Hello, this is my situation I had GRS recently and am a few months post op I had Fibrose tissue complications (wet scabs). Very raw and sensitive exposed skin spots around the opening of the vagina which led to hyper granulation tissue near the opening of the vaginal canal as well as deeper inside. Due to pain from the raw skin near the beginning of my post op day's dilation's were always difficult and painful I was able to achieve 6 inches of depth with both number 1 and 2 dilators (purple and blue) during the first week or so. After about 2 weeks post op everything went south. The hyper granulation tissue as well as wet scabs became very painful during dilation and over time I began to loose width but not depth. The wet scabs went away within about a month but the hyper granulation tissue persisted. I was recommended a silver nitrate treatment which I underwent about a month ago. I was told it would not be painful but for me the silver nitrate treatment was extremely painful. My vaginal canal due to the hyper granulation tissue is pretty much collapsed. Due to the shrinking width of the vaginal canal I am no longer able to use the number 1 or 2 dilators I had to go out and buy a small sex toy that had a smaller diameter than that of dilator 1 (purple). I was able to get full depth with this smaller dilator (sex toy) however as of the last week and a half i am only able to dilate about an inch maybe an inch and a half. I have an appointment next week with Brassard for a consultation and correctional surgery if needed. I have 2 questions, 1. Has anyone had a similar experience and if you have do you mind commenting and sharing your experience? 2. If the vaginal canal has collapsed as I have not been able to dilate properly for so long what is usually the corrective surgical procedure? And what can I expect in regards to length of hospital stay? Much appreciated in advance!

You just need to keep up with the dilation schedule. What you have said is all part of the normal healing process of GCS. Some have more and some have less or none. Every body is its own and how it heals.

I would ask you doctor for some XYLOCAINE® 2% JELLY. It is used by CIS to help with pain with sex.

Just a little fyi, Normal dilation makes micro tears in the skin that heal, and again tear and heal until it looses it natural ability to tighten up. That is natural part of scare tissue.

Has no one said to add extra dilation and for longer times to help work your way back up to the larger size. It is not going to be fun if you let things revert back. Time and more time is needed to get it back to taking larger dilation.

Also Saline irrigation or douches could help with small areas of granulation. Also have to keep that areas as dry as you can. It is hard thing to do. Also time, its going to take many months for things to heal up. I just hit the 14 month mark and i am starting to really like my neo vagina on how it healed and feels

Relax, Start working on getting things back and width will come back with dilation, depth is another story.

Isabell

For anyone who wants to really understand the reasons why we dilate here is a great read and i think everyone should understand the reasons.

Will make your life easier.

http://library.transgenderzone.com/?page_id=611

Isabell

I wish I had had that read a year and a half ago Izzy!!   I actually bookmarked the site myself.  The author does make a hugely important point, and that is that most complications are things we create for ourselves by not following our surgeon's instructions religiously.  Another problem we create for ourselves is not seeking medical observation and treatment promptly if we are unduly uncomfortable with what is going on.  At about week three of my healing, I had a gynecological exam because of my discomfort, and gave my local doctor permission to discuss my case with my surgeon, I had given the surgeon a release before I left for home.  Their agreed modification of some post op medication, and my ob/gyn explaining what she saw to my surgeon, got me onto the proper care track.  I had done a bit of self diagnosing to my surgeons office, and they had thought I knew what I was saying, well I was off a bit, and the wrong issue being treated.  Once the proper condition was observed, problem all over in 72 hours.

One thing that keeps echoing in my head was the

"What ever happens do not stop your dilation"

So yes Vicky as we know the outcome is truly ours to control.

I also agree that everyone should have medical support in place either a GP or a GYN to keep a eye on things.

Aftercare is no fun but rewarding.

Isabell

Yep, it couldn't be more important. It will eventually become an slight irritating routine.

May i just add in my defence i followed exactly the dilation routine as per recommendation by the surgeons directions. I never missed a dilation because i did not feel like it. The hyper granulation tissue began growing and actually began to narrow the canal and in the deep part where hyper granulation tissue is it actually prevented me from dilating past that point... also the numbing creame was suggested by the nurses right from week one been there tried that it did not help. I was in the UK for 3 months post op and it was very difficult to get a doctor who was willing to even apply the silver nitrate. I dont really appreciate some of the comments that jumped to the conclusion that i am neglecting my dilations as that is not the case AT ALL.

