I have a few questions regarding SRS...!

In the first year(?) being post op, I know you have to dilate like 3 or 4 times a day. What does one do if you need to work a full day here and there? Is dilating in the morning and then at night enough? Also, how painful is dilation?

What is a normal dilation regime like up to 6 months post op, then a year, and beyond - how often do you have to dilate at those intervals?

I think it depends on the surgeon, but there was a post here recently that had quite a number of them listed.

For me it is:

First 2 months, 4 times a day.
Next 2 months 3 times a day.
For 3 months after that, 2 times a day.
Finally once a day for ever.

Once I'm at the once a day stage then sex counts as a dilation!

Dilation can sometimes be a bit uncomfortable while you are in the early stages of healing but the solution tends to be slow insertion of the dilator. Some people are able to make arrangements at work so the dilate before work, at lunch, as soon as they get home and just before bed. For three dilations, you skip the one at work. It's best to plan 2 months off work as you may find you need more sleep and be unable to stay awake for all the dilations. After 2 months, you should have recovered enough that three dilations a day are possible.

I think my schedule was something like what Charley posted.  I was fortunate enough that my employer allowed a lock to be installed on my office door.  This helped, but I will tell you that it is super weird to dilate in your office at work, but I did it for a few months.  Benefits of being an office drone with a private office.

Sometimes it just takes careful planning to fit everything in your day.  Do your best to stick to your schedule, and you will not regret it in the years that follow...I can attest to that

Like other surgery, the answer to your question depends very much on you as a unique individual.  Your doctor will provide a dilation regimen which he feels will assure a good outcome for all his patients.  That's not to say you will not achieve a good result long term by deviating from his recommendation, though.  Personally, I was able to cut back on the frequency and duration of dilations to a considerable degree without any loss of depth or width.  I followed my doctor's recommendation for the first three months which had me dilating 3x a day.  I realized it was more than I needed so I decided to try just morning and evening dilations.  That worked out fine, and what a relief not having to arrange my day to do that extra one.  At 7 months post-op I dropped down to just an evening dilation while carefully monitoring my depth.  I could go back to twice a day if I noticed any adverse effects.  I needed a bit more warmup time before inserting the largest stent, but I was able to continue just once a day with no loss of depth or width.  At 11 months post-op I started dilating once in the evening every other day.  Then, at 14 months post, I started dilating every third day, and still I'm not experiencing any regression or tightly of scar tissue.  Dilation is no big deal for me.

I say all this not to encourage you to ignore your doctor's dilation recommendations, but rather to point out the variability in the recovery and healing process that GRS patients encounter.  Until you have your surgery and see how your body responds over time, you cannot know what your optimal dilation routine will be.  Best to plan to follow your doctor's recommendation until such time as you can gauge your body's reaction.

I am a Brassard girl..

From the FAQ on his site:

12. What is the dilation routine?

The routine includes 4 dilations per day for the first month after surgery. Afterwards, this decreases to 3, then 2, and finally, about 1 year after surgery, you will perform 1 dilation per week. It is important to know that regular dilations will be necessary for the rest of your life. Without them, the vaginal cavity will close. Vaginal dilation is one of the most important treatments after surgery.

Not mentioned in the FAQ is that 20 minutes of vigorous, penetrative sex can be substituted for dilation. Umm, duh, yeah, at least 20 minutes, pa-leeeze? ;-)

At first, the dilation/sitz bath routine IS YOUR LIFE. There is no way around this fact. If I remember right, it was 4 a day for a month, 3 a day for 2 more, 2 a day for 3 more. At six months post-op, it was once a day, until finally, at one year, it was once a week, OR 20 minutes of vigorous, penetrative sex. By six months post-op, it was all play, and no work, lol. Now, I sometimes go weeks without a problem, but I do make up for lost time when I have a man around, or I remember how good it feels and the toys come out again, ha!

I never think of it as dilation at all, I have plenty of toys that are waaay more fun than the metal dilators, lol. By the time your vagina heals and the scars calm down, it is a good idea to move beyond the 'surgical site' mindset and let the good times roll...

Just my take on it, mm..

Missy

I went to McGinn, her direction is:

week 1-9 5x/day
10-24 2x/day
25-52 1x/day

I am 9 weeks today and they have me on 5/day. I see them on 2/10/17 and hope I can go to 3/day. A few days I could only dilate 4 times.

I work 5 am to 3 pm and later if needed. I can dilate in my office.

I was lucky and going from #1 to #4 was quick and not painful. It is painful now that I go to the gym and I get a little swollen for 12 hours but only at the rim of the vaginal canal and only with #4. It is not that bad and I get through it. I go slow and after a few minutes the pain is less.

Thank you for all the replies! Does anyone know what the Suporn dilation schedule is?


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Suporn is 3 times a day for the first 3 months, twice a day for the next 3, then once a day for the next 6 months. That's the first year, after which is drops off a lot. I know someone who was once a week after 18 months.

Quote from: AnonyMs on January 23, 2017, 03:27:54 AM
Suporn is 3 times a day for the first 3 months, twice a day for the next 3, then once a day for the next 6 months. That's the first year, after which is drops off a lot. I know someone who was once a week after 18 months.

Good to know! Thank you Anon, you're always so helpful. :3

I pm'd you a bit more.

I underwent GCS last August and my doctor only required two 20 minutes dilation sessions per day. I am still doing the two times a day schedule in the morning and in the evening. I have maintained my depth and I now only use the largest of the Soul Source dilators. It amazes me that there are so many different opinions by the different doctors on what needs to be done post op. It's not as if everyone heals exactly the same. It must be easier for the doctors to just set a one size fits all policy. It would be interesting to see a discussion with all of the doctors describing why they have the dilation schedules that they do.

Suporn's dilation is different because its not penile inversion and recovery takes a lot longer. I don't know why the others.