For the most part things are still pretty much the same. Daily dilating, overall total body stretching and perineal massage a couple of times a week have allowed me to have mostly pain free sex. I think the initial pain with dilation and penetration is getting slightly better but it’s hard to tell since it hasn't been too bad at all since the surgery.
I've been using the Axiron every other day which greatly reduced my headaches, nausea and acne, but it doesn't seem to be enough for any of the positive effects of the testosterone either. I plan to slowly increase from every other day to every day to see if it will help with my drive.
Last weekend I was in San Diego with my husband and mother-in-law for her visit to California. It was busy, but we had a great time. I told my husband it felt weird to be in San Diego and not have an appointment at SDSM. Since 2011 anytime I visited San Diego I had a trip to see Dr G. I almost stopped in just to say hi, but I didn't want anyone to think I was crazy. I maybe should have though because when I sent my 5 month pictures this week, Dr. Goldstein thought I might have recurring glands and that we needed to talk about it. I’m not going to lie - that was not at all what I was expecting to hear, but I’m trying not to let it get me down. I’m still leaps and bounds from where I was before.
I had a phone appointment with Dr. G to discuss the plan of care for these silly glands. They pretty much showed up out of nowhere and can prove to be an issue. So far I haven't noticed any effects from the glands regarding lubrication or pain (that I know of). The local hormone cream and the Axiron should help. If they become painful and the medicine isn't working then the next step would be surgical removal. I'm really hoping we don't have to go down that road even though Dr G assured me it would be nothing like the vestibulectomy.
