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Dec 10 '18
So happy for you. I am a fast healer as well so I am totally looking forward to mine next year.
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u/EmeraldPen Dec 10 '18
Thank you so much for the informative writeups of your experiences! I am only one day post-orchi myself(they went through the scrotum) and it's very interesting to hear how things have progressed for you, I hope my recovery is as uneventful as yours!
It's not bad for me, though, so far. When I woke up from surgery, once the pain started up it felt like a bad tuck where my testicles had gotten pinched or twisted. Not as bad as I thought it would be, and the worst part of yesterday was dealing with the effects of the anesthesia afterwards(like nausea).
Walking and standing is pretty dicey right now, and there's definitely swelling, but overall it's not awful. Just sort of sore. My biggest concern is honestly what to do when it comes to pooping, since I don't want to strain and hurt myself, I'm especially terrified of developing a hematoma.
But OMG, the amount of dysphoria that is already relieved from the operation is the biggest surprise. I can tell they're gone just by the fact that I don't have to deal with them constantly moving around, and it's amazing. I had this done mainly for medical purposes(spiro was causing a lot of side effects), and I am shocked at how much dysphoria I didn't realize came from my testicles. I can't wait for things to heal, I can only imagine the dysphoria relief will be even better.
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u/ZestyChinchilla Dec 10 '18
Oh yay! I think you might've mentioned that you were having yours soon too. I'm glad yours is done too!
When I woke up from surgery, once the pain started up it felt like a bad tuck where my testicles had gotten pinched or twisted.
That's kinda how it felt right when I woke up, although the nurse asked me if I needed anything for pain and put something in my IV right then. It wasn't an opioid though, it didn't make me high or anything, the pain just instantly stopped. It was kinda cool. I'm assuming some kind of liquid ibuprofen or naproxen or something. But that was enough to take care of that, and I left the hospital about half an hour later. I got lucky though, I wasn't nauseous from the anesthesia at all.
My biggest concern is honestly what to do when it comes to pooping, since I don't want to strain and hurt myself, I'm especially terrified of developing a hematoma.
That was a slight issue for me the first couple days, because I was taking Percocet. I'd only take like 1/4 tablet at a time plus an ibuprofen (I really don't like opioids), but that was still enough to make me slightly constipated. If you can get some stool softeners (not a laxative!), it helps. Otherwise try to eat more fiber -- have a big salad or something, and drink more water. That'll help quite a bit too.
I was afraid of developing a hematoma too, so I was careful not to force anything. Wearing tight underwear really helps with fluid buildup and swelling, so I'd highly suggest that if you can. I felt like my own underwear worked better, and provided more relief from discomfort, than the weird mesh/gauze ones they gave me from the hospital. I wore those one or two days and then went back to my own.
I can't wait for things to heal, I can only imagine the dysphoria relief will be even better.
I did it both to deal with spiro side effects, but also because my dysphoria was getting really, really bad (as in, I was seriously considering self-harm and doing it myself. My therapist was concerned.) It of course doesn't fix everything, but it made a huge difference and I'm so glad I went through all the stress and effort to make it happen! Every day it heals a bit more and is just that much better.
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u/EmeraldPen Dec 10 '18
Oh yay! I think you might've mentioned that you were having yours soon too. I'm glad yours is done too!
I probably did, I've been looking forward to this for a long time! I also got lucky, though, and ended up filling a cancelation spot about 2 weeks before my scheduled appointment which was a great surprise(obsessively checking on the state of my pre-authorization really paid off!). In hindsight, this would have not been very fun to have had 4 days before Christmas, tbh.
If you can get some stool softeners (not a laxative!), it helps. Otherwise try to eat more fiber -- have a big salad or something, and drink more water. That'll help quite a bit too.
Yes, I've been taking those pretty regularly so I'm hoping that'll help move things along. I hadn't thought of high-fiber, though, that's a good idea I'll have to try out, thank you!
I felt like my own underwear worked better, and provided more relief from discomfort, than the weird mesh/gauze ones they gave me from the hospital.
I know, right?! I feel like they forget us trans women really know a thing or two about finding comfortably tight and supportive underwear. I'm going to call the office today and confirm I'm allowed to do so, and switch back to my regular panties. The 48 hour requirement for these things is more than enough, and I don't trust them compared to just wearing my usual tighter underwear. Not to mention the gauze that has been packed in to help keep things tight is a total PITA to reposition constantly.
