Topic: Post op pain

[leah123]

Hi, My name is Leah.

I had penile inversion SRS vaginoplasty just over a week ago and am still in significant pain. The first 12 hours were fine as I was essentially paralysed from the waist down then pain started in my left bum cheek where it meets the leg near the crotch. I initially put this down to the compression bandage as it was over the area. I was only given paracetamol and ibuprofen in the day as others could cause constipation. I had a huge panic attack (only the second one I had up to that point) that evening due to the pain and anxiety and put on a morphene PCA before the pressure dressing was removed the next morning. I was ok and strugled through the day but once the evening came I could not sleep and basically cried all night as the nurses would not give me anything for the pain. I slept all next day a few hours after they started giving me paracetamol and ibuprofen. That evening I had another panic attack dreading the night awake in pain. I kicked up enough fuss that they essentially sedated me with Zopiclone.

I got through the rest of the week in the same fashion, essentially in significant pain or sedated (the Zopiclone totally knocked me out in minutes for 6-8 hours).  I spoke to another girl there who was one day in front of me and had nowhere near the pain I was in. By the 4th day I could hobble round the room and along the corridor but could not stand up straight or put my knees together. I'm home now on day 8 and still cannot walk without looking like a duck and in constant pain. A cold pack helps but that can only go on for short periods.

Has anyone else has this much pain that is more like extreme groin strain on both sides post op ?

I also have mental issues regarding the way I was treated and I cannot stand to touch the surgical site except for dilation that is horrendous and I am assuming that I have associated the pain with it even though the pain is in a slightly different area.

It would really help if anyone else has had similar experiences and could let me know how they dealt with it.

[Oldandcreaky]

I urge you to contact your surgeon. I had nowhere near the pain you describe.

[Allie Jayne]

Leah, one of the post op women in a fb group I am in also suffers such pain, though she seems a great deal worse off than you. She is 6 months post op and has spent the majority of that time in hospital. The surgeon, and a urologist could find not medical reason for her pain, so she was referred to a specialist pain doctor. He diagnosed her with Neuropathic Pain, and has had some success with medications, but she is not cured by any means.

See your surgeon, and get them to refer you to specialists if the surgeon cannot resolve the pain. During our operations, many nerves are cut and sometimes sutured nearby, but this type of pain is expected to settle. I also know of a woman whose clitoris was not protected by a hood, and she was in a lot of pain from underwear rubbing. I really feel for you are we undergo surgery to relieve pain in our lives, not to encounter pain of a different kind.

Hugs,

Allie

[Margrit]

Hi, My name is Leah.

I had penile inversion SRS vaginoplasty just over a week ago and am still in significant pain. The first 12 hours were fine as I was essentially paralysed from the waist down then pain started in my left bum cheek where it meets the leg near the crotch. I initially put this down to the compression bandage as it was over the area. I was only given paracetamol and ibuprofen in the day as others could cause constipation. I had a huge panic attack (only the second one I had up to that point) that evening due to the pain and anxiety and put on a morphene PCA before the pressure dressing was removed the next morning. I was ok and strugled through the day but once the evening came I could not sleep and basically cried all night as the nurses would not give me anything for the pain. I slept all next day a few hours after they started giving me paracetamol and ibuprofen. That evening I had another panic attack dreading the night awake in pain. I kicked up enough fuss that they essentially sedated me with Zopiclone.

I got through the rest of the week in the same fashion, essentially in significant pain or sedated (the Zopiclone totally knocked me out in minutes for 6-8 hours).  I spoke to another girl there who was one day in front of me and had nowhere near the pain I was in. By the 4th day I could hobble round the room and along the corridor but could not stand up straight or put my knees together. I'm home now on day 8 and still cannot walk without looking like a duck and in constant pain. A cold pack helps but that can only go on for short periods.

Has anyone else has this much pain that is more like extreme groin strain on both sides post op ?

I also have mental issues regarding the way I was treated and I cannot stand to touch the surgical site except for dilation that is horrendous and I am assuming that I have associated the pain with it even though the pain is in a slightly different area.

It would really help if anyone else has had similar experiences and could let me know how they dealt with it.

Hi Leah 
Hopefully a doctor can relieve you of it super quickly.
I wish you a good and speedy recovery.
Best wishes
Margrit

[leah123]

Thanks for the replies.

I had the impression that they just wanted to get rid of me and have told me to contact my GP for any issues with a big list of possible complications. I will try emailing the hospital today but don't expect much to be honest. Will aIslo try the GP but I doubt they have any experience with this at all (I'm one of their first post op trans women) really wish I hadn't had this done now. I expected pain but this is ridiculous.

[warlockmaker]

Always so  sad to hear of someone going thru such pain. In my experience helping and financing GRS, the surgeon has always  been very active to correct such matters. So much pain is very rare if it lasts more than a a couple of weeks, without identifying the issue. Pain can be caused by, damaged nerves,  infections or later, in dilation with torn stiches. One week post OP is the most difficult time and I hope it will get better in the next couple of week.

I note you did not mention where you had the surgery and always remember whatever you signed to release them from responsibility they are never released for negligence. The surgeon must be an integral part of the solution.

I hope this will be solved in due time and I wish you the best of luck.

[davina61]

Sorry to hear this, some thing I was worried about but have been totally pain free . Still a bit sore after 18 days.
You do need to chase this up dear and may it resolve soon.