Mumsnet Talk

This is thread 7 (again - see below) 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.

With apologies for confusion in thread numbers - the previous thread was called part 7 but it was actually the 6th thread.

Here are the previous threads:

Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 4
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.

Thanks again for answering my queries so promptly.
When /where do I get the cert to sign me off work?

The doctor who did my discharge paperwork did mine at the same time. She initially said 4 weeks off work, 6 off driving but when I pointed out that I have to drive to get to work she changed it to 6 for each.

Placing my saggy bits here.

Thank you Whokknows

Apologies for my complete inability to keep up with life the thread atm

I took my saggy bits to to the physio today and she did an internal, checked bits out and checked how strong my pelvic floor really is, she expected to find a saggy pelvic floor causing my rectocele/cystocele/urethrocele. She was shocked that my pelvic floor is super strong and I have been doing my exercises but there is absolutely no connection between the pelvic floor and the falleyouty bits bits. Now I am confused

To the lady needing advice on how to tell work, could you just say you need to have your bowel straightened out as it is squashed so it will not empty properly and the surgeon is going to try and do it by slicing through your female parts to get access to the bowel that way and recovery is halfed to 6-8 weeks rather than trying to access it through the abdomin where recovery is 12 weeks. This will lessen the shock that you are going on long term sickness and say you have to lie down as much a possible for the first few weeks so gravity does not pull the stitches out and need a second repairing surgery.

That is my plan IF and when I get a caring surgeon to help me. My boss and all colegues are male and I find the whole situatuation humiliating which is silly really but more because they are male. Although they happen to be male they are nice bunch of guys but if the medical people who are suposed to understand and have compassion have let me down then I reckon my male collegues are very much so in the dark at how miserable life like this is for us women.

What have others said to their employer please ?

mangledness are you the poster to whom they said your PCT won't cover it anymore and you'll have to pay?

I have caught up with all the posts now but unable to reply to say thanks to you or offer any support to questions asked as I only have access on my mobile and I can't read the posts then remember what was said or who by on this titchy screen.

musttidyup. I am the poster who has 4 prolapses. Cystocele rectocele urethrocel and internal rectal prolapses and nobody will help me and do not have any further appointments with anyone as im discharged back to GP so I intend to pay by credit card and max it out to 10 thousand. No funds to pay or intend to as I only work part time. Prison or bailiffs has got to be better than this torture.

Moving on from that my transplant consultant referred me for 3rd opinion to a gynae which I have just received after 6 weeks of waiting for it to arrive and my appointment is 5 weeks away.

Got sick and desperate of waiting so I went to see a private colorectal Dr on Fri 15th and took all my previous hospital notes. I was very tearful throughout the consultation and even more so when he said i would have to do all the tests and xrays again. I went in thinking if I took my letters from the previous hospital he could see what was wrong and just operate. Well as he had no access to the tests on his computer the tests need repeated to see whats wrong so he might help . I was more upset that I had to do the tests again because the poo xray alone will be approx 2 grand to say the same results that I have intussusception. He has agreed to see me in his nhs clinic to run a few tests andcexaminations. So more waiting for me.

The lady who was told she can not have surgery on nhs and has to pay for intussusception repair because this particular operation is now placed on the low priority list (along with things like mole removal and the likes). Nannasyl is that poster. Sorry Nannasylv if you are upset that I have mentioned your details un this thread without asking prior permission from you x

Marking my place, thank you who knows.

Mrsannie, glad to hear you are resting up.

No news here...

Yes I apologise mangled I should have re read. I remember reading your story and was relying it to my mum when we were discussing whether I should go ahead. How absolutely dreadful for you. .
I don't understand why they are refusing you surgery? I am new to all this (lucky for me)and I'm sorry if you're going over old ground but why are you being refused? Is it a postcode lottery? I do so hope that this consultant comes through for you.

Thrifty sorry you were all prepared for nothing.
4 1/2months post op not feeling that things are right down there,pains and discharge, still had stitches comeing out last week so booked to see mr Currie on Monday
Lots going on here at the moment........... sad that there are so many new but good that there is this thread for support

musttidyup, I am being refused any surgery because I am a bit of a complex case with having a kidney transplant. I also do not wet myself, quite the opposite, poor flow and I have to lean right over to urinate. So that is the cystocele and urethracele dismissed by the gynae. The Dr does not count all the pain I am in or the fact I can not hardly walk properly and I am strugglung to do my job either because of pain.

The rectocele and intusussception with added major constipation has been dismissed as not being a problem enough for surgery because I can take laxatives to rid my bowel of contents. They Dr does not see it as a problem that with laxatives I have lots if wind, abdominal pain and become incontinent also. My constipation is stuck rather than hard poo. The pain and the fact I can hardly walk or do my job does not count.

my problems have gone on 4 year now and mainly because Drs thaught all the pain was in my head and I was depressed and pain is always worse for depressed people grrrrr

So now they say I need councelling to help me cope and prepare and be in a better frame of mind if surgery in the future is needed. And the added reason my kidney is transplanted in my pelvis so I have slightly different parts and tubes to be cautious of while any operation is performed. Then there is the risk of infection and the chance that I could loose and reject the transplant.

So here I am still fighting for help. I could not feel any worse and can not go on much longer. I am being tortured to death and no amount of CBT or whatever will help and nor will I do it either. I need an operation and not someone to tell me to think happy thaughts.

Hi again, as a 'manager' (as well as someone who has POP) my advice to the lady who doesn't not want to go into detail with her employer would be to say the procedure is gynaeological. If you are pressed to give details, I would ask to speak to one nominated person, someone you feel comfortable with. Your doctor's note should say what the reason for absence is anyway.
You may, however, need a referral to occupational health, upon your return to work. This isn't a threatening thing and should be really positive as OH can make recommendations about reasonable changes to your work place to support you.
I've also learned over the years that being pretty graphic about the symptoms and problems caused by POP generally gets you more support!
Hope that helps!

Thanks Whoknows. Marking my place.

Day 3 post-op and I have dared to take a look. I have a normal-looking fanjo! It's amazing! I want to post a pic on Facebook but I believe that is not encouraged. [Wink]

Ok - just realised we're on a new thread - doh (bit out of touch with this posting stuff)
Musttidyup - I do understand your problems. I have told work that I have had small gynae op which covers a huge spectrum of problems. I have told details to close friends only. This is probably why I have not handled the off work issue very well as I found it hard to admit what I needed to be fixed. Doesn't help that my boss is a man : o

Neoprene - also had a look today (at mine obviously haha) and all looks very neat and normal - bulge is gone!

Hi Ladies,
I really wish I'd found this thread a few years ago to learn I'm not alone.

I finally got surgery for a cystocele 4 1/2 weeks ago, and am meant to be returning to work a week on Monday. I have an appointment with the GP for Monday, before going to see Occ Health on Tuesday, as I really don't see how I can go back. The advice on the NHS website is to not lift anything heavier than a 2litre bottle of water for 12 weeks, and I am a nursery nurse working with 3-5 year olds - quite physically demanding.
I felt great straight after the op, no pain or anything. However now I am convinced that it hasn't worked. I have no external bulge or anything now, but I am so aware of my internal bits and they feel like they are squishing when I move.
I'm spending ages pouring over the old threads - they are really helping.
NN

Netty, have you had a look/rummage around? Let us know what the GP says. I've been signed off my desk job for 6 weeks so I can't see how you can do your job in 4.

MrsAnnie, thanks for the reassurance you don't have a webcam in my loo or anything.

Netty - I'm sure your GP will sign you off for longer if you explain the nature of your work, some posters on here have been off work involving lifting for 12 weeks. Also as regards swelling/discomfort, my rectocele repair felt very bulgy and swollen at 8 weeks when I had my checkup, but I was reassured that this was normal, sure enough a few weeks later it felt a lot less swollen internally and the residual discomfort when walking disappeared.

Hi Netty. I agree with Whoknows about the swelling. It can take a long time for all the swelling to come out and then to settle down, and four and a half weeks really isn't that long at all.
And I think you are going to need to take longer off work too. It's probably not what you want to hear, but the NHS advice is good advice. X

I've resigned myself to being off til the Easter hols now, to give myself some time to properly heal. I think it probably is just swelling (no, I haven't investigated - daredn't!). There is no post-op exam offered. I assume they think you'll go back if there is a problem in time. I am back to using my Ovestin pessary which should also start to firm things up.
NN

So day 3 post-op and I'm definitely less sore but sitting and specifically sitting on the loo is uncomfortable (actually weeing and pooing is fine though, just the position). Anyone else find this?

Hi, with regard explaining to work, I work on a trading floor so very male dominated. I have said to my boss that I had a difficult birth with my son that caused a lot of damage which needs to have fixed. That was enough for him to understand what I was talking about without having to say anything too embarrassing/specific. Counting down to 5th March when I will be having my surgery.

Neoprene Just reading back and think you have had same repair as me. I haven't had any mesh or anything, just a stitch and repacking. In my mind I imagine it being like shoving the stuffing back into an old sofa and stitching it back up!
I didn't have problems on the loo, but was shocked (bit naive or stupid maybe!) t discover I'd been shaved whilst under anaesthetic! I'd given myself a bit of a tidy up before I went in, but the baldness was a surprise. Not a complete Brazilian, just the bits between my legs. Anyhow, once that started to grow back in.... Itchy Ouch

Yikes Netty! Mine was under a local only so I got to keep the lady garden. How are you feeling now (apart from the itch!)?

Neoprene - On the toilet thing, I found that resting feet on a box helped - raising them up about 6 inches. Initially I rested each foot on a new toilet roll until I found something more suitable at about the same height.

