Sorry for the intrusion. Linus I myself have had several surgeries and I usually get itchy from the beta-dine stuff they use, even though they *kinda* wipe it off. Also, take a cool shower and gently uses a wash cloth or one of those puffy bath thingys.. Key word here is gentle. Hopefully we can get a nurse in here to maybe give a better explanation. After surgeries all of the anesthesia has to come out some how and for me it comes out in my skin, even on area's not related to the surgery. I find that keeping hydrated and I keep my skin totally moisturized it makes it all much more tolerable.
By the way, congratulations!

Heck, Congratulations to everyone in this thread.

Yep on the med's side effects and yep on post-surgical itching.

Some of it, too, is going to be little nerve endings that are waking back up.

Another thing y'all just reminded me of... My nipple grafts and the numb area on my right side started "pinging" after a couple of weeks. I was told that was when sensation was starting to come back. The nipple graft pings went on for a good year or more.

I don't remember a lot of itching except along the incision I think especially at the 5 to 10 day mark. It's a damn long incision so a lot of itchy area.

However I took minimal pain meds also, but have had itchiness from pain meds in the past but the itchiness was all over the body.

I have been off pain meds for more than 2 weeks, and I am still itching!!

Yours could be from the return of sensation.

Just a guess...

The itching was driving me crazy, but I am using aloe vera with Lidocaine. SO helpful.

I used Palmers stretch mark cream in the tube (not pump - lotion), Bruise Balm from Glimmerance, Prosil (silcone balm in a tube like lip balm). Also a good moisturizer as soon as the skin closes/suture or strips removed. Also keep in mind this stuff needs to be done couple times a day for at least 6 mths, then daily for another 6 mths. Depending on how you do, maybe longer.

Even though a nuisance, itching is perfectly normal part of healing. You should be able to tell if it from strips/adhesives, etc. I use the Benedryl clear gel in the lil squeeze bottle for all my itch needs. Its only thing that works for me, but everyone is diff.

Are you happy with the results from Dr. V? If he is in Newport beach, that would be ideal for me. I'm still trying to figure out how to raise funds for my surgery. It's getting to a point, where I don't care what I need to do to make this happen.
I have Kaiser insurance, but I'm pretty sure they won't cover squat. I've asked my Endo about it, and he pretty much confirmed that.

Hey cris did I ever show you my surgery? Dr V is who I went to. Yes he is in newport beach. He was more around 8k for me. Linus just had his with Dr. V so he would know the most current rates. Nice thing is you would cut down other costs with how close he is to you.

The total cost for me was about $8400 (including labs). However, since I've had some prior back issues apparently the insurance has no problem covering some of it. That has meant my actual out of pocket was $4900 (not including Lazy Boy costs, although I am wondering if I can write that off as a medical expense :blink: ).

I'm just about a week past the surgery but thus far have been happy. The reality is that the rest will be up to me and how I take care of my chest going forward. In another week I go for stitch removal I believe and a check up. I like that I don't have to visit constantly in person and can just email photos to him so he can see how I'm recovering. Saves time (which for me is more of an issue than money).

My comments were not directed to you. I posted what I did, bc some are new out of surg., and the incisions may not be closed. Many of the top surgeons are now not using sutures, they are closing up the entire line with steri strips or some such product. So for some the adhesive IS directly on the entire incision.
I had 192 strips I believe. Some came off clean, others left a mess. Dr. even told me not to use soap & water until it was closed bc he wanted it to stay dry. He said those "nastys" covering it, were actually protecting it.
It was a happy day indeed when I could wash & shower.

2 of the most often misused OTCs after surg. is the 2 I mentioned. It was my intention to educate on those items. I know after my surgery, literally everyone I spoke too, offered a remedy idea for some facet of my Tx. For many yrs (some still do) Drs would tell you to clean the wound area w/ peroxide, then apply antibiotic ointment. As of 3 yrs ago, this is no longer the accepted standard. Some old die hards still refuse to move forward.

The source of my info is the textbook, handbook for wound care, and info given during one of the 1st Wound Care Certification courses held in the nation.

Yeah, my sutures were internal along my incisions. I had to have paper tape on them for 2 weeks. When I took the tape off they were pretty much closed except for some scabs. I left the scabs alone and let them come off by themselves. I could at that point shower but not let the water hit directly on my chest or rub it to dry off. I still can't do that yet. But its nice to be able to actually shower instead of having sponge baths. Anyhoo, my doc said no ointments or anything on my incisions once the tape came off. At this point the scabs are all gone and my wounds are closed. :)

from my life...
 

Itching could be:

healing, skin not 'breathing' so well because it is covered/wrapped, an allergic reaction - to tape, anesthesia, betadine, sumthin else...

hair growing back - nerves reconnecting - scar tissue forming....


Benedryl can help with itching for various reasons, you can try a dose or two and see if it makes a difference - it's good to have in the house anyway if someone has a bad reaction to something. Benedryl comes in pills, cream/gels, and spray - good for different things.

Mederma is really good for scar tissue, especially if your skin heals with keloids. I still put it on years after a burn when I feel deep tingles in that area. It is only for closed skin.

