Cleaning

[Layn]

I had surgery with Suporn about 2 months ago and have been wondering about a few things.

The instructions back in thailand were to clean my vagina with Hibiscrub before dilating and then at some point i could change to using my regular shower gel. Since it's an extra step in an already annoying and long process i wondered if i actually still need to do that every single time? It would make sense to, i guess, but it doesn't seem super important. It isn't even mentioned in the post-op guide. It just mentions cleaning afterwards. (it also mentions doing static dilation for an entire hour instead of 30 minutes as they told us at the clinic. so.. huh)

I'm also moving on to not using condoms some time soon. The instructions say to clean and disinfect the dilator after using it. Do you think it's enough to wash it with soap or should i get something extra to wash it?

I've started using a vaginal douche after dilating instead of the syringe i was given (which was falling apart anyway), but i'm not sure it's cleaning everything well enough. I still get quite some yellowish icky ... stuff coming out. i use it as often as i can until it starts to become difficult reinserting the nozzle, but it seems to actually be less efficient than the syringe, since i'm getting more of that yellowish stuff than before (i think). Might i be doing something wrong, or is it normal and i should just continue as i've been doing?

[Jenna Marie]

Brassard's instructions say that after 2 months, regular soap works to clean the vulva (and not to use *anything* inside the vagina, including douches, as it will disrupt the formation and maintenance of natural vaginal flora). Similarly, I've never used condoms, only washed my dilators in Hibiscrub for the first 2-3 months and regular antibacterial soap thereafter.

The "stuff" is probably dead skin, leftover lube, etc. shedding, and that will continue for a while.  As long as there's no new odor or color and no discomfort, it's probably normal. (If you have sudden pain, itching, or a really bad smell, though, contact a [local] doctor; might be a minor infection.)

[Layn]

so you don't clean at all inside? The instructions i got from suporn and his staff (and the guide) specifically told to use the douche, so i've started using it. I'd rather not though...

[Jenna Marie]

I don't clean inside, no. My instructions specifically did say not to, and by now (over a year post-op) I think I can safely say that if that were going to cause problems I would have noticed. Brassard was very clear that after 2 months it should be treated like any other vagina, meaning douching would upset things in there. On the other hand, since your instructions are different, I would follow your own surgeon.

As Cherrie says, it can't hurt to contact them... and if you do, ask how *long* you should douche. Since even Brassard says TO douche while it's still healing, it's entirely possible that your instructions are also that douching is good for a while, but then you can stop.

[Layn]

I guess i'll contact Sophie. I don't know why i'm avoiding it. I guess i'm just trying to make sure i really need to contact her, considering she probably already gets way too many mails.

When did you have your surgery, Cherrie? It's interesting how different our instructions are!
I stopped using Hibiscrub maybe 3 weeks after surgery? I didn't use it very long and they didn't give me any to take home (unlike Betadine and Silvex. Oh right i also wonder when i can stop using Silvex). Betadine i stopped using now at the end of the second month, which coincided with when the bottle of Betadine i got became empty.
I'm now only using the large dilator for 15 minutes 3 times a day. As i understood 15 minutes is enough if you're using the large one. I have to admit i sorta stubbornly forced myself to use the large one, but thankfully no problems. It does take longer to get in though but that is getting better now.

Did you sleep with a pad at night? I don't want to so i can let everything get a bit more air, but i really don't want to get my pyjama pants dirty like that. I've also had trouble sleeping on my side, but now that it's getting better it seems my body is so used to lying on the back that i just roll onto my back again when i fall asleep on my side .

[Jenna Marie]

For sleeping, we were told to *not* wear underwear or pajamas for at least 2 months. As a result, I know about a product called Chux. It's basically a protective disposable pad you can lay over the *bed,* and sleep naked on it and it'll protect the sheets. It's an annoying kinda crinkly thing, but beat having to ruin the sheets/do laundry every five minutes.