Thanks Annie, I'll try using DD's step! I think I'd beore comfortable to have my feet lower though and I'm not sure how DH would feel about excavating the floor of the downstairs loo.

I have just been given a date for four diagnostic tests to (supposedly) help work out why I am experiencing bowel incontinence (I could tell them why. Crappy delivery. But they don't like my answer, hah!). I am so nervous. I have to have a pressure test, an endoanal ultrasound, electromyographic testing and a nerve stimulation test. Basically they are turning me into a human sock-puppet for a few hours.

Does anyone have any experience or advice about any of those? They are just the latest in a long string of mortifying tests and I like to be prepared with information from actual people. Not just doctors and specialists who say it will be fine, won't hurt, blahblah-untrue.

Hi to everyone!
Manglemess - No I don't mind your mentioning my situation at all. If it helps me to get any help/advice, I am just grateful. I need to get fixed to work/have a life again. My H left me last week, and I am now on Income Related ESA, so bankruptcy/homelessness is beckoning. I need all the help I can get! xx

Whodve I've had the pressure test and the endo-anal US. They are fine. The pressure test involves inserting a narrow ultrasound-type wand up your bottom. You lie on your side with your knees bent up. It's only a few minutes. They take pressure reading when you are at rest and then when you squeeze your bottom. Really only a few minutes. The US is like a trans-vaginal, except up your bottom, so they can see any damage to your internal and external anal sphincter muscles and any damage to the deep pelvic floor muscles that wrap around that whole area. Again, it's literally a couple of minutes. There's no fasting or enema-type preparation required for either.
I haven't had the other two tests. Sounds like fun (not).
Nanna - sending you big hugs XXXXX

Whodve - the tests didn't hurt at all. Not even that uncomfortable. But if you're worried, take some pain killers an hour or so before the test. Won't do any harm.

Hi - it is amazing how quickly things move on! A new thread already.

I am 6 weeks after rectocele repair.
I am just clocking on to say that my return of vag disch was thrush this time . To be honest, it was hard to tell from the previous infection, other than there was less wet (pantliner rather than ST) and did not smell like dirty toilet. The itching has only come on since I've been treated

I am off to see the physio for a 6 week appt later this week. I have no idea what for or why, but hopefully, she will tell me when I get there!

Good luck to every one with their tests

Blueberry - I did not have pelvic floor muscle problems either. Mine came from not having been sewn up properly (if at all) after birth of first child. Glad to have had it done at last (21 years!)

Hi Dahlia how are you feeling 6 weeks on? I am to have a posterior repair and perineorrhaphy and am trying to work out how long I will be out of action.
Does anyone have any advice re exercise post op? I am a runner / Zumba enthusiast and I know these are out for a while - I was thinking of buying a second hand cross Trainer to get me fit again (I have had quite a large weight loss and am worried about putting weight back on if I can't exercise).

*Nanna8 - sorry to hear about your H and the problems him leaving is causing.

Dahlia - hope your physio appt goes well.

Mustidy - google Michelle Kenway, or look at her videos on Youtube for lots of advice about exercise. Swimming is probably the safest way to get back your fitness.

Anyway, I think I've strained my repair a bit today . I've been back at my pilates class for about a month, doing it very carefully with help from the instructor and following the advice given by Michelle Kenway but it feels a bit uncomfy tonight and all lumpy and bumpy inside. I am feeling really down, as if I'm never going to be totally free of this problem and always worrying about undoing the repair. I've got a physio appt on Friday, so they will hopefully be able to advise me, but this definitely feels like a bit of a setback.

NurseryNetty - I loved the comparison to an old sofa, it made me chuckle! First bit of joy today!

Well, I've been signed off til the Easter hols, which will give me an extra 5 weeks in total. Been to see occupational health, and don't have to have a phased return (I wouldn't get paid for the days I didn't work). The OH woman said that she thought I'd probably started to do too much, which is why I felt so rubbish last week. She's probably right!
The doc said that 5 weeks post surgery is a very short time, and that there will be swelling possibly for months yet. I'm to go back before Easter if I don't feel there is any improvement, but I feel a bit less squishy this week than last. Think the HRT pessary that I've started to use again is also helping.

Hope everyone is taking it easy!

Musttidy - I feel Great after six weeks! I feel like I could do anything.

However, apart from the bacterial infection and thrush, I have big spots on my chin, got an itchy rash on my chest and my itchy ear has come back. I went to a ballet class for the first time yesterday and felt a bit achy in the lower tum, so had a lie down for half an hour and fell asleep. So, probably not quite there yet.

Walking is fine and probably helping fitness.

If I had a job, I think I could probably do it now, but not all the running around after as well. And I would need early nights. I wake up sometimes in the night, but mostly I am sleeping very deeply.

Whoknows - I have shared your worries about 'undoing' things and felt very low and uncertain about the future. It took a long time to heal following the rectocele repair in March. I can remember it feeling really draggy if i overdid things for quite a few months. I've said on here before that 2 consultants had painted a different future to the one I envisaged saying I couldn't do the hobbies I love but the one who operated gave me the green light. I only felt optimistic 10 months after when I went skiing - sounds a bit naff but it reminded me who I am as I feel I lost control of my body and life as things were slipping.

My cystocele repair 4 weeks ago, a week after getting back from my ski holiday has been a great success and I do feel finally fixed. The consultant reported the back wall repair looked good and this has given me confidence.

Try not to worry - easier said than done I know - but it really does take a long time - it is likely to still be healing. Hopefully the physio will put your mind at rest. If you have concerns after your appointment then perhaps a visit to your Gp or gynae clinic may help.

Thank you Would, I feel much better knowing it isn't just me. I have known all along that I may well end up needing another repair for the cystocele but up till yesterday I was feeling great, full of energy and no discomfort or pain for weeks, so I was hoping it would be a long way off. Still a bit of discomfort today, possibly in art due to the fact that I have been poking around, but also I have got that something in my knickers feeling again a bit, but can't decide whether I am just imagining it. No dragging, but I haven't been on my feet all that much. At least I have the physio appt on Friday, glad it happened before and not after that.

Well I am on day 14 of rectocele repair and its been really helpful to read everyone's experiences. I went out for a short walk today - first exercise since op. Managed about 30 mins slow walk with a break at half way point but am really really tired now. Very draggy feeling ATM so back in my sofa position. Not helped I think by day 4 of heavy period ..... think I deserve a

MrsAnnie - I have to say I think that's too much too soon! Especially if this is the first exercise you've had since the op! I've had 3 lots of surgery and am 2 weeks after my last lot. I think at 14 days post surgery you should be aiming for about a 10 minute walk each day, adding 5 minutes per week. At least that's what my hospital and OP physios have told me. You're doing some serious healing right now and need to take it easy! Definitely have that and feet up!!
Dhalia - sorry to hear about the thrush infection . What have they put you on? I had one of these after my last lot of surgery (and suspect I may have an infection now after this lot of surgery). These can be buggers to shift, as the stitches and forming scar tissue act as a focal point for the thrush. I ended up taking itraconazole, which did the trick. Hope it clears soon. It's a miserable addition to an already miserable situation.

Hello again...
Well I have another date now, but not until march 26th, so another month to wait. Still something to aim for. Glad to hear everyone's doing OK and taking it easy.

Have been a bit silent of late. Hectic half term last week and then put my back out on Friday. Managed to see an osteopath on Monday and have a slight scoliosis and serious muscle spasm. However 2 sessions with him and I'm much better than I was plus lots of Diazepam and painkillers prescribed by the doctor!
I have my surgery booked for this Friday and was dreading having to cancel due to my back after having been sent home on the day of my op before Xmas, but having spoken to a pre op nurse today she thinks I'll be ok to go ahead.
So the nerves are kicking in, mainly about having a GA and not being able to pick up my children for the next 8 weeks.

Hi Tr0ubled. Bugger! That really sucks . Good luck and will be thinking of you. Make sure they ALL know that you have done your back in and get them to write in on your notes. I'm hypermobile and did my shoulder in just before I had my last op. I had a word with the anaesthetist and asked her to make sure that no one started yanking me around in theatre. She said she'd keep an eye on everyone for me. When you are waiting to go down to theatre experiment with the bed and with pillows to find the position that suits your back best - better to do it whilst you are more mobile than when you are post-op. A physio should come and see you the day after surgery (and probably every day who are in hospital). Mention it to her too.
Will be thinking of you so much!
XXX

Whoknows The post op report in March mentioned a small lump on my front wall. I knew then that it was likely I'd need a further repair. It got worse quite quickly and made me feel quite miserable despite my GP thinking it was only small/mild. I continually worried the rectocele repair was failing because of the front wall bulge. I saw the consultant 6 months after my first op and he was reluctant to operate until I mentioned it was a disaster intimately and how miserable I felt. As I've said the cystocele repair has been a much easier recovery and all is successful. It's interesting that for during booths ops it has been discovered the bulges were bigger than anticipated despite being examined standing up. Hopefully yours can be maintained with help from the physio - for me I knew I wanted it repaired asap.

Mrsannie - good you're listening to your body - plenty of rest is required.

Thrifty - a date at last. When I was cancelled and rescheduled they put me first on the list with a big note not to cancel.

Troubled - poor you - very good advice from cardamom. I was hugely relieved when I finally got to the op and sort of zoned out into submission. Will be thinking of you Friday.

Nannasylv - any luck with referrals?

Thanks all for advice - am taking it slowly today. It certainly looks from posts here that recovery time can be much longer than I had anticipated. I suppose one worry is being to get fitness back (particularly at my age) - I can imagine everything going south very quickly!

