Hello everyone,
My name is Cheryl. I’m new here and exploring options. I transitioned in 2003 and had SRS with Dr xxx in 2004. I’ve been happy with every aspect of my transition except for losing the “love” of my family and what I consider to be complications immediately upon arriving home following surgery. I called Dr xxx and spoke with him on the phone, but he was somewhat dismissive and said I just needed to keep dilating and everything would be okay. I’ve been pleased with the aesthetics and I am orgasmic (yay!).
I continued to dilate, even more than recommended, but the problem never improved. It got to the point where dilating would cause swelling, which in turn made urinating difficult. I even saw a local urologist who was pleased to take me as a new patient, but he’s unfamiliar with SRS techniques. He found no problem except that I wasn’t able to void my bladder completely. It wasn’t until about a year I made the connection between urinating problems and the sdwelling due to dilation.
One doesn’t realize just how much they like to pee until they can’t do it well. I eliminated the largest stent from my routine and that seemed to help. Then some days, the next to largest stent would hurt and cause difficult urination. Eventually, about 24 months post op, I’d given up entirely on dilating. I should mention that at 11 months post op, I met a man, fell in love. He didn’t know my “history” until after we had fallen in love and I told him. I don’t know where I found the courage. That was a tough moment in my life. In any case, he didn’t care, but expressed concerns about “the plumbing already being done.” lol
A tougher moment in my life was when we discovered, we couldn’t achieve intercourse. Tougher still was the break-up. We tried to remain friends, but it was just too much… mostly for him.
Anyway, that’s all history. Now, my problem is constriction of the vagina and to make matters worse… my urologist discovered hair growing inside. You can just imagine what this all does for my psyche. Once again, urination is difficult and there’s inflammation around the urethra opening. Why? I don’t know. I’ve been waiting for a week and a half for Dr xxx to return a call.
It isn’t like you can talk to your neighbor for advice on how they handled these problems. Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Cheryl
Good morning Cheryl,
Thank you for joining our group and your very informative post.
Your report of hair following vaginoplasty and those from Thailand as well is why we have patients get electrolysis before surgery. “Scraping” in the operating room is not uniformly successful to say the least.
The hair could probably be removed with a few sessions using a vaginal speculum or long beaked nasal speculum and electrolysis. Pulling or teasing with a Kelly clamp might not work permanently and is really not my cup of tea.
You may consider as a conservative approach for vaginal girth enhancement, 2 lateral incisions, avoiding the urethral area, and then yes, you must dilate 6 times a day or more for than 15 minutes until that area is relined with normal
skin.
Glad you are lubricious and orgasmic. Let’s hear what some other savvy members of our group offer.
You will meet many Mr. Right(s) in life, if you are pleasant to be with and can give and receive spiritual love,
Wishing you the best,
Harold M. Reed, M.D.