Epiostomy problems

[kuma]

I had a forceps delivery 4 months ago and an epiostomy was performed.This is still uncomfortable and a few days ago I visited the hospital to have some of the scar tissue removed chemically.I have some mucus/fluid leaking from my vagina,and am wondering if anyone else has any experience of this.

[kuma]

Thanks for your reply.I am still concerned about the leakage,though.Anyone out there have/have had this problem?

[gengis]

hi kuma
i tore in several places (often wonder if i should have had an epis..) 5 months ago, still uncomfortable sometimes and discharging even though a swab revealed no infection. The discharge isn't offensive but not normal, feeling quite fed up about the whole experience. Kuma I'm sure we'll be ok eventually but i would also be interested to hear other accounts of similar symptoms..

[Verso]

I had a forceps delivery and third-degree tear (no episiotomy) and seven months later am still getting peculiar discharge from time to time. At one point it was green but GP and consultant have both checked and said is nothing to worry about. I didn't have any scar tissue removed though (is that the silver nitrate thing they can do?).

[frannyandzooey]

My episiotomy also broke down and had to be reperformed after about 3 weeks. I then had problems with infections for quite some time. It certainly took months not weeks for everything to be ok down there, but eventually things are as normal as they can be after such a procedure. A doctor told me to allow a year to recover!

I also had a discharge for quite some time which I was told was nothing to worry about, but I felt it was a sign all was not well. I would keep visiting your doctor or whoever has dealt with this for as long as necessary until you feel things are how they should be. I do feel women are fobbed off a little when things go wrong in this area - my midwife asked me what my worry was, it was not like I had a career as a porn star to fret about . Can you imagine men's reactions if their genitals were mucked about with in this way and left in various states of disarray?

[pookey]

Hi I have the same problem from episiotemy following forceps delivery three months ago. Spent four hours in A&E yesterday after GP wrote a letter for me to go there to be checked by an obstetrician but after seeing nurse, doc, gynae student and registrar was told I would have to come back in a month to be seen by obstetrician. I have a small hole and some loose skin which may need to be removed. I was told green discharge is normal and not offensive? Please don't tell me this may go on for a year really -I am constantly changing my knickers !! Is it ok to have sex, I am still quite sore and have been putting DP off?

[gengis]

Me too pookey.. I feel terrified by the prospect of sex!! Still sore and frightened that I may come undone somehow. The last nurse to examine me said my perineum must have shattered..eek!

[Serah]

its a while since I felt "awkward" "bad" "horrified" about what I saw and felt after having stitches. The best I can tell you for you in the midsts of it now is don't ever feel pressurised to have sex. In your own time when you feel comfortable about it, and not a minute before x

[frannyandzooey]

When I was in the middle of all this happening I felt I would never be normal again, never be able to look between my legs again (the horror!), never go to the loo without pain, and as for sex

The body is an amazing thing, just trust it will all go back to (almost) how it was before. However do keep an eye out for problems and hassle your gp if you are not happy with the way things are going.

[pookey]

Thanks guys TBH its hard to feel sexy at the moment even if i wasn't worried about pain etc - it was so embarassing at the hosp everyone kept asking me if it is painful when I have intercourse, the registrar kindly informed me after lots of really rough poking, prodding and scrubbing with a paper towel that infact it would hurt if I had sex! My DP is being good about it but is v frustrated reckons his balls feel like they did when he was a frustrated teenager .

[Verso]

Sorry but I didn't really have much sympathy with my DH over the whole sex thing, and after a couple of graphic discussions (you have to be direct I think with men, however horrible it is to talk about this stuff) he gave up pestering me with reasonably good grace. If your DH's balls feel uncomfortable, ooh la de da. You have gone through FAR worse than a teensy bit of sexual frustration and frankly I would have thought he would know how to sort himself out if he's really that desperate. Putting pressure on you with that old 'my balls are going to explode' nonsense is really not fair.

Sorry if I am being a bit harsh - I just think it's ridiculous what women are supposed to put up with and then smile and get on with business as usual. If a man's bits had been shredded to pieces and stitched back together you would never hear the end of it!

Totally agree with Serah - in your own time and not a minute before.

On a more positive note, I also agree with Franny. It will go back more-or-less to normal too. I'm hoping things will carry on improving for me, but even if this is it, on the whole things are MUCH better than they were.

[BadgerBadger]

FWIW, blue balls (etc) are only terms for vasocongestion, which, interestingly isn't gender specific. Discomfort isn't caused by a build up of semen, that's simply reabsorbed if deemed unnecessary.

Vasocongestion causes the same discomfort in females as males, only unsurprisingly we don't (typically) whinge about it! Or use it to pressure partners into intercourse .

[muma3]

i had an episiotomy 8 years ago (and 1 week exactly lol) and have problems still . i have painful intercourse and have discharge most of the time . i have been checked out on several different occasions , keep up to date with smears and even took a trip to the gum dept to have checks and all is always well .
i have been left with awful buldging and scar tissues and tbh prob tmi but it looks herendous .
have had 2 more dd since and always dread going n to labour and having to show my bits . this is something that i have wanted to talk about for a long time and think this was my opportunity

[pookey]

Muma3 I cannot believe you are still in pain and nothing can be done, that must be really hard for you. Do they have any suggestions why this is still happening? If it wasn't happening before childbirth it must indicate something is wrong? Would having the scar tissue removed help?

At least you know your not alone and please don't feel embarrased about it, I guess its almost a sign of all that your body has been through to produce your three daughters iykwim sorry if that sounds insensitive, I don't mean it to but I've struggled to know how to say it better xx

[muma3]

just discovered that i have a prolapsed uterus and god knows what else is happening to me inside.
i have been referred and am waiting for a letter from the specialists .i will have to have an operation and wont be able to have my last child that we had plaaned.i am grateful though that i have been able to have children and will certainly make the most of everything my 6month old is doing as she is now my last.i am upset that things have turned out this way but at least i know what the problem is and shall have a lovely new vagina and my uterus will be sewn back in place.
its an awful thing to go through and this last week has been the worst.
i have opened a thread in health ( dont know how to post a link) but take look if anyone feels that they are having similar problems.
i was suprised to find i wasnt the first and probably not the last , even though it is rare for my age (23y) it can be easily rectified.
hope this helps any body xx

[pookey]

Muma 3

I hope the operation goes well and sorts everything out for you

[muma3]

thankyou xx