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Should i tell DH about soiling?

13 replies

tiredpooky · 27/10/2013 20:02

Since DC2 14m ago i have soiling. Totally affected my sex drive. Worried will disgrace myself. Seen physio and surgeon. Sphincter weakness. Advised drugs to constipate and nothing else. DH knows i have probs in this area but not details. (After DC1 i had 2 episodes incontinence). Basically do i say nothing and get sad from time to time and hope all is ok during sex? We hardly ever have sex and what if he thinks i dont find him attractive anymore? But what if i tell him and he doesnt find me attractive anymore? Sad.

OP posts:
Twighlightsparkle · 27/10/2013 20:16

You must tell him, as you say he may think you have gone off him, openness and honesty must be part of a relationship.

I think you may feel better once you tell him.

Xxxxx

Nagoo · 27/10/2013 20:23

I think you will feel better if you tell him. If you don't tell him he has no chance to understand what you are worried about.

mineofuselessinformation · 27/10/2013 21:46

Oh Pooky Hmm. Would you advise a friend to stay with a partner who wouldn't support them with a medical problem? Especially one that arose from giving birth to their babies?
Yes, do tell him. If he's half the man you think he is, he will support you.
And get yourself over to the Ragged Bits thread, or the Any Old Prolapse thread. You're far from alone you know, even if it feels like it now.

mineofuselessinformation · 27/10/2013 21:52

And ask to see another surgeon for a second opinion, making sure you tell them about the impact this is having on your sex life and self esteem.

tribpot · 27/10/2013 21:53

You must tell him. You're in this together - good bits and bad bits. Wouldn't you want him to tell you if he was suffering in a similar way?

LovesBeingHereAgain · 27/10/2013 22:01

Please tell him. Look up the fallen fanjo thread in health.

What was the reason for drugs only?

HeyJudith · 27/10/2013 22:37

I think you should tell him. I don't think you need to be detailed (at least not initially) but I don't think you can go on trying to deal with this and worry about this by yourself. I think it's quite possible he has guessed something is not quite right - a lot of men/partners are more in tune than they give the impression of and especially because you mention that he is aware of previous similar incidents.

As a gentle opening (for him and for you) could you possibly say something along the lines of... "I need to talk to you about how things aren't quite right for me down below since DC2... similar to what was wrong after DC1, if you remember, but its a bit worse now. I have seen a physio and a surgeon and they are looking at different options for me... but basically as well as being worried about myself I am nervous about what might happen when we are in the moment/doing the deed/having sex . It's embarassing to talk about but I don't want you to think that I'm not as keen because I don't fancy you - I do".

Unless he requests the details I don't think you need to spell it out in medical terminology. My DH for example is very supportive and sensitive, but I know that he wouldn't need/want to hear that level of detail from an initial conversation - he would support me with or without the medical terminology and I hope that would be the case for you too.

PacificDogwood · 27/10/2013 22:40

I think you and him need to really speak to each other. And listen to each other.

Your soiling is less of a threat to your relationship than if you are not able to talk to each other. Even, or espeially, about the difficult stuff.

tiredpooky · 29/10/2013 12:15

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I think I had hoped it would all improve/ that its not really happening. I havent tried the drugs yet as breastfeeding. If they dont help i think i will ask for a 2nd opinion. Me and DH are very close and share everything, I just have a lot of shame about this. Even as a little child i had a lot of shame about poo. (suspect my personality disordered father may have made me sensitive bout this)
Went into floods of tears yesterday reading your replies.
Especially grateful to you HeyJudith. yes of course, i dont need to be 100% explicit, that will help i think.
This weekend I will find time to talk to DH.
Thank you again. Your replies have been a real source of help.

OP posts:
HeyJudith · 29/10/2013 15:17

Aw tiredpooky :(

A few things to remember: (I know you know all this but when we are lost in a fog of not so good, a quick recap can be helpful :) )

You are a goddess. That body of yours produced two amazing children.

There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. There is nobody on this planet who doesn't poo and wee, not even the most rich, famous or posh :) It is as biological as eating or sleeping. If you had a sleeping issue, or a food allergy issue, there would be no shame. Likewise you should try to think of poo and wee as just another necessary function as eating or sleeping. We eat, we sleep, we poo :) ALL of us.

Getting a second (or third or fourth) opinion is absolutely vital. Keep going until you have found a solution you are happy with. Different consultants/surgeons have different knowledge/experience/expertise to apply, they are not all one and the same.

I am sure your DH wouldn't want you to be suffering like this on your own. If you find raising the topic difficult, you could even write a few lines down in a note and ask him to read it whilst you go and do something else. How you communicate, or the level that you go to, doesn't really matter, it's just about finding a way of letting him into your world so he has an understanding of what you are dealing with right now. Either he won't need the detail, or you won't feel the need to share the detail, or the detail would come up naturally (for example if you had an operation in the future) by which point it would not be a new topic for either of you so would seem quite natural to discuss it in the same way as any other operation.

But please, remember that this matter doesn't make you ANY LESS of a woman, any less desirable, or any less gorgeous. You are still the same woman as before. You have something that needs some attention, sure, but it does not define you as a person, or a wife. And once again (I will say it again) there is nothing to be ashamed of. Hey, we eat, we sleep, we poo :) :)

tiredpooky · 31/10/2013 14:55

Thanks Judith
I really am starting to admit and accept this now and i can see i am having an attitude change, i think it'll help to discuss with DH and not keep it all as my problem. I think because i havent been able to talk to anyone apart from nhs (and in no way did they discuss pyschosexual issues ! odd really!) things went round and round in my head and its good to have my problem reframed for the better. I really know i can move forward now. I even think i'll be able to become a sexual being again.
Grateful Pooky xx

OP posts:
brightwell · 01/11/2013 18:41

Is there a continence advisory service where you live, you can self refer and they should be able to help. Your problem is not uncommon. There is a system called Peristeen anal irrigation which may help. It clears out transverse & ascending colon, some people use it daily, others every 2-3 days.

brightwell · 01/11/2013 18:42

Sorry descending...not ascending colon.

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