Why my home toilet was “different” than the hospital (and other logistics)

Published 23 days ago • 1 min read

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 mountain of household items. It was embarrassing, exhausting, and totally unnecessary.

Pack lightly. Most household items can be bought once you arrive at your destination. Save your energy for healing, not hauling multiple bags.

The next unfortunate thing happened when I finally got back to my own house.

I thought I had my bathroom routine figured out. At the recovery apartment, everything was fine. But the day I got home? Urine was shooting straight out of the toilet.

It turns out, my home toilet was smaller and shorter than the one I’d been using for weeks at my recovery place. Because I was still propping (using the cloud dressing and mesh underwear), my penis was angled in a way that didn't match the toilet bowl at home.

I had to learn to tilt my pelvis down and gently push on the dressing to lower the angle. Once I stopped propping, the issue disappeared but it was messy at first.

Your environment will change as you move from the hospital to recovery housing, and finally back to your own home. You have to be ready to adjust your system on the fly based on the layout of each place.

Keep your setup lean and functional. Focus on the medical essentials, not bringing everything you own.

Stay Steady,

Brett Lighthouse Transitions

P.S. I’m putting the finishing touches on Deep Water: The Phalloplasty Recovery System. When we launch this fall, I’ll be offering a special "Founding Member" price for one week only. If you want to make sure you're the first to get the invite before that window closes, hop on the waitlist below.

[Click To Join The Deep Water Waitlist]

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