thatkidtrans

[thatkidtrans]

Posted on the wrong page 🤦🏾‍♂️

Definitely an over due update 😬 (4/16/18)

So on friday 4/20/18 (ikr?) i will be 4 months post op. I had top surgery on 12/20/17 and i have definitely had a change since then mentally. I feel a lot better about myself physically. And I’m ready to take even more care of the myself and see some positivity especially after the setbacks i had with my surgery. But besides that. My life has not seem to have changed. I honestly feel as if surgery made no difference but it did just with everything going on in my life i havent gotten a real chance to take it all in. Nonetheless i am grateful i had surgery when i did. I am going to honestly try to update here more especially with pictures and give more info on my doctor amd everything soon. But to everyone waiting on surgery. It will happen. Just give it time of course and take care of your body now so you can take extra special care of it later

[thatkidtrans]

I need to get better at updating (10/22/17)

So today 7 days till my birthday (18th) and 14 till my surgery date. Time flies by so quickly sometimes its hard to believe. This time last year i was hoping to get a date and 6 months ago transitioning felt like it wasn't going to happen. Im happy with the transition so far. Hopefully things continue to move well

[thatkidtrans]

Left: April, 2017 vs (Right: May 2016

[thatkidtrans]

General Update 4/24/17

So it's been a while since I've updated. I'm super busy with school, work, and other things. Nothing transition wise has changed too much. I might get a date for top surgery soon. Not exactly sure yet. Packing has become really comfortable for me. I like it more than I don't though I lie about why I pack to people. I don't want anyone thinking I'm a dude or anything. It's a very confusing time. People are somewhat using my pronouns but no one is perfect. I'm ready to go on hormones but I don't want to do injections because it's too much to remember and I'm bad at remembering to do things. That's real all i have to say for now. I'm gonna try to post more pictures on here to liven the page up.

[thatkidtrans]

[thatkidtrans]

Here is a free resource made by LJ Pokornik to help teach parents the important difference between outting and correcting. See the PDF. Other versions here and here. 

[thatkidtrans]

Goddamn TIRED of seeing all these skinny little trans boys getting worshipped when there’s trans men who don’t pass even if they’re on Testosterone

So cheers to the ones who aren’t the passable.

The ones where: • you pass until you open your mouth and speak • there is no hiding that chest • there is no hiding that ass • there is no hiding those hips • you’re a butch lesbian on your best days • you won’t pass until surgery • your Google search history contains “get rid of curves” • the extra weight doesn’t help you pass • you think you’re unattractive man or woman • cellulite • the pear shaped bodies • the hourglass shaped bodies • you’re told that you were better as girl • you were refused a hysterectomy because you might get pregnant • your body type doesn’t exist on the internet • the trans shoutout pages make you feel like complete shit • you get mad at yourself that you hate the trans men that pass better than you or the ones that didn’t have to work for slender flat rectangle bodies • you still get hit on and stared at • the trans men of color • the trans men of color who are white passing and therefore discredited • your breast tissue causes back pain • you don’t fit in any clothes… ever… • the periods make you bedridden • you’re stuck

[thatkidtrans]

Reblog if your blog is safe for all members of the LGBTQ+ community

[thatkidtrans]

Found this and let me just say this is so incredibly accurate…

[thatkidtrans]

[thatkidtrans]

Never forget! ♡

[thatkidtrans]

Top surgery advice from someone barely post op

Mostly I’m writing this because I still can’t believe I’m post op. I got surgery yesterday (8/21/2015) and I literally can’t believe it. So. Here goes.

Clothing!

· Wear comfortable clothing. Pulling anything over your head is basically a no go. Large button ups are great. · If you have slip on shoes, I highly recommend them, as it’s really difficult to tug on anything, especially at first. · Wear sweatpants or shorts without buttons or something. Doing the buttons is actually pretty painful at first. Once again, nothing tight.

Medication!

