some Chett questions

[FinallyMe84]

Hey, this is for any Chett girls out there. I have scheduled my srs and trachea shave for June 12. For anyone who has already had the surgery, do u really have to dilate for two full hours every day? That seems like so much, but I really believe that chett is the one for me, so I'll have to do it. After two years, dilation is allowed for less time, right?

Also, would you suggest definitely getting electrolysis down there before surgery, or can it wait? Thanks all for any help

Jessica

[Poison_Ivy]

Well they keep saying it, but how I planned it in my head is definitely follow the 3 times a day schedule for the first 3 months and figure your body out from then;3
I wanna be down to 1 a day by the time I start school next fall, which is going to be exhausting enough on its own without dilations and working out.
I've only been dilating for a few days, but for me it's easy and moderately painless, it's just such a chore, and the cleanup afterwards is annoying.

I think they just have to say it so they can't be held responsible in an event that you lose depth due to your own adjustments, which at this stage I'm not sure is likely, but I'll see xD

[calico]

The 2 hours is collectively,  I think the length requirement i.e. 2 years is fairly new as when I had my surgery March 2013, it was only 1 year,  and currently I will dilate 3 to how ever often I want a week.  I do usually dilate an hour, usually. If you can get electro down there before surgery I would recommend it,  as for clean up it gets better as you become more acquainted with your new anatomy.

[Apples Mk.II]

Check chett's website. It mentions the only area you could need electro, although you can do it post-op too.

Regarding dilation, I will be getting three months off from surgery date, but after that... The two hours thing is complicated, and you also need to add the time required to reach depth before counting actual dilation time. In my case I get up at 5:30 to go to work, so it's hard to find time before work, which has me worried (Two hours also means my whole study and exercise time). I've seen some girls doing one single long session per day and holding very well. Also, it seems like putting extra work in the first months makes it easier in the long run

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Donna Elvira]

A Chett girl, I am 4 months post-op and for the last 10 days have only been dilating once a day for about an hour. I am mostly dilating with the Soulsource N° 3 & 4 dilators, respectively 1.375 and 1.5 inch diameter, compared to 1.25 inch diameter for the largest dilator supplied by Chett. So far so good and I have lost no depth since the beginning ie. about 6.5 inchs.

It's definitely another one of these YMMV subjects but once you are consistently using the biggest dilators without any problem, I think you can safely test the frequency required to keep things ticking over nicely.
Hugs
Donna

[jojo702]

It really depends on age. Since younger girls heal up much faster, they need to dilate 3 times a day and the older you are, healing slows down and you can have the exception on dilating 1 to 2 times a day cause the hole will not close up much quicker from healing.

I am 1 and a half month post op now and I been dilating 3 times daily and an 30 minutes once 3 is in all the way then wait another 30 minutes and just got used to my number 3 dilator. 1 and 2 still takes time and less painful but it's easier to go in now.

Don't forget about the other things you'll go through after surgery. Urinary tract infection, weakened immune system, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, anxiety, and amongst other health problems but those will be treated over time. You will be basically what every cis woman have to endure in. But dilating and keeping up with hygiene is important so you don't close up the hole and lose depth and prevent uti.

Before surgery, I asked Donna above me and a few other gurls some information about what to expect so I know how I can prepare myself. Thanks again. But now I seen and felt the things I had to go through after srs and the remaining months of my healing.

I can finally sit properly instead of sideways and there's no longer much pain down there.

[Evolving Beauty]

I'm a Chet girl and 6 months post op and let me tell you something seriously. I dilate average once a week and Recently I haven't dilated like for 2 weeks and my vagina whenever I dilate is still there with the same depth except it's harder to get inside. And 2 full hours my foot haha. I just do it once which lasts average 1 hour and I stop when I feel it got inside to its maximum depth limit. But I don't advise you to do the same as me. I'm just a lazy crazy b*tch, lol.

