• Reconstructive vaginal surgery to repair episiotomy
• Vaginal tear didn't heal, surgery to repair it

Reconstructive vaginal surgery to repair episiotomy

After 20 years of suffering with pain in intercourse, I have decided to have reconstructive vaginal surgery (perineoplasty) to repair a very poorly done episiotomy from a birth in another country. Menopause has made my condition intolerable. My gyn. has a reputation as an excellent surgeon, and he would like to do the surgery, but he acknowledges that he has no direct experience. He consulted with someone who does, but that doctor is out of my Alta Bates Healthnet network. Does anyone know of a good gyn. surgeon in the Alta Bates Healthnet network who does reconstructive surgery? Thanks. anon

He specializes in pelvic floor reconstruction and all its permutations - all the stuff that gets messed up with childbirth, in fact. He also does reconstruction for size differences in partners, etc. I would definitely contact him if you can manage it with your insurance!!!

He is at 925-979-9969 and has a website: www.agscenter.com where you can do a little advanced reading.

good luck. Nancy

Vaginal tear didn't heal, surgery to repair it

I delivered my daughter 7 months ago and tore relatively badly (5 stitches, I think it was a second degree tear). My stitches separated, and my doctor said they wouldn't re-stitch because it would cause more scar tissue. Fast forward 6 months to my regular checkup where I complained of pain during sex. Turns out that my tear didn't heal properly at all, and there is some tissue sticking out that was never meant to see the light of day. My doctor now has to re-cut my perineum and remove that tissue and re-stitch me -- it requires general anesthesia and of course the recovery of my nether-regions all over again. I've never heard of anyone having this problem. Anyone out there been through a similar experience? I'm relieved to know that there is a procedure that can help, and that we'll be able to have sex again someday, but I''m also feeling very emotional about the whole thing. Hard to describe my feelings -- a little sorry for myself, a little like I'm grieving some sort of loss...anyway, wondering if anyone else out there has gone through a similar procedure and can share some experiences, moral support, etc. Thanks! j

I was told I could either wait until the birth of my next child when they would repair the fistula or I could have surgery now. I was reluctant to undergo surgery because I wasn't sure I could cope with post-partum like misery again (not to mention go without food or water for 12 hours before surgery). But since I wanted something resembling a normal sex life sooner than not- yet-decided-upon-baby-no-2, I did have my regular ob/gyn do a repair. After the surgery, I was a bit uncomfortable for a few days but to my shock, that was about it. The vaginal area actually heals quite fast and it helps not to have had the tissue trauma of pushing a baby out. So while it's completely rotten this happened to you, you can get repaired and you'll likely heal quickly. Best of luck! P.S. If you were eligble for disability after giving birth, this is a childbirth related complication & you're likely to be eligible again. anon ------------------------------------------- I too had a tear that was stitched after giving birth. I was extremely uncomfortable (painful to wipe area, sex unthinkable), and mentioned it to my doctor at my 6 week followup. She said I had tissue that was supposed to be inside growing on the outside (called a granuloma??) and it would never be comfortable unless she cut it off. It only required a local anesthetic and didn't hurt much, and healed quickly after that. It was such a relief.

Your situation sounds more severe (maybe because it has been so long?), but hopefully you will feel the same relief when it is all over. Good luck. anon