I apologize if I gave you the impression that I thought YOU were being negligent in doing your dilation.  I did not mean to target you personally. I was agreeing with an observation in the article that Isabel linked in here.   

The point is though that you did not have a plan of adequate access to post op medical care and we can see where this has made your recovery issues more acute and troublesome.  Other readers here can benefit from this by making adequate provision for post surgery medical care specific to surgical healing processes. 

I very much had to work my dilators past painful places, and due to an infection was nearly crying in anticipation of my dilations, hence pain relievers before my dilation.  I was one scared and hurting Trans* chick for some time. 

Again, full apologies if you felt I was faulting you for not dilating as coordinated and instructed by  your surgical staff.

I have some granulation, a few square inches worth. I'm just continuing to heal. No it's not comfy, and silver nitrate treatment #1 is a week off. I have been using the large orange dilator(soul source.) At 62 days post. The granulation was triggered by skin that wasn't healthy and didn't seem to vascularize as desired and it went necrotic, there were small separations involved near suture areas too. A speculum inspection at day 34 showed most of the internal area is plenty healthy, the problem is around the labia minora.

Quote from: Missy~rmdlm on June 18, 2014, 01:04:20 AM
A speculum inspection at day 34 showed most of the internal area is plenty healthy, the problem is around the labia minora.

Interesting -- you and I had the same surgeon, and that area was the slowest healing for me as well.  The last suture to come out was in that area, and it aggravated me no end until it did.  17 months later, stuff is fine and functioning as I was told it would be, so maybe it was worth the wait. 

Quote from: anothergirl1991 on June 17, 2014, 10:09:14 PM
May i just add in my defence i followed exactly the dilation routine as per recommendation by the surgeons directions. I never missed a dilation because i did not feel like it. The hyper granulation tissue began growing and actually began to narrow the canal and in the deep part where hyper granulation tissue is it actually prevented me from dilating past that point... also the numbing creame was suggested by the nurses right from week one been there tried that it did not help. I was in the UK for 3 months post op and it was very difficult to get a doctor who was willing to even apply the silver nitrate. I dont really appreciate some of the comments that jumped to the conclusion that i am neglecting my dilations as that is not the case AT ALL.

I am sorry you feel i did not offer any help or suggestions and it has up set you.

Not everyone can handle the extra pain that can happen with healing and such we need the medical support system

So not to make you upset anymore, this will be my last post on this thread.

Isabell

All these stories make me wonder about those surgeons. My surgeon only had me dilate one time a day for an hour each time. I started off at 15 minutes with the first one and did that for a week then 15 minutes each time with 1 and 2...you see the theme here. By the end of the first month I was doing each dilator for 15 minutes each that totaled one hour. I had no complications from surgery and was healed pretty good at the end of 4 weeks. It took my OB/GYN a few attempts to get all the sutures removed though, but thankfully she got the most irritating ones on the first attempt. I did loose about a half inch in the first two months but my surgeon told me that there was a high probability that would probably happen anyway so I was prepared for it. He also told me he can get me to 7+ inches with another procedure later in life if I wanted the small amount of extra depth. I haven't dated in so many years now that I haven't had the desire or see a reason to go back.

Thus, when I hear stories of having to dilate 5 times a day it just seems absolutely absurd to me. Also, during my healing process, every time I urinated I cleaned the whole area with undiluted iodine. I did this several times a day and went through quite a few bottles of iodine. I sucked up all the iodine into a dopper and sprayed it all over my crotch making sure to get everywhere even places it hurt to push the skin aside to get deep "in there."  After every dilation I also cleaned out my vagina with an undiluted iodine solution which also helped removed the lubrication I used. After I was done I would pat the area lightly to remove any dripping iodine and then place a stickless, ouchless 4x4 gauze pad (not a pad or pantyliner) over the area and then use silk panties because silk has a much "slicker" surface than any other panty material hence, they're less likely to stick to the wound. After I soaked my crotch in iodine I would apply an antibiotic ointment to various areas twice a day. I wore skirts for the first 4 weeks (and I really dislike skirts) so there would be no pressure on my crotch when I was walking around.

It seemed to work well for me and maybe the same type of routine could benefit someone else.