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
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
We need to talk about the two words every Stage 2 patient fears: Strictures and Fistulas. What if a complication wasn't a "failure," but just a plumbing adjustment? The Stricture: This is a narrowing of the urethra due to scar tissue. If your stream feels weak, starts "spraying," or you feel like your bladder isn't emptying, contact your team. The Fistula: This is a small hole where urine leaks out from somewhere other than the tip of your penis. The Good News: Most fistulas heal on their...
29 days ago • 1 min read
In Stage 1, intimacy is a lot of "wait and see." But Stage 2 brings a massive shift, especially if your natal anatomy was buried. What if your penis and your natal anatomy finally started talking to each other? When the surgeon buries your natal anatomy at the base of your penis, something incredible happens. Stimulating your penis now stimulates your natal anatomy, too. For many of us, this can be very affirming. The Tactical Technique: Since your penis is still flaccid (no ED yet), it can...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Stage 2 is the "Plumbing and Aesthetics" phase, but the recovery timeline has its own specific rhythm. Unlike Stage 1, where you’re managing a massive graft, Stage 2 is about internal healing and catheter management. What if you knew the milestones before you hit them? • Week 1: The "Bolster" (bulky bandage) comes off your penis, and the catheter in your penis is removed. You’re left with the Suprapubic (SP) catheter. • Weeks 2–4: The waiting game. You transition from bandages to Aquaphor on...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Voiding trials are often the most stressful part of Stage 2. You’ve waited years for this moment, and suddenly, the "mental block" hits. My Story: I couldn't void for 5 days. I was cleared by my surgeon, my anatomy was ready, but my brain wouldn't let go. I cried every day. It felt like I was failing at the one thing I wanted most. The Tactical Toolkit: 1. FlowMax: This was a game-changer for me. It relaxes the pelvic floor. 2. Sensory Tricks: Run the water, blow bubbles through a straw, or...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
The good news about Stage 2? You have both arms back! You don’t have to support your penis while you wash, which makes showering feel like a massive luxury compared to Stage 1. The Reality Check: • The Shower: It is completely normal to see some blood drip from your penis when you’re drying off. Since you aren't propped, gravity is doing its thing. Just pat dry and get back into your propping setup. • The Toilet (BMs): This is the tricky part. The vaginectomy stitches are very close to the...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Wound care in Stage 2 is less about massive grafts and more about precision. Your main job is protecting the glans and managing the vaginectomy and scrotum sites. The Tactical Glans Setup: When you wrap your glans with Xeroform, here is the pro tip most people miss: Tuck the Xeroform underneath the ridge. You can use a clean butter knife to gently guide it. This helps maintain the shape and prevents the glans from flattening as it heals. The Vaginectomy Site: No bandages here, but plenty of...
2 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:...
3 months ago • 1 min read