Just because I can't get enough, it looks like I'm a candidate for more surgery!    I have excessive urethra mucosa built up, and need a revision to have it removed!   I'm still awaiting my SRS doc's final word, but it looks like I'll have to have a 45 minute procedure with a local administered to have the urethra entrance/exit cleaned up.

I'm praying that the doc says it's ok to use a local urologist, as it would most likely be covered under OHIP (Canada's medical system) for free.   Otherwise, time to take off my red clothing and head back to Thailand with a cost of about 2 weeks vacation time, and $2500 of hotel/airfare.   

Things to think about when considering the location of your SRS surgeon, for sure! 

*hugggs*,
Melan

eek! I hope it works out for you without having to make that trip!

Because everyone cares so much about this, I'll post another update.  The doc's admin got back to me, and to really jab this in, said the doctor wasn't comfortable even touching my urethral blob until a year has passed.  So here I am, needing a revision, and having to wait 8 months for another surgery, and with the blessing of having to book an expensive flight and take work time off *again*.   And the worst part is I'm damaged goods until then.  Perhaps I can have intercourse, but my victims will have to be blindfolded to not witness the mess in my crotch.

I'm feeling a bit reactionary, but I truly feel at this moment that going to Thailand for this surgery was a mistake.  At the least I could have, should have?, gone to Brassard 5 hours drive up the highway.   Fate led me away from that, and I can't dwell on it, but I can make my point here for those who have considerations that distance doesn't matter in such a surgery.  It does when there are complications.  My only correspondence with my doctor is through an admin that takes 2-3 days to answer emails.  And they usually lead to 2-3 more questions that take another 2-3 days to answer, leaving me on edge.

The last line of my last response from the doc's office is "I'm afraid it is just a case of waiting and having a bit more patience."   Sigh, where is God when you need her?

Just being moaney.  I'm very pleased with my results, minus the quarter-sized round red bloody mass stuck in the middle of my inner-vulva....   

Is there any way you could see Dr. Brassard for this? I know he didn't perform the original surgery but he might be able to help? Might be worth it to check out anyway.

Quote from: FairyGirl on May 25, 2010, 06:15:54 PM
Is there any way you could see Dr. Brassard for this? I know he didn't perform the original surgery but he might be able to help? Might be worth it to check out anyway.

Revisions are covered under OHIP unless! The Dr. said you didn't need it.

It has been down to Suporn or Brassard for awhile now and you just gave me another point to consider.

I hope you can get this worked out soon!

Quote from: mija on May 26, 2010, 07:01:51 AM
It has been down to Suporn or Brassard for awhile now and you just gave me another point to consider.

I hope you can get this worked out soon!

If I may step in again, Brassard girls rarely have complaints! If anything its minor cosmetic issues that really are not a big deal.

Quote from: mija on May 26, 2010, 07:01:51 AM

I hope you can get this worked out soon!

Thank you Mija!   Good luck with your decision. I hope my jaded post doesn't influence you too much.  Dr Suporn does do really good work, and I'm quite happy with the results, I just apparently have fallen into the small percentage of 'revision girls'.  And when those revisions are on the other side of the world, it becomes hard to get them accomplished.

Quote from: FairyGirl on May 25, 2010, 06:15:54 PM
Is there any way you could see Dr. Brassard for this? I know he didn't perform the original surgery but he might be able to help? Might be worth it to check out anyway.

Quote from: SaraR on May 25, 2010, 06:36:41 PM
Revisions are covered under OHIP unless! The Dr. said you didn't need it.

Yes, I have an appointment with my regular doc today to see if that's an option, if I can see a urologist here in town, or even get a referral to Brassard in Montreal.  It "should" be covered under OHIP, I can't imagine why it would not be.  If it is, and I can get it repaired before summer's end, I'll be a very happy girl!

Thanks,
Melan

Sorry to hear about your surgery, Melan... I'll keep you in my thoughts!!

As always, thanks so much for sharing. It is certainly helpful to read about what others are going through, both the good and the not-so-good.

