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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:

FiveHundredDucksWentOutOneDay · 03/03/2023 12:52

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.

This. It was a phrase from the GP. It sounds likely that the scar tissue has healed in such a way that it is uncomfortably tight, and you may well need corrective surgery to cut it and re-heal it to relieve the tightness - but from what you've said, there's no indication that there was anything done wrong during your surgeries.

I do hope it gets sorted quickly x

Mariposista · 03/03/2023 12:54

How horrendous for you OP. No advice only deep sympathy

Original poster

Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 12:55

It does affect my day to day life greatly. All the time. Day & night. I also wee myself constantly.

I take everybody's comments on board though & thank you for taking the time to post.

OP posts:

HipposHaveNipples · 03/03/2023 12:59

Not meaning this in a nasty way at all, but you said that you had surgery for fissures, but then you think the fissures were caused by the surgery? It sounds as though the surgery may not have helped, but sounds like you had a problem with them anyway?

kirinm · 03/03/2023 13:09

This does sound awful for you OP but the GP is not in a position to say x has caused y.

I also think, for the purposes of limitation (the 3 year period) it could be argued that the injury was identified quite a long time ago - I don't think the limitation period runs from the date you think you've identified the negligent act.

Original poster

Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 13:10

It's ok HipposHaveNipples I know I don't always express myself clearly.

After childbirth in 2016 I had fecal & urine incontinence, skin tag/hemorrhoids & fissures.

Surgery in 2017 was supposed to sort everything out so I could start over with the 'just' wee'ing myself problem.

Surgery never seemed to work & I've had constant fissures & pain since.

I never seem to get an answer as to why other than 'Just what happens'. Although I've had several confused looking professionals when I tell them that I didn't have an assisted birth as apparently these injuries are more common in an assisted birth. (They almost seem to ignore the fact that I've already had an 'OP to heal things)

When I asked the GP the other day if I could finally have an answer as to why this is still happening & the surgery didn't work, she said I'd been stitched too tightly during the surgery.

I hope that makes it clearer?

OP posts:

BabbleBee · 03/03/2023 13:14

@Distressed0 I totally understand the pain of anal fissures, it’s so awful. One of the risks of fissure surgery is faecal incontinence - was that explained to you at the time?

Anal fissures cause muscle spasm, which causes pain and also limits the healing of the wound. Have you been treated with a nitrate cream?

littlestrawberryhat · 03/03/2023 13:20

You poor thing. Sending sympathetic hugs and hope you get some answers, you deserve to be able to live your life comfortably. Sadly I think childbirth injuries are brushed off by society and something a woman has to just deal with….I really encourage you to fight for some answers and hopefully some proper help. X

Original poster

Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 13:20

BabbleBee No, as far as I was aware this surgery was going to 'cure' the incontinence as well as eliminate the fissures etc, it was explained to me a few years ago that it was never supposed to cure the incontinence so I know that now.

No, I've tried Lidocaine (I think) plain old vaseline & Rectogesiac currently but it's not working at all.

I'm sorry you've suffered too.

OP posts:

mummyh2016 · 03/03/2023 13:25

Sorry I agree with @villamariavintrapp. I think it was just a phrase the GP used, if the specialists don't think or haven't found any evidence that you've been stitched too tightly I can't see how a GP can know this just from doing 1 examination.
Do you have an option to go private if you think you are being lied to by the specialists?

CatJumperTwat · 03/03/2023 13:27

So after childbirth you developed fissures, then after an operation to fix the fissures you were stitched too tightly?

Original poster

Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 13:27

Thank you littlestrawberryhat I thought this thread would be a nice place to 'Get things out' if nothing else, but I'm actually feeling quite upset at how dismissive some posters have been.

And this is why I don't 'Fight my corner' I supposed. I'm just too fragile feeling. Emotionally & physically (as I half sit/half lay across the sofa, trying to ease the agony in my bum, but that's just a normal day)

OP posts:

Original poster

Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 13:28

I don't know, CatJumperTwat. Most on here seem to think that's a load of nonsense.

If I could afford to go private I would have done years ago.

OP posts:

CatJumperTwat · 03/03/2023 13:30

I hope this isn't dismissive; I'm trying to work out how the fissures can be caused by the stitching if you had fissures before the stitching?

I'm not a lawyer but I don't think a guess from a GP is going to carry much weight. A court would want specialists in that area to say your problems are likely caused by the stitches.

mummyh2016 · 03/03/2023 13:32

Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 13:27

Thank you littlestrawberryhat I thought this thread would be a nice place to 'Get things out' if nothing else, but I'm actually feeling quite upset at how dismissive some posters have been.

I don't think anyone's being dismissive here, if anything all posters have been sympathetic. It just seems to a few of us that you have (understandably given your circumstances) jumped on what sounds like a random comment from the GP and took it as a diagnosis. If anything you need further clarification from your GP as to exactly what they meant before proceeding with anything.

