Questions for July and August 2014 Patients

[23years]

Hmmmmm I take some offense to being called a control freak ! (Laughing) but Dr Pacik’s advice makes more and more sense as you go through the process. I try to equate it to this: if you’ve never had a child, you don’t “really” know what it is like to have a child and NOTHING can prepare you in advance. Nothing. Not babysitting, not role playing. Nothing. Same thing here. Dr Pacik can tell us “nervous Nellies” not to worry but let’s face it, these are our vaginas ladies!! Nothing can prepare you, you just gotta go through it and once you do you will be on the other side.

My procedure was last Monday June 30th..I’m one week post procedure and my outlook and attitude today is diff than even yesterday! Things DO get better, they DO take time, you WILL be nervous, you WILL have to discover things about yourself you haven’t faced or avoid but all in all, you WILL be a better person for having gone thru this process. We owe this to ourselves. We do. We are worth it. We are strong. We are capable. We are deserving. We are not freaks. We are not broken.

“We are all only temporarily able-bodied” (my quote from Masters Thesis work)

Good luck to everyone!! Just BELIEVE~

[Brittanym]

Hi I’m Brittany my date is July 14th I live in mass 🙂

[galaxygal]

Thank you hereisnowhy for your comforting words, they make me feel better!! It is only 5 days away so I am thinking about it a lot! My counselor taught me some visualization techniques to reduce anxiety so I have been practicing to try and keep my anxiety level low. Mayra and Brittanym, looks like we are all on July 14th! Mayra, I hope you have safe travels from Arizona and enjoy spending a few days in NH, it is a pretty state. Brittanym, safe travels from MA! I live in NH so I don’t have to go far. See you soon, try to have a relaxing weekend 🙂

I also have a few questions for the veterans out there….

Can you use the glass dilators overnight or is it better to use the pure romance?
I have read a lot about lubes….so is the verdict that you should use something like olive oil as the base and then one of the other lubes like K-Y on top of that? I am concerned about being very dry and having a hard time getting the dilators out after they have been in for 2 hours.
Thanks!!

[KatieG07]

Galaxy gal
Ky lube will dry your vagina out. It has a lot of alcohol. Not good. I am one month since my procedure tomorrow. I use slippery stuff which is wonderful. I surprised I’m not that dry. Yes you can sleep with the glass. I only dilate with glass and sleep with glass 4 every other night.

Good luck!

Katie

[galaxygal]

Thanks Katie, that is very helpful! 🙂

[hereisnowhy]

KatieG07 answered the lube and dilator questions the same way I would. I don’t use the Pure Romance dilators, only the glass ones, they are much more comfortable, awake or asleep! I have not used slippery stuff yet, I use surgilube which was always been helpful for me but I notice it gets a bit dry if there is any sort of “thrusting” action (which you will not be doing right away obviously). When I take the dilators out even after having one in overnight, the lube is not dried up though! Slippery Stuff may be the right one to use for both dilation, thrusting during dilation (Dr. Pacik will talk about that a bit) and sex; I’ve heard lots of good things about it!

[klove]

Quote:

Quote from galaxygal on July 5, 2014, 19:27
klove, I have the same exact feelings as you do! My procedure if coming up on July 14th and I am getting nervous, not for the actual procedure, but because I am afraid I am going to go through all of this and it isn’t going to work in the long run. I am nervous about getting my hopes up that this is going to work because I have tried so many other things to try and fix this. I have vaginismus and vulvodynia and I know that this procedure will help the vaginismus, so many women have had success that I feel like I should too but I am hoping it also helps my vulvodynia. I want both of these conditions to go away so badly. I am so tired of dealing with them, I just want that part of my life back and I am willing to try anything at this point. So I am trying to keep an open mind and reduce any anxiety or fear I have. I am glad my husband will be there with me the whole time, he is my strength during things like this. I wish everyone having their procedures in July and August the best, I will be thinking of you!

Galaxygal,

I am so excited for you! You will do great and I am confident that you will be successful. Only 2 more days for you! I am quite nervous myself. We are driving from Syracuse, NY which is about 5 hours from NH. I am very excited at the same time because I can not wait for this part of my life to be over! This has affected all emotions and feelings I have about myself, including low self esteem, low self-worth, not able to be successful at intercourse which is human nature and everyone else does it. I am so sick of feeling down on myself and want to be happy. I always fear my husband will leave me since I am unable to have intercourse with him. But, he is wonderful and has been so supportive through the whole thing. He is the one that researched about it after yet another failed attempt to have intercourse and we were both frustrated and it was actually quite awkward. I will be thinking of you on Monday. You will do great! Safe travels to NH. Are you staying at the La Quinta Hotel? We got a discount there for being Dr. Pacik’s patient.

[Brittanym]

Two days till my procedure! I am getting a little nervous as it gets closer but I have been keeping myself busy. Plus I am excited to get this part of my life over with and start moving forward. I know it still is going to take some time and working with the dilators so I am going to have to be very patient. But eventually it will be nice to not feel broken anymore and start having a normal 23 yr old sex life!

[galaxygal]

Quote:

Quote from klove on July 12, 2014, 12:40

Quote:

Quote from galaxygal on July 5, 2014, 19:27
klove, I have the same exact feelings as you do! My procedure if coming up on July 14th and I am getting nervous, not for the actual procedure, but because I am afraid I am going to go through all of this and it isn’t going to work in the long run. I am nervous about getting my hopes up that this is going to work because I have tried so many other things to try and fix this. I have vaginismus and vulvodynia and I know that this procedure will help the vaginismus, so many women have had success that I feel like I should too but I am hoping it also helps my vulvodynia. I want both of these conditions to go away so badly. I am so tired of dealing with them, I just want that part of my life back and I am willing to try anything at this point. So I am trying to keep an open mind and reduce any anxiety or fear I have. I am glad my husband will be there with me the whole time, he is my strength during things like this. I wish everyone having their procedures in July and August the best, I will be thinking of you!

