okay, I have been wanting to ask this question for months but I have been to emabrassed to ask, even though this is an annonomous site and I dont know anyone "in person". so, sorry for the TMI and ickiness of my issue...
I have had 2 c-sections. after my first, I noticed that my c-section scar would be itchy from time to time. It didnt matter if I had shaved or not or how many days after shaving etc. Nothing horrible, just annoying from time to time. I figured it would go away eventually. I got preggo with the twins when my oldest was 1, litteraly found out about a week after his birthday. Well, as time went on the itching kind of went away as I grew. Now, it has been 11 months since the twins were born, another c-section. The scar, they opened me up in the same place so it is same scar just biggerish, itches like insanely crazy sometimes!!!!!! like, there is always a bit of an itchiness, but sometimes it is so intense I can barely stand it. and, hate to admit this, one time I was scratching it and I felt like I couldnt stop, and I made myself bleed. and, as if all of this is not embarassing enough as it is, sometimes if I scratch it, it feels really good, like semi-orgasmic good....please please please, dont laugh too much like I said it has taken me months to get the courage to talk about this and I am bright red in the face even typing it and am feeling all icky and ashamed.
have any of you ever had any of this, even just like some minor itching on your c-section scar? am I insane? will this ever go away?? also, a side note, some of my lower abdominal area is about 90% numb, you really have to pinch or poke with something sharp to feel it. anyone have that? should I be telling all of this to my OB? please, I dont think I could tell anyone in person about this.....so, now that I am mortified I shall hit post and throw myself out there...
I really dont think it is an infection, but I could be wrong. there is no redness or swelling or anything. it just itches.
WOW, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!!! I was fun on ready for some "eeewwww" type answers, only because of being just plain mortified to ask. So, thanks for all the understanding and good advice!! I was also thinking maybe some nerve damage but wasnt sure if I was off base. as far as the area maybe having a yeast infection, i've never had one so i'm not sure I would recognize it. One of my twin boys has gotten one twice, but it just looked like a bad diaper rash. I have a ton of cream leftover so maybe i'll try some and see if that helps. Thanks again ladies!!
Bodies get itchy when healing. Also, it is possible you have a yeast infection of the scar. I had that right after my second c-section. Now, 18 months after the second c-section, my scar does get itchy from time to time. The worst part is that scratching doesn't help because I have nerve damage and either can't feel it or I feel it on my side rather than on the itchy spot.
My c-section scar itched on and off for a couple of years. It finally stopped, but I still have some numbness around where the incision was. It's totally normal - no need to be embarrassed!
.
While I did not have a C section, I had an area on my arm that had been surgically removed (bad mole, then they had to go in and remove a deeper area of tissue around it after the biopsy came back iffy). Anyway, my scars tend to keloid and that is exactly what happened and it itched something fierce for a couple years afterward (very common w/ keloids). I finally mentioned it to my doctor and he was able to remove some of the raised scar tissue by freezing it. Hurt like all get out, but then it healed down to a flat scar and now no longer itches.
Something I would definitely discuss with your doctor ... oh, and yes, when I itched it -- euphoric feeling :) NO need to be embarrassed!!
I have that same sensation on one spot on my back where I had a mole removed. They thought it was cancerous and cut a huge chunk out. The scar tissue was so bad I had to go in for injections to shrink it.
So since it's on my back I can't get a good scratch, and it drives me nuts. I lift up my shirt and proceed to the doorjam...yup just like a bear scratchin his back on a tree. lol. The "orgasmic" feeling is just that of my brain telling me it itches, scratch it, scratch it SCRATCH IT NOWWWWW, then when I am able to it's such a relief, my eyes are probably rolling back in my head.
I know when I worked in physical therapy we would tell our patients to get vitamin E oil and rub it on the scar. It's supposed to help with scar tissue but also with the itch when it's healing. Maybe it would still work for you? The only other thing I can think of is maybe a topical yeast infecton...not to be too graphic the yeast developes in the folds of skin (most commonly under the breasts and abdomen).
