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Hi Monica, You're certainly correct, face to face is Always Better and I think many people hide behind their screens. In business I often hear people say "Well, I sent them an email..." to which I respond "Why not pick up the phone and Call them?" It's too easy to pick an excuse and accept a distorted reality that it's okay to drop the ball. That said, though, I think an issue with the trans community is that most really do want to simply blend in, to be identified as their true gender and not stand out or be confused with their birth gender. I can't blame them at all. Some trans folks are comfortable identifying as trans and many (most?) are not. I imagine that's the way it will be until our society not only accepts but also embraces trans as viable and valuable members of society. But, I know what you mean, and it's good to express the desire that we stand up for ourselves and remain a community. Thank goodness for TG Guide, which provides me with even this little way that I too can stand up alongside those who are much braver and steadfast than me. Emma

Dear Karen, May I suggest Vitamin E softgels to speed healing and, with your doctor's permission, after your stitches have been removed, putting Vitamin E liquid (by piercing a Vitamin E softgel) onto the scar, to prevent scarring. Women tolerate pain much better than men, in my opinion, due to estrogen, and also women are designed to tolerate pain better in order to give birth. Tolerated pain very well in all my surgeries and used very little prescription medicine, EXCEPT for my radical hysterectomy, (removed all my female organs along with the top third of my vagina), as well as biopsies of all my internal organs in my abdomen, to ensure no spread of the cancer. Had to use medical marijuana for two weeks after the hysterectomy, as NOTHING covered my pain, although when I was in the hospital, the nurses commented they saw nobody use the morphine pump less than I did. Wish the morphine pump came home with me or that I stayed longer in the hospital. Because I was a Medicare/Medicaid patient, I was in the hospital two nights and three days. Continue getting well, my friend. Yours truly, Monica

Dear Karen, When I had surgery on my left breast at the 9 O'Clock position, to remove a benign growth deep inside the breast, I wore a compression bra post surgery. Had Percocet, which did cover the pain. Of course, a biopsy is very different than a breast augmentation or mastectomy. My thoughts and prayers are with you for your continued recovery. Your friend, Monica

In regards to not wearing makeup for a week, that's hard to believe. I would think that three days afterwards you should be able to wear makeup as I have done so in the past.

Monica, I agree sooo much with that! I was very happy to finally find a TG support group in the city, I'll be going to that in a couple of weeks (they meet the 1st Wednesday of each month). TG Guide has been wonderful and indispensable, but I know that being face-to-face with other trans people will be so very nice. And I do think that communities based on technology sometimes get overrated. Especially when it's based on "liking" facebook posts, and "re-tweeting." Those are easy. At least with TG Guide we have more extensive and meaningful discussions xoxo Christie

Yep... I googled "Electra Woman," too. I also looked at the 1976 calendar to see why I couldn't really say I remembered the show. Seems it's regular timeslot was on Saturday mornings. Perhaps about the time the show came on, my brother and I might have been doing chores, or there were cartoons on that we preferred to watch.

Just had a call from the surgeon's office asking me how I was doing. One of her comments was "does it feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest?" I said, never thought of it like that but yes we can go with that. Have an appointment with them a 10:30 tomorrow morning. I have been taking mini-naps but nothing more than 60 minutes. If I didn't say it before I will say it now, all the pain is worth it

Oh my, I'll admit I didn't remember about Electra Woman, but when I googled it I did recall the show. Not a bad choice

So glad that your recovery seems to be going so well! I hadn't thought about the implications for sleeping before. I can imagine it's an adjustment even after the recovery from surgery is done. I sleep on my side and there would suddenly be a new weight pulling down. Still, I can't wait

Thanks Veronica, will watch the video later (it's 1 AM and my friend is asleep). ROTFFL on the nuke keys.

Congratulations, Karen, and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Oh my, does it date me too much to admit that when I was very young, I really wanted to be Electra Woman? (Yeah, you younger ones will have to Google that... )