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EricaAnn

Congratulations. I am sorry to hear of your depression minor glitches

Can be very annoying when you get so close to fulfilling your desires

And dreams of being the person your are inside

you are a strong person and iam confident you will be just fine

remember you also have lots of friends here that will help you in any way they can good luck

Congratulations girl. I am so proud of you and Danya for the stands that you have taken. Yes, I understand Urethral Strictures as explained in private cover. I have had them as a problem too in live. You will get over it.

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:46 am Hi Everyone,

Well I'm doing a little bit better today

Hi Erica,

I am glad you're doing a little better today. The tone of your post reflects this. You are already taking charge of your situation by leaving a message for the doctor back home.

The news from Dr. Bowers doesn't sound nearly as bleak, to me, today. Whatever the situation is, I know you can handle it. Soon enough, all the complication-related stuff will be no more than a memory and you can move on.

I will call you tomorrow as promised.

Hugs,

Danya

Hi Everyone,

It's Sunday morning and I just got back from my first walk up and down the hallway. They removed my compression hosiery and my external bandages. My spouse was standing at the end of the bed when they removed the bandages and I saw her eyes light up and a big smile come across her face when she saw "my new equipment." She was walking next to me as I went down the hallway and I asked what the smile was about. She responded, "it looks great."

Didn't sleep real well last night. My room mate woke me up at 5 AM. OMG this girl has to learn to sleep a little later in the morning.

Going to take another walk this afternoon and see if I can make it a little further.

It's good to hear that you're doing so well. Congrats once again.

I just spoke with Erica Ann and she is in high spirits today. Several other Archive members have called her, too.

Erica Ann is indeed alive and getting well. I had a nice chat and she sounds really good. The recovery is going well the food at the hospital is good?!? Wait? Well thats what she said. Must be the drugs? Anyway she is already moving around which is a great sign. No jogging but she admitted that she was strolling around the Hospital. Although a bit slowly I'm sure.

Today is surgery day +3. Today they will remove the drain from my new vagina, which will allow me to take my first shower since Thursday night of last week. Needless to say I'm feeling pretty cruddy.

Didn't sleep well again last night due to my room mate. I have no idea what her problem is other than the fact she can't seem is sleep more than 3 hours without waking up. I know she was a heavy cigarette smoker, like 3 packs a day and that she had quite 3 months ago, but based on the way she sounds, that may have not been soon enough.

She's killing me from lack of sleep, that's for sure.

Made a number of trips up and down the hallways yesterday as well as a trip already this morning.

I'm feeling pretty good today. Not much pain or discomfort. I'm really looking forward to that shower.

Well, they removed the JP drain from my vagina this morning and all I can say is OMG, DID THAT HURT!!!!!!

I wish I would have had a bullet to bit on for that little procedure. The nurse said that I would feel some pressure. Pressure my butt!

I'm going to give things a few minutes to settle down and then work my way into the shower.

i am so glad to here that you are doing much better

keep up the good work

Any chance you can smother the roomie with a pillow?

The one thing that I know about hospitals is it is not a place to sleep. I remember, I would get to sleep midnight to get woken up at 2AM for blood work, again at 4AM for vitals and at 6AM, they considered it morning and time for you to be awake. I got almost no sleep in the hospital. When you get to go home, you will get to sleep then. But not before. Even one morning they came to weigh me at 2AM. I complained to the doctor about that one.

I remember some one in my family explaining how hospitals are the places where nurses wake them up patients to give them sleeping meds

Good Morning Everyone,

Well today is my last day in the hospital. I should be discharged about 11 AM at which time I will be heading over to Marci's new recovery facility. It's a much more home type environment where Ellen and I can stay together.

I'm looking forward to getting some regular clothes on.

Other than that things are going well. I've been up walking the hallways, changing my maxi pads, watching some TV and waiting for that first Bowel Movement to occur.

And No Paolo. I can't move that fast at this time. She would see me coming, but it was an idea!

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:32 am Well, they removed the JP drain from my vagina this morning and all I can say is OMG, DID THAT HURT!!!!!!

I wish I would have had a bullet to bit on for that little procedure. The nurse said that I would feel some pressure. Pressure my butt!

I'm going to give things a few minutes to settle down and then work my way into the shower.

I hate hearing your in pain. Are you taking your pain meds?

No more drain! Which is one less pain to worry about. And whew... I bet that shower felt good. Well it seems that the reality of this must have sunk in because your talking about "my vagina" like its old news! Congratulations!!!

Are you taking your pain meds?

In your honor I watched one of Dr Bowers operations on that BBC TV show Sex Change Hospital. It was all good until she did "the clamping of the Testicles" ouch ouch ouch ouch! I was actually relieved when she snipped them out and said "Thats one soldier that will never fight again."

Remember you no longer have any reason to be a "tough guy" even if you ARE from Chicago... So... Are you taking your pain meds?

Wow! I'm turning into my mother!

Take your meds!

Hugs - Mr T

p.s. Take your meds...

Well I'm out of the hospital and at Dr. Bowers recovery house known as "The Morning After." We are in the private apartment portion which consists of a bedroom, living room, kitchen, dining room and a bathroom.

