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Original poster

Spincter injury, fistula - support eachother?

958 replies

Cyee · 13/05/2008 20:22

Hi everyone,

Wonderful weather we're having

I am propped up in bed post-hospital and I was wondering if anyone out there knows of, or would enjoy/benefit from, a thread or support site for people who have experienced the above (sphincter damage, fistula etc.) as a result of childbirth.

In my own experience, this whole area is a bit taboo. In fact the consultants reckon there are many women who have some symptoms related to the above, who never seek treatment. The thought of women embarrassed to discuss these matters is awful, yet that seems to be the case.

So - this (while souped up on painkillers) is a call to arms:

  • Is there a site out there for women like us?
  • If not, would you like there to be?
  • Would a thread on MN especially for this, be useful?
  • Would it be useful to share experiences with consultants/physios/hospitals/procedures?

If these matters resonate with you or anyone you know, it would be great if you could point them in this direction. I'm going to post in the 'health' and 'childbirth' sections too.

I know too well the taboo around this. I posted on MN when I got my diagnosis and used a different name...

Hope to hear from some people soon.

Cyee
(successfully repaired as of last Wednesday (fingers/legs crossed))

OP posts:
Jackbunnysmama · 07/04/2009 23:25

Oh dear ThingOne. That Is Not Good.
Hope you can get it sorted!

ThingOne · 08/04/2009 18:57

My GP shoved in back in and I'm crossing my fingers. And my legs, naturally. This is challenging my abstinence from chocolate, I can tell you. I'm making a complicated cake instead.

Jackbunnysmama · 09/04/2009 01:58

Errrr, in yhe spirit of "no TMI", just where exactly is your drain located? Is this not the same as your colostomy? Because I always thought they put the stoma about four inches to the side of the belly button.

Jackbunnysmama · 09/04/2009 01:59

And "ohhh gawd" to "the GP shoved it back in"...

ThingOne · 09/04/2009 09:54

No, it's the loop of plastic thread that keeps the sinus hole in the my perinea wound open. I have this plastic thread wrapped around the bit between the back of my vulva and this hole. Where my posterior vaginal wall should be .

My colostomy is straight forward by comparison. I just shove a pouch on the stoma.

The cake's looking quite good but the local newsagent doesn't sell liquorice shoelaces for bunny's whiskers so need to drive to sweet shop.

Jackbunnysmama · 09/04/2009 15:17

Ahhh! [lightbulb emoticon]
Hope it's ok now?

Cake...? I'll have some please. It's my birthday today.

ThingOne · 09/04/2009 18:50

Happy Birthday! Here you are (it's a bunny cake after all). The visiting children loved it!

Jackbunnysmama · 09/04/2009 18:59

Thank you!!! My best gift is finally feeling better after being in pain for sooo long!

Sawyer64 · 09/04/2009 22:12

Happy Birthday Jacksmama!

Jackbunnysmama · 10/04/2009 03:27

Thank you! How are you feeling?
s for everyone!

Sawyer64 · 10/04/2009 10:26

Happy Easter to one and all

Well,have just finished last course of AB's,but have had a constant low grade temp.
Discharge has lessened,but is still there.Still sore on perineum (too sore for Rumpy Pumpy,anyway)

I tried my GP surgery,found out my swab was "abnormal",and apparently may need change of AB.Presumed GP had done prescription,but hasn't, now off for Easter!

Next appointment they can offer (knowing all this ) is 22nd April!!

Telephoned Consultant's Sec,who suggested I ring Gynae Specialist Nurse,who has been great.

She spoke to Consultant who wants to see me,and wants Urine and Swabs done beforehand.

So finally,things are happening.

Sawyer64 · 10/04/2009 10:28

PS. Very good day 9th April Its also my DB and DSIL's Anniversary.They have been together since they met at school aged 16yrs and 17yrs old!

They went on to have 4 DC's.

Sawyer64 · 10/04/2009 10:34

(Whoops, forgot to say they have been married 26 years)

kentmumtj · 10/04/2009 11:53

hi all

glad to see everyone is getting into the spirit of easter.

my update is i went back t work this week, felt very strange but anyways. i would like to know others views on this back in January i booked the 2nd week of easter off for A/L, work have hinted that i can not take next week off now and have let another manager take the time off instead of me (2 managers arent allowed off at the same time).
Whats peeps views on this, i have no one to look after kids ..yikes.

Anyways went to see my consultant and ended up seeing aomeone else on his team which i wasnt really happy about as i wanted to see him as he was the surgeon. Anyways she asked loads of questions as it had on a printed letter that i had had a hystoscopy and mireva coil . i said i hope not as husbands had vasectomy many years ago.

Anyways after a lot of discussing the antibiotics i have been on the sore and tenderness i still feel, the problem ive now developed whereby i get the urge to open my bowels and need to go immediatly etc etc.

So doctor or whoever she was asked if she could examine me ......... i was scared and feeling very nervous. Im still tender on my inner thighs near to my er er front bit lol ok proper words here my labia, she attenpted to pull me aprat and open me well felt like she was going to actually split me open and she stopped as she realised my legs had clamped onto her hands lol.
She agreed that it looked 'normal' but could tell it was still sore, she wanted to get advice so went to find my consultant...who had left and gone home. Obviously wanted to be home in plently of time to have a nice long easter break.

So she calls some female registrar who insisted she needed to do an internal as she needed to feel the inside area and also to check if she can insert 2 fingers to ensure my vagina had not be narrowed too much. Needless to say dh is now calling me 'kitkat'
it was how cn i put it very very uncomfortable and stung even though she was very gentle i agree with sawyer it is def the outside area that is the sorest.
Apparently inside has healed nicely and as she was able to insert 2 fingers she belives i am not too narrow.

