Post Vaginal Hysterectomy (& proposed Pelvic Floor Repair)

[mags37]

Hi there, I am feeling very low and desperate right now :((( found a thread on this site which gave me a bit of hope and that maybe one or more of you might be able to help me with similar experience, problem or advice???.

I'm 4 weeks post vaginal hysterectomy op for a prolapsed uterus and up until yesterday I was of the understanding (as per my pre op discussion and consent) that my surgeon would also be undertaking a Pelvic floor Repair). I have felt and still feel a total failure since start to finish throughout this process, so many people and reviews told me it was a standard op and I would be up and about within a few days and possibly back to my desk job within 4 weeks. However, the first night in hospital after I returned from theatre I was in extreme pain (which the nurses kind of grimaced at asking me things like do I not normally cope well with pain?!) turned out the surgeon had accidentally hit one of my veins and I had lost a lot of blood and haemoglobin was very low. I ended up being out on an IV antibiotic for two days and required two pints blood. Catheter was kept in for 3 days. I ended up in hospital from Frid -Tues even tho it was expected I would be out after two days.

On day 2 within the hospital I was crying and advised my family I felt as though all my pain was coming from my abdomen and pelvic area (due to hysterectomy) and that I felt as though my vagina area was as painful and pressure pushing down as it was prior to pelvic floor repair. I also found it very strange that I had no burning pain down below which I expected due to stitches etc. I remember the pain I felt after my son's childbirth due to stitches so it was strange not to feel anything down that area.

I've had quite a difficult 4 weeks, first 3 weeks I still felt 'not myself' drained etc due to anaesthetic and the pain around my abdomen, pelvic area and passing bowel movements has bothered me more than anything. In fact a few times I have felt my bowel was going to come through the wrong passage so to speak!!

This last week the anaesthetic appears to have totally come out my system so started to feel back to my normal self which was great, doing housework, cooking dinners, looking after my young sons properly again. However, I have known within myself this last week the pressure feeling and sometimes painful within my vaginal area is the exact same as it was prior to operation. I have just been putting it down to post op healing, sutures etc.......pelvic and abdomen cramps still there but i assume these are still due to hysterectomy part of it???

Anyway, past couple days I have been unable to sit properly as my bottom (anus) has been burning with pain and between that and pressure within vagina I have been at my lowest mood since op. I decided to do the unthinkable and got the mirror to have a look at exactly what is going on!eeek! Not only do I have a rash a new born baby in nappies would be proud of! and some weeping/bits blood from the exterior or my bottom (doesn't look like piles) my vagina is the exact same as it was post op and the problem which I originally went to consultant for is still very much apparent :(( I have a gaping wide hole as a vagina, not that it's important in all this but the designer vagina I was told I would now have is non existent, but my main concern is I still have two medium sized organs still protruding down my vagina entrance and obviously this is the pressure & uncomfortable sense I'm still feeling. The very large ball that used to be there (obv must have been my womb) is now gone though.

So here I am, no uterus, off work going into my 5th week! and I still have organ prolapses and a vagina that looks like you could turn it inside out like an envelope. My husband and I have not had sexual intercourse for a very long time now and the pain and pressure I'm still feeling below I can't see me ever having intercourse ever again. He has been very supportive throughout the whole thing way back to when I stopped having sex. Our joke to each other was I would be making it up for it all when my brand new vagina was pain free and back in action. Now I just feel drained, sore & like it's all been pointless experience. Feeling a complete failure, as most stories I've read these procedures are a success and women feel so much better and happier.

I have my follow up appointment in middle of February with surgeon. Now I'm thinking he hasn't did pelvic floor repair for some reason, possibly because I was bleeding so much maybe had to abandon ship. I don't know anything. Surely he should have told me within the hospital though if he hadn't, or is it maybe a possibility it's all fell down again this quickly?

Hope one of you have been thru a similar experience or can offer some help. I feel like running away, hiding under my duvet and never facing the world again :(((xxx

You poor thing ((())). I've not had any of these experiences so please stop reading if you want to.

I was /am a midwife, so quite experienced in the fanjo department. Firstly, a pelvic haematoma ( caused by the bleeding) is excruciatingly painful and something that any decent gynae nurse / doctor should be very aware of. Also, you were so anaemic you needed a transfusion. That means that you will still have been anaemic on discharge for sure. That will partly explain your tiredness and slow recovery. Good diet, rest and a good iron supplement will help this but it takes time. Your body is much slower to heal when you are anaemic and traumatised so be gentle and kind to yourself.

Your undercarriage does sound unusually sore so please get to your GP for a check in case you have an infection. Write down all your concerns. If you do this now, by the time you see the consultant the antibiotics, if needed should have worked.

Sorry, I don't know about the designer vagina bit but would expect you to need specialist advice on your exercises so it's worth asking for a referral to a gynae physio.

Hope that helps a little. Sorry you've had such a crap time. Hope things begin to improve very soon.

