My surgeon didn't have a complete set of dilators for me.  I'm missing the largest one. The person he bought them from disappeared, didn't return calls or emails, so he couldn't get a replacement right away.  I asked him the size but he didn't know. I asked him to give me one when he got more but he didn't.  I gave up on my surgeon getting me the larger one.

What width is the larger "official" dilator?  One inch?  The one I have is 7/8". About the diameter of a nickle. Actually, now that I measured it I think I'll find something with a 1 inch width. That looks like a good size to go to next.  Still ... I wonder if everyone was given the same width dilators?

Just out of curiosity what are your dilators made from?  Mine looks to be PVC.

heh.  I wonder what the market for dilators is?  All you have to do is slice a PVC rod up in 9" lengths, round an end and polish.

I just did a web search for Duratek Dilators and the sizes they have listed are:

25mm, 29mm, 32mm, 35mm and 38mm.  This would be equivalent to 1", 1 1/8", 1 1/4", 1 3/8", 1 1/2".  The thing is that different surgeons normally give you different sized sets.  You might try doing web searches for more dilators/stents on google.

No wonder I hated dilation so much.  I think that William Hurt must have been two inches!  I'm glad that piece of plastic has found its way to the dump!

Cindi

Quote from: Melissa on April 26, 2007, 03:50:11 PM
I just did a web search for Duratek Dilators and the sizes they have listed are:

25mm, 29mm, 32mm, 35mm and 38mm.  This would be equivalent to 1", 1 1/8", 1 1/4", 1 3/8", 1 1/2".  The thing is that different surgeons normally give you different sized sets.  You might try doing web searches for more dilators/stents on google.

  I got the baby set!   I have some work to do. 

Quote from: TreeFlower on April 26, 2007, 04:06:33 PM
  I got the baby set!   I have some work to do. 

Yeah, but don't stretch the skin too much.  You don't want to damage yourself.

Quote from: Melissa on April 26, 2007, 04:09:11 PM

Quote from: TreeFlower on April 26, 2007, 04:06:33 PM
  I got the baby set!   I have some work to do. 

Yeah, but don't stretch the skin too much.  You don't want to damage yourself.

Such things I have to look forward to!

-Sandy (I'll worry about this LATER!)

My largest dilator is 1 3/8"

Steph

Please keep in mind that the dilation regimen and perhaps the size of the dilators themselves vary from surgeon to surgeon and the type of vaginoplasty peformed during SRS.

tink

Do yourself a favour, and buy some silicone toys in various diameters.

Always wrap them in condoms, or boil them before using.

You will accomplish the same thing as you do with your stents,
but it will be one hell of a lot more fun. Plus they are flexible and will reduce some of the discomfort you might experience with rigid stents.

And, if you buy a certain size, you can be sure that you are achieving the proper depth when
it reaches the collar on the end, or by the clearance left over when it reaches the bottom.

Hi Tink.  I couldn't resist this one.    Thundra

Quote from: Thundra on April 28, 2007, 09:22:11 PM
Hi Tink.  I couldn't resist this one.    Thundra

LOL     I know you couldn't resist.  However, the problem with those toys is that some of them are, let's say, terribly gigantic and
scary-looking  .  I don't know if they will be healthy to use considering that neo-vaginas are extremely sensitive.  On the other hand, Dr. Meltzer had to use extensive skin grafts to create the lining of the vaginal cavity during my SRS, so it is very delicate and has to be toy-free for a while.

tink

Like Tink said stent sizes and dilation schedules and regimens vary from surgeon to surgeon. Also some surgeosn will tell you that it isn't necessarily necessary to use their largest stent. I happen to use the largest stent from a different srs surgeon then I had went to as I wanted to use a larger one.
Rashelle

QuoteLOL     I know you couldn't resist.  However, the problem with those toys is that some of them are, let's say, terribly gigantic and
scary-looking  .  I don't know if they will be healthy to use considering that neo-vaginas are extremely sensitive.  On the other hand, Dr. Meltzer had to use extensive skin grafts to create the lining of the vaginal cavity during my SRS, so it is very delicate and has to be toy-free for a while.

