I'm trying to plan for full depth vaginoplasty and am wondering what exactly one needs help with from a caregiver after surgery? Also, for about how long would they need to stay with me in my home? Thanks.
You’ll be stuck in bed until for around two weeks, so you’ll need someone to be cooking for you, emptying your folly bag, and emptying your surgical drain. Most of all you should have someone to keep you company, because that first week of having to be on your back without moving much is mentally rough.
After that - ideally - you’ll have a much easier time if you have someone at home with you for two weeks. If you can’t have someone with you, then you should do some prep work before your surgery date. Get some healthy easy to cook foods, get a grabby arm so you don’t have to bend over, etc.
At about week 4 you’ll be pretty much able to be back to self-sufficiency, but you should do what you can to limit your activity until the swelling has mostly resolved.
My surgery (PI) was done as an outpatient procedure. I was mobile and pretty independent about four hours after surgery. Was able to shuffle to the bathroom and empty drains/catheter by myself and grab things from the kitchen to eat. Not quite up to preparing meals for a couple of days. I set timers to remember to take meds. Had a caretaker there to get me to/from the hospital and a couple of days after in case I needed assistance.
Honestly it was not that bad. I am a pretty active runner so that probably helped. Worst thing for me were the sutures holding the compression bandage on. That went away at the one week follow up along with the catheter and drains. By the end of week two I was walking 4-5 miles a day.
FFS was also done as outpatient. Surgery was 5 weeks ago today. Recovery from it has been a little more challenging, mostly fatigue. I would say to anyone to not forego the caretaker if possible as just having someone there check on you and talk to is important. My situation for both SRS and FFS was challenging because the person who committed to being there for me flaked out a day or two into it on both occasions. Needless to say we are not speaking any longer.
I'll second for it not being that bad. I had a colovaginoplasty in November. I had to stay in bed the first 3.5 days after surgery due to the colon stuff. But once I was allowed to get out, it wasn't that bad. I did everything solo and in a foreign country. I was back to remote work on day 17 post op.
I'm sorry this is deranged to me. I also went in pretty athletic and one of the first times I tried to walk a week after surgery I fainted, a month on any more walking than shuffling around the room was actual work and needed to be carried out at a snails pace. Where did you have it done?
Wow, deranged lol. I think you already know we all experience this in our own way. My surgeon was Dr Stiller in Spokane. He has been performing these for a number of years and is highly sought out for initial and revision surgeries.
I posted about this at the link below. You can follow this comment up to my original one. Sorry, I'm getting tired of reposting stuff.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Transgender_Surgeries/comments/1pnlkrf/comment/nunlcaf/?context=1
Thank you!
You’ll be stuck in bed until for around two weeks, so you’ll need someone to be cooking for you, emptying your folly bag, and emptying your surgical drain. Most of all you should have someone to keep you company, because that first week of having to be on your back without moving much is mentally rough.
After that - ideally - you’ll have a much easier time if you have someone at home with you for two weeks. If you can’t have someone with you, then you should do some prep work before your surgery date. Get some healthy easy to cook foods, get a grabby arm so you don’t have to bend over, etc.
At about week 4 you’ll be pretty much able to be back to self-sufficiency, but you should do what you can to limit your activity until the swelling has mostly resolved.
Anyway. Hope that helps.
Thank you! This is helpful.
My experience might not be typical, but having someone who can empty your catheter bag would help.
My surgery (PI) was done as an outpatient procedure. I was mobile and pretty independent about four hours after surgery. Was able to shuffle to the bathroom and empty drains/catheter by myself and grab things from the kitchen to eat. Not quite up to preparing meals for a couple of days. I set timers to remember to take meds. Had a caretaker there to get me to/from the hospital and a couple of days after in case I needed assistance.
My jaw is on the floor reading this. 3 weeks post op and struggling to adjust to doing things on my own I could not IMAGINE
Honestly it was not that bad. I am a pretty active runner so that probably helped. Worst thing for me were the sutures holding the compression bandage on. That went away at the one week follow up along with the catheter and drains. By the end of week two I was walking 4-5 miles a day.
FFS was also done as outpatient. Surgery was 5 weeks ago today. Recovery from it has been a little more challenging, mostly fatigue. I would say to anyone to not forego the caretaker if possible as just having someone there check on you and talk to is important. My situation for both SRS and FFS was challenging because the person who committed to being there for me flaked out a day or two into it on both occasions. Needless to say we are not speaking any longer.
I'll second for it not being that bad. I had a colovaginoplasty in November. I had to stay in bed the first 3.5 days after surgery due to the colon stuff. But once I was allowed to get out, it wasn't that bad. I did everything solo and in a foreign country. I was back to remote work on day 17 post op.
I'm sorry this is deranged to me. I also went in pretty athletic and one of the first times I tried to walk a week after surgery I fainted, a month on any more walking than shuffling around the room was actual work and needed to be carried out at a snails pace. Where did you have it done?
Wow, deranged lol. I think you already know we all experience this in our own way. My surgeon was Dr Stiller in Spokane. He has been performing these for a number of years and is highly sought out for initial and revision surgeries.
sorry that wasn't meant as an insult or criticism in any way! it just seems insane to me you could do that from how hard I found recovery
No worries. I will say my recovery is probably an outlier based on my conversations here and elsewhere. I have always tended to heal quickly.