Just about a week after surgery, sitting on my couch I thought it would be useful to share my experience so far.

On day one, I was given a sleeping tablet before I was wheeled into the operating room. I climbed unto the surgeons table, a very narrow steel bench and they stretched out my arms. I was as calm as calm could be. The anesthesiologist had a huge syringe and emptied it into a vein in my arm. He said: "You may feel it creep up your arm", I wanted to reply that I did not feel anything, but I was already gone before I could utter these words. It is that fast. It was the best sleep I ever had. When I woke up in a separate room I knew exactly where I was. As if I experienced missing time. To my surprise, I had no headaches, wasn't nauseous. Mentally I felt even better than before surgery. But then the pain hit me. Oddly, my feet hurt the most. I asked for morphine, and it was promptly administered with a syringe. But it did nothing for me.

I was not impressed with morphine. Yes, it dulled the pain, but I still felt pain. After two days on morphine, I got nauseous and itches over my entire body. From day two I got over the counter painkillers. They worked better than the morphine, in my opinion. They also gave me a kind of morphine-like tablet. Giving me the wildest dreams and hallucinations. I kinda liked it. I am an artist, so it was very inspiring. I do not remember the name of this tablet, but it was wild.

Well, after that I lay on my back for most of the time. My back felt like it was run over by a monstertruck. It was even worse then the genital wound, which was merely a kind of dull beacon of pain. I was not allowed to sleep on my sides. And since I never sleep on my back, this was the worst ordeal for me.

Every night they gave me shots to prevent Thrombosis. They also installed little inflatable shoes around my feet, that pumped pressurized air against the soles of my feet. 24/7. It provided pressure so that the blood was forced from my feet to the genital area, providing extra bloodflow and preventing thrombosis due to stale blood in the legs. That machine drove me nuts, and it was turned off 3 days later. I did turn it off myself a few times, because it was just madness. It would be a proper torture device.

I got the drains, catheter, packaging and tubes removed after 5 days. What can I say? I think it is hard to describe what that feels like. I did not feel the drains being removed, was a tickling sensation. The removal of the packaging was a weird experience. Not painful at all. I think the only jolt of pain came from the catheter removal. But it was short and doable. I was glad that catheter was out because it was my nemesis for 5 days. It gave me the most pain, which later was explained due to excessive swelling.

Few hours later, the catheter went back in because I could not pee. It will be removed next week.

I mobilized quickly, and I think it aided in my speedy recovery, besides the catheter issue. The area looks good so far. I was discharged and immediately went for a delicious sandwich. I was sick and tired of mashed hospital food. Food, that I would not even feed my dog. (if I had one)

I went to a store to buy lady supplies. I walked around many other woman, and for the first time I felt like a complete woman. Solely due to the SRS!!! I did not feel awkward anymore. It was so liberating!!! that thing is gone, and I am complete, woman, and that's that!

I boarded my train, and went home. When I walked to my frontdoor, I cried. It felt so good to be home...

Congratulations pinkcloud, and thank you for sharing your experience. I'm not a big fan of morphine either; after my  FFS I was connected to a pain pump, where all I had to do was press a button, and it released a dose of  Dualidid  that was quick acting and very efficient.  When I went to Thailand for a BA and some other procedures; the nurse gave me a shot of morphine while I was in recovery, which was inefficient, and the Dr. prescribed Tramadol for me for the rest of my stay, and that medicine didn't relieve the pain adequately either. 

I previously was under the impression that morphine would be a big deal. I imagined it a bit like a heavy narcotic where you would be in bliss/peace, since they give it to terminal patients. It was none of that. My mind was as clear as a bell, it only took the edge off a bit no matter the dose. Felt the same as regular painkillers with sideeffects like itching in places you can't reach. I took about 6 times pressing the button on the pump before it got to work. Weird.

Maybe Fentanyl would have worked better. There are Fentanyl patches they are about 100 times stronger than morphine.

Continuing...

First day at home. Slept in my own bed. Felt great. I put a pillow between my legs and that really helped to relieve the pressure when lying sideways. I still have issues getting up from lying down. It is slow getting up. Walking is fine. Sitting on a hard chair is a problem. I can kneel, and also put on my own shoes and clothes. I'm currently on my couch with my laptop. I woke up fresh and a bit of pain. The shower was great, but it drained my energy. I already had a nap. It seems I feel more tired than yesterday. Maybe I pushed it too far yesterday...

I can make my own food, which is great. I think I will be on the couch for a few more days. I can't sit on my desk chair yet. So yeah, it seems to go well. I still take 1 grams of paracetamol every 4 hours, 4 grams/day max. It does the job and takes the edge off. Checked my own blood pressure and it was 127/74, perfect.

