Dr. Pacik Hiatus

[Dr. Pacik]

Update Retirement

As a follow up I would like the members of the Forum to know that my retirement date was 9/1/2015. I have trained two different groups in NY who are using my technique of Botox, progressive dilation and counseling. I would be happy to make referrals for those interested. I expect to train more doctors around the US as a result of upcoming lectures planned.

Goals

My goal during retirement is to make vaginismus more well known among doctors and the general public. I have a number of scientific papers that will be submitted for publication and I am working with a university team that I trained in New York to facilitate this. Our intention is to have vaginismus become a part of the medical school curriculum and for GYN’s to be taught about this condition.

Self Assessment

I also plan to develop a system whereby women can self assess the severity of their vaginismus which has an impact on the type of therapy that may be helpful. From evaluating more than 550 women and treating 391 patients patterns of severity are evident. For women whose fear and anxiety to intercourse and GYN exams are overwhelming and who have never been able to tolerate any level of penetration, Pacik level 5 vaginismus http://www.vaginismusmd.com/vaginismus/lamont-classification/
it would be best to have treatment using the Botox multimodal program with a group that I have trained. (There are some physicians who simply inject Botox without progressive dilation or counseling. This approach is not recommended as there is a high rate of failure.) On the other end of the spectrum are women who are unable to have intercourse or a GYN exam but who are able to have some penetration with tampons, finger and perhaps the smaller dilators. These women who have a less severe form of vaginismus, and also less fear and anxiety, can often be treated using dilators and by watching my DVD “The Ins and Outs of Dilation” which can be ordered through my office. This two hour video explains the use of dilators for self treatment. Once the office is closed (9/21/15) glass dilators and the DVD can be ordered from Shellie at CrystalDelights.com. https://crystaldelights.com/ Shellie, Ellen and I developed the design of the glass dilators and tested a number of models to arrive at the shape currently used. They are available in sizes 3-8 and normally come as a set of 4, 5, and 6 which are adequate for most women [url] http://www.vaginismusmd.com/aidsproducts/dilators/pacik-glass-dilators-set-of-3/%5B/url%5D She manufactures the glass dilators at her site and sells worldwide. Many commentaries have been posted on the Forum regarding the benefits of these shorter glass dilators.
Physical therapy by a pelvic floor specialist and sex counseling with someone familiar with vaginismus can also be helpful in this less severe group of women.

Book

My book explaining vaginismus “When Sex Seems Impossible. Stories of Vaginismus & How you can Achieve Intimacy” will continue to be available in both Kindle and book form through Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/When-Sex-Seems-Impossible-Vaginismus-ebook/dp/B004GNFTNU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1441539704&sr=1-1&keywords=When+sex+seems+impossible
For those who read the book I encourage you to write a review on Amazon to make vaginismus more well known.

Janet and I will be sending out a newsletter soon for more information.
It has been a joy working with the many brave women who persist in having normal relationships against all odds. This has been one of the best chapters in my many years of practice. I encourage all of you to continue posting to help those who are still struggling. We must continue our conversation about vaginismus so that women do not feel isolated with something neither they or their partners understand.

[mazemelissa]

Our center, Maze Women’s Sexual Health, in Purchase, NY had the great privilege to train with Dr. Pacik back in 2010. We have been using his protocol and have successfully treated many women in our area with intravaginal Botox injections under anesthesia with progressive vaginal dilation. With Dr. Pacik’s retirement, we have expanded our program to include an out of town option for care to mimic Dr. Pacik’s program. We are so excited that we have already treated 5 patients over the last two months from areas all over the US and international, and are set up for another 6 procedures this month.

A little about our center, we opened in 2000 as a Sexual Health practice dedicated to women’s sexual dysfunction. We specialize in all areas of sexual dysfunction including, low desire, low arousal, orgasm issues and pain issues. We have been treating women with vaginismus for the last 15 years using a variety of treatment modalities. I joined the practice in 2002. I am a Family Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Women’s health. I have been practicing sexual medicine for the last 13 years, and have a particular passion for helping women with vaginismus.

I am so happy to be part of this forum, and continue the revolutionary work that Dr. Pacik started.

More information about our center can be found at: http://www.mazewomenshealth.com

Thank you Dr. Pacik for all you have done!

Melissa

[Dr. Pacik]

Thank you Melissa for your kind words. It is a happy retirement knowing that women will have this treatment available to them. As you know I personally visited MAZE Women’s Health and was impressed with all I saw. Your group will bring a level of competence and caring to women seeking treatment for vaginismus. I look forward to reading the posts from the vaginismus patients that will be cared for by MAZE.

