Post-op Day 9 14th April
Set my alarm to ring early in the morning at 6am to commence my first morning dilation.
As per instructed, suppose to commence once 45mins in the morning and once 45mins in the evening.
Here are a general guideline that you need to prepare prior to the dilation -
(1) Laid the protection linen
(2) place tissues where your butt will be so that the excessive fluid or discharge will not stain the linen and can be reused.
(3) Remember to get more pillows so that your legs can rest comfortable above on it. I gotten 6 pillows.
(4) Do note to keep the materials that you required near your reach. Items like mirror, lube, stent, numbing gel, wet wipes and tissues are generally items that you have to keep within reach as it will be impossible to disrupt the dilation once you commence.
Do also keep your remote or ipad or phone within reach as well to keep you entertained.
I also keep a glass of water in case i do get thirsty.
Once done, I tried to maintain a comfortable position as per instructed by the nurse previously and note that laid your head Low preferably with one pillow instead of 2 for the stent to adjust in much easier. Next the legs to be spread not just slight wide allowing the stent to go in.
After which apply the numbing gel, and then apply the lubricant onto the stent.
Use the mirror to check the entrance of your vagina and slowly push the stent inside.
For this time, I am still unable to achieve the required depth. Failing short of an inch.
I realised that as I push deeper initially, the first hurdle to cross are my muscles. That gradually over practised I learned that relaxing helps.
The next hurdle is harder, which is like a bone which prevents your stent from proceeding further. I took awhile to overcome this, you need to tweak the stent downwards to 'go under' this bone. Gradually I managed to overcome this. However ultimately I still fall short of half inch.
Well I Guess that first attempt will always be difficult.
I Guess coupled with the above as well as this is one of the first virgin times that my vagina is experiencing penetration so the body naturally will resist.
So apart from the muscles and bone, once overcome, the key factor that I need to do is to maintain the depth that i managed to push to. That is the hardest part.
As the stent is of uniform width thru out, it is extremely difficult to hold the stent in position using the fingers (likely only 2 fingers) as you will require some strength to keep the stent in position.
Ok one thing to note, everyone's anatomy is different, the nurse guide may not be applicable to you in the ease of shoving the stent in, you need to explore yourself to find out what is the comfortable position, the resistance of muscle at which point and how to tweak to overcome when you hit the bone. Only you know yourself how to explore the stent and how to tweak to go further.
The attempt to reach depth (*still short of half inch) took me 25mins in my first attempt and to tell you the truth I was nearly half exhausted and broke out in sweat just to get it in as much as possible. I maintain the depth about an hour before taking out and proceeding with the cleaning process. Do remember to wash the stent with soft soap and wipe clean before keeping.
As there are still lubricant within, do note to wear a pad so that the excess lubricant within the vagina will not stain your underwear.
After the dilation, I was totally half dead. Could not muster much energy to do anything.
I just laid stoned in bed for 45mins before dragging myself out to clean and wash up my face.
Did a quick change before heading down for breakfast at 9am.
Ok, wonder how I managed to hide the urine bag?
I wore a Long skirt, I kept the urine bag within hook onto the inside of the skirt so basically its not visible. Of course, the urine bag is drained before I stepped out.
I brought along my cushion as well.
Breakfast as per the usual items the day before.
Following which head up to take my medication and rest on the bed.
Now the above is actually not recommended by Chettawut. His advise is not to move around and remain as much as possible in bed. This is to allow the incisions to heal and not to tear the stitches. Please do follow, if you need breakfast please call room service.
The nurse came at noon time to inspect my stitches and ask about my dilation, which I commented that it was tough and I tried, she mentioned to take a photo for the depth to show her tomorrow... well generally that is challenging, its hard if you are alone to take a photo with one hand and holding the stent in the other. And more so to capture the correct angle. Basically it requires many attempts of trial and error. She did some cleaning and applied the medication.
There is one piece of bad news - the nurse upon cleaning and inspection mentioned that one side of my scars on the outer has necrosis and the skin is not healing. Need to monitor and see. If required, will need revision to trim the dead skin and restitch!!!!!!
Ok gals, another rule that I flouted, I started smoking the day I came back when I was discharged from Chettawut's clinic.
Honestly I am a heavy smoker and I cannot live pass an hour without lighting up. I smoke at least 20sticks a day. Yes smoking affects the healing process and necrosis I believe was due to smoking. Well what's done can be undone. So seems like revision was in the schedule for me.
Lunch was generally 2 apples and some Kiwi juice.
Late afternoon, being a little adventurous, I decided to do a quick shower. Yes finally I can shower! The nurse told me that I can finally hit the shower to clean myself. Yippie.
Oh let me elaborate a bit, yes, you can shower with the urine bag, but take note that the urine bag must alway be placed at a level lower than your vagina to allow flow so please find a good spot to hang it.
Showering as per instructed, just shower as per normal except your genital areas where just let the water run thru and not applied direct flow. Do not rub the area or apply soap. Let gravity of the water do the job.
Once showered, note do use the hair dryer using normal wind without temp and blow dry about 5mins before putting on your underwear, with pad of course.
Then I flouted another rule... I went out.
I went to the 7-11 just beside to grab some drinks and ciggies....
Sidetrack, do go to 7-11 to grab their iced coffee if you have the chance, its really addictive.
When I was there, hmm I was thinking the mall was just across the road, why not I take the chance to go there and check out the mall. So I went to the mall and walk around, bought some dinner there and headed back. I reckon I spent about 3hours in the mall maybe?
I was exhausted when I came back. Note I still have the urine bag on me.
Well I had to pay a price for this disobedience as I will explain later!
Once back I laid on my bed and fell asleep.
The alarm woke me up at 6pm as I had set it for the next dilation. Same 45mins.
The whole process repeats itself, well no luck still cant cross that half inch.
Did washing up and grab dinner.
Dinner was papaya salad. I am addicted to this as well. Took this almost daily in Thailand.
Did some work in the evening and generally took to bed almost 1am.
Pain level today well 2 or 3 (max during shower, perhaps the wounds are still not fully heal?)
But pain is still ok, the soreness due to straining the muscles during dilation is much worse I would say. Sore rating well perhaps a 5?
