Wonder from Down Under

Aussie living in Aotearoa 👋 31, trans nonbinary (he/them), aroace 💚 Posting my transition journey. Celebrating 11yrs in 2024 🎉

[akitaboy]

Tomorrow is 9wks post top surgery! 🎉

I'm completely back to my usual routine & able to lift my chonky cat again. Still massaging & moisturizing the scar tissue daily to help it loosen up. I'm very pleased with the outcome!

Still getting some weird nerve sensations, feels like an itch I need to scratch but it's in the numb parts of my chest so it's completely unsatisfying 😭 I've been told it'll stop happening over time. The far ends of the scars are still a little sensitive as well, but it's barely noticable unless i'm clumsy & side smash a doorframe or something (yes, it's happened a few times lol)

This'll be my final post-surgery update, i'll answer asks about the experience from here on out ✌️❤️

[akitaboy]

Day 36 = just over 5wks post-op & it's finally feeling like i'm fully independent again! Still no heavy lifting (sorry my big-boned baby kitty), but I can wear a backpack, any clothes I want, & the skin hypersensitivity is finally settling down.

Here is my big-boned boy Quill as pet tax ❤️

Feeling sick rn though. 3 days of class wrecked me, & the packed public transport for 2hrs each day both morning + afternoon school rushes definitely didn't help (n95 on at all times too 💀).

Regardless i'm feeling fantastic, just 6 more days of the steri-strips on my incisions then i'm free!!

Now to continue catching up on uni work & the 3 assignments due over the next 3wks. 3k essay on integrative theory in counselling, a 45min planned co-facilitated group therapy session, & another 3k essay on the experience of being a co-facilitator + self-critique 🤞

[akitaboy]

Day 29 of post-op recovery! I'm finally able to rest relatively comfortably on my side with a few extra pillows, so my sleep is finally improving 😴

The massages are definitely helping the swelling, they're making me a little sore but it's worth it. Moisturizing the incisions & working it in is helping break down the scar tissue, so everything's flattening out nicely.

I can finally get loose t-shirts & jumpers on, as well as put my own socks & shoes on without issue! The tighter fitting clothes have to wait but i'm loving how it looks. Almost time to start working on losing some weight & building muscle!

I also tried putting my laptop backpack on to prepare for uni next week, but I don't think that's a thing I should be doing yet as it felt like it was stretching too much. Guess i'm taking notes on my phone Onenote app for class 😅 thank goodness for account syncing!

[akitaboy]

Day 25 & I am now free from the graft dressings! Double incisions are covered for a further 3wks but i'm *very happy* with the results already.

My italian heritage is really shining through 😂 I was clean-shaven the day of surgery, it's definitely making the itching of the healing incisions worse lol

It's going to take some getting used to, having clothing on parts of my chest that have never touched them before. As well as the slight sensation I have in the grafts against fabric too. It's.. odd to say the least. Some parts of my chest are overly sensitive to the point fabric hurts a little, & other parts still feel like they've been novacaine'd.

I'm so damn happy everything's healing beautifully, my range of motion is freeing up even more & now my aftercare routine includes 3x daily massages (which is heavenly ngl). Can't wait to be free of the tape & lift my fat ass cat again 🤣

[akitaboy]

Day 18 & i'm finally on the last of the double incision dressings, grafts are still healing well & will be dressed for a while longer to prevent chafing too. Getting even more nerve twinges as well so it's looking likely i'll have at least more than partial sensation back on both sides. Bonus is i'm only taking pain relief before bed now, it's more muscle soreness (as well as the nerve pain) then anything now.

I'm so excited to go swimming when it gets warmer here though 🥺 there's a local hot pool that i'm really keen to go visit once i'm fully healed & no longer risking any infections or whatnot. I haven't been swimming in over a decade due to dysphoria, but now i'm psyched!

Having top surgery in the middle of Aotearoa's South Island Winter has been An Experience for sure. I miss my tight-fitting thermal layers that kept me nice & toasty, a thick fluffy gown is a close second but i'm looking forward to getting back into normal clothes again since I've just been wearing trackpants with a loose button up underneath the gown nearly 24/7. We've run out of firewood & it's too expensive/difficult to get more rn so it's all about the layers.

I go back to my volunteer position tomorrow on light duties too, which i'm really looking forward to because i've been *so utterly bored* as I haven't been able to go to work or class. I'm trying not to overdo anything, but the least I can do is exercise my brain 😂

[akitaboy]

End of day 14! Feeling better each day & the nerve twinges/novacaine sensation are the weirdest things about top surgery at this point. These dang dressings do not want to stay on either, thank goodness for medical tape! Still can't wear regular shirts either 💀

The free waxing sessions are nearing their end, but my chest hair is coming back & not helping with the itch factor rn lmao. Makes me so glad I never had a post-op binder, I don't think my neurodivergent ass could have handled that tbh

Hope y'all are ready for more topless photos as things progress lol

[akitaboy]

That first real shower after top surgery is a bit nerve-wracking honestly. The grafts are healing slowly but surely, but it's a bit scary having them uncovered at the moment (maybe that's just my contamination OCD flaring up but my fear of infection is REAL HIGH at the moment).

