Infected stitches

[HoneyMomster]

plenty of tmi in this post - sorry!

I had DC2 19 days ago, ventouse VBAC with epidural. I had a second degree tear which was stitched up. Unfortunately the stitches fell out and got infected after couple of days, I was given antibiotics and painkillers and I've had a good few appointments since to see how they are getting on.
My MW and GP are not happy with the healing (or the initial job, tbh), as it's not a neat job apparently and I will be left with a certain amount of scar tissue which could lead to problems down the road such as painful sex. Despite their recommendations the hospital won't restitch, they say it's granulation. I really don't care about the pain now - I don't care about what i have to do - but I don't want to have lasting problems in my nethers. I want it fixed.
I'm in a bit of limbo at the moment and don't know what to think.

Does anyone have any experiences of this? I have another appointment next week, (hopefully i won't get JD out of scrubs this time but a proper experienced doctor )

bump

bumping again for the sensible sat morning crowd!

bumping on your behalf..will join you to lynch doc minus embroidery skills if you like, bastard!

I'd get on to AIMS (google) they give excellent advice. If it is something that can be fixed then I think the NHS should do it for you. Either way it doesn't hurt to take legal advice on this. Simply because the NHS is free at point of service (we all pay for it in one way or another in reality) that doesn't give them license to do a bad job. I'm sorry to say I hear of this sort of thing more than I'd like.

You must be very sore. Really you have my sympathy and understanding. You are right to get this sorted right now.

Thanks GeneralDisarray and architien

I'm not in the UK so the NHS can't help me.
I'm just curious as to why my hospital seem so resistant to restitching - is there a case to be made that most people heal perfectly well without it? Or if it's 'not a neat job' as mine seems to be does it generally lead to complications later?

I need to gear myself up for a fight if I need to, which is not particularly appealling to a wuss like me. And also I need to know what are the bits to fight about.
As for soreness, I have plenty painkillers,

YOu poor thing- my stitches got infected as well but thankfully cleared up. I was also given internal washes - like a squirty bottle with a long neck. Placed in tepid water and then used - sheer bliss . However the doc said tepid weak salt water is also good. A friend had a similar infection to you she however was recut and stitched under local . This was about 8mths afterwards as she had ( or diddn't) painful and almost impossible sex- Can you get another docs opinion?

In that case I would be on the phone to a lawyer without a doubt. I'd want an independent opinion from a different Dr outside of that institution with a view of taking it from there. If the second opinion Dr thought it was a bad job and/or that something could be done about it then I'd be on the phone once more to the first lot telling them that you wish to get this sorted outside of court. If they dont want to do what you decide you want after 2nd Dr then I'd pay the lawyer to just write a letter and see what happens. Whereabouts are you? I might be able to help further.

I was restitched after a similar experience. I think how you are dealt with depends a lot on who you see. The registrar I saw was going to get me to go to the perineal clinic after 6 weeks and I got the feeling that he thought I would just have to wait for it to heal on its own. I asked for a second opinion and the consultant sent me to the perineal clinic (to a consultant urogynecologist) within a week and I was restitched after another 4 weeks (long enough to be sure that the infection was gone as there is no point stitching infection back in). I was told that it would need restitching sooner or later as otherwise the muscle wasn't going to join back together on its own. If you leave it to heal on its own then you might have a fenton's procedure later where the scar tissue is taken out and the area restitched. I would imagine that this has the benefit of being stitched without the trauma of childbirth (bruising, swelling etc) complicating things.

I would try to get a second opinion and from a specialist in perineal repairs rather than a generalist or an obstetrician.

I'm in Ireland, architien.

Thanks for that breatheslowly, I am to see someone this week, hopefully someone pretty senior but that's not guaranteed.. Your post is very useful.

bumping for more experiences!