Sore after using dilator for first time in a year

Hi everyone,

It took ages but I was eventually diagnosed with vestibulitis a couple of years ago. I was suffering from unprovoked pain on a regular basis and sex was completely out of the question. It was miserable as you can imagine. I've eventually managed to get the daily discomfort (minus the sex issue) pretty much under control thanks to a brilliant physical therapist who identified tight muscles as the root of my problem and taught me about deep tissue massage. I did do some work with dilators while seeing her but then went through a bad spell of anxiety which meant the dilators got buried in the back of a drawer. I just couldn't deal with the added stress of trying to use these as well as overcome the anxiety issues. For the first time in almost a year i plucked up the courage yesterday to try inserting the smallest dilator. I managed with very little discomfort which i was over the moon about! Today though i feel quite sore and everything feels tingly. I'm freaking out a bit as it reminds me of UTI symptons. There's no burning or urgency though so my logical mind is saying that its probably just my vaginal muscles reacting to having something inside after such a long time! Has anybody here experienced this after using a dilator for the first time or moving up a size? I shouldn't overreact but this whole process has been so emotionally draining that any sign of pain makes me feel worried and emotional. Thanks for any advice or words of wisdom x

I want to offer you some encouragement NewNicola. I haven't had the same experience of taking up the dilators after a long time, but I am working through my own dilator program and I know how emotionally draining it is. I think you should pat yourself on the back for dusting it off and giving it a go Well done!

I hope the tingling was a passing feeling and you feel better already. Part of the reason it is draining is that dilation is about stretching the boundaries (more mentally and pain signal wise than physically for me) and you never know how your body and mind will react. Good luck with your treatment!

NewNicola those are exact symptoms the pelvic floor can produce and I've been where you are when I got a bit over ambitious or didn't relax enough etc, I go on the lack of urgency and burning/stinging when I pee as my guide as to whether it's a UTI or not and if not I alternate an ice pack with a heat pack over and over while I watch TV at night until it settles back down, plus some breathing and relaxing the pelvic floor but no more dilators or wands or anything until almost completely settled then I check for very spasmed muscles and very gently release them a bit with a thumb so I've got feedback. You're probably fine by now anyway as I've only just seen your message! Go easy as you're out of practice.