Re: vulvar vestibulectomy-I had one

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I had the vulvar vestibulectomy done in May of last year. It was a success

and would do it all over again in a heart beat if I had to do things over

again. I did not see the same doctor as you are seeing. My doctor is Dr.

on from Milwaukee.

There are several diffrent versions of the surgery, some more extensive then

others, some removing the glands to the roots and some only removing the top

layer of skin. I will say that I belive the type that I had done to be one

of the more successful procedures, although the most invaseive. I had all

of my vestibulary and both bartholins glands removed and a perinial skin

graft made. The glands were removed to the roots, and vaginal advancement

done. The recovery was long, but I am glad that I went for the more

extensive surgery right off instead of doing less only to need a second

surgery latter. In my opinion (and my doctors) less chance of nerve damage

with one procedure then if more are necessary. Also, my glands turned out

to be in an advanced stage. They had swollen too 4 inches long and had

fibromas and scar tissue attatched. Had I had a lesser procedure, I may not

have gotten all of that removed.

Vestibulectomys that do not remove the entire gland have the risk of

blocking off the remaining gland and causing further inflammation, cysts and

more surgery. Also, Lazer surgery that removes the top layer of skin as

apposed to being used as a scalpal would can be disfiguring as well. I

would be sure to get plenty of information from your doctor about the

technique she uses, success rates, and if possible names and phone numbers

of patients who have had the procedure done from her. You may also be able

to find old patients of hers by posting on the vulvodynia guestbook that Dr.

Glazer has. Lots of women drop in and just read the posts who have been

around for a while. That is how I found a few of the women who had the

vestibulectomy done by Dr. on.

If you have any more questions about my surgery, feel free to email me off

list. I would be happy to answer them.

Bunny /| |\

. .

( ! )

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

,

Are you now pain free?

Bunny wrote: Hi there,I had the vulvar vestibulectomy done in May of last year. It was a success and would do it all over again in a heart beat if I had to do things over again. I did not see the same doctor as you are seeing. My doctor is Dr. on from Milwaukee.There are several diffrent versions of the surgery, some more extensive then others, some removing the glands to the roots and some only removing the top layer of skin. I will say that I belive the type that I had done to be one of the more successful procedures, although the most invaseive. I had all of my vestibulary and both bartholins glands removed and a perinial skin graft made. The glands were removed to the roots, and vaginal advancement done. The recovery was long, but I am glad that I went for the more extensive surgery right off instead of doing less only to need a second surgery latter. In my opinion (and my doctors) less chance of nerve damage with one procedure then if more are necessary. Also, my glands turned out to be in an advanced stage. They had swollen too 4 inches long and had fibromas and scar tissue attatched. Had I had a lesser procedure, I may not have gotten all of that removed.Vestibulectomys that do not remove the entire gland have the risk of blocking off the remaining gland and causing further inflammation, cysts and more surgery. Also, Lazer surgery that removes the top layer of skin as apposed to being used as a scalpal would can be disfiguring as well. I would be sure to get plenty of information from your doctor about the technique she uses, success rates, and if possible names and phone numbers of patients who have had the procedure done from her. You may also be able to find old patients of hers by posting on the vulvodynia guestbook that Dr. Glazer has. Lots of women drop in and just read the posts who have been around for a while. That is how I found a few of the women who had the vestibulectomy done by Dr. on.If you have any more questions about my surgery, feel free to email me off list. I would be happy to answer them. Bunny /| |\ . . ( ! )_________________________________________________________________Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com*****END OF MESSAGE*****-------------------------------------------------To post message: VulvarDisorders To Subscribe: VulvarDisorders-subscribe Unsubscribe: VulvarDisorders-unsubscribe List owner: VulvarDisorders-owner *****

[Guest guest]

Hi Chirstina,

You wrote:

my glands turned out

to be in an advanced stage. They had swollen too 4

inches long and had

fibromas and scar tissue attatched. Had I had a

lesser procedure, I may not

have gotten all of that removed.

What did the doctor say causes them to swell up to 4

inches long? What are fibromas? I'm curious as to

whether it's the length of time we have VV or mostly

the severity of it that caused the glands to swell and

if it's typical for us to have this happen? Thanks

for letting me pick your brain. I'm very happy that

you're pleased with the results:)

Liz

--- Bunny

wrote:

> Hi there,

>

> I had the vulvar vestibulectomy done in May of last

> year. It was a success

> and would do it all over again in a heart beat if I

> had to do things over

> again. I did not see the same doctor as you are

> seeing. My doctor is Dr.

> on from Milwaukee.

>

> There are several diffrent versions of the surgery,

> some more extensive then

> others, some removing the glands to the roots and

> some only removing the top

> layer of skin. I will say that I belive the type

> that I had done to be one

> of the more successful procedures, although the most

> invaseive. I had all

> of my vestibulary and both bartholins glands removed

> and a perinial skin

> graft made. The glands were removed to the roots,

> and vaginal advancement

> done. The recovery was long, but I am glad that I

> went for the more

> extensive surgery right off instead of doing less

> only to need a second

> surgery latter. In my opinion (and my doctors) less

> chance of nerve damage

> with one procedure then if more are necessary.

> Also, my glands turned out

> to be in an advanced stage. They had swollen too 4

> inches long and had

> fibromas and scar tissue attatched. Had I had a

> lesser procedure, I may not

> have gotten all of that removed.

