Tears & obstetric damage support Group
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Topic: Tears & obstetric damage support Group
Posted By: Guest_71654
Subject: Tears & obstetric damage support Group
Date Posted: 22 May 2012 at 2:05pm
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Hi Everyone
This may be a bit of a sticky topic but 10 months ago I gave birth to my daughter Charlie. During her delivery I sustained a 4th degree tear which has led to severe damage. It has been a real rough 10 months and I am looking to see if there are any other women out there who have been through something similar. Maybe we could start a thread so we can support each other. Anyone else out there???? |
Replies:
Posted By: Mrs Mac
Date Posted: 25 June 2012 at 7:41pm
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My little guy is 5 months, and I had a 3rd degree tear through my cervix, heading back. Not as bad as yours, but I'm not happy with how it's healed, ongoing consultations with the Tear Clinic at the hospital etc. It would be good to talk to someone in a similar situation. -------------    Jan '13
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Posted By: Guest_71654
Date Posted: 26 June 2012 at 11:26am
| Hi Naomi, That sucks. its so annoting that you have to deal with this and the new challenges of being a new mum. My baby girl turns one on 2nd July and I still have ongoing issues. I am under a colorectal surgeon and gyne. What have they told you is the prognosis? are they going to have to refix it? I am glad I am not the only one. |
Posted By: LittleBoPeep
Date Posted: 26 June 2012 at 9:07pm
| I am in a similar situation too. I was meant to have surgery to correct it in May, but a couple of days before the surgery, after feeling unwell for quite a while I found out I was pregnant again (I swear it must have been an immaculate conception). I am pretty upset by it all. I am sorry to hear what you have been through, but also glad to be not the only one |
Posted By: Keleho
Date Posted: 28 June 2012 at 1:52pm
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I *only* had a 2nd degree tear but I never felt it healed right. 3 months post I got referred to a gynocologist and as well as an incorrect repair which is painful, I have a partially prolapsed bladder and cervix that give me issues (resulting from giving birth to DD2). Im not advised to have any more babies naturally (although am able to carry them, just have to have c-sections) and will need surgery to repair the damage, which will be after we finish our family.
Its so annoying, I wanted two more kids but it does cross my mind that ill have to put up with this for a long while yet to do that so Im not 100% sure anymore  ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 05 July 2012 at 10:53am
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Hi Ladies
I had a horrible birth in January, I was treated disgustingly and it resulted in a forth degree tear. Its been five and half months and I experience chronic perennial pain when carrying out normal daily activities. But I have no prolapse. I have been told be Gyane at CHCH Women's that my tear has healed correctly and the pain I am in is not normal. I was told to have sex at 13 weeks postpartum which was awful and I was confined to bed for 3 days afterwards. I have tried again twice since then with the same results. I have also been told this is not normal. After being fobbed off twice in follow up appointments where I was basically told to go home and suffer in silence, I was told I would need a minor surgery where Botox is applied to the area to paralyze muscle spasms, which could be what is causing the pain. However the Dr was not convinced that this was the problem and told me the surgery probably wont work and to come back in 3 months and she would put me on the waiting list. I asked to be refereed to go private and she consulted with a colleague, which she then said they would so the surgery as early as August. What I would like to know is: 1) Are there any other women who have been experiencing the same ongoing pain symptoms and been told its not normal? 2) And what have you been recommended for treatment? 3) Has anyone had the Botox surgery? Great idea of forming a support forum. Is anyone else in chch? |
Posted By: LittleBoPeep
Date Posted: 11 July 2012 at 9:01am
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I am in Chch also. I have heard great things about the botox treatment. The Dr that does it as Chch womans (a man can't remember his name), was great. Worth pretending you are interesting to see him. I was referred to him as a potential botox candidate, he said that wasn't the issue and was going to operate. He specialises in sex and girly bits and also works privately.
Who did your stitching? |
Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 11 July 2012 at 1:51pm
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Dr. Perry did my suturing, and Dr Ben Sharp does the Botox treatment. A friend had him for her third baby and said he has excellent bedside manner, he went above and beyond in her care.
