Susan's Place Logo

News:

Visit our Discord server  and Wiki

Main Menu

postop care, help?

Started by jonjon, August 17, 2014, 03:11:10 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

jonjon

I don't really know where to go to ask tbh, I'm hoping someone here can help answer all my questions (which I know I should have covered previously, but I really didn't know what to expect after I got home after the op!

1st of all, I have arranged for a district nurse to come help, however, they don't seem all that helpful. My hospital discharge letter states daily minimal personal hygiene assistance, however the district nurse I saw has refused this saying I would have to pay for another company to do this for me but I can't afford that! The district nurse is happy to change my dressings but has decided this would be better once every two days, not everyday. Unfortunately my discharge letter doesn't specifically state. Ideally I would like to have a shower daily and my dressings changed straight after which is impossible to do if the district nurse won't help me shower!

Another question is about the healing process, and also comfort! Lol first of all I am most comfortable lying down in bed in regards to my ass graft. But because of the abdominal incision running down to the phallus, it hurts like hell to get back up! Lol if I sit in a chair it's easier to get up, but very painful and uncomfortable to actually sit! >_< any tips? Also how long will I have to wait until I can sleep on my side?

Last question my leg muscles keep getting very crampy. Is this part of healing? Or am I not moving around enough?

Ok, one last question! Lol toilet comfort!!! Is there anything that can make sitting on the toilet any comfier?? Lol it hurts so much on my ass cheeks!!  :(

Please check out my vampire novel project!

https://www.facebook.com/thickerthanbloodproject?ref=bookmarks

Please like, follow, share and support! :D
  •  

Alexthecat

Don't know of the above stuff but they make padded toilet seats.

  •  

mrs izzy

Toilet seat extension. MTF i used one to help

Hydration could help the leg cramps.

Roll over on your side and push up with arms to get out of bed.

Not sure on how long the pain will last for us it was a good 6 months till things where better to sit.

Sorry about your nurse but it sounds more gender related discriminating then anything.

Take it as you need and if laying down is better then sitting then lay down, i spent lots of time in bed after.
Mrs. Izzy
Trans lifeline US 877-565-8860 CAD 877-330-6366 http://www.translifeline.org/
"Those who matter will never judge, this is my given path to walk in life and you have no right to judge"

I used to be grounded but now I can fly.
  •  

Bimmer Guy

Wow, Jon, my body is in pain just reading about yours.  Sounds really, really tough.  I agree with mrs izzy about the possible discrimination and also do the hydration.  Also bananas are good for leg cramps as they are high in potassium, but I don't know if that relates here.  If you like them though, might as well eat a couple. 

I am not a medical professional, but how could changing a dressing less often be a GOOD thing?  Just seems kind of strange.  Not sure who you would call to get what you need from the nurse (the insurance company who is paying for the nurse?  maybe you could ask the surgeon to write more detailed "orders", and then the nurse will have to follow it?...that one sounds pretty good).  I'd call the surgeon's office and ask them to direct you.  I feel like she is leaving you out there to dry and that just isn't right.

Good luck and hang in there.



Quote from: mrs izzy on August 17, 2014, 09:46:48 AM
Toilet seat extension. MTF i used one to help

Hydration could help the leg cramps.

Roll over on your side and push up with arms to get out of bed.

Not sure on how long the pain will last for us it was a good 6 months till things where better to sit.

Sorry about your nurse but it sounds more gender related discriminating then anything.

Take it as you need and if laying down is better then sitting then lay down, i spent lots of time in bed after.
Top Surgery: 10/10/13 (Garramone)
Testosterone: 9/9/14
Hysto: 10/1/15
Stage 1 Meta: 3/2/16 (including UL, Vaginectomy, Scrotoplasty), (Crane, CA)
Stage 2 Meta: 11/11/16 Testicular implants, phallus and scrotum repositioning, v-nectomy revision.  Additional: Lipo on sides of chest. (Crane, TX)
Fistula Repair 12/21/17 (UPenn Hospital,unsuccessful)
Fistula Repair 6/7/18 (Nikolavsky, successful)
Revision: 1/11/19 Replacement of eroded testicle,  mons resection, cosmetic work on scrotum (Crane, TX)



  •  

jonjon

Thanks for the tips! I think I might eBay a spongey toilet seat thing! Everytime I sit on the throne I have to hold myself up by the back of the seat :/ or clenching onto the sink!  It's getting very tiring!