[Heather34]

Hi Melissa. Welcome to the Forum. This is an absolutely wonderful post and I am so, so, so happy that there is a group out there that will continue to offer the Botox treatment program for vaginismus. It is so exciting that 5 patients were treated over the last 2 months and 6 more will be treated this coming month of November. Ladies and husbands/partners please, please join the Forum and post, post, post and ask any questions at all and know you have all of our support.

As the year of 2015 comes to an end and a new year is about to begin, this post makes me smile so huge and so sincerely happy. For several years of my life (all of my 20s and early 30s), I did not know how to overcome vaginismus and felt hopeless that I ever would. I was excellent at distracting myself with various other life activities/etc. but every year, I made a list of my top goals and every year until 2012, “Cure V” was at the very top. I wanted to overcome so we could finally make love and start our family. I tried using dilators alone but was completely unsuccessful and later tried pelvic floor PT but, again, was not successful because I could not insert a thing without the pain/resistance response. Then, thank GOD, I found Dr. Pacik’s Botox procedure for vaginismus and had the procedure in 2011 and was cured and finally able to make love to my husband and we now have a beautiful baby boy (both are dreams come true).

I have read so many member’s stories and have my own story (see above) of seeking and receiving several failed treatments for vaginismus. How many of you have heard a doctor or clinician suggest to “just relax”, “don’t think about it”, or “just do it”? The pain associated with vaginismus is not “in the women’s head” and does not readily respond to these suggestions. Vaginismus is a ‘real’ physical pain and the Botox treatment for vaginismus works to address both this physical pain and to also diffuse the fear of penetration. First, the Botox injections work to weaken the tight vaginal muscles that often make penetration impossible. Second, waking up with the dilator already in place works very well to diffuse the fear associated with penetration. For some patients, such as myself, this was the first time that something was inside of me “pain-free” and, in realizing this, it entirely eliminated any anxiety associated with penetration. The uniqueness of this combined approach to vaginismus makes it work so, so well.

Several others have also posted on trying so many treatments prior to receiving the Botox treatment program and their experiences:

Reese writes:
“Prior to the treatment with Dr. Pacik, I had tried what felt like everything under the sun. I had done physical therapy, biofeedback, etc. I had suffered from vaginismus for 7 years prior to the treatment. However, doing the treatment was the best thing that ever happened to me. My treatment cost (not including flight and hotel, of course) was $5250, and insurance reimbursed me $3756. This was a HUGE help for me. The only reason I saw a reimbursement was because Diane Tremblay fought hard for many hours with my insurance company until they paid the proper portion of the claim. She is worth every penny, as is the treatment!!!!! Note: Even if you do not get the procedure covered under insurance, I can assure you it will be the best money you have ever spent. It will relieve so much pain and bring so much happiness into your life. I would have paid three times the amount if I had to.”

lotus1000 writes:
“I had done various OBGYN exams, including one angry OBGYN who yelled at me in his Russian accent “totally unacceptable!” when I scooted away during a speculum exam. I went to vaginismus.com and ordered those dilators. I tried getting my husband to use his fingers. I used tampons. I went to counseling (even with a sex therapist). I then considered going to IVF so I could bypass intercourse as a way of getting pregnant. After 6 years of all of this, where I essentially chased my tail again and again, I found Dr. Pacik’s site and just had my treatment this past week!”

Nakitalab writes:
“At the age of 52 I felt like I had tried every treatment under the sun. From surgery to include hymen outer ring removed, episotomy, and scar tissue removal, anti-depressants, alcohol, counseling, sex therapy, dilators, etc. I had my procedure in October and just 14 days after the procedure was able to have intercourse with zero pain. It is now day 119 and I still have no pain…”

Thank you so much Melissa and to your group, Maze Women’s Sexual Health, for continuing on Dr. Pacik’s amazing work and offering the Botox treatment program for vaginismus. I look so forward to reading your future posts.

[Dr. Pacik]

I am getting some very nice reports about patients who have been treated by Maze Women’s Sexual Health. Melissa has taken the lead guiding new patients through their treatment programs and gives excellent support post procedure. It makes me especially happy that we continue to have a high rate of success from our program using Botox as part of a multimodal treatment program to help overcome vaginismus. I have always felt that the follow up and support after treatment is vital to the success of the program.