Hi Melissa,
Great to see you back already and even able to write a few lines. I assume when you say "very professional feeling here" you are referring to the clinic and not to your new body parts ?   
Warmest best wishes from sodden Strasbourg.
Donna

Morning After

So slightly more - pain and discomfort are the order of the day. Legs are being pneumatic pumped (actually feels nice). After asking for more pain killers and sleepy pills I've been able to drift in a slightly sedated way. Getting used to new body parts is interesting. Lots of pressure around the entrance to neo vagina; and having the bed raised can be really painful as the padding presses deep inside.

The operation was apparently quite fast - just over 6 hours and I vaguely remember the voices as the Intubation tube is removed, and Dr Chettawut (?) telling me it was a success. Holding his hand and saying thank you.

The downside - still no water for >6 hours after coming round.
Coughing is uncomfortable and throat quite sore... But it passed after breakfast.
Warm Soya milk (actually delicious) and syrup. 06:00, 12:00 and 18:00. And regular medicine taking. So just as I drift off it's time to wake up again.

Mum came to visit (only 1 hour on first day post op) and it was really nice to share time together. For those traveling alone the nurses are regularly checking up on you. They are all caring and professional. Especially when one of the skin graft areas started bleeding.

For many people it seems normal to have a feeling of the bladder being full. In particular there would have been a nerve towards the end of the penis which would be giving feedback to say you have urine flow. Except it's not there now - and a phantom pain resides. It has eased throughout the day - and the brain will slowly reconfigure this. But it will take time. So just be prepared.

Time to drift back to sleep after finishing Medicine

Glad you're back with us Mel...!!!  I am so thrilled that you're up and even able to tap out a few words - GIRL...!!!!

It is good to hear from you
Love these posts, so many insights into what GRS is and how it feels.  I think we're all looking forward to more, but take it easy, and update us only as you feel up to it.
And congratulations!

So happy for you! I can honestly say I have been getting increasingly emotional reading your posts.

Keep it up and get some good sleep, you've earned it!

The first day Over The Rainbow!!  Congratulations, and condolences all at once.  A time to let others care for you and not to be anxious about it -- meds help -- but each waking time will find you better by leaps and bounds.  It is quite a journey.  (Happy tear for you!!)

Pink Fluffy Elephants

Well it's fun being super dozy. You get to see all sorts of fluffy animals.
I think. Actually it is more that I don't remember sleeping last night; I vaguely remember having miso soup for breakfast. And obviously I wrote one or two what's app messages. But they were not the most coherent.  So now I think it is mid day - day 2. But I'm not sure.

More miso soup and warm soya milk (tastes like porridge) and I find myself wanting to drift off again. The intestines slowly getting used to eating solids. Certainly between Friday and Monday I went from 61.1kg down to 58.1 kg. some of that will be due to restricted fluids and empty stomach. But it does seen that weight loss can easily occur.

Although I've brought a few books I've not read them here in the clinic. Even the TV with it's hundreds of channels is just like a chatter box sat in the corner whilst my eyes quickly close and I'm away with the fairies. Or mermaids.

That utopia land is calling now. The body has got Used to the dull aches now - and the sensation of parts of my body which no longer exist is slowly fading. Healing is good! Sleeping is amazing. And the staff are fantastic.

Hi Melissa,
Your doziness comes through loud and clear and it's kind of cute, the partially drugged but happy musings of a new born!
Thinking of you very much and really glad to know that all is going well so far.
Hugs
Donna

I check every morning now for your update, and it's so nice to hear you talk about just resting and being treated well

I do wish I could have a week of super sleepy times though, work is so insanely busy atm xD

Take care and keep resting!

Hey Mel

Sounds like you are doing great, which makes me extremely happy.  The pink fluffy elephants are most interesting.  Are these manifestations of the nurses?

Hugs from Marbella, where I no longer look like a hamster with its cheek-pouches full to bursting.  Scaring fewer children in the street too

Rolly Polly and pumping

Today the IV drip was removed as my blood pressure had returned to normal and stats were good. I'm still oozing blood from somewhere but nowhere near as bad as yesterday. On top that the pneumatic leg pumps were removed - yay. These are three stages which inflate around the ankle, then gastroc nemius (lower leg) and thigh (upper leg). One leg at a time every minute or so. Quite massage like really.

