XP: Infection after 3rd/4th degree tear?

SeaStar430

I went to the doctor today and have a severe infection after my 4th degree tear.  I said to my doctor "it will be all fixed up eventually right?" and her response was "I don't know honey."

I'm so upset.  I have been so positive this whole pregnancy, even after the PUPPPs, high blood pressure, extreme swelling (70lbs!), 4 hours of pushing, episiotomy, 4th degree tear, and now a serious infection.  Every step of the way I have said "she is worth it, this is nothing, I can do it."  But now I'm just in tears.  Am I going to have to have surgery that has a low success rate?  Has anyone had an infection and NOT had to get surgery?  I feel so lost and unable to take care of my baby.  My DH has been doing everything and I can't even be left alone with her.  The recovery for the surgery is a week in the hospital and 1 month bedrest.  This is not how I planned to spend my maternity leave.  I don't know how much more I can take.

Has anyone else had the surgery or been able to avoid it with antibiotics?

Mrs.Tony

I have no experience with this but I wanted to say I am so sorry!!  You sound like you are having an awful time with this.

Dougsgirl4ever

No answer for you just wanted to say I'm sorry you are going through this & I hope it all turns out o.k.

lebeda777

Sorry to hear this.  You will get through it.  I know the last thing you want after having a baby is anyone messing aroudn down there.  Is this something you can wait awhile with?  I know I had a bad 3rd/4th degree tear too and then the stitches popped and I had a little skin tag they said was a hemmeroid, but come to find out I was right and it wasn't it was a skin from the stitches popping.  I didn't want them to touch it!  Should be toughened up but seemed the opposite!  Anyway, FWIW, your daughter is beautiful and so worth it!

shopgirl78

I had a 4th degree tear that reopened during my first week pp.   It didn't get infected and I was put on antibotics just in case.  I didn't have surgery...my doctor thought about that route but ultimately decided to just pack the area (very often, I was at the doctor's A LOT) and still going at 4 months pp, it healed from the inside out.  It went back to about normal. 

ETA:  this was with my first and she is SOOO worth it and so are the boys that followed.   I too had a hard time pp with DD that it could have lead to PPD....it wasn't at all the pregnancy and birth I wanted....take care of yourself and HUGS!  I know its hard.  

Temp159135562506975

i'm so sorry to hear there is an infection now, too... ugh.  you know how i feel about the whole thing- that just sucks.

get a 2nd opnion before you have any surgery- that is for sure.

(((HUGS)))

sarahjared

That sucks.  I didn't have an infection but when the doctor stitched me up she missed a spot.  I went around for 3 months thinking the pain was normal when I really still had an extra hole.  I had to go to a colorectal(sp?) surgeon to get it fixed.  My surgery didn't have that long of a recovery either.  I just had to be really careful how much I lifted.  If I were you, I would find as much information about it as possible before doing a surgery.  Maybe even get a second opinion?

I know my situation was different but I can't understand your frustration/anger/etc.  Hope it all works out.