RLWmom,
Check out and you will see what I am talking about! Sometimes this happens to women when tramatic things happen down there. Let me know what you think.
CJ
Check out and you will see what I am talking about! Sometimes this happens to women when tramatic things happen down there. Let me know what you think.
CJ
Hi CJ
I did a google search for Vaginal Dilators and am embarrassed that I had to ask what they were. Silly me for thinking it was as simple as a cream. We'll see what the doctor says on Monday. Thanks for your advice!
RLWmom
I did a google search for Vaginal Dilators and am embarrassed that I had to ask what they were. Silly me for thinking it was as simple as a cream. We'll see what the doctor says on Monday. Thanks for your advice!
RLWmom
RLWmom,
Don't be embarassed! This whole thing is embarassing enough! : ( UGh! I would ask your gyn about the dilators for sure! I posted before that my CRS recommended them for this problem. Hope your appointment goes well and keep me posted.
CJ
Don't be embarassed! This whole thing is embarassing enough! : ( UGh! I would ask your gyn about the dilators for sure! I posted before that my CRS recommended them for this problem. Hope your appointment goes well and keep me posted.
CJ
Happy New Year !! Penny, you sound like where I was before I started this whole chapter of my life...no fistula, but leakage, so off to the CRS for a spchinter plasty and viola !! a fistula . How did you know you were allergic to Imodium? I know I will be back on the funky diet and taking that stuff again once I get the take down, so I am going to go ahead and schedule a tenative reversal of the colostomy for the end of Feb, first part of March. I am nervous, but I have the ok from both surgeons, so I think I will do this. Hard to believe it's been a whole year dealing with this and I sure hope it's coming to an end fast. ( at least the end I am praying and hoping for). You all have been such a great source of info and a tremendous support thru everything and I'm glad things are getting better all around as it sounds. Bea, hanging in there, I hope? beegirl, you sound like you are coming along great !! So happy for you. Well, back to work and back to shovelling snow, I really am starting to hate the sound of the snow plow coming down the road...ggrrr! flower
Hi everyone,
Looks like all systems go for you flower. With 2 doctors giving you the go ahead it would seem all is well. I can't remember if you've ever had the chance to use your post sphincterplasty muscle? I hope things work out for you. I think I am the exception there. I'm still trying meds, am now on lomotil daily to see if that's helpful. My face would swell after coming off of imodium after a few days. It didn't happen unless I took my self off for a bit. So far the lomotil seems to have few side effects. Not sure yet just what dose would be best. My MD said one of his patients cuts the pill in quarters, and it's tiny to begin with. I'm thinking i'll need more than that.
The anticipation before surgery is hard but it'll be good to get back to the road of more normal. We've been through so much.
Penny
Looks like all systems go for you flower. With 2 doctors giving you the go ahead it would seem all is well. I can't remember if you've ever had the chance to use your post sphincterplasty muscle? I hope things work out for you. I think I am the exception there. I'm still trying meds, am now on lomotil daily to see if that's helpful. My face would swell after coming off of imodium after a few days. It didn't happen unless I took my self off for a bit. So far the lomotil seems to have few side effects. Not sure yet just what dose would be best. My MD said one of his patients cuts the pill in quarters, and it's tiny to begin with. I'm thinking i'll need more than that.
The anticipation before surgery is hard but it'll be good to get back to the road of more normal. We've been through so much.
Penny
Hi All!
I went to my OB on Monday for my annual exam and basically cried the entire time. I don't know what happened, but I just couldn't put on a brave face anymore. I can't even explain the crying away to the pain of the exam, since I started before he even touched me. But anyway.....
CJ - My doctor says I have vaginismus and he recommended either dilators or a vibrator to help open me back up. He said I could go to a physical therapist, but I think he quickly realized that the last thing I want is to go to yet ANOTHER doctor. He said if I haven't made any progress on my own in the next three months that I should give him a call. So I ordered some dilators last night and hope they arrive soon.
The good news is that he said everything looked fine and that he couldn't even see the fistula. So that's good. He said I should keep up with the estrogen cream three times a week and hopefully things will continue to close on their own. Fingers crossed.
I hope everyone else is doing well. Here's to a great 2010 full of good health and happiness for us all!!!!!
Cheers,
RLWmom
I went to my OB on Monday for my annual exam and basically cried the entire time. I don't know what happened, but I just couldn't put on a brave face anymore. I can't even explain the crying away to the pain of the exam, since I started before he even touched me. But anyway.....
CJ - My doctor says I have vaginismus and he recommended either dilators or a vibrator to help open me back up. He said I could go to a physical therapist, but I think he quickly realized that the last thing I want is to go to yet ANOTHER doctor. He said if I haven't made any progress on my own in the next three months that I should give him a call. So I ordered some dilators last night and hope they arrive soon.
