Thank you markie!

I would have loved placing photo's, but I am a very private person. I am sorry for that. I don't even have Facebook. Been too long on the Internet, and I was a computer security specialist, so I know where photo's/information end up. I also want to live a stealth life, if I am able to. I've done much public work for the T community years ago, but now it's time to remain in the shadows and live a completely normal life.  so i'll do the best I can with written info.

Still day 5th. First day where I could do without painkillers so far... but I probably want some. I have this annoying habit of moving my tongue around the incisions and teeth, making them sensitive and painful...

I just made a big container of smoothies, with frozen fruit and soy milk. It's delicious. I think I am doing fine.

Maybe I will go for a walk tomorrow. I enjoy walking, do it everyday. But just hadn't had the stamina yet.

I lost 2 liters of blood on surgery, (this is why I did not wanted to be operated in a private clinic) so I felt very lightheaded and weak for a couple of days. The hospital lab did a hemoglobin (HB) test, and it came up, and they started to drip me faster with fluids to replace it. I never noticed anything. LOL. Only that I was extremely tired.  Not sure if I have gotten a blood transplant. Dr. did not say anything about it. But I could have had one. It's just one of those risks. I always have a quick heart and massive beat, so much so that often, blood pours out of my veins when I do a simple routine blood test. So I knew my risk. Has nothing to do with clotting, but pressure. Before anesthesia, they told me that they will give me two IV's, one already in my hand, and another one in my foot. (just to be sure, they said). So I told them: fine, just do it when I am already under ok? I hate these jabs. I am not sure where the blood loss occurred. But I have a hunch: forehead, hairline, liposuction and the nose. I vomited 150cc blood the first hour I woke up. Came from the sinus and nose. It quickly ads up. yes, they actually went to weigh and measure the exact amount I spewd into that cardbox thing.

Disgusting... hehe. They told me it was inevitable, especially because of amount of procedures. The blood was black. they told me it was old blood that simply dripped into my stomach during surgery. The stomach can't handle old blood. No matter how strong your stomach is, it will reject the proteins in it because it can't digest it. I have a super strong stomach. Nothing can upset it, but this did. I felt better after vomiting! And it's wasn't such a big deal. I could not smell, so I tasted nothing of it.

So, right now, I really feel my stamina turning back. Which is great. Can't wait to walk around outside!

I even managed to play my guitar, which was nice.

Another thing I remember:

Right after surgery, my surgeon told me that he did not do the liplift. He can do this in his office, as it is such a small procedure. I can stay awake while he does it. He wanted to wait to see what the nose would do and because of swelling it was difficult to achieve balance this at the moment of surgery. I am happy that he waited... a lip lift must be done very accurately.

That's interesting 2Cherry. I'm going to ask Dr Sutin about giving me a slight lip lift and hope he will do it at the same time, but I'm having tipplasty and alarplasty rather than full rhinoplasty which might make a difference? I know with the former it comes out of padding after a day or two whereas with the rhinoplasty I was told it would need to be splinted for a month?

That's a lot of blood to lose. Is that normal in FFS do you know? I wonder which procedures cause the most bleeding. I'm slightly scared now!!!

Well done again and your posts are amazing. Or, rather, you are amazing. It's great about you starting to walk. I also love what you said about other surgeons taking on FFS and think that is so true.

x

Yes, the blood loss wasn't anticipated. But I got almost no bruising. So it was a good trade  I haven't asked my surgeon yet, but it's normal with rhinoplasty to lose some blood. But bone bleeds as well, I didn't know that, until he told me. I probably had too much done for one go. I forgot to add that he also did facelift, lol. I can better list what I didn't have: liplift and lipofilling. 

Internal nose packaging was removed the second day. Was a non-event. Tickled a little bit. I still have the external splint/cask. Has to stay much longer. I think he said two weeks, because then is when I see him again. He did an open rhinoplasty, and some other things inside it that I don't remember.

Wow. I guess I should do some more research on the after effects as it's under 3 weeks away  I'm sort-of just wanting to do it and then hope it's not too bad. My list is a bit less invasive:

Brow lift, hairline advance and orbital rim shave
Alarplasty and Tipplasty
Full face lift

You're an inspiration. You had a lot done!

x

Yes, but we fear the fear of pain the most. Sometimes it's best to just go through it.

Example: a guy next to me had his catheter removed. He cried before they even went ahead. He also asked for the "best nurse" who had years of experience. Ahhh, it was so sweet... I chuckled a little bit. I experienced it before, and they even placed a catheter back into me when I was consciousness after SRS. Yes, it's a mean tickle. But lasts exactly 1 second. At the end, he said: that was it? lol... but he read too many horror stories online which he explained.

