I had my surgery 12 days ago with Mr Bellringer at Charing Cross.

I had some complications with excessive bleeding and a huge infection but now I'm okay. My vagina looks incredible be it only 2 weeks post op and I was just worried about dilation.

I couldn't dilate normally when the pack (cotton something soaked in paraffin) came out because of the bleeding. The nurses were constantly applying manual pressure and pressure dressings in attempt to stop the bleeding. I kept blacking out and needed antibiotics and blood transfusions. I'm not sure if this might have hindered the healing process slightly.

Dilation now is painful and difficult and I can only use the small dilator, I just wonder if when the stitches come out and it heals a bit will it become easier/less painful to dilate because right now I don't feel like I can.

I dilate 3 times a day for 10 mins per. It's not easy but it's doable.

Please share you're stories or opinions.

Sorry you had complications. I would ask your doctor what he thinks about what your dilation schedule should be.

I had mine done with Dr. Brassard with out issues. For me the stitches get dissolved away by the body in time. Things for me have gotten harder for dilations just due to the healing and scare tissue. My PC muscle is another thing that seems to be slow in coming around to the relaxing stage.

Everyone is different in how things are effected by dilations. I know a few girls things are so easy they have had relationships in month 2.

Take things slow but do not stop. That is one of the things i was told to never stop no matter how much it hurts and call the doctor.

Wish you well and hope things start to get better in the dilations. I keep things well lubes, slow and steady pressure.

Izzy

Ok Ronnie

I'm not a doctor (yet) but I am a first year graduate entry medical student here in the UK, so in 2017 I will be... (Although I should perhaps explain that my forum username is actually more to do with my passion for a certain UK TV scifi show!)

Obviously I can't give you any medical advice myself as I am not yet qualified to do so, but as it happens I do know Mr Bellringer and I have seen him work. I know that he is a superb surgeon and absolutely meticulous about giving patients proper postoperative care instructions about dilation schedules and the like - so you should definitely follow them as closely as you are able.

Don't worry too much about the bleed and the infection - it's really not that uncommon a problem, and as long as it was resolved promptly and properly, which I'm sure it was, you will be fine.

If you do have any concerns you should definitely contact a member of the CXH team - probably Iffy Middleton or the other gender specialist nurse (Manjit I think).

The couple of girls I know who have seen UK surgeons report that things do gradually become easier as the healing progresses and the swelling goes down - but please don't expect miracles - we are talking several weeks at the soonest and very probably a few months.

So I wish you very good luck and a speedy recovery.

I agree that it depends on the surgeon's technique, and I'm fairly sure mine was different from yours. (Also, your experience sounds pretty scary - glad you're OK!) I never noticed any stitches except for a handful at the bottom of the labia, and aside from one that fell out a bit early and left a sore spot, none of those bothered me.

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Well my first point of call will always be Manjit as she is an incredible nurse and was by my side during my complications and then after as I began to heal properly. Iffy no longer works there I think Leena has taken her place on the team alongside Bellringer

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I'm 21 years old I just thought my skin would be a bit more 'stretchy' or something. Manjit (the CNS) knows of my difficulties and has just advised me to use the small (2.5cm) dilator for now and work up to the big one when I am ready. I'm just worried that I'll never be ready as I am having so much trouble with it now. I just feel really tight and I've had baths and warmed the dilator up etc etc it just doesn't get easier.

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I think I just need patience and time to let myself heal a bit. I will continue my dilation routine which currently stands at 3x a day for 15/20 mins each time with the small dilator.

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It takes about a month of religious (...) dilation to get back what what might have been lost because of trying to fit dilation while the post-op vaginal packing was still in place.
(not sure it meant they didn't remove it or if they added it back in *because* of blood loss; if the latter that says a lot about their idea of care for bleeders).

Quote from: RonnieMay on September 10, 2013, 05:45:13 PM

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I'm just worried that I'll never be ready as I am having so much trouble with it now. I just feel really tight and I've had baths and warmed the dilator up etc etc it just doesn't get easier.

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I think I just need patience and time to let myself heal a bit. I will continue my dilation routine which currently stands at 3x a day for 15/20 mins each time with the small dilator.