I want to go to the pharmacy and grocery store today. But not sure if I can manage both. I live alone, so  I have no help. But that is fine, I manage. Step by step we will finish the journey.

I have found that morphine does absolutely nothing for pain. Seeing weird things that don't exist, that it is good at.

I really dislike painkiller. When I had my FFS surgery I think they started me off with morphine. I honestly can't remember much of anything and it's a feeling I really dislike. So one time the nurse is coming by and I said no. Then they offered my pain killers and I said no. Then after a while Dr Brassard comes in and tells me I need to take something to keep the pain under control. I told him that I just don't like this half-in half-out conscious state. So he gave me something much milder that I took for a couple of days and stopped taking it.

A few years later I was back there again for my SRS surgery and I was in the hospital bed with a morphine drip machine and never once did I push the button. A few days later he comes by and comments that I must have a very high tolerance for pain. I just said no I have a very low tolerance for pain killers. I also managed to get by on this with very light pain killers as well. I honestly don't remember feeling a lot of pain from my SRS, but that's me.

When I had my boob job in thailand a few years later and lower jaw rework, all I can say is, that hurt, a lot. The breasts far more than having my jaw wired shut. That was when I finally relented and took pain killers to keep myself relatively comfortable. I'm so glad that all of that is in the distant past now.

Glad to hear I am not the only one responding like that to morphine...

Managed to get out today. Walked to the grocery store, not too far away. Walking was fine. Carrying around and reaching groceries, not so much. Had to ask a clerk to get a carton from the floor shelf, sure ma'am! hehe... I am getting there...  people don't see that you've just undergone major surgery, so they walk like crazy and bump into you if you are not careful. That was the most frustrating. When I got back I was floored. I underestimate the lethargy this surgery brings. Now I wonder how in the Hell I managed to get back home from the hospital with all these bags and a two hour train ride. I guess that was too much and my body is now claiming it's toll. Back on the couch, for now... got a carton of cranberry juice, just to be sure in case of catheter infection.

Hope it's not too boring, but posting here really helps me to get my mind of the pain and healing, as I have no one to talk to and little to do. This forum really helps me to collect myself slowly.

9 days after surgery, second day home.

That catheter bothers me to no end. Last night I felt I was peeing needles and razorblades, and also got bladder cramps, not uncommon with Foley catheters that must stay inside for 7 days. I also almost fainted from the pain it brought. It was that sharp. To date the most pain I felt. No one warned me of this, so I got an anxiety attack for free. All the pain comes from the catheter, if I didn't had it would do mighty fine I guess, since nothing else really hurts. Had a shower just now, and used the shower head to clean the area, doesn't hurt one bit. The clitoris is somewhat sensitive, but I can still brush some water over it without pain.

Got a bit of cold chills, maybe slight fever the last few days, but nothing serious. My anxiety attacks don't present themselves that often. I guess because of the joy I experience. I feel pain and joy at the same time. It is really strange, but the joy overpowers all the pain in the world. No more anti-androgens makes my mind more at peace. That stuff is pure poison, just like T is poison. The T factories are closed down and the workers are fired, without benefit. That shall teach them!

Today I go for a walk at the pharmacy, I need to get my antibiotics. I swallow antibiotics since unpacking.  After that I will probably feel too tired and will recline on my couch for the day. We'll see. I take it day by day. I'm not in a rush.

The walk to the pharmacy turned out to be a huge undertaking. It is about a 1 mile walk. On the way back I bought some new groceries and went back walking slowly. I think I can manage walking 3 miles max. But I would not try it yet. I was used to walking 6-8 miles a day before surgery. Still walking 1 mile on day 9 is something to be very careful with. Overall it is doable though, even with a stingy catheter. I tried some mindfulness in accepting the pain. It seems to work. Distraction is the best painkiller... life = pain, suffering is optional...

Hi there!
Forgive me, but I'm going to very blunt, you're crazy! Walking that sort of distance with a cathether still inserted is just inviting trouble, at minimum further inflammation of an area that was apparently already in poor shape, at worse, an infection you can certainly do without.

You really do need to be kind to your very body right now as it has taken a pretty massive hit and no matter how fit you were before the surgery, you have to allow yourself time to recover.

If you do that, given your pre-surgery fitness, you can effectively expect to be back on your feet very quickly. However you simply can't skip the different stages in your recovery and expect it will pass. Until your cathether comes out, you should not be moving very much and even afterwards, to avoid putting too much stress on your stiches before your skin has had time to heal, you should ramp up on walking very progressively.