· I know a lot of guys don’t take their pills because they’re not in pain. This is not the case for me. Yesterday I took eleven oxycodone. Today I’ve taken four–it’s only nine in the morning. · Taking pills doesn’t make you weak. · Even if you’re not necessarily in a lot of pain, I highly recommend taking something before you sleep. I had to wake up at three in the morning and take a couple because I didn’t think I needed them while sleeping. · Make sure you follow the instructions on all your meds carefully. · It’s recommended you take a stool softener because the painkillers can cause constipation.

Restrictions!

· I get not wanting to feel like a burden. I hate feeling weak and helpless. I absolutely hate it. Too bad. I’m literally not supposed to lift more than ten pounds. A gallon of milk is around 8.5. · Open and closing doors sucks. · Going to the bathroom sucks. · Brushing your teeth sucks. · Basically most things suck. · Have someone help you. · Have someone help you. · Have someone fucking help you. Seriously. You don’t want to go through this alone.

Sleep!

· It’s basically impossible to get up if you’re lying flat. If you have a recliner, sleep on that. · Your body desperately needs to rest. So sleep. It doesn’t matter if you’ve slept 18 hours, if you’re tired, sleep some more.

Move!

· At the same time though, it’s incredibly important that you move. I was told to walk around at least every hour when awake. It helps a lot with the healing process and also prevents blood clots. · Breathe deeply. You may get a little machine that measures your breathing. If you get one, use it. Taking long, deep breaths helps clear your lungs out and helps you heal. · But please, don’t overdo it. The last thing you want is to mess up your surgery after waiting so, so long to get it.

Food!

· Have small, easily accessible, healthy foods around. I recommend stuff like nuts, fruit, protein bars, etc. The painkillers may screw up your appetite. Try to eat anyways. · If you have someone helping you (which you will, of course), don’t be afraid to ask them to make you something. I love cooking. It’s my passion, my only goal in life is to be a cook. It’s magic. I zero percent want to cook right now. · Drink lots of fluid.

Random tidbits!

· Your shoulders are going to hurt. So is your stomach and thighs and back. You use your chest muscles for basically everything, so when you can’t, everything else has to pick up the slack. · No but really. Pants/shorts with buttons fucking suck. Ideally, actually, would be a loose button down, basketball shorts, and slip on shoes. · After surgery you have to bind for a while. It sucks. It’s pretty dysphoric. But just remember…pretty soon you’ll never have to again. · Speaking of binding, if you can, donate your binders to someone in need. · Try not to panic too much about how lumpy your chest is at first. You just got cut open. Of course it’s gonna be swollen.

Lastly!

· Remember you made it. Good job.

[thatkidtrans]

Top Surgery Advice

Hey everyone! I’ve been waiting to make a post with some top surgery advice and now that I’m finally feeling a little better I thought I’d take a shot. I’ve already made a post about my personal experience, so feel free to read that and maybe get an idea of what your day might be like. I also dealt with a minor complication after surgery, which I’ve posted about here. It was nothing too serious, but feel free to read it if you want to learn about a not-so-common experience. Now, on to the good stuff!

Leading up to surgery:

Drink plenty of fluids and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle–this will help during surgery and during recovery!

Make sure you have an after surgery buddy. I’m not sure I would’ve survived without @gaydogdad to hand me things I couldn’t reach (that were usually 6 inches away). 

If you feel anxious, call and talk to your surgeon/staff. It’s totally normal to worry and they will help you out any way they can. 

The day of surgery:

Wear loose clothes! Many surgeons will recommend wearing a button-up, but mine only allowed zip-up sweaters. I strongly recommend going with the sweater instead of button-up shirt! You might think that a shirt will be loose enough, but once the swelling and soreness sets in you’re going to want something loose and comfy. Basketball/workout shorts are also your best friend because pulling your pants down to pee is not a fun experience the first day or so. Also, flipflops/sandals. Comfort is the key on surgery day!