The good news is that he said everything looked fine and that he couldn't even see the fistula. So that's good. He said I should keep up with the estrogen cream three times a week and hopefully things will continue to close on their own. Fingers crossed.
I hope everyone else is doing well. Here's to a great 2010 full of good health and happiness for us all!!!!!
Cheers,
RLWmom
RLWmom,
I am so sorry! I feel your pain and my heart aches for you. I am glad that you ordered dilators. I did as well and have been working on the beginning steps. Hopefully this will help me as well because my husband and I have not had sex in a long time because I am have been scared and my doctor also said I have vaginismus.
I will be praying for you! Let me know how things go and I will do the same. At least I know I am not the only one with this problem.
How have your fistula symptoms been? Have you had any gas or stool come through? Sometimes I think mine is gone... and then I think I feel gas. Ugh!
Hope everyone is doing well.
Talk to you soon,
CJ
I am so sorry! I feel your pain and my heart aches for you. I am glad that you ordered dilators. I did as well and have been working on the beginning steps. Hopefully this will help me as well because my husband and I have not had sex in a long time because I am have been scared and my doctor also said I have vaginismus.
I will be praying for you! Let me know how things go and I will do the same. At least I know I am not the only one with this problem.
How have your fistula symptoms been? Have you had any gas or stool come through? Sometimes I think mine is gone... and then I think I feel gas. Ugh!
Hope everyone is doing well.
Talk to you soon,
CJ
Hey Penny ! I am scheduled for one more test in CLE, a hypaque enema and my Gen surgeon here said it was ok and really a good idea to have done, so that is where I am now. Then I am trying to not get too excited about the take down...I have never had the chance to really use my post op sphinct=plasty muscle because the fistula was a problem right away....so I am hoping things will work there and there won't be the "can't get to the bathroom fast enough, because I can't hold it" situation anymore. I will still have very fast transit time as far as the digestion goes.....I am just me and that is how my body is, I just want to have some control is all. And I will always have the diarrhea, loose stools...never been constipated in my life, situation too. But I want to wear my own jeans and other clothing !! It was but a small price to pay w colostomy to heal the fistula so I am not whining. I will pay attention to my body after I take the imodium too, and my nephew who is a foot surgeon said the best thing is to cut pills also. So it's a waiting game, so time to do fafsa, 1040's and all that good stuff while I wait,,,ho hum. RLWmom...hang in there and just be patient and do what you have to.
flower
flower
Hi Flower
Sounds like you are on track! I just wanted you to know that I'm thinking about you. I know that using your sphincter post-op can be tricky (and I didn't have the colostomy to postpone it all), but I just wanted you to know how gratifying it is to be able to wear regular underwear and pants again! I wore those wretched mesh panties and skirts for the first three months post-sphincteroplasty for fear of having an accident, but it felt so good to move on and wear my own stuff again. The thongs are still in the back of my drawer, but that would have probably been the case post-birth without the surgery. :-) Hang in there and kudos for all your hard work! We're all on the road to recovery. I can feel it!
Cheers,
RLWmom
Sounds like you are on track! I just wanted you to know that I'm thinking about you. I know that using your sphincter post-op can be tricky (and I didn't have the colostomy to postpone it all), but I just wanted you to know how gratifying it is to be able to wear regular underwear and pants again! I wore those wretched mesh panties and skirts for the first three months post-sphincteroplasty for fear of having an accident, but it felt so good to move on and wear my own stuff again. The thongs are still in the back of my drawer, but that would have probably been the case post-birth without the surgery. :-) Hang in there and kudos for all your hard work! We're all on the road to recovery. I can feel it!
Cheers,
RLWmom
Hi Ladies,
I have been pouring over this topic and hate to say that I must join in on the conversation. I was diagnosed with a RVF after the birth of my last child in Aug. 09. It is very distal and along with this I also have difficulty with my sphincter muscle. I have seen a CRS but he has recommended I wait to have surgery until after I wean my daughter. I am willing to put up with the problem until then but was wondering if any has continued to nurse their baby after having surgery (if your RVF was due to childbirth). Honestly, after reading these forumn posts I am really worried about having surgery because it seems no one has just one and then is fine! Anywho, I would love to hear any advice regarding the breastfeeding or anything else regarding having a RVF.