I got a second opinion today with Dr Colin Conaghan at Christchurch Obstetrics Associates, he agreed with all the conservative treatment I had so far and agrees the surgery is the best option for me now. But in his opinion he would hold off on the Botox treatment, to see if surgery itself would work and try Botox as a second option if it didn't work. I didn't realise that my private consultation would be cover under ACC, and my other therapies should be covered too. Thank goodness I have kept all the receipts so I can claim on them. I tried to get some information from Outpatients on when I would get an opportunity to meet with Dr Sharp but they were clueless as to how the process works. Dr Conghan reassured me I will have an appointment to ask questions before the surgery. Now I just need to decide where to proceed from here. Are you on the wait list to have surgery after you have next baby? Are you interested in meeting up? I am in St Albans. |
Posted By: Mrs Mac
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 9:03am
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I've been bounced around from one specialist to another, apparently I have a lot of scar tissue and no one can decide if it needs to come out or if it will heal up and stop hurting on it's own. Sex is still frickin painful and DH and I are thinking of paying to see someone privately for a second (and hopefully definitive)opinion. Also, the gynecologist thinks my cervix needs help or I could have problems in subsequent pregnancies. Her boss disagrees.
I think I'd be OK if I had a decent answer, what's frustrating me is all the contradictions. ------------- Jan '13
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Posted By: Mrs Mac
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 9:06am
Just subscribing to this thread!  ------------- Jan '13
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Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 3:16pm
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I would get on to getting a second opinion privately and that will be covered under ACC. Get your GP to do the referral, that will get you seen sooner. Talk to your GP to find out if a claim has ready been made for you and get him/her to make the claim if it hasn't.
I know how frustrating it is getting different opinions from all the departments. The Gyne and the physio department at Chch don't appear to work together which is a major annoyance. I saw a new physio last week, who is highly specialised in this area, who does an assessments before more surgery. She has been able to pinpoint the scar tissue that should be removed and does not believe at this stage Botox will be necessary. You just have to kept pushing and pushing and until your taken seriously. If you don't have a supportive GP I would urge you to consider getting another one. I know I would still be suffering in silence if it wasn't for my GP. He has been fantastic support. |
Posted By: LittleBoPeep
Date Posted: 03 August 2012 at 6:35pm
| That is great Eassa! My GP and other Dr's as soon as I mentioned ACC went very funny. Like they didn't want to nark on each other. Who was the physio that you saw? |
Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 05 August 2012 at 12:12pm
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I am seeing Marie Frost. She started me on low level laser therapy to see if it could be an alternative to surgery.
ACC has approved my claim this week. I got my surgery date for later this month, but I am not sure if I am going to go through with it. I would like to give the laser therapy a bit longer. I will talk to Marie later this week and see what her professional opinion is. |
Posted By: AnzacAugust
Date Posted: 07 August 2012 at 1:20pm
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I'm curious 4 months pp and sex hurts like mad, and my scar is bulgy. However normal activities don't bother me, tampons hurt too.
Wondering if I should be concerned or am I being a sissy, I didn't have a tear I had an epistostmy (?) but she said it was 4 layers? I'm not sure if this is related but I have had chronic thrush since birth. |
Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 07 August 2012 at 4:46pm
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Guest_88685
I would get your GP to do an referral to the Gyane outpatients so they can assess you and answer your questions. I think the recovery period for an episiotomy can be different for everyone due to the skill of the physician performing it. You could put bio oil on your scar to help with the bulginess. I found that has worked for myself. You absolutely should not suffer in silence, and don't let anyone tell you, you are being a sissy. You know your body better than anyone else. I think its best to get on to it early as the hospital systems are very slow in my experience. Sex is never the same as it was before a baby and can be quite sore for a while even for people who have had c-sections. But as you said it hurts like mad its worth talking to someone about it. |
Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 07 August 2012 at 4:50pm
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In addition any laddies that need to have further surgery in the future for their tear. I was just on the phone to ACC today and have been told I should be entitled to care for my son in the weeks following my surgery. I can also pick the carer and ACC will pay them. So if you are in a similar position get on to ACC.