Best of luck to you!! 

I think I remember hearing that Dr Suporn doesn't do major revision work before a year is up because healing would be very difficult with the dynamic dilation that would still be required daily (or even twice daily if you are under 6 months). I'm not sure where I heard it from, so it may not be official, but it makes sense.

I hope things go well for you, Melan. I think I'm having a similar issue, but I'm not sure. I'll send them some photos after a year is up and see what he thinks. The one thing I worry about with revisions is that in almost every other way my results are amazing. Revisions could jeopardize that and end up with a result worse than before.

I totally understand the stress that you feel. My advice would be to do what I am, stick with it and keep to the schedule set by the clinic, and when the year is up you can reasses things. But it's a tough choice to make, for sure.

*hugs*

Quote from: Melan on May 26, 2010, 08:11:50 AM
Thank you Mija!   Good luck with your decision. I hope my jaded post doesn't influence you too much.  Dr Suporn does do really good work, and I'm quite happy with the results, I just apparently have fallen into the small percentage of 'revision girls'.  And when those revisions are on the other side of the world, it becomes hard to get them accomplished.

Yes, I have an appointment with my regular doc today to see if that's an option, if I can see a urologist here in town, or even get a referral to Brassard in Montreal.  It "should" be covered under OHIP, I can't imagine why it would not be.  If it is, and I can get it repaired before summer's end, I'll be a very happy girl!

Thanks,
Melan

Yea revisions probably go to Brassard im not sure ont hat one i know my Toronto friend she got her revision paid without wait time for the approval of OHIP but! She had to wait 5 months to see Brassard.

P.S. Brassards office is BOOKED solid till after Sept 30th... im still waiting for a cancellation between but im Penciled in for Sept 7th, Krystyn Sept 15th

So my appointment went well with my doc today, my primary care physician is referring me to a specialist.  The idea of Brassard was talked about and is an option, but out of province makes it difficult, I guess.    So I will be referred to a local urologist first, for an assessment.   But I specified that the specialist/urologist must have experience treating SRS post op patients. 

I'm going forward, but merely as a 2nd opinion type situation.  I really need to have this thing looked at (not in a picture to my SRS doc's staff 12000 km away!), to make me feel any kind of sanity at all.    I have a feeling with the speed of the Canadian health care system, that I'll be close to January before anyone would actually be able to act on anything, and I might as well take a vacation again in Thailand and get it fixed by the originating surgeon. 

This sucks, but life moves forward, I count my blessings that I got this far, and that I love my results, minus the blob.   I'll just keep dilating and petting my lovely vulva, whispering soft things to consul it, while putting it back in the box after each dilation.   Semi-patiently waiting for some kind of healing or resolution for a final result.

From the vaggie monologues.. "If your vagina could talk, what would it say?  ... Get this farkin' lump of red massy goo off of me!!!!!"   

Thank you all for the support and replies.   

*huggs*,
Melan

Quote from: Valeriedances on May 26, 2010, 09:03:13 PM
Wow Melan, I'm sorry your going through that. I know complications are no fun. Mine is still healing too. Does it hurt?

Lol, thank goodness no, it doesn't hurt, or I wouldn't have the peace of mind to post in a forum about it.. i'd be lopping off the whole mess with a nail file, 

I really should shuddup and count my blessings, seriously.  It could be much worse.  My best job to do now is to keep it clean, un-infected, and look happy when I can.   And for the guys I'm putting on hold in the meantime, be really nice to to them, and buy time until I can truly enjoy them, *giggles*.  Ok fine, I'm drinking the pain away at the moment, thus my light attitude. 

Happy Healing Valerie! 

*huggs*,
Melan

No you didn't deter me at all Melan I'm very confident in either doc...it's more a practical issue. I imagined myself in your place and thought....

Quote from: Melan on May 22, 2010, 02:04:11 PM

Things to think about when considering the location of your SRS surgeon, for sure! 

So true

Quote from: Melan on May 26, 2010, 09:56:38 PM

And for the guys I'm putting on hold in the meantime, be really nice to to them, and buy time until I can truly enjoy them, *giggles*.

