anyone have granulated scar tissue following tear in childbirth?

[TakeLovingChances]

I gave birth to PFB 15 weeks ago, had 2nd degree tear which was stitched. The wound got infected and was treated with anti-biotics.

Anyway, fast-forward to almost 4 months and it still isn't healed! It has impacted my life moderately badly, mainly in respect of my sex life with DH. Penetration is painful and psychologically I don't want to be touched.

I've seen 3 GPs and 2 midwives about this and today I was referred to hospital consultant (ref might take 12 weeks to happen).

The GP I saw today said that the wound has granulation tissue that will never heal on its own. He said that some people are prone to such tissue.

Really my options are a) leave it and suffer the discomfort etc, b) have it burnt off with silver nitrate, c) possibly have it cut, but this may produce more granulation.

All in all it's quite upsetting.

Anyone have any experience, words of comfort or advice?

[cevelynt]

I am 8weeks pp. My stitches was gapping and found out about it on the 20th day. During 1mth check up, nurse only said "left with the top part its red" and ask me to just keep it dry. But its still not comfortable. So i seek for second opinion last week (7weeks pp) and gynae said i had granulated scar. So she did the silver nitrate thingy. It was sting for the whole day even to pee. Doctor ask me to put antibiotics cream twice a day. But a week after wound still red and still not comfortable walking. Just wondering how long until u are healed after the silver nitrate was administered?

[Jenjennie]

I have a very similar situation. Had a third degree and had a traumatic birth just like yours. I do bleed everytime I have a bowel moment. Got the silver nitrate treatment like 5 times already, even got a repair procedure done 8 weeks ago since the big cut never healed by second intent which my doctor had suggested after my stitches had come off. I get a lot of vaginal pain when I stand or sit for long. Do you have those pain too? I am 7 months postpartum, weighing 20 lbs more than my pregnancy weight, feeling hopeless. I can’t see my doctor because of the COVID situation and I sent her pictures and she said I am building granulation again and she can’t tell from the pictures of my stitches have come off again this time too. Does anyone in here have any similar experiences and if anything that helped. I am starting to get depressed and feel like I am never going to be normal again. I can’t work out or do any physical activity. Sometimes the pain is so bad that I struggle to stand changing my son’s diapers. It feels like I am never gonna get back to normal 😭😭😭

[Boymom2020]

I just had granular tissue cauterized electrically as well as silver nitrate applied after a 2nd degree episiotomy and tearing 7 weeks ago at my DS traumatic vaginal birth. It was really what followed him being born that was so traumatic... he had meconium in the waters, cord around his neck, distressed, etc. And so forceps and an episiotomy were used to get him out as quickly as possible. They told me he was going to die if i didnt push him out right then. I gave it my abosolute all and he came out in 5 pushes. He tore my cervix and i hemorrhaged, this was very traumatic. I did not have time for any pain meds as the Dr stitched me up inside and out and tried to stop my bleeding. The psychological trauma was the worst but the physical was bad too. Episiotomy got infected 5 days after birth and antibiotics cleared it up, stitches came out too early on their own and i had some removed as well. Granular tissue was found at 5 weeks pp and the treatment i stated was administered at 7 weeks pp. By rhe same Dr so that was really stressful. Im 2 days after the treatment and im still very sore. Tmi but i am bleeding with every bowel movement and i have to gently pat to wipe after a wee. Im hoping this will get better as ive heard after about a week it gets better.. i dont know roght now what is in store but i wanted others to know youre not alone. Im also very unhappy with how my vagina looks and feels, i didnt have hardly any labia before birth but now after the episiotomy and such its all pulled so tight that I feel like im just a hole, that i dont have any protection and Im just open. I hope this treatment will atleast take away the pain and that i wont need any others after.

[Carolinasonia]

Hi, I had an episiotomy it's been a month,1 week and 3 days. It got infected and was treating by antibiotics and Benocin ,now I feel just little pain and I have granulated tissue on the cut. A silver nitrate pencil is being administered on the tissue today and will continue to visit hospital for application of the silver nitrate. Am just scared if this will work. Will I be fine again?

[Churchillian]

I had this, following my episiotomy scar from my first birth re-opening after my second birth and scarring. I ended up having the granulation tissue surgically removed under local - it took around 10 minutes and was just slightly sore. 2 months later everything is fine.

