FTM's and Transitioning

[Linus]

Originally Posted by theoddz

I'm going to hop in here and just say that I have a leather LaZyBoy recliner and wouldn't have anything else. My living room furniture is also all LaZBoy and it's very comfy, too. You do get what you pay for, though, and this is as true with furniture as with anything else. If you can't swing the $$ for LaZBoy, however, then do some shopping around and find something you find comfortable with, physically and financially. A good recliner is an awesome investment and will be with you for many good years.

Good luck, Linus!!!

~Theo~

P.S. When I had my surgery, Dr. V did give me 2 penrose drains, but they were only in for a day or so, as I didn't have much significant drainage.

I think we'll go Friday to get one (Lazy Boy).

Theo, did you have to go back to get the drain removed or was this something you could remove on your own?

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by Linus

I think we'll go Friday to get one (Lazy Boy).

Theo, did you have to go back to get the drain removed or was this something you could remove on your own?

Whether you have the drains or not he does do a follow up visit. Since I stayed down there and didn't have drains he did mine the next morning and I left for home from his office. If I had immediately gone home he would have seen me I think on monday and my surgery was on a thursday.

Did you ask him about drains? Because I did. At the time of my consult the only person I had heard of not having drains was Thinker. When we did the consult and he had said nothing about drains and the follow up care. I asked "what about the drains?" That is when he said he couldn't remember when he had to use them last because it had been awhile. Since my surgery was almost a year after Theo's I'm guessing his was the last.

[Leigh]

Hey guys, sorry its been awhile but My laptop has been out of commission for abit but I'm borrowing My mom's computer for a few. I have an appointment this month with the psychiatrist who will determine if I will be eligible for top surgery and if the meeting goes well then it will be covered by MB Health ......... I go on May 20th so wish Me luck that all goes well

[Linus]

Originally Posted by The Oopster

Whether you have the drains or not he does do a follow up visit. Since I stayed down there and didn't have drains he did mine the next morning and I left for home from his office. If I had immediately gone home he would have seen me I think on monday and my surgery was on a thursday.

Did you ask him about drains? Because I did. At the time of my consult the only person I had heard of not having drains was Thinker. When we did the consult and he had said nothing about drains and the follow up care. I asked "what about the drains?" That is when he said he couldn't remember when he had to use them last because it had been awhile. Since my surgery was almost a year after Theo's I'm guessing his was the last.

I did ask him about that and he had said he didn't think I'd need them. Which, when I had first heard that, I was surprised. He said that if I was "smaller" then perhaps but since this is more of an explicit removal than anything else, I wouldn't need them. So unless something happens during the surgery that warrants them, I may not need them. Mine's on a Monday so I suspect my follow-up will be the Thursday of that week. I may have to ask K's brother to help me out there.

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by Linus

I did ask him about that and he had said he didn't think I'd need them. Which, when I had first heard that, I was surprised. He said that if I was "smaller" then perhaps but since this is more of an explicit removal than anything else, I wouldn't need them. So unless something happens during the surgery that warrants them, I may not need them. Mine's on a Monday so I suspect my follow-up will be the Thursday of that week. I may have to ask K's brother to help me out there.

I was larger also.

It doesn't hurt to have things lined up for it. I did have some nurse friends lined up to help empty just in case. I figured it was easier to be prepared for it. I also had made sure the person staying the night with me could handle gross things in case I had them. That person later confided that he was glad I didn't have them, he was a little apprehensive of having to deal with the gross stuff but would have.

Wow you must be getting excited and nervous! Next week is a busy one for me but let me know if you need anything. In LA terms your place isn't that far from me!

[Linus]

Originally Posted by The Oopster

I was larger also.

It doesn't hurt to have things lined up for it. I did have some nurse friends lined up to help empty just in case. I figured it was easier to be prepared for it. I also had made sure the person staying the night with me could handle gross things in case I had them. That person later confided that he was glad I didn't have them, he was a little apprehensive of having to deal with the gross stuff but would have.

Wow you must be getting excited and nervous! Next week is a busy one for me but let me know if you need anything. In LA terms your place isn't that far from me!

It's not next week but the week after (week of the 23rd). If you're not busy that week, you're welcomed to visit with me and pugs. We'll probably be sitting outside if the weather is nice.

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by Linus

It's not next week but the week after (week of the 23rd). If you're not busy that week, you're welcomed to visit with me and pugs. We'll probably be sitting outside if the weather is nice.

I'll check in with you closer to then. Currently, besides the weekends and a quick equipment pick up on monday and friday I only work Thursday that week!

[atomiczombie]

I just got back from Dr. Brownstein's office and had my drains removed. It kinda stung for about a second and then I was fine. He said I lost 2.5lbs of tissue. What a great way to lose weight! I got to see my chest today and it is so flat I love it! and the nipple graphs look fantastic. I couldn't be happier with the job he has done. The pathology report said I have no cancer too.

