@jill610
Dear Jill:
And a comment regarding your pictures of you in your car.... that darn seat-belt across the chest.... in some cars it can be very uncomfortable to get it positioned comfortably... and some seat-belt tensioners are just too tight, it must have been designed that way by a man!!!!
Hugs and happy healing.
Danielle

I think I am going to try and update this thread for the next week with information that I had a tough time finding when I was researching this.

I did run into some interesting things along the way while interviewing surgeons. But first,

Day 1

Or rather night1 I guess. I got home yesterday from the hospital at around 6 or 630, making what I expected to be a 5-6 hour day into a 12 hour day. I did not have issues with the anesthesia, but it did take me 3 hours after they were ready to discharge me to be able to empty my rather full bladder. That was not fun but I slept most of it away quite comfortably in the corner bed with an actual window to the outside world. So I could see the rain.

I slept most of the evening on the couch but in the middle of the night got a massive case of munchies since I had not eaten since like 5pm the previous day. My mom made me a bowl of soup since I can not reach the stove or microwave.

Pain is pretty much straight across the top of my chest from shoulder to shoulder mostly where the top of the implants are. The rest of my new boobs are still numb from the exparel they injected, a long acting anesthetic.

The boulders are sitting very high but I assume over the next few weeks will settle into their permanent homes.

I have been doing a good job of not using my arms, though you don't realize how connected everything is until your chest hurts from using core muscles to get out of bed. 

Now time for another vicadin and more sleep.

@jill610
Dear Jill:
Thanks for your update, even though it is obvious that you are in much discomfort and suffering from lack of sleep.
Looking at your photo just about made me cry for you.
 
I am glad that your mom is there to fix some soup for you to eat and to help you during your initial healing time at home...  soups and caring moms are always a good remedy for almost any ailment.

Stay in bed for as long as you can and try to get some much needed sleep.
Update when you feel that you are ready.
Hugs,
Danielle

Oh you look so uncomfortable.  You will only get better from here on.  Thank you for keeping us informed of your progress.  It is much appreciated.  Rest well.

All my best, Judi

Quote from: jill610 on October 09, 2018, 05:01:50 AM

I have been doing a good job of not using my arms, though you don't realize how connected everything is until your chest hurts from using core muscles to get out of bed. 

aint that the truth, i have scoliosis and when i pull back muscles.. holy hell, and not to mention under heavy stress i a get muscle spasms so bad i have apparently bruised my ribs? nothing like yours tho.. but lifting and doing things is such a pain litterally.. i am watching this thread for when i have my ba gives me an idea what to look out for... and what to plan to make it thru the first two weeks.

Hi Jill, just rest for 3 days and do not lift anything. Move carefully in and out of bed and take your meds. In 5 days you will be much better. Temporary pain for long lasting benefit.

Congratulations

So ended up I er today with urinary retention and a catheter.

I have never been so humiliated

Quote from: jill610 on October 09, 2018, 07:13:12 PM
So ended up I er today with urinary retention and a catheter.

I have never been so humiliated

oh bugger , zen huggs from us here at susans.

Congratulations on the cleavage!

Bummer about the complications. I hope things turn for the better.

Quote from: jill610 on October 09, 2018, 07:13:12 PM
So ended up I er today with urinary retention and a catheter.

I have never been so humiliated

@jill610
Dear Jill:
Please do not fret... medical people have seen it all.

Plus, when it is all said and done... and you are fully healed, you will look at your new breasts, see them fit properly into women's clothing ... and see how beautiful you look and the confidence that you have gained..... 
... it will all be worth it... you will soon forget about the difficulties and humiliation... and it will be replaced with joy and jubilation!!!!!
Hang in there girl.... the best days are ahead of you.
Thanks for sharing your story on the Forums.

Hugs and well wishes to you.  Heal fast!!!
Danielle

Ouch, that sounds miserable.  Sorry to hear.

