So what the heck do you do to occupy the time spent each day dilating. For myself I have done the following:
Downloaded and listened to electronic books from iTunes.
Listened to music.
Messed with my laptop
Counted bumps on the ceiling
Watched TV.
Does anyone do anything really wacky :)
Steph
I just watch TV or listen to music. I really don't think I can do anything else for now, maybe later, when I am more used to it, I will be able to do more things. Right now it is a major event as it is, I need complete silence to start, I need three or four pillows, a chair for my feet, I just have to be very relaxed; otherwise, I won't be able to do it. But once I start, things get easier, and I am okay.
Quote from: StephDoes anyone do anything really wacky
Like applying makeup or brushing your hair....I still can't get over that one :D...
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
• iPod or radio
• Read a book (with my special patented Stormy technique involving creative use of cushions ;D)
• Catch up on phone calls to friends
• Occasional DVDs on the Mac (don't own a TV)
Use a digital timer with multiple clocks. Plenty of kitchen towels.
5 minutes with the smaller stent, 30 mins with the large one, once every 4 days, 18 months postop.
I'm just curious. What position(s) do you or can you lay in to dialate? This will help me with planning ahead of time.
Melissa
Quote from: Melissa on January 22, 2007, 04:05:35 PM
I'm just curious. What position(s) do you or can you lay in to dialate? This will help me with planning ahead of time.
Melissa
I'm semi laying down on my back knees drawn up and turned slightly outwards.
And for stormy - with a Mac you don't need a TV :) I have my books on my iPod as well as music, really quite handy as I used the stop watch to time my sessions. Oh yes and if you have a Macbook Pro you can take your picture with your isight. That's where my avatar came from, I snapped it while dilating but I can't remember while I was smiling :)
Steph
Thanks Steph, that helps a lot.
Melissa
Hmmmm....
I used to do the above things.
In addition I would phone friends, brush the cats (they would normally sit on my chest), listen to the radio or CD's, read the newspaper write e-mails on my laptop and believe it or not ... sleep.
I used to set the alam clock and just try and nod off at times.
I learned to dilate on my back and on both sides, quite often if I fell asleep I would end up on my side, once or twice on my front.
My easiest position was on my back with pillows behind my back (so I was at about 45 degrees, with a couple of pillows under my knees, so my thighs where raised. In the early days I used a plastic bottle with a towel around it to keep the dilator in place (the bottle was held in place by the pillows under my knees.
Buffy
Quote from: Melissa on January 22, 2007, 04:05:35 PM
I'm just curious. What position(s) do you or can you lay in to dialate? This will help me with planning ahead of time.
This is the best guide I found pre-surgery.
WarningNot work or family-friendly.
http://intelleng.com/zen.html
Quote from: Stormy Weather on January 22, 2007, 06:21:55 PM
Warning
Not work or family-friendly.
Hehe, thanks for the warning. I'll look at it when I get home. :)
Melissa
;D Hey without going all over the web, we have an article here at Susan's. I believe the article is picture-free except for the photos of the dilators. There are also several links at the bottom of the article.
VAGINAL DILATION (https://www.susans.org/wiki/?title=Vaginal_dilation&redirect=no)
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
Quote from: Tinkerbell on January 22, 2007, 06:38:18 PM
;D Hey without going all over the web, we have an article here at Susan's. I believe the article is picture-free except for the photos of the dilators. There are also several links at the bottom of the article.
VAGINAL DILATION (https://www.susans.org/wiki/?title=Vaginal_dilation&redirect=no)
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
Actually I'm in the process of editing it and there is a picture there now and i added the link that Stormy provided :) I still have some work to do on it.
Steph
Steph, I didn't need to know about your picture. YUCk. I always listen to music either on the radio or on my cd player. I'm post op just under 3 years now and I do it once a week, but then I forget or I will pass it off and sometimes twice a month or once a month. When I do that it is harder to put it in. So, I try to make sure I do it on Fridays as that is my laundry day and by the time I'm done so is the laundry well some of it anyway.
Sheila
I fell asleep doing it last night, not a good thing. See what happens when I put too much thought into it. It is a good time to think though, a good time to sort things out in your head.
Steph
Quote from: Steph on January 27, 2007, 12:34:54 AM
I fell asleep doing it last night, not a good thing.
LOL ;D :D OMG, did you leave the dilator where you were not supposed to..? >:D
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
Quote from: Tinkerbell on January 27, 2007, 12:41:59 AM
Quote from: Steph on January 27, 2007, 12:34:54 AM
I fell asleep doing it last night, not a good thing.
