I have SRS scheduled with Dr. McGinn in 6 weeks. Things are going well so far. My stress level is up a bit. I've been spending much of my time cooking and freezing meals so I won't have to cook much when I get back from surgery.

I expect to spend most of the first week post op in the hospital. I will be in bed most of that time. During the second week, I will be staying in a hotel down the street from Dr. McGinn's office. I doubt I will go out much, if I do at all. Her rigorous dilation schedule will likely rule my life. But I'm trying to figure out what I need for that week. My guess is that I will be in bed most of that week also. So loose flannel pajamas and night shirts will work nicely. But I'm thinking that I might need a skirt or two and maybe a pair of loose fitting pants to fly home in.

Your thoughts?

You're dead on, Monica!

Basically sweat pants and sweat shirt will do fine.  You'll be taking you pants off six times a day so anything that is loose and easy to remove.

Having a couple of skirts would be good too.  Depending on how your recovery goes, you just might be sent to the hotel with a Foley.  If that is the case, it is easy to strap the bag to your leg for going out and a loose long skirt is quite discreet.

Also, you'll have your new traveling companion with you too (your donut).  I found it discreet to keep the donut in a shopping bag an just put the bag on the chair when I sat down.

And for flying back, comfort overrules fashion.  So be comfy.

I found my trip back to be very exhausting.  Even though the trip was only a couple of hours, when I got home I slept for about 18 hours straight.  Plan to take plenty of rest.  Between the dilation and the exhaustion, your social schedule will be severely restricted. 

-Sandy

I'll second the skit recommendation.  Prior to SRS I never wore skirts (or shorts, for that matter), but I couldn't have gotten through the immediately post-op period without them (and I've learned to like them a lot, actually).  My experience following SRS (and the most common one, I assume) was lots of swelling, and the idea of having something between your legs like the split in a pair of pants still causes me to cringe... 

Lia

A good supply of cotton underwear. You will be wearing pads.

cheap cotton underwear too, about 10-12 pair. I was lucky to have the hopital donate a package of disposable undie's.   Don't plan on keeping them, just toss.  After a week the bleeding should be little enough for pads to work well.  Don't plan on resting in bed too much as the nurses will get you out of bed for a few minutes on the third day onward. You'll feel about 90 on the first day out of bed,  Gee first time I used a walker, just to hold on.

I think I started taking short walks starting at 6 days, increasing the distance each day.  It's good to move around a bit as it promotes healing and reduces pooling in the lower area.  But it will take alot out of you too.

Loose clothing is good.  For me the flight home was the worst part of the whole experence.  I live in california ,which makes 5 hours in the air, normally.  But my flight to midway was diverted to ohio for an hour due to storms over chicago.  That added 2-3 hours to the flight time.  Overall it was 14 hours travel,  door to door.  If you can get a direct flight to where ever your going, I highly recommend getting it and plan the shortest travel time possible.

Good luck to you.  Dr. McGinn is very talented, so you should do fine

Beni

Quote from: Beni on February 23, 2009, 09:15:26 PMFor me the flight home was the worst part of the whole experence.  I live in california ,which makes 5 hours in the air, normally.  But my flight to midway was diverted to ohio for an hour due to storms over chicago.  That added 2-3 hours to the flight time.  Overall it was 14 hours travel,  door to door.  If you can get a direct flight to where ever your going, I highly recommend getting it and plan the shortest travel time possible.

Good luck to you.  Dr. McGinn is very talented, so you should do fine

Ouch! That was one of the reasons I chose McGinn over Bowers. There are many non stops per day between Chicago and Philly. I used mileage for my flight. It's far more difficult to get to Trinidad from here. Thanks for the well wishes. They mean a lot coming from someone that has had surgery with her. After speaking with her, I have no doubt that I made the best decision for me.

I agree, loose clothing, especially loose panties (they'll get ruined, so don't get expensive ones). I found loose sweat pants were the best for myself.

skirts skirts & more skirts.
I didn't put on a pair of pants for weeks after srs

Quote from: MMarieN on February 23, 2009, 07:54:53 AM
I have SRS scheduled with Dr. McGinn in 6 weeks. Things are going well so far. My stress level is up a bit. I've been spending much of my time cooking and freezing meals so I won't have to cook much when I get back from surgery.

I expect to spend most of the first week post op in the hospital. I will be in bed most of that time. During the second week, I will be staying in a hotel down the street from Dr. McGinn's office. I doubt I will go out much, if I do at all. Her rigorous dilation schedule will likely rule my life. But I'm trying to figure out what I need for that week. My guess is that I will be in bed most of that week also. So loose flannel pajamas and night shirts will work nicely. But I'm thinking that I might need a skirt or two and maybe a pair of loose fitting pants to fly home in.

Your thoughts?

Great advice so far from everyone.  I too brought along a soft shopping bag to put my doughnut in, it works great and doesn't attract attention.  Returning home after surgery is probably the worst thing that you will encounter, the stress of which added to the stress normally associated with airtravell just compounds the problem.  One thing I would like to add is that it would be a good idea to inform the flight attendants that you have just had surgery (They don't need to know what type) and that you may be up and down quite a bit during the flight.  You may also request an isle seat as it would make getting in and out of your seat so much easier.

Stephanie

UGH! Monday I'll be in surgery and I'm not at all looking forward to this. I never had a surgery before trans-related surgeries and I just can't get excited about it.  I do like the skirt idea though. Even in that awful post-op condition, where you like like a mother who has just given birth, I can see the skirt adding a little prettiness to the situation.

As for me, I've been preparing by setting up a media room with a very comfy couch.  Today the ceiling fan is going up and we'll be shopping for some blinds. This preparation is much more enjoyable than shopping for granny panties.  Maybe I can sneak in some skirt shopping too! .

Julie

Oh Julie, You'll be fine.  Gee FFS is lots more painful then SRS or so I've heard.  Gee BA is more painful for that matter and that I do know.  It will be some discomfort, but probably not much pain.  Though there is the foliey and dilating to look forward too.  Best of luck to you.

Beni
     

The biggest problem for me would the time that my flights to home will take. I will be leaving from Montreal at 9.55 pm and I will be home  at 5.00 pm next day. However the time difference makes the real time shorter.

Loose clothes, long skirts, a pair of comfortable sandals.  Eh, they'll make you walk a few days after grs. Lying in bed isn't a good idea because it can cause blood clots, delayed healing & other ugly stuff you dont wanna know.