Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hello all,

I had srs/grs with Brassard and I'm 31 days post op. From the day the stent was removed and dilation started, it was always with (thankfully) surprising ease that I got the #3 and #4 (dubbed Banner) dilators in. No pain, no resistance, and all the way to the last dot. Soon after at home I started using the #2 because I was no longer getting to the last dot (i know the nurses said not to focus on the dots but the sensations inside and feeling for the end of the vagina). Anyway, with the 2 included it seemed to loosen everything up well enough. This week, heading towards the start of my month 2 post op next week, I've realized it has suddenly become a task to get the dilators in. Like I'm suddenly incapable of inserting them correctly or finding the familiar path in. I spend minutes trying to work it past the pubic bone, that initial area resists so much more, then i slower than usual work the dilator in. Ignoring the dots now I feel for when #2 and #3 dilators reach the end of the vagina but now with #4 I swear it barely gets by the entry/pubic bone. I'm worried about losing depth because I'm not dilating efficiently. There's no pain (maybe a slight sting here or there) or blood just this new mega resistance and a feeling like I'm lost in the vagina. Like I'm not going the right way or something. I read that because swelling is going down there might be a change in sensation inside, a feeling of not being as deep as before. Maybe its scar tissue? Things are shifting as they heal/settle? I don't know...just wondering if anyone went from easy pain free slip it right on in dilation to tackling more resistance (without major pain)? Any personal idea as to what or why at this point in recovery?

It happens and it's normal. Quoting Suporn's manual, First month is a breeze, and at the second one the body starts fighting back and trying to heal it. Dilation becomes a constant fight, scar tissue tries to form... It gets better at three months, but YMMV. In my case I moved from 3 minutes to get to depth, to 10-13. Once I inserted the first 4", I would have to wait a long time until it got to 6" and I could start counting it as dilation time.

Basically, you keep the pressure. It will take time, but it will enter. Rotating while inserting can help. Bowel movements and a loaded colon will make things more painful and slow, so a diet rich in fibre will help with dilation too.

Welcome to Susan's Place. All of the above suggestions are correct but I have three to add. Use plenty of lube and don't worry about wasting it. The other issue is learn how to totally relax all the muscles below the waist. If you are even the lest bit tense, the dilator will be very difficult to insert. Most import, when you are inserting the dilator, spread your legs but once you have it started, pull your legs together, straighten them and then relax them. This will allow you to reach maximum depth.

If there is still a good deal of difficulty, you may want to have a bottom examination. Sometimes granulation and others healing difficulties can cause problems and need to be treated. If you feel any pain while dilating, that can cause you to tense up and make insertion difficult.

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Thank you Shara and Dena. All the suggestions indeed worked, especially adding more lube. Hadn't needed much before but I guess now I do as things progress further. I was also wondering if feeling a throb or throbbing, or flex  similar to arousal before surgery, part of the whole clitoris coming to life. It feels like a flexing erection but without the visible old part. Originating somewhere deep in the hood, around the mound and radiating outward across the vulva. Sorry for too many questions. These are just the two notable things going on now.

The clitoris is made out of the glans - the tip of the penis. As such, most of the sexual feeling that you had before should still be with you. You may feel an erection when sexually excited and under the right conditions, it should be sexually simulating when handled.