#ftm self care

[answersfromzestual]

Graft Site Care for Forearm Free Flap Phalloplasty

Taking care of your grafting sites like your forearm, upper thigh (or other locations, surgeries vary) is a lot. Especially when you are in pain and feel just yucky.

I did not have a choice of where to take the graft to cover my arm's exposed tissue. My thigh was used over my lower back because of visibility.

The thigh was the easier part to take care of. All I had to do was put a thin layer of polysporine on it and wrap it up. It wasn't bad pain wise. It stung and ached at first, but the stinging and aching dissipates quickly as you heal. They only take a few layers of skin from your leg (or other graft site location), usually no fatty tissue or blood vessels, just skin. So that it will grow back and potentially not be any 'indentations' making it stand out against the rest of the thigh skin. Your first shower, it may be painful. I won't lie. it's something I wish that I was prepared for, honestly. I yelped (I have a very high pain tolerance) and swore like a sailor. I did this at the hospital, and a nurse was right outside the shower there to assist me. It was really kind of awkward, but at this point, my phallis was basically out all the time and was seen by every nurse in the building.

When it came to washing my arm, which I thought would be the painful bit of my shower, it never hurt. Personally, I have no sensation on my forearm graft site.

Just be prepared also because for example I do, however, suffer from something called "phantom itching," which means that even though I can not feel any sensation on my skin, I get itchy, and scratching doesn't help because there are no nerves. It happens to me maybe once a week, but it the itch only lasts a minute or two. This happens in about 60% of people who lose a limb or any body part with nerves. I found to combat phantom pains, a study was done for limb pain for people who had amputations. The study was about showing the subject themselves in a mirror and seeing the limb is gone. In many cases this actually worked on subjects and they could reduce or even stop their pain. We are talking about people in severe pain where they no longer have the body part causing the pain. I did try this on myself and I told myself there is no way you can feel itchy in front of a mirror. It actually made the itch instantly go away a few times after I practiced.

My arm was in a cast when I woke up from the procedure and for two or three days afterward. It was to protect the arm and keep the new skin tight against the body.

When they remove the cast, it can look a little gnarly (these may be similar to the more unpleasant looking pictures before they heal). No worries, though. It will be all good. They wrapped my arm in a tensor wrap over my gauze bandaged arm. I had to always be covered and protect my forearm.

When I got home I was instructed to have compression sleeves already, I did (this is important). I made sure to buy two at once so I could rotate. They tend to get stretched out I feel like in the wash especially, so having multiple is always a good idea. It will help them last longer.

Caring for your arm can be a little intimidating at first. To keep the skin flat for the first week (healing times may vary on person to person), I had to once a day poke small boil like spots on my arm with a small, sterile needle (I could not feel this what so ever). Then would clean the area and bandage it as I was instructed. I had to use special wrap that keeps the gauze from sticking to the wound. I would put some polysporin on each wound, cut out a piece of the lubricated bandage to prevent the skin from sticking to the gauze bandage, gauze bandage my entire forearm, then I would have to wrap my arm up my arm in a tensor bandage. They should teach you how to do this before you leave the clinic. Their instructions should be followed even if they differ from mine. Surgerons know best.

I had to use tensor bandages at first to wrap my forearm because of the wounds and amount of bandages, but within two weeks of being home, I was already healed enough and wearing my compression sleeve. You can usually start wearing this once you have no more open wounds. Please follow your doctor's instructions, even if they do differ from mine.

