Calling all Raggedies - the THIRD Ragged Bits thread. Childbirth injuries, sphincter problems, fistulae... all welcome.

[Jacksmania]

First thread here, May 2008 to June 2009.

Second thread here, June 2009 to Oct 2012.

Welcome everyone with ragged bits due to childbirth. We're sorry you had to find us, but we promise to hold your hand and listen.

There is no TMI here and nothing is too gross, too embarrassing or too horrible.

All welcome.

IT is still worth pursuing. Although definitely worth seeing what the consultant has to say and recommends. My sphincter has healed as. A sort of c shape rather than an o, with scar tissue making up the difference between the c and o shapes, if you see what I mean. Scar tissue doesn't contract like muscle, however, so that's why I have the low level leakage. STILL FRUSTRATes me.

Sorry, phone up to something- caps lock error!

I will definitely pursue it anyway in the vain hope that it can make a difference.

I can relate to the leakage and how frustrating it is. Eating a high fibre diet helps me but it still happens. The flactulance is persistent whatever I try. I dread having to go back to work with flactulance incontinance. 😢

I can definitely relate. However, I can say the wind issue isn't as bad as how I worried about it. I feel that my exercises helped. How's your diet? Feel free to pm me if you need to ask anything.

Can I join in here please? I am also over on the prolapse thread but that seems to be pretty quiet these days. My stats are: almost 6 months PP, normal vaginal delivery. It was a drug free waterbirth, 1st degree tear, but it appears I also blew a huge hole in my pelvic floor at the same time. I have a grade 2 bladder prolapse, and my vaginal opening is too big when I bear down, which means there's way more room for my organs to fall out. Surgical repairs for this sort of injury are really poor, so right now this feels very scary and life feels slightly impossible. Seeing the specialist in August and will have an ultrasound then so he can tell me how bad things are

Blah-when you said that the wind isn't as bad a problem as you thought, is that because it got better?

Smellsofelderberries- it's rubbish isn't it! Surgery isn't an option for me either with such a low success rate. Have you been given any Physio?

Hi smellsofelderberries gosh that's a lengthy wait for the ultrasound, so sorry to hear that life is so difficult with your injuries when you should be enjoying your new baby and not worrying about prolapse issues.

Common theme seems to be surgery is tricky in this area, my surgeon has written all sorts of papers on pelvic floor disorders but still says symptom management is the most common tool in these situations.

I have no great advice as i'm currently in the investigative process awaiting ultrasounds / sigmoidoscopy etc and all I've been given is a prescription for some Imodium syrup to harden my stools so they don't leak out .

Sounds like your symptoms are pretty hindering on a day to day basis, I'm amazed there is no further support offered other than waiting until August for an ultrasound. In the meantime, am sending you and

cactus and blah I find that my wind issues are much more controllable based on diet (I know that sounds obvious!) but basically if i'm mega careful on what I eat, I can just about avoid any terrible embarrassing wind issues.

Out of interest - what exercises are you doing? I wasn't given any at my meeting with consultant, just the Imodium syrup to harden up stools, which I'm not getting along with as its now making me constipated and bloated

Thanks for the warm welcome all. I'm not based in the U.K. and the only upside to this whole mess is that I live in the same city as Prof Dietz, who seems something of a world leader in this sort of injury sustained during childbirth. That's who I'm seeing in August. In the mean time my physio seems to know what she's doing and I think is going to try and fit me for a pessary next week to make me more comfortable.

I really feel so you who are dealing with anal issues, my problem feels horrid but at least I can hide it and I'm still fairly functional. If anything I have to opposite problem of not being able to go properly as unless everything is very loose and comes on its own, as I'm too scared to push even the tiniest bit

How do you all deal with the anger? I wanted to have a few babies and now coming to terms with the idea that DD might be an only as I don't know how I'd cope with potentially making myself worse. We have no family support where we are so things just feel extra hard. With all the extra appointments I have to take my DD with me and just manage. Desperately wish when DH was working late (often) I could just go to Mum's for dinner and some company.

Clanger, I'm sorry things have gone too far the other way for you! That must feel very uncomfortable. Where is the diagnostic process are you?

