Diary of Results from Day 1 to a Year Later - Folsom, CA

Mona Lisa Touch June 14, 2016
Treatment # 1
The laser vibrating inside is disconcerting
the local numbing cream stings for a few minutes until it takes affect
Feels like the needle injecting the Novocaine at the dentist
Procedure was at times uncomfortable because there were
spots where the numbing cream had not covered. Described it is like very short, very tiny needle pricks. less painful than tweezing a hair in a sensitive spot, though.
I experienced maybe 3 of those. just enough to make me a bit tense.
I was told it would be like a sunburn.
I was given Aquaphor and a pantyliner & a small 1 time use cold pack. I didn't think I'd need it, but as I was walking out of the office
I realized walking felt as if I had a dry tampon in.
Sitting in the car was uncomfortable & I stuffed the cold pack on
Glad I wore a skirt & not pants though as the cold pack would show through
I should have gone right home ;Note to self :
GO home after the next procedure !
Instead I went grocery shopping.
walking felt like I had a piece of crumpled paper up inside me.
I took 2 extra strength rapid release tylenol &
went home & sat on a cold pack, & ice pack & reclined in my
outdoor lawn recliner, which was the best possible thing as it didn't
retain heat, & I could be in a position where I wasn't actually sitting on the area of discomfort, so no pressure there. I began to wonder
why I had done this to myself & I was wondering how long the pain
would last.
There was a little pink on the panty liner & a little discharge.
it'd been about 3+ years since my last period so it was weird.
I slept fine & the discomfort had pretty much subsided by the time
I woke up. I sat most the day though sitting was not the
most comfortable thing. I didn't do my daily walk, but standing & slow walking was fine. though I could tell I was still not normal in the
area of the procedure. The inner discomfort was pretty much abated
by the afternoon after the procedure but I was still sensitive along
the outside. going to the bathroom was ok I just has to be careful
when I wiping I reapplied more aquaphor, as it seemed to help &
I didn't want any chaffing going on.2 days after the procedure I felt
relatively normal & went for my usual vigorous daily walk. sitting later in a computer chair I noticed that the pressure of sitting wasn't as
comfortable as normal. but haven't taken tylenol since that one time, so feeling good.
3 days after the procedure I felt dry & a bit itchy in the area where the procedure was done. I applied cetaphil cream & that seemed to help a bit.
Still not feeling like being romantic though.
It was a complete week before I felt like I things were normal.
I decided to really test out how much change had been made by not
using any "help/assisting" creams at all. A pretty stringent test because I've been using
something (cetaphil) for at least 15 years.
The change in response was noticeable, though I still felt I had some dryness inside, there was no pain & my husband said it seemed tight.
the second "test drive" I had some pain, seemed to be dry (?) inside
so the 3rd "test drive" I used ceptaphil & I still had some pain.
was kinda disappointed. Had also noticed that I was dry & walking was painful every once & awhile so I applied cetaphil after showering.
the 4th "test drive" I used cetaphil & we were careful (slow)
I didn't have any pain but I also didn't have any luck getting my engines started. needed more moisturizer ? not sure.
Procedure # 2
I was told that this time would be a little worse than the first as Procedure # 1 they go easy on you, then they do more the 2nd time & then for the 3rd they go easy again.
So,
Left the Dr's with a thick coating of Eucerin an icepack in place.
(Wore 2 layers of substantial cotton undies so I could put the cold pack in between the two (to hold it in place & so it wouldn't stick to me) .I took Tylenol as soon as I got to the car, drove home & endured the burning sensation for the next 9 hours while I sat on ice packs (wrapped the rest of me in a blanket).
Again, I wondered : "why am I doing this ?"
Took Tylenol & slept ok without any ice.
Didn't take my usual walk the next day, but I did the day after.
Had some slight bloody discharge but not enough to call spotting.
That was done by day 3.
Waited over a week to test drive.
First test drive pf procedure 2 was disappointing. Had some pain.
waited another week.
Second test drive of procedure 2 was much more encouraging with no pain. Waited 2 weeks & then was again disappointed in experiencing some pain with the 3rd test drive. same with the 4th.

Procedure #3

had less pain during the procedure than previously.
Burning sensation was the same.
Took Tylenol as soon as I got to the car

NOTE : next year, take Tylenol before I go to the Dr for the procedure !

Sat on ice packs until I went to bed (took more tylenol before bed)
not much discharge this time.
I did not go for my daily walk the day after the procedure.
I did the second day after though.
By day 3 I was itchy where the procedure was done. Using cetaphil cream seems to help a bit.
First test drive after 3rd treatment: small amount of pain but otherwise a good experience,not sure how much more sensitive the area was, but it seemed as if it was. 2nd test drive was much more impressive than any previous ones. No pain & increased sensitivity & response

about a week after the 2nd test drive of the last treatment, a grandbaby was born, so the 3rd "test drive" was delayed for a month (or more) by the time we got around to the 3rd test drive I was shocked & disappointed to find that I was almost back to the way I was before my first treatment: dry & uncomfortable even with moisturizing assists. Added to that, it seemed that nothing got my "engines" going.
After that we had a lot less "fun" & had it alot less often

______update July 2017

Now , a year later I'm contemplating spending the $950 for the annual "booster treatment. I made the investment, but it didn't pay off. I have zero interest in having "fun" as it's uncomfortable at best & painful most of the time. I'm wondering if the problem is that "fun" needs to be had a few times a week (& as soon as possible after treatments) & then maintained in order to keep things in working order.
I feel that the outer area that was treated is insensitive & perhaps there is scarring that inhibits feeling.