I only wish I had know this post birth as I really could have done with someone then. |
Posted By: Keleho
Date Posted: 08 August 2012 at 8:24am
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Oh thats great to know, thanks eassa! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Mrs Mac
Date Posted: 08 August 2012 at 8:33am
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All the things they don't tell you! I have an appointment to see a new gyne next week. Really looking forward to a second opinion. ------------- Jan '13
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Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 10 August 2012 at 8:25am
| Well I have decided to go through with the surgery on the 23rd of August. I have mixed emotions about it, which no doubt will get stronger as the date approaches. My physio believes this is my best option and we may continue using LLLT after the surgery. |
Posted By: MumtoMany
Date Posted: 10 August 2012 at 11:25am
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I have not been through anything like this but i just wanted to say how sorry i am that you laddies have had to go through such a traumatic thing at what should be such a special time. I will say i no someone who tore out the whole side and back of her. The Ob had never seen anything like it and that person spent hours getting it fixed. Her next child 4 years later she had a csection and it was a very happy out come with no PND etc like the first time after everything she went through. I wish you all the best with everything. ------------- DD 12 DS 9.5 DD 6 DS 4 DD 23 months and here comes number 6 http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: Keleho
Date Posted: 14 August 2012 at 9:48am
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Hi ladies - I should have put my post in here perhaps
http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42437&PN=1 |
Posted By: LittleBoPeep
Date Posted: 16 August 2012 at 8:02pm
| That is great to hear Eassa, sorry to hear you need surgery but great you have been listened too. Great about the carer help, I will look into that for next year. How are you feeling about it now? |
Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 17 August 2012 at 9:01am
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I am determined to only think positively about the surgery. I am really nervous but I am trying to channel that energy into excitement of being healed and getting on with my life. I only wish the gyane Dr Singh was a positive person herself.
ACC have been fantastic. They have been getting a lot of bad press in the media, but my experience have been completely positive and easy. They organised for a nanny from one of the local agencies to come from 9-4:30pm week days for 4-6 weeks. My needs with will be reassessed after four weeks and if i need help then it will continue. |
Posted By: Mrs Mac
Date Posted: 18 August 2012 at 9:16pm
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I'm so frustrated, I keep being told that my tear has healed and the scar tissue isn't too bad, but 6 months on and I can't enjoy sex, and I can't walk properly the day after. I don't suppose anyone knows of someone in Auckland who specialises in this type of thing? The Tear Clinic at the Manukau Superclinic can't decide if something needs to be done or if it will get better over time (6 months isn't enough?)
I've told DH that we need to start on number 2 to stretch everything out! ------------- Jan '13
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Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 19 August 2012 at 2:48pm
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Hey Naomi I am in the same position as you. Tear has healed correctly but sex its horrid and I can't walk the day after or hold and lift my son. The Gyane said I should wait longer and see if it would continue to heal, but the physio said I had healed as much as I was going to heal after six months. So I demanded the surgery.
Of course there is the risk that the surgery won't work or could possibly make my situation worse, but I decided its worth it. At 24 i am not going to accept the circumstance i am in. |
Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 03 September 2012 at 5:54pm
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Hi ladies I thought it was time to update you all on how my surgery went.