Would - sounds like you have had more than your share of problems from your repairs but good to hear you are feeling healed at long last.

Troubled - will be thinking of you Friday

Hello everyone
First can i say a big thank you to everyone who has posted on this thread. It has so much information, and it is wonderful to know that I am not alone. Good luck to everyone waiting and due to go into hospital. Would have posted before but couldn't find the most recent thread!!( new to this posting lark!)
I am 5 weeks post anterior posterior repair (with mesh) and tvt.
Can I say that my recovery has been good. Rested for 2 weeks, then gradual activity, no infections and apart from being uncomfortable sitting or standing for too long no real pain now. And all those horrible symptoms with wees and poos are a thing of the past! I wish i had had the op years ago. It took me so long to pluck up the courage to see my GP.
I can really relate to Netty's post as I have said I will go back to work next week (6wks post op)part time for 2 weeks then full time again.I am a teacher (year 1) and my job is very physically demanding too. Should I wait for my consultant post op appointment? Don't want to go back and find I can't cope but am bored at home. Also one of my sick notes actually says what I've had done - wish it just said Major Surgery!!!

Oh and another thing!!! My consultant told me that as my enterocele repair was very big he had to use mesh. I was really worried as i had read stuff on the web about complications with this before I went into hospital. Has anyone on here had a mesh repair and was it ok?

Hi Multi - I do think going back to work next week might be a bit soon for you, especially as it is not the sort of job where you can go home early if it really is too much, also I imagine you are on the move all day teaching Yr 1, it must be tiring at the best of times. It is not just about coping while at work, it is being able to pick up all your normal responsibilities again too, I could have gone back at 6 weeks full days (office job with 5 hour days for me, I work within school hours), but I would not have had the energy to pick up my DCs from school, cook tea, take them to all their activities etc, do chores as well, I went back at 7 weeks for two hours a day and built back up to 5 hours over a couple of weeks, but I was still getting help with ferrying the DCs around, housework etc in that couple of weeks. Your GP will be able to give you a further sicknote if you need it. How about another couple of weeks off then part time till the Easter holidays?

Hi Multi. What sort of mesh is it that was used? I've had front, back and enterocele repairs using absorbable collagen mesh. Can't comment yet, as I am only 2 and a bit weeks post-surgery!
Agree that returning to work at 6 weeks is too soon.

hello all, can I join you? I can offer a suspected cystocele as credentials. No pain but some incontinence (I think urine comes out of it sometimes). I think it's been there since I was about 39 weeks pregnant with ds1 almost three years ago but have only just noticed
Apologies for not having read the whole thread (or previous 7) but I'm wondering what I should do next? I am supposed to be having an erpc for mmc in the next week during which they'll fit a catheter afaict. Should I be telling them about the cystocele?

Welcome Remnant! Yes, definitely tell them about your suspicions. Really sorry to hear what you're going through. I had an ERPC four years ago for a mc but that was before the cystocele. Also ask if you can be referred for treatment. You might have to go back to your GP for a referral. Be prepared to be persistent - three GPs fobbed me off before I sobbed at my health visitor and SHE referred me to a physio. If physio doesn't work after a year or so, you can be referred for surgery if you've finished your family. I had surgery last week.

So, day 8 post-op and I think I overdid it today

We got a new people carrier and I scrambled in through the boot into the rear seat - it was all a bit contortionist and athletic and now something feels not quite right. I'll see how it goes tomorrow...

Thanks neoprene. I clearly have a lot to learn about all this. I only came across the word cystocele last night after much googling.

Why does surgery only happen if having children is over? Could you have a full term pregnancy without surgery? Would it mean a csection?

Sorry for all the questions.

Good luck with your recovery!

Hi Remnant - these surgeries have a significant risk of relapsing afterwards, with weight gain and childbirth being risk factors, so it makes sense to wait till after childbearing wherever possible, but some people do have surgery and subsequent pregnancies, sometimes even vaginal deliveries. Having to have the surgery repeated (and many people have to have more than one lot for multiple prolapses anyway) leads to a great risk of problems with scarring, tightness etc. That's my understanding anyway. It is really up to the consultant though.

Thanks for the replies!
whoknowswherethetimegoes
Thinking I may try to go back a little later but work asked me 3 weeks ago when I thought I would be back and I had to sort of predict how I was going to feel- now it all seems a little optimistic especially after doing some pottering in the garden this afternoon in the sun and pulling up some weeds. The last week of term has got two three hour long parents evenings as well and I'm just dreading it because of all that sitting.

cardamomginger As for the mesh I don't know which one I have had. Are there good and bad ones? I was so shocked when he told me I didn't ask...

The mesh that is standardly used in the UK is the absorbable collagen mesh. It's more usually used for front wall and enterocele repair than back wall repair, but depending on the individual patient it may be used for back wall repairs too. It works by acting as a matrix for the body to lay down extra scar tissue, thus making the repairs stronger. It's very safe and has been around for ages. The worst case scenario is that the body rejects it, by liquifying it, and it harmlessly passes out of the body. This happens in around 10% of patients. Many surgeons use absorbable collagen mesh automatically as part of repair surgery, so I guess it wouldn't be mentioned as an additional thing, if you see what I mean. There are other meshes, including polypropylene mesh, that have been used in these sorts of repairs, but that are not usually used in the UK. Elsewhere, including in the USA, they use them more readily.
Never a bad idea to find out what's been used - do you have another follow-up appointment when you could ask?

Wow that was a comprehensive reply thank you cardamomginger. That has put my mind more at rest (I probably read US scare stories on the web when I was initially trawling for information and hadn't found the mumsnet threads). I will ask my consultant though at my 6 weeks check.

That's what we are here for! In the UK, surgeons tend to just say 'mesh' as shorthand for 'absorbable collagen mesh'. And, yes, the US sites can be bloody scary indeed!!! Glad you have an appointment soon where you can ask. X

I'm sure I read somewhere (probably a link on here) that the synthetic meshes which have been the subject of so many lawsuits in America are no longer used here. My surgeon said they would only use mesh in the more severe cases, and didn't consider it necessary in most patients, I guess different consultants take different approaches to this.

There was a big win in one of the US lawsuits this week against a mesh manufacturer (I work in a related field and see the industry newsfeeds at work).

Troubled good luck tomorrow will be thinking of you

Whodhave thinking of you too and hope that all the tests are not as bad as you think and give you some answers

whoknows it is such an ongoing worry about damaging our repairs. I have never been so aware of my own pelvic region. So pleased that you have a physio appointment ands ask all the questions that you need to.

MrsAnnie look after yourself, have also just had (another) first post op period and am very glad that it is over

Welcome multimum4 and agree with other do not rush back to work. With the first surgery I felt ok at home but went backwards when I returned to work and was exhausted for weeks

Remnant so very sorry to hear about your mmc. I would mention to them about the cystocele if you feel comfortable doing so becuase I do not think that they will mention it. Prolapse is something that health professionals do not seem to mention to us ladies even when they know that they are there and do seem reluctant to fix them before we have finished child bearing.

Neopreme slow down!!!!!! Please look after yourself and let everything heal properly (please learn from my mistakes)

Slinkychick hope that you are doing okay? Did you see you cons?

Nannaslyv any news on your new referral?

3 weeks down the line here and I am still utterly wiped out and meant to be going back to work next week

Multi - I feel psychologically so much better knowing I am not back for a while yet. I popped in to nursery to visit on Tuesday and stayed in for 4 hours. I wasn't even doing my job and was exhausted when I came home.
Had a bit of a 'down' day yesterday, but the sun is shining today, I've been for a walk to the town and back and actually feel a bit more like myself.
If I had gone back to work next week, I don't think I would have allowed myself to properly heal and would have been paranoid about doing anything, which would have made me a pretty useless member of the team.
My sick line runs into my Easter hols, so I now have 5 more weeks off to make what I believe will be a good recovery.

Hi there,

I have just come back from my post-rectocele physio appt, expecting it to be about pelvic floor exercises, but it was someone who specialises in bowel problems, which was wonderful!!

Apparently you can get a bulge above or below a repair, which with the help of regular constipation, can lead to the formation of a new rectocele, or failure of the repair.

I now know a bit more about what I am doing right and have some new things to try. The fibogel was not really working any more.

It was really worth going.

I've found you again!

I'm on the list for posterior and anterior repair! The wait is about 4 months I think.

It will be done by gynae. He's not convinced it will resolve the problem but the colorectal surgeon is pretty convinced it will. I've got to give it a go I suppose

testing....

sorry for weird random last post - thread seemed to have disappeared from General Health, so I posted to see if that would get it back up.

I'm new to this thread but not to MN. I've already posted about this on a separate thread but it was suggested to ask here as well so here goes.....

I'm wondering if anyone can let me know of their experience of a second pregnancy before having perennial repair surgery.

I had a very bad tear & extended episiotomy and spent over an hour in theatre being stitched back up after the birth of my first DC 16 months ago. I've been offered surgery to 'fix' the scar tissue and am waiting to see another gynae consultant for another opinion (have suspected prolapse which is getting worse) which will be in a few weeks.

My DH and I have decided that we want another baby, and sooner rather than later. We are thinking of ttc April/May onwards so hopefully I'll have had anything done that needs to be done by then, but want to consider all my options, i.e. is it worth waiting until I've had a second baby (which will be by elcs) and then fixing things, in case it gets worse during the pregnancy.

