What to expect after Top Surgery
-You will be constipated due to taking painkillers, because of that if you don’t HAVE to take them, DONT
-Dont expect to be doing too much for the first couple days, I mean.. it’s surgery, rest up and listen to your body. DONT overdo it
-Post surgery depression is a thing, yes it’s an exciting process but it also takes a lot out of you physically and mentally. KEEP THAT IN MIND
-Have everything at t rex arm reach before your surgery
-You are going to have to ask for help A LOT, theres no shame in that!
-Try to get everything they have on the list they give you prior to surgery! Have everything you need before the day of surgery!
-you will likely be confused once you wake up from surgery too, I don’t really remember what I said and did but I know it was very silly and confusing…
-if you have sensitive skin STOCK UP ON CREAMS AND BENIDRIL/ZYRTEC THAT WAS REALLY THE ONLY MISERABLE THING FOR ME TO DEAL WITH PHYSICALLY
-Keep notes on the time you’ve taken your medication so you can keep up with when it’s okay to take your meds IF YOU NEED TO OR ARE INSTRUCTED TO
-It is EXTREMELY overwhelming as well as exciting when you finally get to see your chest. Just know that it’s okay if you feel any kind of LOSS because guess what? Thats what it is! It is a loss! It’s okay to be in touch with that sense of loss and to mourn for what was once apart of you.. that is OKAY. It doesnt make you any less of a man or any less trans. Don’t brush away any feelings that come up for you in this process. FEEL IT.
-I was literally told that I need to be fat and lazy for the next six weeks, DO THAT. Take it easy and LISTEN to your body. You will be getting used to a new lifestyle. It is exciting but it is also HARD. There’s no shame in that
-If you’re a workout freak like I am, then this is going to be hard for you as well. While I feel good about my chest I am also going through some insecurities with my body due to not working out for so long. It doesn’t feel good but its what you need to do.
-YES it’s going to feel amazing after surgery to have a flat chest but things will be kind of nasty for a couple weeks, and it might even be hard to look at. Please take that into account, I rarely hear people talk about that, or about the mourning process in regards to this surgery.
-follow all the instructions (obviously) AND listen to your body, take both of those things into account!