Re: vestibulectomy

[Guest guest]

Ok well the official name of the surgery is a partial vestibulectomy with vaginal flap advancement and my official diagnosis is vulvar vestibulitis (I think you got the impression that I was flying blind on what was going on ... but I do actually know what I've got). He also said that if it happens not to work for me (if I'm one of the 10% of people it doesn't work for) then we can try the medications again. My problem is my insurance runs out in May. I can't afford to go years without getting this under control. I've been on the steriodal cream, and a mix of amitrp/baclof both for 6 weeks each. They didn't do a thing to help me. Now I'm starting Amitriptelene for 5 weeks. I know it seems hasty to just go with a surgery seemingly just because I won't have insurance in 2 months. But it's more than just that. I'm actually considering it because I will know in 3 months following the surgery if it worked. Why wait years to see if medication works or physical therapy works (which

I'll have to pay for out of pocket) when I could just get this surgery and hope I'm one of the 70% of women who are completely cured. The statistics are in my favor. However, if it doesn't work, we can always go the route of medications after.... although as I said, I'll be paying for it out of pocket at that point.I haven't done extensive research on it yet, because he just told me about it yesterday. I wanted to get a first hand account of anyone that has had it on here, because usually they are better than the research you find on the internet.~ ~

Yahoo! Mail Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.

[Guest guest]

I've been seeing a doc for almost four years and nothing has helped, and

when I bring up the idea of surgery they look at me like I'm nuts, like

that's a last hope, extreme thing to do, but I would do it, meds just

havn't helped me, just my experience, if they approve my PT I am going to

give it a try, and I am trying the lidocaine treatment (which my former doc

didn't advocate either) but if it doesn't help, I know they have a gamut of

more meds for me to try....at which time I will either try more or ask for

a referral to Dr. Haefner who WILL do surgery, but I have insurance, I

would do whatever you are comfortable with, Anne

--On Wednesday, March 22, 2006 8:45 AM -0800 Jessikat *

wrote:

> Ok well the official name of the surgery is a partial vestibulectomy with

> vaginal flap advancement and my official diagnosis is vulvar vestibulitis

> (I think you got the impression that I was flying blind on what was going

> on ... but I do actually know what I've got). He also said that if it

> happens not to work for me (if I'm one of the 10% of people it doesn't

> work for) then we can try the medications again.

>

> My problem is my insurance runs out in May. I can't afford to go years

> without getting this under control. I've been on the steriodal cream, and

> a mix of amitrp/baclof both for 6 weeks each. They didn't do a thing to

> help me. Now I'm starting Amitriptelene for 5 weeks. I know it seems

> hasty to just go with a surgery seemingly just because I won't have

> insurance in 2 months. But it's more than just that. I'm actually

> considering it because I will know in 3 months following the surgery if

> it worked. Why wait years to see if medication works or physical therapy

> works (which I'll have to pay for out of pocket) when I could just get

> this surgery and hope I'm one of the 70% of women who are completely

> cured. The statistics are in my favor. However, if it doesn't work, we

> can always go the route of medications after.... although as I said, I'll

> be paying for it out of pocket at that point.

>

> I haven't done extensive research on it yet, because he just told me

> about it yesterday. I wanted to get a first hand account of anyone that

> has had it on here, because usually they are better than the research you

> find on the internet.

>

>

>

> ~ ~

>

>

> __________________________________________________

> Yahoo! Mail

> Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.

>

> **IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST, THANKS**

>

> Our HOME page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders

> to search our archives, files, articles, etc.

>

> ***

[Guest guest]

,

I have done soooooooo much research on the surgery, and here is my advice: many women are told to have this when their doctors aren't sure what else to do with them, and because they are not good candidates for the surgery, they regret it.

You are only an ideal candidate for the surgery if you only have localized pain to the vaginal opening when provoked. If you have burning to a generalized area constantly, you are NOT a good candidate. Also, the less time you have VVS, the better your chances are of finding relief with the surgery. Lastly, I have read that success chances are higher with having a full vestibulectomy, as opposed to a partial. Of course, this is between you and your doctor if you do decide to have the surgery, but imagine needing to go back in for surgery at a later date and remove more. That would be awful. Anyways, I just wanted to share the info. I've picked up.

I want to have the surgery this summer, but I have absolutely no pain whatsoever unless I try to have intercourse. Then the pain is so terrible at the opening that it renders it impossible. Tricyclic anti-depressents did nothing, and Lidocaine hardly made a dent in the pain. I do not notice any difference at certain times of the month, nor with certain foods I eat, and I stopped birth control months ago. I also use cetaphyl (spelling?) soap, etc. So for me, this is the option I've decided on. I hope everything goes well for you, and will be praying for your healing, one way or another. Love,