Anyone still healing? Am I normal!

[boovert]

Hi Ladies, I'm just wondering if anyone else is still healing up? I need to know if I'm normal or not? My MW say's my bottom looked really good at the 2 week check up but should I still have swelling and some of my inside area is still outside or?? Also when going poo I bleed bad. I had a few stiches and my butt hole was never hurt so what gives. PLUS I feel like I should be walking but still can't I waddle like a duck and it hurts.

Right now It feels like I have a huge wedgie (sp?) and how can anyone think about sex? My MW think's I should already be doing things. I'm mostly scared about my inside skin hanging out.

Then having 3 people bash me because they think I should already be walking and being normal. They told me that my MW doesn't know anything and that I could have a major infection, or whatever else. They keep on telling me to see a doctor and that they'll pay for it and even come with me. Ugh..........: Please let me know if I'm normal? or if I should see someone about this instead of my mw.

boovert

[Wittyone]

Yikes girl, you are having a rough time huh? The bleeding with a bowel movement is *probably* d/t hemorrhoids (internal ones aren't necessarily painful or itchy). The swelling should be gone by two weeks unless you have been up and about WAY too much since day 1. The wedgie feeling is probably the swelling, but if you feel like your insides are hanging out that should certainly be checked out!!! I think I agree about getting a second opinion...you should definitely be feeling/moving better after two weeks. Not that you should be forcing yourself to do more than you feel up to, but it sounds like there is something going on

[aweynsayl]

Oooh, sweetie. No idea, but huge hugs!!!

[AdinaL]

Oh boovert!

I am still healing.

Are you doing your kegels?? That will help TREMENDOUSLY with the "hanging out" feeling. Until I started doing them regularly, I wasn't improving much.

As for feeling rough - I am still healing - I have a couple of raw spots that are still healing where my stitches rubbed. My stitches are out finally - are yours?

I would imagine your midwife does know what she is talking about - but it does take a while.

Have you been doing stiz baths? Preferably with some herbs in them? A good blend with some comfrey? That made a HUGE difference for me.

Chances are you abdominal muscles are also having a hard time kicking back in. I had to push myself a bit before I really felt like I could do anything, and then I began to get better a lot faster. It is normal to want to favor injuries - but the more you favor them the longer they take to heal.

Keep taking it easy - but try and add something to your activities every day. I am coming up on three weeks out and until last Saturday/Sunday (2 weeks post partum) I didn't feel up to speed - now I am still tired, but am feeling better - this last week has made a huge difference.

I am still waddling a little - especially when I get tired - my pubic bone hurts frequently - did you have problems with your pubic bone? A trip to the chiropractor might be in order!

As for an infection - do you have pain? Does your lochia smell strange?

I would imagine that the bleeding when you poop is hemmorhoids, not lochia.

If it would make you feel better, than go see a doc for sure!!! As I recall - you didn't gel with your midwife much at all did you? If that's the case, go get checked out.

I am sorry recovery is so hard for you - I had a couple days where it felt like I wasn't going to get better ever. I am still peeing in a stiz bath of warm water - so it won't sting, and I still need naps. It does take time, and unfortunately - it is such a sensitive area - that the time feels like forever.

[boovert]

Thanks Adinal (and everyone else who posted)- At least I know someone is also still recovering too. I'm going on week 4 and still have to use my squirt bottle when peeing. I have been trying to take epson salt baths but it starts burning and itching like crazy. I also think it dries me out so that too causes problems. My midwife never even told me what I could do for bathing. What I could put in the water etc...

My stitches are suppose to come out on their own but I still have them- Have to trim the stitch strings every few days. Or my husband does. ouch!!

I smell like I have a build up of dead skin down there and it smells weird. I'm not bleeding- just a little mucus now and again. Sorry but I just have to say whats going on. Though it is horrilbe to talk about. And yes I do have pain but can't really pin point it down there. Because of the pain I don't think I will ever have a child again. My husband even agrees- Its to much for my body.

For over doing it- I'm not sure- Is walking straight for an hour to much? or could sitting around cause pain and sweeling?

Boovert

[AdinaL]

Some ways of sitting around can increase the swelling - if I had too much pressure on my tail bone - I would be more swollen.

It sounds like you need a trip to the doctor. Your stitches should have fallen out by now if they are the self dissolving kind. And if you are getting a weird smell, like it might be infected, then yeah - I would check it out.

As for stiz baths...I would lose the epsom salt - salt on open wounds would make me want to climb the walls. The blend I have been using - which helped a ton is from Cascade (http://www.1cascade.com) and is this one: http://www.1cascade.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=243

It sounds like your midwife wasn't a good fit for you. I am sorry about that. After seeing a doc and healing a bit more - it might be good to really confront her about her care - and what you feel like was left out. And please - talk about it! The more you ask the more answers you can get.

Don't write off having another baby yet. A week ago - I told my DH the same thing...too much recovery time and I felt like crap. But as you get better, you will feel better. This is the toughest part I think. Truthfully labor was a breeze compared to the healing.

The best thing you can do is keep clean down there. Rinse frequently, after you go to the bathroom every time - and any time you feel like it! And let yourself dry out - panty free time after showers and the like. If you can't air out - dry well!!

