Got 6 week post-op check-up 27/6 - scared!!

Hi all,

on the day I came out of hospital there was already an appointment card waiting for me for my 12 week post-op check-up with my gyn.

This morning I have received another appointment card for next Monday 27th June and I'm dreading it.

Seems a very strange way of doing things, sending a 12 week appointment so soon and then getting a 6 week appointment at less than a week's notice but, hey, that's the NHS!!

I am terrified of what my gyn will do at the appointment. I don't feel at all ready for having anything put inside me. I know that he will probably want to check that my vaginal cuff is healing but I really don't want anything going in there yet. I'm not in pain or anything and I think that is why I'm scared in case he hurts me and causes a backwards step in my recovery, especially as I want to return to work on 4th July.

Does the gyn always do an internal exam during a 6 week check-up? I really would prefer that he didn't - not yet anyway.

Please help.

Rowdy.

Hi Rowdy,

My doctor did an internal vaginal exam and felt my belly at both my 4 week and then again at my 6 week check-upd. She is normally pretty brisk, but she was very gentle doing the exams both times. My vaginal cuff was not completely healed at 4 weeks, but the exam did nothing to mess things up.

It seems like it would be very important for your doctor to see how you are healing *before* you return to work. I can't imagine my doc releasing me without taking a peek.

Be sure to tell the doctor about your concerns!

Hi,
I had my 4 week check up tomarrow. He asked me if I had been bleeding at all in the last 2 weeks and I said no. He said he would spare me the exam due to if no bleeding means things are coming along well and in his experience by 6 weeks everything should be healed pretty well in there to allow sexual intercourse and such. Thought it was pretty weird that he didn't do an exam and I don't see him for 6 months now. He is a specialist though and guess I need to trust him. He felt all over the belly and checked the incision well and ordered blood work and answered my 2 pages of questions. So guess that is just the way he does things??
Good luck to you and going back to work and everything. He is not releasing me til July 18, 6 weeks post op! I was not sad about that!
Take care, Tiffany

I was examined at my 6 wk check up. It was not painful at all. My dr is very gentle, and she was wonderful during that exam. I understand your concerns; however, you really need to trust your doctor. After all, he/she knows what you have been through! Just take a deep breath and relax! Good luck!

NOT FAIR !!! I have to go back THIS FRIDAY !!! ONE WEEK !!! Then I have to go again after that as they say. Our Ins is also going along with this because of the problems I have with heart and other things. But ONE WEEK !!! I hope he does NOT stick anything in there yet, because I don't want to keep it stretched out like after giving birth. My thought is to let the thing rest some ! Sheesh !!! I just had LAVH and some problems with catheter backed up and vomitting from meds (I had EVERYTHING by IV till almost dismisal in order to get mega antibioitics.) and I hope this is just a "look at you with my eyes and not my spatulas" type of appt !!
Gee, then I get more after this. Why am I so lucky?

Fireman's Woman,

I had a check up at one week too. My doctor did not do a vaginal exam at that visit....she only did a vag exam at the 4 and 6 week visits.

HI ROWDY ANGEL
MY POST OP CHECK APPOINTMENT WAS AT MY HOUSE TOO THE DAY AFTER I GOT HOME ON 26/04/05,UNLIKE YOU THOUGH MY HOSPITAL ONLY DOES THE 6 WEEK CHECK UP,MINE ACTUALLY WENT ON TO BE 8 WEEKS AFTER BECAUSE OF THE CONSULTANT BEING ON HOLIDAY.
HAD MY CHECK UP LAST THURSDAY(16THJUNE) AND YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT,YES SHE DID AN INTERNAL WITH THAT INSTRUMENT THAT HAS THE LIGHT ON IT AND SHE ALSO DID ONE WITH HER HAND WHILST PRESSING DOWN ON MY TUMMY WITH HER OTHER HAND,SHE SAID ALL WAS HEALED WELL,ALL STITCHES DISSOLVED AND SHE WAS DISCHARGING ME,NO MORE APPOINTMENTS NOT EVEN YEARLY. ONLY THING SHE DID SAY WAS NO HEAVY LIFTING FOR A FURTHER 3 MONTHS AND IF I FLY TO WEAR MY D.V.T STOCKINGS.
WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PAIN AT ALL WHEN BEING EXAMINED JUST SLIGHT DISCOMFORT SUCH AS YOU FEEL WHEN HAVING YOUR CERVICAL SMEAR TEST DONE.
GOOD LUCK FOR THE 27TH AND ON YOUR RETURN TO WORK
PAT XX(YORKIE62)

Tiffsue, I haven't had any bleeding since week 3 and only last week my own doctor sent me for blood tests and they came back good - no infection and not anaemic. Also, checked my hormone levels and HRT is not quite there yet but needs more time to settle.

I hope that when I tell my gyn this he will let me avoid the internal exam. I really don't feel confident enough to let him do that yet BUT if he says he has to before he gives me the OK to go back to work then I guess I'll have to go through with it - and here was me thinking no more internal exams because all my bits have gone!! Fat chance!

Rowdy.

If it is any comfort, I just had a vaginal exam today for a cuff infection and it wasn't bad, with the exception of the room being cold.

I have my 2 week post op appointment tomorrow and have been dreading the thought of an internal exam. To top things off, I started bleeding yesterday (dark red, like a period) and have been cramping with a lower back ache. Internal exam......EEK!!!