I'm wondering if anyone can tell me honestly what a second pregnancy is actually like when things down below are not good. Thanks.

netty
I seem to be getting myself into a state about going back and doing myself a damage. Might pop into work myself tomorrow as I can walk there and have a chat with folks and maybe broach the subject that I might need a little more time off with my line manager. It will be easier than over the phone (hopefully!).The sunshine has cheered me up today and managed another very small spell of gardening even though it was freezing.

Evening all ladies. So I have my first hospital appt tomorrow. Am quite nervous and not really sure what to expect (other than having to get my pants off!)

I don't think I have that many symptoms but I'm only mid 30s. An I just getting used to them? Am I not putting things down to that?

Also feel like I'm about to start my period do keep your fingers crossed it waits till afterwards.

Considering I had a cystocele (bladder prolapse) and needed stitches for s 2nd degree tear after dc1. I had a year of physio before I got pregnant again (vaguely ttc all that time) and the pregnancy took the prolapse right back to square 1 (due to all the relaxin released by pregnancy hormones).

You will probably find you won't be offered surgery until you've finished your family - even with an elcs - as just the pregnancy itself can make things worse or, I'm guessing here, even reverse the effects of surgery (can anyone back me up/shoot me down here?).

I had another natural birth with dc2 which didn't make the prolapse worse but certainly didn't make it better! I've now had surgery.

Bladderific keep telling me to slow down - I need to be told! Today I've developed a dose of the squits which is really not helping recovery.

considering I saw the gynae about repairing my ( very poorly repaired) episiotomy after DC1. I was advised to finish my family and come back to it. At that time i also had a mild cystocele. So I did and had 2 more DCs. Didn't affect pregnancies or births (small scratch with DC2 not worthy of the word tear) and nothing with DC3. Developed a rectocele sometime after DC3 and now, 2 years after last baby and family complete I'm having a posterior repair and perineorrhaphy in a few weeks.
If you can live with it I'd leave we'll alone until finished having DCs. However, you should try an get referred to pelvic physio to get your pelvic flor as strong as poss which may help prevent prolapses which are more likely if PF is weak from the scar tissue from your episiotomy - I have a much weaker LHS where my episiotomy scar tissue has affected my PF hence rectocele.

I saw consultant today who confirmed cystocele and said i had a 1st degree womb prolapse too, and that it was all most likely caused by birth of DS almost three years ago. I'm slightly in shock that none of it has come to light sooner. I'm 43 so impact of menopause is probably more likely than that of another birth, but either way things are likely to get worse.

If I read back over the last 6 threads will I find pointers to good physiotherapist (ideally in london) or books/tips on exercises? The gynecologist said you could get balls to use in exercises ?

Seems that most of you posting here are in the middle of or are recovering from surgery so that I guess that pelvic floor exercises haven't made a bid difference

Remnant - am PM-ing you contact details for my gynae physio in London. She is fab.

Remnant - a lot of people come and post on here when they start having problems and we advise them to go off and ask for a referral to physio, but they tend not to stick around on the thread. Those of who stick around tend to be the ones whose problems have gone beyond physio unfortunately. Also, many people don't seek help or manage to get a referral until things have gone beyond what physio can help with too. I knew I had a mild rectocele years ago, the GP referred me to gynae who just gave me an exercise sheet, which i stuck with for a year or so then gradually forgot about, mine got suddenly a lot worse last year and the GP and gynae agreed surgery was the best option by then.

If you want tips on exerecise, both specifically for the pelvic floor and for the rest of your body whilest avoiding straining your PF, google Michelle Kenway, she is a specialist Australian women's health physio and has lots of really good videos on Youtube and a book (which is £20 but good).

So, having had one op, I've got my first physio appt tomorrow. I have written a list of questions to ask. Will report back afterwards.

Hi all

Really starting to get nervous now. What if like most of you I'm sent away without any help? I don't want to make out its worse than it is and end up with surgery I don't need yet. I would be very happy to try the ring thing.

Does anyone else feel it gets worse during your period?

lovesbeingwoken good luck with the appointment today and fingers crossed that your period waits until afterwards.

whoknows good luck with physio too I will be interested to hear what advice etc that you are given. I do not see a physio for gynae and wondering if I should.

considering it is really difficult to know what is for the best. I have had both repair surgery between DCs and prolapse/perineal repairs a while after having DCs. Although I am really pleased that once I had the major repairs I knew that that was that, but I do regret living with it for so long especially through my 20s and early 30s. It is a really personal decision. I had more DC after the major damage was done and other than my bladder issues everything else was ok during pg but I did sustain further damage via vaginal births hence the last one was C section.

Got a follow up appointment with my consultant today so fingers crossed that everything has healed properly.

Loves you are very unlikely to be offered surgery you don't need, I can't remember what your issues were but if you think the pessary would help and aren't ready fir surgery you probably need a referral to the women's health physio in the first instance.

LovesBeingWoken - Whatever happens, don't let them fob you off. I first presented at the docs in 2008 with a feeling of 'not being right' and having a significant amount of vaginal wind. I was examined lying down (why, oh why, oh why aren't doctors aware that this can make prolapse symptoms disappear?!) by a young female doctor who told me I was a bit slack, do a few PFEs and basically go away. If I had been referred for physio then, I might have been OK. 2 years later my symptoms were worsening and I was referred for physio. Too little, too late I fear because unless I did hours of PFEs then as soon as I'd done a week at work I was back to square one. Was ok in the school hols when I could rest up. It was only when I was at occupational health last year that the nurse said I should go back to the docs. I was referred to a consultant who asked if I was still sexually active (hahah, with advanced prolapse ). She said I was too young to put up with this, and needed surgery.
NHS managed to mess up my waiting times, and 34 weeks after seeing my GP, I had my op. In the intervening months the prolapse got significantly worse, with a bulge constantly there.
I think you have to be firm because a lot of these doctors don't rate the seriousness (physical and emotional) of the condition.

On the upside, ladies - I feel a little less squishy and like everything is falling out again now after almost 6 weeks cystocele repair.

multi - Good luck with seeing work. I told my line manager I didn't think I was recovering as well as I'd hoped last week, to prepare her. She was quite concerned for my welfare. My doc was very good, wrote an extended line without question and told me she would extend it again if I still didn't feel ready to return to work.

We have a big holiday coming up at Easter to NY so I need to be fighting fit!!!

multi (again!) Just reading back on your post I missed. I was at uni for a day on Saturday and had to do lots of sitting - it was not good and my tutor said she could see the colour drain from my face on several occasions.
If you work in a school, think about what will happen if you react suddenly and instinctively to something (child falling/needing first aid/an altercation) and do yourself a damage....

Thanks ladies. Well basically he said he is happy to operate however if I feel my symptoms don't outweigh the risks then he is happy to refer me to the specialist physio to see if it can be improved. The ring wouldn't be suitable.

I'm happy with that for now.

Oh and it was a relief to not only have it confirmed but to see a doc who seemed to really understand and I feel comfortable that if I change my mind in the future the option is there.

I wonder if it's true that the option will be there in the future.

A few thoughts about the value of physio, even if it's not enough to solve the problem. My prolapses and other injuries were never going to be solved by physio alone, and I've now had 3 operations. However, throughout I still saw a physio and worked to improve my pelvic floor strength. I made considerable progress in terms of muscle strength, although it was never enough to cure the prolapse or the symptoms I was experiencing. My surgeon, the physio and I felt that it was still worth persisting with physio (in my case this was a combination of gentle deep abdominal pilates-type exercises, PFEs, and an electronic stimulator) because we felt getting the muscles as strong as possible in the run up to surgery was no bad thing, both from the point of view of the actual surgery itself, and post surgery recovery and rehabilitation. As much as anything improving the blood flow to the area, by getting the muscles exercised and working, might help with healing.
From my point of view and in my experience, it is still worth doing, even if you are headed for surgery.

Slinkychick - are you around? I saw your post last week and meant to reply but forgot, sorry. How are you feeling now? Any improvement in your symptoms?

I've just got back from the physio. She says there doesn't seem to be any alteration in the cystocele and that I have fairly good strength in the PF muscles, she has given me some more tailored exercises to do and general lifestyle advice plus another appointment in a couple of months. She thinks the discomfort I am feeling at the moment is probably due to a bit of scar tissue from the rectocele reapir but there isn't much that can be done about that, I will have to see how it goes. It is something I could ask to have tweaked a bit if I did have another surgical repair at some point I suppose. As for having the cystocele repaired, she felt that a good exercise and lifestyle regime could hold that off for the time being, especially if I lose some weight, which I am trying to do and that it is a good idea not to have two lots of surgery too close together in time anyway.

Goods news then whoknows. It was the potential issues from scar tissues (and potiental bowel issues) he was concerned about.

I certainly hope it is true that the option will be there.

Btw is it normal to feel some discomfort now following an exam?

Just want to say thank you for those of you who have shared your thoughts for me. I really appreciate it and after reading them, I am probably leaning towards having another baby before any major surgery, but this is before I've seen another gynae to see what they suggest.

Whoknows that sounds like a really positive appointment for you, thank you for updating it has inspired me to book an appointment with the physio to make sure that I look after these repairs

NurseNetty glad that you are on the mend and signed off to give yourself time to heal.

Cardamon this really is quite a journey that you are on x

Loves internal exams leave me both uncomfortable and seen to upset my cycle. I hope that your physio appointment comes through soon and helps you.

considering a second opinion is always good and good luck with ttc

Footle the NHS do seem to be continually moving the bar for this type of treatment which is awful given how much it affects our lives.

