The PC (Kegel) muscle after SRS

[บ้านสิริรอดชีวิต]

I noticed the "vaginal dilation" page on the Susans.org wiki says dilation is required "due to the surrounding tissues, including the PC muscle, trying to move back to their original positions, forcing the neovagina closed." The "PC muscle" part of that scared me, as I had good control of the muscle before SRS, and now I'm a bit afraid to exercise it as I'm afraid flexing it might speed up the closing-up process that we dilate to counteract.

Are my fears real? Should post-op women avoid Kegel exercises, or are my fears unfounded?

[Jenna Marie]

With all due respect to the wiki, Brassard at least told us that the muscle had had a hole cut through it but was not substantially rearranged, and that the main issue with the *muscle* was it trying to clench shut against "invasion." (The vaginal tissue itself might try to heal closed, though.) In fact, the nurses encouraged us to master the Kegels thing, so that we could gain urinary continence back as fast as possible. I don't think it does any harm; certainly didn't for me, at any rate.

[mrs izzy]

I exersise mine while I dilate. I squeeze down douring.

And what Jenna said.

Only thing to add is if you stop dilations your body in time will try to get back to as much as it was before GCS hence the lifetime of some type of dilation. Its just a natural body defence.

Isabell

[Jenna Marie]

Isabell : Yeah, I have a little fun trying to push the dilator out or draw it in sometimes. What can I say, dilation gets boring...

(The PC muscle was the first amazing experience I ever had about having a vagina : I squeezed it while the packing was still in, and it was the first time I could *feel* my actual vagina.)

[Vicky]

Having that nice little bit of muscle contract spontaneously with a sneeze while you are dilating is an adventure!!  Darn near a missile launcher!!  All of us have probably done it at least once.   

[บ้านสิริรอดชีวิต]

With all due respect to the wiki, Brassard at least told us that the muscle had had a hole cut through it but was not substantially rearranged, and that the main issue with the *muscle* was it trying to clench shut against "invasion." (The vaginal tissue itself might try to heal closed, though.)

Hmm, I went to Chettawut and I'm not sure if his procedure also involves cutting a hole in the PC muscle; is it common for most/all surgeons? For what it's worth, the muscle doesn't appear to have given me any problems while dilating; I understand it can for some folks.

I exersise mine while I dilate. I squeeze down douring.

Good idea. I think I'll start doing likewise. It also eases my fear to know nurses have explicitly suggested Kegels as part of post-op care.

Having that nice little bit of muscle contract spontaneously with a sneeze while you are dilating is an adventure!!  Darn near a missile launcher!!  All of us have probably done it at least once.   

Oh, yes, I'll never forget the first time I sneezed while dilating... fire the torpedoes!

As an aside, I had to take out my nose ring prior to SRS. I'd previously read that nose piercings usually close up within 24 hours, and I forgot to put my ring back in until I got back to the hotel four days later... yet the ring went in easily with no resistance at all. I'm hoping that's a good sign, with regards to how quickly my body closes things up. (Still, I'm diligently dilating two hours a day as instructed, especially now during my crucial first few months.)

[Jenna Marie]

บ้านสิริรอดชีวิต : I *think* all techniques must involve a hole in the PC muscle somehow, as there is a hole formed naturally in it for cis women but there is NOT for babies which developed as "boys." There's basically no way to access the abdomen without going through that muscle. That said, I didn't have a huge issue with it, either.

I hope the nose ring does in fact bode well for you in the future.

[Seyranna]

Had pretty solid control of PC muscles pre surgery and my dilations are a nightmare. I basically have to twist the biggest dilators in because the muscles constrict way too much and it closes pretty freakin fast between dilations. Maybe it's related and maybe it's not IDK I can't tell for sure.

3 months post BTW.