A lot of the "tips and guidelines" are "how to become the manipulator so you can outmanipulate your manipulators because it's okay if YOU do it because you're better than them morally and biologically."
But there's already enough horror stories out there to fearmonger transness with, or to prepare for all the risks and worst-case scenarios; so how about a happy ending to cleanse the palate with this time. /🧵
For transparency, it may be worth mentioning that I have a history of ideal health. Compared to my brother, my driver and my friends, I'm lucky that I haven't even had any side-effects to deal with. No post-anaesthesia high or nausea, no pain even when I tested out going off the prescriptions.
I can lift again, and I can reach up as long as I'm careful, meaning I can also wear pullover shirts and do yardwork by myself again.
And now here I am, four weeks post-op to the day. The last of the surgical tape came off this weekend and now that the last of the scabs are off too, I can switch from daily antibacterial ointment and bandages to scar gel and capsules of arnica and bromelain.
Caring for the incision sites while they heal. Tingling the same way skin does when feeling comes back after escaping the cold. And safe from sweating into a binder through any more summers. Cool breezes feel so much better with one less layer to wear.
Then I was under the care of my roomie, my friends and my family while I wait for mobility in my arms to come back. Able to shower again, as long as I followed instructions.
I was still pretty tired from how early I had to wake up for the drive to my post-op appointment, but I was giddy seeing my bare chest in the mirror for the first time.
The the sutures holding my grafts in place and the (admittedly itchy) binding over them were removed this week, and the surgeon was delighted to see how well my nipples were healing this early on.