The days following surgery were actually pretty monotonous. Exercise was very moderate. Mostly consisting of leg lifts walks around the condo. Occasionally we would go outside and walk. While the rain had passed, the temperature was still in the mid 50's so it was a bit chill.
I would minister to Maddie's needs, which mostly consisted of making sure she was well hydrated and checking her cath bag. When she was more mobile she took care of that task herself.
She felt like she had been hit by a truck. Well, pretty much, she had. This is major surgery, after all, and the body is extremely traumatized as a result. So after walking outside, for example, it would not be unusual for her to nap for an hour or more. But as the days went on, she did become stronger, but still had few reserves.
The plan was that she would see the doctor one last time on our day of departure and then we would head for the airport for the trip home.
Throwing a monkey wrench into our stay there was a job related crisis on Wednesday that I had to take care of. And while the issue was somewhat minor, I did spend most of the night fixing stuff. Oh the wonders of technology.
On Friday, we went to see the doctor one last time. The visit and trip to the doctor went very well. Doctor Reed examined Maddie and said that she was doing well and she should make a good recovery and have a very nice cosmetic appearance. He did say that she could come back in about three to six months for a revision if she wanted.
He then removed her packing and examined her vagina. He then brought out her new stents that she would be using to dilate. And then while she was watching in a mirror, he dilated her for the first time. Her initial depth was quite good, over five inches, and the insertion was painless.
There was still some blood seepage, from some of her stitches as well from her vagina. This is normal for this stage of recovery. He then gave her a peroxide/betadine/water douche and told her to douche about once a day for the first week or so and then trail off after that.
He then helped her clean up and after she got dressed, we adjourned to his office for a final review and questions. He had been quite clear in his instructions, both written and spoken.
He then filled out the forms from the State of Illinois which would allow Maddie to modify her birth certificate. The State of Illinois has a moderately difficult process to change your B/C but once you jump through those hoops, the B/C is amended and re-issued. However, the original B/C is sequestered, and the new B/C has no indication on it that it has been amended. And the original B/C can only be examined under a court order. So in this case it is a very good acceptance of trans people.
We then headed back to the Barbizon to finish packing and head back to the airport. The packing and loading was a bit depressing. Maddie was still in a daze from the whole process. Here she had, like many of us, yearned for years and years for this very moment, but now, in reflection, the trip and operation seemed to pass in an instant as we prepared to leave. Almost like a carnival ride that promises wonder and finishes all too soon.
Also she felt useless. I kept reassuring her that because of her weakened condition, she really shouldn't be lifting all that much and should conserve her energy for the trip. She still did not understand how draining the impending flight would be. I jokingly told her to just sit back and think of herself as baggage.
Pat and I finished packing and pat straightened up the condo while I loaded. There wasn't any maid service for the condo, it was more of a sub-let and cleaning up after ourselves is considered a requirement. Also there is a security deposit on the rental and it is returned after check out providing things are ship-shape. But since it was a studio, it shined up quickly.
As fate would have it the nicest day of the whole trip was our last one. For the first time in the ten days that we were there the temperature was scheduled to get above 80 degrees and be sunny. Sigh.
The trip back to the airport was pleasant and while it was a bit confusing finding the place to return the rental car it was done fairly easily. What wasn't easy was trundling all our baggage, including Maddie
, to the check in and getting our boarding passes. Fortunately we managed to find a wheel chair quite close to the rental agency and then took a baggage cart for the rest of the bags. The rental place was a fairly long walk from the terminal and fortunately, a sky cap for Southwest came to us at the check in counter and took Maddie in tow so we could check in and get our bags taken care of.Going through the TSA checkpoint was, as expected, a requisite pain in the posterior for me. Additionally since Maddie was ridding a wheel chair, she was also given a pat down. They also had to check her travel catheter bag that she had strapped to her leg. We have to accept these humiliations so that we can be safe. Yeah, right. Thankfully, the TSA agreed that neither of us were a threat but it still took about 15 minutes to get through the checkpoint. I will refrain from getting on my soapbox (again) about how we are considered guilty by our government and have exchanged liberty for a thin veil of supposed security.
