#masectomy

I have an aunt who is 100% cisgender and perisex, who was assigned female at birth and still identifies as such. She got a hysterectomy to deal with unusually bad cramps and now has no uterus. Any definition of “womanhood” that centers itself on reproductive organs would exclude her, too.

And my aunt won’t be the only one who is affected. Breast cancer survivors who got masectomies. Cis perisex women who are post-menopausal. Girls who haven’t gotten their first period yet.

Obviously, even if it were just a trans/intersex/nonbinary issue, it would still matter. Trans and intersex and nonbinary people are marginalized and oppressed for their gender identities and sex traits in ways that cis perisex people are not, so it’s good to center them in these discussions.

But.

The first procedure I received this year in late January was a transvaginal ovarian-hysterectomy. That means they cut out my uterus and ovaries (and the connecting fallopian tubes) without making any abdominal incisions (removed through the vagina). I'd had a consultation with the surgeon performing the operation a few months prior where we discussed any concerns and went over potential side effects as well as specifying I wanted my ovaries removed as well. When the day of the procedure came I went to the hospital, the nurses were really kind and I got to see the surgeon again one last time for any last minute concerns before I went into the surgical suite.

Waking up post surgery I was elated to learn the surgery had gone super smoothly, the surgeon said I'd lost less than a teaspoon of blood. I stayed in hospital for the remainder of the day and ended up going home around 9pm. They'd given me a pain meds prescription, and that kept things during recovery at a quiet 2-3 on the pain scale. Most of what I felt was a general soreness in the area, it was a lot like the sensation of period cramps. It took only 3 weeks before I felt pretty much 100% I still wasn't fully healed but by then there wasn't any pain, even slight.

Now I'm just nearing the end of my 2 month full recovery time and I'm clear to have penetrative sex. The worst part of the recovery I'd say was the basically instant menopause I had to go through for a while. The hot flashes were the worst, get a fan for yourself if you're planning on getting this procedure.

The end of February is when I got my second procedure, a double masectomy aka top surgery. Normally transition surgeries wouldn't be so close together in timeline but I had school starting in May but I couldn't emotionally afford to wait until the semester is over to get the surgery done. Additionally, political circumstances also lead to me making the decision to push up the date of my surgery, I was terrified that if I was to wait another year that it might be illegal by then.

Similar to the first operation, I'd had a consultation appointment several months prior that addressed any questions and concerns to help me decide if the procedure was right for me. I was way less nervous this time around because I'd already been through one surgery and had a better idea of what to expect in terms of pain and recovery.

The experience of check-in and preparation for the second surgery was pretty much the same as the first with one exception, I decided to forego the nipple grafts last minute (and I don't regret the decision. less risk of complication/infection, I wouldn't likely retain sensation, getting nipple tattoos instead gives me direct control over size and shape) so I had to meet with the surgeon beforehand the day of. My direct input was accommodated and my questions answered the day of, it was awesome.

I went under anesthesia feeling a sense of peace that I'd wake up feeling more like myself than I had since before puberty. I'm a month recovered now and I'm just so pleased with the results! The pain was so worth it!

A very good friend of mine recently got a date for his top surgery‼️🏳️‍⚧️

But it means he now needs to pay a deposit in 2 weeks and then for the entire thing in October, so he started a fundraiser - it would mean a lot if you donated or shared the link around 💗

>> LINK TO THE FUNDRAISER <<

Reports indicate that 40 to 60 percent of patients who undergo mastectomy suffer from chronic pain — pain lasting longer than three months. Studies have demonstrated that patients with post-mastectomy pain experience significantly worse quality of life with respect to physical well-being, physical autonomy, relationships, and psychological well-being. Long-term pain contributes to decreased work function, increased healthcare utilization, and increased depression risk. Even breast biopsy, lumpectomy, breast augmentation and breast reconstruction can result in chronic breast and chest pain. Our experience indicates that post-mastectomy pain can be similar in severity to that experienced by limb amputation patients, with average patient-reported pain scores of 8 out of 10. Therefore, post-mastectomy pain has far-reaching physical and psychological consequences. Patients with chronic post-mastectomy pain can also experience significant discomfort from even minor sources like clothing, seat belts, or coughing.

- Chronic Pain After Mastectomy and Chest Surgery