So what are you saying Tink, that all the guys you have dated so far are, well, hmmmm?
They all drive really big cars?  LOL   >   But seriously m'dears, if you go to a reputable 'toy' store, with a large selection, you can easily find a series of silicone toys that are approx. the same diameters as the stents you use. For instance, 1", 1 & a quarter inches, and one & a half inches in diameter. My collection goes up from there!

Women that I have known, that played with toys, had much better results down the road than women that did not. I mean, as I recall, don't the surgeons allow intercourse within six months of surgery? If you can have intercourse, you can play with toys. And, I am thinking that it is the thrusting during the playtime that helps maintain size and depth? You can ask the people here that have a BF the same question. Does having IC take the place of dilation and mitigate loss of depth and/or diameter? I would guess so.

It has also been my experience that you needn't worry too much about being gentle either.
Like most women, if you use the right lubrication, you should not have any adverse reaction by dilating with toys instead of stents. But good lubrication is key. I recommend a gel. Honestly, I have found that when it comes to playtime, a vagina is a vagina. But that is just me. 

Quote from: Thundra on April 28, 2007, 09:22:11 PM
Do yourself a favour, and buy some silicone toys in various diameters.

Always wrap them in condoms, or boil them before using.

You will accomplish the same thing as you do with your stents,
but it will be one hell of a lot more fun. Plus they are flexible and will reduce some of the discomfort you might experience with rigid stents.

Sounds like Treeflower is very recently post-op, and needs medical grade dilators, an she needs them urgently.  Dilating with just a single small dilator during the early stages of healing will likely cause shrinkage in width that could be hard to regain.

My stents were free Brassard supply from Duratek, same as Melissa quotes - 25mm, 29mm, 32mm, 35mm and 38mm - 1", 1 1/8", 1 1/4", 1 3/8", 1 1/2". 

Duratek Plastics
3110 - 8th Street East #8D-233
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  S7H 0W2
Canada

Duratek had a supply hiccup last year due to illness of owner but the fact that they recently have a new website seems to suggest that things are back to normal.

Its really important the stents are rigid and have an optimum taper at their rounded end to perform their job properly (and comfortably).

P.S. Vibrators may be fun, and I'm comfy using the 1 1/2" dilator, but the thought of inserting a "rampant rabbit" or the like terrifies me  !  They're huge, knobbly, well over 2" wide, and look like no guy on earth ! I think you leave them until you're confident that your vagina is really bulletproof. But you can get "mini" ones in cute friendly shapes, and its not the insertion that matters but stimulating your clitoris to get the "wow" factor  !

Laura x

    My surgeon must have been getting Duratek dilators.  I went to the web site and they look like the same thing.  Also, it sounds like the hiccup was around the same time as my surgery.  I'm four months post-op.  I hope its not to late to get a larger size.  I don't think its ever to late to increase width.  From what I understand, it'll just take extra work and determination.

Ok so I need to find something in a hurry. Looks like here are my options.

    - Buy a set of dilators. The Duratek dilators are very expensive for a PVC rod.  I wanted to see how much the materials for a dilator cost.  A quick search turned up a $12 1" rod http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=12077&product%5Fid=17262  I think if you slap "Medical" on something the price goes up 1,000%.  I just can't help feeling like I'm being taken if I buy a set from Duratek.

    - Make my own.  I'd rather get a sex toy.

    - I need to revisit the sex toy sites to see if I can find something good.  Something soft would be nice.

    - Pester my surgeon again. Now that I know more about stints & dilating I can talk intelligently to him.  Also, looks like Duratek is back in business.

Couple more questions:
    If there is a width limit to a neo-vagina?
    Do different types of procedures create different widths or is it just surgeon's advice that differs?


Thanks for your help, guys.

