Opera singer unable to work after episiotomy gone wrong

Luna C · January 2014

This is basically nightmare fuel:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/weird-news/opera-singer-out-of-work-after-surgery-left-her-unable-to-sing-without-farting-9080793.html

kibean · January 2014

Stuff of nightmares for sure!

momof5sept18 · January 2014

Thats such a horrible situation. Poor lady..

FutureMrsW9 · January 2014

Wait....holy crap, at first I was like wtf and kinda giggled, but then I read the article and that's actually HORRIBLE! This poor woman! OMG....makes me almost want a c-section. Almost.

tbmadeamistake · January 2014

That article is terrifying on several levels: one, the anus/vagina connection is bad. two, her headshot is effing creepy. Her eyes follow you around if you move from side to side. Don't like it.

MrsCase1 · January 2014

I feel bad for her. This is not something I would want publicized.

colllydon · January 2014

Aaaannnd now I'm terrified. Why oh why did I click on that link!?!

babygabe614 · January 2014

I'm gonna freely admit that based on the comments so far, I'm too chicken to read this article. The episiotomy has always been my #1 fear anyway, so I'm sure this will just encourage that fear tenfold.

kimmyberly26 · January 2014

Dang. Poor woman. That sucks.

Luna C · January 2014

joules235 said:

Yikes! Luckly most women don't need an episiotomy

But lots still end up getting them, no?

Admittedly, I haven't researched this lately but I was under the impression they were still considered more or less standard of care by a lot of docs.

MrsP419 · January 2014

With DD, I was told I needed an episiotomy. Actually, my doctor's exact words were "I'm going to cut you." Yes, she had quite the bedside manor, as did the majority of my birth team that day. After my two-hour transition, I was not wanting to feel ANYTHING else (even if that makes no sense), and I said no. She acted like she was going to do it anyway, and DH re-iterated that I said no. She didn't cut, and I tore. I tore badly, but it was many small low degree tears. For the next couple days in the hospital, nurses who checked me made sure to say things like "Now, if it hurts more down there, it is because you declined that episiotomy."

Yeah it hurt, but for like a week. I healed up just fine, and never regretted that decision.

Anyway, all this is not to say that all episiotomies are bad or unnecessary. For all I know, my healing would have been a bit better if I had one, but the jury is pretty split (haha…puns) on that one. I have read a lot on 'natural cuts vs unnatural ones' and collapsed skin and stuff in normal episiotomies. While yes, many episiotomies are perfectly safe and commonplace, they actually can be declined in many cases if you feel strongly about it and do some research. A good doctor should be able to communicate to you if it is really necessary or just easier, even in that moment.

MrsCase1 · January 2014

Totally moot for me since i am having a repeat c/s but if I DID have the choice, I would totally prefer to tear naturally.

tbmadeamistake · January 2014

I got one, and healed without any problems. The nurses kept offering me heavy pain meds, which I refused in favor of the occasional advil. They were amazed.

That said, my BIL's gf just had their baby and she was told that "they don't do episiotomies anymore." I found that interesting.

hollygb22 · January 2014

I had one. My doctor talked to me about it. I was tearing naturally and he said that the tear was becoming severe and jagged and recommended it.

My recovered was ok..definitely not any issues that poor lady is experiencing! In general, I was a slave to colace and scared to poop after delivery..but I'm not sure if that was just from stitches or giving birth in general.

I really wish some friends had better prepped me for the whole what happens to your nether regions once the baby is born

MississippiCatfish · January 2014

Eh, it can happen with natural tears, too. I haven't done the 30 day shred in months, but there were several moves (mostly involving jumping) that I couldn't do without involuntary passing gas. I think the last time I tried it was right before getting pregnant, about 11 months PP. Anyway, you take many risks with having a baby - that's just one of them.

chloephoebecali · January 2014

I agree with pp. It can happen with tears or episiotomy. I've had both and my tears with DS were worse than the episiotomy. Ds, however, came out with his hand at his face. The episiotomy probably would have been bad, too. I have no preference going forward. Each ob at my practice has different feelings on it and I trust their judgement in the situation.

GolfWidow001 · January 2014

I feel her pain with the episiotomy...I had a fourth degree episiotomy with DD and now unfortunately have issues with incontinence at times. Exact reason why I'm having a schedules c section this time around!!!

