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General health

Problems with episiotomy after 10 years?!

33 replies

notforthefainthearted · 26/01/2013 19:35

First of all, apologies for tmi.

Wasn't sure if I should put this in the Menopause section but opted for here.

I have 3 children, the youngest 10 years old, all vaginal births, last two were 9 lb 1 and 9 lb 8 resp. I had episiotomy with all three -actually I'mnot sure if the last was cut or if I tore.

First two episiotomies healed nicely, no problems. The last was quite a different matter. It was a big baby and a very quick birth. I had stitches and was very swollen and bruised afterwards, had a lot more pain than with the others. I was 37 though, as opposed to being in in my twenties with the first two.

So, I have had intermittent problems, i.e. a little discomfort, almost pain sometimes during intercourse. Recently I have been having more pain in that area. It seems to become sore regularly and occasionally there is a little blood - I know this is from my perineum and not cycle related.

I am finding this very difficult to deal with, painful when sitting,I daren't have intercourse, I've almost stopped wearing jeans because they seem to "chafe".

Wondered if anyone else is having this problem or has had this problem and is there anything I can do?

I should add that I'm 48 and probably perimenopausal, I've a referral to see a gynecologist in March about other problems which may or may not be perimenopause problems - bleeding during cycle mainly.

I usually shower but am trying to have salt baths to soak the area - using dead sea salts as I have skin problems anyway and it's meant to help them.

I tried organic aloe vera gel but it stung like crazy!

Help! I'm a bit depressed anyway and am just feeling really down about this. I don't want to go back to my GP and will wait until I see the gynecologist in March but just wondered if there's anything I can do to help in the meantime.

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NigellaLawless · 26/01/2013 19:42

It sounds like you are having a rotten time!

I'm afraid I have no advice but I didn't want to road and run!

I have had a fair few gyn problems including mid cycle bleeding over the years but its never been anything terribly serious. it can really getl you down though, so have some unmumsnetty hugs

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NigellaLawless · 26/01/2013 19:42

Read not road!

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notforthefainthearted · 26/01/2013 20:06

Thanks Smile To be honest the bleeding is just inconvenient but I thought I should mention it to the doctor along with other problems and she is making a big deal out of it.

Haven't had intercourse for quite a while and find it difficult to talk about things with dh, I never can talk about embarrassing things or appear weak. Crazy, I know, but really struggle with it.

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Littlefish · 26/01/2013 20:08

Is it actually from your perineum, or do you think you might have a prolapse?

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notforthefainthearted · 26/01/2013 20:11

I don't know, how can I tell? I'm quite squeamish and can't bear to look and touching hurts. I don't think there are lumps there though.

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notforthefainthearted · 26/01/2013 20:14

Sorry, that sounded stupid. I guess I'm scared of how it may look. I dislike what is happening to my body at the moment, feel I'm falling apart!

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Jellykat · 26/01/2013 20:20

Snap! I'm 49, peri meno, 25 when i had DS1, 35 when i had DS2, and have had trouble with my scar for @2 years. Mine gets very sore and almost feels like it 'pulls', also very painful at times during sex.

As we get older our skin thins and looses elasticity, i reckon thats why we're having problems.. i have found what helps is pure almond oil, or the oil from a vitamin E capsule rubbed gently onto the area, it seems to help it from getting too dry and acts like a barrier against chaffing. I've tried Aloe Vera gel in the past but it was too thick and drys eventually. Oo You could try taking Vit E capsules too. My GP agreed with my theory... See if that helps, until you see what the gynae has to say.

If you touch your scar does it feel smooth or bumpy?

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TackyChristmastreedelivery · 26/01/2013 20:27

I'd agree with Jellykat. I wonder if it's a combination of dryness and perhaps a small amount of prolapse, rather than episiotomy related.

You have choices - you can put up with it and keep worrying and feeling uncomfortable and letting it effect your life or you can go to your GP who has seen it all a thousand times before. It is very hard, if you are shy and squemish, but I'd really encourage you to pop to your Dr and let them take your history and see what they think. Then you will have options, like creams and stuff. Maybe you could take someone along, or promise yourself a mega treat if you go. Anything that makes it easier for you to get there!

Then you can feel better and never have to think about episiotomies any more than is required [bsmile]

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notforthefainthearted · 26/01/2013 20:49

Thanks. Jellykat I have some vit E capsules but the content is quite thick and will hurt if I try to apply it?

I think I probably should go back to the dr but am sometimes she'll think I'm wasting her time when she's already referred me to a gynecologist and also think I'm a hypochondriac as I seem to have so much wrong with me .

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notforthefainthearted · 26/01/2013 20:51

tbh I've always struggled with dryness.

Could someone tell me how I know if it is a prolapse?

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notforthefainthearted · 26/01/2013 20:52

Sorry, forgot to say, scar feels quite bumpy I think but can't touch it at the moment.

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Jellykat · 26/01/2013 21:18

How about getting the almond oil (from the chemist - only about £1.80) and mixing in a tiny bit of the vit E ?

I seem to go to the GPs a lot too, and actually said to her yesterday that it must say 'barking' on my notes, but as i also said, if things keep recurring and i dont get any answers or solutions i have to keep coming back, as she pointed out they very rarely have magic answers so going back is the norm. - a lot of it is a process of elimination which takes time anyway. (i peeked at my notes when she popped out, it doesn't say barking Grin)

So dont worry if you have to see her a bit, shes there to provide a service after all, and if she can eliminate concerns and therefore stress for you, who cares what she may or may not think.

