does anyone agree dilation is the most painful part of transition???

[milktea]

and if i'm not alone in my opinion, why is the topic of dilation relatively less mentioned?? eg i never knew it is so painful to cough with a dilator inside, what dynamic dilation is before, or just how much a year's regime takes a toll on one's patience and tolerence. it hurts during and after, right about before the next session...i feel like i'm running out of steam here even when it has just been 2.5 mths post op...

sorry for the venting...

[Vicky]

I am at ten weeks now, and at worst my dilation is a messy nuisance by this time.  My first couple of weeks though were fire on wheels.  I had a minor set back though in the form of a yeast infection that turned every suture line into an open trail of pain when I inserted to dilator.  When that was under control though, things were still uncomfortable and more than a little depressing, but I did learn some things that helped and have made life come to a point where I can deal with the discomfort.

Be sure you have enough lubricant on the dilator itself, but do not over do it.  A film of lubricant all over it from tip to top mark, but so the stuff is not hanging off in gobs.

Take time as you are inserting the dilator, and slowly "tease" it into the opening, if necessary, rotate it a bit to advance it in to depth. The massaging of rotating it can help things. If you hit a sore spot, pull it back out and wait until the pain stops, and you will usually be able to go past the spot with comfort. The entire insertion exercise counts on your time, not just the time you are at full depth. Pumping the dilator just a bit keeps the tissue inside from pinching on itself. Ramming the dilator in like its a nail you are pounding into a board will hurt badly.

Body position helps as well, keep head low and put a thick folded towel under your hips to straighten out the vaginal cavity, keep the towel just up from your butt crack to avoid a problem there.  Keep your legs with your knees up, and apart at shoulder width like you want to wrap your legs around a partners body when the time comes for penetrative sex.

As for the coughing and sneezing, I actually sneezed once, and I had taken my hand off the dilator to cover the sneeze, I shot the darn thing out about six inches from my crotch.  If you feel a sneeze or cough coming on,  pull the dilator out half way, and it will become bearable.

If you are still having real pain though, check with your surgeon, or go to a gynecologist if your surgeon is miles away and have them see if there is a real reason in the form of a yeast or other infection.

I did not believe any of this when a friend first told me either, but give it a try, and you can fib about discovering this all on your own!!

[JennX]

At 4 weeks post-op, I have little pain from dilation to speak of. No severe pain. Haven't used any painkillers either, nor any narcotic meds. I have heard some stories from other girls, but this has not been my experience (knocks on wood). As long you are inserting the dilator properly... at a 45° downward angle going in, and then leveling off to a more or less flat 0° parallel plane level with your flat torso lying down... and not pushing too hard, I've experienced little to no pain, but more a mild level of discomfort... like a hard plastic tube is stuck in there, stretching stuff... which it is.  The time it takes to dilate, and having to live your life around it for the first 6 months or so does suck. I agree with you there.

If you are still experiencing pain at this time, I'd advise talking to your surgeon.

[Nicole]

For me it was the most boring thing I've ever done.

Now its not as bad when I do, do it.

[Jenna Marie]

Like others have said, the boredom and having to do it so frequently got to me a lot more than the discomfort; I never had severe pain (but I don't do dynamic dilation, either). It did start to hurt around the 4-month mark, but my GP recommended massaging the scar tissue around the entrance gently a couple times a day and that fixed it.

You definitely do want to be in the position that Vicky suggests, and personally I found it a huge help to buy a vaginal applicator (like they sell with yeast infection kits) and use it to put some lube deep inside before I actually inserted the dilator.

My sympathies! I hope it gets better for you.

[Tristan]

I guess I'm lucky as well the minor pain only lasted the first two months tops. Now sometimes it's ... Well lets just say fun

[lana777]

i thought it was going to be such a nuisance, but it turned out i liked doing it ... kinda gave me private time away from the bf lmao. felt nice to just go lay in bed and dilate every now and then. and now its just become such a part of life that i can barely remember to do it once a week lol.

[Vicky]

OK, what is Dynamic Dilation?  I am not sure of the term.

I do move mine around once I am at depth inside, and you can get rhythmn that is vitalizing to nerves repairing their connections.  Trick to that is not so fast you burn up the lubricant or pinch yourself on a dry spot.  Gentle in and out movement can make life better at times. 

