Hi JenJen,

thanks for the post about your experience, great to read it. One little thing, and it might seem odd, but I've always wanted to visit Thailand for food and you mention the hospital and hotel food were bad. Did you eat Thai food before going, do you like it? I know some people don't like foreign food at all, but I love it, so I'm not sure how to interpret it. What about outside the hotel, there must be heaps of places?

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 27, 2015, 04:49:19 AM
Thanks. Yes, that is the norm for Dr. Suporn. It may be the difference in technique. I'm not sure. But I guess there's a reason why each surgeon has their own specific instructions and ways of doing things.

Susan T posted about about Suporn's technique a year ago - apparently the long stay and dilation is due to his technique, and I'd guess the hospital stay is as well.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,155212.msg1355170.html#msg1355170

Quote from: Muffinheart on February 27, 2015, 05:16:01 AM
Ps. I didn't mean you'd give me eye rolls...just I have a couple fans errrrrrr stalkers who hang on my every word

lol

Quote from: tlo4589 on February 27, 2015, 05:28:29 AM
Great summary! I'm in the extremely early stages of transition but even reading account like this fills me with hope and excitement. So glad you're recovering well.

Toni x

Thanks Toni. Hope your transition is off to a good start

Quote from: AnonyMs on February 27, 2015, 06:45:51 AM
Hi JenJen,

thanks for the post about your experience, great to read it. One little thing, and it might seem odd, but I've always wanted to visit Thailand for food and you mention the hospital and hotel food were bad. Did you eat Thai food before going, do you like it? I know some people don't like foreign food at all, but I love it, so I'm not sure how to interpret it. What about outside the hotel, there must be heaps of places?

Hello there,

The hospital food sucked because well, it's a hospital. Most hospital food suck, lol. The hotel breakfast is good but it's mainly western style. The Thai food served during lunch and dinner at the hotel is OK, nothing great. There's a chinese restaurant on the second floor of the hotel, too expensive and food is also just OK. However, you will find better food in the street. I've tried Thai food in America and loved it. Especially the spicy dishes. The central plaza mall has a food court which serves fantastic Thai food for very affordable prices. Also, you can find good street food. Some examples are chicken on a stick (kabob?), seafood, and fillings of cabbage and vegetables (not sure the name of it). There's all types of great food in the street. You just have to go looking for it. Unfortunately, I've been wanting to try the traditional pad thai but couldn't find it. But then again, I didn't go out much.

QuoteSusan T posted about about Suporn's technique a year ago - apparently the long stay and dilation is due to his technique, and I'd guess the hospital stay is as well.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,155212.msg1355170.html#msg1355170

Makes sense.

Western medicine call to get the patient up and walking as soon as possible to stimulate the bowels and such.  I had a 4 vertebra spinal fusion in my neck where they did the surgery from the front.  I was paranoid to move thinking I could make myself a quadrapalegic, but later that night they got me up and walking around ICU. 
I could see where keeping you in bed would be a good idea, but it's up to the dr.  I would think the stitches would hold things in place, but it would still have to hurt down there..  either way should be an acceptable practice.   Where most things go bad is after you send them home to heal.  We are our own worst nurse sometimes.  Some may take care of themselves the rightway, while others shower when it rains.  And putting the meds or dilating may not be followed correctly, so stuck in a room for a month may be a good thing to assure undivided attention to recovery.  I could see someone days after surgery going to a party or attempting sex if they had the chance.    It's that one in a thousand, but then they complain saying they were just lying there and it happened.   That it's all the drs fault..  personally,  there's no place like home, but being trapped over there may be a better idea in the end.  But to each, their own;)

Safe trip! 

I think, just in case, I'm going to make an effort to learn Thai. I'd like to go there some day even if it's not to make me whole.

Quote from: Cynobyte on February 27, 2015, 08:40:20 AM
Western medicine call to get the patient up and walking as soon as possible to stimulate the bowels and such.  I had a 4 vertebra spinal fusion in my neck where they did the surgery from the front.  I was paranoid to move thinking I could make myself a quadrapalegic, but later that night they got me up and walking around ICU. 
I could see where keeping you in bed would be a good idea, but it's up to the dr.  I would think the stitches would hold things in place, but it would still have to hurt down there..  either way should be an acceptable practice.   Where most things go bad is after you send them home to heal.  We are our own worst nurse sometimes.  Some may take care of themselves the rightway, while others shower when it rains.  And putting the meds or dilating may not be followed correctly, so stuck in a room for a month may be a good thing to assure undivided attention to recovery.  I could see someone days after surgery going to a party or attempting sex if they had the chance.    It's that one in a thousand, but then they complain saying they were just lying there and it happened.   That it's all the drs fault..  personally,  there's no place like home, but being trapped over there may be a better idea in the end.  But to each, their own;)

Safe trip!

Very interesting and very true. Thanks for the feedback.

Quote from: Dee Walker on February 27, 2015, 08:49:02 AM
I think, just in case, I'm going to make an effort to learn Thai. I'd like to go there some day even if it's not to make me whole.

