You might want to seek a provider who can do injectable lidocaine. The injections are quite uncomfortable but after that, it’s painless and you can go several hours at a time without feeling anything. It can be hard to find a provider that can do it. I fly out to Pennsylvania and get it done at dr. Mcginns office.

Try 4-4-8 breathing

Works wonders for me.

I only have few pieces of advice to offer here:

• Can you switch to EMLA cream (lidocaine + prilocaine)? Remember that prescription numbing creams are not like lotion, you don't rub them in. You just apply a thick layer and then cover it with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. If you're already doing that, you might be one of the lucky ones (like me) for whom that stuff just wears off too fast. Tylenol helps.
  
• Is your tech using a newer machine? After seeing a number of electrologists, it's been my experience that the age and cost of the machine are directly related to the pain level. I once had a tech who was extremely knowedgeable and experienced, but she was using a 30-year-old machine and it was torture. Another tech had a brand-new top-of-the-line machine but barely knew how to use it, and the pain level was almost nothing. My current tech has a newer but less expensive machine, but she is very skilled with it and the pain is there but not too bad.
  
• Otherwise, talk to your tech. See if you can switch probes, or change machine settings. Is it the zap that hurts? Switch to a shorter pulse, or multi-flash. Is it the hair-pulling-out that hurts? Increase the power. Try insulated probes. I discovered that for me, doing thermolysis using a blend probe works the best for me. My tech and I can't explain it.
  

If all else fails, ask your doctor about getting lidocaine injections prior to electro (would require some logistics, I'm sure), or else find a different tech.

Look here

https://www.reddit.com/r/TransWiki/wiki/hair-removal#wiki_pain_management

Oh yeah, it's painful. I've had tons of needles stuck into me, laser... But this just hits different.

It sucks. It’s been one of the worst parts of transition for me. But, the day my electrolysis told me there was no more to do... I cried and I was sooo happy I put myself through it. Now all I’m doing is waiting to set a date for surgery, but with this pandemic, who knows when that will be.

My wife found no solution to this other than to go to a provider that provides lidocaine injections. We fly to Phoenix, AZ and go to Senzo Pelo Med Spa for it. Instead of a 30-90 minute torture session, she get's 13 hours (two techs) that do her face and groin at the same time.

Benefits:

1. Only having to grow out a beard once every other month.
2. Clearing whole area at once.
3. Completely pain free.
4. Drury Hotel has free drinks and dinner that night when I take her back.
5. LITERALLY PAIN FREE!

Problems:

1. Expensive. (Although a cost benefit analysis showed it was cheaper to do it all at once this way, then to do individual appointments.)
2. Requires travel.

I haven’t started electrolysis in preparation for GCS yet, but I’ve started doing it on my face. I dislike it far more than laser. Laser in the bikini/genital area was some of my least favorite parts of laser so I’m trying to mentally prepare myself for electrolysis in that area. I only do 45 minute sessions though. Talking w/ my tech helps to distract me as well. But seeing some of these comments, I’m interested in seeking a extended session where I’m knocked out for getting the genital area done.

But there’s nothing wrong with you. It sounds like your body is letting you know it’s limits. You’re doing the best you can w/ an awful situation that I wish none of us had to go through. ❤️

I take 2 ibuprofen an hour before, 2 at the start and 2 half way through. I've been doing two hour sessions. It gets difficult in the last 20 minutes or so once the sensation has built up enough. Breathing deeply on a count in and out has been helpful. I also try to laugh when it hurts. I feel like I'm able to trick myself a little.

Honestly i felt better reading this because it made me feel less alone. I broke down sobbing after only 20 minutes of it on my first session despite having had 2 hr electrolysis face sessions, 6 hr tat sessions etc. From what I can tell about myself, the dysphoria compounds the pain so much more. Yeah the pain sucks but just having someone down there even during doc consults is incredibly uncomfortable.

Genital electrolysis has been absolute torture for me. Same with facial electrolysis. Some people are just more sensitive. Numbing creams don't really do anything for me, either.

You're not a wimp. It just hurts SO much more than laser, but is more effective. I would recommend the injectable numbing too. Topical stuff doesn't do much for a partially invasive treatment like electrolysis. My electrolysis tech says some people get their dentist to give them Novocaine right before their appointment.

It doesn't seem like anyone else has really addressed this, but the entire pre-op electrolysis process was extremely traumatic for me, as well. It's emotionally and mentally grueling. I did lidocaine injections with 3-4 hour sessions, and it was still awful. Lying on the table for that long, having an extremely sensitive area, both physically and emotionally, get absolutely torn up, it feels like. Trying to focus super hard or trying super hard to distract yourself. It's exhausting.

Additionally, navigating the nurses and technicians was very difficult for me, and often times the bedside manner of a lot of "care" providers isn't always top grade.

I'm covered in tattoos, have had 20+ laser sessions on my face and genitals, and am 2 weeks post op grs. The electrolysis process had me questioning if I would just quit then and there and throw it all away. It's an awful process, and you're not weak or crazy.

Ask for Tramadol. Instead of experiencing the pain your become an observer of it. I used it for my tatoo's on my shoulderblades and i just didnt really care about the pain 👌🏻🌹 hope this helps

I'll second the recommendation for EMLA, I found it was usually enough for me where 5% lidocaine wasn't. I understand that other, stronger, prescription mixtures are available such as BLT (benzocaine, lidocaine, tetracaine) but I never bothered looking into it.

How are you going to handle GCS if you can barely get through an hour of this? I dunno what to tell you. Perhaps it’s time to take painkillers before your sessions. Start with ibuprofen. That will take some of the pain away. The rest is up to you. You’re stronger than you think you are. Don’t be scared of the pain or push it away. Embrace it.

Amazing I've fallen asleep during electro session on my face - in my groin now that's a different matter had to stop completely couldn't take the pain

It’s quite simple: it is very very painful I don’t think iodine is going to stop that.

When I got mine done I got absolutely wrecked beforehand I’m talking xans alcahol codiene and that worked for me

Honestly this sounds like me. (Leg Twitch and everything) I don’t have prescription lidocaine yet though. We have found that if I put cream on 30 mins before I go then my electrolisyst puts it on one side when I get there. We found it just kinda stops working or comes off after 30 mins, so she works one side, then the other when I can start feeling that side. It works pretty well. Also make sure your hair isn’t too long they it’s not getting to the skin