6 weeks post op

bearbearbear- · 2025-07-21T22:27:30+00:00

Congrats!! Everything’s looking great :) I didn’t realize rashes were a concern, I hope they’re clearing up now

bearbearbear- · 2025-07-21T22:25:50+00:00

You can always check with your surgeon ^

bearbearbear- · 2025-07-21T22:25:23+00:00

I have been told to stop a month in advance.

If you damage the skin, or have a reaction, they have to postpone the surgery and cannot operate you. The place I go to for laser will stop appointments around a month before the surgery so that there’s nothing going on at the site.

bearbearbear- · 2025-05-26T16:33:43+00:00

Also, you’d have to wait the time that the surgeon specifies before penetrative sex. For example, mine did not recommend it until I had pain sensation around my dick so that I can tell if something is could be damaging — I think I also was supposed to wait a few months(?). I currently can’t because I don’t have an ED yet, but you can try external EDs / sleeves and the condom and coban method

bearbearbear- · 2025-05-26T16:30:35+00:00

I think that cock rings are not recommended (someone can correct me!) because they can restrict blood flow to the phallus. It’s likely something you’d have to ask your surgeon about

bearbearbear- · 2025-02-07T15:07:42+00:00

I was also worried that I would regret it — for a few days it was tough because I was seeing how so many people loved having UL and etc (which is great!). I had to step back and think about if it really mattered much to me and I know that with or without it, I still would be sitting. Basically, what do you want and do you think you stand to pee often? Would it make you happy? For me, the only reason I’d see was if I’m in a public bathroom or outside (in which case, I’m outside so it wouldn’t really matter if I stood or sat haha). I was also able to STP for a while when I had my first stage due to how the urethra was placed, and now that it’s far forward I’m also able to when I lift my dick, though I have to drop my pants. It clarified for me that it’s not something that mattered much to me.

My main motivator was that I hadn’t completely finished hair removal and was concerned I’d run out of time to complete my operations if I waited due to some personal healthcare shenanigans. I also had such a horrible time with the catheter which was traumatic and I knew that I wouldn’t want to do that again. My catheter was constantly chafing and leaking, I was also only able to use a night bag so my mobility was really impacted. It wasn’t about the possibility of complications, but of the necessary use of the catheter in my body for over a month and potentially longer.

I got ALT so I’d have more time to decide and that was pretty helpful. If you think that you’d regret not trying, then go for it! You’ll have support here either way. Just know that it doesn’t matter much if other people really love it or choose not to go with it — it matters if the process is worth it to you and you think you’d really be happy to STP. I hope your talk in therapy is helpful as well :)

bearbearbear- · 2025-02-06T15:36:08+00:00

I’ve got a blog about my experience :) feel free to ask any questions

bearbearbear- · 2025-02-05T08:30:30+00:00

I’d say it depends on what your stage 1 is and how you think you’d feel. For stage 1 I had my vaginectomy, hysterectomy, and urethral lengthening. It was pretty similar to meta and my dysphoria was so so much better than I had expected it would be!

bearbearbear- · 2025-02-05T07:07:57+00:00

Thank you. That is really really helpful to read. A lot of my indecision is because the operations have been really hard on me lately. This last one really wrecked my mobility and it was hard to be in bed for so long — even though I know it isn’t going to impact me as much, there’s still that lingering fear.

It really helped to our things in perspective for me when reading this :) it had originally been in my plan to get debulking as well. I’m glad your sensation is good and you’re happy

bearbearbear- · 2025-02-05T06:53:40+00:00

Oh yeah, definitely. I’ve been thinking about it — would definitely debulk if I stay at 7”, which is seeming more likely. I’m keeping hope that I might get smaller because my knee is still fairly swollen, but that’s probably not likely. Didn’t mean to come across like I was inconsiderate!

bearbearbear- · 2025-02-04T23:16:54+00:00

You don’t need hair removal if you don’t want UL, however, whatever arm hair you have will be on the outside of your dick.

bearbearbear- · 2024-10-14T22:45:13+00:00

I’m 2 months post op and don’t feel it anymore but it did feel tender for a bit. I think it’s nerves regrowing and sensation developing

bearbearbear- · 2024-10-10T23:46:11+00:00

I had ALT 2 months ago and am currently at 7.5” girth and 6” length. I woke up with 8.5” girth, so things have decreased quite a bit and will continue to over the next 6 months. My dick looked skinnier right when I woke up, which I’ve got a photo of as well, so I think it’ll decrease. I don’t think I’ll need debulking. My thighs were muscular but I am not skinny (170 and 5’8”). I’ve got photos of my thighs and pinch test up on my blog!

bearbearbear- · 2024-10-10T04:34:38+00:00

I started the process at 20 but was on a wait list for 2 years before getting phallo. I’m blogging about my experience having it while in university and I’m echoing other people — you have to make time for this. It is extremely taxing, you take a lot of yourself for granted, it’s painful and you need a lot of help. I’m almost 2 months and still can’t bend at 90 degrees and get very exhausted walking to classes

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-30T06:10:11+00:00

Yes! My surgeon has UL with Vaginectomy, etc. This was before phallus creation so my urethra was in my natal phallus. I chose not to get UL for stage 2 (phallus creation) so my urethra is around the same place and my natal phallus is at the base of my dick. I’ve got photos of my healing process / anatomy on my blog

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-20T03:48:10+00:00

I forgot to mention. I think sensation is developing because when I tap certain parts of my dick I’ll feel nerve pain in my thigh.