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You sound a lot like I was right after surgery. I symphathise, when the pack for me finally came out we couldn't even get the smallest dilator in, and what my nurse ended up doing was using a makeshift size "0" out of a candle stick. Let me say at that point I was never more scared or worried in my life, I was mistaken about my fears as I al almose at 6 months and am using the orange from soulsourch which I believe is 1.5 inchs across! My point being is when they say take your time and just continue till your ready have a little faith. Ad you may try incresing your dilation time. It never hurts ot,other than physicaly, to do it longer. Oh and a lot of the reason for dificult dilation is often internal swelling so as time gos on the swelling goes down.

Quote from: Flan on September 11, 2013, 02:15:12 AM
(not sure it meant they didn't remove it or if they added it back in *because* of blood loss; if the latter that says a lot about their idea of care for bleeders).

I realise now that I mis-typed the whole sentence in the op. When the pack came out I bled relentlessly for a few more days so I never dilated when the actual pack came out. This is what I'm wondering may have caused the cavity to close up slightly leaving me with painful and laborious...

I don't like this meme but it works for this...

It Gets Better.

Quote from: Kate G on September 13, 2013, 07:04:52 AM
I don't like this meme but it works for this...

It Gets Better.

Since I neglected to comment about stitches... 
yes, it gets way better once non-dissoluble stitches come out (although depending on the healing/stitches, you'll probably want to ask for topical lidocaine to make the stitch removal process less funky feeling; at least I did when they went out; if there is any granulation tissue the topical does double duty to make silver nitrate easy going)

later there's a good chance an internal stitch will pop out, best if a doc or nurse or whatever handles removing that mostly because of accessibility (or lack of it) and judging internal healing.

I had no stitches to remove after SRS. All stitches used were self-dissolvable and absorbed by my body during the healing process. All were gone in 60 days postop. After the vaginal packing was removed about a week after my surgery, dilation was not painful. It feel odd, strange, and I was more scarred of damaging something delicate down there... but there was little actual pain. I have a high pain tolerance, but I didn't use any painkillers or pain meds after leaving the hospital. If you are experiencing intense, acute, and/or lasting pain, you might want to call your surgeon or schedule an appointment with a local OB/Gyn for a checkup.

Quote from: JennX on September 14, 2013, 09:30:56 AM
I had no stitches to remove after SRS. All stitches used were self-dissolvable and absorbed by my body during the healing process. All were gone in 60 days postop. After the vaginal packing was removed about a week after my surgery, dilation was not painful. It feel odd, strange, and I was more scarred of damaging something delicate down there... but there was little actual pain. I have a high pain tolerance, but I didn't use any painkillers or pain meds after leaving the hospital. If you are experiencing intense, acute, and/or lasting pain, you might want to call your surgeon or schedule an appointment with a local OB/Gyn for a checkup.

I had totally spaced that out but yeah.. same here.

As an old lady of 8 months post here, the first six weeks of dilating when I went through three dilators up to 1 3/8" (1 1/8, 1 1/4 earlier) were uncomfortable for sure. My swelling did go down considerably when the stitches finally dissolved out which made my dilation easier and more pleasant. One day it was a push to get the dilator in, and the next morning it went in almost too easy!   I had a yeast infection at 2 weeks that made things feel like I was using sand to lube the dilator, and nerve sensations from the swelling did make it feel like the dilator was in the wrong place, but that is all history. 

My packing did not come out just as planned, and there were about 6 meters (19") of gauze that came out a foot at a time where I could watch it in a mirror.  That left me a little queasy. But I can laugh about it today. 

Quote from: RonnieMay on September 11, 2013, 04:21:39 PM
I realise now that I mis-typed the whole sentence in the op. When the pack came out I bled relentlessly for a few more days so I never dilated when the actual pack came out. This is what I'm wondering may have caused the cavity to close up slightly leaving me with painful and laborious...

I hope things are better for you, RonnieMay.  I am sure things will work out for you.

Just an update to all those interested;
I'm being booked in for a revision surgery as Mr Bellringer is unhappy with the diameter of my vagina
Very excited indeed.
Will post results when I get them back

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Izzy

Quote from: RonnieMay on January 18, 2014, 09:44:29 AM
Just an update to all those interested;
I'm being booked in for a revision surgery as Mr Bellringer is unhappy with the diameter of my vagina
Very excited indeed.
Will post results when I get them back

Good for you, hon!