Postpartum dissolving stitches - or is it granuloma forming again?

[Anonymous]

What is it supposed to feel like when your stitches dissolve? I’m 9 days postpartum from my second birth and yet again, something doesn’t feel right.

With my first, I developed a granuloma that rubbed a sore open on my vaginal wall that persisted for over six weeks before I could get it fixed. It started with a feeling like something was inside my vagina that shouldn’t be there. I can’t remember when it started but it ended with pain and stinging every time I went to pee. Getting it fixed was horrid (it hurt more than my unmedicated labor), and the whole experience left me with PTSD-like symptoms for a year.

I had the same midwife this time around, so she said she did my stitches in a way that should keep it from happening again. BUT. I was feeling pretty good until today. Now I have that feeling like something is in there feeling and I’m terrified the granuloma is coming back. Could I just be feeling the stitches dissolving? Is there anything I can do to keep this from getting worse? I’m already feeling overwhelmed balancing a newborn who cluster feeds all night long and my high energy toddler.

[Anonymous]

First off I am so sorry you are going through this. You need to be examined, and I would say preferably by an obstetrician. Is that possible for you? At a minimum please call your midwife and ask her to fit you in. What are your symptoms? How did you tear the first time and this time?
Where were your tears? Any chance you are feeling a prolapse and not stitches?

[Anonymous]

Get an appointment ASAP. Have someone out eyes on it and make sure it is healing ok. You should not really feel anything other than less sore and less pain. You don’t really feel the stitches (except a little itchy) dissolving. Better to go in and be normal than have another experience like your first. Also, you might need more help so you can just lay down and rest and heal. I pulled a stitch getting on and off my high bed 5 days PP. I made my husband do all the getting and putting back of baby for two days and 4 to visited and played in my bed. That helped me heal better than if I had continued that behavior. You might need your partner , family member, friend, or paid person to come and let you rest and heal more.

[Anonymous]

When you go in, ask what kind of suture was used. If you have a third, be sure to avoid. Chromic is notorious for granuloma formation.

Feel better.

[Anonymous]

Go in. I'm sorry you're going through this, I had a granuloma form too after my first and more than 9 years later I still have PTSD from how much pain I was in (for 5 months before the doctors listened to me). Go in now, don't take no for an answer.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I set an appointment for tomorrow with my midwife who just happened to have one opening left (thank goodness for ZocDoc scheduling, she’s not always in my local office). I feel silly for going in so early, but then again, not. Thankfully, she’s awesome and knows now what to look for. Fingers crossed it’s just healing and not forming again!

[Anonymous]

I had the same thing happened - I had a plastic surgeon look at it and properly cut it out (under local). Why better solution than what my midwife offered, which was an attempt to freeze it off. No thanks!!