Burning clitoris (?) pain - 1 year post op SRS

[Mermaiden92]

Hi all! I joined the forums today because I have been experiencing SRS related complications for the past month now. I am a 25 year old trans woman and I began experiencing a burning pain near my clitoris or maybe my urethra.. it's hard to tell for certain. I am a little over a year post op at this point and had my GRS with Dr. Bowers on Nov 2 2016. The burning began a few weeks after my one year mark. The only major event was that I went from two dilations a day to one which felt like a huge victory to me. Unfortunately, now I'm dealing with this pain. I went to my primary care doctor three weeks ago when the pain began who has treated me for follow ups after my surgery and she is a kind, open-minded doctor but she doesn't have a lot of experience with trans patients. She noted that there was irritation in my clitoral area along with some adhesion tissue and prescribed estrace cream to apply directly to the skin there. I texted Dr. Bowers who okayed me to start using it.

Well it's been a few weeks and I haven't seen much if any improvement. I followed up a few days ago with a local gynecologist who honestly didn't seem ok with me being trans. As soon as I explained my situation she became kind of cold.. she walked out of the room for me to get undressed saying she'll be back in a minute and "we'll try to figure out what's what down there." She seemed disgusted while examining me making remarks that she can't tell what is what and that my anatomy isn't the anatomy she's used to treating. She also said my entire vagina had an adhesion until I explained to her that I dilate and that my vaginal opening pushes open when I dilate with no trouble whatsoever. All of her remarks upset me because I have a hard time believing that my vagina looks drastically different from a natal vagina. My surgery was successful and from pictures and diagrams I've seen I thought everything looked good. This gyno also stuck a qtip in my urethra thinking it was my vaginal opening and then seemed surprised that it caused me pain...all in all it was a rough experience. One thing she did notice was a white patch of skin on my clitotis that she thought indicated sclerosis?? So she prescribed a steroid cream for it. I again followed up with Dr. Bowers who was confused by the sclerosis diagnosis but told me to begin using the steroid cream anyways. This was all in the past 4 days.

I'm very worried about this tbh. I'm in Indiana far away from Dr. Bowers and finding a doc who is experienced with post op care is a challenge. I had just finished paying off the credit card debt I took on to get my GRS and I'm in the process of applying to grad school so I'm worried this will interfere with my plans on that. It really sucks. I don't have the money to just drop everything and go all the way back to California for a revision surgery if that's what it comes to. Has anybody here had a similar complication or experience? What really surprised me is this all started happening after a year with no complications. I'm confused and feel helpless. Any advice or feedback would be really appreciated!

[tgirlamg]

Hi Mermaiden!

I'm so very sorry you are having issues dear sister!!! I am a Bowers girl as well (GRS IN 2015) and I will offer a thought or two...

The fact that it came on after a year makes me think infection more than any healing issue... My first thought would be a UTI...

If it is related to the clitoris itself... There is white tissue associated with the healing itself... Often a source of worry to girls who are healing but just part of healing..  Dr B described it to me as a soft scab of sorts that eventually sluffs away... Mine did...perhaps some of yours did not completely fall away and is causing an irritation in there?

I'm sorry your doctors are not a bit more civil and helpful...

One thought might be to call Robin in Dr Bs office and see if you could set up a Skype consult with Dr B and show her what is going on and get her thoughts or email her pics and video?

I hope you find quick resolution sister so you can get on with life!!!

Hugs!!!

Ashley 😀💗🌻

[Doreen]

Hi all! I joined the forums today because I have been experiencing SRS related complications for the past month now. I am a 25 year old trans woman and I began experiencing a burning pain near my clitoris or maybe my urethra.. it's hard to tell for certain. I am a little over a year post op at this point and had my GRS with Dr. Bowers on Nov 2 2016. The burning began a few weeks after my one year mark. The only major event was that I went from two dilations a day to one which felt like a huge victory to me. Unfortunately, now I'm dealing with this pain. I went to my primary care doctor three weeks ago when the pain began who has treated me for follow ups after my surgery and she is a kind, open-minded doctor but she doesn't have a lot of experience with trans patients. She noted that there was irritation in my clitoral area along with some adhesion tissue and prescribed estrace cream to apply directly to the skin there. I texted Dr. Bowers who okayed me to start using it.

