Hi...
Those who had 2 step surgery...
and have the painful sex problem...

Was it painful after the first step?

Or not until after the second step?

I was fine, 6 weeks after step one. Step two was December 10th, still cannot have sex, way way too painful. Just found out my GP went part time, can't get an appointment until end of April.

After my first surgery it was painful, but after the second was fairly painless

Things should be healed up by now. I'd make an OB/GYN appointment rather than wait for your GP.

Jan

I still have painful sex after all my surgeries and that was 4 years ago. It's awful.

I had my final surgery in may and I still find it very uncomfortable. Not sure if it's more a dryness issue or not but since I had my colon removed I haven't really enjoyed it much at all. Poor hubby

Thanks all. Jan, I think you are right. I do see my surgeon Friday for a scope. I'll ask him to recommend a gyno. I need to have that cyst on my ovary drained anyway.

Saw my surgeon today. He said if sex is going to be painful, it will be from step one. I didn't get painful until step two. He doesn't think this pouch related. I see their gyno Monday.

Your surgeon is right. However, I just wanted to clarify that the number of the step is immaterial. What matters is what was done in that step. The step that involved the rectal dissection is the one that could lead to adhesions or infection that could make intercourse painful. Sometimes this is in step 1 and sometimes in step 2 (for those having a 3-step procedure).

If you have ovarian cysts, then that is a likely culprit. However, there may be GI issues that are related to use of your pouch after take down that could cause pelvic pain, such as pouchitis, cuffitis, partial obstruction or functional bowel disorders (IPS). So, it is a bit simplistic to just discount a relationship to the pouch because you did not have issues until after takedown.

Jan

Okay girls, I was thinking of posting a similar question. I am coming up on my 2 year anniversary of step #1. I find sex to be very uncomfortable. After, I feel very sore and some burning. I too have an ovarian cyst - but very small. So is this a pouch/surgery or something totally unrelated. It was also discovered from my last pap that I have some dysplaisia cells/HPV - could this be the culprit? It is easier to ask these questions here first. I hate it though that I totally dread sex .... my poor husband!

OK...today I saw Mayo's Gyno...she doesn't think the cysts on my ovaries could be causing this much pain. She also told me to switch my birth control. That I'm probably not absorbing the oral bc. She recommended the ring or patches. I never even thought of that. No wonder it seems like everyone on this website get pregnant after takedown.

She wanted to an vaginal ultrasound, but after I lifted off the table about a foot when she examined me, she decided to wait until after I finish this round of cipro. She thinks it may clear up on its own. The pain was here long before the pouchtitis, so I don't think it's going to make a difference. She said it looked like I had some irritation inside, but didn't have an explanation for it.

The good news is, now I have a doctors order not have sex. "Sorry honey...but you know the doctor said!" I told her I want to go back to not having sex because I'm not interested, rather then it hurting too much. It was kind of a joke, she didn't laugh. Not much bedside manner, or maybe too much.

My fiance, the doctor, (not really...he just thinks he is) thinks the painful sex is from the Calmoseptine. The timing is right...he just may have something there????

Cataja,

Not to change the subject but did the pouchitis kick in? I missed it in posts and just did a little searching(???) How long have you been on the cipro? Geez I feel bad for you having all these problems. Well if you feel like it fill me in.

I truly hope you feel better soon.

Laurie

You probably know I have felt crummy lately. I finally got in to see my surgeon for a scope last friday morning. He thought it looked like mild pouchtitis. Started me on Cipro that day. By Saturday night, I felt a million times better. So either it was pouchtitis, or I'm crazy. Which isn't out of the realm of possiblilties. I always thought that when I had UC. I used to think...HOW CAN ONE PERSON HAVE SO MANY STUPID THINGS WRONG WITH THEM?????
And yes...I was yelling!

I hear ya Cat. Had lunch with a friend I haven't seen in a long time and catching her up on my surgeries and stuff being great but still am not able to claim total health because of the arthritis I deal with now. I told her "I never thought I would be one of these sick people in life" Seems like its always something.

But honestly even dealing with arthritis I still feel I have my health not having UC anymore. I just hate sounding like a hypochondriac.

Well Olive, you are definitely a different case. Most people would avoid something that causes as much pain as you describe, but I guess since most of your pain is an after effect, it is easier to "plow through" as you say. I would suspect that your pain is related to the stretching of adhesions and not likely to cause any permanent damage. However, I would hope that you have seen your OB/GYN and told him about this pain so you can be fully evaluated...especially since you have a history of R/V fistula.

Jan

I personally think anytime you have pain, your body is telling you something is wrong.