Oh you know how guys are...they'll do whatever it takes to get what they want even if it means waiting! You could tell them you've decided to be celibate for X amount of months to purify your spirit....or something like that.

Hi Melan,

Don't beat yourself up for choosing a Thai surgeon over Dr. Brassard.  There's so much positive feedback about the various surgeons that I think it makes it tough to choose.  I've read numerous pre & post responses to both srs and ffs.  Many have their choice nailed pre op only to wish they had chosen a different surgeon once they're post op.

I went to Dr. Brassard over Dr. Suporn.  I was 1.5 years post-op and in bed with a man, he caught a closer look than anyone else had regarding my post op results .  He asked me straight up, "What the hell happened to you?"  I had never told him about my past, so I explained.  He told me I better get something done about that.

So here I'm wishing I had gone to Dr. Suporn over Dr. Brassard. 

I'm pretty lucky though as my issue is aesthetics only.

I wish you the best of luck in your revision.

Michelle

Quote from: michelle_h on May 30, 2010, 12:18:51 AM
 

I'm pretty lucky though as my issue is aesthetics only.

What is it that is aesthetically wrong?  What could Dr. Brassard have done better in your situation?

Quote from: Kristyn on May 30, 2010, 07:19:26 AM
What is it that is aesthetically wrong?  What could Dr. Brassard have done better in your situation?

Its common to have minor issues like, your clitoris not being out enough.

also the labia majora not being exactly symmetrical

The best Minora's ive seen were from Dr. Supporn. However, his majora.. is different.

Although Brassard uses the same technique over and over all results can vary./

As an example from a forum member here I seen [Renate] and her results are amazing! She is 1year post op and 2 months but I saw her result at 6 months and you could barely tell.

Hi Kristyn,

The clitoral hood is too fat and protrudes out a fair bit.  The labia minor is very short leaving most of the vaginal cavity exposed.  From what I've seen, Dr. Suporn seems to get definition and length of the labia minor closer to what I would like.  The Dr. Brassard example mentioned above I haven't seen, however there was a Dr. Brassard example from Steph.  That result looked pretty good to me and I would be happy with that, my result isn't like that one.

I went back to Dr. Brassard for a revision consult.  I also had a consult with Dr. Suporn when I went for FFS.  After both consults I felt that Dr. Suporn's assessment of what could be done was more extensive than Dr. Brassard.  Dr. Brassard could fix the asymmetry of the labia minor and that's it.  That really wasn't my main concern.  Done as an outpatient in about 45 mins - 1.5 hours.    Dr. Suporn could thin out and push back the clitoral hooding and thin out and extend the labia minor.  However, he was very hesitant about tackling this revision.  The two surgeons use very different techniques to achieve their results.  Dr. Suporn noted that Dr. Brassard is one of the best surgeons using the penile inversion technique, which results in very little left over for him to use in a revision.  Dr. Suporn quoted me 10K Canadian for the revision which would take approx 3.5 hours and I would need to stay there for at least 2 weeks.  He actually spent a fair bit of time talking to me, outlining what was possible and what wasn't possible and the risk's.  I would prefer not to spend that kind of money, so I'm holding off.  I may check with Dr. Meltzer as well.

I think there's pro's and con's with all surgeons.  Dr. Brassard told me he wouldn't need a skin graft for my surgery, which I thought was fabulous.  Maybe if he had taken one there would be a better aesthetic result, or same if I had gone to Dr. Suporn.   On the flip side, a skin graft may draw unwanted attention to the donor site as I scar easily and the skin usually remains discoloured in my case.  The majority of patients that came back to Dr. Suporn for revisions when I was there had to do with some minor necrosis.... not cool at all.  Too many variables.  A side note, the FFS I had has healed up amazingly.

The care I received and the facilities at both locations was fantastic, not to mention that both surgeons are excellent and we are very lucky to have them.

Michelle

Warning! Conent Sensitive:

Nice post michelle. I love when people get into detail.