Cut nerves reconnect with anything from nothing to tingles to sharp zings to pain.

Linus, you are probably too soon for scar tissue and in the healing, hair growing, skin not breathing category - somewhere...just my opinion.

Good healing and blessings to all.

I figured I would probably need to prepare for 10k. But 10k is a lot of money.
Yes it is very convenient that Newport is nearby, and that would greatly save me some cash. I wish that Kaiser would cover something :(

TCB, do an initial consult with Dr. V as his office might be able to get it covered in some fashion. It doesn't hurt to ask them as I know they've dealt with different providers. I didn't get it all covered but basically got about half was. Still better than nothing.

Thanks Linus. Do you know what he charges for a consultation?? What's his full name?

consultation is free!

http://www.newportsurgery.com/

call though! Don't email!

He supposeably does give some type of discount if someone referred you to him. So I would mention all three of our names. The more the merrier and maybe a better discount? Doesn't hurt!

Well crap, I just emailed him. AND I did mention that I knew a few people who just had their surgery done with him. I didn't mention names though.

Why not email? Does he not respond?

The website email doesn't always go through. Easier to call than email (for the initial stuff anyways)

what linus said. Everyone I have known that used that email never got a response and they weren't even sure where it went to, but they are very prompt and helpful via phone!

Gotcha. I guess I'll be making a phone call to them tomorrow. Thanks fellas.

I believe that Aetna continues to be the only insurance that will cover male reconstructive top surgery, however, you can call your insurance directly, and ask.

You may find a doctor who is willing to adjust the ICD-9 code (medical/billing code) to breast reduction, but you would have to meet the criteria for a medically needed breast reduction, which is based on a number of things, including measurements of indentations in your shoulders from bra straps, a documented history of back problems due to chest size, etc.

(In regards to the above, I have not heard of any surgeons that fudge the ICD-9 code, but it would not surprise me if there were some surgeons out there who would be willing to do this due their empathy around transpeople's issues).

One never knows what insurance will covers. If you can somehow show a medical necessity one never knows what will happen.

The doctor who handles my testosterone told me that he got an mtf's bottom surgery covered. Something was off with her prostrate and they contacted her insurance and asked rather then putting her on meds would they cover surgery to have the testicals removed and they did.

This is all very true. I asked my endo though, and he was very quick to respond that Kaiser will not cover it. He didn't exactly suggest attempting to work around it either. He basically told me there are two companies you can go work for that will cover it (I can't remember now which ones).
To my knowledge, I don't believe I have medical reasons for him to try and slip it through the cracks.....unfortunately (as bad as that it to say). I'm grateful for my health.

Look at this:

http://www.uclgbtia.org/transhealthupdate.html

http://otrans.3cdn.net/fa908f9f867b4537a1_ihm6iipnp.pdf

Guys this is Medicare, this will apply to all of you sooner or later. We need to change how Medicare is effecting our community.

Thanks for posting!

Thanks for that link Koop. I'm not really sure how to read into that, but I think when I see my Doctor next week, I'm going to touch on the subject again and see if he's interested in looking into it. It's worth a shot!

Off topic:

I need to get my passport by mid July. I know there are expediting services but here's my dilemma...wondering if anybody knows the answer to this:

My new name has been legally changed on my drivers license (including my gender marker on ID) and SS. However, my birth certificate has NOT been changed (name and gender). Will they be able to issue me a passport due to this discrepancy?
I called the post office and asked them. One person told me they can put it through assuming I have my court ordered name change forms (which I do).
But I hate to go on one post office attendants word.
Anyone have any knowledge or experience with this?

Now that I think about it, I recall my Doc saying I would have to work for a UC to be eligible. I don't.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/npic_898.html

maybe try calling them?

Well I'm going to have to tomorrow. I was just curious if anybody knew off hand.

When I went to get my updated passport, I turned in my old passport which had my former legal name and sex designation. I submitted a certified copy of the court order for the name change and the doctor's letter for the sex designation. (I also showed my state ID which had already been updated with both.)

Based on that, my assumption is that the name change will not be an issue; and you will need the doctor's letter for the change of sex.

If this is your first passport, you will need to submit your birth certificate. Your court order for name change will trump the name on the birth certificate, however.

Does that make sense?

Thinker,
This is my first passport. I went and picked up a certified copy of my original birth certificate at the vital statistics office.
So you're saying that since I have the court ordered name change documentation, that should be sufficient for them to change it on my passport? I know I need to have it changed on my birth certificate, but the postal passport worker told me that they would likely issue me a temporary passport (1-2 yrs) while I submit my name change for my birth certificate, due to that process taking 6 months-1 yr (according to the clerk at vital statistics).
I'm just hoping that I can at least get the passport with my new legal name, I'll have to get a Dr. letter for the gender marker on my passport and for it to all go without a hitch! I'm staying optimistic!

I think you'll be good for getting your legal name on the passport. Your birth certificate is required since this is your first passport, and the court order for your name change shows that the person named on the birth certificate is now legally named TCB.

Good luck with it! Let us know how it goes.