Hi.  I had surgery 8 wees ago with Dr Unger at the Cleveland Clinic. Overall, I'm happy, but not without complications.  1, I lost some depth, despite a rigorous dilating schedule.  Seeing a pelvic floor Physical Therapist who is helping me get some depth back.  I'll likely only be at 4" though or maybe 4.5" is lucky.  I'm fighting time and scar tissue.  2) I am super sore when I dilate as of late.  The Dr. doesn't see an infection, but appears my nerves are healing and sensation is back.  Ouch.  3rd, my pee stream has been like a sprinkler and shooting anywhere and everywhere, but seems to be shooting straight ahead now.  This sucks at home.  It really sucks in public.  The changes appear week to week as things heal and as the swelling goes down, but Lord is this arduous.   Any advice?  Anyone else experience these complications?  I'm staying mostly positive, but it's hard at times.

Hi Andrea,

I have been in a somewhat similar situation. I had SRS with Dr. Christine McGinn on August 8th.  A few days after surgery, I was told I had about six inches of depth.  By the end of September I had lost over an inch. I was only getting about five inches with the #1 dilator and 4 1/2 with the #2.  I was counseled to "push firmly" when I dilate.  Holy Mother of pearl, I have been pushing firmly and it hurts.  I was hitting my pelvic bone. Pushing harder only made it hurt worse.

On top of that, I had a fat graft in one of my labia die, diagnosed at my six-week check-up, which was causing infection and pain. Oh, what fun!  Fortunately I got some antibiotics and the infection cleared up, but then all of a sudden, and I mean over like a 48-hour period, I developed extensive granulation of tissue around my clitoris and urethra.  Things got very inflamed, and that's when my nice little stream turned into more of a fire sprinkler.

To treat the granulation I was prescribed 2.5% hydrocortisone cream.  It hasn't seemed to make the redness or pain go away much, at least not yet, but it did have a fairly immediate effect of letting me get about a half-inch of depth back.

I did not even know a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist was a thing. Maybe I should look into that. But listen, I have been so at my wits end with the pain and not being able to sit down for any length of time without pain meds. I have been taking 6-8 ibuprofen a day and it doesn't even touch the pain. I have tried applying lidocaine to my vagina. I think it helps a little, but is very temporary.  Only the Vicodin works, and I am just about out of that. I had to go back to work after five weeks because I was about out of sick leave, and it has been a nightmare.  I have no provisions for dilating at work, either.

I knew post-op care would be hard, but this is almost beyond my ability to cope.  Unfortunately I have no choice, so I try to do the best I can.

Best of luck, girl. I hope things get better soon.

with kindness,

Terri

I can testify to the  adventure of peeing. It is very unpredictable. If it goes forward I found bending forward helps keep it going in the right place.
Moni
You can do it Terri!

Since both you ladies had GCS just a few months ago, you are still healing. In about 6 to 8 months post-op most of swelling should be gone. Swelling also causes urinary spraying.

Keep dilating as per schedule. Others have suggested that about 4 pounds of force is necessary to push the stent into the vagina to maintain and possibly increase vaginal depth. Don't forget to use lots of lube. Good luck and keep the faith. This is the most important time in your post-op recovery.

I'm, oh, about post op since 2001.  Things get progressively better, hang in there girls.  I'm still about 4.5" depth in my blind vaginal pouch (what I've taken to call it since ... some more mysterious structures have been located).  If I go by fingers, I can stick 4 in there with a bit of difficulty, but the dilators themselves I've not been too concerned with a long time.  It works, and that's fine enough for me.  I'm not really into guys anyways, so having some huge monster stuff me isn't in the cards    

Peeing is generally straight, though can sometimes get squirrely especially after having 'fun', or dilating as things get a bit swollen. (Not in pain).  Just hang in there.

I am a little over a month post op, and starting to feel a little burn at the base of thr vaginal canal. I can not wait to go down to three tines a day in a week. I hope things get better and I know they will for you all. I would suggest using a lot of lube. I use two, the jelly on the tip, and a more liquid kind (both water base) on the shaft of the dilator. Try to distract yourself on entry, just remember to keep pushing and RELAX.