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Original poster

Stitched too tightly after childbirth

69 replies

Distressed0 · 02/03/2023 21:45

Hello, I was wondering if anybody has any advice on if I could sue the NHS when it's been 5 years since the incident.
I've googled & it said it has to be within 3 years of finding out about the negligence.
Is that right?

The other day, the GP told me that I was stitched too tightly during my surgery 5 years ago. Before being told this, I've seen multiple drs/specialists etc & on the whole I've been told 'This is just what happens after childbirth'.

'This' being fecal incontinence & repeated fissures. It was the fissures that I went to the GP for this time when they said my anus had been stitched too tightly.

Can I do anything? I just want to feel better, to BE better & for this nightmare to finally be over. On my darkest days, I honestly feel like I can't live like this anymore.

OP posts:
bonjello · 02/03/2023 21:49

Could you speak to a solicitor? I'm sorry you're dealing with this.

ScoobyBooby · 02/03/2023 21:52

The usual time limit for bringing a medical negligence claim is three years. This can be three years from:

The date you were injured
Or the date when you first realised you had suffered an injury due to potential medical negligence.

So for you it would be the latter . Although there will probably be some exceptions to this rule . I’d speak to a medical negligence solicitor some do a free consultation or speak to PALS first .

Sorry you’ve been going through all this pain ! Hopefully someone will be able to help .

Original poster
Distressed0 · 02/03/2023 21:54

Thanks for answering me bonjello.
Several years ago I did speak to one but they said nothing would be done without a scan as usually my kind of injuries are caused by missed 3rd/4th degree tears (I was told mine was a 2nd) but I absolutely cannot afford to pay privately for a scan... So I'm not sure if I spoke to one about this kind of 'new' information, they'd just still tell me to get a scan.

OP posts:
Original poster
Distressed0 · 02/03/2023 21:56

Thanks ScoobyBooby I hadn't even thought of Pals.

OP posts:
Miscellaneousme · 02/03/2023 22:00

OP, I can’t advise on your legal question but - your anus wouldn’t have been touched with stitches if you had a 2nd degree tear. Only 3rd/4th degree tears involve the anal sphincter. Have you had a debrief and accessed your medical notes from your birth? If not I would suggest this as a starting point.

PersonaNonGarter · 02/03/2023 22:02

There are lots of good personal injury law firms that would take this on, on the basis of what you have said here.

And yes definitely follow up with them.

Original poster
Distressed0 · 02/03/2023 22:08

Sorry Miscellaneousme No I never had a debrief. They queried weather it was a 2nd or 3rd but decided it was a 2nd but the consultant put his finger in my bum twice to check whatever they were doing. (Sorry to be graphic)

I've not been clear anyway, I had stitches after birth & then the following year I had an op to get rid of my fissures, hemorrhoids & remove a skin tag.
This is the one where the GP says I was stitched too tightly.

Sorry for the confusion, I wrote the OP in a hurry.

OP posts:
villamariavintrapp · 02/03/2023 22:17

I'm sorry for what you're going through, but I think when your GP said you were stitched too tightly I think that's just a phrase really. Stitches just hold two sides of a wound together in the hope that they heal up. The stitches dissolve after a week or so. I think it's much more likely that your problems have been caused by the injury or scarring, or the way you've healed than by stitches. So I think unless you can prove that the surgeon did something wrong (and I guess the alternative would have been not to stitch the wound and just to let it heal through scar tissue), then I'm not sure what you'd be suing for. Sorry you're suffering though.

Original poster
Distressed0 · 02/03/2023 22:24

Thanks villamariavintrapp That's interesting, I hadn't thought of it like that.

She said it after she was unable to perform a rectal exam, she said 'Theres no way it should be that tight, I should be able to get my finger in there easily'.

But I don't know, I suppose I just had a glimmer of hope that after 6 (altogether) dark years, that this might not be 'It' for the rest of my life.

OP posts:
itsthefinalcountdown1 · 02/03/2023 22:58

I was "stitched too tightly" after an episiotomy and I had surgery to fix this a year later, which involved making another incision, but it's completely fine now. I was in a bad way before, I couldn't even walk short distances without pain, couldn't wear underwear.
Have you been referred to a gyno surgery to see if they could surgically re do it?
I would focus on that.