My side stitches don't hurt as much today so my new tactic of getting out of bed is to roll onto my front until my left (more stronger leg) catches the floor then I can use my right arm to stand myself up! This is now my paibfree way lol :) it's still hardest 1st thing in a morning though when everything it stiff!!! >_<

I battled again today with the same nurse to help me shower and he still refused saying it's not his job to do so :/ so my bf gave me a sponge down and helped me wash my hair. My main concern is just making sure my groin and ass area are clean for bandage changing :/ the nurse seems pretty damn sure I can do everything on my own since I can stand up and walk around! Oh well, looks like I'm just going to have to do what I can to keep myself clean!

Please check out my vampire novel project!

https://www.facebook.com/thickerthanbloodproject?ref=bookmarks

Please like, follow, share and support! :D
  •  

Arch

I was about to suggest that you sort of roll out of bed, but you seem to have discovered this on your own.

Hang in there, buddy. You will get through this. And if you have to, you might complain about the nurse or, better yet, see if you can get a new one. No sense in making someone cranky if he's going to continue caring for you. And you can always complain after the fact.
"The hammer is my penis." --Captain Hammer

"When all you have is a hammer . . ." --Anonymous carpenter
  •  

jonjon

In regards to my arm healing, how long before I can start using my fingers? Not lifting but just general minor use? At the minute, I still have lot of numbness in my hand and sharp painful 'tugs' when I do my finger tip excersizes, this normal? It's been 10 days since the op.
Please check out my vampire novel project!

https://www.facebook.com/thickerthanbloodproject?ref=bookmarks

Please like, follow, share and support! :D
  •  

mangoslayer

I wrote this list of tips for bottom surgery almost a year ago after I had my first stage. http://phalloblog.tumblr.com/post/59688646266/bottom-surgery-tips
Some may not apply since I had a slightly different procedure, and because you've already had surgery. hopefully some things there could be useful. I've documented the whole process on that blog if that helps.

On your original question, I didn't get butt grafts, but I did have some difficulties laying down/sitting up. Recliners are your best friend. Seriously. Also, when laying in bed, it was easiest for me to get up by rotating my body and putting my legs off the side, turning on my side a little and  then standing up, if that makes sense.

Leg cramping does likely mean you arent moving enough, but water may help a bit. Try to get your legs moving as much as you can, even just in bed.

Using the toilet? It helped me to slouch back in the seat, but like I said I didn't have butt grafts.
  •  

MichaelJTritter

I had an RFF Phallo, and no butt grafts, just one off my hip and of course, my forearm. I rocked the recliner for around 2.5 weeks after surgery to sleep and now I can sleep in bed. I've just been taking it easy and doing what I can. I have been doing the roll over, than sit up routine for getting out of bed, SO has been helping as well. I do move my legs, even if just when sitting, getting the stretching seems to help.

Toilet was easy, despite being a bit clumsy still.
Came out: October 2005
Therapy: February 2007
HRT: July 2008
Top Surgery: February 5th, 2013
Hysto: March 13th, 2013
Phallo Consult: May 15th, 2014
Phalloplasty: July 30th, 2014

It's not the size of the dog in the fight that matters, but the size of the fight in the dog.
  •  

Al James

Jon- Jon, have you got the email address for the London team? If so drop the main nurse an email asking for detailed advice on showering etc. Or even phone the ward where you had your op- I did that a couple of times after mine for advice. There is no easy way of sitting especially if you've got the staples still in. It does get easier though - at nearly four months I still find it difficult to sit for long tho cos it feels like I've got a thick rope across the top of my thighs! As for fingers carry on doing the exercises they gave you in hospital- remember not to turn your wrist until about four weeks post op.
  •  

jonjon

No! No more sitting! I just had a morning of trying suffer through discomfort for the sake of some pc gaming entertainment and my right ass cheek started bleeding :/ back to bed for me!! -_-

It's nice to be able to talk to peopke who've gone through the same :) it's reassuring!

