Pelvic muscle and dilation

[Gone]

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[Adabelle]

Hi Cherrie,

I had surgery with Dr. Suporn about 10 weeks ago. I go through the same things you go through, and it does feel the same inside as you describe. The biggest thing I do is just really try and relax and try and not tense up. I also take a mild laxative each day to make sure I'm not constipated down there at all as I've noticed this makes it harder and more painful to dilate. I just take a gentle one called Miralax each day as prescribed by my doctor.

From what I can tell the things you describe are normal. Our bodies are going through various stages of healing and swelling goes up and down from day to day as things get better. I believe it will get better and better over time. I have ups and downs too but I am committed to not developing a negative relationship towards dilation

Hugs

[Robyn]

Some of the 'lumpy' you feel may be the prostate. It becomes smaller with estrogen, but doesn't disappear.

Prelubing the vagina is a good technique. Lube the stent, too.

And relax; don't hurry the insertion.

Tips based on 13 years of twice-a-week dilation.

Robyn

[Megan Rose]

I'm nearing 12 weeks postop, but only about 8 weeks of dilation due to postop complications. 

At first, I was having to use a Pratt Dilator - a small steel dilator with no taper and a slight curve at the end.  That dilator would readily twist to follow the path of my vagina - right, then left, then up, and would even try to go down though I wouldn't let it go that way. 

Finger examination revealed much the same as you described - the inside had numerous ridges - presumably areas where scarring had made the diameter smaller, or where tissue was naturally wrinkled. 

I'm now using regular dilators, but, surprisingly, have been remiss in self-examination - It's time to go spelunking again.  I have noticed that the path has straigtened completely - the dilator just goes straight in without twists and turns.  I doubt that it will ever achieve the smooth walls of a natural vagina however - just thinking of the wrinkled tissue from which it was made. 

[bunyip]

You don't say which size dilator your using.

I hope you've not started with the largest. You should be starting small and over some months increase the size.

Two months after your second surgery. Are you sure the complication has been banished?

For the first 6 weeks post surgery I used (at the doctor's direction) a mold 24/7. It might be worth discussing this option with your surgeon/ doctor.

[Vicky]

From an old timer  here of 19 weeks +, I have learned a little trick on body position that helps with inserting your dilator.  Do not use a head pillow, and take a folded bath towel and put it under your hips.  Have your knees high and spread to shoulder width, and ready to lift your hips off the towel just a bit.  As you insert the dilator, if it has the curved end, be ready to twist it from side to side just a bit.  As you touch the opening of the vagina, raise your fanny just a bit so your hips sag down.  You do relax the pelvic floor muscle as you raise your hips up.  You will be able to tease the dilator in with the gentle twisting motion.  You are NOT trying to ram the D in like it was a nail, or a railroad spike.  The more gentle the insertion, even the hardest dilator starts to feel good. If you feel a pinching inside, twist the dilator and pull in out a fraction until the pinch relaxes, then gently rotate the D as you go back in.  That will smooth out the wrinkles and help you get to depth.  (Imagine you are inserting the D into a new rubber glove and it will give you a mental image of what you are doing.)