More on vaginal stenosis

Hi Mrs. Vanilla and thank you all who replied.  It's good to hear feedback.  I'm sorry to hear of your struggles and you will have sex.  It's different.  What use to work or one's "script" shall we say may not work and you might have to find different positions or find new ways to excite your mind.  It took awhile to get out of my head worrying what was going to happen.  You'll get there!:).  But, I did jokingly mention to my husband what if we couldn't or I didn't have any interest.  It's an honest topic that deserves discussion between partners.

I'm two years out and used the dilators pretty diligently.  I already had a silicon vibrator which was MUCH more comfortable than the plastic.  It would be a good investment.  

I took a break for about three months recently from using it and next time I had sex was extremely painful as others have mentioned due to the stenosis.  I use as much lubricant as possible and have fun with it as you have to right?!  My husband initially felt it was him and I wasn't excited but now it's just a given when I reach over for my cute bottle of coconut oil.  I'd encourage people to keep at it...just add it to the other exercises one does.

My doctor mentioned a new therapy called Mona Lisa Touch and also estrogen.  I'll follow up with the post once I have information on my experiences there.

Best to everyone!

Hi. Just to share a little bit of what I went through after my treatment. I just had my five year check up and all is good. They treated me as if I had full blown anal cancer. Which I was only at stage 1. I took mytomycin and 5FU  for the first week for 96 hours and then 4 weeks later another 96 hours of the same. Radiation was for 6 weeks. At my last appointment, my radiation oncologist told me she was in a study to lower the amount of radiation and chemo for anal cancer patients who are at early stages. 
not sure about you, but I burned so so bad, between my legs. My skin was black and weeded constantly. 
I use my dilator three times a week and for me it’s so painful to engage in sex. However my dr says I need to keep that area open to prevent further issues down the road.

looking forward to hearing more....

Hi Ernie,

I took part in that study so went to 4 weeks.  I remember how brutal that was and can't imagine how others got through a longer treatment!!!  You are a rockstar!!  I'm so sorry for you and anyone who has to experience this!

Can I ask you a personal question? Or maybe I will tell you how all this came to be and you can see if you can relate at all. At age 17 I had just started dating my first husband. What a nightmare! Ha! Soon after he told me that he had genital warts.  I went to the doctor and sure enough I had some on the inside of my vagina and a couple outside. I had to have treatments to burn them off. This was called HPV. Human papilloma virus. I had several abnormal Pap smears. Due to this virus. This was in 1975. A few years after that I had severe dysplasia, pre cancer cells in my cervix..I had a cone biopsy done. Removal of part of my cervix. So fast forward to 2017 and a new wonderful husband, I went in, a year late for my colonoscopy.. The dr found an “ulcer” in the anal canal. Did a biopsy and three days later he contacted me that I had anal cancer. It was very small, and very lucky that I hadn’t gone in for my colonoscopy when I was supposed to or it wouldn’t have been caught for years. My radiation oncologist said that it’s about 30 years once diagnosed with HPV, that anal cancer appears. 
So I’m just wondering if this relates to you. 
thanks. 

Hi Ernie HPV is the main cause of anal and cervical cancers. My Oncologist told me that almost all of us come in to contact with HPV if we are sexually a tive. Some of the strains are potentially cancerous eg HPV 16 and 18. The vast majority of people dispose of the virus with no problems, for others the virus lays dormant for years before emerging. I had pre cancerous cervical cells caused by HPV for which I received treatment 30 prior to my anal cancer diagnosis. Had I known of the connection I would have asked for regular check ups but this may have to have been done privately as I’m unsure if the NHS would fund this. It’s such a relief HPV vaccinations are available in schools nowadays. Bev