True, the first 2-3 days were really Hell for me. But it was compounded by a bacterial infection that raised a 38.9C/ 102.02F fever, blood loss and probably too many procedures. They now suspect I might have been allergic to antibiotics as well. It reminds me of my SRS, also had fever, infection and rashes from antibiotics. So I might be prone to that.

But because of anesthesia, these memories fade quick. That is why I write them down here, because right now I don't even remember the first night completely. Just chunks of it. Some hallucinations as well. Maybe that is a good thing.

Rachel, I wish you good luck! gonna be alright.

just want to point out that 2L is 40% of your blood volume and
if it happens quickly risk of organ failure or even death is high if not very rapid blood transfusion.
I think you should demand a record of how the op was conducted and what went wrong because 2L is not normal. Perhaps he caused a bleeding due to unfamiliarity with doing these procedures?

Quote from: transtastic on November 13, 2016, 02:00:02 PM
just want to point out that 2L is 40% of your blood volume and
if it happens quickly risk of organ failure or even death is high if not very rapid blood transfusion.
I think you should demand a record of how the op was conducted and what went wrong because 2L is not normal. Perhaps he caused a bleeding due to unfamiliarity with doing these procedures?

I calculated it online a moment ago. 2L would be 33% of my blood. It depends of height and weight.

Thinking hard, I now remember they told me I lost between 1.3 and 2 liters of blood. Was on day one, so memory was foggy. I received no transfusion. I guess he would have told me if that happened. They just upped the saline drip, added a few extra bags or something like that. (don't pin me down on it, it's what I recollect) That's what I heard them say. They don't know the exact amount, because they calculated it as they did a routine blood check afterwards. It could be wrong as well. Anyway, never noticed anything. Only thing was extreme tiredness.

Inexperience? unlikely. The only procedure he never ever done, was the sinus reshaping. All other things he had done before, but not all at once. I guess we got carried away. But I wanted it all... LOL.

Oh 2L is much indeed, but not unheard of. Even giving birth to a child one can lose such amounts. I probably had some amount, maybe not 2L otherwise I would gotten a transfusion? But I rather be in a hospital than in some shack when it does happen. I got this strange knack of sensing things that come, some weird kind of intuition, I have had my entire life. Maybe that's why I choose the hospital. Either way, makes a great story though. 

Had another shower. First time I washed my forehead. All caked blood came out easy with a lot of anti-detangle baby shampoo. Felt great. Finally saw my hair flow across my face, it think it's going to be amazing.

I can feel my chin again, but in the center is still a numb spot.Forehead is still numb for the large part, but on some places I can feel things when I touch it with a small eye pencil.Cheeks are fully sensate, so only the chin and forehead is still unavailable largely.

Anyway, another day gone. Going to rest a little bit now. I did wash my cloths by hand, it I felt tired quickly. So I am not out of the woods yet.... I don't sleep during the day no more. I go to bed at 10, and wake at 8. Good routine.

Quote from: 2cherry on November 13, 2016, 06:36:13 AMI would have loved placing photo's, but I am a very private person. I am sorry for that. I don't even have Facebook. Been too long on the Internet, and I was a computer security specialist, so I know where photo's/information end up. I also want to live a stealth life, if I am able to. I've done much public work for the T community years ago, but now it's time to remain in the shadows and live a completely normal life. 

Smart. 

Wishing you the very best results. 

Wow 2Cherry thanks for sharing and welcome to FFS! LOL. I am just over a week post-op now myself =)

Glad you're doing ok....just wait till you get the cast off....it feels SO GOOD haha.

I only had forehead and nose so not nearly as painful or complicated as what you went through.

Best of luck in the rest of your recovery!

Quote from: 2cherry on November 13, 2016, 01:34:01 PM
Yes, but we fear the fear of pain the most. Sometimes it's best to just go through it.

Hi again 2Cherry,

It's great that you are making such progress. Your updates are fab and encouraging.

With me it's not the pain: I have a high pain threshold. It's the swelling, blood loss and feeling unwell that concern me more. The pain I can deal with. I think I underestimated what an onslaught to the face it all is. You're doing so well.

x

I've been thinking about FFS, and do I fear pain. Its one of the criteria I'll be using to decide where to have surgery. I have the impression that doctors in the USA and UK are very stingy with strong painkillers like morphine and Thailand is generous. No idea about Europe.

