RE: Haven't Posted in a Long Time--Have Been Told I Need Surgery

[Guest guest]

At 17:42 09/02/00 -0800, you wrote:

>And finally, she wants to do a vestibuloplasty (or something like that--a

>version of a vestibulectomy). Apparently, I have a " gate " over the posterior

>of my vestibule (far back, where the labia majora meet, I think). Anyhow,

>this

>flap of skin tears whenever anything is inserted into me, so I have scar

>tissue

>back there. They excise this flap and the damaged vestibule, advance vaginal

>tissue, and sew it all back up. Of course, no other doctor has ever noted

>this

>gate (and I have seen quite a few over the past couple of years!).

If I were you, I'd go ahead and get endo ruled out--you never know, yours

might be the exception to the rule in terms of symptoms, and from what I've

heard, the laparoscopy isn't supposed to be that painful. As I've never

been tested, I can't guarantee that it isn't painful for some, but I've

read it isn't that painful from women who've had it done.

As for the " gate, " I suspect I have this as well, but no doctor has ever

noticed it, and when I tried to bring it up to my GP, he just ignored it

and suggested lube, etc. (Overall, he's good, but he doesn't seem to take

the VV that seriously, but then I haven't pushed it much as I've pushed

more the IC at the moment.) Mine is exactly where you describe, and where

the labia connect goes over the vaginal opening. One time after my husband

and I had attempted sex, I noticed that that area was sore and had been

stretched a lot, and I'm beginning to think that that might be what's

hurting me. I'd noticed it was " tight " the first time I attempted sex and

had been in pain, and I thought maybe it was something that just needed to

be stretched out? I asked a friend of mine without VV if her genetalia were

the same, and she said that her labia were over her vagina as well, so

maybe it's normal and it just bothers those of us with VV?

I don't know that I'd try the surgery she's suggesting--it's rather

extreme, and if it doesn't work, it's not reversable. But I'm wondering now

if this " gate " is something that should be looked into more? Anyone else

have one?

--'--,-{@ --,--'-{@ --'--,-{@

Rosen-Wakeford

<http://www.lilitu.com>

<http://www.lechatnoir.com>

" There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. "

- Albert Schweitzer

[Guest guest]

At 21:11 10/02/00 -0500, you wrote:

>If you do not mind my getting involved, is that not where the famous Q tip

>test is done?

>In VVS that should be an 'allodynic area'.

>Is the gate not just a normal ridge of tissue that is sensitive? Just

>asking.

Apparently, what I thought she was calling a " gate " isn't what I thought it

was. Perhaps it is where the Q tip is pressed--I had that done once and

didn't respond, but I don't get pain until pressure is applied and it's

stretched a bit, i.e., just touching it doesn't cause pain in and of

itself, except for on the vaginal opening where it feels like there are two

little holes (so I'm assuming those are gland--Bartholin glands, perhaps?).

I also couldn't see where the Q tip was being placed, and I can't remember

exactly where I felt it. What I'm talking about being painful isn't the

opening itself (though that is as well) but a " flap " over the opening where

the labia minora meet, and I thought the Q tip was only placed on the

opening of the vagina itself.

As for whether it's normal or not, that's what I'm asking--I'm not sure,

not having looked at lots of women's vulvas. It might just be something

normal that's hypersensitive in those with VVS (assuming that's what I've

got--the only doctor who knew about vulvodynia who looked at me never told

me what my diagnosis was but just started treating me with Elavil, etc.).

--'--,-{@ --,--'-{@ --'--,-{@

Rosen-Wakeford

<http://www.lilitu.com>

<http://www.lechatnoir.com>

" There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. "

- Albert Schweitzer

[Guest guest]

>

>

> This is going to sound REALLY wierd, but I am going to say it anyway.

> How does a woman compare her 'private parts' to those of another

woman or a

> 'control or normal group'. Can it be done in society today.

I have never had the inclination to compare - just assumed everyone was the

same basically. Of course we see baby girls and pictures in books etc. It

is not something I have never dwelt on.

I think men do a lot of comparing becaue it is easy for them to do so.

Women are afforded more privacy in the " locker rooms " .

Ora