4 weeks post-op in pain - please help!

Ladies,

This forum has been a godsend......I am reaching out to all of you in hopes I can get some insight into what might be happening to me.

I had a LAVH as well as A&P work and a labiaplasty done on July 13th. Had to leave the hospital with a cath - which the nurse failed to tie down (first surgery for me so I had no idea it should have been tied) - ended up with a major infection due to cath irritating the bladder which was treated by antibiotics at the week 1 post-op mark.

Been healing fairly well since then but two days ago started to have strange discharge - dark yellow, orange and now light yellow. Smells foul. On top of that I feel a severe pinching feeling near my vaginal opening. I am walking like I have a bowling ball between my legs and it hurts to sit - although the tissue down there is no more swollen than usual.

My surgeon is located in Minnesota and I am back home in SC - I have left a call for her already. However, in the meantime I have been doing tons of reading on these boards.....could I have a bladder fistula - I can't tell if the dampness is urine or discharge.....what else could this be? What kinds of questions should I ask? Where do I go next? The pain is different and more intense that what I have experienced. Also, abdominal region is also still very swollen.

Any advice would be helpful.

My best to all of you!

I'm so sorry to hear about your pain. I am at the same point post op as you, and did have the pinching and finally figured out that it was the stitches poking me before they started to soften up a bit before finally disolving (they are still disolving).

But it def. sounds like a call to your Dr. is in order. I have no answers for you, but only wanted to tell you that you are heard. Until someone more experienced can answer. Hang in there and I hope you get some answers and feel better.

Hi there --

I don't have an answer either, but I pray that you find out what is wrong. Please keep bugging your dr (I do understand they are in another state..I have the same situation) until you can get an answer or go see someone else close by. Good luck and pls keep us posted!

HI MNSClady
I also encourage you to contact your doctor persistently. The smelly discharge is not 'normal' at all. Emphasise that when you speak to the doctor. There are many strange feelings as A&P repairs heal, so don't put the physical feelings so much in the front of your argument.
If you can't speak to her promptly, it is probably important to see someone local.
Good luck.
Let us know how you go.

J

Thanks to all of you. I did see my local family doc who confirmed that I have a UTI - surgeon finally called late this afternoon and is worried about potential of sling erosion and/or a bladder fistula since the smell is so bad and I am having leakage. Trying to coordinate with her to refer me to a specialist here.....feel like it has been one thing after another.

Hugs and prayers to everyone!

So glad you got some answers and got started on the solution.
Jx

mnsclady,
I'm glad you went to see your family doc, hopefully you will start to have some relief once the meds take effect for the UTI.
Boy can I relate to walking like you have a bowling ball between your legs! I had labiaplasty done on
6/23/09, along with other things. On Tue. I'll be 7 weeks out from surgery, and I still am walking like that. Although, I think I might have an infection.
Make sure to see a specialist in your area. Please let us know how you are doing.
in there... praying for you to feel better!
Carol

mnsclady,
Hi, how are you doing ? I sent you a private message. Just wanted to let you know that it does get better , and the pain will subside !
A couple of days ago I was also diagnosed with a UTI and had alot of pain with that, and a week b-4 that I had a yeast infection. I'm tellin ya I was at my wits end
But it is getting better, and you will too
Have you been able to get in to see a local GYN ?
Please keep us updated on how you're doing, we care !!!

Carol

mnsclady, Hi, I tried to send you a private message twice now. And for some reason it's not going through...when I hit the submit button it asks for me to log on, and I was already logged on????????????????
I don't know whats wrong !
Carol

mnsclady - good luck with getting your issues sorted. I still have discharge and am 11 months post op - had several infections and now my immune system is really weak with all the antibiotics I have been taking. Ended up getting flu recently and had it for over six weeks. Ugh. Hopefully your ab/s gets your infection sorted and that you head on the path to a recovery from your surgery. Good luck with that :-)