How long does numbness/swelling last?

[Debra]

So I had my op almost 8 weeks ago and I had some bleeding complications on the 2nd day that seemed to slow down my healing quite a bit. Esthetically, it seems like at least when comparing with the girl who had her surgery the day AFTER me....I am WAY behind. Hers started looking really good at like 3 weeks and here I'm at 8 weeks and it's still not even where hers was at 3 weeks.

I still seem to have some swelling, mostly in my right labia and I'm also numb in most places (btw do they go hand-in-hand, swelling and numbness?). About teh 2nd or 3rd week, I noticed all the electrical shocks of nerves repairing so I had good hope but the numbing has not really changed a whole lot......sometimes I feel like everything past the scar barrier is numb but other times, it feels like the depth of the numbing is different for different areas....if that makes any sense.

My question to all of you who are post-op....when did most of the numbness go away for you? I realize this will vary and I'm hoping that it will just take more time for me and that this doesn't mean I won't have feeling down there in the future.

[spacial]

Not speaking as a post op woman, (sadly), but as someone with a little prefessional experience of post op healing, comparing your recovery to others is just going to be really frustrating.

The basic rules of post op recovery are, Cleanliness, Lots of fresh fruit, water, follwoing Dr's advice and excercising as directed.

[Karynm8621]

Dr Brassard recently told me that swelling can be up to 16weeks before you have an idea of what the area will look like.

I have not gotten many if any of the electrical jolts everyone describes but I do have sensation in most of the other areas.  I think the clitoral area has feeling but I haven't explored yet to really find out, I just know I have feeling when I wash the area.

It's hard to coma pre yourself to others, health, age, diet etc all have effects healing and everyone is different. Im currently at 6 1/2 weeks and am still swollen enough that it still doesn't look normal to me.

[danimunj]

I think it really does vary with each individual, D.

I was fortunate in that the electricity was on before I left the hospital.

Good healthy living and you will be better than new before you know it.

<33333

[Siren]

I never got any of the 'electric shocks' either. I'm 6 months post-op. I noticed the numbness fading gradually but it seems to have been replaced with an unpleasant pins and needles type feeling when I touch the skin.
I'm hoping it will all come together in time because I can't bear to touch myself there at the moment.

[rejennyrated]

You are so right when you say that it is very individual. Just to show you how individual, after both my procedures, one when I was 25 the other at 50 I never had any numbness at all - and my swelling went down completely within a few weeks.

Don't worry I am sure that you will be fine. Your body IS individual and it really will heal itself in its own time and way.

[Julie Marie]

How long does the numbness last?  Well, I had my GRS in 3/09 and there is still some numbness.  And there are times I feel a clamp is down there.  For the record, Brassard was the surgeon.  But that does not mean the same wouldn't have happened with someone else.  Problem with this kind of procedure is you don't get to find out who will do the best job for you.

[Kristyn]

I never really ha any numbness, except along and to the side of one of the incisions.  Swelling is a different story--I had a lot!  At 7.5 months post, most is gone and I now have what seems to be puffy skin.  Everything seems to be changing as the days go by.  More folds and detail appear almost daily.  I'm not sure why I'm slow to heal or slower than most, but things are definitely changing and I am certain that things will eventually look better than fine.  A point to note is that I'm extremely physically active and I follow a strict diet--it just goes to show that everyone heals at a different rate regardless.

[Renate]

Some report never having any numbness but "electrical shocks" periodically occurring for two years.

[Jessica.C]

I had a HUGE amount of swelling in the beginning as result of a hematoma. I think it took at least 4 months before things started to anything remotely close to normal. Now 6 months post op I still have have a small bump right above the clitoris. I wonder if its still whats left from the hemotoma or if its preserved erectile tissue Either way i don't like it and am praying it goes down. My gyno seemed to be at a loss. He said its really not that noticeable and he said it looks great. Still If it doesnt go away after a yr Ive considering a possible revision.

