My Top Surgery Log

[Ryles]

I got top surgery about 2 months ago and have been posting logs of it on my blog (logs on a weblog- seemed like the thing to do).

I could post them here if anyone thinks it'd be easier, but either way they might be useful for anyone who's thinking about getting it. So far I've got:

The Operation
Drains (ugh)
The Second Week After

[Kai Reddtail]

This is awesome Ryles. Knowing the details of how it all really works is extremely helpful.

[Psychopomp]

I've been dying to read an in-depth description of all this. This is really helpful!

[Ryles]

Thanks! I mostly put this up because, even with all the information out there, I saw some people who didn't expect things after surgery (like the person who didn't expect the fluid in the drains to be red), and I had no idea what drains were.

[Chrysopoeia]

*jealous*

Thanks so much for posting these. Definitely, definitely informative!

[Kai Reddtail]

Thanks! I mostly put this up because, even with all the information out there, I saw some people who didn't expect things after surgery (like the person who didn't expect the fluid in the drains to be red), and I had no idea what drains were.

I'm not really surprised by that. Few things really give detail about those kinds of surgeries. The most we usually hear is "they cut here, they cut here, take this out, stitch this up and done" sort of thing. So, thats all that we really have to go by.

But people who want top surgery really need stuff like this because, at least IMO, it's much better that surgery has as few surprises as possible. It's better to know what to expect.

[Doc]

I wish I'd done that, because a year after I had my surgery I went to do after-care for a friend who was having it, and couldn't remember the timeline exactly. Not that it really mattered too much, as things went differently for him.

[Kladeos]

Yeah, that information is useful.

They let you have top surgery even though you don't identify as a man?

[Ryles]

If I explicitly said I wasn't a male, I wouldn't have. The therapist said as much. The only reason I got it is because I have a male name and have been mostly trying to live as a male. I'm still REALLY ticked off about the entire process.

Brownstein is apparently willing to do surgery on people who aren't men and without a letter- but he's also pretty expensive.

[Doc]

Brownstein did my surgery. Mangubat did a friend's. They cost about the same but I definitely got better value -- mine was in a hospital, I had a private room to recover in and could stay until I was ready to leave, I had an MD anesthesiologist and a better type of anesthesia.

Mangubat did a good job and there's nothing wrong with his set up, (though it is pretty harsh to be sent home while you're still all wonky on isoflourane) and it saved my friend a lot of money because he had a place to stay and a car in Seattle but would have needed a hotel and taxis in San Francisco.

[Kladeos]

I was under the impression that in North America you definitely needed a letter for surgery.

[itsa_wallaby]

Hey, how are you healing up? You stopped posting surgery updates.

Medalie's in Cleveland, right? Did you stay there while healing up or go somewhere else? If you went somewhere else, how was the travel and how soon did you leave?

[Ryles]

I think Medalie cost a few thousand less than Brownstein. I also didn't have to fly there (I don't fly well), and we might not have been able to stay with my relatives there (small house) so we probably would have had to get a hotel/car anyways.

Hey, how are you healing up? You stopped posting surgery updates.

Medalie's in Cleveland, right? Did you stay there while healing up or go somewhere else? If you went somewhere else, how was the travel and how soon did you leave?

I keep meaning to post a new update. Sorry about that.

I stayed in Cleveland. He suggested not going out of city for the duration. There was nowhere nearby I'd want to go anyways- the closest place was Massachusettes, about an 8 hour drive. There's a surgeon in MA, but she apparently only works with in-state people or makes it really difficult for out of state people (I don't remember exactly, I think she requires meeting the patient in person one or two weeks in advance).

I would NOT have wanted to travel with the drains in- the road wasn't particularly bumpy, but every little jiggle jossled the tubes and that aggravated the skin, and I had to wear the seatbelt behind my back. Any really long car ride would have been pretty unpleasant. I also really wasn't "up" for much. When we were out I had to keep reminding my partner and dad to walk more slowly so I could keep up, and often ended up needing my partner to put a hand on my back to help steady me.

I was under the impression that in North America you definitely needed a letter for surgery.

Brownstein acknowledges even non-male trans faabs need surgery, which I think is part of why he doesn't require a letter. He seems like a cool guy- I really wish I'd gone with him.

[Kladeos]

Brownstein acknowledges even non-male trans faabs need surgery, which I think is part of why he doesn't require a letter. He seems like a cool guy- I really wish I'd gone with him.

Thanks. I'm under the impression that this all works differently in Canada, so I dunno. Ontario covers SRS but there's a long waiting list and a long process.

[Ryles]

I put up a new post here- http://chroanagram.zxq.net/blog/?p=782 It doesn't really say much, though.

[Ryles]

A new post again- http://chroanagram.zxq.net/blog/?p=1991

[EJA]

Brownstein acknowledges even non-male trans faabs need surgery....

What is "faabs"?
I'm guessing it's 'female' something because I've heard 'maabs', where the 'm' is most likely male, but what's the rest of it stand for?

[Ryles]

Brownstein acknowledges even non-male trans faabs need surgery....

What is "faabs"?
I'm guessing it's 'female' something because I've heard 'maabs', where the 'm' is most likely male, but what's the rest of it stand for?

female-assigned-at-birth there's also AFAB

[Ryles]

on the assigned at birth thing- I think mA_AB or _mAAB might be a good idea. (mis)Assigned-At-Birth, for people who think the doctor #$%$#%# up royally when shouting "It's a ____"

A new post again- http://chroanagram.zxq.net/blog/?p=1991

For some reason I accidentally marked comments disabled on that post. I fixed it now.