4th degree tear complications?

ottawagirl · Aug 18, 2010

Hi ladies,
I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy recently. I ended up with a 4th degree tear which was sutured. Since the past couple of days, I have rather embarrasing problem..I can sometimes feel gas passing through 'baby birth' area and also, sometimes i find liquid stool in my sanitary napkin and in my baby birth area...I had a call with a nurse who said it could be cuz iam on stool softeners and all other medications so may be it's the stool from back leaking in..I know it's gross but this is a much better explaination than what I read on the internet about fistules where a hole develops between ur rectum and V..it's very scary to think abt that and requires a surgery to fix it..
Only thing that keeps me going is my LO, holding him and feeding him takes me to the top of the world!! But again i cannot hold him and walk as he wants or put him in my lap for a long or even get up to pick him up from my bed when he cries due to painful stiches..which really hurts..
my mom and my hubby run him around me whenver i need to feed or hold him..with postpartum blue this is adding up and i dont again want to go for surgery and such and waste time with my baby..
Just wondering if any of you ladies have had this problem after 4th degree tear? If you did, what was done to fix it..

Love to hear from you ladies!

Thanks,
Paddu

Muskaan7 · Aug 18, 2010

Hi Ottawagirl,

Congrats on the birth of your beautiful baby!

I had a 3rd degree tear with the birth of my son. And exactly the same problem like you, I used to find stool on my sanitary napkin. I also was asked to take stool softeners so that there is no pressure while passing stool in case we get constipated as it may rupture the sutures. There is nothing to worry, once the area heals up it will all be fine.

Just remember to keep the area clean regularly, washing with warm water. My nurse had asked me after washing to also dry the area with heat - using a hair dryer or I just used to stand near the heater, so the area would get completely dry. Try and keep the area clean as much as possible. Also remember to continue your Kegel's exercises.

Take care

ottawagirl · Aug 18, 2010

Thanks for your response Muskaan!
I feel better already..hope my doc says everything is under control and that iam healing!
Just curious as to how long did it take for you to heal and when did you stop seeing stools in ur napkin??
Thanks so much!

Muskaan7 · Aug 18, 2010

Hey,

Glad you feel better.

Cant really remember exactly how long it took to heal but believe me it wasnt tooo long. Just keep the area clean and dry and yes, do continue taking your stool softeners. You dont want more complications in case you get constipated.

Take care

tashidelek2002 · Aug 18, 2010

Witch hazel tincture which you can get in drugstores is a big relief for the sutures. You can take a cloth and soak with witch hazel and use as a compress over your sutures. After doing that for some time, just dry the area. It will relieve the pain and also it is healing.

tikka · Aug 18, 2010

Paddu, I had an episiotomy that did not heal too well. I dont have your experience but I can imagine how difficult this must be for you now. Hugs. Do Sitz baths help you? Sitting in warm water for 10 min couple of times a day helped me. Muskaan and Tina, both have great suggestions here.
If you find yourself getting really down, you could talk to your OB/GYN about it. Or you can join us for a talk or whatever it takes to get your mind off the pain in the infants sub-forum.
Hugs again. Hope you heal quickly and well. Enjoy your babymoon.

ottawagirl · Aug 22, 2010

Thanks for suggestions ladies.
I had my visit to OBGYN who used speculum to see and said i hve developed a fistula which is the reason why sometimes liquid stool and gas are escaping through vagina..and she bummed me out further by saying I can only fix itby surgery..no medications or anything would work..i heard abt fistulas sometimes healing on its own..i am hoping iam a candidate for it..but again doc said the fistula is in a area where it canot cure on its own..she has referred me to a colo rectal surgeon but realy i dont want to go through this..it has lolng recovery period and chances are again the surgery may break down..morever pain due to which i will not be able to be a active mom for my LO..with all thts happening, i wished i wud be back on my feet soon but things are not lining up..iam placing all my hope on god at this time..:bowdown
Hoping for the best.
Paddu

PinksAndBlues · Aug 23, 2010

Hi Ottawagirl
Hope you are feeling better. My suggestion to you would be do to do as the doctor says , especially since she has told you it cant heal on its own. If you feel the doctor has made a mistake in her diagnosis, you can always go in for second opinion. If they still advice surgery please go for it , you dont want to avoid what is necessary and take risks with your body.

Please dont feel guilty that you willl not be able to be an active mom for your baby. Post partum blues make us very hormonal and that is why you are feeling like this. You gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby boy , that itself makes you a great and wonderful mother. For now even if you have to go for surgery and take time to recover, you said your mother is there to take care of the baby. So remember that the baby is in very good hands . Dont feel guilty about it . Once you get better physically, you will also feel much better in your mind and you will be able to not only spend lots of time with your baby but also enjoy that time since you will be in the pink of health.

So dear friend, please take care of your health, do as the doctors say and get well soon . You deserve it without feeling guilty. Good luck and god bless.

MarineWife · Sep 13, 2010

Hi Paddu,
I just read about your story, and just found out I have the same thing! I was so sick to my stomach and am scared to get surgery to fix it. Have you gone through the surgery yet? I just had my 1st baby on August 26th and had a beautiful baby girl 9lb 2oz which is why I tore so bad, and about a week later I started getting stool in my pad from the front area and am passing gas through my front also and went for my first check up and she checked me and said my stiches looked great and that I was healing great, but when I told her my concerns, she had to write some other doctors to see what they said about it. I know how you feel and it is hard to stay so positive and happy for yourself and your new baby MY husband just left on deployment and I am all alone with my baby girl. I wish you luck and I hope you are doing ok since finding out you have to have surgery remember to smile, you have a blessing sent from above.
Thanks Maranda
God Bless

ottawagirl · Sep 15, 2010

Hi Maranda,
Yes, it's a condition called Fistula. To be specific, it's called rectovaginal fistula. You can read on it on the internet
Ask your doc for antibiotics as it will help with clearing up any infections on your incision which might itself close the hole. I have heard of stories where these things heal on its own. Remember our body has ability to grow tissues and cover off any abnormalities. Just like if you have mouth ulcer, which is a hole on your mouth, it will close on its own when tissue regrows..so I would check with your GYN, ask for antibiotics. Meanwhile you can start keeping the area clean. Every time after a BM, jump into your tub and wash your bottom clean..Have VitC like OJ etc as Vit C helps with healing..Other than that, all we can do is think positive and think of God..
Also, usually they wait for long before surgery as they expect it to self heal..so meanwhile keep urself out of infection, stay in bed as much as possible, don't overwork..enjoy ur DD.
I will keep in touch!
Take care
Paddu