Just re-visited the Duratek site that I'd indexed on Saturday only to find the message :

"Duratek Plastics is no longer in business
You may be able to pick up a similar product from http://www.hentek.ca/" -  !!!

Hentek site is under construction and empty !

If you thought Duratek were pricey, all UK suppliers I know of are 2 - 3 times the price !

As to width limit, well with penile inversion its how wide can that (ex) bit of your anatomy stretch to  ?  I find the 1 1/2" dilator to slide in no problem at all - I could go bigger, the only tightness being around the pelvic muscle which I can clench absolutely tight if I want to, and through which my surgeon had to cut the vaginal canal.

I really find it hard to comprehend that your surgeon dispatched you with a single stent !

Laura

Quote from: Laura Eva B on April 30, 2007, 03:22:44 PM
If you thought Duratek were pricey, all UK suppliers I know of are 2 - 3 times the price !

You probably meant ones like Femistent.  Another option is ordering a set from Dr. Preecha: http://www.pai.co.th/dilator/index.asp

However, if your surgeon was using Duratek and was unable to supply you stents after you paid for them, it should be their responsibility to provide you a set from another company even if it costs them more.  That's just customer service.

Quoteneedless to say, I think you already know my definition of dating! it DOES NOT involve sex of any kind. 

Off topic again, but......NEVER?  Never, ever?  Really?  That is so sad!   
Such a waste of a bee-yoo-t-fool woman, IMHO.

T.  >

    I was on my way to the mall last night when I remembered there was a shop nearby that sells sex toys. It doesn't sell porn.  Just toys & condoms. I got three inexpensive vibrators. 1" (25mm), 1 1/8" (29mm), 1 3/16" (30mm), 1 3/8 (35mm)".  The 30mm & 35mm are the same vibrator but there is a sleeve you can put on it.  That should hold me for a while .

    Unfortunately I didn't bring a ruler with me.  I didn't know I'd be measuring dildos last night. I think I did pretty well.  I used a quarter which is 15/16" (24mm) diameter to measure them.  I was kneeling on the floor with vibrators all around me.  If the guy behind the counter thought I was crazy he didn't show it.  He's probably seen all kinds.

    When I got home tried the 1 incher.  It went zoooop right in.  I'll try the 1 1/8" one today.

    Thank you all, sooooo much.

    *Tree Flower does the happy dance*

     Oh yea.  I'm going to have a talk with my surgeon about this.

    *Tree Flower continues dancing....*

Dating ... well its a kind of filter to find who you want to go the whole way with isn't it ?

As a new virgin in my "true gender" I'm so keen to find the right guy to break my virginity ... so a few dates might be enough if Mr Right turns up ... but its so tempting to just go for the first clean, decent, solvent, and half attractive guy who shows an interest in me  !

Laura x

Hi all,

well as it has been said.... dilation routine does vary depending on the procedure and the surgical ethos. As far as the dilators go I have the following in 5mm increments:

25mm, 30mm, 35mm, 40mm

The 25 and 30 were given to me at the hospital, the other two I purchased having tracked down the hospital supplier. (I liked the design) Also I was horrified at the cost of these stents if bought over the net or through certain companies, whereas my supplier was very reasonable and enabled me to keep continuity of design. Also there seems to be a lot of hype as to the design... some coming with depth rings, others with screw in handles, different colours etc... this of course only serves to bump up the price. The dilators that I have are made from a surgical quality, clear material with tapered ends. They are made by a surgical instrument company, and are smooth and plain, simple and effective. They are easy to keep clean and I will wear out before they do. Lol

I do not use the 25mm any more and my routine now is as follows:

30mm = 15 mins, 35mm = 10 mins, 40mm = 5-10 mins.  Once a day.

I am maintaining easy penetration with a little resistance at the pelvic floor muscle and good depth.

Please remember that this is 'my routine', it might not be right for someone else.

I am not sure if I am allowed to put here the company details should anyone choose to purchase one or more... so, pm me and I will give it to you. I hope that this the correct way to do this and that this information has been helpful.

Rara. x