(see post history for previous entries about this surgery)

This post covers week 3 post-op, where I get out of dangerous-complication territory, get off the rest of my meds, and head back home.

A disclaimer about my experience post-op: in addition to a very high pain tolerance, I've been recovering much faster than expected for my surgery. Don't expect/assume that your recovery would be the same.

Also...there's advice out there saying "don't care what you eat, just eat what's yummy/comfortable, blah blah blah". That's objectively shite advice and I'd strongly advise against that. There's never been a more important time to eat well than when you're recovering from major surgery. Your health & microbiome are completely fucked post-op and need to be cultivated from the ground up. I can't believe people don't make this a top priority.

2nd Post-Op Appointment

The first post-op checkup (1 week after surgery), I had the packing taken out. The 2nd checkup (a week after the packing was out) she inspected everything to make sure the graft was secure, bloodflow was returning, no wound separation, and new skin growing. She also pulled some stitches that were poking out, removed bits of dead skin, and snipped some built-up protein gunk.

Week 3 Recovery Notes

Not sure what people want to know, but here's some highlights:

• My activity level went way up after the 2nd checkup. I had been cooking and such since the day after my packing came out, but I then started cleaning, baking, and moving more freely. Still spent most of the day in bed though. I probably spent ~3-4 hours a day out of bed.

• Figured out pads finally! The normal daily pads (size 1 & 2, lightest absorbancy) work fine but are a bit bulky obviously. I'm trying panty liners now and they seem to work but I'll have a concrete verdict next week. They might not absorb enough.

• No post-op blues yet. Apparently it sets in at ~2-3months.

• There was alot of new, pink skin growth and dead skin/protein shedding. The discharge is gross. Think "nightmare loogies".

Dilation

• Dilation actually got a bit harder before it got easier. I think it was the higher activity level increasing the swelling for the first few days, stopping all medicine, and feeling returning.

• By now dilation is pretty painless after it gets in. I'll probably start sizing up to the blue one tomorrow. I can already see how vaginal stimulation will be nice since it goes through the penile nerves/muscles.

• I'm not sure if I've lost a small bit of depth, or it's just the swelling pulling the skin away from the dilator. It's a small enough difference that it's not worth worrying about now anyways.

Peritoneal Graft stuff

• Discharge seems to be increasing, not lessening. The peritoneal tissue is coming back online I think.

• The surgeon said that the lining is more fragile than scrotal/penile tissue, but she (and thusly, I) haven't been worried about it. There's a fair amount of flex and I can feel the end when I push a little with the dilator in all the way. If I push enough, there's a bit of discomfort letting me know to stop. TBH she was more rough with it in the check-ups than I am dilating.

• My 5 abdominal incisions (~1cm each) are more-or-less forgotten. They'll make some wicked scars but don't bother me unless I stretch alot.

• I still can't comfortably lay on my stomach. I'm pretty sure that's because the graft was very large and the peritoneum hasn't healed completely. I can feel weird pressure down there when I try, telling me to stop.

3rd Post-Op Appointment

At the end of week 3 (and the day before I left!) I had my third post-op appointment. She checked more vigorously the sturdiness of the graph (lol) and used silver nitrate to induce scabbing to promote healing. Apparently some 2-3month stitches were already poking out and she snipped some of those...and I can already feel more sitches poking -_- .

She also cleared me to play with my penis! Yay. I still can't do anything with the other stuff down there until the 3-month mark.

Travelling Back Home

Phew, yesterday was exhausting. Packing, carrying stuff, car rides, flying - a huge jump in activity level. The donut cushion saved me. No complications though! If anything, the activity helped get more gross discharge out.

Last night I went out with my father for food for a couple hours, and today I walked to the grocery store, shopped, and walked back. 100% fine. I'm basically back to "normal life" except not working, not exercising, dilating 3x, and reclining on my couch instead of chair-sitting.

Phase 2 of GCS

The labiaplasty will probably happen at ~6months post-op. At my 3-month checkup we'll decide. I'm personally fine with waiting longer for lower swelling if it means the results will be better but she seems optimistic.

I can start hair removal again at 3 months. Since it's all external I don't need to wait for hair removal, but ew hairy labia. I'll probably start electrolysis then to get those small light hairs.

Until then I'll be collating information on what I want done, I guess.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments or through DMs! I'll post a week 4 update next week.