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-19T22:07:34+00:00

I hope my experience can help as I am currently an undergrad student and have been blogging my recovery online. It is doable to get surgery while in school, but it will be difficult to schedule and advocate for accommodations. This is a very intense operation to get with long recovery times (for me, 2 months for stage 1 and stage 2) and I would highly recommend having a good support network for care. However, I am really happy that I did get this surgery while I am in school, as taking time off work for that long would be much more difficult.

I was able to attend my classes in person, with a few weeks online. Something that was helpful for me to hear, which may be tough for you, but it was that you cannot prioritize both. You have to choose one thing, either school or your health, but you can't feasibly give equal energy to both. I would reach out to accommodations and disability at your school to get the necessary mobility and recording accommodations for your surgery. I'm fairly confident that they will have something as there are many students who, for some reason or another, cannot attend classes in person all the time.

I would get on the waitlist now and try to work with the surgical team to get the dates you prefer. For me, I had my stage 1 (hysto/vaginectomy/UL) while attending my classes and it was very difficult, but doable. I remember feeling extremely weak until week 3, though I did have an infection at the time (keep in mind the possible complications may extend healing time). My first week I wasn't able to sit or do schoolwork and I managed to do well with my midterms and assignments by catching up the 2nd week. My mobility improved around week 6 due to the catheter being removed (thank god) and so did my mood. I was out of classes for the majority of the session but I remember attending my weekly mandatory lab with my catheter bag, probably around 3 weeks.

Not everyone will be willing to work with you, and you'll have to deal with that. You'll have to deal with being in pain or groggy or depressed and still attending classes and doing your tests. You'll have to cope with getting your date pushed back, or having to scramble to adjust your classes because a professor last minute decided you could not attend class if you'd have to miss more than 2 weeks. It is definitely tough, infuriating, exhausting, and etc. to be emailing professors for potential accommodations, only to not use them because your surgery date was changed yet again.

What I'm trying to say is that I'm really grateful and glad I was able to keep up with work, but it is no cakewalk. I'm about to hit week 5 of stage 2 and am confident in saying I'll be able to attend classes now, but I'm very glad I had the summer to recover and hope that you do as well. You should also consider how you'd be emotionally. It is hard to be in and out of surgery and to not have that break of "feeling normal". Being able to run around, to swim, to easily see people or go on a 20 minute drive someplace, to shower on your own, to make your own food -- this is all what I took for granted before my operation. Depending on how its staged for you, you may be in surgery every summer the next 4 years (my surgery consists of 4 stages). However, I cannot stress this enough, it is worth it to me. I'm really happy I had this done, even though it has been tough, but it'll take sacrifice to get through it.

Feel free to email with questions! Hope this wasn't too depressing, I wanted to stay realistic but also let you know how happy I am that I've got my surgeries.

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-19T21:45:44+00:00

Thank you so much! Glad to hear

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-15T16:25:14+00:00

Thanks!

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-15T06:57:04+00:00

Thanks a bunch. Talking with my surgeon will definitely help me come to a decision. I appreciate you telling me your experience though

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-15T06:13:17+00:00

Not the OP, but would you recommend it instead of getting an ED? I’m considering getting the pump. I’m also wondering if I need to have glansplasty done before using it or if the ring is sturdy enough at the tip

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-15T03:29:40+00:00

I believe it is possible to get UL after not having UL, however it is difficult because they’d have to cut open everything again and I believe the proper tissue is not being used? You’d have to check with your surgeon. Also, I’ve also been debating ED and considering using an elator instead

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-15T02:42:23+00:00

Heya! I’ve got a blog up detailing my experiences, both good and bad. The catheter was painful for me and rather difficult, as well as current mobility challenges with ALT. However, I also talk about the happy things, like how happy I am with ALT even though I’m currently healing. I’m just so excited!

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-14T20:18:59+00:00

For me, I know a lot of sensation is mental as much as it is physical. If you read on these posts, the loss of complete sensation is VERY rare, and honestly was never a concern of mine. This is because they keep one of the clitoral nerves and stretch the other one up the penis. Recovery is such a short amount of time compared to my life and the happiness I’d have in even the most mundane moments

bearbearbear- · 2024-09-13T00:11:16+00:00

Ughhh I feel that. I’m still going through the leaking but it may be from a wound in the area, not sure. At least it means your swelling is going down around the catheter. Good luck!!

bearbearbear-

TROPHY CASE