His and Her Health

I just had a vestibulectomy about 5 days ago. I am in a lot of pain, and I was just wondering about how long I will be in such pain. I still am unable to sit down. I just lie on the couch or the bed all day. When will it be a little more comforatble to sit? And are there any remedies to help ease the pain? My doctor has me soaking in soapy bathwater 4 times a day, and it feels good! Anything else I can do to make the pain a little more bearable???? Thanks!

Hi, I am new here, but I just had a vestibulectomy about 3 weeks ago. I can tell you that the 1st week is awful, just lie down most of the time, use ice, sitz baths and pain meds. The second week is a little better, however I had some stiches that were really bothering me close to my anus. The third week my MD took those few stiches out & it has made a big difference. The nurse also told me to get a squirt bottle and use it after urinating instead of wiping with tissue, you just pat dry and it works very well. Sorry this is so long, but congratulations to you for being brave enough to try this!!

Hey Daisy, <BR>Thanks for your post. It's now been 10 days since my surgery, and I'm still in pain. 4 days ago was the worst day yet. I cried almost all day because I was so much pain. I called my doctor to make sure the pain was normal and he said that he cut more skin off of me than he normally does, so he said that I had every right to be sore. I still can't sit, and I can hardly walk around. I feel very swollen, and it stings so bad when I urinate (sorry if that's too much information!) That is such good advice about the spray bottle. I would have never thought of that. My dr. didn't tell me about sitz baths or ice. He just told me to take 4-5 soapy baths a day to keep the stitches clean. <P>It's SO good to know that I'm not the only one going through this. It has been so miserable at times, and I just hope that it will help me in the long run. I'm supposed to go back to work on Monday, but I don't know how I'm going to. I can't even sit in the car long enough to get there, much less sit at my desk for 8 hours!!!! <P>Thanks again. I really appreciate your input. It's so helpful!!!! I hope you're feeling better!! <p>[This message has been edited by Lauren24 (edited March 31, 2005).]

Hi girls,<BR>My doctor suggested this week that I have a vestibulectomy with vaginal advancement. I am really nervous about having the procedure, but am also despirate to get better. I just got married last month, and it is pretty depressing to have no sex life. Anyway, any suggestions, warnings, or recommendations you have for me would be greatly appreciated. I can only take 1 week off work...will that be enough? I do have a standing job..is that going to be better than a sit down job? Thanks for any help you can give me, and I applaud both of you for your bravery...hang in there!

I just had the surgery a week ago 4/21. I will tell you that it is not nearly has painful as i had imagined. That being said.. i followed my doctor's instructions EXACTLY. I kept an ice pack directly on the area 24 hours a day for the first 7 days. when the are is numb.. you don't feel the pain. I have taken 4 sitz baths per day as well. I did not get out of bed for anything other than the baths and to go to the bathroom for the first week. This week i am coming out the living room but then just remaining on the couch. I am still not moving around much. My doctor wrote a letter to my company (for insurance purposes) and suggested 3-4 weeks of short term disability to ensure that none of the stiches split (which could cause painful scar tissue). You can get through it with pain meds and lots of ice and EVERY day it gets a little bit easier!!!<P>I do have one question for those of you that have had the surgery... how long did you notice blood on the toilet paper when you "dabbed" dry after urination???<P>thanks

Hi, Ladies. I'm scheduled to have a vestibulectomy on Thursday. I'm terrified. I don't deal well with pain at all. I'm having to go stay with my parents so someone will be there to take care of me because my husband can't get off work. I know things always go better if you don't worry, but I can't help buy worry. Everyone that I've actually read about that has had a vestibulectomy says it's horrible. What I really want to know is, is it worth it in the long run? This is my last resort, and I wouldn't even be doing it if it weren't for my husband. We've been married for over a year and haven't had any sort of sex life due to my pain. I don't think it would be fair to him for me to not try this. Thanks, and I hope everyone is doing well.

