Yesterday I had my first post-op appointment with Scott Ingram and the Occupational Therapist (OT).
The staff at the OT rooms are really nice, and they made sure I knew exactly how to position my arm for redressing.
Be aware that your arm will look worse before it looks better!
The arm is looking really good, there are a couple areas that we might lose – but at this stage it appears at least 85% of the graft has taken fully (which for such a large graft is really good). I do have an area near the nerve-leash removal site that is oozing, so I have to get my dressings checked every two days now. Luckily this is something mum can do at home, so I don’t have to travel into the city every two days.
After pictures were taken by both Scott and myself, the arm was redressed. Because there is oozing, they want to keep the finger movement restricted at this stage. I asked about going home, and Scott said we’ll review it next week – but anticipate that it’ll be another two weeks before I can go home.
Once that was all done, I went to Scott’s offices (they’re next door to each other. Handy!) for a checkup on all my other bits and pieces. More pictures were taken (I consented to pictures, they’re not a requirement), and Scott had a poke around the top of the phallus because there’s some old blood that’s built up. I’m REALLY glad the feeling isn’t there yet – because he had a good dig around, lol. All looks good though – and that’s the main thing!
I’m seeing both Scott and the OT next Thursday. Hopefully the oozing has stopped!
What did annoy me is this: When I was in hospital, mum asked the physio if my sling should be sitting the way it was (it’s a collar and cuff. One part was sitting down near my elbow, wrapped around my neck, the other on my hand), because of the graft. The physio basically shrugged her off and said it was fine. The 15% of graft that hasn’t taken, and the bit that’s oozing? Yeah, that’s almost all in the area where the sling sat. For those in a similar situation: Put the larger end of the sling – that would have sat near the elbow – around your bicep. Wrap it around your back to come over your shoulder, and onto your arm. You’ll get the support needed without the pressure on the graft. I’ll try to find pictures if this doesn’t make sense. Annoyed, but hopefully now fixed.
My Transition FtM 