Laying on my bum so much has made some quite sore areas which really enjoy a light stroke - don't scratch that itch as it might lead to deeper skin damage. But moving my pelvis and bum is now allowed and feels much less painful.

Some discomfort from having a missing penis has gone. Or at least the brain is beginning to work out it is no longer there... Or not in the same place. Just a shed load of padding instead. The constant pressure from the stretched skin around the vagina has also died down. It's still not a Pleasant ride but is much more bearable.

Having bed washes is a nice pampering as it means I'm allowed to roll to left or right hand side for a while. Rolling is very slow indeed. Turning clockwise requires grabbing my left arm onto the right rails and just slowly; delicately rolling. The padding between the legs means it is also not so comfortable but at least I am not on my bum any more. It's a pretty bum and I would not want to loose it..

The drug cocktails are also fun. I've seriously lost track of time - can be quite coherent writing posts and then suddenly drift off with the rainbow unicorns. I actually really enjoy this form of lucid dreaming as it helps me picture my new future. And to allow time to pass.

The regular drug cocktails are also interesting. I think about 8 pills after every meal. Most are nicely coloured - oranges - blue and yellow - pink and blue - and some boring white ones. It we are going to be special we should at least get more variety in their colour (joking)

Drinking water is really really important. They typically require 5x 60ml a day. Since you are on a catheter it does drain away. Easily. But can still give you that full feeling. So I had better drink up my next bottle before the nurses complain.

Actually drinking lots of water is very good for recovery. If anyone has seen the videos about the role of Fascia in the body; they would understand where the water is used. These are microscopic structures which lag between the skin / muscles and connective tissues - and act like a giant lubricant. They need to rebuild at the wound site and water helps them a lot.

And lastly - the mild fever (37.3) has gone back to normal. The Norwegian Goddess did warn me that the fever could come and go as hormone balance is screwed up. So guess I have more to come

Sounds like things are progressing nicely

I can't imagine what those weird phantom pains feel like! I look forward to experiencing them myself one day...and a super happy fun time drug cocktail wouldn't hurt either

Hi Melissa,
In your last post you provide more details than anything I have so far seen from anyone at this stage of their recover. Almost makes it feel like I'm in the room there with you and, since I'm now only two weeks from flying out myself, in mind at least I guess in many ways I am.
Vicky, Isabell and others talk a lot about the "sisterhood" when referring to those who have done GRS and as my own date gets closer and closer, reading your posts I can really see what they mean. To volontarily go through all of this is really quite an extraordinary experience and like any such shared experience, those who have been through it do indeed join a "community".

Meanwhile, as you have apparently noticed on a couple of other threads, I have been tending to my psychological preparation in my own particular way.  It has been a good laugh so far and I really intend to see it through to the end. Don't know if I'll push too hard on the gene splicing with zebra fish though, or any other type of fish for that matter. It seems that eliminating the fishy post-op smell is already a problem for many so I would certainly not want to do anything which might compound the issue. Very glad to see that you're already smiling though....
Hugs and lot's of positive, healing vibes!
Donna

Hi Mel

Yes, I can only echo Donna's comments about the recent detail in your "SRS Journal" - it's extremely valuable and detailed information, and way clearer and deeper than what we generally see. At least I know what I might expect next year, although the drill and chisel do sound a bit alarming, aaargh 

If this is your state of lucidity despite the rainbow pills, you sound like you're doing fantastically - we're thrilled!

If you see your Norwegian Goddess, please see if she could rustle up a male version to come and visit me when I'm out there next year, he he he!

Hugs from foggy Marbella (yes!), where at least the clouds of the stuff hide the bruising!   

What day is it?

I think that is a pretty good way to summerise where I am today. There are no windows in the room. This might sound bad (normally I would hate it) but it does mean that you can sleep when you need to sleep. And not try to synchronize with outside. Sleep is important.

Recovery seems to be going well. Tomorrow I'll get to see the first swollen looks of my body upgrade. This will be fun; although the catheter will remain in place for a few more days. The first time I can shower will then be blissful. Tantalizing - dreams. Although a big soapy bath might be months away - so make up for them before surgery!

One aspect of punishment from my brain was during the first 6-8 hours post op where I dreamed of making cups of tea or preparing freshly baked cookies. Only to come around and remember NBM nil by mouth. Why brain why? (Laughing), My Instagram feed also seems to be full of delicious smoothies and raw foods - must be trying to tell me something. I wonder what?