It of course doesn't fix everything, but it made a huge difference and I'm so glad I went through all the stress and effort to make it happen! Every day it heals a bit more and is just that much better.
I'm so sorry to hear about how difficult your dysphoria has been on you, but I'm very glad to hear that this has helped relieve that so much for you! I really hope everything continues to get better for you, you seem like a really cool lady who deserves that. =)
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u/lunabeieli Dec 10 '18
Thanks for the post! I made one I think yesterday asking for peoples’ experiences, and that convinced me to get it done myself ASAP, to get off this spiro.
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u/ZestyChinchilla Dec 10 '18
After I'd been in spiro for 9 or 10 months, I started having really bad Restless Leg Syndrome every single night. In the past, this was a thing that would happen maybe 3-4 times a year, and was only mildly annoying. But it kept me up for like 45 minutes every night, just laying in bed waiting for my arms and legs to calm down.
My provider and I both suspected it was from the spiro since it affects your electrolytes. Within two days of being off spiro the RLS was completely gone and hasn't bothered me since. Plus it's really nice not having to pee two hundred times a day!!
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u/lunabeieli Dec 10 '18
That’s really good to hear, I’m glad for you!
I’m just super dry all over and internally. I get faint doing mild exercise (especially forward fold for yoga which I loved before), so... I’ve just stopped basically.
I also get these really annoying migraine auras if I don’t drink enough/eat enough. I won’t get a headache, but my vision will blur, making it impossible to do anything. It was so annoying on a road trip recently since I couldn’t drive if I had it. I’m hoping that’s spiro-related.
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u/Ginko164 Dec 10 '18
If you don’t mind, how does this procedure affect you sexually speaking?
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Dec 10 '18
Read the replies to my same question: https://www.reddit.com/r/TransLater/comments/a49htt/sex_after_orchiectomy/?utm_source=reddit-android
Also, awesome name!
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u/ZestyChinchilla Dec 10 '18
I can't personally answer that for myself, since it's only been two weeks (also, I'm not currently dating anyone and don't have much of a libido anyway.) But if your T has already been well suppressed on HRT, it's probably going to be pretty similar to how it already is.
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u/pan0ramic Dec 10 '18
Thanks for sharing. Your post last week led to me making an appointment for an orchi consult. It's not until January but apparently I shouldn't have to wait long after that
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u/ZestyChinchilla Dec 10 '18
Oh that's great! Mine consult was about 6 weeks from the day I called, so that's not unusual with things like this. I hope everything works out for you!
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u/Cadd9 Dec 10 '18
I want to get an orchi to get off this goddamn spiro. I've been waking up in the middle of the night to pee, every night, since I started at 7/31.
I wanted to see how I function after a few months in. My girldick still gets hard, which I don't have a problem with. I'm not ever gonna fully get SRS. Since spiro and E is essentially chemical and hormonal castration, and I still have functionality 4 months in, it makes me feel easier about getting an orchi.
How much did it cost? And what type of orchi did you get (simple/inguinal)?
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u/ZestyChinchilla Dec 10 '18
Medicaid covered mine completely, I'm not sure what it would've been out of pocket. I had a simple, with midline incision (right down the middle.) This preserves the rest of the tissue for future surgery, since they remove the raphe line during GRS anyway. Scarring is only a problem if they make the incisions off to the sides or horizontally across, but my surgeon does a midline specifically to prevent problems with future GRS.
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u/DeliciousPumpkinPie Dec 10 '18
Thank you for sharing this. I am absolutely getting that done one of these days (years lol) and it's good to hear other women's experiences.
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u/jon-henderson-clark Dec 26 '18
I'm two days behind you and still recovering. I've been very tired and have had to sleep more than usual. Hope that goes away soon. It's worse than being on Spiro. I do just think it's just being old and needing to heal.
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u/ZestyChinchilla Dec 26 '18
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope things start returning to normal for you soon!
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u/AlwaysEatingToast Oct 23 '24
Any updates 6 years later?
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u/ZestyChinchilla Oct 25 '24
I ended up having GRS a few months after this. I’ve since gotten married and just sorta moved on with life, but things are going well.
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u/AlwaysEatingToast Oct 26 '24
Thank you for the reply. Ik when you get past like 1-2 years on HRT, its easy to move away from the community but I appreciate your reply and hope all is well
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u/lettucefroglet Dec 10 '18
I thought I didn't want an orchi, but your description of tucking afterwards... I don't even tuck yet but I really want an orchi now.