thecoreofcory

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Top Surgery...

So on the 28th of November i had top surgery with Dr Andrew Yelland at the Nuffield Health Hospital in Brighton. I got there for 7:15 in the morning, signed in and got sent up to my room. I then got given my compression socks, gown and hospital tag around my wrist, Yelland then followed in and drew on my chest. I then got wheeled into the theatre room and came out 2 hours later (surgery and recovery room time). 

Due to having pain when waking up in recovery, i was given Morphine... so i was very high! I ended up speaking absolute bollocks to my girlfriend about raw chicken breasts and kept drifting in and out of sleep. Once id properly woken up i was given water to drink and after having assistance, i was able to use to bathroom. I ended up feeling very sick after standing up so i was given an anti sickness shot in my hand. The rest of the day went fine and i ate my dinner without any issues. Throughout the night i was checked on every 4 hoursish and given pain relief. 

The next day Yelland came in and took the surgical binder off and looked at my gauze pads to check for leakage. there was a little so a nurse had to come in and put some more on under my armpit area. I was then given pain meds to go home with and discharged. Here a tip, when travelling home, use a small cushion to put between you and the seatbelt and use pillows all around you to cushion you from round a bouts... trust me. 

The first week sleeping was horrific (sleeping on your back and being elevated) and not being able to do anything was very frustrating. Thankfully my girlfriend was more than amazing and helped me with absolutely everything! I had a sore under my armpit due to the surgical binder being so tight and every time i put the binder i went home with one, it got worse and worse and spread, this caused most of the discomfort for me. The binder smelled and all the gauze pads soaked it up making an absolutely disgusting smell, and baby wipes can only go so far... the binder constantly felt like it was pulling my chest down so i had to hold it up for comfort when i walked. 

When i finally went for my post op, i got everything off and was told i only have to wear the binder now for protection when going out and to put micropore tape over my incisions once a day after a shower. Seeing the incisions on my reveal made me feel quite queasy and more shellshocked than happy, which i wasn't expecting. Its just so different seeing it from your own point of view, everything looks so much more disgusting and messy. 

Once i was home i had to take off the plasters he put on my nipples and that made me a little dizzy due to feeling like i was pulling my nipples off. I was very swollen and looked like i had mini boobs, the nipples seemed a little bit lower than id wanted and the incisions seemed bumpy. I was so critical of it that day, but the next 2 days after my mind had settled and i looked at pictures of my chest with the reveal, it sunk in finally and i loved it all. Even though the nipples are lower than i wanted i just didn't care... my boobs were gone and that just filled me with so much happiness! Sleeping on my side still hurts 2 weeks post op but sleeping is a lot better now and I'm still restricting my arm movement to avoid any aching or pains the next day. The first few days taking the micropore tape off the incisions was horrible and scared me, but now its all fine and healing amazingly! i still have quite a bit of swelling on both sides under my armpit area and I'm hoping it continues to go down more, thats my little worry in the back of my head, incase its left over tissue (but swelling can taking up to 6 months to fully go, so I'm being patient). Overall the experience was worse and easier than i thought, in different aspects. You can't prepare for how you’re going to feel, but its all worth it in the end, to know i can now put a shirt/top on and not have to bind... its amazing. 

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28th November, 2017. TOP SURGERY.

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November 9th, 2017- Pre Op Appointment.

So today i had my Pre-Op appointment with Dr Andrew Yelland at the Nuffield Hospital in Brighton. 

It took me 5 hours to travel down there by car and it was in a very nice place. Once we got there and walked in, i was shocked at how ‘posh’ and high standard it was!

All the staff and patients there were lovely and welcoming and i was told to go to the end of the corridor and right for my talk with Andrew Yelland. I was called in and sat down while he asked introduced himself and asked about my background, I was then told to go behind the curtains and take my top and binder off. Once i was done i sat on the bed and he came around and said i would need double incision (as i already knew). He took a couple pictures of my chest and said he’d need to do my incisions a little further under my armpit area to stop having dog ears due to having loose skin there. He then asked me to get dressed again and sit back down when I'm ready.

Once i sat back down with him he went through forms with me and i have to tick that i was aware of risks etc. He then drew a diagram of what double incision entails and how he would make sure theres no dog ears and what he would do if i have a build up of blood etc. He asked about what I'm doing about my work and how much time off. Once we were done i was taken through to another waiting area for my pre assessment with the nurses. i was given a 4 page sheet to fill out about my past history and medical issues etc while i waited for the nurse to be ready. 

