Quote from: Wynternight on October 13, 2015, 04:24:15 PM
How are you today, Jessie?
Sorry about the delay, I have been absolutely exhausted and things have been changing around quite a bit. Until the catheter and packing came out, I was having daily anxiety attacks and could barely focus on anything...well except superhero movies (god just, superhero movies are amazing when you're recovering from surgery they're like some of the only things that keep your attention lol) and until well, just read.
My mom went home on Wednesday night and my dad and his gf acted as my surgery buddies for Wed-Thurs. My dad, who is far more frugal than my mother, decided that we would stay together in one room (the cheaper upstairs room) for those two nights. My dad wasn't an easy surgery buddy at all but his gf the next night (they stayed separately) was better. Dealing with them in cramped space was easier than I expected, albeit my loud snoring father totally kept me up at night, had to take a sleeping pill the following night to keep my sanity.
On Friday, when my mom came back (and we had more space again) I finally had enough energy to hold a 3ds and start playing video games--this turned out to be a great distraction (bought super smash 3ds off the eshop, that REALLY kept my attention!) there was also finally another vaginoplasty patient in the Gaia House (along with my mom

) downstairs come Saturday. Speaking to her was invigorating, plus we played Smash together (she was too far away downstairs for local play, so crazy lag!!!) but honestly I was also kinda jealous of her due to the fact she was eating real food :/.
Over last weekend, the catheter that was still in me also really started to hurt, like ALOT. Eventually come Sunday night I discovered that I didn't hurt as much when I HAD TO PEE. I had a crazy argument with my mom about drinking water (didn't want to drink when my bladder was half-full, only when full to get it half-full again quickly, lol) that ended up in a call to the PA after I had an anxiety attack. As usual, they effectively told us to stay the course. Took a sleeping pill again that night due to crazy anxiety about the next day.
We also stayed in the Grand Riverview ($200 room) that night as the room we had been using for me to stay in the whole time was booked for that night in advance (remember I had complications that extended my stay). It was nice to have a different room for a night, plus the bed was firmer and easier to sleep/lay on, but seriously I never would've been able to get in and out of that bed early in my recovery due to its height.
The day the catheter came out, my appointment was delayed twice due to double booking ( :v ) but I made it. Just, the relief after the catheter and packing came out was insane. But then, when everything was winding down, Mcginn immediately starts showing me how to dialate (facepalm). I was totally distracted by the utter relief of no catheter and not having to put a finger in my vagina every time I got up to walk--yet she seemed concerned I wasn't paying attention--jeez you think! lol I was also cleared for solid food at that appointment, thank god!
Things have just gone uphill quickly since then, after lying down while pressure equalized in my abdomen back in our room at the Gaia (just, how much I queefed on that bed while things moved around down here, holy crap!). I had my first real meal (waffles and strawberries) at the Gaia after the appointment (I think I had a foodgasm), met the other vaginoplasty patient downstairs (btw, the downstairs rooms, even though they're kinda like dark and basementy, look slightly more comfortable, they also have comfortable places for guests to sit!), and now I'm back at my mom's in Manhattan. The car ride was actually really easy when I realized I could go back with my father in his huge Nissan Cube (he visited that morning) rather than my mom's Kia. It was far more comfortable than her car, I just used my donut on the car seat, leaned it back, put my feet on the dash, and moved my butt off the seat whenever we hit those annoying bumps on i-80 in Eastern NJ and the GWB/NYC (The last part of that ride, lol, might as well had my butt off the seat the entire time, NYC roads are HORRIBLE)!
Dialating has quickly gotten easier, I'm currently at dot 3 right below my clitoris or at the entrance of my vagina (which is where I think I'm supposed to be at 5 inches). I've been sleeping a lot and eating quite a bit. My energy has been coming back quickly, in particular today. Didn't have to take a bactrim this morning because I ran out (which is helping with wooziness) and I'll be out of flagyl (the other antibiotic) come tomorrow morning. Haven't had to take any painkillers since the catheter came out. Also peeing is fun, I find it's kind of cleansing of all the lube after I dilate

. Been watching lots of MSNBC with my mom and playing lots of Tomb Raider on my Xbox One (games with gold

). I slept during the democratic debate last night though, lol.
Btw, I have been capable of sitting on my donut cushion the entire time I've been writing this message. Like nearly 30 minutes, that's something, right?
I just really started on the reimbursement process today, got most of the paperwork done but I need a ton of info from Liberty Anesthesia before I send it in--meh. Annoying but I'll manage.