It sounds like you do need to be doing kegels - since it sounds like you are swollen still.

Did you post your birth story? I don't remember reading it - or reading the circumstances that went along with your birth.

I know this is tough. It will get better - after a tough day last week I looked at my husband and said "It has to heal right - I am not just going to be raw forever right?" He assured me it will - so let me pass that one - it WILL heal, you will feel better!

[boovert]

AdinaL- Thanks for posting back. Had my husband check me last night. This is what he saw- It looks like the Midwife didn't stitch me up tight enough and there is major swelling. He say's it looks better since April 29- the last time he checked. So embarrassing to talk about but :

Been trying the kegels- in fact I catch myself during them when I try sleeping at night. Also is there any medication out there for swelling or ?? that I should be taking to heal myself. MW say's I shouldn't need to be taking Ibuprofen but what the hey!!

Does anyone know what happens if the midwife didn't stitch you up tight enough? Am I going to be screwed up down there for the rest of my life?

boovert

[clynnr]

Take the Ibuprofen! I took 600mg every 4-6 hours for at least two weeks, starting immediately after birth--did it last time too (only then I had an Rx for 800 mg every 8 hours). It helps with the swelling and the pain. Also, at the hospital they told me to use the ice packs just for the first 24 hours, but I kept using them the whole time I was there--they felt sooooooo good. If cold is better than warm (like a bath) try that. As far as baths go, they told me to do four 10-15 minute sitz baths a day. I just used plain water. Make sure not to use any soaps or anything that is going to make you more itchy.

I would definitely go get a second opinion if you are concerned at all--it's worth it! I'm sorry!

[Wittyone]

Boovert~
One of my midwive's sayings is that you put two pieces of perineum is the same room and they will find each other As in, the perineum is able to heal incredibly well and the stitches are just there for extra support. However, like any other wound, it is possible to develop an infection which slows the healing. Adina had some great advice about sitz baths and Kegels - these have been really helpful for me too. One mw also recommended Arnica tablets along with my Ibuprofen and that was tremendously helpful! (I used both until I didn't need them anymore, it was a while, and I still take ibu periodically for nipple pain) I took Arnica 30C several times per day in between Ibuprofen doses - really helped with the bruised, swollen feeling (took a couple a days to really notice the difference). Stitches generally dissolve in 10-14 days...the fact that you are having to trim ends makes me wonder what kind of sutures she used??? I think for your body's sake and for your own piece of mind that getting a second opinion is not a bad idea. It's totally normal to still be healing for 6-8 weeks, but some of the symptoms you mention seem worth getting evaluated. Don't be embarrassed! You haven't done anything wrong and it's important to get satisfactory answers to your concerns

[Carley]

s

I have a wiggle worm on my hands, but I just wanted to recommend soaking some pads in some witchhazel and/or brewed sitz bath herbs (or boil water add one handful dried comfrey leaves & brew overnight, strain = comfrey tea!), freezing them on a rack in the freezer, putting one in your underware and the rest in a freezer bag for lata. These were my best friends postpartum!!!

I hope you can get a second opinion too. You shouldn't have to be uncomfortable! My mother put up with pain for 7 years ~ until she had her next child ~ before she mentioned it. Don't do that! Someone out there will be able to help you!!!

[adtake]

boovert s

I am so feeling for you sweetie!! With #2 I had a rough spell at first too. The witchhazel/tucks pads helped alot! I remember checking myself around 3 weeks post and my 'area' looking like ground beef!! So it can take while.

And every baby with me has been different! So don't give up on more yet!!

As far as extra healing help...try some arnica (by mouth) and I love my herbal sitz bath this time!! With #1 my fav stuff was the epi foam (don't know where to get) cortizone cream on a tucks pad...alternate each potty break... felt sooo nice!!

good luck and dont worry about sharing icky details..we are all there!!

s

[AdinaL]

Arnica!!!!! Helped a ton!!

[adtake]

Originally Posted by AdinaL

Arnica!!!!! Helped a ton!!

that was just funny adina!

My legs shock bad after this last birth and Resume Remedy stopped it sooo fast!! Between that, the herbal sitz bath and the arnica I have healed pretty good this time.

[AdinaL]

Sorry baby sleeping on one arm. Couldn't type more.

Rescue Remedy is good stuff.

[boovert]

Well, Had to be taken to urgent care on Thrusday. IT turns out I have a ragen infection! Just because I had a baby- My body is very sensitive. Thankgoodness I was able to see a female Doc. She totally understood and couldn't believe what she saw. So now I'm on a strong dose of meds and pain meds. : To clear this up it's going to take 3 weeks besides having to heal from child birth and stitches still.

And another thing I was told I shouldn't have sex for 3 months! My poor husband.

I hope everyone is doing great. Rachel a.k.a boovert

[boingo82]

boovert - - I am glad you found out what is going on, hopefully the medications will help you to heal.
Is this your first baby? If so, I want you to know that most likely, recovery from future babies will be easier. With my first I was sore and swollen and itchy and just *weird* feeling for months. After #2...well, he's not quite 3 weeks old, and if the lochia was gone, DH would be getting some.

[adtake]

So glad you have gotten some help and relief to come!! Hang in there!!

s