am 5.5 weeks post op, did srs with chettawut. I got 4 dilators labelled 1 to 4 and I can fit dilator 1 and 2 up to 5 inches but I can't seem to get dilator 3 through the pelvic floor muscle. What should I do? Will I lose width permanently if I can't dilate with 3 soon?

Kia Ora Un,
Perhaps this will help...

Zen and the art of post op maintenance

http://www.intelleng.com/zen.html

Metta Zenda

I don't know Dr. Chett's dilators, but the instruction page that Anatta/Zenda pulled up for you is excellent advice. 

Brassard also says that you can pretty much [re]gain width anytime, even years post-op, by gently increasing dilator sizes. So don't panic so early. Give it time, try to relax, and you'll get there.

What they said. Just keep up on depth above all else and you can work on width later when you're a little more healed.

Quote from: Jenna Marie on December 21, 2013, 10:30:18 PM
Brassard also says that you can pretty much [re]gain width anytime, even years post-op, by gently increasing dilator sizes. So don't panic so early. Give it time, try to relax, and you'll get there.

wow really? thanks, but this thread sill scares me
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=82279.0

I tried pushing it with painkillers and it hurt alot but still did not go through

It's possible to close up... but you're saying you can't go UP a size, right? That's different than losing width you started with. I'd worry if you can't fit a dilator you were using comfortably before, but it's totally normal that some women can't *increase* dilator size (with a new one) as fast as the surgeons recommend. You can't lose width simply by not increasing the dilator size; you just won't gain any more.

But if you are losing width below what you started with, I'd definitely contact the surgeon.

The real problem, for me, is that the pelvic muscle is a muscle... the more nervous and scared I got, the more it clenched up. So while it's easier said than done to suggest you relax, truly, the main issue is likely just that you're worried.

Guess i will add not much to this other then as others said you need to relax. Also make sure you are getting the right angle. I know that will also make it hard getting past the PC muscle.

I had my most trouble with the largest one i needed to use. What i did was stay with where i was for a extra few weeks and added 1 more session. I then started to work the largest one little at a time. LOTS of Lube and very slow and made sure i was relaxed. It did allow the large one to pass.

The PC muscle will at some time relax but i am now almost 9 months and mine is just starting to relax to the point if is no longer fighting being poked.

Take everything in your own time, add a extra dilation if you need but never stop.

Hugs
Isabell

Quote from: unregistered on December 21, 2013, 08:26:11 PM
am 5.5 weeks post op, did srs with chettawut. I got 4 dilators labelled 1 to 4 and I can fit dilator 1 and 2 up to 5 inches but I can't seem to get dilator 3 through the pelvic floor muscle. What should I do? Will I lose width permanently if I can't dilate with 3 soon?

You could quite honestly be trying to soon, I had srs with him as well and think I was on 2 that time as well. Its not a race so its ok to take your time.

Also I don't know if you are doing this but... when I was ready or felt ready I prepped the #3 (lube) and than slid it right in after pulling the#2 out, you should be doing it this way anyway I was #1 for 10 minutes than 2 for 30 minutes when I up'd to #3
 

Quote from: calico on December 23, 2013, 12:01:47 PM
You could quite honestly be trying to soon, I had srs with him as well and think I was on 2 that time as well. Its not a race so its ok to take your time.

Also I don't know if you are doing this but... when I was ready or felt ready I prepped the #3 (lube) and than slid it right in after pulling the#2 out, you should be doing it this way anyway I was #1 for 10 minutes than 2 for 30 minutes when I up'd to #3

The schedule he gave me meant I was supposed to do #1 for 10 min #2 for 20min and #3 for 10min on week 4 onwards. Right now at week 6 going to 7, I'm only able to do #1 for 10 min #2 for 30 min. I tried doing #3 right after #2 but was still unable to get it past the pelvic floor muscle.

When my dilation got really hard (with Suporn, it's about month 2 thru 3 or 4), I just dropped the large dilator and used mainly the small and medium ones for much of that time, focusing solely on depth, which can't really be regained if lost. When things settled down, I reintroduced the big one (34mm) and regained the lost width in about two weeks. Easy as could be. Focus on your depth above anything else. Width will come back any time you put in a little work....

I had to have colovag op and was really sore inside for best part of a year and had a real struggle to maintain size although the surgeon was able ot shove #3 right in despite my howls - hurt me more than it hurt him?
Anyway I did find that getting in the mood was the key rather than seeing it as a twice daily chore.
Lazy and warm in bed on mornings with lots of lube helped and when I go tit in I pressed it up, down and round in a sort of circular motion to try stretch the skin/scars.   
Seemed to work Ok so have a look at my post about my selection of dilators.

I'm having Xmas day home alone coughing my way through last of a nasty virus and just dilated while watching the silly old Tom Hanks Dragnet film - lotsa laughs and the dilating was nice and easy and painless.  #3 size was easy and an hour later after a thorough douching I'm still nice and open and moist.  Or is that TMI for Xmas day?

Quote from: lilacwoman on December 25, 2013, 08:48:02 AM
Lazy and warm in bed on mornings with lots of lube helped and when I go tit in I pressed it up, down and round in a sort of circular motion to try stretch the skin/scars.   
Seemed to work Ok

What I did with #2 was I started moving it side to side and up and down while at maximum depth, kinda like if you had a drill and you were wollering out the hole if you catch my drift.

GendrKweer hit it spot on however width isn't as important as depth if you lose depth its damn near impossible to regain, so focus on that the most so what if it takes longer to gain width, as I said before  its not a race honey so don't sweat it.

the pelvic floor muscle is what the surgeon has to stretch and is what gives us that painful lump underneath so we have to sit on the ring cushion for a few weeks.
I did think at my op that the longer I sat on the cushion the better and also the longer I left the dilators in the less the muscle contracted.

If the supplied dilators are just plain hard plastic it might be worthwhile trying different shapes of softer stuff although every time I saw the surgeon he was able to show the biggest plain one in regardless of my protests.

Try taking some strong painkillers about 30-45 mins before dilating to try get past the pain.

have a look at the website I put up about dilators:  http://dilators.webs.com

another thing, as well but it doesn't seem you are dilating as long as I did, I was dilating for at least an hour each time so.... also increase the amount you are on number #2 and also try as suggested not just holding it there in a boring position move it up and down, side to side and also twisting as well..    just my opinion

alright Dr chet confirmed that I could delay #3 to week 8 but to maintain depth with #1 and #2