There are plenty of movie channels available on the TV here. So if you enjoy TV then there are plenty of options. I tend to put the TV on and close my eyes. The film finishes quite quickly then. Not sure why.

The soreness of the pelvis region is slowly fading. Perhaps the multi coloured pain killers are working well.  Or perhaps I'm just being really good and relaxing as the good doctor ordered. So now the most important thing for anyone post op..
Relax
Lay back
Enjoy the pampering
And remember - you are free now.

Like a wild bird caged for so long. The door may be opened but you don't realize you can fly so free. Perhaps a friend needs to help guide and encourage you. But free you are. And free I am.

Checking in for my dose of amazing Monkeymel feels!

I echo the above comments, I am going to go with Dr Chett next year for my SRS as well, (Maybe Julia and I will be out there at the same time! Who knows! xD ) and this is providing me with the most intimate and detailed first hand experience I have seen so far.

Thank you so much!

If you don't mind me asking, what are your visiting hours like?

I have...quite the entourage of people who will be jetting out with me when I go, and I am curious about how much time I will actually have post-op to facilitate them all crammed into a room at once and babbling at me about the amazing holiday they are having while I am lying with my crotch taped together xD

Speaking of, how is your mother is doing out and about in Thailand by herself while you are bed bound? ^^

Rest well!

Open All Hours

Granville - fetch ya cloth.

Ok so no nurse Gladys Emmanuel, but the level of care here is good. The visitor times are 1400-1500 on the first day lost op; there after 1400-1700. You will to take A taxi ride - about 50-60 baht to Dusit princess (or clinic). In your room there is one chair.... And not much waiting space. So one person is about the max. And even then I can fall asleep as they talk. So don't expect a garden party with marmalade sandwiches or cucumber sandwiches with crusts cut off.

Don't expect too much English to be spoken - so let your entourage loose in the city and allow one person to talk during the day. Once you get back to your room it definitely won't be pyjama parties. You will still be catheterized for another 3 days or so. I would suspect parties can occur after the second week... So probably better to have a close relative / friend for the first 10'days. Someone who won't mind you suddenly falling asleep mid sentance. Or writing updates on here...

Also time of year is important. It is very not and humid outside. There have been heavy storms and flash flooding the last couple of days. Blue skies tend to be from 9:00-14;00 before getting muggy / cloudy / stormy. But temperature doesn't change much.

I'm just hoping I'm strong enough to get a light suntan once most of the bleeding stops and tubes Removed.

Now got get back to the Important point of drinking and talking.

Heavens Mel - so you also want to add a light suntan to your collection of things to bring back from Thailand!

@Daniella - I think there's a very good chance that we'll be there together next year   Let's talk girl!!

Gotta work for a bit.   Sleep well, Mel...!!!

Quote from: Monkeymel on July 31, 2014, 04:02:02 AM
Open All Hours

Granville - fetch ya cloth.

Ok so no nurse Gladys Emmanuel, but the level of care here is good. The visitor times are 1400-1500 on the first day lost op; there after 1400-1700.

Dear gods...At last count I have 8 people who want to come see me...>.>

I can see it now...all my friends and family duking it out in the hotel lobby to see who gets to see me that day x'D

(Also, I haven't heard an Open All Hours reference in YEARS! xD )

Quote from: Julia-Madrid on July 31, 2014, 04:23:15 AM
@Daniella - I think there's a very good chance that we'll be there together next year   Let's talk girl!!

I don't have any solid dates yet, but I am looking at approximately July-September time 2015. I need to wait till July to apply for my recommendation for SRS from my doctors/psychs, and then I have given around a 4-6 months to get my recommendation and book Dr Chett.

Speaking of...another question for Mel ^^;

How long was Dr Chett's waiting list when you were trying to book him? I hear that on average it's around 4 months, what was your experience with the booking like?

The date was organized around the end of march - so 4 months is about right. Getting the international payments sorted took a while (my bank used an intermediary bank) which meant they saw a payment had occurred but not from who. It took about 3 weeks each time to solve this.

Ms Som works part Time and has a very hectic schedule but she is a really nice lady with excellent English. I did notice that emails from gmail.com and hotmail.com and Yahoo.com would often get lost. So always use a more professional account - if you have one.

Getting blood work was easy although I had to get soe transitions from German to English. The PTT values had to be calculated from the Quick / INR ratios but that wasn't a problem once we understood the issue.

Bed wash time