Hi there,
I’ve started using my dilators pretty late to be honest after I finished having the brachytherapy in mid April. I started more or less the beginning of June and am still on the smallest one. Every time I use them I feel an intense need to wee lots for a couple of days . At first I thought it was a uti but had that checked and it was clear. Is this something where it can irritate the bladder too? I feel like I’m never going to get past the first dilator and it feels so much shorter up there. I only gave birth 7 month ago too so I don’t know if that has an effect? Anyone else had this?
Hi
I haven’t had the same experience as you in terms ofv feeling a need to wee a lot after using dilators but it took me a time to get past the smallest dilator and I never got beyond the the second smallest.
Maybe the dilator is irritating the urethra which may also make you feel like you need to wee a lot.
I’m guessing a bit but maybe another possibility is that you are a bit sensitive to the lubricant you use with your dilator. You might want to take a look at the information about vaginal lubricants in the following link: https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/vaginal-lubricants#things-to-consider
x
Hi there Jazza,
I will try a different lubricant I think that will help. I did have a bit of swelling down there by the urethra which my oncologist noticed last time but thankfully she said that was normal considering the treatment that I’ve had down there and things can irritated.
It’s nice to know that other people are in the same position. I tried the second dilator up but it’s just made me bleed and is painful. I think I will just have to stick with the smallest for a while and even that’s uncomfortable at the moment.
I’m hoping it gets easier?
It’s just hard knowing what’s normal and what’s abnormal after all this and whether it’s something I need to look out for!!
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Hi Lyds,
Firstly, I agree with Jazza. I tried different lubes and they caused me terrible irritation for days. The one I use that seems to work really well for me is Opti-Lube. When I had a problem early on with the dilators, I used the vaginal moisturiser Replens and left it a day to work its magic before using the dilators. It helped to moisturise the tissue down there which really helped. If you are a bit concerned, could you have a word with your Clinical Nurse Specialist. Maybe they could book you in an internal exam just to put your mind at ease.
x Maria
Hi there Memagh,
Thanks for your advice, my oncologist has also recommended replens so I have ordered some and waiting for it to come. I’m hoping that helps. She conducted an internal exam a
Couple of weeks ago and it has shortened I’ve just got to keep at it with the dilators.
I will let her know when I next see her about the irritation and the need to wee . It does seem to settle down after a couple of days but then it’s time to use them again!
Scan should be soon, should be early July but I’ve phoned twice and still haven’t heard anything. Just that I’m on the list.
The replens seriously moisturises so leaves the skin less prone to tears and irritation. The moisturising effects lasts for days. I know that feeling of just getting over the irritation and then its time to use them again. Best of luck with your scan. I had mine three weeks ago and am currently waiting for results. I’d like to think that no news is good news.
x Maria
Thank you so much, its nice to talk things through with someone going through a similar experience.
Yes - be positive. I hope everything is good news.
It’s just a horrible wait still xx
Hi Lyds
If it’s appropriate for you something else that might help is topical oestrogen cream. I’ve recently being prescribed with Ovestin and both my lady bits and waterworks are generally improved.
x
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Maybe this is a daft question but why are women using vaginal dilators, do some hospitals just automatically tell you to use them? Is it for problems caused by brachytherapy?
I hope this doesn’t seem insensitive or inappropriate, I’m just curious as to how you would know your vagina has narrowed.
Hi,
After rads internal and external the vaginal tissues shrink and cause scar tissue. Dilators are given to break down the scar tissue for pelvic examinations and to help resume sexual intercourse.
Harvitt is correct - anyone having brachytherapy should use vaginal dilators because the tissue shrinks from the radiotherapy, and loses it’s elasticity. It was described to me like an elastic vagina that gets thicker and tighter until it’s really hard to stretch. The idea of the dilators is to ease the elastic gently very regularly (three times a week) to maintain flexibility and access. This is really important not only for sex, but for vaginal inspections.