Well it's been a few weeks and I haven't seen much if any improvement. I followed up a few days ago with a local gynecologist who honestly didn't seem ok with me being trans. As soon as I explained my situation she became kind of cold.. she walked out of the room for me to get undressed saying she'll be back in a minute and "we'll try to figure out what's what down there." She seemed disgusted while examining me making remarks that she can't tell what is what and that my anatomy isn't the anatomy she's used to treating. She also said my entire vagina had an adhesion until I explained to her that I dilate and that my vaginal opening pushes open when I dilate with no trouble whatsoever. All of her remarks upset me because I have a hard time believing that my vagina looks drastically different from a natal vagina. My surgery was successful and from pictures and diagrams I've seen I thought everything looked good. This gyno also stuck a qtip in my urethra thinking it was my vaginal opening and then seemed surprised that it caused me pain...all in all it was a rough experience. One thing she did notice was a white patch of skin on my clitotis that she thought indicated sclerosis?? So she prescribed a steroid cream for it. I again followed up with Dr. Bowers who was confused by the sclerosis diagnosis but told me to begin using the steroid cream anyways. This was all in the past 4 days.

I'm very worried about this tbh. I'm in Indiana far away from Dr. Bowers and finding a doc who is experienced with post op care is a challenge. I had just finished paying off the credit card debt I took on to get my GRS and I'm in the process of applying to grad school so I'm worried this will interfere with my plans on that. It really sucks. I don't have the money to just drop everything and go all the way back to California for a revision surgery if that's what it comes to. Has anybody here had a similar complication or experience? What really surprised me is this all started happening after a year with no complications. I'm confused and feel helpless. Any advice or feedback would be really appreciated!

Well first off I'd say that your ob/gyn you saw sounds like a royal jerk and I'd never return to her.  Just the constant complaints alone would be enough for me to get dressed & leave in disgust.  It does sound like a  UTI after this length of time honestly... drink tons of water, avoid sugars, cranberry juice with no sweetener.  Also restoring the normal fauna/flora helps so crushing an acidophilis pill into nonsweetened yogurt and using that as a kind of cleanser might help IF its a UTI.  Ultimately though you should of course follow your docs advice, but I would also question the use of a steroid cream in that area.

[Mermaiden92]

Hi thanks for the replies! I forgot to mention that I got my urine tested when all of this started and it came back clean. My first thought was a UTI as well. Also the white patch that the gyno noticed came off before I even started the steroid cream.. she had poked around at it with that wonderful qtip of hers lol so maybe it knocked whatever it was loose. I texted Dr. B a picture of the area this morning while dilating and she said it looked like dead skin or I could be feeling the connection between the clitoris and labia. Otherwise she said it looked great but also thought the steroid cream was a reasonable treatment so I'm going to keep using it.

I agree with you Doreen that the gyno was a jerk.. I'm already looking into finding a different one. I also see my endo this week so I'm going to get his opinion on everything. I think the most unsettling part of all of this is being so far away from my surgeon and even though I live outside of a city I'm feeling lost on finding trans competent providers. I tend to be a worrier by nature anyways so having any complications with my SRS makes my mind jump to the worst 

[Doreen]

There are some pain numbing creams you can use too, or get a prescription for...lidocaine or any of the topical 'caine' drugs.

[jasmine891]

Hi, not sure of your sexual activity, but perhaps getting screened for STI's, if you haven't would be good. Also sometimes with urine test, depending on the time of day, what you drank, etc your urine can provide different results based on the level of bacteria thats in it. So maybe getting on antibiotics regardless of test results is a good idea. I once had a doctor that although all test came back negative, based on my symptoms prescribed me antibiotics and all was well.
Otherwise good luck and don't return to that gyno!

