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Posted 12/20/2012 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there!  I had my Ostomy surgery back in Sept 2012 and occassionally have bleeded from my vaginia outside my normal period. Recently I started bleeding this past Fri, 12/14.  It's now Thurs, 12/20 and the blood flow has been up and down. Currently I need to use Super Tampons to soak up all the blood.

I'm also on birthcontrol and not due for my period until Feb 2013.  This bleeding is alot different. I dont have any of the other issues associated with a menstral cycle....no cramps, bloating, headaches, the tampon stays dry where there no blood, no oder, and the blood is more brown than red.

Is it possible I'm bleeding somewhere from the surgery and it's escaping through the vaginia?  Has anyone else had these post-surgery issues? I do have a call into my surgeon.

Also while still in the hospital  I had a large amount of bleeding and mentioned it but the hospital staff didn't seem concerned. Also had some bleeding during the time I had a drain for 2 weeks due to an abscess.

Any insight would be helpful.

Posted 12/20/2012 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Peace - I had my surgery at the end of August and my period was out of whack for quite awhile. I started to bleed two days after my surgery. The nurses said that it wasn't uncommon for your period to be messed up in that way. I think I was messed up until the start of November. I would have period-like bleeding. But, it was the type of bleeding I was used too and it was light. I too was on three-month cycles of birth control at the time. So it's not out of the realm of possibilities that it could be that.

I hate to say it, but it does sound different than period wackiness. Where was your abscess? Sometimes they can leave damage/holes that tunnel into the vagina. An unsual connection can be made between organs in the body (fistulas). I don't now if you have any rectum left, but there is on common type called a rectovaginal fistula that can cause unusual vaginal output. I don't know much about fistulas in general. Or it could be another abscess causing discharge through the vagina.

I don't have any experience with either of these things...so I just have a very basic understanding. It's good that you have a call in to your surgeon. If a nurse or somebody doesn't call you back within a couple of days, you might want to call back and figure out what's going on (surgeon out on vacation or something).

Best Wishes.
Posted 12/20/2012 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
peace... this does sound like you may have a fistula.. caused by the surgery abscess. And maybe even another abscess going on up there. I had all of that after my surgery. With the same stuff happening as you. For me too, for many days in the hospital while I was bleeding, gushing out.. the hospital staff - including doctors and nurses, ignored me. But finally when my original surgeon came by.. he immediately ordered a cat scan and found a huge abscesses which he has had to surgically drain many times. I have had ongoing problems with all of this for quite sometime. Eventually the fistula healed on its own, but the abscess and original wound is still a huge problem.

if you cannot reach your surgeon, you can also go to your gynecologist, as she/he would most likely be able to confirm whether its menstrual blood or not. Also if you have fevers of any sort and thin you are getting sicker... you need to go to the emergency room... just in case you may have an infection.
good luck. sorry you are going through this.
Posted 12/20/2012 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies. I currently don't have a GYN. My last CAT scan was 11/26 and all it showed was a small abscess (1cm) where they closed off the retum. Nothing worth draining and I was told it should take care of it's self.

No chills or fever. Seems like the bloodflow is slowing down now. It seems to come and go like that. I'll definately mention the fistula theory.
Posted 12/21/2012 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
     HI THERE!!!!  I had bleeding from time to time from the vagina after surgery which required wearing just a thin pad, not one of those thick ones.  If you're bleeding heavily, I would be concerned.  Dr. Fry told me from the get go, when I first had the bleeding, about a month post op, that he thought it was all related to the surgery.  But, to be on the safe side, he ordered CT scans AND MRI's.  I believe I told you that I went to a very incompetent imaging center for the MRI and they wrote back to Dr. Fry that  I should have a CT scan done of the rectum rolleyes   and he said, "How can you get a CT scan of the rectum when you have no rectum?" OY...how these people get their license I have no idea.  I never returned to that imaging center, so the MRI of the pelvic and stomach area was left pretty much up in the air.  However, I did go to the GYN and they ordered the transvaginal ultrasound.  If anything is going on down there, that is the test to have.  Actually, I went twice within one year shocked .  NOT the most pleasant test, especially since I haven't had my period for the last twenty years and am not sexually active (oops, too much info).

     Update, for the last few days, I felt like there was something stuck inside my butt.  Out came a wad of mucus and now it feels fine.  Don't know what all that was about, but no bleeding.  I haven't had bleeding for several months now. 

     Best to ask Dr. Fry if he would suggest you having the MRI...and..go to a reputable center, not like I did rolleyes .

Posted 12/21/2012 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
I did hear back from my surgeon. He didn't think it was related to surgery as it so far out. Just had an exam with my primary doc and he also ordered an ultra sound. My female parts felt fine during the exam. It's the rectum that aches a bit..a dull ache.

My GI had an interesting reply I would like to share..so far he has been accurate with my issues!
I definitely have to try the tinkle test!

