9 days post op - is this a UTI?

[marctravis]

My spouse is 9 days post op. We just traveled back from Philly, a 5 hour trip with layover. One unfortunate thing happened. My spouse dropped the corner of her makeup bag on her new vagina. It wasn't a heavy bag, but it hurt. After that, pain, more blood than usual, more pain. Now we're home and her pubic area, above the vagina and just below the abdomen, is pooched out and very painful to the touch. It had already been pooched out a little, but is noticeably bigger. Still more blood than usual, not pouring out, just more blood on the pads when she removes them. I'm quite worried that it's an infection and I'll have to take her to the emergency room. Has anyone else experienced this? I just gave her the second of two anti-biotics for the day and put her to bed with legs raised and an ice pack. Worried.

[Doreen]

Honestly doesn't sound like a uti.. injury perhaps.  If she has painful urination or foul smelling discharge, that would be more in the lines of a uti or yeast infection.  It could be the already traumatized area is experiencing more bruising... and you're treating it well with the ice pack and raising it.  In the end though, if you feel the need is important the ER is there to use of course. 

[marctravis]

She has really had painful urethra since the operation. Not painful urination though and no foul odor. The doc said this is all normal. Also, said the bleeding and the pooch in the pubic area was just some light swelling. I guess I should wait and watch and determine what to do if it gets worse. I'm hoping the anti-biotic and ice will  help.

[Dena]

Several things come to mind. It's possible the catheter roughed things up and it will take time to heal. In order to reduce the pain hand help the healing, she should drink plenty of fluids. The bleeding is something that should be watched closely. As things are stitched together, it's more fragile and several reports have been made on the site of severe bleeding after surgery requiring medical intervention. As long as the bleeding remains reasonable, it's not a problem but if it appears to be excessive, get her to the emergency room.

[bubbles21]

Hey,

it sounds like a bit of swelling that will just go down gradually. As someone said before drink lots of water and i found that ibuprofen really helped me. There will be a bit of blood for a little while post op but it shouldn't be too excessive and if it becomes too much then get her to a dr to make sure everything is ok but for now it just sounds like a bit of swelling that will go down soon. The area you speak of was also a bit swollen for me but ended up going down and i agree with Dena that the catheter could quite possibly be the reason she is feeling pain in the urethra. I hope everything heals well for her and she is lucky to have a caring partner. Tell her congrats!!! 

[marctravis]

Thanks everyone. The swelling went down overnight and things are looking up. I'm just a nervous nelly and this is all new to me. I don't think I'd make a very good nurse.

[Dena]

Don't worry about it. This is a support site where we share our knowledge helping others with their problems. I haven't seen that many people go through surgery but I have been reading the reports of everybody on the site who had surgery. I am more than willing to share what I have learned so you are making my efforts worth while.