[millymae]

I had my granulation tissue successfully burnt away after being referred to the hospital by my GP about 6 months after I had delivered my first baby.

The whole appointment lasted no more than 10 minutes and it wasn't painful in the least either whilst it was being done or afterwards. The doctor who did it made it quite clear that this was a procedure that could have been done at my GPs surgery.

I have no idea whether he was right about this, but burning away the tissue worked for me and I had no problem with my stitches after subsequent deliveries.

[westcountrywoman]

My tear / episiotomy from DC1 didn't heal particularly well and everything was rather painful. Having DC2 fixed it - the cut reopened and healed perfectly the second time

[jessdesign84]

I gave birth to my little boy 7 weeks ago and have just come back from my post natal check to find out that I had some internal graduation tissue - my GP "dabbed" the wound with silver nitrate and I felt NOTHING! Having to go back in two weeks to see if it has helped - GP mentioned that I could possibly need one more treatment to heal an area about the size of a pinhead.
Nothing to be frightened of.

[ashdanielle99]

I know this is an older post but it's been 13 weeks since delivery and I still have a hole from where my episiotomy came un-stitched. My doctor wants to try the silver nitrate to re start the healing process since it's not healing. I'm scared it's not going to work and I'm never going to heal. Anyone have it used on their open wound? And if so did it heal it?

[RalphRecklessCardew]

The silver nitrate took all of 5 seconds and barely hurt. Go for it.

[bitty81]

I also had the silver nitrate procedure done and it helped but then after a few weeks started to ache again. Did you have to have a another silver nitrate application?

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

wow just realised how old this thread is, and i already posted on it last summer

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

I only had a graze, no stitches, stopped bleeding within a few days but a month later was in agony still weeing - went to doctor who had a look and whipped out the silver nitrate, did it there and then. In all honesty it was agony and I couldn't sit comfortably for about 2 days afterwards, which was worse than after childbirth. But after two days I didn't feel a thing, all was back to normal, doesn't feel any different down there at all.

Get the silver nitrate done and see what happens after - you are not on your own! and i was severly pissed off after getting away with no tears or anything!

[LAbaby]

Just to add, have had sex twice since being given the go-ahead and it did hurt, but less so the second time. Doc told me the more I did it the less it would hurt, and to make sure I used ky jelly and to have a glass of wine to help me relax. It has been 15 weeks anyway so it didn't last long.

[LAbaby]

I had this too - granulation tissue after tearing during birth at the end of June. I had a ventouse delivery as my baby's heartbeat dropped and I tore badly. The 'flap' was picked up at my six week check, although I already knew something wasn't right. I then had weekly appointments during which the unhealed 1cm was cleaned and treated with silver nitrate to remove the scar tissue. It did sting!
Last Monday was told it had completely closed and given the go- ahead to start having sex again. Baby is now 15 weeks So it took time but the treatment worked.
I am in the US so at my request was referred to a specialist colorectal surgeon who dealt with this for me - she normally deals with cancer patients.
It might seem a small thing to some but I was really distressed by the flap, I couldn't let my partner to touch my down there as i was too upset. And yes i know it was nothing really compared to some birth injuries but i am the kind of girl who likes to have regular waxes and takes pride in my appearance down there. And to be honest I can't imagine a man being told to accept a penis injury!!
The surgeon reassured me and told me that if the silver nitrate didn't work I could have surgery but that wouldn't be an easy option and would be in theatre.
If they tell you the flap can not be treated please ask for a second opinion.

[shannonchilds]

I had a baby on August 20th (7.5 weeks ago). I was given a 3rd degree episiotomy. A week after the baby was born I found out the stitches had broken through the tissue. The doctor removed them and said the wound had to heal on its own. I had to keep going back to have the area checked. It appeared to be healing ok and he said to go back just for my 6-week appointment. At that appointment I was told I had granulation. She treated it with silver nitrate which did hurt at the time and hurt all day but the next day I was actually almost pain-free. I went back a week later (today) and was told that it was somewhat better but I do still have some granulation. She treated it with silver nitrate again and said I have to go back next week and see the doctor and discuss possible options. So hoping to finally recover from this... I never imagined recovering from a vaginal delivery would be so hard but my baby was big (10 pounds 13 ounces) so I guess he did some damage.

