Pain after second c-section, anyone?

[MissPepper8]

Little run down, prior to my first ive always had painful, heavy periods since I was a child. A month before I got pregnant last year they were investigating for endometriosis as I was having bowel pain and irregular bleeds.

My first it took 18 months to catch and I had an emergency section due to his head getting a bit stuck and slow progression. Then 10 weeks ago I had my 2nd baby, he too was emergency section after my waters broke and contractions were slow to start.

It was lucky as after 17 hours on the drip when they delivered him, he had a true knot in his cord and I had started to uterine herniation from the old scar (they told me it had been there before but I've never seen any evidence). They forceped him out of me as he was wedged in too.

So after my first I had no issue, I've always bounced back, got discharged the day after with this one. But this time I'm in pain.. And have been since 9 had him. I've had bowel spasms that I'm unable to move with, tenderness on my left hand side. It was unbearable with my period just gone, and for the first time today we had sex and it was very uncomfortable and I'm in pain now on the left hand side and my back again.

Ive spoke to a gp, but they can't see me, I worried about herniating again (I don't know what side it was on as I was too overwhelmed with baby being born). Or could this be endometriosis?

Ladies it would be really appreciated if anyone has had more than one section. I don't know if this is normal but I'm in so much discomfort.

after my second c-section, I have had chronic pain nearly always. It gets worse in colder months. I have had ultrasound so my GP could see what is going on in there. Nothing turned up. I still have pain but have a demanding job and cannot keep chasing after GP. I will go to see him after lockdown is over hopefully.

I also have painful periods and pain after sex.

@Experimenopause I'm sorry to hear that, I wanted to avoid sections but I guess there's just as much a risk with things going wrong with a natural birth too. My sister had a, 3rd degree tear and multiple infections.

I'm in discomfort like my periods coming and it's sore, but the pain is horrendous if I touch the area, it's like stabbing pain. It's not all the scar area, just on my left where my pelvis dips and where the incision begins.

You need medical attention and advice.

Painful periods and deep pain during sex are markers for endometriosis. This can also involve the bowels too.

An internal ultrasound will not detect endometriosis if it is there; it is usually diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy. None of the ultrasounds I had ever saw the endo in my uterine cavity as these deposits are so very small.

Endometriosis cannot be ruled out here for either of you and a referral should be made to a gynae.

I’ve had one section (two years ago) and my stomach still feels tender and sore to touch. A small area the size of my palm is still numb. The GP just shrugged and said it’s nerve damage, there’s nothing I can do?

Adhesions - they are common after c section , sometimes if you are lucky you don't get them, some get it but quite less that it does not bother but some women are really unlucky and get extensive fibrous ones. They do cause bowel spasm. Unfortunately there are no test that can show adhesions not even ultrasound. A dip at c section site is an indication but some women have omental adhesions without a dip at c section scar. Even if doctors do suspect adhesions they don't do surgery to remove them as surgery can form adhesion again.
It is also true that endometriosis can cause similar issues as endo creates adhesions too. I would suggest is to create a period diary. Maintain a pain/cramp/spasm/ period/ bleeding/spotting record for at least 3 months. Take it to your GP and ask them to refer to a specialist.
Go to a GP sooner if you are in a lot of pain.

Thanks everyone, will make a diary of the pain and bleeding. I know it's a period after the initial bleeding but this time it was really heavy (I was changing pad every hour /2 as I was soaking through clothes) and the one with my first was light for months.

@Molocosh The first section wasn't this bad, I did have numbness with the first one but after 2 years I had feeling there. I've got feeling now, it's just iincredibly painful to touch it. It might be nerve damage but I'm a bit worried with the hernia repair they did during surgery.

@AttilaTheMeerkat Yeah before I got pregnant last year they signed me up for scans, ultra sounds ect because of the spotting and bowel spasms I had back then, but I know the only way is surgery to detect it. I have no hope right now, my gp won't see you in person and as I'm in the UK they're not doing referrals or if they are it's a long wait.

@Literallyfedup I'll do a diary, I'm a bit stuck right now as above my surgery won't physically see me, I've just be advised over the phone. My little boy needs referring to a dietician but they've held off on that as it's a huge wait because of covid (im in the UK). I think I'm going to get in contact with them again today because I'm still in pain.