I also found out that he is the doc who did Chaz Bono's chest, and he will be in the documetary about Chaz that will be on the Oprah Winfrey Network tonight at 9pm. So if you guys want to see Dr. Brownstein in action, check it out.

I feel a lot better with the drains out and he said I can move my arms around as much as I want and bend over now, no restrictions. That's a relief. Thursday I get the sutures around my nipple graphs removed so I am looking forward to that.

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by The Oopster

Your surgery must have been the last or about the last that he used them. When I went in for my consult he said it had been about a year since he had used them.

Well, he did tell me beforehand that he didn't think I'd need them, so I was a bit surprised to see them there when I woke up from the anesthesia.

Originally Posted by Linus

I think we'll go Friday to get one (Lazy Boy).

Theo, did you have to go back to get the drain removed or was this something you could remove on your own?

Linus, since I had traveled there (Newport Beach, CA) from Las Vegas, I had made arrangements to stay in the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa area (at the Ayres Hotel) for a few days. I had 2 followup visits with Dr. V following my surgery. One was a day after and the other was 3 days after, just before returning to Las Vegas. I think I had the drains pulled on the first post-op followup appointment. They were really uncomfortable, and since I wasn't draining much, it just made sense not to keep them. And no, I wouldn't remove a drain on my own. I've had surgical drains three times in my life and this was one of them. I had drains in both my knees following joint replacement, so I know a bit about how/why they work and would NOT want to be pulling on them at my own discretion. They do hurt a bit when they're being removed and, although I'm certainly no coward when it comes to doing things to myself.....like doing my own intramuscular injections, I wouldn't want to be pulling drains out myself.

I used to have a Barca Lounger, a loooooong time ago, and it was a seriously comfy chair. That'd be my second choice in a recliner, if I couldn't get a LaZboy.

~Theo~

[atomiczombie]

Hey all, I just got back from Dr. Brownstein's office so I wanted to give you an update. After he pulled the drains on tuesday, I started getting some swelling under my arms, which caused me to be more sore and tender. I called his office on Wednesday (yesterday) and was told that is normal and nothing to worry about. Anyhoo, todays appointment was to get the stitches out of my nipple graphs. That went smoothly and I gotta say my nips look great. Now I have to keep the binder on for a couple more weeks, but I can shower if I want, I just can't let the water hit directly on my incisions. I have to change the dressings on my graphs and use antibiotic ointment on them. He said all my incisions look really good.

As for why Dr. Brownstein uses the drains, if any of you saw him in Chaz Bono's documentary, Becoming Chaz, there he explained it to Chaz and his girlfriend. Basically the build up of fluid slows down the healing process.

If you guys have anymore questions for me I am happy to answer. I am so psyched for you Linus, you are almost there! Whoohoo!

[Leigh]

Glad things are going well with everyone!

[atomiczombie]

I finally took the medical binder off today. That is the last binder I will ever have to wear. Woot! Took the paper tape off my incisions too. I am still tender and sore in some places. I can feel it when I move around, but not at all sitting still. I still have some swelling, but I know that will resolve itself in time. I still need to have the antibiotic ointment/gauze on my graphs for another week. I am happy to be at the 2 week mark, because the worst part is over.

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

I finally took the medical binder off today. That is the last binder I will ever have to wear. Woot! Took the paper tape off my incisions too. I am still tender and sore in some places. I can feel it when I move around, but not at all sitting still. I still have some swelling, but I know that will resolve itself in time. I still need to have the antibiotic ointment/gauze on my graphs for another week. I am happy to be at the 2 week mark, because the worst part is over.

Yay!

Drink lots and lots of water......lots and lots!

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

I finally took the medical binder off today. That is the last binder I will ever have to wear. Woot! Took the paper tape off my incisions too. I am still tender and sore in some places. I can feel it when I move around, but not at all sitting still. I still have some swelling, but I know that will resolve itself in time. I still need to have the antibiotic ointment/gauze on my graphs for another week. I am happy to be at the 2 week mark, because the worst part is over.

If you have some tighter compression like shirts it helps to wear them for a while. I had bought a compression tank shirt and a couple sports shirts that never worked for binding but worked well after surgery and after not wearing the binder. I found the support actually felt good for awhile and helped with the minor swelling

[atomiczombie]

Originally Posted by The Oopster

If you have some tighter compression like shirts it helps to wear them for a while. I had bought a compression tank shirt and a couple sports shirts that never worked for binding but worked well after surgery and after not wearing the binder. I found the support actually felt good for awhile and helped with the minor swelling

I don't have anything like that unfortunately. Thanks for the tip tho, I will look into it.