Thanks for your message, really appreciate it I've booked an appt with doctor later today so hopefully they'll help and you might be right re infection as not looking healthy down there at mo.
Re the pelvic prolapse and organs still hanging low in my vagina, my mum thinks this might now be to do with me bleeding so much when he hit a vein during hysterectomy and they possibly had to abandon pelvic repair procedure. Hopefully my Consultant will be able to clarify exactly what happened and what he did when I go back. My fear is I don't think I could go through it all again to fix prolapses but don't think I can cope living with this anymore either so looks like I may need more surgery :(
On a positive note though, I stared at my younger son while he was sleeping this morning and feel blessed that I have him so if having him means I have a permanent pressure down below and lack of sex life then I know he is definitely worth it and I shouldn't be complaining x
My 5th week off work this week :(
Thx again

Oh gosh that does sound miserable. Can you give the consultant's office a ring today? I wouldn't wait until Feb. Just say you have a query about your treatment and would like to speak to the consultant please.

Don't give yourself a hard time about a slow recovery. You can only control so much so let yourself off responsibility for anything that is not in your control.

I haven't had a hysterectomy but I have been ill and beaten myself up about it which just made things worse. Have you found the raggedy bits ladies yet? They could be a wonderful support to you.

Hi mags. I don't know anything about it but it sounds bloody horrible.

YY to speak to the consultant. I have put a shout out on this thread for you. Hope you don't mind. x

Thanks a lot, your messages giving me some comfort that it's not just me failing in my recovery. As for prolapse, took a big step earlier and showed my sister who agrees there is still a prolapse and no signs of any pelvic floor repair. Just feel at the moment I have went through the hysterectomy all for nothing & now worried that I'll need to rush back to work as they have been good enough to give me this time off and now I may need to go through another op. It's all guessing at this present time as I don't know exactly what work has been carried out in the op, apart from the hysterectomy and all I know is I still have the uncomfortable pressure and pain in my vagina prior to surgery.

I took your advice and called Consultant secretaries, need to wait until 17th February but good thing is this is only 2 weeks away. In meantime I know I need to try and be more positive but so hard sometimes and would welcome any help from anyone so I have no probs you asking on another thread. I'm knew to this site so don't know how it works. Find it very helpful though and glad I found it.

Thanks again x

Will check out the raggedy bits ladies too thanks :) - good to know other people take longer to recover than the expected first few weeks.
Xx

I should also mention in this thread in case anyone can relate, I imagined that once the uterus was removed I wouldn't have any further organs falling down but I'm assuming these are the vaginal wall and/or other organs within the area, which is why I'm guessing he hasn't undertaken the pelvic floor repair op as planned. My mum is convinced this was prob due to me bleeding too much in theatre.

If this same experience has happened to anyone please post xxx

I'm so sorry you are having such an awful time. I've had 3 major operations for prolapse, although I had a uterine suspension, not a hysterectomy.

First off, 5 weeks post surgery is still very, very early days for recovery. I know the leaflets say 6 weeks, but it usually takes a hell of a lot longer, even without the extra trauma you went through. Rest. Lots. you are still doing massive amounts of healing, which is exhausting. you will have lots of swelling still to go down (it takes months to completely resolve), and you will still be in pain. that's, unfortunately, normal. don't exert yourself physically.

it sounds like you have an infection. again, this is very common. either bacterial, or fungal. you need to see your gp or consultant, and if it doesn't clear you will need stronger meds, so go back if you don' t feel better. the stitches can act as a focal point for infection, which makes it harder to shift.

the bulges could very well be swelling and it could well be too early to tell. but sometimes one type of prolapse can hold others back, so when the first prolapse is repaired, others have a chance to descend. but it might just be swelling.

vaginal surgery is horrible. it's often described as easier and with faster recovery. i've had both vaginal and abdominal - give me abdominal any day!

really feel for you xxx

Thx that was really helpful reading your message x

forgot to add that you probably wouldn't see any external evidence of pelvic floor repair. they do it all internally, and the stitches are tucked away inside. there won't be a cut in your perineum.

Get yourself over to the 'Any old Prolapse' thread! Lots of useful advice there.
Yes, you do need to speak to the consultant. I've had two ops, and the first time round I didn't get the op I was supposed to (rectocele repair), but did have a hysterectomy and anterior repair. I had a nasty infection and an internal abscess so ended up having twelve weeks off work... Not fun, but I was still having problems so wrote a letter to the head of gynae and went back and had the posterior repair I should have had in the first place, plus a pelvic floor repair.
That all sounds pretty horrendous (and was at the time), but I'm so glad I had it done. No more pain, and I feel normal again.
Sorry, that was long! Give it a bit of time as hysterectomy is a big op, vaginal or not, but if things still aren't right in a few weeks, do contact the hospital. Of course, if you have any suspicion of an infection (smell, bleeding, temperature or alternatively feeling cold all of the time), see your gp ASAP.
Good luck!