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Original poster

Anyone else had bowel leakage after 3rd degree tear? (tmi sorry)

26 replies

bracken101 · 12/11/2011 22:23

DD nearly 1. Big baby, 3rd degree tear. Had gall bladder out while ago. When I need to empty my bowel I have very little warning, just have to go to loo asap. Only since giving birth, however have I had incidents when I have not got there quickly enough. Its horrible, degrading and worries me all the time. Went to GP who offered me anti diuretics???? No effect.

The thing is, I am sure that after being stiched up, the surgeon said that I would be checked at the hospital after 6-8 weeks. My midwife told me after giving birth this was not true and it was the GP's check. At said check, GP asked if everything felt ok and said that if I felt ok there were no problems. I did feel ok, but had not realised these bowel incidents were any different to pre-baby.

I have no urinary leaks, ran 10k no probs recently!

I just want to know if other people have experienced this? Its the sort of thing you cannot bring up in RL. I'm 28 btw.

Thanks anyway!

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cravingcake · 13/11/2011 08:27

Hi. No experience sorry but i had a 4th degree tear just 3 weeks ago so am interested to watch this thread. I had to sign a form before going into surgery to be stitched up and was told then that i could have this sort of incontenance.

I've already seen my gp, & have a gynae appointment in jan, along with physio appointment early december & my gp wants to see me again twice before christmas, so i'm hopeful for no long term problems (all ok so far).

Original poster
bracken101 · 13/11/2011 13:17

Hope everything remains ok for you craving. Thanks for letting me know, this was not mentioned to be before I was stiched up as a possibility.

I'm going to see the gp again on Tuesday so its useful to know that you are seeing gynae and physio, thanks.

OP posts:
dreamfeeder · 13/11/2011 13:23

I had a third degree tear- DD not big, 7lb 5, but I still tore badly. I had a follow up appointment with the consultant at 8 weeks. I was still having problems with bleeding, but had bowel control. I did have that kind of urgency at the beginning but it settled down by 6-7 weeks. Was referred to the surgeons. I was offered a sigmoidoscopy to discover the cause of the excessive bleeding every time I opened my bowels, but I declined as I'm a wimp as the main theory was haemarrhoids after the tear and repair inside (though no-one found any on examination Hmm) and I asked if the problem would recur with other pregnancies and if it would all have to be repeated and they didn't really know. As I knew I wanted another baby quite quickly (I'm now pg with twins!) I decided to wait and see if it cleared up. It did seem to, but am having problems again now...

I would say you definitely need a consultant folllow up appointment, and to be referred to women's health physiotherapy. Get yourself to the gp!!!!

Good luck.

OneHandFlapping · 13/11/2011 13:24

DSis had this urgency - and a few accidents where she couldn't get there in time, for 6 months after a forceps delivery with DC1.

It did eventually resolve itself without surgery, with much exercising of pelvic floor, but it limited her life for that time. She didn't confess it to the rest of us until much, much later, she was so ashamed.

dreamfeeder · 13/11/2011 13:24

oooh, craving you poor thing. I hope you're not too sore. I remember the initial grimness and that was a mere third degree tear... Hope you're ok

dreamfeeder · 13/11/2011 13:26

Oh, and I also had to sign the consent form to say I knew there was a risk of faecal incontinence. They are meant to tell you!!! My friend is a colorectal surgeon though, and he says it's often later in life in gets you- eearly 60's ish. Great. he's got me nervous...

soapy4 · 13/11/2011 17:42

Hi dreamfeeder hope you do not mind me asking what was the consent form all about? I have a 4th degree tear and due a bag/repair after xmas

dreamfeeder · 13/11/2011 17:45

Straight before I went into theatre for the tear repair I signed a consent form to say I agreed to the op. The complications discussed were incontinence, sexual dysfunction, infection... Think that was it. I'd just had a baby though, its hazy...

