Mariah's GRS with Dr. Meltzer 10/27/16 and Post surgical journey.

[Laurie]

  Well that would certainly be a good thing I'm sure. Happy things are looking better for you.

Hugs,
   Laurie

[Mariah]

So, it has been a few months since I last saw Dr. Meltzer for the granulation issue along with the fact of the lost width/ depth caused by the granulation. I'm starting to be able to get 3 in at times, however generally it just doesn't get beyond close to where the muscle is. It's about where things were sown together at the time of my surgery. So, we are trying something new. Starting today I will be using 4T in hopes of getting 3 in to full depth. He also treated the small amount of granulation that remained inside.  If this trick doesn't work and we don't make progress in the next few months, then Dr. Meltzer will have to go in and add a little bit of material so I can get 3 and 4 in eventually. It wasn't the news I wanted to hear and I suspected this was the case for awhile now that we were closing in on a point where another surgery would be necessary to make up for the fact I lost width due to how bad the granulation was.

Picture of what 4T looks like.

[Rachel]

I hope it works out. I am sorry you lost depth and with. I know how that must hurt. Is there any way you can maintain depth with the #1 dilator?

I love the glass dilator. Do you know where he gets them?

[Mariah]

The depth I have pretty much fully regained to what I started the first dilation with. So the depth, it isn't the issue it was considering it is pretty close to 6 most of the time and times right at 6. 6 inches is where I started so we are making progress there. I'm just not making much, if any, progress on width which is a huge concern now. The glass dilators are special ordered for him. You can by them from his office directly. I'm not sure how much the standard set costs, however I do know that 4T and 5 are 70 dollars a piece. Hugs
Mariah

I hope it works out. I am sorry you lost depth and with. I know how that must hurt. Is there any way you can maintain depth with the #1 dilator?

I love the glass dilator. Do you know where he gets them?

[Dena]

While I haven't handled one of those dilators yet, I am pretty sure they are plastic and not glass. When I look in the end the color is grayish and not the green of glass. There is a special glass that's not green however to the best of my knowledge it's used for fiber optics and is a bit expensive to use for something like this.

[Mariah]

I was looking back through my own thread and discovered I had a method that helped get 2nd dilator in when I was having difficulty before. I am going to use 2 then 3T and then 3. I may use 4T instead of 3T or nay use both with 4T either before or after 3. Hugs
Mariah

[Kendra]

I asked Dr. Ley when I was there, the dilators they include with surgery are made of Lucite and are custom manufactured. 

I didn't ask who designed them but I assume Dr. Meltzer.  They have a slight curve. 

[Mariah]

Kendra, Thank You. Hugs
Mariah

I asked Dr. Ley when I was there, the dilators they include with surgery are made of Lucite and are custom manufactured. 

I didn't ask who designed them but I assume Dr. Meltzer.  They have a slight curve.

[Mariah]

It's been awhile so I thought I would update everyone. I am now finally able to get 3 in with the aid of 4T and 3T. It took awhile, but once I was able to get passed the muscle it was just like when I first used 3 early on. I should still move up to 4, but will see what Meltzer thinks of things when I see him shortly. Hugs
Mariah

[Laurie]

 Your due diligence will pay off in the end

[Mariah]

I know Jamie thinks so too. Hugs
Mariah

Your due diligence will pay off in the end

[Mariah]

Good news the granulation is gone


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[I Am Jess]

Good news the granulation is gone


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Blessed be!!

[Kendra]

Mariah that's excellent news on finally having all granulation gone.  I bet you are super happy!

[LizK]

Nice to see you put those difficulties behind you. Good news that your granulation has cleared up...sounds like you are in terrific shape.

[Mariah]

Thank you Kenda. I am so very happy Kendra. It was extremely good news. It's why the dilator will go in now without issues and why getting 4 is in reach now too again.  I will be seeing him again in 3 months to make sure everything is alright and that no new granulation resulted from finally getting to and maintaining 4.

Mariah that's excellent news on finally having all granulation gone.  I bet you are super happy!

[Mariah]

I am getting there for sure. I still need to get up to 4 so my spouse can get in, however I'm a step closer now that 3 fits in without issues. Meltzer said today sometimes you need to heal completely before you are able to get the dilators you need to get in and that can take longer for some. Hugs
Mariah

Nice to see you put those difficulties behind you. Good news that your granulation has cleared up...sounds like you are in terrific shape.

[Mariah]

A bit of an update. Yesterday was two years since my surgery and was the first time that I had made a real effort to get the largest dilator in. All attempt before now were never successful at getting more than half an inch in. I was able to yesterday to get in around 4.5 inches. This is by far the farthest I have achieved with dilator number 4. I'm also back nearly to 6 inches again on dilator number 3 which at one point before the granulation treatment I was getting in close to 6.5 inches at on point. I'm making progress in both width and depth. It appears all the depth I had after surgery I will get back and I will be able to do so with dilator number 4 which is the largest in the set that I received at the time of my surgery. Hugs
Mariah

[LizK]

Great progress it must be a bit of a relief to know you maintain your depth...congrats at hanging in there.
Liz


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[mm]

That is great news Mariah. You must be relieved to know you still have your original depth and that you can get #4 slent in over 4 inches. You have had a long two years getting to this point with all your problems.