LOL ;D :D OMG, did you leave the dilator where you were not supposed to..? >:D
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
It was in place... It was the last one and the longest one (time wise) of the session and I guess I was just laying there all comfy, well as comfy as you can get with that thing inside you, and I nodded off. Must be getting used to "this thing we do"
Steph
Quote from: Steph on January 27, 2007, 01:24:34 AM
Quote from: Tinkerbell on January 27, 2007, 12:41:59 AM
Quote from: Steph on January 27, 2007, 12:34:54 AM
I fell asleep doing it last night, not a good thing.
LOL ;D :D OMG, did you leave the dilator where you were not supposed to..? >:D
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
It was in place... It was the last one and the longest one (time wise) of the session and I guess I was just laying there all comfy, well as comfy as you can get with that thing inside you, and I nodded off. Must be getting used to "this thing we do"
Steph
Actually I heard that there was this GRS surgeon who used to doze off in the middle of the operation, can you imagine? he still performs GRS, not on a regular basis though, for he's now retired..... ;D...things that you hear, huh?
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
Luck for everyone he is retired now.
steph
Quote from: Tinkerbell on January 27, 2007, 01:35:35 AM
Actually I heard that there was this GRS surgeon who used to doze off in the middle of the operation, can you imagine? he still performs GRS, not on a regular basis though, for he's now retired..... ;D...things that you hear, huh?
So he went from tired to retired. ;D
Melissa
Steph, have you named him yet? I named mine William Hurt. My friends would enquire "William Hurt?" at the revelation. I would answer; "He sure does!"
Cindi
I named my process of dilation as called "Wachang" I called it that because my nurses when they came in called my vagina "wagina" so Pat and I called my process Wachang. It sort of caught on and when we are in public I can say I have to do my wachang tonight and she would understand, but no one around us would.
Sheila
hmmmmmm...I'd not thought of that. But, wouldn't you have to name
all four of them then?
Quote from: SheilaI named my process of dilation as called "Wachang"
This seems more appropriate, naming the
process instead of the
four little devils. There you go, I inadvertently found a name for the four of them, the four little devils...lol :D
I will have to think of a better name though.
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
Quote from: Tinkerbell on January 27, 2007, 02:11:21 PM
hmmmmmm...I'd not thought of that. But, wouldn't you have to name all four of them then?
Quote from: SheilaI named my process of dilation as called "Wachang"
This seems more appropriate, naming the process instead of the four little devils. There you go, I inadvertently found a name for the four of them, the four little devils...lol :D
I will have to think of a better name though.
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
I have five Tink. I haven't thought of names but the largest of them I've referred to as my "handsome devil". And as far as the process well I just call it that thing I do. :)
Step
Hmmm, I never considered any of them handsome. They were my pain in the a-- to me. I did buy a dildo and thought it was the ugliest thing I had ever seen. It works quite well though when I'm looking for variety. Then there is my vibrator, pretty color, pearlized lavender, I think I like her the best. She keeps on going, thats when I have had a rough morning and need some relaxation therapy. It helps. I put some Elton John music on and I'm in heaven.
Sheila
Masturbate >:D >:D >:D
(I ain't kidding...I mean...what is the question here?)
Dawn
Quote from: DawnL on January 27, 2007, 09:17:22 PM
Masturbate >:D >:D >:D
(I ain't kidding...I mean...what is the question here?)
Dawn
Ya but isn't masturbating supposed to be fun :)
Steph
Yep, Yep, Yep!
Masturbation is fun!
Get the worst over then you can start to enjoy yourself, as soon as you feel able (and your dilation routine allows), get a vibrator, they are fun and can be used instead of the stents.
;D ;D ;D
Hey! This is a great idea for a Wiki article: Post-op masturbation - methods, techniques, safety, all the ins and outs of the whole process! ;D
hugs & giggles
helen
Quote from: DawnL on January 27, 2007, 09:17:22 PM
Masturbate >:D >:D >:D
(I ain't kidding...I mean...what is the question here?)
Dawn
LOL I know you're not kidding! ;D, but I agree with Steph. Masturbation is supposed to be a
great >:D experience and not a pain on the neck. I'm sure that will change in the future, but right now I just can't get into
funny moods when the
little devils are in place. ;) LOL
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
Heh.
Actually I am tending to agree that it would make a good wiki topic.
My therapist mentioned something along the lines of needing to masturbate a lot post op.
Go figure.
Ok Helen since it was your idea why not add an article as part of the current article on "Vaginal dilations" :) Of course it has to be in accordance with the Wiki format and rules :P
Steph
Helen...
I will provide the soundtrack!!!!
;D
Thnx for the great assignment, Steph! I'll make it my first priority as soon as I'm post-op so I can provide some original research.
Until then, though, I'm afraid I wouldn't know what I was talking about.
:D
helen