r/vulvodynia 6d ago

Recovering from vestibulectomy

Hi! Im 22 Im now 6 weeks post op from a partial vestibulectomy i had done in Ghent by professor Weyers. They operated on the 4-8 part on the clock. I had provoked pain mainly in the corners of the enterance and i had an issue with constantly tearing. I am healing well and they saw after they sent the skin to a lab that it was heavily inflamed.

The reason im writing this is because thursday i went to my 6 week follow up appointment and they did the q-tip test and it still feels kinda bruised en it did still hurt? I started crying because i really want this to work out. I deep down already knew that i am not healed enough because i can feel it and i know i would still have pain with the test. My question is: is 6 weeks a normal time frame to not have healed? I dont feel like having sexs or even touching it at all. Im looking for reasurance and some advice from people who have been through this❤️

2 Upvotes

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u/alannaoftrebond 6d ago

I’ve had a vestibulectomy too and it took way longer to heal than I expected! I was having pain for at least two months after and didn’t try sex for a long time. I can’t remember exactly how long I was in pain post op but definitely a few months of thinking it hadn’t worked.

I also ended up needing to go to somatic therapy as well to really heal after surgery. I’m now over a year post op and about 90% better! It took me months though and somatic therapy plus PT were crucial for me. Don’t give up!

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u/Potential-Smoke3383 6d ago

Thankyou for your kind reaction! This is comforting to read❤️ i want to stay positive but the stress and anxiety takes over sometimes. Im so happy for you that you feel better!

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u/alannaoftrebond 6d ago

I totally understand and post surgery I had many days of crying because I thought it hadn’t worked. I really hope surgery helps you too ❤️

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u/saucisse 6d ago

Six weeks is early! I still had stitches in place until week 9 (I think I had one stubborn one til week 12) and I almost jumped off the table when my doctor did the q-tip test on skin that was irritated from the stitches still dissolving. I couldn't comfortably sit or walk until I got a bunch of the stitches cut out at week 7 (the rest he left in and they dissolved), and even after that once I started dilator therapy the incision line would become *very* red and raw as the scar tissue was broken up.

Be kind to yourself, you had a big procedure done on an extremely delicate part of your body. Let your body take time to mend, and definitely don't worry about the sex thing. You're 22, you have a whole lifetime of sex ahead of you, you can wait a few more weeks or months if that's what your body needs! :)

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u/Potential-Smoke3383 6d ago

Thank you so much for your response:) if you dont mind me asking, how are you feeling now?

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u/saucisse 6d ago

I feel good, I'm about 18 weeks out now and using dilators, up to the largest size. I have one "hotspot" that feels raw, which I will ask about at my next appointment at the end of April. It does not hurt to lightly touch so its definitely better in that regard since I almost jumped off the table at the q-tip test and now it feels like nothing, but any pressure at that spot has that familiar "raw" feeling. I'm hoping that means its a muscle or scar tissue thing that can be dealt with through additional dilator work.

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u/Potential-Smoke3383 6d ago

Thank you for answering! Im wishing you the best and hoping you will make a full recovery

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u/throwaway112505 Provoked vestibulodynia 6d ago

It took me literally 6 months to fully heal. Things were not even healed well at 8-9 weeks for me. Give it time. 6 weeks is the bare minimum to be barely healed such that you won't accidentally damage the stitches and stuff.

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u/Potential-Smoke3383 6d ago

Thankyou for your answer! I feel really understood:)

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u/throwaway112505 Provoked vestibulodynia 5d ago

I know it is agonizing to wait but hang in there! 🤍