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General health

Any old prolapse! Uterus/womb prolapse, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, urethrocele, incontinence, pelvic floor, anterior and posterior repair, TVT etc part 7

1000 replies

gottagetthroughthis · 19/10/2012 00:38

This is thread 7 of a long-running series of posts from ladies suffering from pelvic prolapses to support each other through the process of diagnosis, repair and recovery.

Here are the previous threads:
Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 5
Thread 6

Info from BBC Health

What is a pelvic prolapse?

As the muscles, ligaments and supporting tissues in the pelvis become weaker, they are less able to hold in the organs of the pelvis such as the womb (uterus) or bladder.

Gravity pulls these organs down and, in the more severe cases, may appear through the entrance to the vagina.

A variety of problems can occur, depending on where the weakness lies and which organs are able to descend, but in every case there is some degree of prolapse of the vaginal wall, which begins to invert (rather like a sock turning inside out).
Prolapse of the womb or uterus is the most common prolapse, affecting as many as one in eight older women to some degree
Prolapse of the bladder, known as a cystocele, is less common.
Prolapse of the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder) is known as a urethrocele.
Prolapse of the intestines is quite rare, and known as an enterocele or rectocele.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on which tissues descend, and how severe the prolapse is.

They may include:
A sense of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis.
The appearance of a bulge of tissue in the genital area, which can be quite alarming, and is often red and sore.
Urinary problems, such as having to urinate more frequently, feeling the need urgently, being incontinent (losing control of the bladder) or, conversely, being unable to pass urine when you need to.
Pain in the pelvis or lower back.
Sexual problems, including pain and decreased libido.
Constipation.
Vaginal discharge or bleeding.

Treatment and recovery

Once a prolapse has developed, surgery to fix the affected organs is usually the only way to cure it effectively.

However, another option is to use a device known as a vaginal ring pessary. This is rather like a contraceptive diaphragm or cervical cap. It's made of silicone or latex, and placed in the vagina to push back the prolapsed organs and hold them in place. Many women happily manage their prolapse this way.

OP posts:
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gottagetthroughthis · 19/10/2012 00:43

Would hate for this thread to end!! Smile

OP posts:
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VintageRainBoots · 19/10/2012 00:51

My grandmother is currently dealing with all these issues. Until recently, I had no idea that she had a prolapsed uterus.

Sadly, she's older and is having trouble finding a surgeon in the US (where she lives) willing to do a repair; most of them says she's too old and may not recover from surgery well.

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ArthurPewty · 19/10/2012 07:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 19/10/2012 09:01

Thanks for sorting out the new thread Gotta.

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Bladderama · 19/10/2012 19:36

Thank you for the new thread gota

Hope that all are well and healing and have a good weekend x

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roseanna1 · 19/10/2012 20:28

Well played Gotta...we can post again :)

Hope everyone is well and recoveries going to plan x

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surewoman · 19/10/2012 21:36

Hooray - well done, I was getting a bit panicky it must be said!!!

Leonie - I had a prolapsed bowel too and I also didn't realise it was rare. That would explain why it is never mentioned in any of the literature!! How about that - we are a rare breed !!! Lol Grin
Love to all xxx

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surewoman · 19/10/2012 21:39

I have a horrible cough, and every time I do cough I am terrified that all my scars (which have healed so nicely) will rip open. Anyone got any good solutions for a full on chesty cough??? xxx
(at least I am not wetting my knickers - thumbs up for the tvt!)

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WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 19/10/2012 22:42

Not suggestions really Sure, hope it gets better soon. I was going to say lie down when you feel a cough fit coming on to take the weight off your pelvic floor, but it isn't easy to clear your chest and throat lying down. I find a steamy shower helps clear my chest when I've got a cough.

Not much to report from me, still taking it very easy although I feel stronger and a bit more energetic now. I have been doing a few very light jobs around the house, and managed a very short walk outdoors (about 100m) yesterday but am still spending most of the day in bed (comfier than the sofa). My nether regions are definitely more uncomfortable again in the last day or two, I'm hoping that is due to the stitches tightening up or something, I really haven't been overdoing it.

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surewoman · 20/10/2012 01:26

whoknows - it wouldn't do you any harm to take the odd iboprofen or paracetamol if things are pulling. Keep on that bed as much as possible and do NOT do any lifting, especially laundry baskets!!! xxxx

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wouldratherbeskiing · 20/10/2012 09:09

Sure - I've heard chocolate is good for coughs - has to be dark chocolate over 70%.

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fengirl1 · 20/10/2012 09:30

Hello! Been absent a few days due to modem breakdown....
Sure, I hope your cough is improving. Did you find the subcutaneous stitch got tighter and tighter? Mine is really pulling now and making sitting difficult - plus I'm concerned that at any minute it will finally bury itself!
I saw the GP yesterday who won't give me any more AB's until the swab result comes through, and says she doesn't think I have an infection at all.... Hmm. We'll see I guess! I'm now climbing the walls with boredom....

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surewoman · 20/10/2012 12:22

Fen - the stitch really pulled a load, as if it was caught in a zip is the best way I can describe it. It suddenly came loose and the relief was immediate (it was one very big lump of suture material!!!). How about sitting in a warm bath and see if that eases things a bit? Maybe add salt to the water? It might help it to finally come away.

Wouldrather - off to buy myself some chocolate as I am quite tender now after last night's bout of coughing!!!
xxx

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mistyviolet · 20/10/2012 12:42

Hi all. It's been a while since I last posted as I've been totally fed up. I'm now nearly 11 weeks post op after a tvt, anterior and posterior repair. My repairs have healed well with no problems. Unfortunately I've been having problems with recurring urine infections. So far I've had 5 courses of antibiotics which have caused horrendous thrush. I have seen my consultant after a long wait and I'm waiting to go for a cystoscopy so they can see what's going on with my bladder. Hopefully they won't take too long and they'll find something they can fix. The alternative is that it will eventually clear up. I'm not liking the sound of eventually!