Compression sleeves are worn 24/7. You only take them off to shower. You should always wear your compression sleeve for the best results. Keeping the skin taught (tight and close to your arm) is important to get that nice flat surface. The compression sleeves are actually not uncomfortable personally, the only parts of the sleeve I bought in particular (it went from my uppser bicep to my wrist, be sure to measure yourself to find the proper size for you). The very top of the sleeve was "sticky" and is to keep it from sliding down. When I was at work and would sweat the sticky band around my bicep, would slide and loosen (the sleeve itself was not really affected as long as it was still tight around my forearm. Before your surgery its a good idea to ask what they recommend you to get for a compression sleeve and how to measure yourself for one. I did not like how mine only went to my wrist. If it is possible for you to get one that maybe goes from bicep, past your wirst and around your thumb (for example) to keep it over your wrist. Around my wrist is a little wrinkly, I feel it was because of the band around my wrist would slide up once and a while and leave about 1/3 of an inch of a gap between the sleeve and my hand (basically where my wrist bends). The sleeve really flattened the indent between my fatty part of my forearm and the graft. I get compliments on how flat and nice my forearm skin laid. I had to wear the sleeve 24/7 (aside from showers and the drying time) for an entire year to the day, the clinic should tell you how long they want you to wear a sleeve, if not be sure to ask.

Compression sleeves are very important for keeping your arm skin flat and tight to your arm. Having multiple is a good idea. Being able to rotate is important. It helps keep longevity of the sleeves. It helps allow you to wash one and have one to wear as it washes and dries. They are usually recommended to be hand washed and air dried. Washing them in the washing machine can stretch and wear them out faster. Most compression wear is not suitable for the dryer.

And that is how to take care of your grafting sites according to my experience and the website from GRS Montréal.

If you ever feel like anything is wrong, you don't feel well, anything feels unusual to you, you are in an abnormal amount of pain, or maybe you do not perhaps remember all the exact after care instructions. Please contact your clinic ASAP. They most likely have nursing staff that answer phones and emails 24 hours a day to help you, especially if your surgeon/clinic isn't close by or easily accessible to you. It's better to email them and have nothing be abnormal rather than not mention anything and hurt yourself or harm your healing.

Source 1 - healing information (GRS Montréal)

Source 2 - case study on neuropathy

Source 3 - Myself, recipient of the procedure in 2014.

[thefleshyougoveggie]

to anyone who binds/ wants to bind:

my biggest tip for you is to find a sports bra (or more than one could be good tbh) that you are fairly comfortable wearing. bc if you’re constantly using a binder, even if you take binder break days (which are CRUCIAL!!!) you can still get back pain from wearing binders often:( so having a sports bra that you like and wearing that as much as possible and saving the actual binder/s for “special occasions”/suuuper dysphoric days is something i highly recommend!!!

i used to bind most days of the week with actual binders, and even tho they were good quality (and right size!) it’s gotten to the point where i have back pain most days & i’m wearing a sports bra most days!!

also please please PLEASE do not wear your binder for longer than you should (6/8 hours, absolutely max 12, it varies from person to person-if it hurts, TAKE IT OFF) and remember to stretch!!!

big hugs,

your friendly neighborhood transmasc (who has back pain😔)

[cerise-on-top]

Before I start writing for the day I just wanna get something off my chest:

Due to personal reasons I can't stop thinking about reader, who got his very first binder, and showing it off to Gaz. Just the sheer euphoria of having a flat chest and having Gaz support you, calling you a handsome young man. And, like the good boyfriend he is, he'd give you tips on how to bind safely so that you won't get hurt. Seeing you this happy takes him back to the good old times as well and he'd suggest going clothes shopping with you as well. Either that or he'd let you wear some of his clothes, if you're comfortable with it. Just to see you confident in yourself, he'd share just about anything with you. His clothes, his shampoo, his deodorant. The happier you are, the happier he is. You're the best boyfriend he could have ever wished for and he'll remind you of that fact very often. You deserve to know just how awesome of a guy you are.

[sensible-tips]

Mindful Monday-Tips for Bad Days

Useful references for when your having bad mental health days or feeling like you need to rest & recharge.

[ohmygenz-ie]

Friendly reminder to take your hrt and to feel good about doing so! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

[man-ifesfafion]

You're alright, you're doing well, keep going, everything is going to be okay. You got this.

