Experiences new vagina and dilating in the first 1-2 months post op?

[SadieBlake]

Ok, I'm not unduly concerned but I'm gonna describe my current experiences and ask for feedback.

This is fairly graphic:

I've been able to dilate with both purple and blue (1-1/4") dilators from the start and so I've been doing that. I don't use a lot of lube - KY because it was easy to get and one of the two recommended by my doc. In 3 weeks of dilation I've used about two 4 oz tubes and that includes lubricating 2 dilators most of the time.

On insertion of the first dilator I will feel a small "leak" of discharge / exudate exit and on removing it I feel a much bigger one and more as I insert and remove the blue. In total there's at least a tbsp of exudate each time I dilate. The color is slightly yellow and milky, the odor isn't pleasant but it makes me think more of healthy vagina + skin healing than anything "bad" and the appearance certainly doesn't make me think bacterial vaginosis.

I'm douching twice per week with 10% vinegar (Dr instructions) to which I'm adding the contents of a single caplet of probiotics (lactobacillus). The odor and color haven't changed since I started douching.

I also rinse the suture lines several times daily with 50% hydrogen peroxide and occasionally with salt water (my idea, OKed by my doc) to clean and promote healing.

MaxiPads (always #4 ultrathin) are quite soaked through within about 3 hours and often also leaking to my underwear, unpleasant but easy enough to wash out.

Pain is slowly reducing tho I'm still taking lots of ibuprofen. Swelling is less but sure is still happening.

I really can't wait for the volume of discharge to reduce :-(

Pleas anyone with experience through this time weigh in, I'm all ears, thanks!

[Dena]

Unfortunately it just takes time. 6-8 weeks things will start setting down but you still need to buy pad in a big box. When you are down to one dilation a day, you can plan your shower after the dilation and forgo the pads but until that time, pads will be necessary. As I shower in the morning, I plan my dilation for the week end, take a shower and I am done for another week. It was a bit different when I required more dilations and I still had blood seepage from surgery.

[SadieBlake]

Thanks Dena, that's about what I was figuring.

S

[Rachel]

Dilating that you describe sounds normal. There will be skin and some pink lube sometimes after dilating, especially when you move up to #3 and then #4. I keep pads in my bag because they can fill during the day and I really dislike getting anything on my cloths.

I just switched to a very thin and small daily pad. I dilate 1/d at bedtime. For some reason I need to change my pad throughout the day and I can not skip the pad. I do not know if this will continue but I suspect it will be less when I dilate less frequently in time.