Despite that, it's so nice being able to wrap a towel around just my lower half & love what I see in the mirror. Looking at my new flat chest brings me joy every time. Every button up shirt fits like i'd always imagined it would too, what an awesome feeling.

I've also been able to start sleeping slightly flatter on my back which is *so much more comfortable*. I'm not a back sleeper so sleep has been awful lately (stiff back, neck, & shoulders too ugh), thank goodness I have plenty of time off to recoup so I can just nap when i'm tired at the moment.

It's day 12 & i'm already reducing basic pain relief, getting more range of motion back, as well as gaining more independence day-by-day.

Now to wait til i'm healed enough to get my celebratory tattoo under my scars

[akitaboy]

1 week post-op from top surgery & i'm free from the drains! I didn't feel anything past them snipping the stitches to release them thank goodness

The incisions & grafts are healing beautifully, & between dressing changes the nurse let me see my bare chest in the mirror for the first time, it's everything I hoped for 🥺

Back on Monday to remove the graft stitches!

[akitaboy]

Stitches removed! Felt nothing on one side, & half of it on the other so I guess i'm getting partial sensation back already! What a *great* time to discover that 😂

I can finally have a real shower, everything's healing to the point that I'm self-managing dressing changes until the end of the month, when I go see my surgeon for my last post-op appt 😊

So incredibly happy with the results & that the grafts are holding. One side is dealing better than the other but hey, they're both taking! Hot Boy Summer is gonna be fantastic this year 😎

[akitaboy]

1 week post-op from top surgery & i'm free from the drains! I didn't feel anything past them snipping the stitches to release them thank goodness

The incisions & grafts are healing beautifully, & between dressing changes the nurse let me see my bare chest in the mirror for the first time, it's everything I hoped for 🥺

Back on Monday to remove the graft stitches!

[akitaboy]

Putting my hands on my flat chest, that I've waited over a decade for, is creating immediate euphoria for me rn it's like a dream come true

It feels like (pun fully intended) that a huge weight has been lifted off me & I truly Did Not Realise just how much it was impacting my mental health until it was gone

Like I'm currently unable to do Alot Of Things so my partner + their family have been helping but I Know that in a few weeks I'll have my independence back & I can start truly LIVING MY BEST LIFE

[akitaboy]

Top Surgery went well & i'm free from the hospital to go recover at home now!

This is absolutely a dream come true after waiting over a decade on the public waiting list!

Also i'm so glad I finished this shirt in time, I adore it, so did the nurses & my surgeon 😂

[akitaboy]

<72hrs to go until Top Surgery!!! 🥳

Shirt is done so have this WIP, i'll post the finished version when I can take my first post-op photos 👀

[kaipokuwolf]

So i've decided i'm gonna stitch something on a cotton button up shirt to wear post-op since I have to stay in the hospital for 48hrs

Both answers are bird references btw lmao

Which one should I stitch on my top surgery shirt

"Oh no, my TITS flew off"

"Bye Bye BOOBIES"

Voting ended onJun 3, 2024

[akitaboy]

9 days left before the reveal of the finished shirt!! So here's a sneak peek of an edited mock-up I made for the pocket of my celebration shirt 👀

Yes he has a little trans pride party hat, it was an important edit 🥳

[kaipokuwolf]

So i've decided i'm gonna stitch something on a cotton button up shirt to wear post-op since I have to stay in the hospital for 48hrs

Both answers are bird references btw lmao

Which one should I stitch on my top surgery shirt

"Oh no, my TITS flew off"

"Bye Bye BOOBIES"

Voting ended onJun 3, 2024

[akitaboy]

The 10 years, 1 month, & 6 days I've been waiting on the public top surgery list is officially over!

I will be having top surgery on July 5th!! 🥳

[kaipokuwolf]

With the love & support of my adoring partner as well as their family, we celebrated accomplishing our degrees together as we both shared our celebrations on the same day ❤️

Shouting & cheering them on with their parents from the stands as they walked the stage, & them in turn all doing the same for me was such a special moment that I'll always remember. All of their love & support has kept me inspired to continue working hard on my studies, which I can't wait to share more events just like these with them in the future!

I stitched these lovely removable trencher covers for the occasion 🥳 my partner who majored in English + Media & Communications chose the TV Test Signal, & I who majored in Psychology + Health & Wellbeing chose a design with customized text from Justin McElroy.

These art pieces will be framed alongside our degrees so that we can hang them all together as a reminder of such a special occasion that we were privileged to share with each other ❤️

[kaipokuwolf]

I feel like this was the perfect piece to begin 2024! This project took 50.5hrs over 43 days, using a total of 25.2 metres of thread! Started 9th January & finished 20th Feburary 🤯

Still need to finish the tassel hole, backing, & elastic edging to slip on the top of my graduation cap - but that's 1 of 2 projects completed for the graduation ceremony! Now onto my partners cap topper project 😊

Project info: Custom colours (B5200 + ANC 1375) & centre piece + quote, Modern Folk Embroidery "Move Forward in Love" 2022 SAL on 14ct Pewter Grey Aida, quote by Justin McElroy.