RE: Silver Nitrate & Recovery

How do you know if you have granulation tissue? Does the doctor see it during an exam or is it continued drainage that would a clue?

What are the symptoms ? ?


Thanks.

Anita

Oh ((((raggedygal)))), I'm sorry you are going through so much. I know...we look forward to being free, and then this stuff happens. Many prayers and ((hugs)) to you.

Dianne

Vit E is definitely helpful with healing....Vit C too and drinking tons of water. I wonder if using aloe vera gel for a lubricant would be a good idea also if/when you're ok'd for intercourse.

A ???--is granulation tissue different than scar tissue. I've had strange pains but no bleeding or discharge. My dr said it's the scar tissue and didn't say anything about needing to remove or treat it with siver nitrate.

Hope you all heal fast.

Oh...I have been thinking all along that granulation and scar tissue are one and the same. That is what I read somewhere here prior to my surgery when I first heard of granulation.

Now I'm curious too...are they the same thing??

Dianne

Granulation tissue and scar tissue are not the same. According to my Anatomy textbook, granulation tissue forms/grows in open wounds and consists of rapidly dividing fibroblasts (connective tissue cells), newly formed collagen fibers and increased numbers of small blood vessels which form a framework for the epithelium (outer skin cells) to grow across to seal the wound. In some cases, the granulation tissue overgrows and the epithelium can't grow over it. I think that is when it has to be treated with silver nitrate or removed by other means. BTW, my book also says that newly formed granulation tissue secretes a fluid that kills bacteria. I wonder if that is where the discharge we see comes from???

Hi,
I finally made my dr appt. I was going to cancel but you guys said keep it. Thanks! I did have granulation and my dr used a couple of sticks of silver nitrate (I didn't feel a thing!). I told him that I felt silly for coming in since I stopped bleeding-he told me never to feel "silly" for calling or coming in. The granulation would not get better on its own and better safe than sorry. I go back in April for a pap and recheck. Thanks all
Mary

Well, in light of your post, springchick, I guess I don't have granulation, but do have scar tissue, because the doctor said scar tissue. He did use something on it, though, and will do the same thing next week. If it doesn't work, then I may have to have it cut out. Hmmmm. I wonder if he used Silver Nitrate on it the same as if it were granulation. I will have to ask him when I go in next week. Thank you for the info, springhick.

Mary, glad you went ahead and kept your appointment. My bleeding had stopped after I made the appointment, as well, but I figured since I wasn't supposed to be bleeding at all, I had better get in to see the doc. We can never be too careful about our bodies

Dianne

Well, girls, at almost 11 weeks post-op I went BACK to the doctor yesterday afternoon with some "poking" feeling in my vagina. Turns out to be some hard stitches that hadn't dissolved. Those were taken care of, but there's still places on the vaginal cuff that aren't healing. Had yet ANOTHER silver nitrate treatment (that makes 4 or 5, but it didn't hurt this time!). I was getting encouraged because my discharge had stopped and I wasn't wearing pantyliners, but after this treatment now I'm having that nasty gray discharge today. The NP had spoken with my gyn. right before I came in and he feels that if it hasn't healed up by my next appointment (Mar. 26) that we'll have to do the cutting out tissue thing as an outpatient procedure. The NP said, "You'll want to be asleep for it." I am SOOOO bummed!!! When I asked what I was doing wrong or what I wasn't doing that I SHOULD be doing, she said "Nothing." It's one of those things that just happens to some people. Lovely. I've read posts on here from people many months into it, having to deal with it still. Can someone give me some encouragement here?? Obviously, the dr. has said no sex up till now, and now I'm looking at another 6 weeks. I'm beginning to second guess this big decision I made to have this initial surgery done (vag. hyst and A & P repairs)! Yes, I know I'm being whiny, but I am at my wits end with this! When will I be NORMAL again???

The "Cryo" machine worked great ( freezing) One time only,, and I was fixed! It's quick, painless and done in the doc. office.... Ask about it if you don't get relief from S. N.

Anita, my understanding is that granulation tissue is where it is trying to heal, but not. The bleeding comes from this healing process, but the granulation tissue wouldn't go away on its' own. I called my doctor beI'm not spotting anymore, but I wasn't the last time I went in either and he said everything was worse, so who knows? I'm to the point I'd rather have the outpatient thing than go through what I went through last time. It hurt so bad. It was my 3rd Nitrate treatment, each one getting worse so I'm NOT looking forward to the 15th! That's when I have to go back. He told me I was ok for intercourse and he didn't mind if I spotted afterwards, but if it hurt just to stop. Who feelsl like bothering with it? Even DH doesn't want to because he's scared of hurting me. I was beginning to regret the decision for the surgery too. Sorry to be so whiny, I'm just ready to be better. Thanks for the good wishes everyone. It helps to have someone to talk to that understands