The "4-Week Rule": How to use the bathroom when you can’t sit up.

Published about 2 months ago • 1 min read

Phalloplasty recovery has a way of making the simplest tasks feel like a puzzle. Case in point: The Toilet.

For the first 4 weeks, you can’t sit upright. This isn't just a comfort thing. It’s about protecting the blood flow to the phallus. It also protects the incisions from being pulled or stressed.

So, how do you actually do it? It’s all about leaning back, like you're in a recliner. You don’t sit upright. You lean your back against the back of the toilet. If your sink is close enough, use it to lower yourself down at an angle.

The Pro-Tip: Cut a hole in the back and to the front of your mesh underwear. It sounds small, but it means you don't have to keep taking your underwear off and re-propping every time you have to use the bathroom. You can both urinate and have a bowel movement with this method.

Here is a video of me showing you how to cut the mesh underwear.

Recovery is about adapting your environment to your new body, not the other way around.

Stay Steady,

Brett Lighthouse Transitions

P.S. Logistics are the "invisible" part of surgery prep. If you want a full roadmap that covers every detail we talked about today (and 100 things we haven't), join the Deep Water Waitlist. I’ll be opening doors for our Founding Members this fall.

[Click Here To Join The Deep Water Waitlist]

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
Unsubscribe · Preferences

48 Hours: Your Stage 2 Hospital Roadmap.

In Stage 1, you were likely in the hospital for a week. Stage 2 is usually a 2-3 day stay, but it’s packed with activity. What if you could navigate the hospital room like a pro? Expect to be on bed rest for the first 24–48 hours with "booties" on your legs for blood flow and an abductor pillow between your legs. You’ll have two catheters, one in your penis and one in your pubic area (the SP). The Tactical Tip: Sometimes your team might apply nitric paste on your scrotum. It helps with blood...

2 days ago • 1 min read

The "Adrenaline Drop" and the 24-Hour Rule

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...

9 days ago • 1 min read

Managing the "In-Between" Anatomy.

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...

16 days ago • 1 min read