If it keeps goin on just throw it out to your dr or obgyn, don't worry, I am 100% positive they have heard worse. =)
Ok I thought this was going to be way racier than an itchy scar LOL. I think anything that is going through a healing process itches. Scars have lots of internal scar tissue that does itch for a long time after. Especially because it pulls from movement. I never had a c-section but I did have an emergency spleenectomy and that scar down my stomach itched for years afterwards. Oh and I totally understand the itching till you bleed thing. I had a drug reaction this year that caused a rash from neck to toe on me that gave me the same pleasure to scratch. I could not stop myself and I made the rash bleed due to scratching. OMG was that itchy - sucked!! I used lots of Sarna lotion on it.
I never had a c/s but my sis has had 4. She says that the area around her scar gets itchy easily and she has had a number of fungal infections over the years 14 yeasr since the first, 4 years since the last c/s).
She has plenty of extra skin that folds over the scar and the warmth and sweat contribute to fungus growth.
She is also numb for an inch or so below the scar and often complains of an itchy/pins and needles type feeling in the area. She has told me that her doctor said it was nerve damage from the surgery and would most likely never go away, though it can get better over time.
I would suggest that you talk to your doctor about it and let him have a look. They may want to take a swab too, and send it to a lab. Infections can be chronic and don't necessarily look "infected".
Good look.
I've never had a c/s but I have had a rash (?poison ivy, ?eczema) that I knew I shouldn't scratch. But it was so darn itchy!!!! When I did cave and finally scratch it....yup, it was practically better than sex it felt SO good!
So sorry you're goin through this. Don't be afraid to talk to your Dr, that's what they're for. What if he/she was able to give you a cream that super helped? Can't hurt to ask! And please don't be embarrassed! An itchy scar, that you occasionally make bleed when you scratch it, is NOTHING to be ashamed about! Good luck!
I had a c-section and it did itch like crazy. However, I didn't scratch at it too much and instead would take to a semiwarm shower... so as too alleviate that itch, the other thing you can do that helped me was to put RAW Aloe Vera Gel on it OR if you have plant or know someone that does, peel back a leaf and apply. it's very soothing .. work for things that itch and also for sunburn. Anyway, I will say that it's been 9 years since my c-section and I NEVER regained complete feeling where I was cut. Oh I can feel things slightly but never the full on sensation I once felt.Therefore, don't be surprised if that aspect never goes away.
In the meanwhile, get some PURE Aloe Vera Gel from a health food store.. make sure it's 100% pure (no additives) therefore, it won't be with the creams.. it will be with the LIVE foods in that section.. apply it and see if it helps. I like to put it in the fridge .. this way, it's nice and chilled when you apply it..
best of luck
Never had a c section but have had plenty of knee surgeries and other injuries that scar. Scars itch, I have no idea why but they do. I go crazy with the moisturizer but more for massaging than itch relief. The rubbing without nails seems to make the itching stop.
I think the numbness is normal. They cut through a lot of stuff down there, including the nerves.
As for the itching, every now and then mine itches, but only on my right. Why only the right? I have no idea. But it doesn't sound anything as severe as yours.
I would ask about it. Normally bad itching with incisions equals infection. Or, it could just be another issue of the nerves being messed up - they may be shooting off the wrong message to the brain!
I had a c-section with my twins 3 years ago. Mine itched like crazy for a while but with time I have less and less itching. Now its just occasionally. And I have a large area of numbness in my belly area/c-section scar area too. It has gotten better, but I still have an pretty big area that I cannot feel. Not sure it will ever go away 100%. The other day I lost my button to my jeans and needed to use a safety pin to keep my pans together and I thought to myself, if this pin lets go and stabs me I will never know!!
I wouldn't worry too much about itching or numbness unless something different starts to happen - like if you think there may be an infection. Its worth mentioning to your OB but I wouldn't be alarmed about it at this point. And DON'T be embarrassed!!!!! I'm in the same boat and I know there are many other woman out there that are too. :) Best wishes!
