HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

to the ladies with barbie's butt :)

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/17/2013 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
hi, i just thought of something. as i understand it, after removing the rectum, anus and shutting the anus closed the whole perimeum area will be wounded, hurting and with stiches, right? when i get my first period after surgery and the whole area is not healed yet, will i be able to insert a tampon?? is it possible at all after a surgery like that?

thanks!

Posted 8/17/2013 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
varies a lot... Sorry to butt (ha) in even though I don't have the BB... but I stopped being able to comfortably use tampons after my protectomy. The shape of the vagina and the way it interacts with all the other stuff in your pelvis can change after surgery and I found the angle just didn't work. I can still have intercourse but wearing a tampon all day made my former rectal area really achey. To be fair I haven't tried again since the first time (it was about 6 weeks post-op). I definitely wouldn't plan on using tampons shortly after surgery, though I know some people have no issue.
Posted 8/17/2013 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
my gosh.. this is scary. first 2 days of my period it's high output. i won't be able to do much if i can't wear a tampon :( but thanks a lot for the explanation and answer!
Posted 8/17/2013 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have any experience with the anal closure but I think it will just depend on you and how your wound is healing. Everything may be too tender down there for you to even think about inserting a tampon. I have no issues with tampons post surgery...it all feels the same down there as before surgery.
Posted 8/17/2013 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
I have the anal closure & got my period the day after surgery. I used tampons in the hospital (my Mom brought me a box). Not a problem here, I actually had to change them in bed as I was not yet allowed to walk. (I had the complete proctocolectomy, ileostomy & anal closure in one procedure)

I am currently having period #2 post surgery & can say that yes - the angel of insertion is much different than it was pre-surgery.

Don't forget to buy the Pee Ez - http://www.amazon.com/EZ-Female-Urination-Device-Case/dp/B004APOFTI

Urine really burns after surgery until the staples are removed.
Posted 8/18/2013 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
thanks Marianne and MM!

MM, wow.. i'm amazed you were able to use a tampon only day post op... but it is good to know it's possible :) i hope i'll be able too. i just got my period yest, surgery is exactly one week from now, so hopefuly i get some time before i get the next one. i know surgery can make it come earlier than expected, but hopefully i get at least 10 days before it comes again. so it doesn't cause you pain while it's in? or feels uncomfortable?

guess you missed my reply to you on the other thread where i was thanking you greatly for informing me about the p ez. i wrote there that i went to a pharmacy and bought something similar. it has a container that is part of it, so although it's not exactly the same, i guess it serves the same purpose. and again, thank you SOOOO much for infroming me about this!! i would have been in so much pain if it weren't for you! ♥
Posted 8/18/2013 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
I did miss the reply - been a bit absent. Glad you got something!

I have zero pain with my tampon - perhaps I'm lucky for once :)
Posted 8/18/2013 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
oh i hope i'll be lucky with that too :):) glad you're back! :)
Posted 8/18/2013 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't have pain with tampons after my colectomy, but somehow uncomfortable, so I use pads. I guess something has changed there, but nothing drastic.
Posted 8/18/2013 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
thank you B'Derech. i'm so scared of all the changes this surgery is going to cause me.
Posted 8/19/2013 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
If you have heavy bleeding you can always get that under control with low estrogen birth control pills. I have heavy bleeding myself and use Junel. I take 4 packs straight then skip a week. This way I only have my period 4x a year. I don't miss the monthly thing at all. Mine also caused dizziness and migraine which would put me out of work for a day or two.
Posted 8/19/2013 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
yeah it's no fun :/ thanks peace. i'll consider it if i'll have to.
Posted 8/19/2013 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
I can wear tampons, but the angle of my vagina did change a lot, which can cause some weirdness..... it's like the angle is back, not down, so if I've been lying down and go to the bathroom, taking out the tampon, blood can get backed up.... need to be careful or I'll make a mess. When I swim or take a bath w/my period, the tampon can get soaked w/water in a way that it didn't before surgery (now w/a heavy period, I need two); it's kind of annoying.

I am pretty close to menopause, so my periods are quite wacky now due to that, so not necessarily relevant to a younger person.
Posted 8/20/2013 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hodaya,
we always have fear before surgery, and we want to worry ourselves crazy about every single possible development.Looking back at your original question, I think that the first period after surgery, and maybe even the second period after surgery, might be too sensitive to wear a tampon. Pads are fine, although I can't explain what I like about them better than tampons.
I am almost tempted to say that if you use tampons now, then it may not be any different after they remove your rectum (after you've healed), but obviously I can't know what I'm talking about. But it is also possible that nothing will change for you. If it does, you can also try other tampons - some are softer, some even come with an applicator if that would help, you can even ry the all-natural menstural sponge.
I should explain that you will not have what makes me uncomfortable with tampons, and that is that when I sit down to poo, my pelvic musclees work together and expel the tampon, sometimes it shoots into the toilet (and I have to reach into the toilet to remove it!). Aside from that, inserting the tampon and walking around with it inside was all ok.
So just deal with the fear. Things might be different enough that tampons won't work for you, and it is also possible that things change a little but don't effect using tampons, even if it's at a somewhat different angle. Whatever happens, you will just adjust to it, and it will not a bad thing in your life.
Posted 8/20/2013 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
blueglass, thanks for sharing your own personal experience too! every experience someone shares helps me know more about possible outcomes and what to expect.

B'Derech, thanks so much for your words of comfort and reassurance! you have no idea how much it helps! i'm dealing and taking into consideration i may have issues. i used to have that same issue before i had the ileo done, that the tampon would shoot into the toilet while straining (cuz of my constipation) for a bm. so i used to take it out before trying to have a bm, so i won't have to "fish" it out afterwards lol. i hope i don't get any issues, and if so, i hope they are not big issues. i just have to deal, as you said.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply