Do i see a Gynea or someone else?

[aholeinone]

I had a 3rd degree tear with my last child.I was taken into theatre and stitched for 90mins.
Afterwards a few stitchs burst, then my GP insisted on doing an internal(16wks after the birth) although i said i didn't think i was healed.He hurt a lot and i bled heavily, he left hastily muttering that the nurse(she looked shocked) would help clean me up.
The Dr said i had a lot of scar tissue and some had torn.
This experience put me off seeing anyone else.
But i am having problems, i have hardly any skin seperating Vagina from anus, i have terrible wind and if i get a stomach prob i cant go far from the house.
I have seen a Gynea, he did not offer to restitch just cheerfuly informed me i did not have much skin seperation down there.
I asked would i need a c-sec if i had another child and he said no we can just cut you....? I replied "you just said i have no skin so what are you going to cut? "
He never gave me an answer. I'm finding my symptoms quite hard to live with, should i ask to see another Gyn consultant or do i see someone else?
I don't know who to ask (new) GP to refer me too.
Thanks for reading.

I would ask to be referred to another gynae, preferably one who has specialism in perineal trauma.

umm.. .neither of those docs seem to know/care what they are doing, I'd definately see a new doctor. Probably a female one who can sympathise a bit more rather than rushing out of the room and leaving questions unanswered.

I am SO sorry. This is shocking. I had an perineal, vaginal and urethral tears that became infected, opened up and then healed with adhesions. Other than swabbing (very gently and with no speculum) when i had the infections, my GP did not do any internals at all. GPs are not specialists and given the state you were in I don;t think a GP has any business giving you an internal - what good will it do and what will they find out? The only action they will take is to refer you, which they can so by discussing your symptoms and doing an external visual examination. Outrageous and I am hopping mad for you! I was referred to a gynae for the infections which wouldn't heal and for the opened wounds. I think you should press for another referral - as FP says to a specialist gynae with experience in birth injuries. You may well not need to be re-stitched. I didn't and there are quite a few other women on similar threads who didn;t need it either. I think you should also ask for a referral to a obs/gynae physio. She will be able to help you with the scar tissue and with the pelvic floor weakness (that may be what's causing the wind problems). The gynae "broke" my scar tissue manually having dosed me up with local anaesthetic gel - this is applied externally, works like a dream and I didn't feel a thing. She prescribed some local anaesthetic gel (called instillagel) and told me to do pernieal massage twice a day wearing examination gloves to help stretch things and stop scar tissue forming as the wound healed. I was SO scared when I first did it and cried buckets. But it was fine - the gel is good stuff. Once things were more healed, the physio broke down scar tissue with ultrasound - this is done externally and just feels warm and a bit tingly. I had 4 sessions and it really helped loads. Of course, it might be too early for you to have this right now, but it might be something that coudl work for you when things are more healed. As for the pelvic floor - she did an assessment by putting her fingers inside and geting me to squeeze. She can both assess the strength and give feedback so I knew I was doing it the right way. You have to be more healed for this, but it didn't hurt. In my case my pelvic floor is pretty rubbish still and she wants to use a probe that administers a small electric charge - this wakes up the nerves and the muscles and gets things working again. She wants to do 3-4 sessions once a week. I haven't started it yet, but she says it will make such a difference to me. If you are in North London, I can give you the details of physio and gynae if you want.

As for the ELCS for next time - both my GP and the gynae suggested ELCS if there is a DC2 - I didn't even have to ask. You have a very good case for ELCS - if you are refused then you are free to go to someone else who is more understanding.

So sorry. Big hugs XX

Oh - and you are keeping things very clean down there? Cover wound with clean maternity towel when you do a poo, wipe bottom with unfragranced baby wipes (but not wound) and shower afterwards. NO SOAP!!! Go without pants as much as you can - no trousers, skirts only. And, although others here have disagreed with me, I recommend checking with a mirror every day. That way, you know what things look like and if things get worse you know sooner rather than later. XX

I saw a urogynaecologist for my restitch, this might be the right type of gynae for you. She was described as a "designer vagina consultant" by one of the other consultants. You should defintely see someone else - your consultant sounds crap.

Thanks, i see the nice gp on Monday and ask for a specialist.