Thank you ladies!!

I really appreciate the advice and the anecdotes!  I agree that the pain isn't as great as in FFS, which I had last July.  Recovery from GCS feels to be more of an emotional and mental challenge so far.  There's just more to keep track of and more steps in trying to achieve the best possible outcome.  Dealing with my Achilles adds an other layer to all the challenges.  I need to consider that limitation in all that I do, right now and it can be frustrating.  For example, I can't even put the walking boot on by myself.  I can't walk without the boot.  I do much better just trying to stay in the moment.  Difficult to do, but if I worry about all the possible complications, I begin to feel overwhelmed.  I've taken this step and it is a wonderful feeling, blissful even.  For better or worse I'm committed to continue upon this path.  It's a beautiful path I'm on, too.  Just one step at a time.

Quote from: HappyMoni on April 21, 2018, 08:27:31 AM
So Emily, Rachel, Kendra, are we gonna tell Julie how wonderful dilation is? How we just couldn't wait to do it that third forth or fifth time each day? Oh, and what a joy to clean those dilators after each dilation. I almost cried when I could only do it three times a day instead of five. (Come on ladies, we can lie a little bit, can't we?)

Not sure if McGinn changed this for everyone, or if it was just me.  I only had to dilate 4x daily.  After my checkup at 7 weeks, I'm down to 3x daily, and can use just 2 dilators (smallest & #3).

I could get orange in at 6 weeks, but am not going to try again for a bit after being treated for granulation last week.  Need a little time, as #3 takes a little getting fully inserted.

Yes, dilation is a total time sink.  Hint:  don't read or watch anything funny.  Seriously. 

:-)

Quote from: Kendra on April 21, 2018, 09:23:32 AM
I discovered the first few weeks of dilation is about as enjoyable as cramming a carrot all the way into your ear.  But you will get through it, and it does get better.   

You had a carrot? I had a baseball bat and it was in 6 inches of snow!

Quote from: HappyMoni on April 21, 2018, 10:35:58 AM
You had a carrot? I had a baseball bat and it was in 6 inches of snow!

I swear the packing felt like a tree trunk growing out of my bottom.  I'm serious!!

Just ask Bianna and Crystal about tree trunk girl Monday :-)

p.s. dilating right now :-)

There's a scene in a stargate sg1 episode (season 4 ep 16, "2010") where a tour guide says "and we're walking!" in such a chipper sarcastic voice.

So..... and we're dilating!

Congratulations

Having seepage around the catheter is good. It means the swelling has gone down. 

Dilating 5 times a day is very draining and I was so happy when it was reduced to three times a say and then 1 time a day.

Getting the packing out was very cool. I had a thought when it was being pulled, is it ever going to end and will a rabbit come out of there. The pain was greatly reduced and walking was so much easier.

I had a revision with Dr. McGinn on 4/4/18 and was given a catheter with a valve. I liked the much more than the red stopper.

I had heard other girls say the unpacking and dilating was painful but that was not my experience. I did not take any narcotics outside of the hospital when I had GCS. I took narcotics 3 day after the recent revision.

I have to say Dr. McGinn does nice work. I am very happy with the revision

Reading about everyone's different perspectives is so helpful!  Anyone have a post surgical gout flair up?  That's what I'm dealing with right now.    It's not the worst flair up I've ever had but it's painful enough!  The last gout attack I had was 5 years ago, after a surgery.  I had two surgeries after that with no issues until this one.  I'm taking 1000mg Tylenol every 6 hours to try to manage the pain along with ice.  Some of the common treatments for a gout flair up such as nsaids and steroids aren't really allowed during this surgical recovery.  Hard to say exactly what caused this but excessive protein intake can bring upon flair ups as well.  It's just another added challenge that makes walking more difficult. Got some black cherry juice this morning too, so that should help.  I really hope it's feeling better by my appointment tomorrow.

So far, the only GCS issue I'm dealing with is the leakage around the catheter.  It could very well be due to the lack of swelling which would be awesome!  It's just annoying because it saturates the dressing and gauze down there and seeps for awhile.  More uncomfortable than anything and hopefully it doesn't cause a rash.  I feel pretty confident that I will be able to go with no problems once the catheter is removed, so there's that. My spouse took a peek down there and she was so impressed how good it all looks just days after surgery! 

Julie,
   I have heard others describe their first look down there in terms of Frankenstein like Frankengina or some such thing. Be prepared, it ain't purty to start with, but it changes pretty quickly. I look back at some of my first pictures  and kind of go. "Wow, I looked like that?" Now I can't remember what my penis, Clyde as we called him, looked like or even where it would attach. It is wonderful!
Moni

You're right.  I couldn't even look as I get sick at the sight of open wounds. As it quickly healed I was pleasantly surprised how "real" I looked.  Monica I can't recall the former appendage either.  It seems like long ago and far away. 

I'm sorry to hear of the gout (I had to look that up) but hopefully it will pass soon.  Thanks for the update.  You're doing well!   

Quote from: Julie Agnes on April 22, 2018, 09:27:48 AM
So far, the only GCS issue I'm dealing with is the leakage around the catheter.  It could very well be due to the lack of swelling which would be awesome!  It's just annoying because it saturates the dressing and gauze down there and seeps for awhile.  More uncomfortable than anything and hopefully it doesn't cause a rash.  I feel pretty confident that I will be able to go with no problems once the catheter is removed, so there's that. My spouse took a peek down there and she was so impressed how good it all looks just days after surgery!

Yes, it felt like forever from surgery day to packing removal day, with each bathroom break an incredible challenge.  We're grown women after all, and here we are leaking out like geriatric patients!

Yep, leakage soaked the packing all right.  Don't worry, when the catheter & packing are removed, you'll have all new stories to tell about peeing with your new old bits!

I will be at Papillion tomorrow at noon. I know GCS patients are first thing at 9:30 so I will miss you.

With my revisions I look fantastic down there. My initial GCS was a challenge and Dr. McGinn did what she could at the time. Now, I have a beautiful clitoris, minora and the bottom of my vagina is perfect. I am super happy .

Sorry I missed you, Rachel!  The office waiting area was so packed when I left! Hope you don't have too long a wait.  Thanks again everyone for sharing some of your experiences from those first few day! Today has been a day of firsts for me. 

Started this early this morning with a BM.  So glad I didn't go  to the Vicodin because of the Gout pain!  I was very tempted.  Appointment was great as well.  No "frakengina" here! Lol  Very little swelling and no soreness.  Seems like all of that went into my big toe! Dilation was very easy, too this first time in the office.  I got over 6" of depth.   Hopefully my first time solo goes well, but I'll just take my time.  Got back to Gaia House and downed a liter of water and a big glass of Cranberry juice.  Ten minutes later had my first pee.  Thankfully, no issues or mess.  It just went straight down! Couldn't believe it.  Just went again a few minutes ago and the stream was much stronger and again straight down.  I'm guessing it's because I have so little swelling so far.

Well I'm off to my first shower, and then my first solo dilation.  After all my worries of this weekend, I really needed today to go well.  Thanks  again to all who took the time to share in this post! It was so helpful to me and I'm sure it will be helpful to others!

Julie, I am glad everything worked out for you. You must be so reliever (LOL).

My appointment was at noon. I was seen at 2. The waiting room was packed is right. I had a very good visit and am pleased. My next visit if all goes well is in 1 month. it will be on a Thursday. Mondays are busy.