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 02/03/2023 23:13

Seek legal advice, op, that's the only way you'll know for sure. Are you being referred for surgery to correct the mistake?

Youwhatnowbiggles · 02/03/2023 23:37

Your first port of call should be a colorectal appointment to ascertain exactly what the issue is and if it is likely to have been caused by the stitching. With the greatest of respect to GPs , they’re not experts (their skill is being a Jack of all trades!) - ask your gp for a referral and once you have spoken with them you can take further steps if the option is there. 💐

Original poster
Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 06:09

Thank you for the responses.

itsthefinalcountdown That sounds so painful, poor you! I'm glad you got it sorted in the end.

I've been through Colorectal several times but these are the ones who say 'Its just what happens after childbirth'.

They did my OP to remove fissures etc in 2017 but when I've seen them since then they just don't seem interested, they give me diet advice, tell me not to get constipated, watch my weight etc & send me on my way.

I've been told to re-refer to them again but I'm not sure, I mean, they aren't going to admit to do anything 'Wrong', are they.

All I was told after the GP said this was that if the fissures don't stop then it 'Might mean corrective surgery'.

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 03/03/2023 11:38

Check your house insurance, if you've legal cover some cover clinical negligence

derbylass81 · 03/03/2023 11:40

If you only found out about this at GP the other then you are within the 3 years.

Doesn't matter that it occurred 5 years ago.

Moonicorn · 03/03/2023 11:42

Why would being stitched too tightly cause fissures? I doubt you’d get anywhere with it tbh.

Youwhatnowbiggles · 03/03/2023 11:55

Ok, if you’ve been to colorectal and they don’t believe your issue is due to previous stitching then you either need to request a second opinion via your gp or pay for a private second opinion. You can’t just go to a solicitor and say ‘I think…’, they’ll require evidence to proceed.

Original poster
Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 12:08

Moonicorn Because there's not enough space for the poo to pass through so I get tears? I don't know.

Youwhatnowbiggles Yes, I know. I've always been confused as to what colorectal actually think tbh, as clearly everybody who's given birth isn't walking around pooing themselves but that's what they want me to believe.

I will need to go back to the GP for these fissures anyway so I'll see what happens then.

Thanks derbylass Yes it was 2 weeks ago. I was crying my eyes out, not even able to sit down, asking why these fissures keep happening & she said that.

I don't know though, maybe I'll just leave it.

Thank you for all the advice everybody.

OP posts:
BigFeelingsMoment · 03/03/2023 12:16

PALS and/or a complaint would be a good place to start, to find out what is actually wrong. I’m sorry, it sounds awful. Good luck.

Moonicorn · 03/03/2023 12:25

It sounds like you’ve taken a comment made by the GP and ‘joined the dots’ to connect them to your other (sadly fairly common) issues when there isn’t a link?

Regularsizedrudy · 03/03/2023 12:39

I don’t have any useful advice but wanted to share my sympathy and outrage that this has happened to you. I’m so sick of women with horrific birth injuries being fobbed off with “that’s just what happens”. You deserved to have proper and ongoing care after birth to prevent/rectify this.

Original poster
Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 12:40

Moonicorn I'm not sure why you are so certain there isn't a link when the GP said there is (I know they could be wrong)

And how is it common? Most women poo themselves for the rest of their lives after childbirth do they?

OP posts:
Original poster
Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 12:42

Thank you BigFeelingsMoment & Regularsizedrudy For the supportive comments, it's kind of you to post.

OP posts:
Notafanoflockdown · 03/03/2023 12:49

If you've got fissures you're most likely subconsciously tightening to avoid the pain of insertion and that's what the GP has noticed.

If colorectal don't think you're too tight, why would they be lying to cover gynae/midwives from years ago?

Emdubz · 03/03/2023 12:50

This sounds awful for you OP and sounds like it affects your day to day life. I’d second others suggestions about obtaining your medical notes and getting legal advice.