Re: vestibulectomy surgery -

[Guest guest]

Hi ,Keep us posted on how things are going...I hope the surgery is a great success for you. Have you asked your doc if you can use a teeny-tiny little dab of estrogen topically? I'm thinking that Melinda (new mom/breastfeeding) is still using a little dab daily. It would certainly help that area heal up better. As for sex. The best thing to do is to communicate with your hubby now. Tell him you are scared, but reassure him of your feelings about him. I think it's normal to be concerned. Pain with sex is so confusing to us and hard! Oh, and it stinks! ;-) I had horrible pain with sex for years, but I'm so much better now. I am still considering having a localized area of vestibulodynia removed. How long have you had vulvar pain? Take

care,ChelleThanks for asking, , my recovery is coming along. My surgery was December 30, squeezed it in before the end of the year. I had my daughter with a midwife 7 months ago, so this was my first time in a hospital, getting an IV, having stiches, anything! Orginally my doctor had said he would remove specific spots "like removing a mole," but in the end he took out a "horse-shoe shaped section." I am glad he was more aggressive than conservative.The first week I was mostly in bed on pain meds, just resting and sleeping. I was surprised how black and blue I was down there! I think he cauterized the areas, because I couldn't see any stiches.After a week I jumped back into life and motherhood,

but luggind around a 19 pounder, bending over, lifting, sitting in a chair for long periods, was just too much. This week friends have been kind to take my daughter every afternoon so I can just lay flat. Standing or laying are so much better than sitting!It will be awhile until I can tell if the surgery fixed my pain, but I am optimistic- I have to be! I go back to the doctor Monday and again in two weeks. Note: my healing time has been slower than normal because I am breastfeeding and my estrogen levels are super-low. He fore-warned me about this.Once I am healed I think what I need is some sex-therapy. My husband has been SO supportive and understanding. But yesterday he was just giving me sweet kisses on my belly and thighs and I felt myself tensing up. I have associated pain with that area for so long, I will have to train myself to relax and evaluate whether I really am in

pain, or just tension.Here is an interesting thought I had while watching yet another TV show with a transgendered person (all my favorite shows are slowly getting crossed off my list). My thought- if modern medical science can take a man's penis, cut it off, turn it inside out, and make it a fully-functional vagina, surely they can find a solution for our pain!