Once i was called in i was greeted by 2 lovely nurses who sat me down (my girlfriend came in aswell) and went through what needs to be done. i had my height, weight, swabs and bloods done. I also bought 2 binders for £15. The nurse went through how my recovery will go and what to expect, along with how long i have to be nil by mouth the night before etc. Due to being in a hospital recently that has a risk of this intestinal virus thing i have to now have 3 swabs where the sun don't shine... bummer (literally). This is being done at my own doctors though, but all should be fine and ill be all ready for surgery! 

Its starting to become very real now and I'm in a constant fight of being excited one day then shitting myself the next! the next update will be when I'm post op, so wish me luck!! :D 

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August 3rd, 2017- Top Surgery date.

So today i finally got a phone call about my top surgery with Andrew Yelland. They said they were looking at getting me in for the 28th of November with a pre op assessment on the 9th of November. Obviously i was beyond excited but also a tad scared, its something I've been waiting for, for years! 

Then a few days later i got my letter confirming it all, my operation will be on the 28th of November at 7:15am at the Nuffeild Health Brighton Hospital. But due to my location being so out of the way, they’ve put my initial consultation with Yelland and pre-oprotive appointment together on the 9th at 11:30am, which saves the hassle of going down 3 times in 1 week!

Now I've got to sort everything out and figure out costs etc... this will be fun...

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June 29th, 2017.

Sorry i haven’t been keeping up with these, theres just been no major changes! its just been me getting more hairy. i also came to realise, when i was due my shot id get so tired and grumpy. but today i was finally put on nebido, my levels were at 9 so he said going to nebido is the next step. the shot hurt ALOT. The longer the needle was in, the more pain that happened and my bum for hours after it... ow. they said to massage it but it was too painful to. got to have my next shot in 6 weeks to complete the ‘loading dose’. he said i may have a bleed while trying to find the right dose.

Also rang up Andrew Yellands hospital to see where i was on the waiting list and they said the waiting list is now 12-13 months :( but i shouldn't be waiting much longer, in the next couple months ill be receiving my letter and the surgery is about 2 months after that! Next update will with be changes on nebido or the surgery consultation letter.

[thecoreofcory]

March 12th, 2017- 8 months on T.

Just the usual changes, everything’s just slowing down. Had another blood test to see how my T levels are doing, haven't got the results yet but if they're still low then ill be put on every 2 weeks. Slowly but surely the levels are going up, and ill be put onto nebido. Ive also noticed i get cramps when my T shot is due, but no bleeding etc. which is good! 

thats all for this month, not very interesting but i don't really notice new changes  because I've been no it for so long its just normal now

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February 12th, 2017 - 7 months on T.

Not a lot to update on this month.

my levels are still low even after upping it to every 3 weeks, so will possible have to up it to every 2 weeks then start Nebido.

Apparently I'm just a ‘fast burner’ and use the testosterone up as soon as its in my body, but i still haven't had a period thank god!

still just more hair on the stomach, legs/feet and little bits under my chin. 

Thats all to be honest, not a lot of changes now, everythings just slowed down and are a lot more subtle. 

[thecoreofcory]

cold vs hot showers… more psych infographcs at @mypsychology.

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January 12th, 2017- 6 months on T.

Happy New Year!

this months changes have been a lot more gradual. My top lip hairs were noticed by a lot of people, so i shaved them off because it was embarrassing little peach fuzz.. 

my belly hair has started connecting with my pubic hair, so i have an actual happy trail now!

the spots on my back and stomach have completely gone now, which is good, no more breakouts!

bar for all that, its just been like all the other months, slow changes, excited to see what this year brings!

[thecoreofcory]

To those dating someone with anxiety:

•Don’t get mad when they ask you if you’re mad at them, it’s not that they view you as an angry/short tempered person, just the slightest change in tone makes them rethink every conversation you’ve had the past 2 years. •Don’t get frustrated when they ask you if you still care about them, it’s not that they don’t trust you, they’ve just come up with a million reasons why you wouldn’t want to be with them, and a trillion scenario of you leaving. •They’re gonna ask if you’re okay…A lot. Be patient, they’re just making sure because they care about you. •If you don’t respond to a text/call, don’t be surprised when you come back to a phone full of notifications. They aren’t obsessive, they just can’t shake the feeling something bad has happened. •Hold them. Remind them. Be patient with them. Love them.

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Life With Cats.

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trying to talk to someone you really admire

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Damn

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2014

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kate mckinnon singing // SNL music videos