Esthetic wise, it is important to have lots of donor material, but brassard will not focus on the esthetics over a good canal.

nor will any other surgeons!

I don't have a long or large penis for material, but i do believe my scrotal sack will be enough  material.

I still seen to many good Brassard results to have second doubts.. as I mentioned above, I know for a fact Support does the best minora work.. but every doctor is the best at something, its up to you if the canal is more important over esthetics.

For me, I cannot be discouraged in either way when it comes down to surgery except for being denied at the last minute.. but i took my blood test early to wave that possibility. To me, its about having no penis + scrotal sack then having a canal and esthetics.

If I were to be flat down there and just has a uretha hole.. id be satisfied.. so anything else should/will be satisfactory.

Hi Michelle, thanks for replying.  I truly sympathize with what you are going through and wish things could have turned out well for you.  No one should have to go through this after spending so much money--actually, no one should have to go through this at all.  As for the insensitive jerk who said that to you?  Give me 30 minutes alone with him in a soundproof room and I can guarantee that there would be one or two things that HE would have to have looked into

I hope you don't mind me asking a few more questions?  If you would like to take this private, you could send your reply in a PM.

Quote from: michelle_h on May 30, 2010, 11:18:45 AM


The clitoral hood is too fat and protrudes out a fair bit.  The labia minor is very short leaving most of the vaginal cavity exposed.

When you say exposed, do you mean that the vaginal canal is open and you can see inside or does it just look as though the labia have been spread?

As with the clitoral hood, did you request the clitoris to be made larger than Dr. Brassard's norm?  This was something he told me he could do during my consult with him and I was hoping to discuss it further with him at the time of surgery.

Quote
I went back to Dr. Brassard for a revision consult.  I also had a consult with Dr. Suporn when I went for FFS.  After both consults I felt that Dr. Suporn's assessment of what could be done was more extensive than Dr. Brassard.  Dr. Brassard could fix the asymmetry of the labia minor and that's it.  That really wasn't my main concern.  Done as an outpatient in about 45 mins - 1.5 hours.

So, what exactly was Dr. Brassard's explanation as to why this occurred?

Quote
He actually spent a fair bit of time talking to me, outlining what was possible and what wasn't possible and the risk's.  I would prefer not to spend that kind of money, so I'm holding off.  I may check with Dr. Meltzer as well.

That is actually quite impressive that he would spend so much time with you detailing the procedure and possible outcomes.

I've heard of a couple Brassard patients who went to Meltzer for revisions, both for excessive skin to be removed.

Quote
I think there's pro's and con's with all surgeons.  Dr. Brassard told me he wouldn't need a skin graft for my surgery, which I thought was fabulous.  Maybe if he had taken one there would be a better aesthetic result, or same if I had gone to Dr. Suporn.   On the flip side, a skin graft may draw unwanted attention to the donor site as I scar easily and the skin usually remains discoloured in my case.

Do you attribute this to not having a graft taken, or do you attribute this to the surgeon, or just the luck of the draw so to speak?  Did you have a lot of donor material to work with?  Did you consent to having a graft taken if necessary as stated in the release?

Also, what type of physical condition are you in?  Are you athletic, average?  Do you have a low, high or average percentage of body fat?  My reason for asking is that I'm pretty small.  Tall, yet small.  I'm currently at a size six with very little body fat.  Now feeling around down there, I sometimes wonder how he is going to construct much of anything as all I feel is bone.  I have plenty of donor material to work with.

Also, just out of curiosity, what month did you have your surgery?  I know, stupid question, but I have my reasons for asking. 

Quote
The majority of patients that came back to Dr. Suporn for revisions when I was there had to do with some minor necrosis.... not cool at all.  Too many variables.  A side note, the FFS I had has healed up amazingly.

Necrosis kind of freaks me out as well.  Were these Brassard patients?

Quote
The care I received and the facilities at both locations was fantastic, not to mention that both surgeons are excellent and we are very lucky to have them.

I have to agree with you there.  I was very impressed with the staff and residence when I went for my consult.