The Heavy Bag vs. The Valve: A Catheter Secret.

Published 3 months ago • 1 min read

If there’s one thing that defines Stage 2, it’s the SP catheter. Most surgeons send you home with a heavy bag and long tubing. It’s heavy, it’s awkward, and if you drop it, it pulls.

But there is a better way.

Ask your team about the Flip-Flow Valve. It replaces the bag and long tubing entirely. It’s a small valve attached directly to the catheter that you open and close to empty your bladder every 2–3 hours.

• The Pro: Total freedom of movement. No heavy bag to carry around.

• The Reality: You have to set an alarm so you don't forget to empty your bladder! You’ll also feel a "suction" sensation when it’s empty. It’s weird, but normal.

You are the manager of your own recovery. Don't be afraid to ask for things that make your life easier.

Stay Steady,

Brett Lighthouse Transitions

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

[Click Here To Join The Deep Water Waitlist]

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

Why some recoveries feel like a storm (and others don't)

Last week, I mentioned that the biggest barrier to a smooth recovery isn't a lack of information, it's a lack of a System. Why do some people navigate this process with a sense of calm, while others feel like they are drowning in chaos? It isn’t about who has the better surgeon or the most money. It’s about moving from Reactive to Proactive. Most people treat phalloplasty as a series of random medical events. They react to problems as they happen. But true peace of mind comes from having a...

8 days ago • 1 min read

6 months of the Beacon (A look back).

For the last 7 months, we’ve covered a lot of ground in this newsletter. We’ve talked about everything from the orange rug disaster and one-handed showers to the mental adrenaline drop and the mystery of Stage 2 complications. If you’ve been reading along, you’ve realized one thing: Information isn’t the problem. You can find supply lists and surgery photos all over the internet. The problem is Structure. Most people prepare for phalloplasty like it's a one-day event, but it's actually a...

15 days ago • 1 min read

Stained rugs and wet shirts: The stuff they don't put in the brochures.

If we don't laugh during recovery, we’ll cry. So let’s laugh at my expense for a minute. Story 1: The Orange Disaster. I had a shy bladder during voiding trials, so I was prescribed FlowMax to help. FlowMax creates urgency. I also ended up with a UTI as well. So I took AZO for the UTI pain. AZO turns your urine bright neon orange! So because of this urgency from the medication, I didn't make it to the toilet one night. My nice cream-colored area rug in my bedroom? Permanently stained...

22 days ago • 1 min read