[NJade]

The most painful? Nah. I'll take the physical bits over the GD and the coming outs and all the emotional pain any day. Physical pain is temporary and you cannot remember the pain when it's over, just the fact that you had it.

But going to #4, or Mr. Orange to my Brassard sisters, that hurt a bunch. You really need to be generous with the lubricant. I'm 7 weeks or so from going down to just Mr. Orange and then cutting back to once a week. I'll be very happy to be able to go out of town and leave the dilator  behind.

As for the boredom, that, my dears, is what Netflix is for. Find a good TV series (I'm watching Angel right now) and just make it part of your routine. It passes the time nicely.

I'll tell you what I hated more than anything were the Sitz baths...hated.

N.J.

[milktea]

seems like you are all doing fine! just to clarify i do not think the pain is excrutiating at any time, but sort of chronic soreness after a session. then it's the dilation itself which takes hours off my day. all that just kind of slowly wears my patience off..
since dilation takes up sp much of one's life post op, or at least for the first couple of months, i am surprised that the topic is often less mentioned. i would definitely suggest a dedicated section where everyone can share their experience!

[Nicole]

OK, what is Dynamic Dilation?  I am not sure of the term.

I do move mine around once I am at depth inside, and you can get rhythmn that is vitalizing to nerves repairing their connections.  Trick to that is not so fast you burn up the lubricant or pinch yourself on a dry spot.  Gentle in and out movement can make life better at times.

If I recall, I think its intercourse.

[Anatta]

Kia Ora Milktea,

Yes it can be quite painful and time consuming...But it does get better...Perhaps this might help...

http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/SRS/Zen/Postop%20Maintenance.html

I dilate once every four to six weeks, it's coming up to eight years since my surgery...


Metta Zenda

[milktea]

If I recall, I think its intercourse.

i wish that is the case. it is a fancy suporn term for alternating rotation and applying pressure at 15 sec intervals.

[Tristan]

seems like you are all doing fine! just to clarify i do not think the pain is excrutiating at any time, but sort of chronic soreness after a session. then it's the dilation itself which takes hours off my day. all that just kind of slowly wears my patience off..
since dilation takes up sp much of one's life post op, or at least for the first couple of months, i am surprised that the topic is often less mentioned. i would definitely suggest a dedicated section where everyone can share their experience!

Your right on that. In the beginning it really is some pain there. But it will get better really soon

[Catherine Sarah]

Not wishing to go off topic, but we are fairly close to a question I have.

Would anyone wish to comment on the pain/experience of having the packing removed.

From what I understand, this packing is considerably larger than even the largest dilator.

Is there much associated in this process?

I appreciate your comments.

Huggs
Catherine

[Denjin]

I don't find it comfortable (when near max depth), and it's been 7 years or so.  I had some complications, so that might be the cause...I still do it once a week after 7 years, too.

I can't recall details on how the packing being removed felt other than it wasn't very pleasant (sorry I'm not more helpful).

[jamied]

Regarding Catherine's question on packing removal; I didn't even realize when Dr. McGinn took it out.  I had read accounts of how painful and uncomfortable the removal was, but it was a non-event for me.

[JennX]

Regarding Catherine's question on packing removal; I didn't even realize when Dr. McGinn took it out.  I had read accounts of how painful and uncomfortable the removal was, but it was a non-event for me.

This was my experience as well. I went in expecting the worst and was tightly gripping the table in preparation right before it was removed... but it was fast and I only experienced mild discomfort. Same with the catheter removal as well, which I also heard from some, was majorly painful.

[Vicky]

On the packing removal -- Part of mine had started coming out the night before it was to be removed, and I had been instructed to cut it off and leave the rest.  The next day in the doctors office, the nurse took an end hanging out, and began pulling on it, but there was a mirror on the wall behind her where I saw it coming out, nearly 18 feet of gauze!!  Not painful, but the sight of what I had in me coming out had my eyes popping and mouth dropping.  Not a bad feeling, but WEIRD.

[NJade]

The removal of my alien baby was far less traumatic than I thought it would be. If there was any Pain I have no memory of it.