Stitches - what do they feel like?

[sadlady]

I have recently had to have stitches inside as well as out, the inside ones feel very uncomfortable, my doctor is not very helpful and do not want to keep calling, but without being grim if feels as though I have a tampon up there and its full and ready to come out, is that what it feels like?, I have the baby blues at the moment and do not want to call the doctor as I burst into tears and can not speak to anyone, no one else can help here anyway.
TIA

sadlady, how about speaking to your community midwife? She'll understand about the baby blues, at least, and should be able to reassure you about the stitches.

HTH

It sounds to me as if you are swollen around the stitches which is why you are feeling like you do. I used to sit on the loo and just gently rub an ice cube over the problem area just to ease the swelling. How long since you have had the stitches? Just you wait until they start to itch

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How long have you had the stitches? I would imagine that what you're feeling is bruising & swelling rather than the stitches themselves. Stitches tend to prickle.

Take arnica tablets to help with the bruising and put teatree oil in your bath as it's antiseptic. You can get special ice packs to help with swelling too. Try not to walk about too much until you feel better (I think that's what my midwife told me).

I had a 3rd degree tear 1st time round so was stitched from here to eternity. It does get better, honest!

I had the stitches Thursday afternoon. Would the swelling only start now then?

Sorry when I mentioned doctor earlier I did mean midwife.

I have had stitches also done on Thursday, similar area but for a different reason, I am getting quite a lot of discomfort.

Pelvic floor exercises help recovery from stitches 'down there' because they increase bloodflow to the area. Drink plenty of water as well.

Sitting in a tepid bath might ease you, with a few drops of teatree oil and/or lavender oil.

A valley cushion may help you sit more comfortably. If you don't have access to one (NCT hire them) try taking a big bath towel, fold it lengthwise until it's a comfortable width to sit on, and then fold it ends-to-middle a few times so that you end up with a cushion with a deep groove down the middle, so that only your thighs and buttocks actually touch anything while you sit down (also good for piles!).

Stitches aren't comfortable!

I imagine from your post that you haven't just given birth, Breeze, so you'll probably feel it more sensitively as your tissues won't have been numbed by the stretching. Poor you - it will pass soon.

Sadlady, congratulations and well done ! The baby blues are grim but they will pass. It's all right if you burst into tears on the phone - that's what your carers are there for, to look after you and your baby. Can you ask someone to phone for you and start you off, so that you don't have to talk to the receptionist? You could try calling your GP or health visitor if you don't want to talk to the midwife. Let the tears out, it won't harm you or your baby, especially if you have a shoulder (or a telephone!) to cry on.

i soaked a sanitary toell in calundular (but i guess just boiled water would do) froze it and then bliss - well it did relieve it (as did lots of baths with lavender) - hope it feels better soon

sadlady, if you've only just given birth it's normal to cry a lot. Please don't feel bad about it, most of us have been there. Don't suffer in silence if it goes on - there is help out there. And here, if you ask us. Sorry you're feeling so awful at the moment.

Sadlady - I had internal and external stitches also, and it felt exactly how you have described it. All you can do is follow the advice given on this thread to try and ease the discomfort. I remember feeling like it was never going to be the same again 'down there' but it does go back to normal given time. My mw told me to let the air get to it as much as possible, so I used to lay on my bed with no pants on with my knees up - not a pretty sight!
The baby blues are bad enough, but when you are really sore, and have difficulty walking it makes things 10 times worse. Please just cry if you want to, it's totally normal and things do get better honestly!

Sadlady, you can also ask for stronger painkillers. I did for my stitches, which have been in for 10 days, and I was given them no problem.

I really hope you feel better soon. I don't have the baby blues but am very tired and starting to find it all a bit wearing!