Your surgeon will likely give you instructions with what to bring to the facility on surgery day (prescriptions, clothes, inhalers, etc.). Be sure to review them and pack your bag the night before!

You are going to feel nervous/anxious/excited/scared/happy (basically every emotion ever) and that’s totally okay! This is a big day! You are also probably going to feel like you’re forgetting to do something or that you haven’t done everything your doctor said–at least, that’s how I felt the entire morning. Chances are, you’re fine. Your nerves will trick you into thinking you should be doing more, but your number one concern should be relaxing and mentally preparing yourself for the day!

Communicate with your doctor/staff! Don’t be shy to ask questions about what is going to happen or concerns you may have. That’s why they are there. 

Recovery:

Rest, rest, rest! ‘Nuff said. 

Figure out the most comfortable position/place for you. I stayed on the couch for a few days because it was really hard to sit up from laying flat on my back in bed. Sometimes I even slept sitting straight up. Just figure out what works best for you and get plenty of sleep/rest.

Listen to your doctor! Don’t overexert yourself just because you start feeling better. Don’t stop wearing your compression shirt because the swelling subsided. Don’t forget to take your medicine. Basically, be the ideal patient. 

Listen to your body! If you feel tired, sleep. If your muscles are sore, take a break from whatever  you’re doing. If you’re hungry, eat. Surgery is exhausting and it takes a lot out of you. Don’t think “well it’s been a week so I should be able to do _____” because that’s not always how it works. Everyone heals differently. 

That being said, I know guys who stopped taking pain pills after the first day and others (including myself) who needed them for a longer period of time. As long as you are using them the way they’re intended, don’t be ashamed that you are in pain. Take care of yourself the best way you can!

My doctor provided a post-op package as well with some helpful contents that I’ll list here just so you have an idea of some things you may need but didn’t think about:

Melatonin (sleep, sleep, sleep!)

Sleep mask and ear plugs (sleep, sleep, sleep during the day!)

Dulcolax (helps relieve constipation that most people experience from pain killers and anesthesia) 

Probiotic Pearls (helps your immune system and your tummy!)

Arnica Montana (an herb that helps with swelling and bruising)

Benadryl (in case you’re itchy; also helps sleep)

White Petroleum Jelly (for post-op massages)

Additional Gauze/Dressings (they gave me maternity pads and they worked wonders absorbing the fluid from my drains)

Well, that’s all I have for now! I hope this can help some folks in the future and I am always open to answering questions you may have about hormones or surgery or anything in general. 

[thatkidtrans]

Things To Do After Top Surgery

- Sleep shirtless

- Go for a run with no shirt on

- Grow chest hair

- Go to the beach only in board shorts

- Buy more douchey shirts

- Skinny dipping??

- Mow lawns with my guns out as well as my amazing pecks

- Get rid of these damn tan lines

- Actually go outside to tan

- Get a massage from a girl without feeling even more stressed

- Lay in front of a fan on a hot day in nothing but boxers

- Show off my six pack that I have yet to form

- Work out my upper body even more

- Just put a shirt on in the morning and go

- Shirtless selfies

- Be dysphoria free

- Feel comfortable in my own skin

[thatkidtrans]

Things they don’t tell you about top surgery

- Talk to the surgeon about the size you want your new areolas/nipples (don’t be afraid to ask)

- Numbness. No one talks about this for guys who are about to have surgery. You’re going to be numb all in your chest area, especially where the incisions were. They cut nerves as they pass along your chest, and it can take up to a year to regenerate those nerves. Still, feels super foreign for the first two weeks

- Make your bed into a pillow chair, body pillow, two on each side, and two for your head. 

- Sleep alone. I tried to sleep with my girlfriend and it was miserable. You really do need the entire bed for yourself

- Go on Groupon, & get yourself a 10 foot lightning cable iPhone charger, BEST THING EVER, can reach from wherever you are

- Don’t take a week off from work, take two. You will regret the one week, and love the extra time

- When they say “don’t move too much, even after the first week”. LISTEN. I moved way too much and got so sore super quickly. 