I had a vestibulectomy on 4/22. It was not nearly as horrible as I imagined. I had a vaginal advancement, and all of my vestibular glands were removed. <P>I had to stay in the hospital overnight, but I stopped taking Vicodan as soon as I was released. I took ibuprofen for a week post-surgery, but I'm not taking anything now.<P>I'm taking 2 baths a day and made sure to rinse the area with a squirt bottle after going to the bathroom.<P>This week (9 days post-op) I went back to work for four hours a day. I had to sit on a donut, but I wasn't in pain! I have a little bit of pain if I'm on my feet too long (more than 30 minutes or so), but it's not unbearable.<P>Recovery times are different for everyone, but mine has been incredibly easy so far. You're worried about the worst-case scenario, but don't forget that it could be a piece of cake for you, too! <P>Good luck.

Here is my update to my last post.It's been 8 weeks since my surgery. At the first 4 weeks were painful and hard, but I followed my docs instructions and now I am pain free, my pathology came back with a positive for a skin condition called "lichen sclerosus" which was causing the tearing and pain upon intercouse. He excised this area and my dh and I have given the surgery the acid test and it went really well. The first time I was very scared, but I but lidocaine oitment on the area before hand and it helped alot. The second time I did the same thing and it went fine. The surgery defintely did improved that area enough to have sex again! I have to be very careful though because doc said the condition can come back and I have to apply a very strong steroid cream "cloebetasol" twice a week to the area from now on. Let's give ourselves a pat on the back for going ahead with surgery, which is a frightening thing to face.

Ladies, <BR>It's now been 7 weeks since my surgery. The first 3 weeks were completely miserable. The furthest I walked was to the mailbox. I had a couple days where I was in tears from when I woke up until when I went to bed!! Now, 7 weeks later, I'm only in pain if I sit too long, or do anything too strenuous. <P>My surgery was more extensive than the average vestibulectomy. He had to cut more tissue than normal. That's why I've been in so much pain. <P>I, too, discovered that I had VV when I got married 7 months ago. It's not fun to go through this as a newlywed, but my husband has been so supportive. And I love my doctor....so much, that I just started working at the office! <P>I haven't seen the full results of the surgery, so I really don't have any advice about the "long run." I will, however, say that 1 week off work would have never in a million years been enough for me. I was out of work for 5 weeks. I only planned on being out for 2, but it ended up being 5! <P>Good luck to all you ladies!

Thank you for letting me know about this. I am trying a different technique first a interstim planted in my back that conducts electrodes to spasm the pelvic floor muscles to fatigue them which will cause them not to spasm or burn. I am going to have this implanted Tuesday.It is like a pacemaker in my back the size of a quarter. If he burning does not stop then I too will have to go through what you all have done the vaginal enhancment surgery and from what most of you have said I am now afraid to do and take that much time off. During the trial period with the interstim box on the outside I developed a bad yeast infection and now cannot tell what the burning is from. I am so frightened by all of this but a year and a half I cannot take this any more. I wish you all the best.

Dear Ellycio,

How is the treatment going with the interstim planted in your back? Have you noticed any difference? I am curious to know what else works for others or what others attempt to try before trying surgery.

I really hope I'm not out five weeks. I just had my operation yesterday and I feel some progress. My doctor said he was extremely pleased with the way the surgery went. I've tried to take a peek (for a lack of a better description) this morning and I can't even see any of the stitches. I'm still bleeding lightly but this also could be a side effect of having a few cyst burned off my cervix. Does a dough nut help? Sitting is rather annoying and I know I'll have to sit all day on Monday. I'm a school teacher and I have Professional Development both Monday and Tuesday. I'm really anxious to get back to normal. I'm a very active person so it's hard to keep still and not do much.

Did anybody have to go through physical therapy's?

Please don't get frustrated with the length of your recovery. Everyone heals at their own pace and to try and rush back to your usual routine would defeat the purpose of the operation.
Good luck and take it easy

Thanks for the good advice. I'm a week and a half post-op and things are going great. Except for a mild discomfort once and awhile, I don't even notice any pain. I went to my doctor on Monday and he said I was healing nicely. The only painful part was when he had to take a look at my cervix. (OUCH) I'm able to do everything I normally do with the exception that I still can't lift anything over 10 lbs and I can't return to any exercise. This board has been such a blessing during this healing process. It is so comforting to know I'm not the only one going through this.