It’s been a month since my vaginoplasty. The time since has passed extremely quickly and been uneventful.
I learned rather quickly that despite having some mobility, I needed to do far less than I had initially felt I could do. Nonetheless, I had no problem taking care of myself solo. I had bought a bunch of groceries in anticipation of my recovery, enough to last me a few weeks, I had meal prepped ahead of time, and for everything else I was mobile enough to go to the grocery section of the drug store across the road from my apartment.
I got a bunch of visitors in my second week back. It was really nice to get guests, especially as I was more or less in bed all day, and I appreciated the food they dropped off. It was also reassuring to have other pairs of eyes on my healing wounds.
As far as my healing went, I’ve been bleeding all month. I had been wearing adult diapers and GoodNites, and I’m just now able to switch to pads. My surgical site has also been extremely swollen. Like the bleeding it has steadily decreased over time but it’s still sore, limiting the length of time I’m able to stay standing, walking, or sitting. If you get this procedure done you should get a bag of frozen peas.
The only contact I’ve had with the surgeon’s office since coming back has been two follow up emails. I’ve sent them photos so they can evaluate if I need to be attentive to anything obvious. They have yet to reply to the second email. On my exit from the recovery center they issued me the opioid-based painkiller Tramadol. I used it the one time to handle the journey back Ottawa. Otherwise I took Tylenol twice a day during the first few weeks, plus the antibiotics that they had prescribed.
In the past month there’s been continual signs of progress. Whether that’s being able to tie my shoes for the first time a few days ago, or sitting at a coffee shop without feeling constant pain, or being able to lay on my stomach. I’m very pleased. In terms of care, I currently spend about two hours each day bathing and tending to my wounds. I no longer apply ice to my groin area.
I’ve given myself two estradiol injections since my return. I’m slowly feeling back to my estrogen-based normal, after having been through a challenging intermediary period where my body was back on testosterone. I haven’t taken spironolactone since my return, which has been lovely. Not having my nights interrupted by multiple trips to the washroom is alone worth the discomfort of surgery. By body’s insatiable appetite for salt (pickles!) has also gone along with the diuretic.
My only dismay is that I went back to work a week after coming back from the recovery facility. It’s too soon but I had little choice. I lost my last job with less than two week’s notice after an unexpected change of corporate priorities. I found another position weeks later, but by that time surgery was less than two months away. I just didn’t feel like I had the flexibility to take more than two weeks off. Luckily, I’ve been working from home. But I’m still exhausted all the time. I really could use more rest than I get.