Well the day went very smoothly. I had requested to be first on the surgically list for the afternoon as I am still breastfeeding and this was no problem. I had my husband, my mum and son there to support me. I met Dr Sharp who is lovely and he decided to proceed with the Botox after an exam. He then informed me I was to wait two weeks before having sex and then "go at it like rabbits". Haha. The surgery took 30 minutes and I woke in recovery very alert. Had to wait 40 minutes before I could be moved to the Step Down Unit as they were short on beds. Hubby, my son and mum were all there with me. I had a small meal and expressed off the first lot of milk to discard. I only had to stay 3 hours afterwards, as again they were short on beds. They gave me hardly any pain relief to take home which was annoying but I managed to survive. I was very tender and sore for the first six days. Now each day I am feeling a little bit better and I am able to get around the house with no troubles (excluding picking up and carrying my son). My husband took the first four days off work to help me and I now have in home help every day to do the lifting and carrying of my son and to help with the house work. I am resuming LLLT on Thursday with Maree Frost. I am a little nervous about having sex again as of course its going to be a bit painful for a while. I have a follow up appointment with Dr Singh in five weeks to see how everything is settling down. I am feeling positive about this experience and looking forward to getting my independence back and starting to exercise again. |
Posted By: TeacherLady
Date Posted: 13 November 2012 at 9:36am
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Just found this group eassa: how are things now for you? I had a third degree tear and episiotomy after the birth of DS 6 weeks ago. Also a small tear in my bum Surgery afterwards took a couple of hours and so far things seem to be good. The pain afterwards was terrible and I was on some good painkillers for a couple of weeks. Every now and then things feel tight and sore, but I try and take things easy. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 13 November 2012 at 10:44am
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Hi TeacherLady Its been 10 weeks since my surgery and things have defiantly improved. I still have got a long way to go with pelvic pain. If you have any question please dont hesitate to ask me. Are you aware you are entitled to help from ACC? |
Posted By: TeacherLady
Date Posted: 15 November 2012 at 8:41am
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I didn't know about the ACC help- what does that mean? I am off to the Women's physio next Monday, and then have a check up at the Women's surgical unit sometime soon. I am glad that things have improved eassa. Giving birth sure can be brutal! In my case it was 2.5 hours of pushing and a 38cm head that did the trick Did your damage happen from your first baby? Do you want more? I couldn't go through that again- but my husband and I decided before we even started trying that one was the number for us- lucky!  ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: eassa
Date Posted: 15 November 2012 at 10:25am
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You are entitled to help from ACC for a 'treatment injury'. Your GP can make the application for you on your behalf. ACC can provide help for counseling, an osteopath and homehelp if you need it. There will also cover the cost of a private second opinion. Just ring ACC and they will let you know what they can help you with. I had six weeks home help after my second surgery which was a major help as I could not lift my son. I would strongly advise you see an osteopath for yourself and your baby as you may have some damage to your pelvis from an extended labour. I pushed for four hours and have quiet a lot of ongoing pelvic pain. Babies that come rapidly or are suck like ours often have pinched nerves, miss-shaped heads and this can cause colic, reflux, problems with sleeping, ear infections and problems later in childhood. So it a good idea to take them as soon as possible. Untreated problems in the pelvis with later cause back, neck, knee and ancle problems. So it is important to get onto as soon as possible. We had planned on having four children but after the trama and abuse I suffered from my first we will probably just have the one. I can't have any more natural birth as the likelihood of another 4th degree tear is very high and the damage would be beyond repair and I would have to have a colostomy bag for the rest of my life. Enquire with your physio whether Low Level Laser Therapy is available as this greatly benefitted me and speed up some of the recovery time. Bio oil can help with the tightness you are experiencing You can also ask from your GP or Gyane for a prescription for Lignocaine. It is an antiseptic gel that is very helpful to use before sex (if your ready to of course). On another note if you are not happy with what happen at your birth you can seek help from an advocate from the Health and Disability Commission. An advocate will come to you to discuss any concerns you may have about care your received and discuss any breeches of human rights. |
Posted By: TeacherLady
Date Posted: 19 November 2012 at 11:09am
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That help from ACC sounds good- I don't think I need any assistance in that way though. Good to know! Fergus and I saw an osteopath when he was 2 and 3 weeks old to help with the long labour and any kinks etc that were there. It greatly helped with Fergus' hiccups (he was getting them about 20 times a day- down to a couple of times now!) and the osteopath helped to sync my breathing and pelvic floor. I just got back from the women's health physio at the hospital here and she talked to me about everything- about what is normal and what I need to do and not do. She is impressed with my Pelvic floor strength and how things are going. She mentioned that a prolapse could happen at anytime and not to do any heavy lifting (no problem there), no sports (no problem there either!) and that if I get pregnant again or have another baby there could be serious issues (we are only having one child so all sorted there). I don't mean to pry eassa, but what did you mean by abuse that you suffered? Here I am thinking that I had serious damage and trauma, but you sound as though you have suffered a lot worse. In a funny way though, I feel as though my human rights are fine and dandy. My midwife was absolutely amazing and this was the first time that any damage like this has ever happened to any of her patients. I don't consider her at fault in anyway and would totally recommend her to anyone. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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