She added that infection seems to have cleared up and thinks i probably need a few more weeks to heal as the infections stop the healing process, she said she has never heard of any problem with passing motions following this op and has told me they are completly unrelated said she didnt know what was causing the 'pressure, pulling' sensation up inside me, prescribed me lidocaine and discharged me.

I thought discharged me the other doc wanted me to go back and she overruled her and said no discharge.

i was gob smacked. I ws told any probs go see my GP, IF gp cant help they will have to refer me to hosptial again

maybe its just me but i thought they shouldnt discharge me until all is better or am i just being silly.

anyways my house sounds like the building site it looks as new porch is being build this weekend and the kango drill is digging mighty big holes

kentmumtj · 10/04/2009 11:54

what a long message sorry if its boring

Jackbunnysmama · 10/04/2009 18:02

Not boring at all - I'm glad you got examined but I can completely understand how scary it was. I, too, am at your being discharged - that sounds a bit premature, IMO.

Hoppy Bunny Day everyone!!

Sawyer64 · 10/04/2009 22:08

In my case kentmumtj its the "stretching" of my perineum that seems to hurt.Because the area just before my labia is sore,as soon as the skin is pulled,it hurts.

The "two finger" bit lol,is something I've read about when I've googled it,as something surgeons use as a guide when doing the Op, as in years gone by they always made the repair too tight!!

If you do have any further problems,maybe going down the route I did via the "Gynae Nurse Specialist" would be better than the GP,they could arrange for you to be seen in Out patients within a week,which is much better.

Hopefully you won't need to though,and are healing now the infections gone.

kentmumtj · 11/04/2009 10:02

yes this is true and im hoping this instant urge i get to pass a motion is because it all needs to settle down down there, as 8is the strange pressure sensation ive got.

they also spoke about my cystocele and i soooo cant belive they didnt do that at the same time, strange thing is now they have discharged me im not sure whats going to happen there.

I think i will ring up my consultants secretary on tuesday and leave a message for him.

Anyways im planning on having a lovley day today as it is my ds birthdayand he is the grand old age of 9

Sawyer64 · 11/04/2009 17:10

Happy Birthday kentboy!

They might feel the Cystocele is mild,and like my Rectocele I had the choice to wait.

They'll assume that if/when it becomes "unbearable" you will ask to get referred again.Not ideal,but the surgeons only usually do the "urgent" stuff,and assume you'd rather wait if its not as bad as the Rectocele etc.

kentmumtj · 12/04/2009 13:50

i guess your right i suppose i was just thinking whilst they had me there and i was having the time off work etc etc.

Yes we all enjoyed his brithday very much.
And today we are going to have to do our easter egg hunt indorrs due to horrid rain or wait until tomorrow incase it brightnes up

hope everyone elses has a good easter

Sawyer64 · 12/04/2009 16:24

Its been lovely here in Essex,not too far away,all afternoon.

We went to the Zoo today,weather's been ideal.

I hope you got to do you Easter Egg Hunt outdoors afterall.

We've yet to do ours,DH snoring in the Armchair,and DD2 napping in the car on our driveway!! Can't see it happening anytime soon.

Original poster
Cyee · 12/04/2009 21:08

Happy Easter everyone!

How come you are all chatting while I'm away?! Been to see my FIL who is doing really well - second session of chemo starts on Friday. Bring it on!

I am useless at keeping track of posts as I read through them so WELCOME everyone that is new, though you've been well-welcomed already.

HAPPY DAY YOU (as my DD would say) Jacksmama! I hope you had a nice day.

Kentmumtj - I'm an HR person (when I'm not being a vag and arse person ), so on the topic of your hols I'm most concerned that you get the feeling your pre-booked AL is no longer ok. I know this was a few days ago but did you get it sorted? PMSL at kitkat comment by the way! Hilarious! Sounds like you got shoddy treatment mind... grrrr...

ThingOne good for you on the activity front but sorry to hear your bits and bobs came loose.... but... ah... delighted (?!) that your doc was able to shove it all back into place

Right - I am off for a few days of DD-lessness with DH so I better go and start the shearing process

Take care all

OP posts:
kentmumtj · 12/04/2009 21:47

cyee no i didnt get my A/L sorted when i go back on Tues im a little upset that i have to go in but an prepared and happy ton take my A/L the kids hols in may. I do hope they let me otherwise it will be a stand off lol .....what im worried about is next week that ive booked off originally was hols left over from last year and we have to take them within 6 weeks of end of March. Maybe they wont allow me to now take them in May in which case i want to take next week off. Guess i have some discussions that need to take place which will be difficult as the director who works at my place is on A/L. But i shall try.

as for 'kitkat' that was a womens fingers think mens are much thincker [shudders at thought emotion] one day maybe one day soon just not tonight lol

no weather here been rubbish all day rainy and pants really. Hope to do easter egg hunt tomorrow.

Sawyer64 · 13/04/2009 13:05

Update We have resumed Intimate Relations Hooray!!!!

No pain,slight tenderness but otherwise great!!!

I'm 8 weeks + now,so thats great.(DH said he was a little err.."uncomfortable" though,thinks he could feel a stitch Oh dear

We are doing our Easter Egg Hunt today,as too tired yesterday.Just waiting for DD2 to wake from her 2 hour nap.

kentmumtj · 13/04/2009 13:15

sawyer yipppppeeee at least you know it all works as it should maybe in 2 weeks time i will be saying the same
poor dh the thought of the stitch and him feeling it makes me shudder lol