Galaxygal,

I am so excited for you! You will do great and I am confident that you will be successful. Only 2 more days for you! I am quite nervous myself. We are driving from Syracuse, NY which is about 5 hours from NH. I am very excited at the same time because I can not wait for this part of my life to be over! This has affected all emotions and feelings I have about myself, including low self esteem, low self-worth, not able to be successful at intercourse which is human nature and everyone else does it. I am so sick of feeling down on myself and want to be happy. I always fear my husband will leave me since I am unable to have intercourse with him. But, he is wonderful and has been so supportive through the whole thing. He is the one that researched about it after yet another failed attempt to have intercourse and we were both frustrated and it was actually quite awkward. I will be thinking of you on Monday. You will do great! Safe travels to NH. Are you staying at the La Quinta Hotel? We got a discount there for being Dr. Pacik’s patient.

klove,
I live locally so we are just driving, about a 30 minute commute so not bad for us. I feel the same way about thinking my husband would leave me because of this but he has been incredible and right by my side the whole time. He always tells me he is not leaving because of this condition which always makes me feel better. I will also be thinking of you on your procedure day!

[Heather34]

Hi Mayra, Galaxygal, and Brittany! I am sending you all up big hugs and huge support and I absolutely KNOW everything is going to go so, so, so well for you this coming week. Please know that you are in tremendous care with Dr. Pacik, Janet Pacik, Ellen, Cynthia, and all of the tremendous staff. They care about you just so, so much and you will see this tomorrow. Please know that we are all here to support you. Please also read this wonderful advice from Dr. Pacik:

“There are a thousand worries that the average patient has as the day of treatment approaches. “What ifs” tend to be all consuming. There comes a point that it helps to simply allow the flow to take you along its course. I often tell (my worried surgical patients) that they should think of their surgery or treatment as a ride in the car. They put their seat belts on (these are the many safety monitors we have throughout the operating and recovery room) and I’ll take them for a safe ride. I know the route and I am a safe driver. For my vaginismus patients where the treatment has a high level of safety, but anxiety rears its ugly head, the same can be true to help stem the normal anxiety that takes place. There is not much more anyone can say. The day comes and goes, much like any other day. Now you are on one side, then you have stepped across and you are on the other side.”

[galaxygal]

Thanks Heather34! Tomorrow is almost here, I appreciate the encouraging words!

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone! 🙂 My husband and I will be coming from Akron, Ohio on July 21 so I can have the procedure done. I am 29 and will be married for one year this upcoming August. I have tried several different treatments (i.e. physical therapy, anti-anxiety medicine, counseling, etc.) to overcome vaginismus these past 3 years but nothing has worked. My husband and I haven’t been able to consummate our marriage so I am ready and hopeful for this procedure. I have generalized anxiety so I am little worried that this will be another failed attempt to overcome this, but for the most part, I am excited for both me and my husband that this may be the answer.

If anyone else is scheduled for the procedure on July 21…I look forward to meeting you there!

[klove]

Quote:

Quote from ndd0817 on July 13, 2014, 21:09
Hi everyone! 🙂 My husband and I will be coming from Akron, Ohio on July 21 so I can have the procedure done. I am 29 and will be married for one year this upcoming August. I have tried several different treatments (i.e. physical therapy, anti-anxiety medicine, counseling, etc.) to overcome vaginismus these past 3 years but nothing has worked. My husband and I haven’t been able to consummate our marriage so I am ready and hopeful for this procedure. I have generalized anxiety so I am little worried that this will be another failed attempt to overcome this, but for the most part, I am excited for both me and my husband that this may be the answer.

If anyone else is scheduled for the procedure on July 21…I look forward to meeting you there!

Hi! My procedure is also on July 21st! I look forward to meeting you and I will be there to support you as we do this together. 🙂
My husband and I are coming from Syracuse, NY. Did you happen to make hotel reservations at La Quinta? That is where we will be staying.

Jo!

[Dr. Pacik]

For patients who have high anxiety, sedation is given using IV Versed (IV Valium) before even coming into the operating room. Additional sedation is given as needed but we try to avoid too much sedation as this interferes with the cotton tipped testing to rule out vulvodynia and/or vestibulodynia. Finger exam is very gentle using topical anesthesia just to feel the spasm; no speculum is used while awake. The oxygen mask is pure O2 no funny stuff! Speculum exam, injections and progressive dilation are all done while under anesthesia. As our vets keep emphasizing there is no need to worry. The entire staff is very supportive. Hope this helps.

[Heather34]

Hi ladies. I agree with what Dr. Pacik said above 100%. I was incredibly nervous prior to my procedure and had serious physical symptoms of anxiety (i.e. nausea, vomiting on the way up to the office, feeling like I was going to pass out, shaking, etc.). I tried very hard to not feel like this but it just happened automatically once I arrived at the office as it had in the past prior to other ob/gyn appointments. I received IV Versed (IV Valium) and it helped me just incredibly to take away these physical symptoms and allowed me to be able to go into the room and have the procedure under anesthesia. You are in tremendous care with Dr. Pacik, Janet Pacik, Ellen, Cynthia, and all of the staff. As nervous as I was, they made me feel so much calmer and more comfortable and my husband and I both knew they cared about us so, so much. Sending you all hugs and support.