6 wk. check-up, no internal check?

I had my 6 week post-op check-up today with surgeon. Actually, I am 7 wks post op, but couldn't go in until today. I was expecting an internal check to make sure stitches were ok (LAVH), nurse had me take off bottom clothes and everything. Dr. came in, checked my stomach stitches, asked if I was feeling ok, and that was it!!! I thought I should have an internal check, but hey, gotta admit some relief about it! I did ask her and she said, nope, everything is fine. I trust her completely, and think she did an outstanding job on my surgery, at least as far as I can tell. I feel great and have to remind myself sometimes that I had the surgery at all. I asked if it was ok now to put "things in my vagina" LOL, and she laughed and said sure.

Has this happened to anyone else?

Hi there,

Congrats on your good checkup!

I have seen other posts about DRs not doing an internal exam at the follow-up. Mine did. Ouch.

I suppose some DRs really know their patients and know by what the patient tells them how things are healing.

Best wishes as you enjoy a happy healthy life after hysterectomy!

I was also wondering the same thing, today my DR office calls and tells me he just retired from their Group, they don't even have a phone number and do i want to reschedule with the other DR for my appt.? What to do? I was hoping for the All Clear to get on with the Valentines Activities this weekend. The other DR I know, but barely and he did not do my surgery.

How much good can it be to see the other guy? I know it's Paid For since they bundle the post-op checkup into the surgery fee, got my bill today ouch. I guess I would Not get an internal with him then!

dear patiew,

I have seen other women ask this same question. I guess i thought it was pretty standard to do an internal check to make sure all is healed and normal. I think my advice would be that if you notice any discomfort or spotting or whatever with intercourse, you call the doctor back and ask to be checked out.

It sounds like you're doing great, though!

I saw my urologist at 3 weeks and she did a full internal exam, which I was not expecting (I had a bladder sling). Of course, any vaginal stitches (except the cuff) were her work. When I went to the gyn at 4 weeks, she just checked the abdominal incision and said "see you in a year". Fine with me!

Mary

I didn't get an internal exam either, thank God. I was so relieved when he just took out the stitches and said see you in a year.

At 3 weeks, I had internal exam. Wasn't too bad, no worse than any other time I've been for that. I am scheduled to go back for 6 wk. exam, and I don't know if he'll check inside stitches then. I have a hematoma over my abdominal incision, and he seemed most interested in that at the 3 wk. Maybe yours didn't check inside if you weren't having any anomolies with it?

Best Wishes!

My dr. did internals to check the healing of the vaginal cuff and see if stitches are dissolved. I had to keep going back to my dr. every two weeks from 6 -12 weeks just to be released for sex for him to make sure that the cuff was healed. This requires and internal look with a speculum. The cuff stitches started healing at six weeks but then I developed some granulation tissue at seven weeks. I had to get treated with silver nitrate and was told if I had sex to soon it would irritate it, cause pain, or spotting. I finally got the green light at 12 weeks.

I saw my DR on Feb 8th for external exam of incision and to talk about stuff. Now I am to see him on the 18th for an internal exam. YUCK!

My is a very cautious guy.

Michelle

Interesting how different all of our docs are! I was checked at 2 1/2, 4 1/2, 6 1/2 weeks, and will go back again at 11 1/2 weeks. Each time have had an internal exam. Painful, but also reassured me that the healing was progressing well. I was given the green light for sex at 6 1/2 weeks. I think this last check is just to be sure that everything is good to go! My is very caring, careful and wonderful! He also has an awesome ! Could be he did those internal checks because I had the additional repair work done. I don't know if he would have done an internal each time if it had been a TVH without the repair work.