Why did I have stitches in vagina during CR surgery?

About a week post op, I began having vaginal discharge that is watery and slightly pinkish.  I asked Dr. at follow up appt about it and he just said he had put some stitches in my vagina.  I was sort of in shock and couldn't really say or ask anything else at that point and he didn't offer to explain why.  He just said, "The vagina and the rectum back up to each other."

I am about 6 weeks post op now and STILL having this discharge!  I have to wear a heavy Kotex pad all the time!  I did call the Dr's office about 2 weeks ago and asked how long to expect this to last and they just said "everybody is different".

Does anyone know what this is all about?  I will be going back to him on the 26th and I will definitely be asking him specifics about what all he did, but am hoping some of you might have some answers for me in the mean time.

As far as everything else, the surgery went well and no other cancer was found.  I have slowly gotten used to the temporary ileostomy and the caring for it.  I've lost A LOT of weight but it has just been in the last week or so that my appetite has come back.  I've also started drinking a protein drink and hope I start gaining weight back soon.

The only other problem I have is that I still have severe pain in my buttocks.  It is muscular pain and I actually started complaining about it while still in the hospital.  I have to take lortab just for this pain.  Is it just from losing all the weight and having no "cushion" back there?  Has anyone else had this type of problem?

Thanks for any info you can provide.  And God Bless all of you!

Anybody?

Sorry to hear you are so distressed over this.

Im not a medical person so cant really answer your questions. But I can share an experience and thoughts with you.

What I would say reading your message is that you have been through a very traumatic time with lots of changes going on in your body.

All of your problems are within a certain area and are quite likely related (and related to the weight loss). A friend of mine had a prolapse of the rectum a few years ago and it went into her vagina - as your doctor told you these areas are very close to each other.

When you see him on the 26th have your questions ready. His statement that "everyone is different" is true and each body reacts differently to different situations/operations.

Get well soon x

Hello,

If your cancer was borderline, or backed up to the back wall of the vagine he might have checked there or cut out some tissue for biopsy then had to stitch it up too.  Hope this helps:)

On Jun 17, 2012 2:16 PM TwoTwo wrote:

Anybody?

Hey, I didn't mean to say borderline cancer, I meant beside, or "next too" the vaginal wall.

That makes sense!  The cancer was on the side closest to the vagina. Thanks for answering!  I am going to the Dr. today and was planning on asking him about it. 

I hope you got some good answers from your doctor the other day.  Mother's rectal cancer had also spread to the vaginal wall; they removed part of her vagina during her surger, as well as part of her rectum and a piece of colon.  It wasn't metastisis; it was all one tumor.  The doctor said her vagina and colon were very close together.  However, she had no problems with any discharge or pain. 

I saw the Dr. on Tuesday and asked him about it.  Again, he explained that the rectum and the vagina back up to each other.  Then he said that in order to make sure Drs. get all the cancer from the rectal wall, they will sometimes accidently cut or even make a hole in the vagina, so they have to just stictch it back up.  So, he pretty much admitted that he accidently did this...  Hmmm...  I'm still having some discharge but it is slowing down.

I went this morning for my "contrast study".  Things were crazy, I think.  They had given me a prep to use yesterday.  Mainly, I was to stay on a liquid diet and drink lots of water.  Then at 5:30 PM I had to drink the clear stuff.  Sure enough, my bag filled up and I emptied it.  But around 6:30, I suddenly, and I do mean suddenly, had to throw up.  Not fun.  The bag was only about 1/3 filled at that point and it was fairly clear.  I was supposed to have taken 4 little pills at 7:30 but I decided not to.  They had basically told me that as soon as the output in the bag was more or clear that I could stop.

So, this morning I go to have the "contrast study" and there was some confusion as to whether they were going in through the ileostomy or the rectum.  They ended up calling the Dr. who, surprisingly changed his mind from Tuesday, and said to do it rectally.  I was worried - that area hasn't seen any action in over 2 months.  So, it was very uncomfortable, especially once they got all the liquid in.  Not an uncomfortable feeling like I had to go but more like it just hurt.

After they took all the pictures they needed, they sent me to the toilet to sit and let gravity work on removing the liquid.  It took a while.  A little bit would come and then I'd have to wait another 1 - 2 minutes and another little bit would come.  Then, they took another picture and said I was all clear and could go home.

So, I got dressed and was leaving.  I was in the lobby area and I felt weak, drained and my stomach hurt so I decided to sit down in the lobby for a minute.  Then, I felt like I needed to go back to the toilet.  When I did, I felt really sick and very weak.  I had a lot more liquid evacuate, along with some solid material.  So much for their picture that said I was all clear!

So, then I felt weak and suddenly felt very, very sleepy and could hardly keep my eyes open.  I was supposed to have gone directly back to the Dr. for him to do a scope but I just couldn't.  I called them and told them that I felt that I had had enough "excitement" for one day.  They made me an appt. for next week and I will have to use a Fleet before going.

I decided to stop at a convenience store and get some bottled water as I also noticed my mouth felt very dry.  When I did make it home, I went straight to bed and napped for 4 hours.

Oh, but the good news is - they didn't see any leakage from the contrast study!  So, yay me!

Still having the discharge but it had slowed down some.  Had the contrast study with the barrium enema 2 weeks ago and it kicked it back up for a few days.  Then yesterday the surgeon did a scope of the rectum and it has kicked back up again.  I asked him if I need to have a vaginal ultrasound or something and he shook his head no, but I'm getting really concerned about this.

My reversal surgery is scheduled for July 23 and I'm scared.