Feeling much relieved having seen my consultant, all healing well and he has signed me off work for another two weeks as well as re-assuring me that it is normal for it to take up to 6 weeks to recover from this type of surgery, I thought that I was just being crap

Thanks Bladderific it's like symptoms have been trigger fingers crossed they wear off soon

Can't believe I'm writing here instead of sleeping. I'm now around 8hrs post op and since about 2am have only been able to doze but no good sleep. Did anyone else experience this?
Not doing too badly pain wise at this stage although have just asked for more as there's a dull ache coming on and I want to keep on top of it.

Welcome to all those that are new, sorry you've found yourselves here but hopefully you will get lots of help and support by being here.

Troubled - sending big hugs and healing vibes your way xxx

Troubled - yes, I didn't sleep well in hospital, I had to lie on my back which I never normally do, every time I felt as though I had just snoozed off the nurses appeared to make observations, also there was an emergency admission in my ward at about 3am which I might have slept through if I had been properly asleep in the first place but as I was only dozing it didn't help.

I seem to remember finally having a sound bit of sleep between the 6am round and breakfast though, hope you managed a bit too.

Just a update for anyone who is interested. 6 weeks post bladder,bowel and vagina all being sorted. Had review with consultant who is happy with things, said the stitches won't dissolve for another 6-10 weeks, so although i Can start to do more, must still be careful and no heavy lifting.
Signed off work four more weeks. Have hectic job, where you rarely sit still,and can be lifting. Do not feel ready to return yet,mostly Cos the problem with sitting,but tiredness too.
In myself am ok, but as i said, i still can't sit down too long, am best on sofa with legs up. Am walking for about an hour in total most days along with pottering about. Have horses so been taking the fresh air in, while gently brushing them. Pottering on yard, just started to lift feed buckets into them, but nothing too heavy. Not doing water or beds.Get tired quickly, and the dragging comes back if I am not careful and do too much.
Can't wait to ride again, but surgeon said to wait till stitches come away, although there is no way I could sit on a saddle yet anyway, so no danger of wanting to get on board yet!
Good to hear most people are having god recovery,but thinking of those who are struggling,especially to get appropriate help in first place.

Yellow horse, overall sounds like a positive appointment although it amazes me that the literature tends to be we'll be fully healed by 6 weeks yet as this board only goes to show, it's much longer than that.

I still haven't managed much sleep so the nurse has said she'll give me some diazepam tonight. Overall I feel so much better than I thought I would however that may be cos all I'm doing is lying in a hospital bed. The physio made me get up and sit in a chair this morning and after about 5 minutes I was in proper pain so asked to go back to the bed. My pack is out now too so that has made things more comfortable.

Sorry for all the information but no one else would really understand!

Hi Tr0ubled! Nope - I never sleep the night I've had a general. I end up watching crap TV into the wee small hours. I'm really pleased the nurse suggested a sleeping pill - I was about to suggest the same! It's great. It should give you 6-7 hours sleep.
Hope the pain eases for you. This bit sucks majorly. How's your back doing?
XX

Hi Cardamom
Back is good thanks, I was really nervous the spasms would come back but so far so good. I saw the osteopath for a session a few hours before my op and he has suggested going back in a few weeks and having cranial work.
I'm so surprised about the sleeping as had thought the GA would just knock me out, it's comforting to know I'm not alone!
I've just had my little kiddies visit and they were fascinated at mummy's wee in a bag next to the bed! Ah the glamour! x

Fingers crossed for a good night.

Hi troubled.
I also didn't sleep after the GA,and my op was 6.30pm! I hada nurse come in and chat much of the night. However,i was in a private hospital,and she thought it was to do with pain,even though I didn't have any! I felt I only needed paracetamol,and so hadnt pressed my morphine pump.in the end,she whacked Aload of Iv morphine in me and I did sleep. She also said not to suffer even a twinge,as pain produces adrenalin,and that slows the healing.
I also had a cushion to take in with me,and 6weeks on it still is my best friend and goes everywhere with me,it really helps the buttock pain! I got a piles one,with the hole in middle,like a Polo! But,any cushion may help with sitting,lying or generally being more comfy.
Hope you get the catheter out,mine was out within 16 hours. Even after such a relatively short time,my badder had gone on strike,and peeing was very un natural! Possibly cos bladder had been hitched up too,was in a position it wasnt used to!
Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Yellowhorse. That's interested about the cushion I thought it would have put pressure on the the area by not being supported.

nettyWent into work and it was lovely to see everyone especially my class who were very excited to see me but now assume I must be back permanently (bless!) Talked to my line manager and have now organised to work part time till Easter starting back in just less than 2 weeks but only 2 hours a day to start. Have put off the parents evenings till after Easter. Feel so much better in my mind for having sorted it.

In hospital I didn't sleep the first night at all and by the second night was desperate and had to ask for a sedative. Got my DH to bring in a pillow from home which was so much comfier than the hospital ones and smelt homey too. Had a good night's sleep after that even with the catheter in and ankle cuffs on!

Weighed myself today OMG! Don't normally put on weight but I have from sitting around eating comfort food and doing no proper excercise. Should have eaten smaller portions whilst recouperating. Oops!

Have a spa session booked for next week as I was given some vouchers for my birthday and thought it might cheer me up. It involves a massage though... Has anyone had one post op? ( I will be 6 weeks next week)

Apologies in advance for the gross question but how long did it take those that are post op to open their bowels? My stomach is getting bigger and bigger and despite movicol and prune juice nothing is shifting and I'm getting so scared of the pain to come when it eventually happens.

Oh dear. I had my last operation on the Monday and when I still hadn't done anything by Thursday morning (despite Movicol, senna and a whole orchanrd of prunes), they gave me a glycerine suppository. That enabled me to go. A bit I then got horribly backed up on the Saturday and after the suppositories hadn;t worked, I had to have an enema. That cleared everything out and from then on I was fine. II think different parts of your digestive system wake up at different points. This last time, the bits higher up had all got moving again just fine, it was just the final end bit that hadn't started working properly. An operation on Friday and no poo on Sunday doesn't sound that dire, tbh. But, if your stomach is getting bigger and bigger it sounds like you might be getting a bit backed up too. I'd ask the nursing staff/your consultant for some help.
When you try and go, whatever you do, DO NOT STRAIN. Try and 'breathe' it out - I call it hypnopooing . If you feel pain, stop. And ask for 'assistance'. That is what they are there for! Do you have any idea how long you will be in for? I'd heartily recommend trying to stay in until you have been. As long as you are in hospital, it is their problem, not yours. That was what I kept repeating to myself as I tried not to panic after another failed attempt to do a poo.....

I was home before any BMs happened Troubled - but didn't get backed up, it was very runny if anything and I was worried about being able to tell what was wind and what was not. The glycerine suppositories are supposed to be very good. Also, if there is a little step or anything else you can raise your feet on whilst on the loo it helps.

Multi - glad you've sorted out work. Never had a massage in my life, so no idea about that, I guess warn the therapist you are post-op and tell them to stop immediately if there is any discomfort. I put on 9lbs whilst recuperating .

Think I'm in until Tuesday morning but insurance will cover me until Wednesday if needed. I'd definitely rather my first poo is here too. I've had a heamorrhoidectomy on top of all the vaginal repairs and so have been warned that the pain with pooing will be pretty horrific for the first week or so. That's probably why I'm not going as I'm so scared.

Enema time!! It will be SO much better... XX

I had op on Monday and pooed Thursday, with help of glycerine suppositories (which I continued to use for 2 weeks)

I'm going in on Tuesday for a rectocele and cystocele repair. Starting to wish I hadn't read the poo bit. Should I be taking some laxatives in with me? The hospital haven't mentioned it, but it seems to be par for course here. As an aside, has anyone had surgery whilst they have their period? Mine is due any day now and the surgeon has said it's fine, but I do feel a bit funny about it.

I was advised to start taking Fybogel a week before my op and lactulose afterwards Edwin. I don't think I really needed either with hindsight (see post at 19.51). I stuck with the lactulose for a couple of weeks afterwards and then phased it out. I bought my own, plus stocked up on paracetamol and ibuprofen at home, which speeded up the discharge process as they would have prescribed them for me if I hadn't got them and they said it would have taken a couple of hours to get the paperwork done and have them sent from the pharmacy. I wouldn't worry about the period, there is going to be blood anyway. I felt a bit weird about keeping my coil in place during surgery.

edwinbear I had my period for my surgery on Friday, didn't make any difference for the surgeon. I also took laxatives for a few days beforehand, I can only assume it will help when my bowels eventually open.

I have just sat on the loo for 20 mins, very relaxed but willing myself to go. Lots of wind and awful pain but nothing more. I'm now back in my bed with such a pushing pain down below, almost like that point in labour when you need to push. The nurse has just been and has given me painkillers but I really feel they need to deal with getting things moving instead.

Thanks whoknows I have a cupboard full of Ibuprofen but think I will get some lactulose in as well, there is no harm having it in the house. Thanks.

troubled thanks, glad to read the period shouldn't be an issue. I've been reading all your post op updates and they've been a great help in getting me mentally prepared. Hope you get some 'relief' soon.

edwin - I think period is only relevant if you are having surgery that involves stitching into the uterus. And, even then, it's only the first few days when the uterus is more swollen. At least, that's what my surgeon told me. Wouldn't worry about it. In some ways it's good to get this period out of the way right at the beginning, when you are bleeding anyway and will be on maximum pain relief. Then you can have a free 4 weeks or so until your next one, when things will be much more healed and you should be feeling quite a bit better.
Tr0Ubled - that's how I felt when I was backed up. Like it was almost involuntary labour-type pushing. Does it feel like you are 'full' and there's loads there (sorry for the TMI question)? I think they should be doing things to get it moving too. Had the consultant been in to see you today? You could ask them to call him.... Trouble with loads of wind is that it can dry things out and then make it harder to go. XX

Troubled - nurse told me on Weds (equivalent to your Sunday) to relax and let it happen when it was ready. I had been given 2 gycerin suppositories on the instructions of the consultant and nothing had happened and the nurse said that she had felt nothing there so was not surprised.

