which I was warned about specifically during the informed consent/paperwork day.

I didn't put a lot of expectations on the results because of the lack of donor tissues but meh. The ones I do have I kinda expected would happen (need for revision; urinary stream direction and excess erectile tissue). I'm still happy with the result (and my gyno thinks it's good as well).