[auroratrans]

One thought might be to call Robin in Dr Bs office and see if you could set up a Skype consult with Dr B and show her what is going on and get her thoughts or email her pics and video?

How can I contact Dr Bs office?

[Gail20]

I'm only 5 months post-op but Ive founded that if I'm using a vibrator near my clit and get too close I can get a burning sensation that hurts.  I also came once and experienced this same painful burning there.  I assumed it was a nerve that was hopefully still healing.

[AnonyMs]

It doesn't sound like the uti's I've heard of, but I've also heard that some uti's don't show up on the standard tests and are not treatable by the standard drugs. Those cases were very very unpleasant.

[Mermaiden92]

I'm only 5 months post-op but Ive founded that if I'm using a vibrator near my clit and get too close I can get a burning sensation that hurts.  I also came once and experienced this same painful burning there.  I assumed it was a nerve that was hopefully still healing.

Yes, I know the pain that you're talking about. I get it off and on when I orgasm..although it's occurred less and less throughout my recovery.

It doesn't sound like the uti's I've heard of, but I've also heard that some uti's don't show up on the standard tests and are not treatable by the standard drugs. Those cases were very very unpleasant.

Hmm that just sounds unpleasant lol. The good news is since I started using this steroid cream it seems like the pain is going away! Fingers crossed  I also found out from my therapist today about a SRS surgeon in Indianapolis which is only a few hours away for me. Dr. Sidhbh Gallagher..hadn't heard of her before but my therapist mentioned she might've trained under Dr. Bowers (she wasn't sure)? Either way, it's kind of a relief to know that there is one nearby.

[tgirlamg]

How can I contact Dr Bs office?

Her contact info is here on her website

https://marcibowers.com/mtf/

Hugs!

Ashley 😀❤️🌻

[Mermaiden92]

***Wanted to give an update on what's going on with this***

I've been on the steroid cream for about a month now and my symptoms have gotten better. The burning is still present but much more mild so I'm glad that there is an improvement. I've even had some days where I'm virtually burn free! I saw my gyno again earlier this week and she noticed a visible improvement in the skin; I, meanwhile, noticed a visible improvement in her attitude - she was much less abrasive and didn't make any offhanded remarks about my anatomy.

I also saw Dr. Gallagher in Indianapolis today. In my opinion, she's very kind and a great doctor for transgender folks. She took a look at everything and assured me that my results from my surgery were good and that I didn't need to worry that something was anatomically wrong with me. She also thought it was best to start weening off the creams I've been using. She honestly thought that the burning pain was more from nerves healing which made more sense to me. All in all, it seems things are looking up so I'm feeling a big sense of relief! 

[tgirlamg]

That's wonderful to hear sister!!... I am glad everything is moving in the right direction!!!......... Continued healing and happiness!!!!

Hugs!!!

Ashley 😀

[Doreen]

***Wanted to give an update on what's going on with this***

I've been on the steroid cream for about a month now and my symptoms have gotten better. The burning is still present but much more mild so I'm glad that there is an improvement. I've even had some days where I'm virtually burn free! I saw my gyno again earlier this week and she noticed a visible improvement in the skin; I, meanwhile, noticed a visible improvement in her attitude - she was much less abrasive and didn't make any offhanded remarks about my anatomy.

I also saw Dr. Gallagher in Indianapolis today. In my opinion, she's very kind and a great doctor for transgender folks. She took a look at everything and assured me that my results from my surgery were good and that I didn't need to worry that something was anatomically wrong with me. She also thought it was best to start weening off the creams I've been using. She honestly thought that the burning pain was more from nerves healing which made more sense to me. All in all, it seems things are looking up so I'm feeling a big sense of relief!

Good to hear, hopefully things will heal right along for you.