"Good grief! You can't buy a break! I think it can be post-surgical, particularly since you had post-op complications with the abscess. When you have any inflammatory condition in the abdomen/pelvis, it can extend and involve the gyn structures, including the vaginal area, bladder, and even the kidneys. I would certainly follow-up with your gyn, but would be very quick to let Dr. Frye know, and (unfortunately) my guess is a repeat CT scan may again be suggested. (Looking for inflammation in the pelvic area, fistula tracts, etc.) One very cheap test you can do is the "tinkle test". If you go in the bathtub and actually tinkle/urinate in the bathtub, and if you see any air, it would be a sign of a fistula between the intestinal tract and the urinary tract. Kind of a gross little test, but you can't beat the price (ie. free) and it may show if you have an inflammatory fistula. The bad news is if there is a fistula, usually surgery would be required to fix that. You are a prime example of "when bad things happen to good people". Let me know if I can help....Best wishes!"
Posted 12/22/2012 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
     That is interesting!  Gross to tinkle in the tub while having a bath though rolleyes .  In the beginning, with my issues, I thought it was a fistula too and Dr. Fry did mention that not all fistulas will show up on CT scans.  I suppose they can hide somewhere.

     I have not seen a GI doctor since before my operation.  I refuse to return to my former GI because he was completely opposed to my having an operation.

Posted 12/31/2012 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
well I had my ultrasound and my female parts are ok. They recommneded at CT Scan or MRI! My bleeding is down to a little spotting on a tampon. I stopped wearing the tampons as it increased the aching in my rectal area. Yup..still in pain! I think my body isn't adjusting to the staple in my rectum area. I stil has my anus but it's closed off where the rectum is stapled. It hurts to sit, stand, and plain old move. The continuous aching it straining my back msucles and I feel naucous at times. It's been since Dec 14th.    When will this end????

Have another call in to my Primary doc and the surgeon.  Not healing is causing me to put my life on hold. rolleyes Hope I can make it through the New Year....the only thing effective for the pain is alcohol but I don't wnat to wind up in AA session next!

I was so hoping for a new ass for Christmas! 

Happy Holidays!

Posted 12/31/2012 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
     Yeah, I would not wear tampons if I were you.  My bleeding lasted quite some time...maybe on and off for almost two years post op.  I haven't had any bleeding since the summer (crossing my fingers, toes and anything else that will cross).

     So that's what they do huh?  Staple the rectum?  Dr. Fry never told me exactly what went on down there and I never asked.  I am now wondering if a staple didn't come shooting out when I got home because the second night I was home I woke up with something sticking me in my right upper thigh...guess what it was...a staple!!! shocked    So you know from that date till the present, I still have some discomfort when I roll over on that thigh?  Weird!

     To put your mind at ease I would go for the MRI.  Just for good measure.  Does it hurt inside the anus?  I had that at times too.  I think I  told you I have a huge skin tag hanging out but Dr. Fry looked at it and said to just put calmoseptine or hemmorhoid ointment on it.  Sometimes it is a nuisance and other times not.  He said it would be very painful to remove it...for me, not him..lol.

     I'm tellin ya, it takes quite a while to feel 100%.  Right now my main problem is painful joints.  My upper arms ache like a toothache.  I am going to my family doctor on Friday.  I am wondering if I am dehydrated.  I know I have full blown osteoporosis but am not taking anything for it.  I refuse to take Reclast or Boniva and the Fosamax and Actonel give me terrible heartburn...oy.  The only thing that helps my pain is hydrocodone...and I don't want to turn into a druggie..lol.  Sounds like we are a pair. rolleyes    I just take 1/2 a 10 mgm pill each morning and that is all.  I am not sure if my family doctor will even give me a script for it.  I have had these pills forever but am running low.  I think I had them before my operation.  Aleve, aspirin and ibuprofen do absolutely NOTHING.

     Happy new year!  Hope you feel better soon!!

Posted 1/1/2013 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Well I found out why women have issues with their women parts after surgery! Did you know they insert rollers to get the colon out? Apparently this causes some trauma to the uterus!

My doc office got the ultrasound results and now they said they located the bleeding was coming from the uterus. The surgeon is still saying this is a separate issue? Anyway been having some serious pain in the rectum area. I feel constant aching and can located it from the upper right butt cheek when I press on it near the tailbone. Maybe my body doesn't like the staple there?

Well got a MRI schedule for Thursday. In the meantime I celebrated New Years with pain medication...who need alcohol when they can use med for the same effect! lol
Posted 1/1/2013 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
     Glad to hear you are having the MRI.  Are you sorry you had the operation?  I can remember for several months post op thinking outloud..."geeez, why did I even go through that?"  However, my family was quick to point out to me saying....#1.  You can now go out and DO things and are not strapped to the house.  #2. You can eat anything you like as long as you chew and not worry about running off to the rest room.  #3.  The meds were killing you, especially prednisone.

     Sure I have my aches and pains, but I would have the aches and pains in addition to the ulcerative proctitis.

      Let me know how your MRI results turn out.  Praying for you!

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