[frostralia]

Be Kind To Yourself Today 🩷

[quoth-the-goblin-nevermore]

I think I just gut punched by the trans experience. Now that I’m graduating, we were recently handed a letter we wrote to ourselves freshman or 8th grade year. And I can proudly says no, it wasn’t a phase, and yes, we made it.

It goes as follows:

I typed it out so ya’ll don’t have to see my hieroglyphic handwriting. In retrospect some of it was a little emo of me, but I was going through it. It genuinely hurt to remember what I was feeling then. This firmly cements in my mind that I wouldn’t have made it without medically transitioning. I’ve been fortunate enough to be on T for two years, and I know younger me would be so happy knowing he could finally grow up to be himself.

Just remember, be nice to yourself, because who knows what version of you will be reading it in a few years. <3

[givemelife-givemelove]

Trans Rant #1 🏳️‍⚧️

Okay yall I just need to rant for a second. I’ve had all these thoughts on my mind and I’d love to get it out somewhere. I feel like I’ve reached a milestone in my ”non-cis journey” I don’t know wtf that milestone could even be but it’ll make sense in a second. I’ve finally gotten to a point in life where I’m feeling good, or at least better, about myself. I feel comfortable using only they/he pronouns right? Now though because I finally feel safe and comfortable doing that I also feel hurt so much more often. I’ve witnessed this in my lifetime but experiencing it is a different story. Experiencing people constantly misgendering you, not perceiving you as the gender you are etc. Even when it’s small like my manager slipping up occasionally it hurts because I know that they only see me as a woman. I’m not a woman. I’ve never ever been a woman. I hate that it took me this long to figure it out and I’m so tired of people not taking me seriously. The small things fucking hurt now. They didn’t used to.. maybe I wasn’t convinced of my trans-ness yet because of some deep personal biases and hatred. Now that I know though? Like I KNOW for sure. I see the small mistakes and I see people not trying, not caring, not understanding the impact misgendering someone can have. Luckily im also so much happier. I find comfort in myself so much more than I ever have in my entire life. I finally have a better understanding of myself and how to heal. Knowing who Scout is has been a fucking gift and I’m so happy I finally figured out who that really is. I love that I’m finding myself. I’m starting a medical journey to help that process very soon as well and I cannot wait. I’m so much happier than I used to be but I’m also occasionally worse. I can’t wait until I get to the point where other peoples perception of me doesn’t fucking matter. Or until people stop perceiving me as a woman. Whichever comes first I guess 🤷‍♂️ anyways… that’s it yall.. thank you to anyone who actually read this whole thing I love you and I love that you cared enough to read this whole thing 💕

[spocks-kaathyra]

best thing abt being a student is FREE PHOTOSHOP had to christen the new drawing software w a lil doodle of my blorbo of all time Song Zichen

also pretty much a redraw of my first drawing on my phone from march! definitely have more of a grasp on digital drawing now jdhfkjhk

[pillxw-prince]

friendly reminder that if your hole is slick and dripping (as it should be for needy little things like us), it might be a good idea to drink something soon so you don't get dehydrated 🥰 remember, good toys take care of themselves! 💕

[butchviking]

one thing i truly do not know where i stand on is the ability 2 change legally documented gender. someone throw some opinions at me so i can figure out wtf i think abt that

[sensible-tips]

Mindful Monday

[oliibomb]

Comic about learning to love past versions of myself, based on my favorite poem (The Orange by Wendy Cope)

[dumbdomb]

Positivity for fat men ♡ 18+

this post is inclusive of all men, masculine people of any gender, and created for adults. chasers, fetishists, feeders, gainers, etc: Do NOT Interact.

you are attractive

your masculinity is valid

your body is appreciated

you are a cherished person

your fat is soft and warm

you are completely, fully loved

Read my pinned before you interact! 18+ only.

[frostralia]

The world needs you! It doesn't need a character you play. It needs you as your authentic self!

🩷 Frost