[BobbieSox]

I had this too - I had the lumpy part removed under general anaesthetic. Couldn't have carried on with it as it was, bleeding, sore etc. Good news is operation was totally fine, no pain afterwards, and vast improvement to the point where sex was actually comfortable.

If anyone is in doubt about pursuing this option, it worked for me!

[yummytummy]

hi, i too had graulation tissue after 3rd degree tear. it was incredibly painful especially during sex as others have said. in the end i was referred to a womens gynae physio who did a course of ultrasound treatment on the area. i also had to do stretching exercises and pelvic floor ones. it took time but did heal in the end. felt normal ish after 12 months. agree the psychological trauma is almost worse though. luckily then had elcs with dc2 which was best decision i ever made! good luck hope it gets sorted for you.

[breatheslowly]

My consultant pulled off my granulation tissue (I don't think there was that much). It didn't hurt at all. My GP was when I told her, so maybe it isn't a normal way to deal with it.

[Alsyri]

I had my first child 2 months ago today. Leading up to my 6 wk appointment I was terribly sore and uncomfortable. At my 6wk app I found out I had granulated tissue. The dr didn't give me a choice she cut it off, gave me a few stitches and used the silver nitrate. I was in a lot of pain. So much so I thought I was going to be sick. Leaving the hospital, I was asked if I had just had my son as that's how I was walking! By the next day I felt 100% better than before the app. The dr had said it may be fixed with one application but as it turns out, I can feel the same pain & effects starting all over again :( guess it's back to the drs. The things no one warns you about before child birth!

[madmomma]

I had this yrs ago when I had my now 13yr old. I couldn't have sex for 8 months after the birth. NHS surgeon booked me in for an episiotomy but I couldn't go through with it. An aromatherapist adv me to massage the scartissue very firmly with extra virgin olive oil to help it break down. it worked after a few weeks. x

[LazyDaizy]

Just discovered my lack of healing following an episiotomy 20 weeks ago, is due to granulation scar tissue. The consultant at hospital did not offer any other treatment other than surgery under general anaesthetic (hadn't heard of silver nitrate treatment). I realise that it's not going to go away by itself but am nervous that surgery will just result in more scar tissue, pain etc...

Anyone had this type of surgery recently?

[greyhound8]

I had an episiotomy and my stitches fell out after 5 days leaving a gaping hole where my perinium should have been - after two courses of antibiotics to clear infections - the wound did start to healslowly by itself but I was left with a section of flesh which would not heal upwards (if you see what I mean)- this was at 10 weeks post-birth. My GP was not sure that this section would heal by itself and said that I would need to be referred back to the consultant for possible corrective surgery.

I found the whole healing experience very difficult to deal with and at many points doubted that it would ever heal up.

I took lavender and tea tree baths twice a day but sincerely believe that what eventually helped the final part to heal was using PROPOLIS gel on the wound - propolis is the substance produced by bees to provide immunity to their hive. I had previously used this to treat acne and cold sores so thought I would try it. Within a week of daily application the difference was dramatic. Within a couple of week it was completely healed. I buy my propolis gel from QVC by the way (from a brand called SBC) - I swear by this.

I kept my appointment with my consultant but was healed up by that time and got the all clear from him that day.

I hope this helps. I completely empathise with you regarding the healing process. It can be very difficult to deal with psychologically. I am absolutely fine now and hope you will be too.

[Emilysmummy10]

I had an episiotomy having my daughter and also developed granulation, i went to the gp to get checked and they put me on a course of 2 lots of anti-biotics which i was on for 5 days and within around 3 weeks it had completely cleared up. the doctor told me that if the antibiotics never cleared it up completely then they would need to use an antibiotic steroid cream which thankfully never had to happen. I am still sore down there but the granultion itself has gone. Still sore to go to the toilet (both 1 + 2 sorry tmi) and cant even nearly have sex yet but only had little one 9 weeks ago so not expecting too much lol

[Fairyprincess101]

Its good to read similar stories. I also need to get past the psychological effects- havent been able to have sex since had my baby 12 wks ago due to infection from retained placenta, then op to remove it-now find I have granulated scar. I know what you all mean about feeling disfigured, is it normal at this stage for the vagina to look so wide? Thanks