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Veal Cutlet Parmigiana, with Carolynn

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 6:53 pm
by CJ
Hi all,

I just had the great good fortune today to have lunch with our very own Carolynn and one of her friends. We went to this little Italian restaurant not too far from Dr. Brassard's clinic here in Montreal.

We had a delightful time. Carolynn is even more passionate, eloquent, and witty face-to-face than she is in her online interactions. All three of us talked about culture, history, science, religion, books, films, science-fiction, politics, being trans, and, yes, even about the weather. It's a pure pleasure to sit across from, and to chat with, someone whose interests are both varied and far-ranging.

She'll be staying in Montreal for another fortnight or so. I just wished we'd managed to connect a little sooner as she might be experiencing, quote, "slight discomfort," over the next few days.

I wish her wellness, health, and happiness in the life that's about to begin for her.

Including Carolynn, I've now had the privilege of meeting three forum members... all without ever leaving the comfort of my own home! :lol: Cool.

Love,
CJ

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:51 pm
by Anita
That's great, that the two of you can get together. My thoughts are with Carolynn at this time.

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 12:30 pm
by DonnaT
Cool!

Best wishes to Carolynn!

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:22 pm
by Leeza
Great.

I hope everything goes as planned Carolynn.

Leeza

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:28 am
by Absaroka
Carolynn I hope it goes well. Glad you and CJ got to meet.

Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 6:47 pm
by Carolynn
Meeting CJ was a great event. We were off and chatting right away, and experienced very pleasurable convertation. My friend Lois liked her too. Said she thought her girlfriend was very lucky and CJ was a "keeper". But we already knew that, didn't we?


Surgery went fine, and its now all over but the recovery.
Sitting is hard, so will keep this short and fill you in on the experience when it's not so hard. My thanks for the good thoughts.

Carolynn

Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 8:12 pm
by Leeza
Carolynn, glad the surgery went well and hoping for a speedy recovery for you.

Leeza

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 10:38 pm
by Absaroka
Carolynn I'm glad the surgery went well. Take it easy and tell us about it when you are up to it.

Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 12:43 am
by Anita
Rest easy, Carolynn. I hope you're doing well with your recovery.

Veal Cutlet Parmigiana

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 3:57 pm
by Gwen
[-o< =D>

Dearest,

You have no idea how much I desire this plate-full of hevan. I'm trying to make an XMas dinner of it..$$$$$ for the family (and SO :twisted: )

In total, your night sounds delicious in every aspect.

Huggs

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 9:48 pm
by CJ
Hi all,

Carolynn,

I know you and Lois are probably on your way home as I write this. I'm sorry we never got a chance to hook up at least once more before your trip home but work intruded as soon as I came back from my father's place on Monday night.

I'm glad things went well for you in the OR. Now, just take the time to relax, rest, and recover.

Again, it was a pleasure to meet you.

Love,
CJ

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:04 am
by SilverLady(SO)
Hi, Carolynn . . . may we presume that you had the ultimate surgery and are now 'whole'? Congratulations, hon, congratulations!! =D> Best of wishes for a complete and speedy recovery! [-o<


Speaking of gabbiness . . . although I've yet to meet our beautiful CJ, she and I have talked on the phone for hours - literally. There has never been a 'quick call' between us! CJ, hon, what do we have to do to get you (and Roxanne?) down here for a visit?!? :-k

- SL and Virginia

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 7:28 pm
by Carolynn
Yes, we are home, and recovery is continuing, and will for at least 6 months to a year. I was told to only consider myself completely healed in about a year. There may well be some swelling until then. And yes Silver Lady, I had the whole procedure! It took Dr. Brassard 3 1/2 hours to put right a travesty from 1943 by another doctor operating (humm, pun unintended) literally under a different paradigm than what is gradually becoming the new standard in cases of intersexuality.

The operation was performed under a spinal block, with just enough happy juice to keep me comfortable and not anxious. I had periods of full awareness when I conversed with the anesthesist (sp?) or one or more nurses, to let them know I was OK and feeling no pain. I was aware of pulling and tugging (which caused some bruising) but the undeveloped female features of the post mullerian duct syndrome were removed as well. The tissue was normal, so I dodged the cancer bullet in spite of waiting so many years to have it removed. Healing is proceeding rather rapidly and I am capable of consideral degree of activity, in part due to the excercise program I started last January, and my own ability to heal. Not a bad thing entirely, but I do have a tendency to push myself.

I had sufficient donor material to provide a decent depth for the neovagina, and unlike others had no problem passing urine after removal of the catheter. It wasn't painless, but at this point less than two weeks after surgery, I feel mild to medium discomfort rather than pain. Occasionally a single Tylenol is all it takes to control even that. That's if you discount the little jolts of electrical shock as severed nerves reconnect! :oops: Overall the experience was very good, and actually has been better than I anticipated. I thought I might have to stay with my friend Lois for a week, but was sufficently healed and capable to come home. I was ready to be here.

Drove the 80+ miles round trip to see my mother yesterday, and had a good three hours with her. We had Chinese, one of her favorites. Didn't get too pooped from that, so I decided to stay awake longer last night, so slept in this morning and have been running to catch up since. I did grocery shopping today, replacing all the items that I had trashed rather than let spoil in the 'fridge while I was gone. Expensive proposition, but set for most of the month now. Took awhile to carry in, as I am not to pick up more than 10 pounds for the rest of this month.

CJ, I also am sorry we couldn't get together again. Thanks for meeting with us and for your help to Lois. She thinks quite highly of you, you know.

When I returned home, I booted my confuser and was faced with the "blue screen of death" lock up. So I switched to an alternate, also reconditioned, and found it only recognizes a part of it's components. I did get on line, but such things as the DVD(R) are still not functional. Looking for solutions. It would not find the device so can't even search the internet for drivers, if I could set long enough. A friend may come to take it home early in the week to see what he can do with it.

I will, this week, take a trip to vital records and get my birth certificate changed, and then take care of my drivers license and social security/medicare notations. Then I think it will offcially be over.

Thanks to all of you for your good wishes. I have no doubt they contributed to the good outcome.

Just had a call from the nursing home. They are taking my Mom to the hospital after she complained of pain and was unable to pass urine, even with the aid of a catheter. Never rains but it pours. Please keep her in your thoughts.

Love, Carolynn

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 9:55 pm
by Leeza
Carolynn wrote
Please keep her in your thoughts.
I sure will.

Leeza

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 10:36 pm
by Absaroka
Thanks for the update Carolynn and I hope your mom will be okay.

Absaroka