There are a number of things my nurse specialist showed me, and I hope they will be helpful. First is that you need to prop yourself up to a semi sitting position where you are well enough supported that you can relax. The relaxing bit is really important, because if you tense up you won’t be able to get the thing in barely at all!
Secondly, there are a couple of ‘bumps’ you need to get past. If you’re unfamiliar with inserting a hard object yourself, or you’re tense, your dilator will just bounce off the first one. The tip is to cough while you press gently. This coughing trick is marvellous. It causes the ‘bumps’ to contract so that the dilator can get in. You want to try to get it right in to the top of the vaginal, past the cervix, so multiple coughs may be required.
Thirdly, lubrication is ESSENTIAL! Also finding a lubricant that is comfortable and does not irritate you. I started with KYJelly, which is industry standard in hospitals for internal procedures, but I found it could get a bit tacky, unless you use a LOT. I was also given Sylk with my dilator kit, and decided to try it. Brilliant stuff! Quite runny, but no chemicals (all plant based) and actually much more comfortable than the KY. So there’s another one to try, ladies.
Fourthly, the motion. I was told to keep this to ‘side to side’. The reason for this is that you can irritate the bladder (forwards motion) or bowel (backwards motion) if you don’t keep it to side to side. I read some other hospital’s advice on using dilators as well, and they suggested gently twisting as well, a sort of little twirling motion, as you move it in and out.
Finally (I think) - take your time. I am now on the biggest dilator. I got to no.3 practicing in the clinic, and they took 1 and 2 away and said ‘you’re not using these, they’re too small’. I didn’t start using the dilators for longer than usual because I had sepsis and was poorly, but once I had been to the clinic I BELIEVED I could do it, that it was natural, and I was just going to persist and do the best thing for myself. This was an important step for me as I was scared beforehand, but believe me, ladies, they stick worse things up there!!! But you have to take your time to work it in, and I now now how far I can get it in, so I just keep with the gentle motions and coughs until I get there, then take the 5 minutes they recommend to do the ‘movements’.
This is a nice article that explains why the hard plastic dilators are best to stretch the vagina, which following menopause can get less elastic anyway (and if you’ve had CC radiotherapy you will unfortunately get the menopause). https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/how-use-vaginal-dilator
X
Hi Lally
Definitely not an insensitive or inappropriate question - it’s what’s so great about this forum that we can have open and frank discussions about such things.
Because I did quite a bit of reading before my treatment I was aware about dilators being recommended to help with vaginal changes brought about by radiotherapy. However somehow I slipped through the net and my medical team didn’t mention it to me. So when I was called for my end of treatment chat I brought up the subject and a very embarrassed nurse admitted I’d been forgotten whereupon they fitted in a last minute lesson for me. So yes it should have been automatic but maybe it doesn’t always happen - might be worth calling your medical team to find out.
The following link might be helpful: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/living-with-cervical-cancer/prd/symptoms/vaginal-changes
x
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Thanks for that but I really mean what’s purpose do they serve and if, as you say, it should be automatic, WHY is it automatic? Surely not every woman will suffer from narrowing of the vagina.
Personally, I’ll be giving it a miss. I can’t see how I would even know if my vagina has narrowed and if it has I’m not bothered. If it’s for the purpose of penetrative sex they really shouldn’t assume you will be having this. Maybe rather than it being automatic they should only offer them to women who want them. I understand that many women will still want to have sex but for many this is going to be the furthest thing from their minds after going through all the treatment.
My partner and I intend to play it by ear as far as sex goes, and it might be a while before we have actual intercourse, and if we don’t we don’t.
I do sometimes keep forgetting that many women who have CC are a lot younger than me and penetrative sex is probably a lot more important in their relationships. When you get to my age it isn’t
Xxx
It’s not primarily for penetrative sex, Lally, it’s to allow examination and health checks as well. This is of importance to most women, whether they are sexually active or not, because we’re all concerned about long term health after going through so much.
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I literally never thought about that. Thanks for reminding me!
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