However Danielle is right, a trans woman with a fresh boob job might be slightly out of the norm but hardly the strangest thing they've seen that day in the average ER.  Some of the stories my girlfriend has from years of nursing are pretty wild.

Not that it makes this less awkward or even degrading, but at least you don't have to worry about being the talk of the nurse's lounge.

Thank you ladies,

I seem to be on the mend today to a large degree but still on the muscle relaxants and a reduced dose of the vicadin. I seem to have regained most of my range of motion in my arms but not a lot more strength. Enough that I can open the car door unassisted which I could not do even this morning.

With the ER, I will say first that the staff was very respectful. The humiliation is a combination of in my head - I do not acknowledge that part, touch it or whatnot so to have someone shove a tube the size of a garden hose up there very painfully was a pretty hard mental concept. And add to that the shift from she to he when the discovery I have no uterus was made was stark, plus my parents use of male pronouns.

Now interestingly, involving my parents as much as I did as part of my core support team may be helping them as they see the effect of pronouns in how I am treated and my mental health. Their consistency has improved dramatically.

Now on to the fun stuff

It's not pretty yet, bruising is starting to show up and they still look like balloons pasted to my chest. I got big implants and fully expect to see a 34D or DD and am happy with that because I'm small in diameter but wide in the shoulders.

I did need help taking the surgical bra off and getting it back in, and plan to take a shower in the morning. The sutures are subcutaneous with clue on the skin which he said not to scrub off. I have my post of visit on Monday and expect I will be doing very well by then.

Now hopefully I can make it to the pa women's conference Friday otherwise doing it on Monday instead of today was a waste, however interestingly enough now my dad says that anyone who doesn't see a girl is blind and an idiot.

I did go to my weekly speech therapy session today which was way overdoing it but necessary to start getting back into things. Plus more bonding time with the rents. And my dad, at almost 70 and with early onset Alzheimer's still got me my favorite halo too.

Ohhh, that looks delicious!  Yummy!

Sounds like you're making progress on all fronts, healing and with your folks.  Good observation by Dad.  He seeing what we see.

Judi

Oh that's a great choice. Hope things continue to improve.

Quote from: JudiBlueEyes on October 10, 2018, 09:51:56 PM
Ohhh, that looks delicious!  Yummy!

Sounds like you're making progress on all fronts, healing and with your folks.  Good observation by Dad.  He seeing what we see.

Judi

yup, agreed so once the pain goes away a new profile pic ? i find it hard to consolidate the two pics, i am like is that the same person??? no way!! all i see is an amazing lady... wow i can only hope my results are halfway near yours i would be ecstatic. I guess I get to see the chance after my makeover in December. also making plans to see an artist for makeup lessons my ex wondered when i was getting my BA?, which only made me giggle like err at least 1 year away. like we get along well now that we are in two different countries and speak on the phone, in person we are nice to each other..better over the phone. . excited for you.

yup just confirmed, even my son (who is 16 and supports me all the way) says "Really the same person? like for real? that is amazing transformation."

so thumbs up from Australia

Ps i never lie to my kids (i may tell them from time to time to wait till this age and ask me.. and boy do they do that on their birthday.. come right at me with the question (like i forgot all about it, floors me everytime). I did this so they can always trust what i say and do.. lying just a waste of time and trust. while kids may not understand everything they will file it away till a later date when they do..), and well the computer is in the common area... we both sneak a peak what each does on the computer.. lol

Wow thank you for the amazing compliments!

Got the catheter out this morning though they threatened to put it back in. Apparently with the effects of hormones in the prostate it is possible that putting a normal size catheter in could have caused damage, but all seems to be working again albeit with some pain.

Reduced the dose of the narcotics today but still was pretty wobbly most of the day. Tomorrow I am going to the PA Conference for Women in Philadelphia which is going to be a very long day. I have a friend going who's job is to make sure I stay alive the whole day!

Overall I am very happy with my decision however still look like these balloons pasted to my chest. I cannot wait to see how things settle in when they fall.

