Nine Months PostOp and Bleeding???

I need some advice from some of my wise sisters! I thought I was Beyond the Land of Hyster - I had my vaginal hysterectomy nine months ago - the doctor removed my uterus and cervix. I've been doing GREAT and have been so happy with my decision to have it done. Good Riddance and R.I.P. Aunt Flow!!! ANYWAY...

My husband and I had a "date night" last night and decided to go to dinner and a movie. Well, we ended up getting a motel room instead of going home. We have teenage boys and they always have friends over so we rarely have any private moments anymore. Well, everything was going great and I was feeling like a newlywed again, until I started BLEEDING! My husband was so upset - he thought he had hurt me - although I was not hurting. I bled like I had just started my period - but it was bright red. I called my doctor (this was at midnight) and explained what had happened to the answering service. Of course, they told me to go to the emergency room. I didn't go because it was so late and I had to work the next day. I wasn't hemorrhaging or anything, so I figured I'd be fine. The bleeding had stopped this morning, so I'm at work today. Has this happened to anyone else? What could the problem be???

Do you think that your incision area (vaginal cuff) opened? I'm wondering if there is some small area that just didn't heal properly??? I can't imagine what else could cause that type of bleeding from the vagina when you don't have a cervix or a uterus.

Hi Donna....I would do a follow up with your doctor....this could be anything....could be just a tear in your vagina...but you need to get it checked out. I can't imagine...that had to scar the crap out of you...I know if I started bleeding now..it would me. Please keep us posted.

I just went through this last month!! I'm post-op 6 months, had my surgery Dec 18, 2008. I began bleeding lightly, bright red, during/after intercourse just like you're talking about. Man, was I freaked out!!

Long story short, I got in to see my GYN and he said the scar tissue at the cuff (is that the right term?) had granulated. He could see the bleeding when he did an exam. He did a procedure right then and there in the office that was very uncomfortable but short.

As I understand it, he trimmed up the scar tissue, removed some granulation and "polyps" he told the nurse to write down in the medical record, and did a chemical procedure on the scar to cauterize it. He told me this is normal, a known thing, and if it happens again just give them a call and he'll do the procedure again.

I had no discomfort following the simple procedure, and some very minor spotting after that which didn't last even 24 hours. I resumed sexual relations with my husband 2 days later with no pain or bleeding or anything. It's been over a month now and no more issues.

Your situation sounds exactly like what I experienced. Get in to see the surgeon who did your hysterectomy and I'm sure he/she will know what to do.

Oh, also, I called the nurse hotline with my insurance and they told me unless I'm soaking a pad in an hour, I didn't need to go to the emergency room. Only if I was hemmorhaging. I was most definitely not, so I waited 'til I could get in with my GYN. This all started on a Sunday and the procedure was done on Thursday.

Hope this helps!

Kathy

Oh wow! Thank you for your responses! I was so scared. I ended up going to the local medical clinic (where I seem to frequent for various medical reasons) on Saturday and talked to the nurse practitioner there. She told me the same thing your doctor told you, Kathy. She examined me and said it was just one place on the cuff that had an abrasion on it. It had actually stopped bleeding when I got there. She didn't have to cauterize it or anything. She said it would heal on it's own and gave me some antibiotic suppositories to use for three days to help it heal. She said if I had any more problems, I should make an appointment to see my GYN surgeon. She told me not to worry, these things sometimes happen - they're actually quite common. Thank you for your feedback - I knew I could count on my Hystersisters for help!

Wow! Except for the romantic evening part, I had the bleeding thing happen to me too! I called my regular Dr and she had me come in and she found polyps on the vaginal cuff too! We ended up doing a biopsy for the polyps (which turned out benign) and she used the same procedure as Kathy described. I didn't go to my surgeon because my regular Dr said she could take care of it. I had so many questions ( I always do!) but she said that my HRT that I am on ( had just started it) should take care of any more of the polyps from forming. She did have me on antibiotics too for about a week. Now I am fine and haven't had an episode. I also did some reading on polyps and found that they can appear for absolutely no reason. I am still reading and learning, but hopefully if there is a next time, I won't be freaking out again!