I presume a prolapse requires a bit of an internal check? If you're squeamish you're not going to want to pop a finger up there.. also if you've not done it before you'll not know what it should feel like up there.
Dont forget i have a similar problem as you, and i dont have a prolapse.. my mum says her scar bleeds and she doesnt have a prolapse either.

It may be that they didnt stitch it terribly well last time, your gynae will know whats what.. in the meantime you need something to help short term.

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notforthefainthearted · 26/01/2013 22:31

Thanks Jelly, I have had an internal recently as the GP thought maybe fibroids were causing the bleeding. tbh it has been so painful since then. I presume she would know if there was a prolapse?

I have just dug out the vit E capsules and applied, maybe they were colder last time. Anyway it felt quite soothing. The scar feels a little bumpy but not as much as I expected. The pain seems to be more at the part where the anus is.

Thoroughly fed up. Have had piles and a fissure and abscess, periods from hell, all since my third child. Sad

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Jellykat · 26/01/2013 23:22

Blimey, you've been through the mill eh? Sad

Yes, i would of thought your GP would suss any prolapse as there'd be bulges..

Fibroids can cause excessive bleeding, i have 2 of the little buggers, but your gynae will find them with an ultrasound.(good news is they tend to shrink during menopause as they're oestragen fed) I expect he'll also check for endometriosis, another possibility.

Are you sure you haven't got internal piles? If the pain is more to the back... Make sure you're drinking enough water, and eat plenty of fruit/fibre/veg, but i'm sure you know that. If you've got dry skin i'd also up your oil intake.

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notforthefainthearted · 26/01/2013 23:38

Thanks Jelly.

Yes, my GP sent me for an ultrasound but they found nothing, no fibroids, no endometriosis. Hadn't thought about internal piles, how would I know? Hope your fibroids aren't causing too many problems.

How often do you apply the vit E oil?

Yeah, feels like I'm falling apart. I don't feel old enough (in my head) to feel this rough. Sad

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Jellykat · 27/01/2013 00:08

I dont know the answer to how would you know for sure, i would imagine it would involve a finger up the bottom by a GP < eek >

My fibroids have been good for a couple of years ta, they just sit there these days.

I alternate between Vit E and Almond oil, i only apply twice a day on average, especially after a bath as it dries your skin out.

I know the feeling about falling apart, some days i feel like that ghosty fishy captain on Pirates of the Carribean, you know the one Bill Nighy plays? Smile

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notforthefainthearted · 27/01/2013 00:48

Eek indeed! I hate going to the Dr for anything at the best of times.

I sort of thought my body would be ok til I was much older than this. This age has crept up on me, didn't even think I was old enough for the menopause until people I know of similar age started talking about it.

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Jellykat · 27/01/2013 01:14

Wait and see what the gynae reckons first, i would..

This is a tricky bit i reckon due to the menopause, everything is out of sync mentally and physically, the list of symptoms is much bigger then i ever thought. I am hoping once its passed things may calm down a bit? Fingers crossed eh?

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knackeredoutmum · 27/01/2013 07:27

You will find thus strange but i gwt discomfort, pricking and a touch if blood from my 10yr old episiotomy scar when it has become infected with thrush. For some reason the scar itseld doesnt really itch, and i do remember a very very long healing period with these particular stitches which didnt really finally feel sting and bleed free til i used canestan.

Could you try using canesten on stitches area and vagina twice a day for sux weeks? This might totally solve the problem.
Take care not ti cross contaminate by using different fingers (sorry tmi)

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knackeredoutmum · 27/01/2013 07:28

I get, obviously, stupid phone, loads of spelling mistakes

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notforthefainthearted · 27/01/2013 10:55

Thanks Knackeredoutmum, interesting. I have been tested for thrush a couple of months ago and it came back negative. I might try that anyway if the oil doesn't help.

Jelly I agree, thought the menopause would 'just' be hot flushes and dryness, hadn't a clue about these other problems

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mangledmess · 27/01/2013 17:15

I have alot of pain in my scar but i have several prolapses and I am sure that is the reason but I was told it wasnt possible to get pain in a scar so old, 20 years in my case. I was also told that the prolapses were not the cause of the pain either. They just about said but not n so many words that it was all in my head. I take HRT which doesnt seem to be working for hot flushes. This is my 4th kind of HRT and life is misserable. I hope you find a more sympathetic gynae than I have x

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notforthefainthearted · 28/01/2013 09:56

mangledmess, sorry to hear that you're having such problems. It's hard to trust GPs when our gut instinct is telling us they're wrong, isn't it? My GP has been very sympathetic so far and I am glad she has referred me, will wait and see what the gynae is like.

Jelly, thank you so much for the tip with the vit E oil, don't know how long it will last but the pain and discomfort have gone for now, I'll keep applying it regularly and hope to get into town later to get hold of some almond oil too. I'm hoping I can find some at either Boots or Holland & Barrett.

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knackeredoutmum · 28/01/2013 19:17

just to say, you can test neg for thrush but still have it in a different part of your vaginal system

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stomp · 28/01/2013 19:18

Welll Smile my scar tears Shock. It started when I was approaching the menopause and things started to dry out ever so slightly. I saw a consultant who said my scar had 'tighten up' and he could repair it but couldn't give any guarantee about the healing process in such a difficult area. I decided not to go ahead on the understanding that I could go back at any time for the repair if I felt the need. I have been prescribed various hormone creams over the past 6 years, and used Replens and vagifem, unfortunately most things sting like mad Confused so I use hrt creams externally when things feel bad. At other times I use E45. If you find your discomfort comes back ask for a referral/hrt cream.

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