[blackponyx]

It is a commitment that you would have to give. Dr Chet would emphasise this agreement that its the patient's responsibility to dilate and maintain the depth.

It's a bit of an overkill but i think the clinic wants to be on the safe side.

I would think it gets better over time...don't worry about the extra time getting in. The clock starts when u are midway/slightly more than halfway in...and according to Sri you shouldn't take ''too long'' to get in anyways. Mine hurt pretty bad and i manage to achieve full depth in approx 3 mins tops.

It might sound like a lot of time collectively but i would say (personal opinion) its wiser to cut down on the length of each session than the frequency. i.e. doing 3 shorter sessions is better than 1 long one. The whole point is to constantly stretch the skin so i think frequency matters. In any case, improvise and try to fit your schedule.

Like for me, I'm going to be at work when i'm back home (desk bound 9-5) and its hard to do my mid day dilation. I plan to compensate that by doing before work and night, perhaps slightly longer than the usual.

P/s: if there's no pain already, it's really not a hassle at least personally. Watch youtube, listen to music whatever. I am typing this (using one hand of course) while holding in my dilator with another hand. My point is life doesn't have to stop revolving when you are dilating. Use the time to multi task e.g. put a face mask/clear your emails/read the forums/do things u would usually do anyways then dilation won't seem like ''additional time wasted''.

[RachaelA]

Hey has anyone had any luck in getting vicodin instead of tramadol? I discovered yesterday that i have horrible side effects from tramadol, and that it's really doesn't help with pain. I could barely get through electrolysis without vicodin and now I'm supposed to somehow dilate with tramadol. I am very scared.

[RachaelA]

Okay today is going to have to be better. I shouldn't be so whiny. I'm just going to do exactly what I'm told.

[blackponyx]

Try asking Sri. I think for strong painkillers (even Tramadol itself) they were reluctant to prescribe more already. it's somewhat 'controlled' - possibly due to the addiction effects i guess.

i have been on tramadol the last few times before dilation (because i started number 2). honestly, i'm not sure if my body works the same as u (i.e. no effect for tramadol) but it didn't help much...it still pretty much hurt the same.

the recommended combination is tramadol + paracetemol. trying taking both together if u haven't already.

[RachaelA]

Yes, I'm going to take some tramadol and paracetomol at lunch. I've been practicing breathing and posture this morning so far. I hope it helps a bit. I think part of the problem it's that when i did electrolysis i had vicodin when i needed it, and that worked great, with no addiction effects. Since then i haven't taken it at all. I just know that that works, but i do understand medical providers covering themselves against any potential addictions. I really want to make this work, so hopefully today i can do some mind over matter. I do trust the nurses, i just have a crazy aversion to pain. I'm hoping when the catheter comes out tomorrow and as swelling goes down it'll get easier.

[Evolving Beauty]

You take that Tramadol thing ONLY if you can't bare the pain all day long. It's not obligatory. What is obligatory are the anti biotics.

[RachaelA]

Today was much better. Dilation with the candle went well and I didn't have a lot of pain today. I'm definitely following all of the instructions I've been given. They're the experts not me, so I'm just going o take it one day at a time. I feel a lot more at ease now, and I'm a bit embarrassed at how i feel apart emotionally yesterday. I just got overwhelmed i guess.

[calico]

Today was much better. Dilation with the candle went well and I didn't have a lot of pain today. I'm definitely following all of the instructions I've been given. They're the experts not me, so I'm just going o take it one day at a time. I feel a lot more at ease now, and I'm a bit embarrassed at how i feel apart emotionally yesterday. I just got overwhelmed i guess.

your post reminds me of my trip, lol @ candle, had the same thing to much swelling and couldn't even start on the #1 dilator but it all turned out fine, now I use an orange soulsource only. I think however I was a little lucky as I went there with a bottle of Norco so pain wasn't ever an issue cept maybe twice. you should do fine just keep your head up and stay positive!!