>

> Vestibulectomys that do not remove the entire gland

> have the risk of

> blocking off the remaining gland and causing further

> inflammation, cysts and

> more surgery. Also, Lazer surgery that removes the

> top layer of skin as

> apposed to being used as a scalpal would can be

> disfiguring as well. I

> would be sure to get plenty of information from your

> doctor about the

> technique she uses, success rates, and if possible

> names and phone numbers

> of patients who have had the procedure done from

> her. You may also be able

> to find old patients of hers by posting on the

> vulvodynia guestbook that Dr.

> Glazer has. Lots of women drop in and just read the

> posts who have been

> around for a while. That is how I found a few of

> the women who had the

> vestibulectomy done by Dr. on.

>

> If you have any more questions about my surgery,

> feel free to email me off

> list. I would be happy to answer them.

>

>

>

>

> Bunny /| |\

> . .

> ( ! )

>

>

>

_________________________________________________________________

> Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger:

> http://messenger.msn.com

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Liz,

The doctor told me that the length of time I have had vulvodynia was the

major cause for how far things went but that severity plays a role as well.

From what I understand of what she told me, this is typical of

vestibulitis...if it were really sevear and whent on for quite a while. I

had vestibulitis for at least 8 years (the doctor thinks possibly longer).

So I guess if you have only had the vestibulitis for a couple of years and

it is not overly severe, then you may only have glands an inch or so big and

no fibromas and scar tissue (for example). She told me that 2-3 inches is

about average size for vestibulary glands that she routinely does surgery to

remove.

The doctor explained to me that the glands grow in size in response to

inflammation much in the same way a pearl in an oyster shell grows around a

grain of sand in response to the irritation. So I guess her theory is that

something causes inflammation in the vulvar area which in turn causes the

vestibulary glands to swell and then grown in size and harden (alot like

tonsels, only antibiotics make tonselitis better because bacteria is the

sole cause). In my case it was a hormone issue. Depo provera caused

vaginal atrophy and vulvar inflammation which caused the vestibulitis.

During the years I was on depo my vaginal and vulvar atrophy got worse,

disrupting my normal ph and disturbing the bacterial flora. I ended up with

several yeast infections and then was misdiagnosed repeatedly with bacterial

vaginosis when it was really atrophy and vestibulitis. Had I been taken off

the depo sooner, I may have been able to reverse this with estrogen without

having surgery but could not because of the scar tissue and fibromas.

Fibromas are like fibroids only they grow more like hardened tissue and less

tumorlike. The doctor explained that the scar tissue is what the fibromas

were causing as time whent on.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Bunny /| |\

. .

( ! )

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[Guest guest]

As long as I do not get a yeast infection, or do not let my atrophy come

back (I am not sure if I will have to take the estrogen forever, or just for

a few years), I am pain free with or without sex and experience very little

irritation (still have to be careful about chemical irritants and washing

clothes and all that good stuff). I consider myself overall about 85%

better then I was before surgery. I have an impaired glucose tolerance and

have to watch out for upper resperatory infections, thease make me more

prone to yeast infections, and I still have early stage LS which gives me

some itching from time to time that is not yeast related. Thease two things

are problems that I will probably have to deal with forever, but that awful

stabing pain with intercourse, and that raw soreness is compleatly gone.

Bunny /| |\

. .

( ! )

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[Guest guest]

Thanks for all the info !

I am glad to hear that you had success with the surgery. What were your

symptoms before surgery and what exactly were you diagnosed with? I'm sure

that I will email you with more questions!

Thanks again,

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all the info !

I am glad to hear that you had success with the surgery. What were your

symptoms before surgery and what exactly were you diagnosed with? I'm sure

that I will email you with more questions!

Thanks again,

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all the info !

I am glad to hear that you had success with the surgery. What were your

symptoms before surgery and what exactly were you diagnosed with? I'm sure

that I will email you with more questions!

Thanks again,

[Guest guest]

Hey Rene, No problem ask all you want:)

I was diagnosed with sevear vulvovaginal atrophy, early stage Lichen

Sclerosus, and Vulvar vestibulitis. We fixed the atrophy before the surgery

with Estrace, Estring, and a short bout of temovate. I was also prescribed

Zoloft for the neurolagia aspect of it.

My symptoms were sharp stabbing pain with intercourse (vestibulitis), a raw

burning scratchy feeling (the atrophy), and itchyness and oversensitivity/

contact dermatitis as a result of Lichen Sclerosis

The surgery did make the stabbing sharp pain with intercourse go away. But

I still struggle with yeast infections and atrophy if I need to stop the

estring with a yeast infection. So I guess you could say the vestibulitis

is gone, but I will have LS and an impaired glucose tolerance for the rest

of my life. Thease two things will make me very susceptable to yeast

infections. I will also probably need to keep with the estrogen for long

term. When I have stoped or gone down in dose, I found the atrophy creeping

back as the estrogen depleated. When this happens all of my lacto dies off

causing symptoms from the other bacteria that is normally there growing out

of control.

I guess this is why they say there is no real cure for this yet. We fixed

the vestibulitis, but I have to still deal with the issues that made the

glands swell up in the first place.

Bunny /| |\

. .

( ! )

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