It's so nice to be out of the hospital and away from my hyperactive room mate. Marci even refereed to her as a "Drama Queen" when she stopped to see me late this afternoon.

It was a rough day from a pain standpoint today. It felt like someone had shoved a hot poker up my butt and left it there, but once we arrived at the house my spouse applied some triple anti-biotic cream to my stitches which helped a great deal. I also received my dilators today. Marci will instruct me on how to use them when I meet with her on Thursday.

Other than that, everything seems to be going well.

I had my first good night's sleep since last Thursday night. I'm feeling pretty good this morning after several cups of coffee.

I had to apply an anti-biotic cream to my incision last night and got my first really good look at my new vagina. OMG, IT LOOKS GREAT! IT LOOKS LIKE THE REAL THING. LIKE I WAS BORN WITH IT! I couldn't believe it. It's still swollen and a little bit brushed, but it looks wonderful!

My life's dream come true.

I'm waiting for the weather to warm up a bit outside so I can go for a walk around the neighborhood. After that it's time for a shower and a little relaxation and recoup time.

Hooray!!! --FLO--

Great to here that you are in a home like environment now. You can have the privacy to explore your new self. Have some great quality time with your partner. Have time to just kick back and plan the rest of you life. You are so lucky to have completed your life long dream.

Wish you the very best.

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:47 pm I had my first good night's sleep since last Thursday night. I'm feeling pretty good this morning after several cups of coffee.

I had to apply an anti-biotic cream to my incision last night and got my first really good look at my new vagina. OMG, IT LOOKS GREAT! IT LOOKS LIKE THE REAL THING. LIKE I WAS BORN WITH IT! I couldn't believe it.

It's

good to hear you are improving today. I think it is so cool that you can now talk about 'my new vagina'. Good for you!

Hugs,

Danya

Good Morning, I think?

Did not sleep at all last night. Being strictly a "side sleeper" I could not find a comfortable position last night. In order to sleep on my back, which I need to do because of the catheter, I need a sleeping aid which I did not have.

I have my appointment with Marci this morning at 11 AM at which time she is going to remove the rest of the packing in my vagina, disconnect my catheter and last but not least, she will guide me through my first dilation. I'll have to dilate two more times today on my own. Each dilation session is for 15 minutes.

I'm also going to make certain to get some sleeping pills from her for tonight and Friday night.

It's going to be wonderful to finally get this catheter out of me. It's kind of like having developed a third leg. What the heck do you do with it?

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:29 pm Good Morning, I think?

Did not sleep at all last night. Being strictly a "side sleeper" I could not find a comfortable position last night. In order to sleep on my back, which I need to do because of the catheter, I need a sleeping aid which I did not have.

I have my appointment with Marci this morning at 11 AM at which time she is going to remove the rest of the packing in my vagina, disconnect my catheter and last but not least, she will guide me through my first dilation. I'll have to dilate two more times today on my own. Each dilation session is for 15 minutes.

I'm also going to make certain to get some sleeping pills from her for tonight and Friday night.

It's going to be wonderful to finally get this catheter out of me. It's kind of like having developed a third leg. What the heck do you do with it?

I definitely sympathize with the garden hose dilemma. I always had to remember to close the plug on the damned thing after cleaning - especially the ankle bag.... eeek

Sounds like there is rapid and magnificent progress. Keep up the walking and activity - it helps heal faster. And Ambien works wonders for a good nights skeep.

Keep going, gurhhl!

I'm so happy for you. What a huge week this has been! Hopefully you will soon be pain free and able to sleep through the night. Melatonin and dhea work for me in a pinch but Ambian is probably more surefire.

Ask Dr Bowers about Maderma for rubbing into the surgical scars. My GP suggested it for my Orchiectomy scars and it worked pretty nicely...

Stay warm!

Hi Everyone,

Well, despite being extremely sleep deprived all day today, it was a really good day.

I had my appointment with Marci and her assistant Phyllis this morning. First thing on the agenda was to disconnect my "third leg" a.k.a. my Foley bag and tube. The remaining portion was securely clamped off. The next thing was to remove the remaining packing from my vagina.

Phyllis then showed me the preparation and proper procedure for the dilation process. She inserted the smallest dilator first and got about 5" of depth, which according to her, was very good and about 1/2" above normal. She then removed it and I had to duplicate the procedure while she watched.

Dilation is a very weird sensation, especially watching the dilator disappear into you. I have dilated twice so far today. My schedule will be 3 times a day for 15 minutes per session, so I have one more to get in before bedtime.

The removal of the packing has finally allowed for my first bowel movement since the surgery. I can't even begin to tell you how good that felt. OMG! What pleasure that basic body function can be!

I was also able to urinate on my own several time since the removal of the catheter, which is absolutely wonderful considering how grim that whole situation looked 6 days ago.

Dr. Bower also gave me a prescription for some 10 Mg Ambien today that we had filled on the way back to the Recovery House. This should insure a good night's sleep tonight and hopefully an even better day tomorrow.

It is good to read that body functions are returning to normal. I am so happy for you and glad all is going well. Thank you for keeping us updated on your progress.