I went the next day, with suppositories I had bought (I went home on the Weds).

Keep drinking water and relax - it will happen!

Arghhhh so desperate to go but because of the wounds from heamorrhoidectomy I'm not allowed a suppository or enema. Have been given dulcolax instead which should take about 6-8hrs to work. For the second time since I got here on Friday the nurse asked why I'd had both procedures done at the same time (i.e front and bottom) and must admit I'm wondering why myself now.

Tr0ubled - . Fingers crossed XX

Oh Troubled - eeeeek hopefully things will move soon. I'm surprised they have said no to glycerine suppositories. Cardamom's hypnopooing sounds good and as Whoknows has already mentioned a step helps get your body in the correct position. Awful for you.

Hope things are moving for you now Troubled. I know your situation is more complicated but I too was terrified of the first movement! Tried to ensure fibre quota was high pre-op as have tendency for extreme constipation. As it turned out it was not as bad as expected - even stitched up I think our bodies can stretch to accommodate...good luck

Any news Troubled?

Troubled when the pain has all gone, when swelling has gone and you are not as conscious about it anymore just remember you don't have to go back and start again. Yes it is worse for you and no you don't need it pointing out to you. In a few months when you are doing something fun just remember you could have been back to sort it out again.

After a painful night I finally managed to go at about 6am. I took cardamom's advice and 'hypnopood''! However because I was so sleepy and the pain I think my body got such a shock that I landed up nearly fainting and I collapsed on my bed naked and had to pull the emergency cord. The lovely nurse came and helped me and tucked me into bed. For all those pre op please be reassured that the majority of my pain came from the heamorrhoidectomy and also fissure that I had removed; none of these are stitched but instead left as open wounds to heal over so they stung a lot!
Anyway I'm still in hospital but hopefully tonight is the last night. I've had some more dulcolax so that I can go home tomorrow with empty bowels. The pain from the prolapse repairs although sore is very controllable. Looking forward to being back in my own bed now.

Good news - sleep tight x

Sleep well Troubled - glad you have made some progress.

Oh sweetheart!! Well done Tr0ubled! Keep up the dulcolax and hope you get a good night. Any chance you can stay in until Wednesday? XX

Troubled, I am in awe of you!

Well done troubled Relief all round!
6 weeks post op today
Lovely sunny day. First day driving. Went and had my spa treatments and massage. Told them about my surgery etc so they were careful. Came home and felt lovely for approximately half an hour, then got bad crampy abdominal pains and started bleeding again. I am being optimistic and presuming it is my first period since the op. and that I haven't done myself a damage. What a day for it to arrive though and boy its an owchy one. Off to bed with a hot water bottle and back on the painkillers I think.

Tr0ubled glad you managed to go, but sorry to hear it was so traumatic. Thanks for confirming you have extenuating circumstances though - I am now 8 hours post op so have the delights of the first poo yet to come.

Saw the consultant briefly afterwards and he said it went well, but he will talk to me in more detail today as I was still in recovery at the time. I was surprised to note it was 10.30pm when I came round, having gone in at 8.30pm, as he had said he thought it would take about an hour. I feel OK, I am pretty sore though which is only to be expected I suppose. They are a bit concerned about my blood loss, but as damn period came Mon night it's hard for them to tell if it's period blood or operation blood.

Well done edwin. Rest up. 10.30 coming round for a one hour procedure going in at 8.30 sounds OK. Hope the blood loss thing is nothing. XX

thanks cardamomginger bleeding seems to have slowed down so the nurses are much happier with me. Really looking forward to getting shot of the catheter and pack at 12 noon now.

Have they done a full blood count on you Edwin? I lost more than most people apparently, so they did test my blood the next morning and said they would give me iron tablets if necessary, but it wasn't. I was a lot comfier after the pack came out BTW.

Thinking of you edwin and hope you're feeling good. I was actually so surprised by how ok I felt the day after my surgery, the only things causing me discomfort were my catheter, the pack and also 2 different lines in my arm, one for my drip and the other for IV antibiotics. Once they were all removed I felt surprisingly good.

I came back home yesterday afternoon and it is fantastic to be in my own bed and also to be able to have my children come and sit with me, I missed them a lot. On the other side I think my hubby and I may fall out rather a lot, he's already tired of me calling downstairs and seems to have no understanding of the support I need. I had to virtually beg him yesterday evening to come and sit with me for half an hour just so we could be together. Guess men just don't get that emotional support is important too.

Thank you for all your support with my poo saga, where on earth would I be without this wonderful place to share far tmi and receive emotional support instead of disgust! Sadly both yesterday morning and this morning's bowel movements were no easier than the first. Each time I am in agony, initially it is a sharp pain as the open wounds are being stung and then it changes into a kicked in the whole groin ache. I have landed up taking a Tramadol on top of my paracetamol and naproxen and even then it takes over an hour for the pain to subside. I spoke with both my surgeons and it is almost definitely the operation on my bottom that is causing this level of pain and I've been told it may take at least 2 weeks to subside.

cardamom how are you doing now you're a couple of weeks post op?

Xx

whoknows no, no blood tests, it's calmed down a lot so I don't think they are worried anymore. They've just taken out the catheter and pack and it has made a big difference to my comfort. Although taking the pack out wasn't the most fun I've ever had.

Tr0ubled glad to hear you are back home in your own bed. I've been offered Thursday or Friday for discharge, I will probably go with Friday because although I miss my dc terribly, at 15 months and 3.5 yrs I'm worried about them bouncing all over me when I get home. It must be lovely to see them though and I'll bet the were thrilled to see you! I suspect the novelty will wear off for my dh as well after the first day or so.

I can feel poo building up and starting to worry about getting it out.

Edwin - hope the pack is out now and you're feeling a bit more comfortable. I agree that an extra day in hospital can make all the difference! When I went into and came out of hospital I read 'Maisy goes to Hospital' with my DD (she's been 14 months, 22 months and 28 months at each of my surgeries). It helped her to understand about me being away and that I needed to recover afterwards. Might help??

Tr0ubled. So sorry about the pain . Do you have/can you get hold of any Instillagel? It's a local anaesthetic gel supplied in syringe-type dispensers of around 10ml each. I've found it really good to help take the edge off things post-surgery when squirted onto a maternity towel. Just wondering whether a bit of that would make at least some of the stinging pain where the wounds get stretched pain a bit more bearable. Unfortunately, it's prescription only, but if you wanted to try it, you will have been given the contact numbers for the ward and the nurses will probably call your consultants to discuss it and issue a prescription if they think it could help.

I had a check up today 3 and a half weeks after surgery. I was TERRIFIED. But so far it all looks fine! I've got a thrush infection, which is why things have been so sore and stinging so much, but have pills for that, so nothing to worry about. There's quite a bit of swelling still, and obviously we won't have a proper idea of where things are at until about 7 months from now when all the stitches are finally dissolved and it's just me holding things up. But, for now, it all looks really good. We had a look with the ultrasound and the collagen mesh he'd used is nicely in place, which is great news. He got me to cough during the scan and we could see that things only moved a tiny amount. My surgeon was smiling away, almost bouncing in his chair with excitement . He pronounced my vagina and pelvic floor to be akin to that of a woman in her late teens or early 20s, who's never had children - not bad as I'm 41 and everything had prolapsed to all buggery .

And I got a hug from him! I know that a hug from a male gynae could be seen as not quite the done thing. But this was very appropriate and lovely!

Do I dare to let myself feel optimistic....????

Go Cardamom!

Edwin just relax (I know, easier said than done). Maybe take a magazine into the loo?

Troubled - I had DH bring a dining chair into our bedroom so people could sit with me without having to sit on the bed, helped me feel less cut off. Feel free to vent on here and we can hold your hand.

Most definitely!!! Sounds like a really positive appointment cardamom, so pleased for you.

I spoke with the colorectal surgeons nurse and she said I probably should try to harden my stools a bit as the excessive pain could be because they are so loose. I'm also leaking, which not only is pretty disgusting it's also making it impossible to keep the heamorrhoid wounds clean. So she's suggested I reduce my prune juice intake and only take one sachet of movicol per day. Bit nervous to reduce it that much as obviuously if they're too hard then I'll get lots of pain on my entrocele and rectocele repair so I think I'll adjust it slightly and just cut out the prune juice.

As a matter of interest how much we're most of you doing 4 days post op? I'm basically lying in my bed but feel as though I ought to do more.
X

Troubled - very little, in bed most of the time, I was only staying up fr half an hour at a time, long enough to go to the loo, potter for 5 mins, have a shower and go back to bed. You need to get up every few hours and keep your legs moving because of the DVT risk, but otherwise rest, rest, rest.

Thank you!
Oh dear Tr0ubled. It's so hard to get the balance right. After my last op, my system went into overdrive and I had 30 episodes of diarrhoea in 24 hours. At one particularly low point at 5 a.m., I actually though I was going to poo myself to death. Your system has been mucked around so much. You will find a pooing equilibrium again and 4 days is still very early. Not that that makes it any the less horrible for you now. .
Oh and at 4 days, I was still in hospital, spending much of my time in bed. Sitting in a chair for a little bit to have a cup of tea and read the paper. Doing small amounts of pottering and generally feeling like I'd been hit by a bus. And that's pretty much what you should be doing too! What exactly is it that you think you 'ought to be doing' ?? XX

Not sure!! Just when I have the pain under control I feel a little lazy! How crazy is that! I've spent the last 6 years running around after my family and finally I have the chance for some rest, guess I'm just not used to it! X

Not been on here for a while so great to see all the new faces (but sorry you have to be here iykwim).

