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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

episiotomy and piles....

13 replies

tostaky · 11/04/2010 19:20

ah the joy of childbirth!
I have both but i have no idea whether some of the pain is actually the epi and some is the piles?
if you had an epi and no piles, did you experience a bit of pain in the few weeks following birth?
if you had both, were you just very sore all over and could you differentiate the pain from the stitches from the pain from the piles?
also i havent got round to have a look down there and im wondering whether it is ok if i put anusol on the stitches (not purposely)
finally - is it normal to be able to feel the stitches on the outside?
(i really need to invest in a mirror...)
thanks

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laurathedoula · 11/04/2010 19:50

I had epis + infection and I'd say there was more than a bit of pain for more than a few weeks.

But - rather than guessing - why not go along to the GP and get checked out?

boardbunny · 11/04/2010 20:00

I have both but piles only came 2 weeks after childbirth, bizarrely! (DD born 5 weeks ago).

Can definitely differentiate between the two, mainly because stitches stopped really hurting just as I got the piles. Piles more of a dull ache but terribly painful at times, a lot more than the stitches were, even thought the pain with the stitches is 'sharper' if that makes sense.

I've been using Preparation H and it's got on my stitches at times and been fine, and I can feel them on the outside.

TottWriter · 11/04/2010 20:48

I developed v.v. mild piles in response to the iron tablets I was given post birth, and was lucky because I didn't have them badly at all - it was more internal in my case tbh. (eek, TMI warning!)

But I did have an episiotomy, and I can confirm that it does bloody hurt. I couldn't sit on a dining chair at all for the first week or two, and when I did, thick cushions were required. I could sort of feel the stitches I think, but it's rather hard to tell the difference between them and pubes if you didn't shave before the birth. (Sorry if that's TMI again!)

I really wouldn't use anusol if you've not long had them though, as you don't want it getting in the wounds. I know the cream is probably designed with a little bit of application to rough or damaged skin in mind, but an open/healing wound (which is what an episiotomy is really) is quite another thing.

For the general soreness, I can thoroughly recommend standing in the bath and aiming the showerhead up at your undercarrriage (if you can) and then lying on your bed and using a hairdryer on the cool setting to dry yourself off. Very soothing, and it stops towel chafing. Take that opportuity to examine the area with a mirror - and be prepared for a shock. It will probably still look red and puffy and not at all like the fanjo you had before labour!

If you're still worried, ask your HV to take a look - mine did, and she was able to confirm that all looked to be healing fine. A lot more reassuring than letting your regular GP look at your parts while they're at their most mangled!

picc · 11/04/2010 21:36

Got to admit, I couldn't ever bring myself to look 'down there' after having DS! (how liberated am I?....) Had both epi and piles (have had piles since childhood ).

Personally, I find my piles kind of throb/stab/press, whereas the stitches were just sore. Does that make sense?

Wouldn't put anything else on the stitches.

Everything Tottwriter said about bathing etc. Also I found that trick of running a jug of warm water over my stitches when I peed made going to the loo (almost) a joy again!

As with everything, take heart! It won't last forever...

tostaky · 12/04/2010 14:04

Rang my gp and next appt is next monday!!!
i'll ask the mw the next time she comes around to have a look at the stitches just to check...

im actually fine when i pee or when i towel-dry my bits - walking is diffcult for me though

thank you for the advice

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picc · 12/04/2010 14:18

sounds like piles, then. sorry!

mine make it really uncomfortable to stand up, walk or sit down!

sorry if TMI, but i use suppositories (spelling???!!), and they REALLY help. shouldn't affect the stitches, either.

hope it gets better soon

tostaky · 13/04/2010 11:57

what brand of suppositories? im willi ng to try anything|
gp prescribed anusol-HC yesterday, so far no improvement

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picc · 13/04/2010 16:39

yep, they're the ones i usually use. might take a day or so....

try not to stand up too much as the pressure makes them worse. don't take hot baths. erm.... trying to think what else i was told. lie down as much as possible... (yeah right! this was before i was a mum)

try not to stain when you go to the loo
keep yourself regular with lots of fibre

sure you've been told all that... but that's what helps ease mine. sometimes it can take a while, though.

janiemouse · 15/04/2010 21:25

I've had both of these too. I didn't look down there for a good few weeks after the birth, then only at the epis.

A MW told me it doesn't matter if anusol gets on your stitches, so keep using it if it makes them feel better.

Also, try aromatherapy baths with cypress, lavender and camomile oils, I was advised to do this by the MLU I went to - had never had anything to do with aromatherapy before then. The lavender and camomile really help the epis to heal up. My MW said it was the fastest healing she'd seen for years. The cypress might help your piles (didn't do much for mine but it's worth a try).

janiemouse · 15/04/2010 21:28

PS you need to mix the oils in with a carrier, e.g. grapeseed oil or milk, so it disperses through the bath water. 5 mls of carrier should contain 6 drops of oil (2 of each type).

seaside72 · 15/04/2010 21:36

I had both - mw kindly told me it looked like I had been kicked by an elephant when she examined me on day 6 and ! Both were really painful and I can't really remember if I could differentiate the pain but do remember being scared I would never feel normal again!
I was never brave enough to look with a mirror as was worried I would be mentally scarred . I could not sit down upright/ properly for about 2 weeks. I took regular salty baths and added some lavender and tea tree oil later on - really helped. I used anusol - not sure if it helped at all?

Good news is it did eventually feel normal again - so take heart.
Bad news is 2 years later piles still appear every now and then but not painful at all.

LittlePushka · 15/04/2010 22:01

I had both with DS1 -

Episiotomy: no pain on healing really... nothing a few paracetamol in the first couple of days did not sort out. Healed well, quickly and neatly. Also tore with DS2..again no problems just a few pain killers for a couple of days.

Plies: EXCRUCIATINGLY painful for up to 6 months after - to the point at which I would wake in the night crying with the pain. Far, far worse than the birth itself IMO Annusol no affect all, got prescription cream and suppositories and that sorted it out immediately.

I got some of thhe cream/suppositories in advance of DS2 just in case as I was terrified of the effect of the piles a second time. Used it for a week and no problems since.

Cannot recommend suffering at home with annusol - go see GP ASAP!!

tostaky · 17/04/2010 17:24

GP gave me Anusol-HC and it worked much better than the regular Anusol.
so now, i can feel the stitches, and I think (i still havent looked!), one of the thing i though was a pile, must be the epi ....
but it is ok. im on day 10 and everything is manageable!
thx

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