How is your healing proceeding, Jenn?

Quote from: davina61 on September 06, 2024, 10:28:02 AMThat was my feeling , it just felt right like thats how it should have been.

Quote from: Gina P on September 07, 2024, 02:22:48 PMSo good to hear everything is going well. Feeling normal is the best way to describe it. I always hated my junk and was relieved when it was gone.

Like the tee shirts say "Team Jenn -- Losing Her Junk, Keeping Her Funk".

I got my funk. I don't got my junk.

what could be more normal?

~Jenn

Quote from: Oldandcreaky on September 07, 2024, 04:26:05 PMHow is your healing proceeding, Jenn?

Thank you for asking O&C!

Well.

I am sore. I am managing well. My swelling is down. I rotate tylenol and advil; I am taking slightly less of those by letting the interval slip out to 8 hours between. My stiches are melting, slowly. She definitely looks "better" although there is a hella lot of bruising.

So yeah, O&C, I'd say I am healing about average, normal. I have a post op in urology tomorrow. I am looking forward to it. I mean like him. I just slept through the last time I saw him, so it'll be nice to catch up.

Hmmm.

If scoring, O&C, I live alone. My place is clean, swept and neat. My laundry is done. I feel these are all metrics on recovery.  I may not move quickly. I get life necessities done with purpose.


And

You know what? it is a wonderful time, despite the hot mess I got down there. I mean think about it. I am 60. I am the same me I've always been. I am also all new. I am getting to know her. I am figuring out how to care for her and myself. That is a wonder, as long as I let it be. There just is no other way to say it than I am blessed.


~Jenn

Quote from: Jenn104 on September 08, 2024, 04:38:25 AMThank you for asking O&C!

Well.

I am sore. I am managing well. My swelling is down. I rotate tylenol and advil; I am taking slightly less of those by letting the interval slip out to 8 hours between. My stiches are melting, slowly. She definitely looks "better" although there is a hella lot of bruising.

So yeah, O&C, I'd say I am healing about average, normal. I have a post op in urology tomorrow. I am looking forward to it. I mean like him. I just slept through the last time I saw him, so it'll be nice to catch up.

Hmmm.

If scoring, O&C, I live alone. My place is clean, swept and neat. My laundry is done. I feel these are all metrics on recovery.  I may not move quickly. I get life necessities done with purpose.


And

You know what? it is a wonderful time, despite the hot mess I got down there. I mean think about it. I am 60. I am the same me I've always been. I am also all new. I am getting to know her. I am figuring out how to care for her and myself. That is a wonder, as long as I let it be. There just is no other way to say it than I am blessed.


~Jenn

You have a great attitude Jenn.

Chrissy

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on September 08, 2024, 04:41:23 AMYou have a great attitude Jenn.

Chrissy

She does have a great attitude. Smart to have a clean, neat abode awaiting you with the laundry done. Then you can focus on healing.

I had the same surgery as you, but at 31. There was another t-girl at the hospital who was 21 and she was a bouncy bunny compared to me. So, your surgery at 60 has me inferring that yours is a more difficult healing than what I endured, which is why I'm glad you have so much in order, starting with your mindset.

Quote from: Oldandcreaky on September 08, 2024, 06:04:24 AMShe does have a great attitude. Smart to have a clean, neat abode awaiting you with the laundry done. Then you can focus on healing.

I had the same surgery as you, but at 31. There was another t-girl at the hospital who was 21 and she was a bouncy bunny compared to me. So, your surgery at 60 has me inferring that yours is a more difficult healing than what I endured, which is why I'm glad you have so much in order, starting with your mindset.

O&C-- thank you. I mean thank you for having the courage to be your authentic self at 31. Your courage and the courage of your generation laid the foundation for my transition. Generations of trans women and trans men will always be in debt to your courage and the bravery of your peers. You paved the way for others.

None of us can ever truly thank you enough.

Period.

~Jenn

Well.

My second round of post ops went well. My healing is going very well according to my nurse and urologist. I am transitioning up a size on my dilators. I am cleared to walk as far as I want. I am stiff through the middle, so tying shoes is a challenge. About a mile or so in croc flip flops is about it. They have heavy soles and are not uncomfy.

Team urology is encouraging gentle self explanation. Wow. Just wow. I mean wow. Wow. They say it shouldn't be all that sensitive yet, but um yeah. wow.

wow.

I am less swollen. It feels like as the swelling goes down, the -erm- stream is adjusting, mercifully. Less of an -er- butt car wash, more down. ish.

Fear of dilation was over blown. Yep. It is a time sync and upsizing comes with pain. I choose to think that 3 times a day I get to slow down, thank my lucky stars I am where I am, that I have an amazing care team, and super friends. Plus I get to explore myself. Not a problem, just a different perspective.


I got a "no" in the job search. The role was a presales engineering thing. Apparently they had a downsizing and are doing an internal shift of someone into the job I was after, to keep a current employee. Four people saw me on camera, all with stellar feedback, It is a loss and it is a win.

Other than that, the cycling friends dropped by to drink a little and leave me with a very ummm adult coloring book. Vajajay! I hope to stay in the lines. I love the group. We're strong, we're vulnerable, we're real. I've learned more about myself watching friends than I could imagine.



~Jenn

Quote from: Jenn104 on September 10, 2024, 12:49:22 PMWell.

My second round of post ops went well. My healing is going very well according to my nurse and urologist. I am transitioning up a size on my dilators. I am cleared to walk as far as I want. I am stiff through the middle, so tying shoes is a challenge. About a mile or so in croc flip flops is about it. They have heavy soles and are not uncomfy.