After the failed recto repair and tvto last year, I was booked in for a defecating MRI and urodynamics with a pessary meantime. The pessary has been working pretty well so far, so decided to cancel the MRI, get a tvt and just manage the recto side of things for a while with the pessary. Problem is, have been having quite a lot of bleeding between periods, so went back to ask if there's anything the could do for that. Had a hysteroscopy, pipelle biopsy and mirena coil fitted last week. The coil was expelled on Saturday (just couldn't believe my luck). So now awaiting both the biopsy results and a date for tvt, novasure ablation, a further hysteroscopy (first one looked ok, but consultant said he just had time for a quick look because I had it done with a local instead of GA and was in agony). So...that is a really long way of asking if anyone has any experience of an ablationand tvt and the same time?

Troubled - take it easy and drink lots of water x

Hi Roseanna, you have had a bad run with this haven't you (sorry, bad pun, oh god that's even worse), you know what I mean. Glad the rectocele is under control for the time being anyway. That's the only bit I have any experience of but hopefully someone else will have some answers for you.

No advice to give roseanna. Hand holding and hugs XXX

Thanks ladies (lol whoknows!) ... trying tojust take a breath and think it through logically at the moment without getting ahead of myself with what ifs, but the waiting is hardest I think. Once I have all the facts I think I'll be able to cope a lot better. The one real positive has been the consultant...he's been lovely and going out of his way. Kept apologising bless him, even though none of it has been his fault - just a run of bad luck really. I so want this next surgery to be my last. It's been over a year since the prolapse issues started and I've just had it now. Sorry for the me me me post....just good to vent!

Hi everyone,
haven't posted for a while, lots of stuff going on here and been a bit down and trying to stay afloat. Hope all of you that have had your ops are doing well and your bits aren't too sore and are healing well
Anyways, went back to see the GP yesterday who still didn't ask to examine me!
Tried to explain to her what I was talking about which is a bit hard when you can't point at what you mean and she won't bother to look So she gave me a referal letter for a colorectal surgeon. I mentioned that I thought it might be better to see a urogynae and went through all my problems again and she started rambling on about them being better equipt to deal with sphincter damage which I don't have, I have no perineal tissue left worth mentioning which she would have noticed, if she bothered to look but my sphincter works just fine thankyou very much, one of the only bits that does. Told her I didn't want a colorectal referal and she was a bit snotty but said she would post me out a letter to make an appointment with a urogynae.
All she would offer me other than that was advice on eating five portions of fruit and veg a day along with a helpful demonstration of the size of each portion, more lactulose, an offer of anti depressants? and to ask when I had had my previous prolapse repaired??? erm, never, cos I never had one before, and you have my notes on the screen right in front of you... Oh and she asked me how old the baby was because did I know that I couldn't lift her if they say they will do an op. Seriously I think she was having a senile day or something. I had the 'baby' (who she knows) with me, she is 3!!! Was a very strange appointment, think I have peed the doctor off but not really bothered, I want to get my bits fixed and I will annoy who ever it takes to get it done. Giving her a week and if I don't have a referal letter will be back on the loony womans case but think I will be seeing a different doctor after I have it, she was a bit to odd for my liking.

Sorry Troubled, have only just had chance to get back to this thread. The cushion really alleviates my pain, by raising my pelvis, I think. i am still having buttock pain 6 weeks on, and suspect it was because my vagina was hitched up using ligaments, drilled through my pelvis. As well as the other repairs, of course. no one has confirmed the pain is due to the drilling, but i do know drilling through bones is very painful generally for a number of weeks. obviously i suspect the holes are minute for ligaments, but probably enough to cause discomfort for some weeks. The cushion makes sitting bearable for half hour or so now, but even laying on the sofa is nicer with a cushion under my bum!
At four days I was not doing much, but I was home alone so had to do a certain amount for myself like making lunch, drinks etc. I also did three five to ten minute walks a day. My husband us self employed, and no work means no money, so he had to work.
My consultant told me to little things like making drink etc to make sure I didn't just sit about to put a risk of DVT into the equation.
I am only now, 6 weeks, in allowed to do pelvic floor exercises. I do feel my bladder and bowel are not awfully reliable yet, sadly. I can't stop my wee while doing it at all. The other end, when I need to go, need to go.
Am fairly active now, but do find I get tired. I have alot of stress going on in other areas of my life too, which can't be helping. They keep me awake or having disturbed sleep, which probably doesn't help either.
Just to reassure anyone about to have surgery, I had no pain when doing a poo after the op, it my bowels refused to open in hospital, I was sent home with movicol, which then made everything so loose, I could barely make it to the lo. No pain what so ever though.
I am reading what to me are horror stories on here of people's stitches not dissolving for 6 months or more, is that due to the type of operation, or just standard? My consultant said they dissolve 3-4 months after the op, and obviously no heavy lifting until then. Nor, horse riding, which for me will be huge disaster as I have a riding holiday booked in July! Plus my work doesn't involve heavy lifting on daily basis,but the doors there are really heavy fire ones, and involve alot of yanking, so this could be a concern too. Helpppp!

Sorry if I scared anyone with my talk of stitches not dissolving for 6-7 months!! These are the deep, deep stitches used to hold the deeper layers of tissue together. The ones used to close the outer layers dissolve in 6 weeks. It's generally the outer ones that cause the discomfort. I've never felt any of my deep inner ones. To be honest, I don't think it makes any difference how long the deep ones hang around for. We will mend and form scar tissue regardless of whether a stitch is still there. Yellowhorse perhaps yours are 3-4 month ones? Anyway, sorry!!

Well done charley. You must have felt so frustrated during the appointment. Amazed you held it together! Hope the referrals come through soon.

Oh Troubled my eyes are watering reading your posts that sounds awful for you, hope that you and edwin are recovering well and taking it very easy.

Cardamon that sounds like really postiive news for you. You have had an awful journey with this.

Roseanna you are inspirational. I have everything crossed (well that I can right now) for you that they truly get to the bottom of things and that this is your last surgery. Am so pleased that your consultant has been really supportive it makes such a difference.

Yellowhorse that sounds utterly painful but remember it is worth giving yourself the extra time to heal properly as frustrating as that is.

Charley what an appointment! I had to demand an examination as well which took 10 months and then the GP (a different one) was horrified and apologised so keep going it will be worth it.

Am really struggling here. Am 4 weeks post op and still totally wiped out, for those of you who have had further repair surgery did you find the second recovery more difficult?

Hi Bladder. I think some of it depends on what the second lot of surgery is and whether it is more or less radical, requiring more or less healing. Another thing to factor in is that your baseline in terms of energy, strength, etc will be lower going into the second surgery than it was going into the first. So, yes, I think you may very well be more tired second time round.

I think the psychological impact needs to be taken into consideration too. How much mental energy you have for all of this is key, I think. When I had my first surgery in November 2011, I had a lot more psychological oomph to try and get through it. The second surgery in June 2012, which was a planned one that we always knew I'd need, I still managed to gear myself up for. But this third one, last month, which was a 'surprise' one, I've found it really difficult to psych myself up for - both in terms of the surgery and the recovery period. My mental and emotional energy is much lower this time round.

I remember at 4 weeks post operations 1 and 2 still feeling knackered in the extreme and needing 1 nap a day. I got quite a bit more energy at around 7 weeks, but then things started hurting again as the muscles that had been repaired finally woke up and started trying to work again. And pain is very tiring.

I can't remember whether your surgery was through the vagina or through an open abdominal incision (sorry!). Sometimes I think that the more 'hidden' nature of vaginal surgery doesn't do us (or our DP's, etc) any favours as there is no obvious visual reminder that we've actually quite major surgery and need to take it easy!

It's fine to feel wiped out. Sleep. Rest. Listen to your body. XX

And, in the spirit of following my own advice, I am now off for a nap .

Thank you Cardamom, I didn't anticipate needing a second round of surgery and it was just a day case so I thought that it would be fairly minor. Got admitted after the surgery for a night and when I saw the cons of Friday he said that up to six weeks was a normal recovery for this type of surgery. My mistake really for not asking the right questions etc.
My DH is away at the moment so I am home alone with the DCs and I think that is not helping, I have got a blood test tomorrow to check my iron levels to see if they are a bit low.
Sorry for the winge as with all of us I just want to feel better again and live a normal life.

Never need to feel sorry for having a whinge bladder, hope you turn another corner really soon and return to feeling bladderific.

yellowhorse what type of cushion do you have? Is it a ring one or just any cushion? With regards to your pain I have heard how the ops involving ligaments can have a more painful recovery. I was a '?' for a sacrohysteroplexy and the surgeon said they would inject cortisone during the operation whichever would help with pain for up to 6 weeks. Could it be they did the same for you and it's now wearing off? If so then perhaps you could ask for another cortisone injection.

edwin how are you feeling now 2 days in?

I'm so up and down; just occasionally I can control my pain to almost non existent but most of the time, like now, it's a constant ache. And then when I poo it is still agony, the majority of the pain I know is coming from the heamorrhoidectomy which I am told may take at least 2 weeks to start to feel better. Yesterday I went twice and on each occasion literally had to crawl back to my bed and lie on my side; the pain is exactly like the 2nd stage of labour and if I was able I would have gas and air to help me through. I rang the hospital as I hoped they could advise a way to help and for the moment they have suggested that I use Tramadol continuously so it is always in my system as opposed to just using it as a top up when needed. We'll see if it helps.