first1 · 13/11/2011 19:20

Oh poor love. I had a 3a tear almost 18m ago and haven't had any accident touch wood, but when I gotta go, I gotta go! I've had physio, seen gynae surgeons loadssss and a colorectal surgeon who said "you got off lightly". FFs I had a third degree tear!! Hmm

soapy4 · 13/11/2011 19:23

Thanks dreamfeeder my 4th degree tear went unnoticed and was curious what the form was thanks

Crevix · 13/11/2011 19:27

you should have had a follow up with the obs/gynae department at the hospital.

if you haven't go to the gp and ask for a referral.

also whil eyou are there get a physio referal at the same time so you are in the queue for tha too.

first1 · 13/11/2011 20:33

Soapy...it went unnoticed?? I'm horrified. What did they treat you for at the time? Were you stitched in theatre at all?

soapy4 · 14/11/2011 05:41

first1 Hi,

The whole tear was unnoticed despite midwives looking etc Im due a stoma/repair after xmas the co rectal will not to do the operation until 6 months after birth for the body to settle down im left with chronic pain depression etc this is awful.

soapy4 · 14/11/2011 05:43

This surgery is only 50/60 success which is not good at all

Iggly · 14/11/2011 05:58

I had a third degree tear. I started doing pelvic floors hours after I had DS (I wanted to see how it all felt!) and only had issues at the very first few weeks.

I had a follow up with a consultant at 6 weeks and with a GP. I was also offered an appointment with a physio but didn't need it in the end. Now everything is fine 2 years later - no issues at all.

You should push for a proper referral. Dont give in until you get one.

Franup · 14/11/2011 05:58

Dp works in 'bowels' for want of a better phrase and sees at least 2 women a week with these issues.

Not rare at all after childbirth and you should go back to GP and ask for a referral. You may actually need a GI surgeon rather than a gynaecologist.

first1 · 14/11/2011 06:15

Soapy...oh my goodness. I'm not surprised you're feelin that way. That is unacceptable I'm sure you've complained. My repair for a 3a tear wasn't repaired well at all. 3months postnatal I required a full restitch which I went privately for because I couldn't stand the idea of going back to the nhs hospital. I did however send a long letter of complaint that the incorrect stitches had been used (I accessed my birth notes, went through them with the private surgeon). Are you receiving counselling? I'm sure the bag will be reversible once you're body had healed. But I'm actually outraged for you that something so severe could go unnoticed. I'm sure you're coping brilliantly and I'm always "here" if you want a moan. Are you in London/Surrey? X

Original poster
bracken101 · 14/11/2011 11:34

Thanks all! Off to GP tomorrow and am going to push for a referral. Its a different GP so I hope they will be a bit more sympathetic.

Good luck with the repair soapy...can't believe your tear went unoticed!

x

OP posts:
soapy4 · 14/11/2011 13:08

Thanks well this is now a legal matter still waiting on therapy .... been ingnored by the GP so went with a letter she said said she though I was attending due to the pain .... I attend the pain clinic for that ..... what the trauma I have went through as well I was ingnored as well im fuming the things were not told hey I still cannot sit

cravingcake · 14/11/2011 13:42

Soapy, can i ask how long ago your tear was? I hope you get good result.

Bracken, good luck tomorrow, hope you get referred without having to get too pushy.

soapy4 · 14/11/2011 18:49

cravingcake, my tear was 8 months ago

Raven78 · 14/11/2011 21:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

soapy4 · 15/11/2011 05:58

raven78, thank you and I never came someone with the same problem either this is awful

Original poster
bracken101 · 15/11/2011 17:31

Just to let you all know what happenned at the gp:

Lovely GP, listened and explained his reasoning. He thinks it is a combination of overactive bowel and weak sphincter. I have a physio referal and some medication for the bowel. I'm going back in 2 weeks to see if it's helped! If the physio doesn't help then he will refer to surgeon. So we will see!

Thanks all

OP posts:
tealady · 15/11/2011 17:42

Has this only been happen since you had the gall bladder out? Some people have problems after gall bladder removal with bile salts absorption. This causes diarrhea and urgent need to go. Only happens in about 5 per cent of cases.

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