AboutPat G Expertise I can help women with the consideration of their decision, and with resources, and I can share my own experiences as the mother of seven and grandmother of six. My approach is to show love and concern, and help women work through the issues, emotional, spiritual, practical. I also help women deal with boyfriend and family issues.
Experience I have been working with women who are considering abortion for several years. I also work with women who have had abortions. Our family has also experienced adoption, so I can talk about that as well.
Education/Credentials I am mostly self-taught. I also studied midwifery for awhile. I have spent years doing research on this topic. In fact, I have been doing research and working in this area since the early 1970's. I have been helping women online for a few years, under the guidance of a woman who was formally training in counseling.
Question You seem to help so many! I had an abortion 1 week ago, I was 11 weeks. 2 days following the procedure, I had severe cramping (bad as my previous kidney stones), heavy bleeding and my vagina was red and swollen and very sore. Day 3 following it seems that my skin on my vagina was white and peeling? The cramping has been extreme since the procedure. I repeatedly called Planned Parenthood with no response only to be seen 1 week later, (which was the earliest). I went to the ER on day 5, no infection or explanations only pain meds. On my follow up appt. they did nothing except make me feel like a number and said the ultrasound was fine and would not answer any questions directly and I never saw an actual doctor. My regular OB will be returning from vaca in a few days, not sure if I should go back to the ER. My cramping is still severe. I have two children both by c-section and the pain now is worse than those surgeries.
I have never had any std's or any vaginal infections before.
Any suggestions.
Thank you for your time. Look forward to your response!
Answer Hi, Mandi,
Thank you very much for the very kind words!
Oh my! You have a problem that REALLY needs attention. I don't trust Planned Parenthood. They're no better than a back alley abortion mill. You need to see someone other than a person connected with them. They're not going to give you a straight answer, as you have already seen.
My first guess would be an STD or other infection. Yes, you can get one from an abortion, especially if the instruments were sterilized improperly or the abortionist has an STD. I know of one case where an abortionist with HIV was operating on women! Surgical abortion damages the surface of the uterus, causing raw places where infection can take place. Pill abortion doesn't work that late, so I'm assuming that's not what you had. The other thing is that in surgical abortion, they force the cervix open. The cervix is tightly closed at this stage of pregnancy. The force needed is very damaging.
You should have blood work done to see if your white blood cell count is elevated.
You need to find a doctor you can count on. You can get a referral by finding your local crisis pregnancy organization, and you can find that by going here:
I wish I could tell you how to cause the cramping to ease up. But even if I could do that, it might not be a good idea, because you could bleed heavily, and that is dangerous. One thing you might suggest to your doctor is that he prescribe a TENS unit. I don't know how deep they tend to work, though. But it might help without endangering you.
Please take care of yourself! Let me know how you do. I pray that your pain will be eased.