Tisha
I have been pouring over this topic and hate to say that I must join in on the conversation. I was diagnosed with a RVF after the birth of my last child in Aug. 09. It is very distal and along with this I also have difficulty with my sphincter muscle. I have seen a CRS but he has recommended I wait to have surgery until after I wean my daughter. I am willing to put up with the problem until then but was wondering if any has continued to nurse their baby after having surgery (if your RVF was due to childbirth). Honestly, after reading these forumn posts I am really worried about having surgery because it seems no one has just one and then is fine! Anywho, I would love to hear any advice regarding the breastfeeding or anything else regarding having a RVF.
Tisha
Hi Tisha
I had the sphincteroplasty and RVF repair 6 months post-birth and prior to weaning my daughter, and have to say I would not do it that way again. My doctors told me it "could" be helpful to not be breastfeeding during surgery so that the tissues have their optimum thickness and ability to heal. I read the "could" as an option, but found after the surgery failed and the fistula reopened that that "could" should have been a "would". I stopped nursing four months after surgery and KNOW that my fistula has gotten smaller since then. All I can think now is that, had I stopped nursing prior to the surgery, the procedure may have been more successful.
If I were you, I would definitely wait to have the surgery until you finished nursing. You basically want to stack the deck as much in your favor as possible to promote healing in these situations, and this is something that will DEFINITELY help. I wish my doctor had been firmer about it prior to my procedure. That said, I may not have listened anyway b/c I had it in my head that I wanted to nurse for the first year. I made it ten months before my daughter rejected me and, as heartbreaking as it was, it was for the best thing for both of us.
Hope this was helpful. Best of luck!
RLWmom
I had the sphincteroplasty and RVF repair 6 months post-birth and prior to weaning my daughter, and have to say I would not do it that way again. My doctors told me it "could" be helpful to not be breastfeeding during surgery so that the tissues have their optimum thickness and ability to heal. I read the "could" as an option, but found after the surgery failed and the fistula reopened that that "could" should have been a "would". I stopped nursing four months after surgery and KNOW that my fistula has gotten smaller since then. All I can think now is that, had I stopped nursing prior to the surgery, the procedure may have been more successful.
If I were you, I would definitely wait to have the surgery until you finished nursing. You basically want to stack the deck as much in your favor as possible to promote healing in these situations, and this is something that will DEFINITELY help. I wish my doctor had been firmer about it prior to my procedure. That said, I may not have listened anyway b/c I had it in my head that I wanted to nurse for the first year. I made it ten months before my daughter rejected me and, as heartbreaking as it was, it was for the best thing for both of us.
Hope this was helpful. Best of luck!
RLWmom
RLWmom,
I see that you live in the DC area. I was wondering where and who did your surgery? Dh is military so that limits who will accept my insurance but just curious since my need a second opinion, etc before deciding which doctor to go with. I am definately waiting for the surgery as breastfeeding is very important to me and I do want to do all I can to help it "take".
I see that you live in the DC area. I was wondering where and who did your surgery? Dh is military so that limits who will accept my insurance but just curious since my need a second opinion, etc before deciding which doctor to go with. I am definately waiting for the surgery as breastfeeding is very important to me and I do want to do all I can to help it "take".
hello. i've been lurking on this site since i realized i have a rvf. I am two months postpartum, after giving birth to a shoulder dystocia baby that weighed 9lbs 13oz. I ended up with a 4th degree episiotomy as a result. I noticed 3 days after that I was leaking gas from the wrong place! Anyways, my doc said to come back after a month and if it was still there we would have to repair it with a repeat episiotomy. NOT HAPPY about this. BUT i also dont want to live with this problem. I am grateful that (as far as I know) I haven't had any stool pass.
So my health coverage will only cover the surgery if I have it by the end of this month!!! o.O I am very very lucky that besides the fistula, i have absolutely no incontinence. So i am worried that a repeat episiotomy will leave me with some.
Anyways I just wanted to share my story and see what your thoughts/opinions/suggestions/words of wisdom are. :-) I'm glad i found this site.
So my health coverage will only cover the surgery if I have it by the end of this month!!! o.O I am very very lucky that besides the fistula, i have absolutely no incontinence. So i am worried that a repeat episiotomy will leave me with some.
Anyways I just wanted to share my story and see what your thoughts/opinions/suggestions/words of wisdom are. :-) I'm glad i found this site.
New Guest,
Sorry that you have an RVF!! Who would do the surgery? your OB? I haven't heard of repair where they just try to redo the epsiotomy. My RVF is a result of my first baby and when I had my second baby the doctor tried to fix the RVF when I had to get another epsiotomy then. It didn't work.
I think you should go see a CRS. I don't understand why your insurance is making you have this surgery in a month or else they won't cover it. Most doctors recommend that you wait a few months before having an RVF repaired in order for the area to heal.
I hope things work out for you! Like you said thankfully you don't have incontience or stool coming through! That's a blessing.