- Drink lots of water & eat if your taking the pain medication, otherwise your stomach feels super funky.

- Get stool softeners, & don’t be afraid to take those babies. Don’t wait a week to poop. you’ll surely regret it. 

- The drains are scary & they may hurt while draining or rewrapping your dressings, but once they come out, the second they do, its no more pain, its crazy. 

i hope this helps someone, because i wish i knew all of this when i was having mine a month ago. Looking back its like everyone forgets all the real negatives, its a great experience, & i healed very well & quick compared to most, but the first few days are crazy. They hurt, suck but it gets better. 

[thatkidtrans]

Things to Pack (or Buy) for Top Surgery and Recovery Part 2

Now that I (Zak) have had top surgery and are currently recovering, I have some things to add to the article we posted a little while ago on things to pack for top surgery and recovery. These are a few items I have found really useful over the past 24 hours:

1. Water jug (like one you would get from a hospital). I bought mine at Publix, which is a grocery store chain in Florida. It holds a good amount of water and is easy to drink out of.

2. Large plastic bendable straws. These go with the water jug. You can get them in rainbow colors at Bed Bath and Beyond.

3. Incline wedge pillow. This is really good for sleeping because you’re supposed to sleep on your back and slightly propped up during your initial recovery (I think for the first 2 weeks). I got mine at Bed Bath and Beyond. There’s actually one extremely close to Dr. Garramone’s office so I got a lot of my recovery stuff there right after my pre-op appointment.

4. Baby wipes/acne face wipes/sponge bath wipes. You can’t shower for awhile after surgery and so sponge baths are recommended. I’ve heard they make really nifty sponge bath wipes, but I wasn’t able to find them before my surgery. I’m using acne face wipes from Neutrogena on my face and back to prevent breakouts and baby wipes on the rest of my body to keep clean.

5. Baby powder. This helps with chafing from the surgical compress bandages. 

[thatkidtrans]

Things to Pack for Your Top Surgery and Recovery

Most guys travel for top surgery, either to another city or another country, and spend the earliest parts of their recovery in a hotel instead of at home. Because of this, what you pack for your trip can be very important. Here are some suggestions compiled from Adrian’s experiences (with the peri-areolar surgery) as well as advice we’ve received from other guys (who had the DI): 

Clothes:

*Comfortable pants (pj and sweat pants) to wear to surgery (until you put the gown on) and during your recovery. Remember that it’ll be difficult for you to get your pants on and off after surgery so avoid buttons, zippers, and buckles. 

*Snap-button shirts. Likewise, getting your shirt on and off will be difficult during recovery, especially ones that need to be pulled over your head. Make sure your shirt is loose fitting to make room for your bandages and drains. Also, don’t worry about dressing for the weather, dress for air conditioning because you’ll likely be spending all of your time in the hotel room. 

*Slippers, flip-flops, or sandals. You won’t be able to bend down to tie your shoes. 

Toiletries: 

*Razor and shaving cream. Some surgeons require guys to shave their armpits or chest area before going into surgery. It depends on how much hair you have and your surgeon, you may want to ask about this during your consultation. 

*Benadryl (for post-surgical itchiness) and  a stool softener (medication makes you constipated). 

Misc: 

*Bendy straws (drinking can be difficult post-op)

*Crackers, ginger ale, and other foods that make you feel better when you’re nauseous. 

*Books, magazines, movies, handheld games, and other entertainment because you’ll likely be bedridden for the greater part of the week. 

*A good pillow to prop yourself up, either a wedge pillow or something that will allow you to sleep sitting up. 

Keep all of your things in a bag you can carry at your side, not a backpack because that puts too much strain on your chest. Also be prepared to adjust your morning routine significantly after surgery, for instance you likely won’t be able to wash your hair the first few days after surgery because it will be too difficult for you to lift your arms above your head. 

These are what Adrian got me as presents to bring to surgery