Hi, I am looking after a friend who had her GRS 9 days ago. Her vagina has a haematoma on one side of the vaginal lips and is really swollen (the other side is fine) and she is struggling to clean it as it is so swollen. She has been told by somebody that she can clean it with the product 'Vagisil' but we are just wondering if this is safe to use so early on, and also if anybody has any other tips/advice in regards to cleaning?

Thanks 

I have a near identical problem.  3 weeks post op tomorrow.  On day 5 the catheter was removed at which point a haematoma appeared, and was quite large by day 6.  Late that night the surgeon decided to purge most of it out - NOT NICE! - but it was better for it.  I had to wear a surgical dressing for 5 days and avoid baths/wetting it, which was problematic with dilating/doucheing.. But we managed! 5th day it came off and was NASTY looking... Yet apparently normal for a haematoma situation.. But very depressing/disappointing for me as it was like having a phantom of the opera vagina... One side immaculate.. The other... The devil!  However, it has continued to heal and improve daily, tho I can't quite bring myself to look at it just yet.  Cleaning has been important sure enough though.  Now I can bathe properly is great, as is the use of excess viadine from my douche (tho I need to stop using viadine in a few days) but in the main the best benefit has come from the use of aqueous cream gently used over the overall surgical site.  It took a bit of bravery to gently rub the cream in around the still swollen labia and urethra areas, but it has been much better for it.  A good rinse off of the cream after application, and I felt much fresher and cleaner than before I started to use the cream.

Hope this helps.

Kate x

Hi Kate, can I ask where you had your surgery done? My friend had hers in Charing Cross Hospital, London. She was told her haematoma can't be drained also and to just leave it and it will subside itself. Also, the Aqueous cream you mentioned I just googled and found this a moisturiser, and she was told not to put any kind of moisturiser on the vagina. It seems like every person gets different information!

Weird!  The aqueous cream is specifically mentioned in my post-op care advice.

My surgery was in Brighton by Phil Thomas.  He came to see me the Thursday night 9pm after the initial assessment of the haematoma late morning the same day by the specialist nurse.  He spent some time examining it with the help of one of the really lovely nurses, helping keep me calm.  He told me it was either a normal blood haematoma, or worst case scenario a cross-urinary infection leak.  He was very clear with me, and he needed to find out which, so he needed to make an incision in the swelling to find out for sure.  He did so, gave a horrible little squeeze, then reappeared to tell me that it was just option A,  he gave my hand a little squeeze and told me that it wouldn't affect the final appearance.  He then proceeded to squeeze it out like a giant zit (think... Vesuvius... Yuck) but all the time checking I was ok whilst the nurse held my hand.  It was uncomfortable, sore, but I was all for just getting it done.  It seemed to me that whilst the options on the table included leaving it to heal naturally like your friend, that he decided to make a specific intervention, for which I was glad.

It's been a few days since the dressing came off, and I've had paranoia, fear, horror at it.. And frustration at the good vs bad side.. But I AM seeing daily improvement. But deffo the hygiene thing is super important once you can actually get at the wound.

Kx

Quote from: Kate_H on July 11, 2013, 08:58:35 AM
I have a near identical problem.  3 weeks post op tomorrow.  On day 5 the catheter was removed at which point a haematoma appeared, and was quite large by day 6.  Late that night the surgeon decided to purge most of it out - NOT NICE! - but it was better for it.  I had to wear a surgical dressing for 5 days and avoid baths/wetting it, which was problematic with dilating/doucheing.. But we managed! 5th day it came off and was NASTY looking... Yet apparently normal for a haematoma situation.. But very depressing/disappointing for me as it was like having a phantom of the opera vagina... One side immaculate.. The other... The devil!  However, it has continued to heal and improve daily, tho I can't quite bring myself to look at it just yet.  Cleaning has been important sure enough though.  Now I can bathe properly is great, as is the use of excess viadine from my douche (tho I need to stop using viadine in a few days) but in the main the best benefit has come from the use of aqueous cream gently used over the overall surgical site.  It took a bit of bravery to gently rub the cream in around the still swollen labia and urethra areas, but it has been much better for it.  A good rinse off of the cream after application, and I felt much fresher and cleaner than before I started to use the cream.

Hope this helps.

Kate x

The haematoma has set me back about 2 weeks I think, given how I feel, coupled with the extended sick note they wrote me.

How strange, my friend also had her surgery by Phil Thomas on July 1st, but she has not even seen him since the surgery. Just shows the difference in treatment between private v nhs patients!! The post op information she received didn't mention any kind of creams or cleansing advice but all she was told was not to put any moisturiser on it at all! We will defo be buying some of the cream you mentioned then. She sent a picture of it over to the nursing assistant and she was told she showed Bellringer the picture and he said just to wait 6 weeks and to keep them informed.

One positive thing I've taken away from this (and speaking to others) is how common haematomas are.  Unortunate.  Not nice. But common.  Cause of mine seems to have been catheter related.

My scanner isn't working just now unfortunately, otherwise I'd scan my post-op guidance for you friend.

Talk to the surgeon. I've never hear of anyone using Vagisil on a postop hematoma. Nor any surgeon prescribing such action.

Thanks Kate, I have just been out to Superdrug and bought a tub of that cream. Can I ask how you use this cream? Do you just rub it in all over? As she has broken skin at the bottom that is weeping and we are unsure if this can be used there?

I wouldnt use it direct on weepy wounds.  Mine is mostly dry now, I still get a teeny bit of seepage in my pad throughout the day, but theres nothing really to see on the wound itself now.

What Id maybe consider doing is having a bath, a general water wash.  Once out of the bath (not throwing out water), let surgical area dry naturally, then apply cream liberally to entire surgical area, rubbing in as much as possible, but gently, then she should get back in the bath to rinse off, using a non-abrasive washcloth to help clean it off.

My advice tho - after speaking with my other half who has been instrumental in helping me through this when I couldnt bare to look at it! - is to not apply the cream whilst its still visibly weepy.   Whilst still weepy it might be best sticking with just water in the bath, with some hibiscrub in the water (also used to clean dilators) http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/hibiscrub-antibacterial-skin-cleanser_1_51575.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=EN%20%7C%20PLA%20%7C%20Health&utm_content=sKThwPrdy%7Cdc_pcrid_23721512785

Thanks for all your help Kate, much appreciated 

Shouldn't you see a doctor (ideally, the one who did the surgery) for a problem like that? I mean, the surgery is really recent. I'm even surprised she's already back home. I'm not sure what's safe to use there. But what I do know is that when you notice unusual stuff after a surgery, it's always the wisest option to ask your surgeon or, if you can't see that person, a doctor, before trying anything.

Yup, if in any doubt see GP, they'll take swabs to check for infection. 

Dr Reed's instructions for it are hydrogen peroxide 4% and an equal amount provodone iodine which is diluted 4 times with warm water. The peroxide will itself react with clot any gunk. If there is infection risk ass iodine but that should be good enough pending an order by your surgeon otherwise.