About Granulation Tissue Post Op

I just wanted to post this to the board so that no one suffers unnecessarily as I have for the last few months. It is not that I have been in excruciating pain, but it was pain none –the - less.

I had my hysterectomy in February and all went well. I did go home with a catheter for a week, but many women do. I had my post op visit in April and the surgeon said there was a small area of granulation tissue, treated it with silver nitrate and told me I did not have to return for an exam for another 3 to 5 years. I told him I was having a burning feeling occasionally and pain on the right side, but he attributed that to the stitches dissolving and said it would go away.

He told me a story about granulation tissue…He said that sometimes there are areas in the vagina that just do not heal. He said he is often called to the ER for an elderly woman that is bleeding from the vagina and it is from granulation tissue. He gave the impression that all women develop granulation tissue after surgery and sometimes it just does not heal.

In May I called him about pain and pressure thinking I had a bladder infection…He called in a script, never doing an exam or urinalysis. I told him I had the pain and pressure for two days. I went to get the prescription, but until I got home, the pain went away.

A friend convinced me to go back to a gynecologist that I had gone to years ago….He delivered my babies and is well known and respected in the area…He moved his office and is a bit of a drive, but I made the appt. After talking to me before the exam the topic of the granulation tissue came up….He was thinking I might have a bladder problem too since, I had bladder surgery, but then talk turned to the issue of granulation tissue. He was able to recreate my pain by pushing on the tissue and then showed me the area on a computer screen…It did not seem to be such a tiny area to me, but what do I know. He then gave me the option to cut it out then or use the silver nitrate treatments and return for three more visits.

I post this so that if you do have this problem with the granulation tissue, please do not let this go…Do not believe this is normal. I do not really know the ramifications from allowing it to go untreated, but the other gynecologist did admit that he had seen women that were having bleeding problems from it so I guess bleeding might be one problem.. Make certain you choose your surgeons wisely. I should have known better with this doctor. I used him for an ablation, there was no after care, and once again, there is no follow through. I was wrong to use him again, but was forced to because of insurance reasons. I have many other health issues and suffer with chronic pain from spinal problems, so for him to allow this to exist to add to that pain, is shameful. I guess he thought I would not notice and he did not want to be bothered….He will get no referrals from me….Choose your surgeon well and ask about post op care…Make certain it is there if you need it. This doctor gives me the impression he likes to cut, but he does not like to deal with women afterwards. You absolutely deserve the best care available, do not settle for anything less. Oh and just to let you know the other doc said exams should be annually, because I still have my ovaries and for breast exams. Truly, this doctor has respect for the women he treats….

Did I read your post correctly--the doctor that performed your surgery and your post-op told you not to come back for your exam for 3 to 5 years??? Did you mean 3 to 5 weeks? If the doctor did mean 3 to 5 years, I would go back to your original doctor--seems as though that doctor knows what he's doing. I wouldn't take my female dog to your surgeon.

Carol

Hi,

Ya, the return in 3 to 5 years part had me out of my chair too! So glad you went to another physician and now have the correct information and also good treatment.
I have had 3 treatments with the silver nitrate. I had the painful intercourse and bleeding with the granulation. I've read that if left untreated with will eventually heal up......but, my doctor wanted it treated as much as I did.
I asked the RN if granulation was scar tissue and she said "no". I asked my doctor and she said is was scar tissue which takes on a life of it's own. Whichever, it does happen naturally with healing and it's common, but I agree, it's worth an exam and treatment because it's not normal and all internal areas deserve the correct healing.
Hope your problems as resolved.

The doctor that did my surgery told me that because I do not have my cervix I did not need to return for three to five years. He said another treatment of the silver nitrate was not necessary. He told me the area he treated was very small and it may or may not heal. He said that because of the moisture in the vagina it sometimes makes healing difficult. I was willing to accept that since I really did not feel the problem I was having was coming from that area. I thought I was having a bladder problem.

I agree I would not take my dog to him either...I had heard good things about this doctor. I guess some women are willing to accept lousy care. I am so happy that I listened to my friend and she convinced me to move my appointment ahead with the other doctor. Actually, my friend tried to talk me out of surgery with the other doctor. I wish I had listened and waited, but it was an insurance issue. The doctor I saw this week though told me he would have made arrangements for me. He told me too, that he could have saved the cervix...If anything can be learned from this...Think long and hard about these surgeries...and make certain that you absolutely have the best person for the job...someone who really does have your best interests at heart, not just someone who looks at his work as a job he goes to everyday and could care less about the lives he effects.

WOW, amazing story! I have one queestion for you. How did your doctor discover the granulation?

keri

Cervix or no cervix, a woman needs an annual examination by her gynecologist. My gyn also recommends she still have a pap smear--there is still a slight chance for cancer.

Granulation occurs when the tissues of the vaginal cuff cannot heal. The vagina is moist which makes healing difficult. That is why doctors use the silver nitrate.

Carol

Keri, for me, I thought i might have it because I was also having pain with intercourse, then bleeding with intercourse and discharge. In addition, I had burning deep inside my groin and a painful left side. Granulation was visualy seen by my doctor during an internal exam... you know, feet in stirups, speculum in place, big warm spot light?? Hope this helps.
Maralyn

Keri,

Yes, it was the same thing... They use the big spot light, feet in stirups, and speculum, during an internal exam...I think they need to be able to look inside...He then used the vaginal ultrasound, (I think that is what he used) so that I could see it for myself on the computer screen..I also got to see what it looked like after he removed it and applied the silver nitrate.

I really do not know why the surgeon did not just snip it out at the first visit and place the silver nitrate on it....It seemed like such a simple procedure. It was not pleasant, but it took care of the problem...

OH OK! Well, I don't think that is my problem! They have done a vag. u/s and found nothing! I bet all the docs think I am crazy! My pain feels just like I have a cyst on my ovary. Now, I am not crazy, I have no ovaries...that is just what the pain feels like, INDENTICAL actually! I will post my whole story later on this evening when I get a chance. Right now, I have some errands to run!

Talk to you all later!
Keri

Here is the link to my story. I didn't want to post it in two places! Tell me what you think!

Keri

My Story