Help needed tonight for my poor mangled nethers!

[MangledNethers]

I had a hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic today to get biopsies for possible endometrial cancer. I’ve had previous conscious attempts to get a Pipelle biopsy but they can’t get in because I’ve had an ablation in the past.

I’m in agony this evening every time I have a wee, as whatever elephantine speculum they used to get in there has ripped my vulva to shreds by stretching it - all my skin down there is very delicate despite being on HRT and breaks at the drop of a hat, even from wearing pads, which I’ve had to do recently because of this unexpected bleeding.

Anyway, the agony. I have ordered some of the good barrier cream which the nurse gave me a couple of years ago when she tore me doing my smear test, but that won’t be here until, realistically, tomorrow afternoon.

WHAT THE HELL DO I DO UNTIL THEN?

I’ve just had a warm salt bath which made me cry. I am in complete agony weeing, and the massive pads I am having to wear for the bleeding are just making it worse.

Please, wise women, hit me with any and all ideas you have, preferably from experience so you can vouch for them. I am knackered from the GA this morning so too much experimentation is out. DH isn’t supposed to leave me for 24 hours, but could probably do so in the morning - our nearest late pharmacy isn’t really late and is already closed tonight. Obvs am drinking as much as I can stomach to keep my wee dilute, but that doesn’t even seem to be helping!

@MangledNethers ouch I'm wincing just reading your story!!! Could you put sudocrem on the affected area to act as a barrier ? Hope you feel better soon x I would ring 111 for advice x

Oh you poor thing! Ouch! When I tore, I was advised to pour warm water over my vulva as I was having a wee. It takes a bit of maneuvering not to make a massive mess though! If you've got an empty water bottle, that makes it easier.

It sounds like lichen sclerosis, steroid ointment if you have it will help but you need a diagnosis to get the stronger strength one. Coconut oil or aquaphor can also help

I had similar before Christmas (was under a general to remove fibroids, take biopsies and insert coil but I have scaring from a cervical stitch in pregnancy so similarly the erm route in wasn't smooth...)
I feel terrible initially but think part of that was the general. I used heavy duty period pants (I already had these) instead of pads as like you the irritation was rubbish. Drink lots of water try the spray yourself with water whilst you wee. not really much to add but I did get better reasonable quickly after the first maybe 36 hours so sending solidarity!

Post broth and a stitch a midwife advised me to pour Luke warm water over the area whilst weeing. I found a small jug or a water bottle the easiest things logistically.

Also they gave me some lavender oil and told me to add a couple of drops to milk and add to the bath.

Also drink lots of water to make urine as dilute as possible

Not sure how helpful this is as it’s a different sort of injury but post birth cold witch hazel on a maternity pad was heavenly relief - had quite a few stitches and it really helped soothe them.

Oh God, you poor thing.

Order one of these for next-day delivery: amazon link and fill with luke warm water and gently squeeze it for a kind bidet action, which I can only imagine will be easier to cope with than wiping.

I do hope you heal quickly.

You can pop any good barrier cream in the fridge - cold might be better than warm compresses - and a bag of frozen peas in a tea towel. Both helped me after a similar procedure!

When you sit on the toilet, lean forward so your hands touch the floor, should keep the wee away from the area
if that doesn’t work then pour warm water over or get in the shower and use the shower head when you go

Agree with PP about warm water using a jug or bottle when weeing. Not sure if this is something you could consider but I had this from boots and used it after labour not too long ago. IMO it’s miracle stuff, contains lavender oil, witch hazel and tea tree oil. https://myexpertmidwife.com/products/spritz-for-bits

I knew I’d come to the right place! Thank you all so so much. This is a marvellous place.

A little plastic jug is now stationed by the loo in the bathroom and I’m poised for next time I have to go. I’ve ordered some witch hazel (just contemplated using Optrex eye bath as that has some in but have decided not to risk making it worse!).

@shellyleppard Sudocrem is normally my go-to but it just brought me to an inventively-swearing mess earlier. Definitely glad of the suggestion, though.

@Ruminatingly Great suggestion, and I’m grateful for it, but it’s been checked by a doctor previously at my suggestion (DH has LS so we are very alive to it) and no sign of LS for me. Just very delicate, slightly atrophied, post-menopausal skin. Will have to ask for some topical oestrogen after this alongside my patches, which haven’t stopped it happening.

Just downed another glass of water and a green tea so I should be able to test out the warm water drench soon.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, AGAIN.

@MangledNethers sending hugs, I'm sorry the sudocrem didn't work. The menopause is an absolute bitch x

https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Days-Maternity-Witch-Hazel/dp/B093M7JNK3/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?adgrpid=186417958757&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MjEg8Bi1ZKG6PoTlZmc3yTS0rXUfuVBvoqzWNX5YqT75nrfeY8UhcHJb3nl3kKpH0wcs2vSoTo1c2vXB_iwWETIDRWGLZe1-n2lig7o2lxJSl8W6-q-zJvIObot1fUvxiabq1UBOvJaowuZQVOdjq-tNdIJphJu0DqfkaHXQBj4UPIlGTMyZNrJD9TUr3tBfKofcQS30Hv33tf11Y17Bjg.t8fn-Hze4sK-jz0K-_r721EEmLhvr2nHd5JECW1u3_E&dib_tag=se&gad_source=1&hvadid=793421730850&hvdev=m&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=1006839&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=16040010251945643160--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16040010251945643160&hvtargid=kwd-315473707569&hydadcr=8489_2428428_418194&keywords=witch+hazel+pads+postpartum&mcid=22d443f226b734b5b5db83e68d5f5931&qid=1777324328&sr=8-3

apologies for the massive link but witch hazel pads helped me post childbirth

I had a massively inflamed face last year and what finally helped was the the big tub of eczema washing cream, I sat in the bath and plastered it on my wet face, left it then washed it with water and repeated. Sounds too easy but it really did work and I was desperate. I’d tried sudocrem and almost hit the ceiling it was such a bad idea, but that stuff is so bland it was fine. I forget the name and I’m not at home to check.

If all else fails, I know it sounds revolting but I went whilst sitting in a warm tea tree oil bath. Just enough water to cover the area and then rinse.

Might have been oilatum.

I second sitting in a warm bath to pee.
Feel better soon.

Was the eczema washing cream Aqueous cream?

Vaseline,

Thirds for peeing in a warm bath (or shower with the spray head positioned where you need it - just make sure it's not a power shower). Sympathy OP. You poor thing.

I had very grazed lady parts after dc1. I recommend weeing in the bath, in the shower with the shower head directed 'down there' or peeing in a cup and position it so it catches the wee before it goes over your vulva, bit tricky but worked well.

How awful! 😩 you have your wee jug now, I know, but also wee when you're showering (I'm not a shower wee-er, but it was advised post birth episiotomy & was such a relief.)

I don’t have any advice not already given but just saying I hope you feel better soon, being a woman is quite rubbish sometimes.

What about zinc and castor oil?
Its a good barrier for nappy rash so might be helpful

Drinking lemon (or any fruit) barley water makes your wee less acidic so it should sting a bit less.