Leakage Question

[K8]

I read that I will need maxi-pads, panty-liners, and bed pads.  Dr. Bowers site even says to use bed pads at the Morning After House so that the furniture doesn't get stained.  I read that I should bring some inexpensive cotton panties.  Also that I should bring a pair of black sweat pants – black presumably so that staining doesn't show as readily.

With all this expected leakage, how long before I can dare to wear my favorite skirt?

- Kate

[Flan]

I'm guessing about a month before the major incisions heal up enough so blood/plasma/puss isn't coming out anymore, although it's mostly off top of head based on what Renate went through.

[rejennyrated]

You end up having what is effectively a super period, for a duration which can last anything up to six or eight weeks, but with diminshing levels of bleeding.

It will depend on how fast you heal - but you should be ok within a few weeks providing you wear suitable protection. The other problem is that dilating in the early days can be quite "messy".

Just be thankful you will only have the one. Not only did I have it all twice, because of the revision, but before I had even done that I became aware that I had a sealed tiny cavity within my body (which by rights should not have been present, or at least should have been removed by the previous surgery) which for some reason used to often get infected and burst causing me to experience a "bleed". Since the revision this thankfully seems at last to have stopped.

[Sandy]

The one recommendation I will make is not to use tampons!

My doctor recommended that I use some gauze pads rolled up in a tube and inserted just inside my vagina.  It helped keep the leaking to a moderate amount while I was healing after the first few days.  I thought that a tampon would be much more effective.

I was too right.

It absorbed everything and then promptly clung to my still tender tissues.  It was so very difficult to remove and when I did I think I tore some tissue out when I did.  And it was PAINFUL!  Once was enough.

After that I just used maxi pads.  They provide a fair amount of cushioning as well so it isn't quite so painful to sit.

You'll get an idea about how you are healing and after a few weeks you should know when you can wear fancier clothes with confidence.  Though it was several months before I stopped wearing panty liners.

-Sandy

[Renate]

The ground rule here is that your mileage may vary.
The exact quantity of blood vs. plasma vs. pus is individual.

You may find that although you have packed plenty of new, already laundered, white cotton briefs with you
that the hospital-issue gauze briefs (that could fit a basketball) are more comfortable as they apply less pressure.

Black sweat pants are very practical. Consider getting one pair much too big to fit bandages.

In addition, all sorts of accidents can happen, catheter blow-by, leaks and general messiness.
Hospital laundries are very good at getting out all sorts of stains!

[mmelny]

I'm 10 weeks post, and still using maxi pads.. a necessity still at this stage.   My experience, no idea what others is.   There is no sign of abatement, I'm a gooey gushy girl !   But no longer blood, that was mostly gone by week 6, except for a granulation that oozed a bit of blood here and there.  Most of the ooze is yellowish mucous stuff.   These are really horrid things to be talking about, lol.... 

You can wear your favorite skirt on discharge from the hospital, I wore a beige cotton one (picture in my blog, SRS part4) !   Maxi pads keeps the oozing under control   ..

*huggs*,
Melan