That's a GREAT idea. Trust me, you will be very glad that you did. The funny thing is, or the sad I should say is, after being here for 24 days, I've only learned to say 3 things: hello, goodbye, and rice, lol. At worse, you can use google translate on your phone, tablet, or laptop to communicate with others 

Are you home and ok yet?

Quote from: Cynobyte on March 03, 2015, 11:25:42 PM
Are you home and ok yet?

Hey...yes I've been home for almost a week now. Recovery is slow but going. No problems so far 

Quote from: JenJen2011 on March 06, 2015, 09:43:17 AM
Hey...yes I've been home for almost a week now. Recovery is slow but going. No problems so far 

There's no place like home!

  may all your dreams come true now!

how is your recovery going?

Quote from: Cynobyte on March 06, 2015, 03:13:27 PM
  may all your dreams come true now!

Thank you!

Quote from: possessed on March 09, 2015, 01:30:04 PM
how is your recovery going?

I don't really have much to report. Ever since returning back home, my recovery has been pretty uneventful for the most part. I'm still very swollen. Dilation has gotten more difficult. It feels more tight down there and its harder to reach my depth but it's not painful, just uncomfortable. There was one incident where I was bleeding quite a bit but it stopped after applying pressure. Also, I've been dealing with some constipation which isn't ever fun. Other than that, I feel things are going ok, just healing very slowly.

My mood swings are wacky. I believe this is due to my hormone levels which im going to talk to my doc about. Recovery is long and hard which I expected but when you are actually living it, you may lose patience. And with the repetitive nature of it (3 dilations a day/limited mobility/activity) I have certainly had those days but I'm hanging in there.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on March 11, 2015, 08:18:16 AM
I don't really have much to report. Ever since returning back home, my recovery has been pretty uneventful for the most part. I'm still very swollen. Dilation has gotten more difficult. It feels more tight down there and its harder to reach my depth but it's not painful, just uncomfortable. There was one incident where I was bleeding quite a bit but it stopped after applying pressure. Also, I've been dealing with some constipation which isn't ever fun. Other than that, I feel things are going ok, just healing very slowly.

My mood swings are wacky. I believe this is due to my hormone levels which im going to talk to my doc about. Recovery is long and hard which I expected but when you are actually living it, you may lose patience. And with the repetitive nature of it (3 dilations a day/limited mobility/activity) I have certainly had those days but I'm hanging in there.

As is often said: it gets better.
At one month, it seemed all I was do was dilation, cleaning and sleeping.
Now six months later, I have my life back.

Regarding constipation, the only pain or discomfort I experienced from time of surgery through recovery was a six day period without...well #2. They gave me a glass of prune juice...10 minutes later.....sweet relief lol.

I now drink 1/4 cup prune juice with cranberry juice every morning.

Probably TMI...but that's what worked for me.

Quote from: Muffinheart on March 11, 2015, 08:25:45 AM
As is often said: it gets better.
At one month, it seemed all I was do was dilation, cleaning and sleeping.
Now six months later, I have my life back.

Regarding constipation, the only pain or discomfort I experienced from time of surgery through recovery was a six day period without...well #2. They gave me a glass of prune juice...10 minutes later.....sweet relief lol.

I now drink 1/4 cup prune juice with cranberry juice every morning.

Probably TMI...but that's what worked for me.

Yeah, it feels like recovery will never be over but that's how I felt about FFS and now 3 yrs later it's a thing of the past. I'm doing well though. As far as what you do for constipation, sounds like a good idea. Also, so far, I've lost 28 pounds since surgery. Super excited about that!!!

Quote from: JenJen2011 on March 12, 2015, 09:50:28 AM

Also, so far, I've lost 28 pounds since surgery. Super excited about that!!!

I'd be super happy about that too as I'd be below my ideal weight for the first time in 20 years. Great to see you're doing well. I'm sure you'll feel wonderful in a month or 2

Hugs

Sorcha 

I just wanted to pop into this thread and thank you so much for posting this. I have this coming up in my near future and I'm think of seeing Chett. Reading what you went through has been immensely helpful to me. Everything online seems to talk about Dr's in the U.S. (where I have no intention of going) Europe (I can't afford) or Suporn in Thailand. Reading first hand accounts of Dr's I can actually afford and get to is really really helpful. Thanks xox

Wow. It's been a while since I've posted. I thought I'd give everyone an update, why not?

Yesterday marked 4 months post op from SRS with Dr. Suporn. Healing wise, everything is so much better! The swelling has gone down tremendously. My vajayjay is looking good. There's no better feeling than being able to wear what I want without having to worry about a bulge. I have plenty of sensitivity down there. You know, like that good pleasurable feeling, however I have not explored too much to reach an orgasm yet. Peeing is totally normal. Dilation is still kicking my butt and is still difficult and simply boring and such a chore. I'm experiencing no pain at this point. I've been able to sit down with no problem for about a month now. I haven't had any real concerns or complications. My inner labia's are still asymmetrical but I suspect as time goes by and as the swelling and healing continue to advance, it will get better.

I think that's pretty much it. I'm just living my life at this point. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot them to me. Take care all!