I'm now back at work on a phased return and hope to be back fulltime within a few weeks. I have a sedentary job so no lifting but lots of sitting which has been an issue.

Now I have a horrible tickly cough which is causing pain across the pubic area. Does anyone else get this? I feel that when I cough the tape is pulling as the pain is where the ends of the tape are. Is this normal? I do worry that the tape may be a bit tight but how would you know? On the plus side I can cough so hard that I retch and there is no leakage. The tvt is certainly doing its job!

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Sure I hope your cough clears up soon too.

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bumbdeal · 20/10/2012 16:53

Hi, think I just posted on an old thread so here it is again. Smile

Many thanks to all those who have shared.
I tend to name change to keep anomynous but have posted a few times.
I am 4 weeks post open mesh rectoplexy, colpopexy and had the added surprise of having my ovaries removed to add insult to injury.
Thank goodness for HRT patches.
I am still waiting for biopsy results - I hope no news is good news.

I just lifted (well dragged rather than lifted) my 12 kg child in the heat of a tamtrum (her's not mine), am a bit sore.
Please tell me I wont have done any damage.
I am also concerned about the amount of time I am having to be on my feet,
how much is too much?

It is not the first time I forgot but am a single mum to three DC (2, 5, 8) and have very little help, the cleaner I organised just quit with no notice.
I was discharged with no instructions except do nothing for two weeks and don't lift more than a kg for 6 weeks. - Easier said than done.
Surely they would not operate on mums of young children if it was all going to disintegrate if we do always stick to the severe restrictions? (grasping at straws)
My follow up is not until the end of January.

What am I allowed to do ?
How much walking?
When can I vacuum, dust etc?
Will I ever be able to run and lift normally again?
Am still having to splint perineum occassionally to poo (but no bulge), is that normal?
Am taking movicol to keep motions soft.
I am regetting doing this now would it have been so bad to splint forever?

The only good thing was them finding the dodgy ovary and removing it.
That explained a lot of symptoms for the last 4 years but none of the scans picked it up and GPs just brushed me off even though I complained every time I saw them.

It does feel better physically, hadn't realised how bad things were down there having put up with it for 8 years.
It is not nearly as painful as I expected, ovaries are the worst.

My eldest is a star. He has been lifting his sibling and other things for me but is only 8 so can't ask too much.

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bumbdeal · 20/10/2012 17:30

do not stick to restrictions.

Sorry for typo

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Bladderama · 20/10/2012 20:07

Bumbdeal what alot you have on your plate at the moment. Welcome to the thread.
I think that 4 weeks is very early in your recovery tbh and that you do need to try and stick to the restrictions to give your body time to heal. Although I think that most of us have accidentally picked something up or pushed a supermarket trolley etc. If you are in more pain or are worried I would get in touch with your care team. Try and be kind to yourself and get plenty of rest it really does help.

Am Envy Envy of those of you with dry knickers! But also delighted for you!

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Footle · 20/10/2012 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BasicallySFB · 20/10/2012 21:34

Hi all
Don't want to inappropriately gatecrash but shortly about to have some
Major pelvic surgery involving the rectovaginal septum but no prolapses (yet) - anyone have any experience in That Area?

TIA

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bumbdeal · 20/10/2012 22:30

Thanks Bladderama.
Sorry it hasn't been straight forward for you.
Kind of you to reply.
I think anxiety is a big problem for me.
That and watching the house deteriorate.
It is such a long wait until finding out if it has worked and will hold.

Basic the rectocele repair involves this septum.
It is great that your defect has been picked up quickly.
I had to really fight to get my repair and seems others on these threads have had to jump through a few hoops to get fixed too.

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surewoman · 21/10/2012 00:48

Hi Misty - you and I have had the same ops. I have not, however, had any urine infections at all, and can't feel the ends of the tape pulling either when I cough (and have been doing that all day!). Maybe they have got yours a little bit too tight? What does your consultant think?

Bumbdeal - welcome! Don't try and do much at all yet, as you need to let scar tissue develop over the mesh for it to work properly. Hoovering is a bit no and carrying anything heavier than a kettle should be avoided. Rest as much as possible, and try not to worry about your house getting messy. So what? If people come to see you, get them to do 20 mins cleaning whle they are chatting to you!

xXXX

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cardamomginger · 21/10/2012 01:22

Hi Basically. Yes I had my rectovaginal septum rebuilt on the left side as it had been completely destroyed when I had DD. We didn't know it was in this state until my surgeon got in there to do my rectocele repair. Don't really have anything much to say about it. This was mid-June and the surgery seems to be holding up well. Happy to answer any questions though! And, of course, so sorry you are facing this.

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BasicallySFB · 21/10/2012 06:42

Ah mine is slightly different - I have a large nodule of endometriosis that has infiltrated the vaginal and bowel wall so they're removing it and probably doing a stoma while the bowel heals. Just petrified about surgery - ahem - there and very anxious about the pain from that part of the op including peeing afterwards!

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BasicallySFB · 21/10/2012 06:43

Sorry the nodule is in the rv septum to clarify. As well as everywhere else!

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BasicallySFB · 21/10/2012 06:45

Argh pressed send too soon!

I'm struggling to find endo-related support for that area - so struggling to find first hand accounts of surgery down there rather than ablations of pelvic endo, so just dropped in here to see if there were comparable accounts.

So sorry you're all going through all this malarky!

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