I am just 10 weeks post-op myself and enjoyed a totally trouble free recovery. Like you apparently, I keep myself very fit and hate not getting exercise. However, I basically followed the instructions I was given and am sure that contributed a lot to how well the whole thing went. Now I can already do quite physical activity (fast walking, roller-blading, floor exercises...) but held back until I was absolutely sure I could do these things without doing any damage.
Take care!
Donna

Agreed, but I have no-one. I have to get out and get my medicine and food myself. It sucks, but it's okay.  I bought enough food before surgery, but I always forget something and I have to get it.

Quote from: PinkCloud on October 30, 2014, 07:19:44 AM
Agreed, but I have no-one. I have to get out and get my medicine and food myself. It sucks, but it's okay.  I bought enough food before surgery, but I always forget something and I have to get it.

No taxis in your part of the world?

I am unclear how and why you have been released from the hospital with a catheter still inserted? My surgeon will not release me from the ward with a urinary catheter

Quote from: Cindy on October 30, 2014, 07:53:25 AM
I am unclear how and why you have been released from the hospital with a catheter still inserted? My surgeon will not release me from the ward with a urinary catheter

Not so, for me. I was released after 3 days with a catheter still in. I was 7 days post-op when I went to the surgeon's office and she removed it.

In the past I had a different unrelated surgery and had a urinary issues. I ended up in the ER where they inserted a catheter and sent me home. A urologist later removed it in his office. I don't know where OP's surgeon is, but in our country it's S.O.P. to be sent home with a catheter.

@Donna
Don´t have much money left... just enough for food.

@Cindy
I got the catheter reinserted because I could not pee. Apparently there sits a 2 inch hematoma on my right labia minora. It is almost black and still swollen as it blocks the entire entrance including the pee hole. So I cannot dilate yet.

I think I will stay home for a couple days, and take some more rests.

Quote from: suzifrommd on October 30, 2014, 08:28:56 AM

Quote from: Cindy on October 30, 2014, 07:53:25 AM
I am unclear how and why you have been released from the hospital with a catheter still inserted? My surgeon will not release me from the ward with a urinary catheter

Not so, for me. I was released after 3 days with a catheter still in. I was 7 days post-op when I went to the surgeon's office and she removed it.

In the past I had a different unrelated surgery and had a urinary issues. I ended up in the ER where they inserted a catheter and sent me home. A urologist later removed it in his office. I don't know where OP's surgeon is, but in our country it's S.O.P. to be sent home with a catheter.

OK thanks for that. Sounds ---- brutal!!

Quote from: PinkCloud on October 30, 2014, 08:30:15 AM
@Donna
Don´t have much money left... just enough for food.

@Cindy
I got the catheter reinserted because I could not pee. Apparently there sits a 2 inch hematoma on my right labia minora. It is almost black and still swollen as it blocks the entire entrance including the pee hole. So I cannot dilate yet.

I think I will stay home for a couple days, and take some more rests.

Hugs. Stay safe.

Goes to show we need proper, correct and urgent medical attention. We are not getting it.

Yes! I finally managed to dilate for the first time. I noticed that the hematoma shrunk so I thought I give it a ago. Well, kinda weird feeling but I don´t find it painful.

I have a set of dilators, the first one went straight it. The second one is diameter 27 mm, length 105 mm went in completely. I think I will start with dilator 2, since it fitted me best. The 3rd and 4th are way too huge.

I have no pain but I will take it slow because of the hematoma. Wow... 10cm already... weird idea. But I am glad that after 9 days, nothing has been grown shut or something. That worried me the most.

Okay, time for a nap.

The set±




    size 1, diameter 22 mm, length 85 mm
    size 2, diameter 27 mm, length 105 mm
    size 3, diameter 32 mm, length 135 mm
    size 4, diameter 37 mm, length 160 mm

Quote from: PinkCloud on October 30, 2014, 08:30:15 AM
@Donna
Don´t have much money left... just enough for food.

I think I will stay home for a couple days, and take some more rests.

That's very tough and I really feel for you. No easy solutions when you try to do things under such conditions but if there is anyone at all around you that you can ask for some help, you should certainly consider it. Better to ask, even by calling the pharmacy, rather than taking risks you would be well advised to avoid.

If we had some idea where you actually were, someone might come up with more practical ideas on the sort of assistance you could look for until you can manage better on your own.
Hugs.
Donna

Cindy
Thank you. That is certainly true. I´ve heard that many surgeons will not perform SRS even to this day. There aren´t many. Those who do are our angels. Bless their hearts for helping us, because I can imagine that they think they are operating on a healthy body.

Donna
Thanks Donna, I think you made a great point. I guess I needed that to slow down a bit. Being the impatient creature that I am.