4, 6 and some other stuff.

4 days until I leave for Trinidad, CO.
6 Days until surgery.

Post op guys who have had meta have been really good about helping me with preparing. (Thanks guys!) I am realizing that there are things that I saw on my list to get but overlooked because I thought they weren't important. One example of this would be Sanitary napkins (AkA Maxi pads). I find it very interesting that upon getting rid of that dreaded hole I will have to wear those things, WTF?!
It was explained to me that there is leaking and discharge from surgery so the pads help catch the junk that is leaking so that I don't mess up my underwear and/or furniture.
I thought this would make me feel weird or dysphoric but surprisingly I am pretty okay with it. My wife will be the one purchasing these things NOT ME lol, but other than that I am totally fine with the pad thing. To be honest I will probably be so high on pain meds that I won't even notice and even if I do notice I probably won't care.

In terms of other things on my list that I need to get I am pretty set. I am supposed to get antibiotic ointment/ neosporin which I have already here at home and I will get some the day before surgery. Anything else I need I plan to get in Colorado since there are stores where I can get stuff for cheap within 10 minutes of the hotel I will be staying at.

I have a friend who fractured her tail bone and her pelvis a few months back and needed an inflatable cushion. She said I could use hers. She actually had an inflatable cushion and a foam one and gave me both so I have options. They are light and will be easy to pack.

I guess I am starting to get kind of excited. I say kind of because it doesn't feel real that I am having lower surgery in 6 days. What does feel real is that Friday is my last day of work and that I am definitely celebrating. *Does a happy dance*
Some of my Co-workers are freaking out that I will be away. Word is starting to get around that I will be out for about a month. People have been asking me if everything is okay and I have just been saying very casually "Oh, I just need time to take care of something no big deal." For all they know it could be a medical thing for me, a family thing or something else entirely.

Another GREAT day!

Today I decided that it would be best for me to stay in a hotel than the surgery apartment available. I am happy with my decision and think overall it will promote my healing because I will be very ZEN in a space that I have control over who comes and goes. I sent the last of what paperwork I needed to send before surgery. I am officially good to go!

I had a check list of things that needed to be done.

Medical clearance- CHECK

Insurance confirmation for agreement to pay for surgery- CHECK

Plane Tickets- CHECK

Hotel Reserved- CHECK

Transportation from Airport and back- CHECK
(The airport is 2 hrs away from where I am having surgery and I don't drive so this is VERY important)

Medical leave approval- CHECK


The office coordinator for my surgeon asked me about my letter and how many I needed post op. The first one is free and any additional letters are $20 a pop. I don't know how many to get because everything is pretty much changed. I said 3 but I don't think I need that many. Maybe I will only need 2. I guess I will get the 3 to be on the safe side. I also asked about getting a copy of the OR report and I was told I could get that most likely before I leave town after surgery and that would be free. For the state I was born in I need that to seal my records so I will definitely submit that along with my SRS letter. Im due for a new passport so I will use a letter for that too so I can just be done with that and not have to explain anything ever again!
It still doesn't feel too real but it's getting there! I am getting more and more excited I must say. I am starting to have dreams about my post op body and all the wonderful things that come with that for me.

Magic in the Mail!

I got the letter from my HR department today stating that I am approved for my leave for surgery. Another thing I can check off in terms of things to do prior to surgery. This makes me a VERY happy man. Part of the reason I am so excited is because I REFUSED to put GID as the diagnosis on the disability form. The woman from HR called me up stating that there needed to be a diagnosis code or a diagnosis written out. The surgeon didn't want to tell my HR department it was hypospadias due to "ethical" reasons. Though I feel I fit the bill for this. We were able to compromise on using an ICD9 code that was closer to the surgery I was having but still vague enough that if the code was looked up by the HR woman it wouldn't disclose my trans history. The papers were resubmitted and I never heard anything from her she only told me a response would be in the mail by next week. That was Thursday she told me this. Today is Saturday and I check my mail and find this little piece of magic. Life is good!

Paperwork is IN!

I got in all my paperwork for my medical leave and disability for lower surgery. 40 days left! I needed the paperwork in by 30 days so I wouldn't lose out on any pay. I am very happy I took care of this. My HR person told me I should have a letter within a week regarding the pay situation and whether that was approved or not and at what rate. Either way I know I will be off for surgery since my supervisor already approved that. All I have to do now is book my flight and hotel which hopefully after some minor logistics are cleared up I will be able to do next week.