[sryan32]

It looks like most of the posts in here are about dilating after the Botox procedure.
I’m wondering about using dilators otherwise – just on a day-to-day basis, not as part of a post-Botox regimen.
I have a set from vaginismus.com. At one time I had been able to insert the largest one, but not without significant pain.
I haven’t used my dilators in a while and I want to get back into using them. I’m wondering what’s a typical regimen. Should I aim to dilate every day? How long? Do I go with the dilator that I can fit in without pain, or try to stretch myself with a bigger one that’s painful but tolerable?

[sryan32]

recessivegenequeen Thanks for your reply! I can imagine that being a huge stride emotionally.
As someone who has themselves had the Botox procedure, could you answer a few more questions for me?
What was the dilation process like after your procedure? I’m wondering about the frequency and duration, and also wondering about pain. Right now, using dilators is pretty painful for me, and I feel that’s a major reason I don’t use them like I should. Was dilation after the Botox procedure painless?

[sryan32]

Thank you for your reply!

[sryan32]

Thanks for the info! That helps a lot.
I have another question – you said the botox relaxes the muscles for about 3 months. So is the goal that the dilation regimen following the initial botox procedure results in “cured” vaginismus by the end of that 3 months? I guess I’m wondering, do people go in for more botox repeatedly?

[sryan32]

Hi! YES your description is so familiar to me. I hope my input helps.
I’m recently diagnosed – within the last year. I didn’t know I had any pelvic floor dysfunction until I got married and tried to have sex with my husband for the first time. I am so blessed that my gyno knew who to refer me to and I got treatment (pelvic floor physical therapy) early on. My diagnoses include vaginismus and vulvodynia. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of vulvodynia, but that’s the rawness and burning sensation. From what I understand, researchers don’t have a good understanding of what causes it, but my physical therapist theorized mine is caused by hormonal imbalance. She prescribed me an estrogen cream that I applied vaginally and on the surrounding tissues. She helped me find the specific parts that tended to be most sensitive, and that’s where I focused on applying the cream. I think she had me use it every day for a week, then tapered down each week until I was using it twice a week.
I had stopped using it for a few reasons: 1) my insurance stopped covering my treatment, and I don’t know if I feel comfortable continuing using it without my PT’s advice; 2) I hated applying it (application was super painful, as I was smearing it into the spots that hurt the worst!) and 3) I wasn’t sure it was even working. BUT – I will say, since stopping the cream, sex has overall been more painful than when I was using it.
I was also using dilators – the set of 6 from Vaginismus.com. I started the dilators pretty early on in my treatment; I got up to the 6th one but I never used it consistently. I think I mostly worked with 3-5.
I relate with your frustration! I feel like I’ve gotten pretty good at relaxing those muscles, but regardless of how relaxed I am there is almost always a stinging sensation. For me, insertion is pretty painful, but once it’s in it feels okay. But with any in/out motion, there is definitely a raw-feeling pain.
I know besides hormonal changes/imbalance there are several other causes of vulvodynia, and other treatment options. I hope you find something that helps you.

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