Vaginal Surgery Complications

[WellnessWorker]

  
Operation: Abdominal sacrocolpopexy with Mersilene mesh, abdominal enterocele repair, pubovaginal sling with Sparc device, destruction of vaginal lesion
I am a 51 - surgery on April, 2005. Have a lot of discharge like the greenish mucous of head cold.  Sometimes I feel a fullness in my vaginal area.  This has been going on for over 2 years.  My doctor has been seeing me every month to 6 weeks.  Have been cauterized on most visits.  Have used Borax suppositories, Premarin suppositories, and presently HormoneVagifem 25MCG Tab Nova Nord (suppository).   Had several sedated procedures   (More cauterization - Found and removed a coned shaped pocket of infection).  Had ovaries removed during the original surgery and therefore put on Estradiol1mg tabs.  Worried because I had 2 sisters and a son with cancer.    I am allergic to penicillin and sulphur drugs.   Born with one kidney.   He says that if there is no ordor then it is not infection and also that the discharge is granulation tissue and that I don't heal well as noted from my scars by having keloids.  I have no ill feelings toward my physician. He is a very nice man and I truly feel that he is trying but, I am just quite disgusted.  I lost my job of 28 years with USPS because my doctor says I can no longer lift the heavy (70 lb) sacks.  Being a Postmaster of a small office required me to lift heavily in my job description.   My doctor says that I am healing slowly but, I don't see any improvement in the discharge.  He mentioned putting in a piece of pig skin. There is a risk with cutting through a lot of blood vessels and I can't take many antibiotics.   How long can I go on draining like this?  I hadn't had a kidney infection in 25 years, but had one recently.   Can this go into infection and to my only kidney? Tired of wearing pads (over 2 yrs), getting depressed, I don't feel well.  I am sad, don't have energy, sleep a lot    How to stop the draining?
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[WellnessWorker]

Can you recommed some of these academic medical centers in Louisiana.  Will even go to Texas or Mississippi.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

This certainly sounds like a difficult case.

Recurrent infections certainly can be frustrating to treat.  Repeated surgery, drainage or cauterization would be the mainstays of treatment.  

At this time, I would consider referral to a major academic medical center for another opinion to more permanently treat the symptoms.  They generally have more experience with complicated or uncommon cases.  It sounds like a urogynecologist would be an appropriate specialist to evaluate you.

There is always a chance that the infection can spread to the kidney if not appropriately treated.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_