I wrote about this in my surgery thread too but figured I'd post it here too.

I've noticed that when inserting the dilator initially, every time, it never gets to the full 6 inches like it did the first few times. I have to twist and turn and push a bunch more and keep doing that during the 15 minutes just to get it to and keep it at 6 inches depth. I feel like I'm fighting for my depth every time. Not sure if that's normal.

There are dots on the dilator that denote measurements and the 2nd dot is where I was at and where the nurse said 6 inches was the first time so I've tried to keep to that but I've found that it only goes in easy up to the 3rd dot and I have to really work to get it to the 2nd dot.

Anyone else have this going on at all? Mind you it hasnt even been 2 weeks yet and this is only the #2 dilator.

Don't worry what you explain is quite normal.  I'm at 12 months and don't achieve full depth the instant I insert the dilator.  Always takes a few minutes of constant pressure on the dilator.  You must also remember that at your stage there is a lot of scar tissue and healing still going on.

Keep the dilations going and good luck.

A similar thing happened to me as well.  Although I never twisted, I did keep constant pressure as I was dilating.  After a few minutes I noticed that the dilator was at its full depth.

I dont think I would twist just yet I would propably wait a while until everything is healed a bit more as not to cause any damage at least that was what I was told by my surgeon NOT TO TWIST at least not yet and yes it is normal ,not to reach full depth for a few minutes , I found that breathing really helps when you exhale ,insertion is easier ....

Well just to make you all feel better I have always had what I would describe as that last tight inch. I have well over the 6 inches - and although in all that time (including about 3 years in the 1990'a when I neglected to dilate at all) I have never lost any depth.

So relax - its normal to have to work at the last bit - just KEEP working on it at least until you are fully healed or you might lose it.

Whatever you do, please don't do what I have read of some girls doing and give up. That way lies disaster as my beloved Alison can certainly tell you!

Oh and as regard the twist - that depends on which dilator type you have. Those with a curved dilator like the soul-source should obviously be more careful about that. In the UK girls are told to twist gently, but our dilators are straight.

Also most UK girls don't get given the biggest one by their surgeon - I bought that for myself.

there is a place at the end where it gets much tighter and I think everyone must have the same thing. It does get easier to reach full depth after time, but that area is always there more or less.

This is the number 2 Soul Source dilator- the last dot is right at 5.5 - 5.75 inches (click the image to see larger):



It is curved at the end but the curve is facing the camera. At this point I can rotate it all the way around but at first it would have been impossible...

Putting Hello Kitty there was so CUTE btw hehehehe

That looks like the dilator I'm using and yet the lady told me the 2nd dot was 6 inches...looks like 5inches. sigh

"Hello Kitty" is what I say every time I dilate lol

The depth you have now is perfectly normal for Bowers, Brassard, and McGinn girls as far as I know. I can disappear the last dot just inside now but when I started it was only to the second dot, so it is possible to gain more depth through diligent dilation. This was also confirmed by my surgeon, Dr. McGinn, in the dilation manual she gives to her patients.

Just keep pushing girl! You seem to be doing well and that's good news

I was told that the last dot was 6".  I just measured my buddy, the Big Guy.  If you measure to the center of the tip from the last dot, it is 6".

BTW, it seemed I lost a little depth when I went to a larger size dilator.  The nurse said that is normal because everything has to stretch more.  If you think about it, the depth is the same in the relaxed mode - as the sides are pushed out the bottom comes a little closer.

At over 11 months sometimes it slides right in and other times I have to fight for that last quarter inch.  I start timing when I've finally got him in all the way and then keep a constant, firm pressure.

- Kate

As I mentioned in the other thread, you're probably having internal swelling that is giving you problems.  This will recede in time.

Also width steals from depth so it is not unusual to get to your regular depth with your smaller dilator, but then lose depth when you move up to your larger ones.

Your're probably far enough away from surgery that you could start using NSAID's like ibuprofen to help reduce the swelling.

-Sandy

Quote from: Sandy on March 28, 2011, 09:31:19 PM
Your're probably far enough away from surgery that you could start using NSAID's like ibuprofen to help reduce the swelling.

What's NSAID's ?

I have been taking some ibuprofen an hour before dilation, at least the morning and the evening ones.

Quote from: Jerica on March 28, 2011, 10:23:37 PM
What's NSAID's ?

I have been taking some ibuprofen an hour before dilation, at least the morning and the evening ones.

Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs otherwise known as Ibuprofen