Anyone still here? Really struggling with things lately. Not seen any improvements with physio (and pretty sure my cervix has dropped too so now dealing with 3 types of prolapse) and feeling so very sad and hopeless.

Hi All,

I know this thread hasn’t been active for a long time but wondered if any of you could provide me with some hope... some light at the end of the tunnel in regards to recovery to some of your symptoms/injuries.

It’s amazing that such a community is available for this much needed support and reading some of these posts has really helped me mentally over the past few weeks.

My story,
I am currently 7 weeks postpartum with my 2nd baby and I am suffering both flatulence and urge incontinence, if I’m
Not close to the toilet I would likely not make it. Prior to my delivery I was a healthy 26 year old with no previous issues and I’m really struggling to come to terms that this could potentially be forever, it’s soul destroying. Nobody tells you that these are the risks when having a vaginal delivery.... I would never evan think that these things could happen.

I had a “Normal” vaginal delivery on gas and air. Pushed for 20mins and baby came flying out in 1 big push leading to a 2nd degree perineal tear which the midwife said was so small/minor it didn’t Evan need stitching but she would stitch it anyway. Baby weighed 3kg and was very small... The only risk factor I had was that my baby was OP/back to back. I just can’t believe I have these symptoms with what appears to be such a normal birth.

I am currently in the UK and nobody seems to know what to do with me. I have had no follow up care from the hospital, despite me telling midwifes and drs what is happening, they have all just said that it’s very strange for me to be symptomatic. I had a few internals done in the early weeks from a private physio and a dr and i was unable to contract my pelvic floor muscles very well but was told I had “good tone and she thinks the sphincters seems in tacked”. I couldn’t however feel myself doing my pelvic floor, but Since then I can now feel it contracting, but I am still symptomatic!? I was hoping that my pelvic floor muscles are weak and it would just improve??i can now feel my sphincter contracting when lying down/sitting (not when standing). I am losing hope that this will get better overtime / with pelvic floor exercises and I am thinking it could be something more sinister and nobody is helping me.

Anybody have any similar symptoms to mine which improved overtime without further medical intervention? I am losing my mind and I’m struggling to enjoy my life at home because of this issue :(.

Thanks a million xxx

Really need to talk to someone who understands about this I feel like I'm going mad. Dr just rebuff it everytime I try to discuss. Makes me so mad men get seen for circumcision or viagra prescriptions but we have to suffer.

Hello all, I’ve name changed for this but am looking for some support :(

I had a third/fourth degree tear 14 years ago with my first baby. All repaired ok in theatre, no probs. Episiotomy with second baby, nothing with third, small tear. She was over 9lbs though.

In the last 6 or 7 years I’ve developed a prolapse, and I think it’s getting worse :(

TMI - there’s a big bulge at the front (bladder) but I have no bladder symptoms at all. There’s also a horrible raggedy bit coming from the back (rectocele) that now slightly protrudes from my vagina. It all looks a mess.

Symptoms: I struggle to empty my bowel properly and am paranoid there’s poo still in my rectum. It’s usually ‘pebble poo’. I’m also (today) quite sore on my vulva. Could this be chafing?

I do pelvic floor exercises religiously and eat plenty of fibre (inc flaxseed) and drink lots of water. But I still struggle to empty my bowel nicely and never feel ‘clean’ down there. I also struggle to control gas.

I’ve self-referred to women’s physio but God knows how long that will take. Last trip to GP she said I had an anterior prolapse but didn’t seem that concerned. But it looks a lot better when I lie down!

My main worry is sex. I LOVE it and now I feel embarrassed and paranoid. I had a little accident once (tiny bit of poo) and now I’m basically too scared to ever have sex again until this is fixed.

Sorry this is long - I’m trying to be brief! So what are my options? Vaginal pessary ? Do I need surgery? Does rectocele surgery even work?

Will I ever feel uninhibited having sex again???

Anyone?

Would be really great to have another thread and hear of how everyone is doing now

Good idea

How are you now @Blahblahblahyadayadayada? I have the same issues

Is there a new thread of this anywhere??

I'd be interested in this too