Vaginal trauma recovery questions

[trinalb]

Hi mamas, I need some help. I am now 18 months post partum after DD's birth and have just gotten AF back. Unfortunately, my fears about menstrual vaginal pain related to the severe tearing during DD's birth seem to be realized.

During DD's birth, I had significant, deep tearing in three directions, needing many sutures and causing a very slow, painful, difficult recovery. I couldn't sit on my bottom for about the first six weeks and then still had significant pain with any real activity (even standing 10 minutes at a time, etc.) until about 6 months PP. Since then I have been a lot better with only mild discomfort most days and only occasional days (about 1-2 x/week) where I would actually describe myself as being in pain, but still nowhere near pain free.

So last night I got AF back. Besides the emotional havoc that is wreaking on me, I have been in a significant amount of pain and discomfort today. My vagina feels quite swollen and it is slightly uncomfortable to sit as well as being moderately painful when I am up moving for any length of time. I feel like I have reverted to my recovery state about 3 months PP; I realize this is likely only temporary during AF.

Have any of you mamas experienced anything similar? What were your tears like and how does your recovery compare to mine? My physician told me my recovery should be substantial, if not complete, by 18 months so I am feeling very discouraged. Have any of you continued to heal past this point? Anyone have surgical intervention and, if so, what were the results? Stories, tips, etc.? Thanks!

[jaelynsmommy61607]

I didn't have any trauma but ny af often causes me pain. What are you using...pads, tampons? For me the best thing was to get a cup. It kept the blood off my lady parts. It was irritating me really bad. To the point I had throbbing pain. I'd make sure tour using chemical free or even cloth pads.

[The Fancy Pansy]

You may want to ask your dr about an estrogen cream, especially if you are still nursing. I think you just apply it a few times a week. I had pain until I weaned after DD1 (3rd, almost 4th degree internal and external tear). I didn't learn about the estrogen cream until it was too late to matter with DD2. I fully intend on asking about it at my 6 week PP check after this baby, since I had issues with DD2 as well (only a 2nd degree tear).

[trinalb]

Originally Posted by jaelynsmommy61607 I didn't have any trauma but ny af often causes me pain. What are you using...pads, tampons? For me the best thing was to get a cup. It kept the blood off my lady parts. It was irritating me really bad. To the point I had throbbing pain. I'd make sure tour using chemical free or even cloth pads.

Thank you for trying to help. This is very different from regular menstrual pain, though. I've had difficult periods since their onset due to endometriosis symptoms but this is not the same. This is stabbing or throbbing pain in the scar tissue of my tear site, especially where tissues didn't quite end up where they were supposed to be after suturing. I agree that menstrual cups and cloth pads are much better choices, though. I do already use a Lunette cup and cloth pads. Thank you

Originally Posted by The Fancy Pansy You may want to ask your dr about an estrogen cream, especially if you are still nursing. I think you just apply it a few times a week. I had pain until I weaned after DD1 (3rd, almost 4th degree internal and external tear). I didn't learn about the estrogen cream until it was too late to matter with DD2. I fully intend on asking about it at my 6 week PP check after this baby, since I had issues with DD2 as well (only a 2nd degree tear).

Thanks for the suggestion. I would rather find non-drug therapies if I can. What is the estrogen cream supposed to do for you, though? I am unclear how that would help. I have had a comment in another forum saying physiotherapy helped another mama a lot; I think I might look into that. I'm open to more ideas, though, too

[The Fancy Pansy]

It's often used for intercourse pain during menopause. It's just a hormone therapy to help compensate for the messed up hormones during nursing that can aggravate vaginal pain.