Why Trans Recovery Supply Exists: A Story Rooted in Real Recovery

Trans Recovery Supply was created from lived experience — from navigating recovery firsthand and seeing where traditional systems fall short.

Throughout my gender-affirming surgery journey, recovery often felt more complicated than it needed to be. Beyond the physical healing, there was the constant stress of trying to figure out which recovery supplies were actually needed, where to find them, and how to make sure nothing essential was missed.

Retail stores rarely carried the full range of supplies required, and when they did, items were often sold in small quantities that only lasted a day or two. This meant frequent trips to multiple stores, last-minute online orders, and ongoing interruptions to rest and healing. My partner often had to step in to help track down supplies while I was recovering — adding strain during a time when both of us were already emotionally and physically exhausted.

Preparing for surgery was already overwhelming. Adding the responsibility of sourcing reliable, quality recovery supplies only compounded that stress.

The Gaps in Traditional Recovery Planning

Like many people, I relied on a general recovery supply list provided by my surgical team. While helpful, it wasn’t comprehensive enough to cover the realities of day-to-day recovery.

Fulfilling that list required purchasing from several different online retailers, often because no single store carried everything I needed. Shipping costs quickly added up, and even after all that effort, I still found myself needing additional supplies that weren’t included on the original list.

Recovery doesn’t always follow a straight line. Adjustments are often needed, and finding those supplies mid-recovery — especially while healing from major surgery — can feel unnecessarily difficult.

Learning Through Experience and Community

Over time, and through multiple surgeries — both successful and challenging — I gained firsthand insight into which recovery supplies felt genuinely supportive and which ones didn’t.

Since December 2015, my partner and I spent years learning from:

• Personal recovery experiences
• Community blogs and shared stories
• Online forums and support spaces
• YouTube videos documenting real recovery journeys
• Conversations with trans and gender-diverse people actively healing

What stood out most was how much collective knowledge existed — and how scattered it all was.

People were learning through trial, error, and shared experience, yet there was no central place that brought commonly used recovery supplies together in a way that felt intentional, affirming, and accessible.

Creating Trans Recovery Supply

Trans Recovery Supply was created to help close that gap.

The goal was simple: make recovery feel more manageable by bringing together commonly used recovery supplies in one place — thoughtfully curated, easy to access, and grounded in lived experience.

TRS offers recovery kits designed to support a range of gender-affirming procedures, as well as a Build Your Kit option for those who prefer a more personalized approach. This allows individuals to choose supplies that align with their specific instructions, comfort needs, and recovery preferences.

In addition to providing supplies, TRS also shares educational content that helps people understand why certain items are commonly included during recovery — without prescribing care or replacing professional guidance.

A Commitment to Ongoing Care and Community

Trans Recovery Supply will continue evolving alongside the community it serves. We’re always listening, learning, and paying attention to what people find helpful during recovery.

If there are supplies you wish were easier to access, or products you feel would better support recovery journeys, we welcome those conversations. TRS exists because of shared experience — and it grows through community input.

Healing doesn’t have to feel isolating or overwhelming. It can be approached with preparation, care, and dignity.

— Anen

This post reflects personal experience and the origins of Trans Recovery Supply. It is not medical advice and does not replace guidance from a licensed healthcare provider.