As far as sensation goes i still have some numbness (also wondering if thats related to the swelling). I am however able to have the "O" But its always been by myself. Just cant seem to get there while actually having intercourse. Maybe that will get better in time?? Minus my small bump I am very happy with everything!!!

From my experience one thing is for sure!! Don't matter if you are the picture of perfect health... SRS AINT NO JOKE Its a serious surgery, nothings promised and takes a long time to fully recover!!!

[Muffins]

I assume it depends which surgeon you use... largely. I can only speak for suporns.. technique.. I kinda felt the majority of the feeling of numbness went down between 3-6 weeks but I feel there is still a lot to go especially physically.. still looks like four hairy deflated basketballs squished together :/

[Karynm8621]

.. still looks like four hairy deflated basketballs squished together :/

Lol that's the best description I've heard by far

[Debra]

Thanks for all the input girls. Trying to be patient

[Buggy-pie]

Cor, difficult to answer!

i dont remember any numbness or swollen areas at the time.  I know i was swollen at least as peeing was a bit of a spatter to begin with however, as at that time we will never had seen our bits n pieces in their new places i think its got to be hard to know whats swollen or not as nothing to compare to.

I think for me i have experienced some tenderness in areas that has diminished as time moved on, thats about 15 weeks in all so far.  I remember wanting to compare my 5 week experience with others at the time and found some pics online and cor, compared to me she was still in a bad way and swelling was very obvious.  I guess it may be more a case of who the surgeon was rather than the patients themselves as when i was in ChX there were 5 of us and nothing was discussed about any one of us being any worse off than any other so could only surmise our experiences would have been similar after we all left.

Nat

[TraciMC]

I am 11 years post and I still have significant numbness in my inner labia.  It actually didn't occur to me fully until last night during foreplay that that is what the problem is.  It just never felt right.  Fortunately I don't have numbness where it really counts but it is definitely annoying having my labia touched and feel like he's wearing latex gloves or something.  So guess being so long post-op, there isn't much hope for me. :/

[Re: Joyce]

I'm almost at the same time as you.  Dr. McGinn told me that the stiffness from the swelling may take a year to get normalized.  I also have different sized labia and they feel different.  It's slowly getting better and they are beginning to look more normal now.

     She said it takes a year to get healed, don't get too excited about it, so I'm not.  I'm just trying to do exactly what she tells me to do and be very regular about my dilating, nutrition and rest.  I'll see what she says at my next followup visit.  I think she'll say, "Good Girl!"

[Debra]

Just an update: Despite my numbness/swelling, I just about had an orgasm the other night, wowies. Didn't quite make it to the top but came really close. It was just a good feeling to even be able to get that far with how numb things are still.

[umop ap!sdn]

My first week after SRS (with Suporn) I thought hey, what's all the fuss about this doesn't hurt all that much. Then by the time 2-3 weeks had gone by, eeeeeouch!!! Somehow, enough sensation had returned for it to hurt, but the area stayed numb for a few months as sensation gradually returned. Now at 14 months the bottom parts of the labia finally have sensation.

Swelling went down over a period of about 6 months.

[girl_ashley]

My first week after SRS (with Suporn) I thought hey, what's all the fuss about this doesn't hurt all that much. Then by the time 2-3 weeks had gone by, eeeeeouch!!! Somehow, enough sensation had returned for it to hurt, but the area stayed numb for a few months as sensation gradually returned. Now at 14 months the bottom parts of the labia finally have sensation.

Swelling went down over a period of about 6 months.

Nerves can only heal around 1 mm a day.

[Suigeniris]

I am  at 3 months now and the majority of my swelling is gone , what im noticing is the folding and the details are now starting to show ))))) .I am  also experiencing lots of tingling in the labia  and in the "C" I am also able to  O  it is very sensitive and the feeling of the shall we say phanthom erection is almost entirely gone.