Al James,  I don't have their email :( but I do have the hospitals number just in case :)
Please check out my vampire novel project!

https://www.facebook.com/thickerthanbloodproject?ref=bookmarks

Please like, follow, share and support! :D
  •  

Al James

When you sit- are you remembering not to sit up straight cos that puts pressure on the scars? You need to sort of slump so most of the pressure is nearer the bottom of your spine. I'll pm you with the nurses e mail address
  •  

jonjon

Thanks for her email addy :D

I've tried sitting in several different positions and slouching and raising my thighs and sitting on the very edge... The closest to comfort was to slouch that far into the chair I was practically laying down with my legs propping me up, stopping me from falling off, but that wasn't practical because my torso was horizontal lol
Please check out my vampire novel project!

https://www.facebook.com/thickerthanbloodproject?ref=bookmarks

Please like, follow, share and support! :D
  •  

Al James

To be fair I'm fourteen weeks on an I still find it better to sit in my chair at work with my feet up on the table so I'm not putting all the pressure on my scars
  •  

jonjon

I get the staples out today! So hoping that will eliviate a little discomfort! :D
Please check out my vampire novel project!

https://www.facebook.com/thickerthanbloodproject?ref=bookmarks

Please like, follow, share and support! :D
  •  

Al James

Yeah it's great once they're out. If it's fully healed then start using moisturiser on it as soon as you can that really makes it better
  •  

jonjon

Thanks for the tip! From what I can see it's all closed together nicely. I get a little bit of bleeding, but very slight. Will probs have to wait until Monday though for the moisturiser :/

It feels so good to have them out!! It still hurts to sit down for longer than 45mins-1hr but there's less 'scritch' for lack of a better word to describe it! Lol it wasn't the most dignified experience however :/
Please check out my vampire novel project!

https://www.facebook.com/thickerthanbloodproject?ref=bookmarks

Please like, follow, share and support! :D
  •  

Al James

No- I still remember mine being taken out lol
  •  

jonjon

Because it's bank holiday weekend, sara's not able to reply to my email until Tue :/

I'm starting to get sightly anxious about a few things :( hope you don't mind me firing a few questions! I'm slightly worried about movement in my hand since it was rebandaged on Friday. It has been difficult and painful for my thumb to stretch to my little finger when it wasn't that bothersome before. My hand is still just as swollen as it was a week ago, and just as numb. I can feel my fingers, but past the knuckles can't feel anything and my thumb is almost entirely numb. Is this normal? When will this go away? And when can I start moving my arm/wrist? I still sleep with it upright, but when relaxing I have it rested on a pillow. Also, when can I take an actual shower? I can't actually get in yet lol but in regards to getting my manhood and ass incision wet/soapy? I really need to clean down there!!!
Please check out my vampire novel project!

https://www.facebook.com/thickerthanbloodproject?ref=bookmarks

Please like, follow, share and support! :D
  •  

Al James

My hand was still swollen for weeks after- I also found that after the re bandaging everything felt tighter than before. Keep doing the finger exercises tho- how often r u having the arm bandages changed? As for showering- were you given A shower at the hospital? I'm pretty sure that if it was ok a few days after surgery then it will be ok now. It's stupid - my op was only 14 weeks ago bit already I can't remember all the details of afterwards. I'm pretty sure you can't get your arm wet yet tho. Wrist movement is between 3 and four weeks post op- they should make you an appointment to see the London team round about the four to six week mark and Sara will pick up on anything then. Also numbness- part of the bottom of my thumb is still numb as is the skin on the inside of my wrist
  •