(see post history for previous entries about this surgery)
This (belated) post covers week 6 post-op. It's about nerves, dilation, stitches, and moving past the "surgery" mindset.
Swelling
I can sit down without feeling pressure, unless I lean forward. I think part of this is just me regaining my (substantial) leg/butt muscle but also less swelling.
Also the lopsided swelling/healing has started to fix itself, phew. Not completely but hey it's progress.
Dilation
It's all slooooowly stretching out again after the retraction phase. My insides are starting to re-accommodate it all. I can also dilate right after extending walking sessions without much additional trouble. Still on purple, though.
Stitches!
Oh boy - I think I broke a stitch or two in the last couple weeks. I didn't notice it because I assumed broken stitches == separation. But yeah, I'm pretty sure now that the stitches are starting to come apart/loose/break/whatever. But because it's all healed pretty well, they're stuck inside instead of popping out or whatever.
Regardless, they're starting to annoy me. I want them out. Now. They restrict my range-of-movement, which is kind of a Big Deal with my ASD. The pain of them poking outside/inside me doesn't cause near the suffering as being hindered. And I feel like my healing has got to the point where I don't need them anymore. So, next week I'll check in and see if I can get permission to do something about it.
Nerves
Feeling is officially come back! Most of this involves awkward pain and itchiness. Like, I can feel the ends of the broken stitches under my skin poking inside if I mess with stuff in certain ways. It's pretty bad pain I guess? I'd put a second-degree burn on your palm at a 5, and this is at the same level. Like, bad enough you have to address it.
Also, I've really been noticing how I feel "fuller" down there. The feeling inside & outside is returning and I guess my nerves are getting used to all the new stuff . It's pretty cool & gender-euphoric.
Discharge
Same as before. No update unfortunately. There's a last spot of dead skin from the graft that's going away but it's basically just a tinted clear stickiness. There's alot of it. Pretty nice.
Life
This last week I've been getting past the "surgery" mindset (as shown by my late post!). I think it's healthy mentally, to be switching back to "normal life" mode. It helps that I'm not working yet ofc. I also am 99% sure I'll dodge the "post-op depression" shtick everyone says is inevitable (though it might just be due to different neurotypes).
Conclusion
A good week! I'll post again next week. As always, feel free to AMA.
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