Our sky cap stayed with us while we were patted down and helped push Maddie to the gate. I was very pleased by this and he was quite courteous and polite and made apologies for the rotten weather we had while we were there.
Once we got to the gate, we still had about an hour to wait before our flight left. I had called the house and let them know when we would be getting in. I also found out that I would be flying away from warm 80 degrees and sunny Miami weather into 9 degrees and snowy Chicago weather. Oh fun. We had brought out our heavy winter jackets and would bundle up at the other end.
Even riding as “baggage”, Maddie was already exhausted just getting to the airport. I could see her energy just draining from her face.
We finally boarded. Since Maddie was a “wheelie”, she got to get on first. Pat went with her to help her get settled. I stayed behind and boarded with the rest of the passenger. Though I too was starting to wind down and feel my batteries drain as well. I was glad to get on the plane. When I boarded I found out that Pat and Maddie had secured the front seats in the plane. That was nice since it gave Maddie more leg room and allowed her some more comfort. Also she would be very close to the lav should she need it (she did).
The flight back to Chi took about three and a half hours. And was uneventful and the only thing that gave us any diversion was the peanuts and crackers that were passed out. Flying Southwest is cheap but the first thing you notice besides the single class arrangement is the feeling of being on a cattle car.
Getting off when we landed was chilly and there was a sky cap to take Maddie to the baggage claim area.
This is where we had a bit of a problem. Apparently our sky cap thought that while one person was wheelchair bound the rest of the passengers would be Olympic sprinters. Pat has asthma and really can't run all that fast. And after repeatedly asking him to slow down, I had to stop him in his tracks, stand in front of the wheelchair, and bellow at him to slow the fnck down! Heads turned at my outrage. I told him hat we could not keep up with him and one of us could collapse and need an ambulance if he did not take it slower.
I later complained to his supervisor but other than receiving a cursory apology, I really don't know if he was reprimanded or at least got an explanation about the needs of the passengers in his charge.
Also waiting for the bags was a monumental pain. It must have taken about 45 minutes for the plane to be off loaded and our bags put on the carousel.
Then we trundled out into the cold Chicago winter to wait for our pick up. I was very worried about Maddie waiting out in the cold like that. She could have easily gotten pneumonia just in the shot time in the cold. I sometimes think that waiting for the car to pick you up is actually the longest part of a flight. Christa was the one to come and pick us up and while it only took about ten minutes for her to show up, it felt like hours out in the cold.
In short order we got the car loaded up and we were out of there. Maddie lives a short distance from Midway and we were able to get her to her house in short order.
Pat, Christa, and I, escorted our charge back into her house and the waiting arms of her mother. She was almost tearful to see her come back. Maddie kissed and hugged all of us and let her mom help her up the stairs to bed. I knew that she would sleep very well now that she was in her own bed. And that was something I was yearning for right about then myself. I was road weary and strung out. Pat and I needed to be home and asleep soon.
Christa filled us in on the things going on at the house while we were gone. Fortunately nothing “interesting” occurred.
Follow Up
The next day I stopped in to see how Maddie was doing. She had rested comfortably, but was sleeping in a room in the basement. Her dogs were jumping on her when she came home and she couldn't get the rest that she needed.
Maddie asked me to help her with her first “solo” dilation and follow up. So I showed her how to use the lube and a hand mirror and how to insert the dilator safely. Then I helped her douche. While she was initially confused with all the things she had to do, she got the idea pretty quickly and was committed to keeping up with her dilation regimen.
I've talked to her several times since then and she is doing fine. She is regaining her strength with each passing day and is extremely pleased with the outcome. She is happy that she had it done and has no regrets. She thinks the world of Dr Reed and how he helped her.
She has not decided whether or not to have the follow up labiaplasty. She wants to see how she looks as she heals.
But if she does, and decides to go back to Dr Reed, hopefully the weather will co-operate!
-Sandy
1 comment:
Thanks!
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
-Sandy
Post a Comment