Original poster

Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 13:37

mummyh I havn't taken it as a diagnosis. I'm not going to proceed with anything.

Thank you for the comments.

OP posts:

Givemeadragon · 03/03/2023 13:46

This is a Uk charity that can help : www.avma.org.uk/contact-us/
Action against Medical Accidents

Novatherova · 03/03/2023 13:48

OK going to stop reading as it's putting me off having a baby.

Hope you're ok OP!

Youwhatnowbiggles · 03/03/2023 13:50

Oh @Distressed0 - I’m sorry you feel you’re not getting what you hoped out of the thread. Rather than dwell on the possible negligence side of things would it help if we try to figure out what can be done to help you? Have the gp or any of the consultants given you an idea of any further remedies? Is it extreme enough of a situation for a stoma? Do you have funds to see a private specialist or is there any insurance with you or your dh’s work? I had a full 3rd degree tear and remember being utterly horrified when a consultant I saw latterly told me it was ‘normal to suffer a level of incontinence after birth’ - I later saw the head of department who confirmed to me it absolutely was not! However, it is a complication that some suffer. My issues eventually resolved so I didn’t need to pursue any further help (I think scar tissue prob caused it and my body eventually coped) . Please go back to the gp and find out what other options are available.

Original poster

Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 14:06

Youwhatnowbiggles I think this thread is just reminding me of how society views me, that I should 'Put up & Shut up' if I can't pay to have it fixed. I wanted the baby afterall.

I don't have a DH, my partner left when baby was 4 months old as he was pissed off that I didn't want to have sex (we did try once) while I was pooing & wee'ing myself. I've been by myself with my kids for 6 years as who's gonna go near me in this state?

I have no house insurance, rented house, I'm in the 'Not being made to work' group with UC due to my continence issues, depression & various other health things.

They (GP etc) never offer me any other solutions they just say it's normal. I'm on Movicol drinks 2x daily since the birth, to preven constipation & the GP once helpfully refused to give me a new prescription for those as I 'Shouldn't rely on them forever'.

I think I was feeling much stronger when I started this thread yesterday &, right now, I just feel utterly awful so I'm so sorry for all the 'Poor me'.

Novatherova Raised a smile so thank you.

OP posts:

Bluetrews25 · 03/03/2023 14:12

Fissures really hurt, you have my sympathy, OP.
So you were stitched after tearing, but had faecal and urinary incontinence. The corrective surgery for the faecal incontinence caused the fissures. Do I have that right?
Ok, when a wound heals, it produces scar tissue, which is not as elastic as ordinary tissue. Hence your anus cannot stretch as much any more, so you split when having bowels open. Boom. Fissures.
Having further surgery there is going to reduce the amount of tissue present (if the scarred part is removed) then you will get further scar tissue developing once more, so you will be back to the beginning, and possibly worse as there is even less 'girth' left.
I did lots of perineal massage after DC1 in preparation for DC2's birth, as had a big tear first time. I really worked on the scar tissue and it did increase in flexibility. Have you tried anything like this? I used coconut oil - the oil doesn't matter, it's the massage that makes the difference to the structure of the scar tissue deep inside. You have to really mobilise the tissues with a deep, on the spot circling.
Could a gynaecologist give you a set of dilators to use? (I know they have them for vaginas, would imagine they could also be used for anus)

I note you said you just want to feel better.
The scar tissue massage might help with that.

Sending best wishes. (former women's health physio)

TallulahBetty · 03/03/2023 14:18

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'.

This makes me so angry - as if we should just 'put up and shut up' and it's normal. No it isn't, and it would NEVER be this glossed-over if men gave birth. Good luck OP x

Original poster

Distressed0 · 03/03/2023 14:18

Bluetrews I can barely touch it round my bum, it's so tender, so the thought of massage is just horrifying. I can't do that.
I can barely put the Rectogesiac cream in/on.

I know your post is a supportive one but all I can see is that there's no hope unless I can hurt myself with massage? This is my life now. What's the point then

OP posts:

Youwhatnowbiggles · 03/03/2023 14:20

Ok, so you’re really stuck with yourself and the the gp as the only ones who can move this forward. Get back to the gp - I’m no medic but if the fissures are that bad would a temporary stoma give your body a chance to heal and potentially use a device to gently stretch the rectal area (like those balloon pumps some use for their perineums pre-birth)? No idea if that might work but keep researching on the Internet - there will be others out there who have been where you are and found a way through. I’m sorry there’s no one else to fight your corner with you. Keep going.

Youwhatnowbiggles · 03/03/2023 14:21

Btw I’m not recommending doing anything without you speaking to your gp first!!

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