Team urology is encouraging gentle self explanation. Wow. Just wow. I mean wow. Wow. They say it shouldn't be all that sensitive yet, but um yeah. wow.

wow.

I am less swollen. It feels like as the swelling goes down, the -erm- stream is adjusting, mercifully. Less of an -er- butt car wash, more down. ish.

Fear of dilation was over blown. Yep. It is a time sync and upsizing comes with pain. I choose to think that 3 times a day I get to slow down, thank my lucky stars I am where I am, that I have an amazing care team, and super friends. Plus I get to explore myself. Not a problem, just a different perspective.


I got a "no" in the job search. The role was a presales engineering thing. Apparently they had a downsizing and are doing an internal shift of someone into the job I was after, to keep a current employee. Four people saw me on camera, all with stellar feedback, It is a loss and it is a win.

Other than that, the cycling friends dropped by to drink a little and leave me with a very ummm adult coloring book. Vajajay! I hope to stay in the lines. I love the group. We're strong, we're vulnerable, we're real. I've learned more about myself watching friends than I could imagine.



~Jenn

Jenn, I am so glad that things are going well. I don't mean to laugh at your pain, but your descriptions made me chuckle. I hope I am laughing with you, not at you. 

So sorry about the job. Hopefully, that is just a sign that an even better opportunity awaits you. Fingers crossed.

Quote from: Lori Dee on September 10, 2024, 12:57:28 PMJenn, I am so glad that things are going well. I don't mean to laugh at your pain, but your descriptions made me chuckle. I hope I am laughing with you, not at you. 

So sorry about the job. Hopefully, that is just a sign that an even better opportunity awaits you. Fingers crossed.

No problem.

Truth be told, I am managing pain. I am two weeks post op and have not touched the narcotics, just tylenol, advil, and mango juice. I am a gonna turn in my oxy to the cops next week.

job hunt is going to take a while. bummer but the job market is miserable.


~Jenn

Here, all the medical facilities have a small "vault" where unused or expired meds can be dropped. Only pharmacy personnel have access so they can properly dispose of them. You may not have to visit the "Cop Shop".

Three weeks and a day post-GCS... I am feeling like I've turned some corners. I am sore, to be clear. I sit on a cushion. Still, I am more mobile, less sore, the swelling is way way way down.

and

TBH- I love the girl down there.


I definitely have settled into a rhythm. "Fear of dilation" was much overblown. Again, I try to take the time to be thankful. There are a lot of other trans-women that won't ever get to where I am, which is a humbling thought, a thought that induces much much gratitude.

TMI- I think I am healing well.  In the last few days spotting is way way way down. Again, I am sore AF but I kinda feel like I my body is getting whole, healed. I think time spent cycling and getting in decent shape makes recovery go better.


I am up to walking around a mile and a half a day. I do a little "chair yoga" for daily stretching and mindfulness. Nope, won't be back on my bike for a while. I am very friendly with my local bike store; they have my back wheel "held for my own good". It needed a minor repair. We're friendly and it's become a running joke. I love it.


My neighbor and I had a night of drinking some wine and catching up a few days back. Tres fun! We have the same build, albeit I am taller. She gave me a few dresses that didn't work on her. I think they're gonna work on me. Style-wise, I got a boho kind of vibe working.  Happy to have a few more options.


I'll be talking to the wig lady next week. We're looking for a topper. I am difficult-- salt n pepper hair, curly AF, and my oh so wonderful receding hairline.


I have a board meeting tonight, for the non-profit. I am looking fwd to it. It's good to be engaged with things. It's good to be busy. Especially since I remain unemployed.


Now peoples, you are more or less caught up on my life.


~Jenn

Thanks for the update, Jen. You sound well.

Quote from: Oldandcreaky on September 18, 2024, 09:01:58 AMThanks for the update, Jen. You sound well.

I am!

By way of full disclosure, someone gave me an adult coloring book which has proven to be a lot of fun. Plus a good way to slow myself down-- The Big Adventures of the Cute Ms Vajayjay.

tres fun! keeps me in good spirits.

~Jenn

Jenn said, "TBH- I love the girl down there."


I am so happy for you Jenn.


Chrissy

Jenn,

Things sound pretty good for you.  Great!

Thank you for sharing out.

Chrissy

Takes a while for stuff to settle down, think it took me 6 months before everything settled. Yes the girl down there is the best!!

Quote from: davina61 on September 18, 2024, 01:14:34 PMTakes a while for stuff to settle down, think it took me 6 months before everything settled. Yes the girl down there is the best!!

Yeah - I get it. For example, pee'ing is quite an adventure right now. Dr M, aka my urologist, asked about it with words like "left? right? down?". My description was "a car wash for my butt". I rather think Dr M was chagrined. As swelling goes down her -er- aim is doing a little better. I am guessing this'll only get better with time.

It'll all settle in six months or so. For now I am quite pleased with her.

* big smiles *

~Jenn

When they asked 'left, right, down', did you answer 'yes to all'? The 'sprinkler' effect is quite common. It should get better over time. The big stuff is fixed, the little stuff can get taken care of later.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on September 18, 2024, 03:28:01 PMWhen they asked 'left, right, down', did you answer 'yes to all'? The 'sprinkler' effect is quite common. It should get better over time. The big stuff is fixed, the little stuff can get taken care of later.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

I really did say 'car wash for my butt'. Honest.

I remain unphased. It's all a part of the process.

So the surgeon installed an automatic bidet.
Bonus points!