Leading up to surgery, your body is in high-gear. There’s adrenaline, intense focus, and the singular mission of getting to the hospital. But then, you get home. The initial rush wears off. You’re less mobile. You’re dependent on others for basic things like showering. This is where the "Adrenaline Drop" hits. If you find yourself feeling irritable or down around Week 3, hear this: It does not mean you made the wrong decision. It means your nervous system is finally decompressing from the...

If your surgeon splits phalloplasty into stages, you’ll likely spend a few months with both your new penis and your natal anatomy. This can be an incredibly distressing time. Your natal anatomy will look different. There might be an "exit hole" near your natal anatomy for your new urethra and/or stitches where a nerve was taken. It's common to feel distressed over this. How to stay grounded: Validate the feeling: It is okay to feel relief and distress at the same time. Stay Busy: We often...

When I was heading into surgery, I spent so much time thinking about the hospital that I didn't think much about the spaces I’d be living in afterward. First, there was the recovery stay. My parents and I got to our recovery apartment, and I realized we made a classic mistake: We packed like we were moving in forever. We had so much stuff it took multiple elevator trips to get to the 7th floor. At one point, I was stuck in the elevator alone, trying to hold the door open while unloading a...