top surgery

[Leigh]

I bet it feels great having had the surgery done bro, I'm happy for you congrats

[theoddz]

Koop, how's things going?? How's the healing coming along??

I had to contact Dr. V's office here, lately, and ask for a *notorized* copy of my surgical letter, so I can have the State of Florida change my gender marker. I thought they would do it without a notarization, but as it turns out, they do need a notarized letter.

Speaking of backwards, it's only been since last year that the State of Florida would even change a name on a birth certificate with a court order from outside of the state of Florida.

Anyway, Dr. V's office has cheerfully agreed to provide a notarized letter. Talk about great customer service, even waaay after the sale. Dr. V. and his office are truly a caring and helpful team. I can't say enough about this great, compassionate doctor and his staff. There's no way I could have ever chosen a better doctor.

I was able to go outside shirtless today, to grab the garbage that blew into my front yard with the high winds we've had lately. It's nearly 75 degrees here today, and the warm breeze felt great blowing through my chest and tummy hair against my skin.

So Koop, how is your chest turning out?? Are you pleased with your results?? I certainly hope you are and will continue to be as pleased as I am and have been.

~Theo~

[The Oopster]

Hey Theo, funny you should ask since I was thinkin about coming in to post today.

Tomorrow will be two weeks since my surgery and i'm just amazed at where I'm at. I've been extremely pleased with the care I've gotten from Dr. Voloshin and his staff. Although i believe there are other excellent places to go I am so pleased I went there.

Yesterday I got the nipple stitches out and got a kick out of the fact that even Dr. Voloshin was amazed at how great my chest looks. I showed it to my roomie last night and he said he was a little jealous at how great my chest looked cause now he's got the man boobs in the house.

I thought I would come in here and post where I'm at with the two week mark. It's easier to post now then to try to remember back some day when other people are looking into their surgeries.

At two weeks, i'm casually walking for about 30 to 60 minutes. I've done a few short drives, 15 to 30 minutes one way and yesterday drove down and back to newport, about an hour each way and did some errands. Was beat when i got home but was out and about for over 5 hours.

I'm able to put sleevelesss under shirts on and even can get my compression shirt that is a single layer with a shirt built in on and off. Although I almost had to call my roomie for help last night, getting it off. It was the first time and I hadn't figured out the best method for that shirt yet.

I'm slowly starting to move things back into their places now that I can easily reach up into the first and second shelves of cupboards. Today I'm going to shower for the first time. Up to now I've been mainly using the disposable bath wipes that you can buy in the store and heat up in the microwave.

About a week back i got so frustrated with sleep that i reclaimed one of the dog beds. I've had problems with memory foam in the past but any itches from it have been well tolerated for the comfortability and ability to sleep. I'm still using it and because of that I was able to finally sleep on my sides last night.

Not sure what else to comment on but i'm just thrilled at where I'm at.

I go back in two weeks again just to be checked on. Till then I'm still suppose to keep the cloth tape on the scars. For the next couple days i'm suppose to still put bandages and cream over the nipples. Everything is coming along good.

I see no reason not to start back at work at the beginning of June. Will still start back part time. It's two more weeks until I can work out good and I want to be able to do some before I'm back in the grind full time.

If I had a desk job I would probaby think about starting back part time next week, but unforunately i'm not that fortunate.

I hpe to also start looking for new work now that this phase is done. I need a job with benefits before I look into any of the name/sex change stuff.

[The Oopster]

Did anyone else have binder burns? How long did they take to go away? Have they gone away?

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by The Oopster

Did anyone else have binder burns? How long did they take to go away? Have they gone away?

None here. Are you talking about your surgical binders?

I didn't have any from regular pre-surgery binding either. Post-surgery, I used Ace bandage/tensors, not any sort of "official" post-surgical binder. Maybe that was the difference.

That sounds pretty severe though. If you're wearing something that is causing burns like that, how about using something different??? Or going without while you're at home lying down?

On a side note, how are you feeling? Healing?

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by Thinker

None here. Are you talking about your surgical binders?

I didn't have any from regular pre-surgery binding either. Post-surgery, I used Ace bandage/tensors, not any sort of "official" post-surgical binder. Maybe that was the difference.

That sounds pretty severe though. If you're wearing something that is causing burns like that, how about using something different??? Or going without while you're at home lying down?

On a side note, how are you feeling? Healing?

These are from presurgery, when the binder would roll up and dig into my ribs.

I'm doing pretty good. Amazed at how much the surgery took out of me. I'll feel decent then do stuff and be exhausted. Had to clean the fridge yesterday because a huge ice sculpture had formed in the freezer and it was a bigger process then normal. Had to just do a little bit, rest and do a bit more. The good note is that the more physically i do the less stiff I am both surgically and all over. Hopng to start some work back up next weekend. Will go in and talk to them towards the end of the week, about what will work the best.

My chest looks amazing though.

I haven't had to do any type of binding now for about a week. Just able to wear a normal shirt. He does have me putting tape over the big incisions for a few months though. Part of that is just to keep it from getting irritated.

[Maverick]

I have a question for the guys that have had their surgeries a while ago and are healed up. I'm thinking about having top surgery in the future but I'm concerned about losing sensation in the nipples afterwards. What are your experiences with this? Is there good sensation still or is it mostly numb now. I will definitely need double incision as I'm fairly large.

Thanks

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by The Oopster

Did anyone else have binder burns? How long did they take to go away? Have they gone away?

I'm (finally! I still am having troubles believing that there's an end in sight) getting surgery at the end of the month and have been wondering this as well. I don't know whether to call them binder burns or what, but basically dark seemingly permanent marks a few centimetres out around the bottom of my arms pits and parts of my chest where the outer edge of the binder cuts in. Also just areas of the skin just roughened by the binder edges from wearing it for so long. I've been wondering if those will eventually go away. I figure they'll probably fade with time.

So yeah, I second this, anyone with experience with this would be interesting to hear.

[EnderD_503]

Ender has now officially had top surgery (yay!!!)!!! *exclamationmarkexclamationmark* So I'll try to remember to come back here as time goes by to post if the binder burns/scars go away/how long it takes.

P.S. So happy!

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by EnderD_503

Ender has now officially had top surgery (yay!!!)!!! *exclamationmarkexclamationmark* So I'll try to remember to come back here as time goes by to post if the binder burns/scars go away/how long it takes.

P.S. So happy!

Congratulations! I bet you are thrilled! Yes, please keep us updated on your healing process!