Hymenoplasty: from the patient's side

[kate_luana]

Thanks for the response, Sera!

Unfortunately, recovery hasn't been going as well as I thought it would. It's two days after the surgery and I'm on the full dosage of both prescribed meds, and still barely able to walk across a room. I constantly feel pinched, poked, or swollen, often to the point of groaning or gasping when shifting. Trying to do normal eliminations has been painful, exhausting and sometimes bloody, and I feel like the pain level has not changed since the surgery.

Is this a normal recovery pace? It feels really stagnant at this point, and I'm really hoping to see some improvement soon.

[sera300]

When you first injure/damage/traumatize your body the first day or so is sore. Thereafter part of the healing process is the body's "inflammatory response". Your body realizes something has happened and kicks your immune system in to heal. This stimulates a myriad of symptoms; increased tenderness, swelling, redness. For about 5 days your body should do this to cause healing to occur; hence, the reason you were given pain meds.

As long as you are keeping the area clean & dry as possible, following the directions the MD gave you--should go down. If you notice any increase from what you have or abnormal discharge, foul smell, call the doc. You should notice some fluid which is clear and slightly bloody due to sutures. Any yellow or green discharge, fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit call the doc or go to the ER. Elimination will be uncomfortable, clean well & properly after. Some pain meds & anesthesia can cause constipation; a stool softener and plenty of water should help. If in doubt just put a call into the doc. It's normal to feel not so great & realize you have to also excrete all the anesthesia out of your body...drink lots of water.

The sutures you described dissolve on their own; your doc should have you in for a follow up to be certain all is well. Try to rest and just be easy on your body for a few days. You should be feeling better soon!

[Brandye]

Popular wisdom with any surgery is that the third day is the worst and then it gets better. You are on schedule; sera gives good advice.

[sera300]

Originally Posted by Brandye

Popular wisdom with any surgery is that the third day is the worst and then it gets better. You are on schedule; sera gives good advice.

Thx, Brandye...much appreciated coming from a MD!

[JustAGirl]

Your procedure sounds, from your recovery time, that it was more invasive/different than mine. I was given a prescription for ibuprofen which I didn't need (good thing, because ibuprofen doesn't touch me) and I was riding my horse two days later. I hope that you feel better soon and that the procedure was worth it to you--it was to me!

[kate_luana]

Thanks for the advice, Sera; the nurses said a lot of those things, but didn't elaborate as well as you.

You were correct, Brandye; I started improving (albeit slowly) on the fourth day. I should be able to drive tomorrow, even though I'm still stiff and uncomfortable most of the time. I'm glad to know I'm not an outlier on the recovery scale.

Justagirl, I imagine we must have had slightly different procedures, because I could barely fathom walking after two days, and riding a horse would still be way out of the question now! Or maybe my body's just a slow healer. Who knows.

I've got another question for the well-informed though: I do have an odor down there that I've never smelled before, and it's not good. It's very strong, and metallic, a bit like vinegar but not as sweet. It's been there for days, but there's no other signs of infection; no fever, no unusual discharge, no excessive bleeding. Do you think it's a "normal" smell that just never escaped from my vagina due to the hymen obstruction, something caused by the blood mixing with normal vaginal fluids, or something I should be very concerned about? I'm probably going to call my gyn about it, but she's very hard to get a hold of and if this is a common experience, I would like to know. Thank you so much for all your help through this so far!

[Brandye]

These procedures can range from a nick with a scalpel to more invasive that cuts into the wall around the vaginal entrance. Fortunately, most are on the simpler end. That accounts for the difference jastagirl experienced.

I suspect that you are smelling the anti-septic that was swabbed on you both prior to and after the cut. You should call your gyn (she can tell from one sniff) but it is not an emergency.

[JustAGirl]

Justagirl, I imagine we must have had slightly different procedures, because I could barely fathom walking after two days, and riding a horse would still be way out of the question now! Or maybe my body's just a slow healer. Who knows.

I suspect mine was about midway through the line between "nick" and "excision." Regardless, I was not SUPPOSED to be riding the horse... but he had already had three days off and needed exercise. My first guess to the smell would be betadine but I am somewhat numb to that particular aroma so who knows.

I am glad to hear that you are improving and hope you're feeling back to top shape soon!

[kate_luana]

Well, I seem to be pretty well along in recovery at this point, after a week and a half; no pain meds needed, but itching madly when I stand up or walk for too long. I've been using a topical feminine anti-itch cream for it around the vaginal entrance and the labia; I hope that's okay to do. (The gyn/nurses never said I couldn't...) I think I may still be bleeding from the surgery slightly, but not much.

I'm pretty sure now that my surgery was more invasive than yours, JustAGirl; my gyn described the procedure as cutting out part of the hymen and folding back the remaining bit, stitching it in place. I imagine the stitches were causing a good portion of the discomfort.

The metallic smell has not disappeared yet, but it's been decreasing slightly. I have an appointment with the gyn this week, and I will be asking her about it then, along with many other questions.

Thanks for your comments and advice, JustAGirl and Brandye!

[kate_luana]

Just thought I'd add a quick update:

I had my post-op visit with my gyn yesterday. The healing is going well. The stitches haven't dissolved; the gyn says they will probably start falling out in a couple days.

I also found out that I have a slight bacterial infection. (That could explain why it was so itchy down there...) It should be cured with a short course of antibiotics.

Unfortunately, the intense discomfort has not gone away. I still seized up during the exam, and even only half-inserting a Q-tip for a culture was incredibly uncomfortable and brought me near to tears. It wasn't quite painful, but it still felt awful. I've still got quite a ways to go before being fully adjusted, apparently.