RedMar · January 2014

VAGINANUS?!! 8-X yikes!!

iris427 · January 2014

Luna C said:

joules235 said:

Yikes! Luckly most women don't need an episiotomy

But lots still end up getting them, no?
Admittedly, I haven't researched this lately but I was under the impression they were still considered more or less standard of care by a lot of docs.

Routine episiotomy is definitely not the standard of care anymore. If your doctor does them, I would find a new doctor--not just so you don't get your vag cut, but also because I would wonder what else s/he is not up to date on.

This can happen with spontaneous tears too though. It sounds like she had some kind of rectovaginal fistula? Those are unfortunately not that unusual in parts of the world where women don't have access to obstetrical care.

I hope this poor women gets her vag fixed!

ElTrain5 · January 2014

I wasn't scared of the possibility of an episiotomy until I was watching birth videos on youtube and accidentally saw one. That kind of gore cannot be unseen. I'd watch all of the "Saw" movies before I'd watch that again. It was so LONG!! I swear I thought they were going to cut all the way to her butt cheek. Time to start that perennial massage!

Luna C · January 2014

iris427 said:
Routine episiotomy is definitely not the standard of care anymore. If your doctor does them, I would find a new doctor--not just so you don't get your vag cut, but also because I would wonder what else s/he is not up to date on.
I hope this poor women gets her vag fixed!

Oh, no -- my doctor and I haven't even gotten to this discussion yet. That was merely my impression based on discussions with friends, etc. I admit I'm wholly uninformed on the topic.

And I agree with your second point as well. Poor lady not only has this to deal with, her story is all over the interwebz. Seems like she should get way more than $2.5M to me.

MississippiCatfish · January 2014

Luna C said:

iris427 said:

Routine episiotomy is definitely not the standard of care anymore. If your doctor does them, I would find a new doctor--not just so you don't get your vag cut, but also because I would wonder what else s/he is not up to date on.
I hope this poor women gets her vag fixed!

Oh, no -- my doctor and I haven't even gotten to this discussion yet. That was merely my impression based on discussions with friends, etc. I admit I'm wholly uninformed on the topic.

And I agree with your second point as well. Poor lady not only has this to deal with, her story is all over the interwebz. Seems like she should get way more than $2.5M to me.

I wonder if she's going to have a hard time proving her case, though, because the doctor could say, "In my professional opinion, had I not performed an episiotomy, this patient's tearing would have been much more extensive, thus potentially causing even more damage." It might not have to do with what the doc did, ya know? It'll be interesting to see what the decision is!

Just to be clear, I'm definitely not on board with routine episiotomies!! It's just hard to know whether the dr did anything wrong in this case without seeing the details of her delivery.

ElTrain5 · January 2014

To be honest I've never heard of a "4th degree" episiotomy. It sounds more like she got an episiotomy and then it continued to tear further...which is a big reason a lot of people don't want them.

kimmyberly26 · January 2014

I never did any research before DD and when the doctor asked during my pushing, I chose the episiotomy. I never had any issues and haled well. Nor sure what I'll do this time around.

Luna C · January 2014

I wonder if she's going to have a hard time proving her case, though, because the doctor could say, "In my professional opinion, had I not performed an episiotomy, this patient's tearing would have been much more extensive, thus potentially causing even more damage." It might not have to do with what the doc did, ya know? It'll be interesting to see what the decision is! Just to be clear, I'm definitely not on board with routine episiotomies!! It's just hard to know whether the dr did anything wrong in this case without seeing the details of her delivery.

**
Agreed. Also, it could be that the procedure went fine and she had some other underlying factor that left her unable to heal properly. It happens.
I have to say,if it was the doctor's fault than he really, REALLY made a dumb mistake, because that kind of cut is def. not the desired result. Not even close.

pcourtade · January 2014

I feel so sorry for her.

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Opera singer unable to work after episiotomy gone wrong

Re: Opera singer unable to work after episiotomy gone wrong

Married DH 7/30/11

CSC arrived 5/7/12

CHC arrived 6/2/14

Married DH 7/30/11

CSC arrived 5/7/12

CHC arrived 6/2/14

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