To ask about Gynecology appointment???

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

I know it's a bit intrusive to ask other ladies about their experiences but just a bit of advice on what will happen in this appointment and how long I'll be as I need to take DD with me.

I gave birth in Jan, was more than a bit of a mess down there and had multiple tears and had to go into theatre to be stitched up. I've had a letter for an appointment in the Gynacology unit to see a Gynacologist for a check up.

I feel fine, no problems, all is well, do I have to have an intrusive exam? or can I just say I'm fine? Just seems unnecessary, I'd be pretty aware if anything was amiss down there!

Has anyone else had tearing and been for a follow up appointment.

Sorry if TMI

I had a follow up with ds1. Can't remember too much about the appoint - 2001 - but the checked me and gave me some options (my stitches had come out after a few days and the community midwife decided they could just come out) they moaned that they hadn't sent me back sooner and said I'd got some scarring - they could cut it out and resew the scar or leave it - I decided to leave it and I've never had any issues.
Couldn't have been too long an appointment as I would have definitely had him with me

Oh well I never had a follow up after the stitches, in fact, after 6 weeks I couldnt walk and was in agony, went to the docs and they did nothing, my stitches didn't come out on their own until 8 weeks!

But like I said, I gave birth at the beginning of Jan, it's now May, I've healed, all stitches have come out and this is the first appointment they have given me....

Just seems a bit pointless :/

I think it might depend on what kind of tear you had. I had a third degree (3b) and just over 4 months later had my follow up appt. The Dr examined me internally so undressed lower half, all exposed! Due to type of tear I also had to have my back passage examined with some kind of probe. I then immediately saw the physiotherapist (they kind of combine the appointments) and she also examined me internally. I think the whole thing took 30-45 mins. I left my baby in the car with my parents but when I arrived at the doc she did ask me where she was and I don't think she would have been surprised/minded of baby was there.

I haven't had major problems but did still have a bit of pain. Turns out some of the stitches can take months to dissolve and the Dr detected there were some left. She also explained the %risk of it happening again and of future problems.

I guess it's always worth getting checked if you can. It's not a fun way to spend an hour but it was reassuring (and it helped that my Gyna Dr was lovely).

You don't have to have an examination and you can cancel the appointment if you feel you won't benefit from it. There are plenty of people with gynae problems who will gladly take your place. Personally, I think it is nice they are giving you a follow up appointment to check on you.

As you had to go to theatre for stitching, they might well want to have a look and make sure all is ok. That bit will be a lot faster than a smear, and more comfortable! I'd let them do it, just to be sure.
You could do worse than ask about seeing a specialist physio to advise you on scar tissue massage to minimise your chances of tearing during your next vaginal birth. (Bet you don't even want to think about that yet!)
Glad you are feeling ok.

Thanks ladies, I think the follow up appointment is a good idea but just think the appointment is somewhat overdue, all the problems I've had have been and gone and I've had to visit doctors for it ...etc

Also the appointment is tomorrow, and I'm on my period and have piles, so the idea of being poked at is just out of the question :/

Bluetrews25 - Only child, no more bubbas! (unless there is some kind of accident, but I'm making sure there isn't)

TBH after having the vaginal birth then having to go for a spinal and go into surgery after I almost felt like I had defeated the object! lol

Seriously though I don't seem to have issues in the poo, wee, muscle or sex department. Which surprises me as I had multiple tears, and apparently a very complicated mess that one consultant didn't feel happy enough even working on so I had to wait for 5 hours in a bloody (literally) mess after my birth for someone else to come and stitch me up! niightmare.

So I was expecting to be peeing and pooing at every cough and laugh, but I pretty much seem the same as before :/

I guess I'll go, she can have a look I guess, but they aren't touching my bum, it's bad enough doing a number 2 at the moment without probes and fingers! haha

I say she, just looked at the notes and it's a man. Would be interesting if it was the same man who ended up inducing, then checking me, then stitching me, then checking me again. I swear that doctor never went home. :)

They wait 4/6 months to give your body time to heal and the the scar to establish, they are checking that everything has healed and there are no gaps in the walls.

they are also checking to make sure that the scars are smooth? And flat? As sometimes the scar tissue can be.....hard/ jagged and can cause problems.

You can be scanned it's not to bad.
And you should have been offered physio.

I meant to add you don't have to though.

The timing is, as griphook says, is to allow for things to settle, although we usually aim for the 4 months. If there are problems in the meantime, most departments are happy to review earlier. The purpose is to make sure everything has healed as we would expect. Sometimes all is not quite right, but is not immediately obvious as asymptomatic.

That said, you don't have to go if you feel it won't be necessary or would just rather not attend for whatever reason. Nor can anyone make you have any examination you don't want. Being on your period really isn't a big problem, although I can understand it can make you feel off/sore and may be embarrassing. Ditto the piles.

I would point out, on a more general note, that if the appointment is tomorrow and you aren't going to go it would have been better to let the department know much sooner so that they can fill your slot. It can be difficult to fill last minute cancellations and appointments can go to waste.

Go to the appointment. I want offered this after a horrific birth in Central London. It has taken me nearly 4 years to get over it. Get checked out just to be sure there isn't a problem!