Does it hurt to use dilators?

[blossom]

Does it hurt to use the dilators?

[jfong]

If you don't have any complications, no. If you do... maybe.

[blossom]

what kinds of complications?

[suzifrommd]

Hurts a tiny bit when it's just going in. Then, no problem.

[AnonyMs]

Complications might include granulation and infection, fast scar contraction (with Suporn in particular)

I've read heaps of accounts. Most people seem to have no problem, but a few are very painful and need painkillers.

[Laura_7]

Talk to your doc and nurses .

They know and some recommend for example to take a pill before the first dilation.

Many say it does not hurt.
Some like it

There are extra instructions ... to relax ... to get into a comfortable place ... how to lie down...

well many have done this ... and are happy 


*hugs*

[SorchaC]

After nearly a year of dilating I have no pain and it's pretty easy. At the start it wasn't so easy and when i got my infection after the revision I needed to dilate less because that was sore.

Allot depends on how long post op you are, If you have complications and the mood at the time. Dilation is best done slowly and with care

Hugs

Sorcha 

[V]

Not sure if I should reply to this, as I guess my experiences are not typical at all. But yes, it hurt me a lot to dilate. Initially 1 - 2 months post-op it wasn't too bad, and was bearable. As I got to 6 months post-op it was unbelievably painful. I used to cry while dilating it was so painful. In fact I had to stop in the end. And that is a bad thing because now I have no depth or width at all and so intercourse is impossible. I had my SRS with Dr. Sanguan in 2003.
It's taken me until now to talk about the subject.
Hopefully most folks won't have my experiences.

[AnonyMs]

Not sure if I should reply to this, as I guess my experiences are not typical at all. But yes, it hurt me a lot to dilate. Initially 1 - 2 months post-op it wasn't too bad, and was bearable. As I got to 6 months post-op it was unbelievably painful. I used to cry while dilating it was so painful. In fact I had to stop in the end.

This reminds me of the experience of the women in these YouTube video's. She had some serious pain and ended up going back to Thailand after 5 months for revision. It sounded quite horrible.

https://www.youtube.com/user/NatalieLBG/videos

[TinaVane]

This reminds me of the experience of the women in these YouTube video's. She had some serious pain and ended up going back to Thailand after 5 months for revision. It sounded quite horrible.

https://www.youtube.com/user/NatalieLBG/videos

That link not working for me hhhmmmmm

IT WORKS I SEEN HER VIDEOS


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Shelly Maree]

Initially yes it does.

I feel this is due to a many factors

Everybody tells you it is going to hurt

Your body has been totally re-configured down there, it is now a surgical site, tender and sore

You are very nervous you are going to hurt or damage your new vagina

A new experience of penetrating your body

All of these factors make dilating a very daunting experience in the early stages of recovery, but don't worry this does not last long. Just take your time, listen to what you are told, then this daunting procedure will become a big part of your daily life. As time progresses, it is not such a big deal, just an essential part of our new life. I can very easily insert 32mm dilator with ease, I actually find it very relaxing, but the real thing is un-describable.

[DanielleBasel]

I guess it depends on the technique the surgeon used. What I have heard and read is, that Penile inversion seemed to be less painfull during the "painfull weeks" right after surgey. Some non-Penile Skin Inversion Techniques are more painfull in the month 2-3 post op. This seems to be related to the techniques. And one point is the sensivity of each person. Some say, there is no pain, while orthers have pain that can be so heavy, that painkillers where needed for a long period of time... After that time the pain will also getting less. But at all it depends as well on other factors like granulation, inflammation or how relaxed you are while dilation.

However... What I can say from my personal experiance is, that dilation is not fun... It's a necessary duty. And it's getting better from month to month...

Take care... 
Danielle

[2cherry]

I think they're uncomfortable... because they are tapered, but that's what they're supposed to do. My doc told me to see dilating as "quality time", well I told him that it's anything but quality time... I rather use some other toy for that, way better than those dilators which are just too hard. But yeah, they are necessary. They are designed to stretch, and it's not fun, uncomfortable...

[karenpayneoregon]

I was given three dilators, bypassed the first one completely. The second was a little painful the first couple of days in the first five minutes of a 20-30 minute session. The third, the largest of the three was really painful so I would start off with the mid-size dilator for five minutes then move to the larger one. After a week I was fine.

I did move past the third one as my partner said I was too tight and found a dong that worked. When moving to this there was a little pain for about a minute for the first few times then no issues at all.

If pain persist you should notify your surgeon. I used Marci Bowers who provided me with her personal phone number but never needed it for this yet happy to have her number. She did check in with me several times in the third and fourth week which was nice.

[V]

You ladies are all really lucky. No-one ever told me it would hurt. I went into it totally unprepared, what a naieve fool I was, but back when I had my op, there weren't places like this that one could come to for help/support/advice. My TS friends just never talked about it, or if they did, it was always that they had no problems and were fine. I always felt like the odd one out.
I was too embarrassed to contact my surgeon, and anyway, he was on the other side of the world, yet another mistake I made.

I watched those youtube videos of that lady from Australia that someone linked to on this thread. I really felt for her, but she did take a large amount of pain killers, some pretty strong ones too in high doses, to get her through her ordeal.
I can't take strong painkillers at all, makes me ill and causes me lots of pain ironically, paracetamol is the strongest I can take. I wish I'd have known what was in store for me post-op recovery-wise. Ahh, hindsight, eh...

[blackponyx]

i am now 1.5 years post op. and it hurts to dilate.

i don't know if i developed any complication but personally my own instincts tell me its something to do with the scar tissues because i really, really don't heal well when it comes to scars. this applies to my external scars (inverted V). they healed to become white and lumpy, pretty obvious against the darker groin area (for an asian).

i haven't had sexual intercourse yet so i do not know if it is ''functional''. and honestly, if it is, i am totally ok with it, because i am orgasmic. but dilation is a pain (pun intended), and i used to dilate with Dr Chet's up to #3 (never got to #4 at all).. now i just do #1 and #2 for 20 mins each.

i lost about 0.5 inch over the past 1.5 years but 5.5'' is fine for me.

p/s: the first time the nurse inserted the dilator into me when i was recovering, i knew it was gonna be tough because it was SO painful. i was healing with another girl and she didn't seem to have this much pain. on the other hand, she experienced so much pain with the catheter removal while i experienced little to no discomfort during the catheter removal.

i really hope i don't need a revision surgery, but i long for a day where it becomes comfortable and at least pleasurable to insert something down there. (imagine dilation is static and sex is continuous thrusting motion. i can only imagine the latter to be more painful and uncomfortable). xx

[V]

Hey Blackpony, I hope you achieve your dreams and get to where you want to be. Even though it's painful, I'd advise not to give up. I did and now I bitterly regret it, but I wasn't strong enough to get through the unbelievable pain I experienced, (there were other factors too that contributed to the sorry state of affairs I ended up in).
I did manage to have intercourse with a guy, just the once, and I had to take far too many painkillers and I even resorted to using anaesthetic, just to numb the pain enough. That was about 4 months post-op.
Mentally it was the best experience ever, and I am truly thankful that I was able to achieve this, even if it was only the once, and so compromised. I try to take solace in the fact that I "got there", just the once.
Don't give up like I did.