It is still a little strange to think that I'm post-op. To say that my daily routine has changed would be an understatement. The new daily routine that I must follow over the next moths leaves me little time for anything else. Here is the routine I should follow as recommended by my surgeon (your surgeon may vary):
7:00 AM
Vaginal douche, shower, 1st Dilation
8:00 AM
Breakfast & warm bath to soak and cleanse surgical site
10:30 AM
2nd Dilation
12:00 AM
Lunch
1:30 PM
3rd Dilation
4:00 PM
4th Dilation
5:00 PM
Dinner
Evening
2nd Warm bath, 4th Dilation, Vaginal douche.
Each dilation presently uses 3 different sized dilators that are applied for 3, 5, and 15 minutes respectively for a total of 23 minutes. Then one has to add preparation time, and then cleanup afterwards so you can see that the dilations alone take a significant amount of time. add to that the vaginal douches, baths, showers, meals - where has the day gone. Hmmmmm at some point in time I have to return to work :( I just don't see how I can fit it in right now :)
Steph
Wow, Steph, no wonder you haven't been on here much!
I'm really happy for you, though, and I hope that you're recovering well. So, at the risk of sounding like a jerk...do you feel like a new woman? ;D Sorry, but I had to make the joke. >:D
I'm just curious how you will fit time in the day to work a job? Honestly, I haven't worked out that detail for myself yet.
Melissa
Quote from: angelsgirl on December 21, 2006, 11:35:49 AM
Wow, Steph, no wonder you haven't been on here much!
I'm really happy for you, though, and I hope that you're recovering well. So, at the risk of sounding like a jerk...do you feel like a new woman? ;D Sorry, but I had to make the joke. >:D
Ha, ha, you're not sounding like a jerk :) Do I feel like a new woman? Well I can safely say that after surgery I felt like an old one lol. It's really hard to nail down just how I feel. Let me just say that there are absolutely no regrets, second thoughts, or anything like that, it's just that I just feel normal, the way it was supposed to be. There were no tears of joy, no sweeping euphoria, just a sense of well being and contentment.
How do I feel - Happy and content.
Steph
QuoteHow do I feel - Happy and content.
I'm happy for you Steph. I understand the peace and contentment. This all so wonderful.
Cindi
Quote from: Melissa on December 21, 2006, 11:59:47 AM
I'm just curious how you will fit time in the day to work a job? Honestly, I haven't worked out that detail for myself yet.
Melissa
Good question Melissa. My employer has given me Short Term Disability until Jan 22nd, 2007 so by that time my dilations will be down to 3 per day and hopefully I will be able to work them into my work schedule. If not then I will probably approach the boss to see if I can adjust my hours. It's all about communication.
Steph
Don't worry Steph, after a while you will learn to use some time for dilation. You don't have to do this for very long, the amount of time you dilate. I still dilate after almost three years. I do it once a week. So it gets better, just hang in there. You sure brought back some memories.
Love Sheila
Quote from: Steph on December 21, 2006, 12:27:25 PM
How do I feel - Happy and content.
Welcome to the club!
Dawn
Cinde, Sheila, Dawn
Thank you for the sentiments they really are appreciated. It's friends like you all that make this site such a comfort.
Steph
Steph,
Don't let Dilation become a chore...
Read a book, watch a film, phone some friends, listen to the radio....
My regime was 4 hours a day for the first 3 months and it was gruelling, especially when I returned to work.
After 4 years mine is 15 minutes a week, but If I have sex errr I skip it
::)
Buffy
Quote from: Buffy on December 21, 2006, 02:49:47 PM
Don't let Dilation become a chore...
Read a book, watch a film, phone some friends, listen to the radio....
Good advice. I'm on 30mins per session with the larger stent every 4 days (about 15 months post-op) and use the time to catch up on phone calls when I haven't got the iPod on. But sometimes, it's also a good way to have an hour or so to yourself without interruptions and meditate on things that are on my mind. Hot bath beforehand, set things up on the bed... meh, I'm trying to make it sound that it isn't a chore but honestly, sometimes it is, particularly when you're tired.
Quote from: Tinkerbell on December 23, 2006, 07:36:49 AM
Now, wooo... wait a sec here please....do you have to dilate forever? I thought this was only done during the cicatrization process.......I also can't imagine how anyone can return to her daily activities if she has to keep on dilating four or five times a day??? I'd imagine that after a while it becomes routine, but it just seems excessive IMO.
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
Unfortunately it is for life Tinkerbell...
As I said 15 mins every week is enough for me, with the largest stent no problem. If I miss a week I can feel the tightness when I dilate.
Buffy
Yep it's true Tink - dilations are for life but no where near as extensive as the first year post op. Here is the dilation routine I'm following:
1st Month - four times per day with dilators #0,#1, #2 for 3, 5, 15 min respectively.
Next 2 Months - 3 times per day with dilators #1, #2, #3 for 3, 5, 15 min respectively.
Next 3 Months - 2 times per day with dilators #2, #3, #4 for 3, 5, 15 min respectively.
Next 6 Months - 1 time per day with dilator #3 , #4 for 5, 15 min respectively.
Then increase time between dilations until 1 dilation per week for 15 min is reached for the rest of your life with #4.
Pretty extensive and time consuming and don't forget to add on the prep time, and the clean up time. But I've been doing as the other girls have suggested and I'm using the time to catch up on phone calls, listening to my iPod etc. I'm hoping that I will have a schedule set up that will be easy to follow by the time I return to work as not only do I need to dilate I also have to eat breakfast, get dressed, put on my face and drive to work.
Steph
Tink,
It is for the rest of your life and from what I have heard, even if you have a BF. I do mine once a week and sometimes I do forget and miss a week or when I'm on vacation I don't bring along the stents. Just like Buffy has said it gets a little tight but it was worth the wait. I do it 15 mins per week, plus clean up. So it will take me about 30 mins. I have made time for myself on a certain day of the week and it is on Friday when I do my house chores between my routes. I have been one to not follow the rules and so I didn't follow some of the doctors orders and I came out all right. Thats me though. I experimented.
Sheila