Post-op bleeding, wondering what GCS recovery was like for other people?

[Tiamet]

Hi everybody, I hope there are some other girls here who have gone through GCS and can offer some advice on recovery.

I'm on day 20 post-op (done in the U.S. inversion with graft). The surgery went well I think and there weren't any complications.  I started dilating on schedule at day 6 when the packing and catheter were removed.  It was uncomfortable but doable.  There was a little blood for the first few days, but then it was OK.

When I moved up to the 2nd dilator on day 14, there was a small gush of blood one time.  Then it was pretty clear for the following days.  By day 17 the 2nd dilator was pretty easy to use and there wasn't any blood at all (on the dilator or in my pads).  I could reach my max depth.

Suddenly on day 18, there was A LOT of bleeding.  It slowed down over 12 hours, but it's still constant 2 days later.  I think I snagged an inside stitch on the dilator or something.

The PA-C from my surgery said it might have been blood pooled underneath the graft, or part of the graft has separated?  She said to stop dilating for 2 days, but that the bleeding would probably continue for 2 weeks.

I'm just wondering what others experiences were?  Is it normal to have gushes of blood now and then during recovery? Or a slow but steady bleed at times?  When did your bleeding stop completely?

I have other questions but this is the most important.  It's so scary because I have no local doctor that knows anything about vaginoplasty to help me.  I can't see what's causing the bleeding because it's inside.  I feel like I can't go to an E.R. or a regular gynecologist because things aren't "standard" down there. Thanks.

[Dena]

Welcome to Susan's Place. My experience was a bit different than your in that I had a small amount of bleeding into the second month. As it was mostly spots on the pad, I didn't worry about it. If the bleeding is excessive, then you should have it checked out. You need to see a gynecologist who is also a surgeon as the repairs preformed on CIS women are enough like our surgery that this should not be a problem for a properly trained gynecologist.

Possibly you local doctor can provide you with a reference if they have had other patients receive surgery. In any case you will need to find a doctor soon as you should be checked for proud flesh/granulation which would indicate healing issues.

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[Tiamet]

Suddenly on day 18, there was A LOT of bleeding. 

I was able to see a gyn surgeon last week.  She said the blood (and disturbing dark red hematoma blood clots that came out) was trapped blood from behind the vaginal lumen/skin grafts.  It was actually a good thing this all came out.  My healing got a lot better afterwards, but it was SO scary at the time.  I "bled" for about 6 days while it drained. I was also put on antibiotics.

Apparently this is actually a sort of common thing. Here is someone else that had a similar experience:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,93683.0.html

[Dena]

I seem to recall a more current thread about this as well but this soon after surgery, it's wise not taking chances. There are a couple of other threads I recall where the poster had serious bleeding issues after surgery and it reached the point of being dangerous.

With me, proud flesh was the issue and follow up allowed it to be properly treated so I didn't have any issues as the result of it.