Guest guest Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 I have just found out that I am going to have to have surgery in the next month because of vulvar vestibulitis and I am scared. This will be my first surgery of any kind. Any advice or what to expect as far as recovery or during or anything to prepare me for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Hi, listen, I had a Vestibulectomy and it was not scary at all, everyone was quite pleasant and there was not much pain afterwards. I waited one day to make sure all was well and then flew home. But... if you are terrified, you should wait and not have the surgery. Don't have a surgery like this because someone told you that you have to. You need to make up your own mind about something like this. You need to be emotionally ready. My attitude when I scheduled my surgery was " can you do it today? " Really, don't do it until you want it and you are ready. Just my opinion, okay? As Simon once said " I'm a very opinionated man " . (or woman in my case LOL). > > I have just found out that I am going to have to have surgery in the > next month because of vulvar vestibulitis and I am scared. This will > be my first surgery of any kind. Any advice or what to expect as far > as recovery or during or anything to prepare me for this. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Good advice, ! I was supposed to have a hysterectomy last fall. I chose not to do it.... If a surgery is elective, it's better to 'be sure', rather then give in and regret later. ~Chelle Mace wrote: Hi, listen, I had a Vestibulectomy and it was not scary at all,everyone was quite pleasant and there was not much pain afterwards. Iwaited one day to make sure all was well and then flew home.But... if you are terrified, you should wait and not have the surgery. Don't have a surgery like this because someone told you that you have to.You need to make up your own mind about something like this. You needto be emotionally ready.My attitude when I scheduled my surgery was "can you do it today?"Really, don't do it until you want it and you are ready. Just my opinion, okay? As Simon once said "I'm a very opinionatedman". (or woman in my case LOL). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 , I understand what you are saying about needing to be ready. But it is absolutely normal to be scared before surgery! I was terrified -- I wanted the surgery in that I wanted to be better, but there was never a time when I actually wanted to be having the surgery, and never a time that I wasn't afraid. I think it's a very scary thing to have any kind of surgery, and for some (like me), anything medical is terrifying. I wouldn't tell anyone to wait until they're not scared, because that may never happen. However, I do agree that you have to be somewhat ready-- you should never be pushed into doing anything that you don't feel comfortable with. But if you think it's the right course of action for you but are still scared, I say still go for it!! For me, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought, and now I am pain-free when I have intercourse, which is a miracle. I'm SO glad that I faced my fears and did the surgery anyway. Just my thoughts on the subject. My advice-- find people to talk to who have had the surgery and ask any questions that pop into your head-- the more you know ahead of time, the better. I found a lot of fears were eased by talking to someone who had the surgery a number of years before me. Also, knowing what to expect afterwards helps. Feel free to email me with questions!!! I am SO glad I had the surgery, and I am the biggest scaredy-cat when it comes to anything medical-- I cry at the thought of getting a blood test. It truly wasn't that bad!! Best of luck to you-- Amy:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 > Mace wrote: > Hi, listen, I had a Vestibulectomy and it was not scary at all, > everyone was quite pleasant and there was not much pain afterwards. I > waited one day to make sure all was well and then flew home. > > But... if you are terrified, you should wait and not have the surgery. > > Don't have a surgery like this because someone told you that you have to. > > You need to make up your own mind about something like this. You need > to be emotionally ready. > > My attitude when I scheduled my surgery was " can you do it today? " > > Really, don't do it until you want it and you are ready. > > Just my opinion, okay? As Simon once said " I'm a very opinionated > man " . (or woman in my case LOL). > > > I think my main thing is that it is my 1st surgery of any kind and it has me a little on edge. I am just afraid of the unknown. I am up for the surgery and I know I need it to make the pain stop, but I still have knots of the unknown. Crystal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 Crystal have you gotten a 2nd and 3rd opinion on that surgery? Maybe that would make it easier for you to decide hon. And of course it's normal to be afraid of surgery.. no matter what kind it is it's scary so don't berate yourself hon. Anyway just a thought and it's surely something I'd do before I'd do any kind of surgery. Once that's done it can't be undone if it's not successful. We've seen enough stories to say it has been successful, so I'm certainly not discounting it, just making sure "I'd' need it before I did it. I have to have cataract surgery in June and you can bet I sure didn't trust just one doctor. *grin*.. Hugs honDee ----- Original Message ----- From: crm1820 I think my main thing is that it is my 1st surgery of any kind and ithas me a little on edge. I am just afraid of the unknown. I am up forthe surgery and I know I need it to make the pain stop, but I stillhave knots of the unknown.Crystal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 I think one of the problems with getting a second and third opinion (compared to other surgeries), is that there are not that many doctors that perform vestibulectomies, and especially ones that have done a lot of them (which is what you want). It takes tiny stitches to sew everything back together, so you want a doctor that has done a lot of these surgeries – in fact that is one of the main questions you should ask is how many they have done. If he/she says they have done only one or two in the last year, than that is not good enough. You want someone that does them every week. But most GYN’s do not even know what vestibulitis is, so you really need a vulvar specialist and they are hard to find. So even if there is only one in your driving area that does it, ask the right questions, and if possible ask the doctor if he/she would call one of his patients that he had performed it on and ask if she would give you a call. That might give you a chance to ask a lot of questions about the doctor that you wouldn’t ask to his face. nne From: VulvarDisorders [mailto:VulvarDisorders ] On Behalf Of Dee Troll Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:08 PM To: VulvarDisorders Subject: Re: Re: New to Me Crystal have you gotten a 2nd and 3rd opinion on that surgery? Maybe that would make it easier for you to decide hon. And of course it's normal to be afraid of surgery.. no matter what kind it is it's scary so don't berate yourself hon. Anyway just a thought and it's surely something I'd do before I'd do any kind of surgery. Once that's done it can't be undone if it's not successful. We've seen enough stories to say it has been successful, so I'm certainly not discounting it, just making sure " I'd' need it before I did it. I have to have cataract surgery in June and you can bet I sure didn't trust just one doctor. *grin*.. Hugs hon Dee ----- Original Message ----- From: crm1820 I think my main thing is that it is my 1st surgery of any kind and it has me a little on edge. I am just afraid of the unknown. I am up for the surgery and I know I need it to make the pain stop, but I still have knots of the unknown. Crystal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 HI nne.. BOY I certainly agree with you there about wanting the best to do the surgery. NO doubt about that... (and those tiny tiny stitches are one of the secrets) but I'm talking initially to see if surgery is truly needed as a diagnosis... That's where 'I'd' want more than a few opinions.. and if several thought I did that's when I'd definitely take my time to seek out the best. hugs honDee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Look up vestubulectomy on the web and learn all you can about the procedure. Discuss your surgery with your doctor. Ask him what he is going to do so that you will be well informed. Don't just go into it blindly. Knowledge is power! The more you know the less worrying you might do. If you have local anesthesia be brave and don't let them start cutting on you until you are completely numbed. They might not want to wait and you may need to insist. Also if they give you pain meds afterwards and it makes you nauseous or any other unobjectionable side effect don't let them insist on giving you more of the same drug. Do you plan to have the surgery as outpatient, going home the same day or will you be staying at the hospital overnight? Ora >I have just found out that I am going to have to have surgery in the >next month because of vulvar vestibulitis and I am scared. This will >be my first surgery of any kind. Any advice or what to expect as far >as recovery or during or anything to prepare me for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised. They are *really* nice to you when you have an elective surgery. There is always someone there to talk to you and make sure you're okay. The anesthesiologists give you the most lovely drugs for your pre-surgery anxiety. The post-surgery pain was less than my usual Vulvodynia pain. Don't worry. All will be well. > > > > I think my main thing is that it is my 1st surgery of any kind and it > has me a little on edge. I am just afraid of the unknown. I am up for > the surgery and I know I need it to make the pain stop, but I still > have knots of the unknown. > > Crystal > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I am planning on staying overnight at the hospital. > > >I have just found out that I am going to have to have surgery in the > >next month because of vulvar vestibulitis and I am scared. This will > >be my first surgery of any kind. Any advice or what to expect as far > >as recovery or during or anything to prepare me for this. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Are you taking birth control pills or any other kind of HRT? Ora >I am planning on staying overnight at the hospital. > > >> >> >I have just found out that I am going to have to have surgery in the >> >next month because of vulvar vestibulitis and I am scared. This will >> >be my first surgery of any kind. Any advice or what to expect as far >> >as recovery or during or anything to prepare me for this. >> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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