Quote from: Debra on November 13, 2016, 09:42:04 PM
Wow 2Cherry thanks for sharing and welcome to FFS! LOL. I am just over a week post-op now myself =)

Glad you're doing ok....just wait till you get the cast off....it feels SO GOOD haha.

I only had forehead and nose so not nearly as painful or complicated as what you went through.

Best of luck in the rest of your recovery!

Oooo, yes! that cask/external splint has to go! LOL.

Quote from: Rachel Richenda on November 14, 2016, 12:10:54 AM
Hi again 2Cherry,

It's great that you are making such progress. Your updates are fab and encouraging.

With me it's not the pain: I have a high pain threshold. It's the swelling, blood loss and feeling unwell that concern me more. The pain I can deal with. I think I underestimated what an onslaught to the face it all is. You're doing so well.

x

I underestimated it too... did not expect the feeling of bruising as it is. It's similar as a bruise on another body part, a bit softer but right in your face. The only real pain was 2 days, and not constant, but spikes and sometimes lingering pains.

Quote from: AnonyMs on November 14, 2016, 12:54:31 AM
I've been thinking about FFS, and do I fear pain. Its one of the criteria I'll be using to decide where to have surgery. I have the impression that doctors in the USA and UK are very stingy with strong painkillers like morphine and Thailand is generous. No idea about Europe.

I'm in Europe, we get what we need regarding painkillers. I could choose as well. After some morphine, I got nauseous. So I asked for only paracetamol in my drip. They did it right away. I could ask for extra morphine shots any time I pleased. So that was great. I had a team of nurses who watched over 4 patients day and night, the room was never empty. They sat in turns behind a floating computer screen, overlooking everyone. I felt very safe. They comforted me, talked with me a lot, held my hand... that was straight out of surgery on mediumcare. After a day, I went back to regular hospital care, and stayed another 2 days.

Day 6...

Again, sleeping isn't fun. I rather am awake, because when I wake up I feel so drained and miserable. It takes long to "boot" up and feel fine again. I think this is due to the fact that my head slides down when I sleep, and the Dr. said that I must sleep in a 45 degree angle. I can manage that with pillows before I sleep, but eventually, my body does what it wants at night, and I end up waking up with my head straight down and a sore throat. The fluids drip back into my head, and that is uncomfortable. When sleeping in an angle, the fluids go down the neck, and to the lymphs.

If I would have known this before, I may have bought some permanent solution for this. An inclined pillow, maybe?

Dr. also said I may not bow my head forward for some time. Just now, I understand why he said that when I wanted t pick something of the floor. LOL.

I am going out for a walk today Also going to buy some groceries. Not going to be a pretty sight for others... but I noticed that no-one even cares. The first day I went from hospital floor to floor and no-one payed attention to all that mess. One woman stared for a second or 2, that was it.

Also: I now sleep with a soft scarf at night, loosely wrapped and tucked around my neck (no knots! b/c of choke risk) The scarf keeps my neck warm, and that is really comfortabe.

I went outside for first time. Went shopping for groceries, but I got very tired.

To cover my head, I simply bought a beautiful silken Muslim scarf/hijab! and wrapped it around my face. Amazingly soft.

Carrying bags is too much. Riding a bike went fine, but not for long. I think I can walk a good distance, but I have to be careful.

Also, the hospital gave me a medical grade creme: it's called Cetomacrogol FNA. Wow. I use it on my face, and prevents moisture release. One of the best creams I ever had. No parfums, nothing.

Wow sounds brilliant 2Cherry. I will buy some of that cream which sounds excellent. I like the sound of bike riding too. There's an exercise bike in the hotel after my hospital stay and I'd like to try and get on it soon after the op to keep the limbs and heart ticking over.

It's great to read your progress, albeit with travails along the way.

x

Quote from: AnonyMs on November 14, 2016, 12:54:31 AM
I've been thinking about FFS, and do I fear pain. Its one of the criteria I'll be using to decide where to have surgery. I have the impression that doctors in the USA and UK are very stingy with strong painkillers like morphine and Thailand is generous. No idea about Europe.

I wouldn't say stingy....at least with Dr D. He said the recovery was mostly uncomfortable and less painful. I wasn't sure I believed him so he still prescribed percocet for me just in case. I trusted him and went with just the tylenol and ibuprofin (and steroid anti-inflammatory) and never needed the percocet. Crazy!

That being said, while I was in the hospital there were a LOT of IV drugs for pain, anti-inflammation, and anti-nausea. That stuff lasted into the day or two after I was out of the hospital too. I was kinda out of it for a while there.