I did try to replace the surgical bra with a 34D sports bra and yeah, still too swollen for that. I'm totally overdoing it but the way I look at it is sleep can wait till I'm dead and until then I gotta live. Though the the moment maybe living with a little more numbness wouldn't be a bad thing!!

Quote from: jill610 on October 11, 2018, 04:22:23 PM
Wow thank you for the amazing compliments!

Got the catheter out this morning though they threatened to put it back in. Apparently with the effects of hormones in the prostate it is possible that putting a normal size catheter in could have caused damage, but all seems to be working again albeit with some pain.

Reduced the dose of the narcotics today but still was pretty wobbly most of the day. Tomorrow I am going to the PA Conference for Women in Philadelphia which is going to be a very long day. I have a friend going who's job is to make sure I stay alive the whole day!

Overall I am very happy with my decision however still look like these balloons pasted to my chest. I cannot wait to see how things settle in when they fall.

I did try to replace the surgical bra with a 34D sports bra and yeah, still too swollen for that. I'm totally overdoing it but the way I look at it is sleep can wait till I'm dead and until then I gotta live. Though the the moment maybe living with a little more numbness wouldn't be a bad thing!!

follow the surgeons directions and i think you will be better off. take it easy kk.

Quote from: jill610 on October 11, 2018, 04:22:23 PM
Wow thank you for the amazing compliments!

Got the catheter out this morning though they threatened to put it back in. Apparently with the effects of hormones in the prostate it is possible that putting a normal size catheter in could have caused damage, but all seems to be working again albeit with some pain.

Reduced the dose of the narcotics today but still was pretty wobbly most of the day. Tomorrow I am going to the PA Conference for Women in Philadelphia which is going to be a very long day. I have a friend going who's job is to make sure I stay alive the whole day!

Overall I am very happy with my decision however still look like these balloons pasted to my chest. I cannot wait to see how things settle in when they fall.

I did try to replace the surgical bra with a 34D sports bra and yeah, still too swollen for that. I'm totally overdoing it but the way I look at it is sleep can wait till I'm dead and until then I gotta live. Though the the moment maybe living with a little more numbness wouldn't be a bad thing!!

@jill610
Dear Jill: 
All in all, a fairly good report...
...hmmm, I am wondering (and concerned for you) ... do you think it is wise to travel to attend the all day conference while you are still in the initial stages of healing?    Obviously that is yours and your doctor's call but I was a little taken back when I read of your plans this soon after your surgery, the pain pills, the catheter, etc, etc.

You and your followers are certainly eager for your continued healing and well-being.... when you get all healed up properly it will nice to see a picture of you in a top or a dress that is filled out properly with your very own girls.

I am so happy for you.  If you do go to the conference, have your friend with you at all times,  have some extra meds with you and at any point if you do not feel right, get to a comfy chair or sofa and rest up... then perhaps plan on going home to your own bed.

Hugs and as always, well wishes to you and your new girls.
Danielle

I did get the dr clearance to go as long as I wasn't the one driving

So I paid for a friend to go and she has been a godsend but I am so super happy to make it. Not even a second or sideways glance now though I feel ginormous. Going from like nothing to a very swollen D or DD is a big change!

My self confidence is certainly getting a boost that's for sure.

Of course my ex is at the same conference and keeps texting me lol. Not sure I'm ready to be her girlfriend just yet.

Quote from: jill610 on October 12, 2018, 02:06:35 PM
I did get the dr clearance to go as long as I wasn't the one driving

So I paid for a friend to go and she has been a godsend but I am so super happy to make it. Not even a second or sideways glance now though I feel ginormous. Going from like nothing to a very swollen D or DD is a big change!

My self confidence is certainly getting a boost that's for sure.

Of course my ex is at the same conference and keeps texting me lol. Not sure I'm ready to be her girlfriend just yet.

good for you, and for the record i am super jealous big time, tho for the record i am like super close to an A after 13months (from near flat) soo things are looking up, getting hard to be stealth male mode.. lol.. yeah i wouldn't either with your ex..