My first post-op review visit is scheduled for today in Seattle. I’m feeling great but my temperature spiked to 99.8 last night so I took two Tylenol and monitored myself every several hours all night long.
My temperature returned to its usual 97.6 degrees over the course of two hours and hasn’t gone up again, so it appears to have been a temporary glitch. But I will certainly mention it to the nurse so she can take some of the fluids and test them to be sure they’re still on the up and up.
If not, she can prescribe antibiotics for me. No biggy!
Post-Op instructions
My post-op instruction sheet said to call my doctor if my fever gets up to 100.5, so I immediately took the Tylenol to bring it back down, in case it was going to continue to climb. It was less than a full degree away from me having to call them at 11 P.M. last night…NOT the optimal time to disturb anyone if I could bring the fever down myself.
What clued me in to the fever was that, as I was going to sleep last night, I experienced very occasional, very brief chills, and then alternately I’d almost perspire, but not quite. So, I took my temperature. That’s when I found out that my normal 97.7 temperature was 99.8. My resting pulse was faster than normal, too. (Not on the scary scale, but not normal for me.) That’s all it took to get me out of bed and taking the Tylenol.
Then, of course, I woke up every two hours and took my temperature and pulse again. Both dropped back into my normal range within the first two hours and haven’t budged since, even though I only took one dose of Tylenol. (The bottle says to take a dose every six hours as needed, but I haven’t needed any more.)
My last question for the nurse today
My last question for the nurse today will be, “How soon can I get back on my bicycle?” I will assure her I won’t climb any hills (that would put undue pressure on my still-healing abdomen) but I really, really want to be able to get back on my bike and see how it feels to ride. I’m experiencing no pain or discomfort at all while bending, rolling over, getting up from the floor, or doing anything else that I do normally, so I really think I can start getting back on my bike before my next follow-up four weeks from now. I’m lifting ten pounds (always close to my body) without feeling stitches pulling or pressure of any kind on my abdomen.
It’s too damned hot up here right now to ride much anyway. That’s the only thing that’s keeping me from feeling deprived and stir crazy. I’d have to ride between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. here right now to avoid the crippling heat that will take over western Washington starting tomorrow. It’s going to be in the 90’s and 100’s here, which is high for us, given the humidity we also have.
My tubes
My left side tube is still draining too much to be able to have it removed today (sigh). My right tube has pretty much stopped emitting fluids, but not for a full two days yet, so I may end up needing to keep it in longer, too. It’s no biggy. They aren’t uncomfortable. But the sooner they can come out and the holes can heal over, the sooner I can take a bath (rather than a shower) again, and I’m eager to start doing that again.
The problem will be finding someone willing to cut the stitches that hold the tubes in so I can pull them out. Both Jackie and Lisa are squeamish about that, and I can’t see where they are well enough to do it myself.
Perhaps my regular provider, Holly Torgerson, or her nurse will do the honors on a drop-in basis if I ask nicely. I don’t want to drive clear back up to Seattle just for that, and I sure don’t plan to wait until July 15th to have them removed!
I anticipate they’ll be ready to remove toward the end of next week. I hope before the 4th of July. That would be a very nice Independence Day (from tubes) for me!
My binder
I have two binders. I wear one and wash the other, alternately, every day. But there has been no bleeding on them for well over a week now (what little blood there was, was in tiny spots) so I don’t necessarily need to wash them every time anymore.
Unbinding to take a shower feels fabulous! But binding again after each shower feels equally fabulous. I’m happy either way. The binders are comfortable and they were definitely a big help early on. I’m supposed to wear a binder 24/7 for at least a month, so I’m doing that.
My weight
I haven’t lost more than two pounds post-surgery (with my binder on; it probably weighs two pounds, too), but the doctor and nurse assure me that will change as my body manufactures less fluid for the task of healing that it’s doing. I need to be patient.
I do know my contours have changed. I have no more apron over my abdomen and my “love handles” are substantially reduced. I can see I’m still swollen. My belly button (an in-y) is practically swollen shut. That’s all normal and to be expected. It will take months (in fact, up to a year) to see what my final contours will look like.
The scar from the hip-to-hip incision at the so-called bikini line will fade over time. (Not that I’m going to have anyone seeing it!) I can barely see the scars from my chest masculinization surgery just ten months ago. I have such pale skin that scars seem to vanish pretty fast. (Not that I care about scars. I’m not going to be entering any beauty contests!)
Update on the rats
The rats are doing fine. They’ve become quite tame. The wee ones no longer hide when I stop by. They’ve discovered I’m a definite plus because I always bring goodies. They all rush to the front of the cage when I approach now.
“Oh, good! Here comes The Feeder again! What did you bring me this time?”
(You didn’t know I speak and translate in fluent rat, did you? Now yo do! HA!)
Update on the Post-Op Review (Friday, June 25)
I do have an infection in the mons pubis. I have been prescribed antibiotics to take care of it. I’ve taken two doses already and there has been no recurrence of the fever. I expect the area to look less red and more normal by Monday. (It will take several days for the antibiotic to start affecting the visual appearance of the affected area, the nurse said.)
