I was interested to read Sarah's and Valerie's post-op care, coming from Brassard's office.  Here is what I was instructed to do at Bowers' office:

Dilate 3 times a day for 3 months, then twice a day for 3 months, then once a day hereafter.  Receptive intercourse counts as one dilation.  Dilate for 15 minutes each time (i.e., feed it in, wait 15 minutes, gently pull it out).  After the first year I can experiment with how often to dilate, but the maxim is: Use it or lose it.

Start with the smallest dilator (1¼").  After seven days, "graduate" up to the next size.  After 10 days with Mr. Mid-size, graduate to Big Al.  Each time, try to dilate to the depth achieved on the first dilation.  You will never get more but can get less through neglect.

Once the catheter and packing are removed, do not sit on the donut.  It can let the center stuff pull down as it heals, and we don't want that.  Sit on flat padded surfaces.

Put a light layer of triple-antibiotic ointment on the outer stitches twice a day.  You can quit doing it once the little tube is empty.  (I may continue for another week.  I used way too much in the beginning, depleting the tube they gave me.)

When dilating, put a light bead of gel around the tip of the dilator, below the initial "dome".  Put a dollop of Metrogel (they gave me a tube) on the tip.  Lightly smear it about.  There is no need to lubricate me.  I've found this to work well and cause little mess.  When the Metrogel tube is empty, just use a water-based gel – like Surgilube, which I use for the crown bead.  (The Metrogel keeps the anaerobic bacteria from overpopulating the vagina while the natural bacteria are building up.)

The stints need to be "clean but not sterile".  Any soap will do – hand soap, dish soap, etc.  The main thing is for them to be clean and well-rinsed (no soap residue).

One week after discharge, begin 15-minute sitz-baths once a day.  Toss a handful of Epsom salts in the water.

Do not douche.  Douching washes out the good bacteria and can force bad bacteria farther into the vagina.

Keep the vagina area clean and dry.  Rinse and pat dry.  Do not use douches, strong soaps, deodorants or sprays.  Wear cotton underwear (dry).  Do not wear tight-fitting clothing (dry).  Dampness is our vagina's enemy (bad stuff grows).

This has worked for me so far, but I'm only 12 days post-op.  YMMV

- Kate

That's crazy just how different each doctor's process is. It seems like Bower's ideas of recovery are pretty opposite of Brassard's. As long as it works, either way us fine, but it's interesting to see different doctors' takes on it.

Glad to hear things are going well thus far.

~Sarah

Quote from: SarahR on May 05, 2010, 12:18:07 PM
That's crazy just how different each doctor's process is. It seems like Bower's ideas of recovery are pretty opposite of Brassard's. As long as it works, either way us fine, but it's interesting to see different doctors' takes on it.

Yes it is interesting, and Dr. McGinn's is different from both of those. Her dilation schedule is quite rigorous, and is to be done for 30 minutes each time (5 times daily for the first 8 weeks). She also includes dietary instructions, and even recommendations on how to achieve orgasm lol

I'll try them out first and if they work then I'll post them haha

Her discharge instructions also say this:

QuoteYour clitoris and the area between your clitoris and urethra may look dry, black, red, or crusty. Please know that great care was taken to preserve your sensation and that it can take several months for all these changes to normalize, so be patient.

so what you have sounds like part of the normal healing process.

Valerie, are you talking about the big blood clot? Yeah, that thing falls off after a week or two. Mine fell off at pretty much the 1 week mark after returning home, but it'll come off in time for you too.

~Sarah

I had a small piece of dead white skin on the clitoral area that took a couple weeks to disappear.  It faded and got smaller with time.  It really stressed me out at the time though.  But all turned out ok.

So much for Bowers' dilation schedule...  I tried to graduate to the next size today (Mr. Green).  It was very difficult and didn't get any easier once started.  About halfway in I gave up and eased it out.  When I sat up I got bright red blood for the first time ever.  I did the regular dilation with Junior (blue).  When I pulled it out it had several smears of bright red blood.

Alarmed, I called the office.  They said that happens sometimes when going to the next larger size.  They said I should dilate as usual with Junior (15 minutes) to relax the muscles and then five minutes with Mr. Green until I was used to the larger size.  This sounds more like Brassard's schedule.

Isn't this fun?

- Kate

kate: ouch x_x

Quote from: Valeriedances on May 06, 2010, 08:20:26 AM
Brassard's regimen includes douching twice daily only for the first two months, then stop for the reasons Kate mentions. This helps remove remains (sloughing). It does help me feel much cleaner.

-Valerie

*nods*
this is reeds instructions: (don't mind the run-on sentence)
Use the red catheter and piston syringe as instructed daily from post-op day 7 to 14 and for the next week  every other day and thereafter every 3rd day to remove jelly and cleanse but remember this does not have to be done frequently as you dilate. 

Quote from: K8 on May 06, 2010, 04:01:03 PM
So much for Bowers' dilation schedule...  I tried to graduate to the next size today (Mr. Green).  It was very difficult and didn't get any easier once started.  About halfway in I gave up and eased it out.  When I sat up I got bright red blood for the first time ever.  I did the regular dilation with Junior (blue).  When I pulled it out it had several smears of bright red blood.

Alarmed, I called the office.  They said that happens sometimes when going to the next larger size.  They said I should dilate as usual with Junior (15 minutes) to relax the muscles and then five minutes with Mr. Green until I was used to the larger size.  This sounds more like Brassard's schedule.

Isn't this fun?

- Kate

Yes!  Much fun!  Also, the names of your dilators--Mr. Green Mr. Blue--sounds a lot like Resevoir Dogs

Quote from: Kristyn on May 06, 2010, 05:06:18 PM
Yes!  Much fun!  Also, the names of your dilators--Mr. Green Mr. Blue--sounds a lot like Resevoir Dogs

Or a series of the HULK movie

Quote from: SaraR on May 09, 2010, 08:26:05 AM
Or a series of the HULK movie

I like to think of them as Smurfs 

Quote from: FairyGirl on May 05, 2010, 12:48:49 PM
Yes it is interesting, and Dr. McGinn's is different from both of those. Her dilation schedule is quite rigorous, and is to be done for 30 minutes each time (5 times daily for the first 8 weeks). She also includes dietary instructions, and even recommendations on how to achieve orgasm lol

FairyGirl, Could you lease post Dr. McGinn's recommendations on how to achieve Orgasm?

Hey Jeanna I am also a McGinn Graduate  this is for you ...http://books.google.com/books?id=7rfLcoQ2koQC&dq=science+of+orgasm+beverly+whipple&pg=PP1&ots=wWHcbqOzsq&sig=i1aJPEtEEPbMLv7ZsALi6BbeyDc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#v=onepage&q&f=false

Quote from: Suigeniris on November 02, 2011, 12:35:00 PM
Hey Jeanna I am also a McGinn Graduate  this is for you ...http://books.google.com/books?id=7rfLcoQ2koQC&dq=science+of+orgasm+beverly+whipple&pg=PP1&ots=wWHcbqOzsq&sig=i1aJPEtEEPbMLv7ZsALi6BbeyDc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#v=onepage&q&f=false

Thanks!  But is this the instructions she gives you?   Is there anything specifically geared towards Post-Ops?

Quote from: Jenna Renee on November 02, 2011, 12:13:39 PM
FairyGirl, Could you lease post Dr. McGinn's recommendations on how to achieve Orgasm?

I wrote part of it out here before, it's not in electronic form so I had to type it:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,77023.msg600567.html#msg600567

I'm sure there is more in the book.