Mine itches too even after 5 years, just not as much now. Not to the extreme of causing bleeding. I have only had one child, so I don't know if having another pregnancy and c-section makes it worse. Check for any ingrown hairs they could cause the itching too. I just figure it is part of the healing.
As long as the area isn't extremely red and warm to the touch it is not likely an infection. But I would ask your doc just in case.
I didn't have a c section but I did have a lap procedure (exploratory surgery) and had the same thing. I've heard Vitamin D and Cocoa Butter can help but talk to your doctor. This is bothersome enough to merit getting some help. Also make sure your undies are well above the scar.
I had a c-section and mine itches sometimes. Not so severe though. However, when I was pregnant I had that PPP thing (can't remember basically a rash from my neck to my knees...HORRIBLE) anyway I went to a natural food store and bought this stuff called pine tar soap. It is brown bar and smells bad. BUT, it really worked to help the itching. I was showering like 3x's a day just to use it and contain the itch. So, you should try some of that and maybe some deep moisturizer like udder balm or something? Maybe this issue is below the skin so this won't help? Anyway, good luck!
My scar itches sometimes (I have had 3 c-sections) and I have a huge numb spot on my groin and down onto my R thigh. The worst is when the numb spot itches because I try to scratch it and just feels all icky and numb. No orgasmic feeling though---too bad for me! :) My guess is you have some sort of nerve damage or the nerves are growing back and feeling weird. You could talk to your OB about it. I talked to mine about it and she was like "Yup, that's because your nerves were cut. It might go away and it might not." You might not get a more satisfying answer than that. But I wouldn't feel weird or ashamed about it. Totally normal--just annoying!
I have no answer for you but I bet I'm guessing it's kind of a common thing that can happen. I have a scar on my wrist that itches me now and then and it's been there for almost 50 years, so I'd guess it could be some nerve damage or the possibility of the nerves that were damaged TRYING to fix themselves. Other than that -after your description it kind of reminds me of how dogs shake their leg when you scratch their sweet spot on their ribs ;)
never had a c section, but have had a double inguinal hernia repair...still numb after 1 1/2 yrs. It was totally numb for a year, now feels weird...like I have tape stuck to my pelvis...kind of pulls. Doc said, yep, that's normal. It still itches a bit...and the skin there is really thin and does bleed easily.
I am wondering if you have a yeast infection there...that happens sometimes with scars and wounds, especially ones that don't get a lot of "breathing" time.
If it continually itches, as your doctor to see if you have a yeast infection and see what happens...itching usually is the 'healing' and it should have healed by now, I would think!!!
GOOD LUCK!!
Athletes foot spray xtra strength works REALLY well on belly yeast infections, by the way! In no small part because it's supposed to be a dry area, and the powder helps keep the area dry, as opposed to creams for wet mucosal areas like vaginas and bums.
ok you are cracking me up... cuz I was all ready for some super gross suff. This? I have. Ok -so my daughter is 11. yes. ELEVEN. and mine still itches when it's really hot out and I sweat. Plus I'm a bigger girl, so my tummy is not, ahem, "flat" so to speak so that irritates it as well.
I use the cortisone 10 eczema lotion. My gyn recommended I use it when it gets kinda red after shaving (yes, my hair grows all the way up to my c-section scar line.... now, THAT's gross!!!!!) that area or if it's hot. I use it on a fairly regular basis, and have no problem with itching for a long time.
Before I had 2 c-sections, I had surgery that left me with an 8 inch vertical scar on my stomach. That was....omg, 13 years ago. It still gets red & itchy occasionally, especially during the dry winter months. All I can suggest is to keep it well moisturized. As for the other, my hands used to get so dry and itchy, I would rub them against fabric like a towel until they were raw and burning because it felt soooo goooood.
A&D ointment helps when it's really bad. I just don't like smelling like I have diaper rash!
