Too late for stitches?

[SingingSilver]

I feel funny about asking for advice on this, as I gave birth to my ds 9 years ago, but it's bothering me.

I gave birth on 23rd December and my midwife made no secret of the fact that she had a Christmas party to get to asap. I didn't have any support as my then 'DP' refused to take the time off work on the day even though ds was induced on an agreed date, but anyway, she delivered him, and said I had a small tear but it would heal by itself, then once everything she had to do was done she left and I didn't see her again.

I didn't think much of it at the time. It was only once I had healed that I realised the tear seemed worse than she made it sound.

This may be TMI for some - but in the torn part I often feel something quite hard there, and I think it's muscle. I hate it when I accidentally touch myself there, it makes me feel ill. I've been single since DP and I split up four years ago and I can't imagine having another sexual relationship because of this.

Does anyone know of women getting stitches done years after the birth?

Yes, there are all sorts of vaginal repairs that can be done many years after childbirth. There's a long running thread about these prolapses etc in General Health, it's 900+ posts at the moment, there are people there whi have had or are having repairs, including me. I think you probably need to go to uour GP and asked to be referred to gynae. However they will tend to fob you off with a referral for physio to learn pelvic floor exercises unless your problems are fairly severe, eg incontinence, non-existent sex life, severe pain or discomfort, so be prepared to make a good case. Also this surgery is major, you are looking at 6 weeks of very limited activity afterwards.

It's not a simple case of putting stitches in! It will require surgery and as already been said u will have to fight for that on the nhs.