Tips for surviving the "hard period" of dilation?

[Kristyn]

I can't understand why so many people are having trouble dilating.  Is there anyone here other than myself who hasn't?

[Muffins]

people that don't have issues are less likely to post about it? Those that do have issues are more likely to seek help and understanding?

[sallypost]

I visited a second surgeon yesterday and he was thrilled that the little vibrator works to calm the muscle down.  I asked about over stimulation of nerves.  His answer was that for the length of time that I use the vibrator, that there couldn't possibly be any harm done to nerves.  (It's like getting a massage on your feet every couple days.  Your feet don't quit )  And.... It is MORE pleasureful.

[aubrey]

I can't understand why so many people are having trouble dilating.  Is there anyone here other than myself who hasn't?

Count me as one...but I'm only about 2 1/2 months post so who knows? I was fully expecting and mentally prepared to have more difficulty due to some of the stories here. Yes it can be uncomfortable at times and can take a few minutes to reach full depth with each size but it isn't painful or incredibly challenging. I went to Brassard also. Maybe it's the surgeon/technique? Straight vs. curved dilators?

[Debra]

I can't understand why so many people are having trouble dilating.  Is there anyone here other than myself who hasn't?

I didn't really have trouble until 1.5-2 months in or so.

[AubreyRenee]

Good news everyone! Apparently I just needed to wait a few more days. The scarring and pain have come down to a manageable level and I'm able to get to depth pretty quickly. A few tips:

-GENTLE twisting (never more than 15 degrees at a shot!) seems to help when getting through the rough spots at both the entrance and the last half inch. I'm a suporn girl so I do the twist on my "push" intervals. I gain about a quarter inch on each push using this method.

-When I hit a rough spot I pull out and relube the stent. It's a little time consuming at first but it makes the whole process faster in the long run. I have to do this relube process about three times.

-Prep work seems to take a lot of the trouble in the beginning out of the equation. I lube with a finger, then two fingers, for about 3-5 minutes before I insert the stent.

-When they say "the solution to hard dilation is more dilation," they aren't kidding. Tried it and had immediate results.

Overall I think the key is that my pain level went down almost immediately upon hitting month #3. Now if only I can get past this three-times-a-day regimen...

Just thought everyone would like an update!

[girl_ashley]

I can't understand why so many people are having trouble dilating.  Is there anyone here other than myself who hasn't?

I've also not had any issues dilating.

For some reason calling a dilator a "stent" somehow seems incorrect to me.  A stent is a hollow tube you put into an artery to keep it from clogging up.

[umop ap!sdn]

-GENTLE twisting (never more than 15 degrees at a shot!) seems to help when getting through the rough spots at both the entrance and the last half inch. I'm a suporn girl so I do the twist on my "push" intervals. I gain about a quarter inch on each push using this method.

They told me never to twist. I wonder what's up with that.

[girl_ashley]

They told me never to twist. I wonder what's up with that.

Slight not fast back and forth twisting is perfectly acceptable and recommended by some surgeons.  What's up with that is it actually does help.

[Debra]

Good news everyone! Apparently I just needed to wait a few more days. The scarring and pain have come down to a manageable level and I'm able to get to depth pretty quickly. A few tips:

-GENTLE twisting (never more than 15 degrees at a shot!) seems to help when getting through the rough spots at both the entrance and the last half inch. I'm a suporn girl so I do the twist on my "push" intervals. I gain about a quarter inch on each push using this method.

-When I hit a rough spot I pull out and relube the stent. It's a little time consuming at first but it makes the whole process faster in the long run. I have to do this relube process about three times.

-Prep work seems to take a lot of the trouble in the beginning out of the equation. I lube with a finger, then two fingers, for about 3-5 minutes before I insert the stent.

-When they say "the solution to hard dilation is more dilation," they aren't kidding. Tried it and had immediate results.

Overall I think the key is that my pain level went down almost immediately upon hitting month #3. Now if only I can get past this three-times-a-day regimen...

Just thought everyone would like an update!

All good things and I've learned some of these help as well. I do need to prelube more..I have only tried that a couple times...otherwise I just try to go slow and go in a little bit more each time and then back out and sometimes slight twists if I have to.

[Suigeniris]

Kristen I too have had no prob. At all with dialation , I start with mum 3 and reach full depth right away for 5 to 10 mins and mum 4 goes in smoothly ,as for the twisting I was told not to in the beginning so that the graft can heal after my 1 month visit I believe I was told its okay to now twist slightly as  if checking to see if a door is open