Write back if you have more questions.
CJ
Sorry that you have an RVF!! Who would do the surgery? your OB? I haven't heard of repair where they just try to redo the epsiotomy. My RVF is a result of my first baby and when I had my second baby the doctor tried to fix the RVF when I had to get another epsiotomy then. It didn't work.
I think you should go see a CRS. I don't understand why your insurance is making you have this surgery in a month or else they won't cover it. Most doctors recommend that you wait a few months before having an RVF repaired in order for the area to heal.
I hope things work out for you! Like you said thankfully you don't have incontience or stool coming through! That's a blessing.
Write back if you have more questions.
CJ
Hi, I have been reading through your posts and I am glad that I finaly have someone to talk to who truely understands. I will try and keep my story as short as possible.
In october 2007 I gave birth to a 6lb6oz baby girl, no complications during birth at all, but did have pre eclampsia and was induced at 37 weeks. I only had grazing during birth and didnt require any stitches at all. When she was 3 months old I found out i was pregnant again. Pregnancy was fine this time but i was induced at 38 weeks due to spd. I progressed very quickly, only having around 3 hours in full labour. Babys shoulder got stuck and the midwife was pretty useless and encouraged me to continue pushing, then his chin also got stuck so sheyanked him out resulting in a 4th degree tear. A few weeks after the birth i noticed some holes appear in my perineum and saw a speicalist who said he would see me in another three weeks as he wasnt prepared to do anything before 6 weeks post partum. I never recieved an appointment just a letter saying i had been discharged. Anyway I have never been happy with how things have healed and my vagina looks completely different and intercourse is painful particularly at the start- it almost feels as everything is being ripped open again. Several times when having diarrhoea i had thought that some had come through my vagina but wasnt certain. I am now 14 months post partum and on a diet pill prescribed by the dr and it causes quite a lot of diarrhoea, well it is now evident that yes, stool is definitely coming through my vagina as is quite a lot of gas. Also I am having several accidents on a daily basis from my rectum. When I talked to my gp about it, he did an examination, and I barely felt anything with the rectal exam, so i am assuming that i have some nerve damage and maybe that is why i am incontinent. He has referred me to a gynaecologist, who i see on the 20th jan. My partner is quite keen for me to open a lawsuit as its affecting daily life. I am very worried about seeing the gynae and also very embarrassed.
I want to say thank you to you all as by reading your posts you have shown me that i am not alone, and wherever my treatment may go I know that there will be people who understand. My partner, bless him, does try, but i dont think he understnds things from an emotional point of view, or maybe he just doesnt want me to see how concerned he is. I am really scared as to what is going to happen next. I really am fed up of the incontinence.
Look forward to getting to know you all
Simone
xx
In october 2007 I gave birth to a 6lb6oz baby girl, no complications during birth at all, but did have pre eclampsia and was induced at 37 weeks. I only had grazing during birth and didnt require any stitches at all. When she was 3 months old I found out i was pregnant again. Pregnancy was fine this time but i was induced at 38 weeks due to spd. I progressed very quickly, only having around 3 hours in full labour. Babys shoulder got stuck and the midwife was pretty useless and encouraged me to continue pushing, then his chin also got stuck so sheyanked him out resulting in a 4th degree tear. A few weeks after the birth i noticed some holes appear in my perineum and saw a speicalist who said he would see me in another three weeks as he wasnt prepared to do anything before 6 weeks post partum. I never recieved an appointment just a letter saying i had been discharged. Anyway I have never been happy with how things have healed and my vagina looks completely different and intercourse is painful particularly at the start- it almost feels as everything is being ripped open again. Several times when having diarrhoea i had thought that some had come through my vagina but wasnt certain. I am now 14 months post partum and on a diet pill prescribed by the dr and it causes quite a lot of diarrhoea, well it is now evident that yes, stool is definitely coming through my vagina as is quite a lot of gas. Also I am having several accidents on a daily basis from my rectum. When I talked to my gp about it, he did an examination, and I barely felt anything with the rectal exam, so i am assuming that i have some nerve damage and maybe that is why i am incontinent. He has referred me to a gynaecologist, who i see on the 20th jan. My partner is quite keen for me to open a lawsuit as its affecting daily life. I am very worried about seeing the gynae and also very embarrassed.
I want to say thank you to you all as by reading your posts you have shown me that i am not alone, and wherever my treatment may go I know that there will be people who understand. My partner, bless him, does try, but i dont think he understnds things from an emotional point of view, or maybe he just doesnt want me to see how concerned he is. I am really scared as to what is going to happen next. I really am fed up of the incontinence.
Look forward to getting to know you all
Simone
xx