PLEASE HELP! episiotomy refashioning/fentons procedure

[chattymama]

Hi Mummies, I hope there is someone out there that can give me a bit of reassurance about my problems and impending operation. After the birth of my DD 7months ago (episiotomy, forceps, a missed 3rd degree tear) i was sutured incorrectly. Since then my scar has overgrown, is gathered and painful. I also am not able to always control my bowels, can't have sex or wear tampons. The whole area is sort of dragged over to one side.
I'm having it repaired in january but can't stop worrying in case it gets worse instead of better. I'm desperate to heal properly as i feel that my life had been taken over by this horrible secret i'm carrying around with me.
I'm currently breastfeeding (although my periods have returned) and have read that other people have been advised to give up as the tissues are more delicate and less likely to heal. I asked my gynaecologist and she says it's fine to carry on breastfeeding. I don't know what to do as the thought of giving up feeding for something which was somebody else's fault upsets me but i'm terrified i'm never going to be right again.
Has anyone else been through a similar thing whilst breastfeeding? Any general support would be appreciated as i feel really alone (although my DH is a great support)

I'm sorry I can't offer any insight into the breastfeeding question but I HAVE had a 4th degree tear, incorrect suturing and a subsequent modified Fentons procedure so I know exactly what you're going through in that respect.

Though I had surgery straight after the birth, I left mine for over a year and a half before plucking up the courage to go to the doctors. I looked like a car crash down there and, like you, had trouble with faeces, couldn't wear a tampon let alone have sex.

The operation was a success in that I could resume sex. I still choose not to wear tampons. I found that having a really indepth discussion with the consultant before the surgery, pinpointing exactly where the pain was (to the extent I had a drawing!) really helped.

Good luck and feel free to ask any questions.

Thank you for your info, my consultant does seem very good (she too drew me a picture). Do the bowels ever get better? she can't seem to answer my question as to why it's so painful to go the toilet, it's like a knife up my bum. She said it's not piles and maybe a fissure. I use anusol and it goes, then a couple of weeks later it comes back. I hope this goes away after the op. Did they give you a laxative afterwards?

Bowel wise, mine wasn't horrendous after the first op (where I was sutured incorrectly), definitely a lack of control but manageable. And that's where it still stands today. I have no pain passing faeces but I sometimes have little accidents if I can't get to the toilet in time. Have they examined your bowel area internally? With a camera etc? It could well be a fissure and they can be hideously painful. Mine was in the vaginal area and it was also like a knife. A definite fierce stinging sensation. They couldn't "see" anything either and sometimes it felt like they didn't believe me which was incredibly frustrating. So no, I didn't have a laxative as it wasn't needed it my case. Be worth asking for your own reassurance.

I was out the next day, tender for a couple of weeks and attempted sex about a month later. It was still a little arkward but manageable and has improved over time though certain "positions" are not possible due to the angle (TMI, sorry but just to illustrate!) I could have had another operation but chose not to as I felt it was as good as it was ever going to be and didn't want to risk taking a step backwards.

It was a horrendous time but truly, I hardly give it a thought now. There are some minor inconveniences but nothing life stopping and I definitely made the right descision to have the procedure done.

thank you, that's very reassuring

Chattymama

Can i ask how the procedure went please?

Have you had any further problems or has it been a success?

Kind regards
Emmsi