Hi all, I had a pretty bad night last night, really bad pain which kept me awake most of the night. I had morphine at 5am which made so much difference and I'm now back home. I hadn't been able to poo in hospital despite lactolose and a suppository but I've just managed to go at home with no pain. The relief was fantastic. I think it's probably harder to relax enough in hospital to go as people are constantly in and out of your room. All in all I'm not too bad, I have lots of drugs which I'm taking regularly. Looking forward to seeing the dc's when they get home from nursery.

charley I think I would be asking for a second opinion from another doctor too, that one doesn't sound quite the ticket

yellowhorse my consultant has said 6-8 weeks for my stitches to dissolve, this was for a straightforward anterior and posterior repair

tr0ubled have you asked about a prescription for morphine? i was given some this morning and it gave me a good couple of hours of complete relief, I asked about a prescription and she said they couldn't because they need to monitor you afterwards but my GP may be able to, it's just a thought to allow you to have a couple of pain free poos

Thanks for all the kind wishes everyone.

Bladder, I did find the second surgery much more tiring in terms of recovery and the third just wiped me out even though they were much more minor day case type surgeries. I think having multiple general anaesthetics does wear you out more than you realise. Try to get loads of rest...I know it sounds trite, but it does help a lot.
Charley - your doctor sounds like a weirdo - I would run a mile to another gp lol

Edwin - sounds like a nightmare...feel for you x

edwin I wish I could have morphine as I'm definitely not on top of my pain anymore and I'm constantly popping pills. It is just about bearable most of the time (except when I poo) but my consultant gave me the impression that my pain would be kept at virtually zero and this definately isn't the case.
After another agonising session on the loo this afternoon I rang the hospital in tears and was basically told, nicely, what did I expect having had the 2 procedures done together and there was nothing else they could do for me. She told me it was likely to be this bad for at least 2 weeks and that I should try chamomile tea!!! This is a private hospital as well.
Out of interest edwin are you private or NHS?

Oh tr0ubled that is not on, they need to be helping you, not chastising you, the fact is your surgeon was happy to do both together and it reduces the risk of 2 anaesthetics. I was private as well, but they sound far more understanding. Are you able to speak directly to the surgeon? Failing that, can you get to the GP? If not, maybe call them and ask for a home visit?

Thank you troubled and Roseanna I am getting as much rest as possible so will hopefully feel brighter soon but have started bleeding again today.

Troubled I have a surgical ring cushion if you want to borrow it? PM me if you do and I can post it tomorrow.

troubled my cushion is a soft ring one like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seat-Ring-Donut-Cushion-FREE-Cover-Piles-Aid-Pile-/280704289418?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Mobility_Disability_Medical_ET&hash=item415b478a8a
It has been brilliant.
I agree with speaking to your consultant, you should be able to call his secretary, being private and request she gets him to call you. Although I hav the pain when sitting, it's not agony, just uncomfortable, and all along- although I do seem to have a high pain threshold- I have needed no more than paracetamol occasionally. The fact you're in considerable pain like this, makes me thing you need to speak to the consultant, sooner rather than later.
Sorry have no idea if was given anything to help, like cortisone, with pain or the saph fixation, the consultant was very very good, but not awfully forthcoming with finer details even when specifically asked!
Call our consultants secretary asap, and request he contact you. He will!
Hope you soon feel improved.

Bladder and Yellow, I had heard that the ring cushions weren't that great for the prolapse repairs as they don't support the pelvic floor?

I've got an inflatable rubber cushion (mine was actually to help my bad back, it's wedge shaped) called a wobble cushion, physios and OTs use them (google it, they sell them on Amazon) - I found it very helpful in the early days (and when I went back to work).

Hi Tr0ubled Yes, I also think you need to bug his secretary tomorrow and insist that he sorts this out. This isn't on. I don't know what your colorectal guy is like, but your gynae will care and will take it seriously. And say that the hospital were dismissive. I'd also heard that the ring cushions weren't the best, as they can put pressure right on the bit that's trying to heal. I spent the first 10 days to 2 weeks sitting in all sorts of contorted positions, with my legs bent under me, trying to get the weight off the sore bits. .

That sounds good whoknows. Wish I's known about it earlier!
Ah - just looked it up on Amazon. Turns out I've owned one for about 4 years - I used to do pilates with it. Dimwit me....!

Yes, my pilates instructor uses them. So does DS's OT. In fact school use them for quite a few of the little boys who just can't sit still otherwise.

No idea about the ring cushions not being good, but mine has helped me no end, and it goes everywhere with me,lol! It definitely doesn't put pressure on any area, where as sitting without it is still impossible, so on that basis, it must be better to even more pain!

I am not sure Troubled. DH bought me this one for prolapse repairs last August and I could not bear to sit on it. I did use one after my first delivery and after a perineal repair a while ago and I could not have managed without it. The one I have is the same as the one yellowhorse linked, I am happy to post if you want to give it a try.

I had forgotten about the wedge cushion whoknows and might need to invest in one of those for going back to work

I am with whoever said that they try anything to sit comfortably including sitting on my feet - oh the glamour!!

Hi eveyone,
I thought I had left a message a few days ago but seems I screwed it up somewhere along the way Hope all of you that have your ops are feeling ok and that your bits are healing well!
Anyway, it has been a while since I last posted, been a it down and had a few family problems which took over for a while but finally went back to see GP last week to ask for a referal. She was giving me one for the colorectal team and was a bit peed off when I told her I would rather see a urogynae! Didn't help that she still has even examined me:O
Got my booking letter this morning and have an appointment on 21st March for the gynae unit. Hope I have chosen the right hospital! Went for the closer one,partly because it is closer and because the wait was a bit shorter to see someone Need to get this sorted out as soon as possible. Constipation seems to be a lot better - thanks for all your tips Work is killing me so have decided to hand in my notice, can't do the long shifts on my feet and lugging round crates anymore Was hoping to go quite soon but a couple of the girls have had close family deaths so I am needed to cover shifts while they get themselves sorted out, can't just leave them all in the lurch.Am going as soon as everything gets back to normal though and can't wait to hopefully not be in as much discomfort and pain. So think thats all, was quite surprised to get an appointment so quickly and will let you all know what they say.

Great that you don't need to wait too long Charley - if you're anything like me the waiting is the hardest part!

I think what doctors fail to realise sometimes is the real life impact of the symptoms - its not just a case of diagnosis and treatment, its a case of how exactly do we manage and what do we need to do before, during and after treatment as well as the impact it has on the wider family. I'm so sorry you need to give up your Job. Hopefully you'll be ableto find something that suits you better once you get sorted out x

So I thought I was healing well (now 2.5 weeks post-op for cystocele repair) and had a look as something didn't feel right. I no longer have the massive bulge from the front wall bit it looks like the back wall is bulging out! I seem to have a whole new prolapse.

I wonder if the cystocele had been supporting/preventing a (missed) rectocele.

I've emailed my surgeon's PA but can anyone offer insight in the meantime. This, maybe not inappropriately, feels like a massive kick in the arse.

Hi Neoprane. So sorry things are not right . Could it possibly be swelling? 2.5 weeks is very early and there's all sorts of bruising and swelling still to come out. But, yes, you are right . The cystocele could have been supporting another prolapse that now has the chance to appear/get worse. That happened to me twice. And it so horrible and devastating when it happens. But it really could just be swelling?? I'm almost 4 weeks post repair (cystocele, rectocele and enterocle) and everything is so swollen and 'full' down there. TBH I feel and looked worse at 3 weeks than I did at 1 week.
I hope your surgeon's PA gets back to you ASAP and you can get checked out. Do you have a follow up already booked in?
X

It can happen Neoprene, I am half expecting the same, in that I had a rectocele repaired and have a more minor cystocele which I worry will become problematic, the surgeon warned me about it. However as Cardamom says it could well just be bruising and swelling, it is all close together and very early days. Hope you hear back from the surgeon quickly.

Charley glad your appt came through so fast, sorry you've had to quit your job, but probably best to prioritise your heaith.

I'm lurching from one medical problem to another. I had to give up running because of the prolapse so I took up swimming. I strained my arm so now I've had to stop swimming. The anti-inflammatories I've had for my arm have caused bleeding in my eye. Feeling like a right old crock!

Flipping heck Whoknows you are not having a good time at all are you
Poor you Neo, hope it is just swelling and you aren't having more trouble!
Was actually going to ask for exercise advice. I am not a runner, far to lazy lol. Have been on a bit of a health kick the past year or so though and have managed to shift 4 stone so far which is great but I really want to get rid of the last stone.
If they do say they will operate and fix my bits then being laid up for a few weeks on top of not doing my very physical job has me scared I will end up like jabba:O
We have a running machine but I know running is out so was thinking about an exercise bike, would that be ok do you think?
Swimming is great but it is a pain in the bum for me to get to the pool often and as other half doesn't swim I usually end up with the kids and two of them don't swim so can't really get much proper swimming in. How about Yoga?
Took some advice from here and bought the itouch pelvic thingy, nearly gave myself a heart attack and almost made my best mate pee herself when I described it to her
Hoping it will actually do something cos it is very odd!
Am seriously considering/trying to pack in smoking too. Couple of days locked in a hospital ward will have me going mental! Packing in would surely help with healing and stuff too, well thats what I am telling myself anyway.

You could try power walking on the running machine Charley, maybe have a steeper gradient than you would try for running. Exercise bike would be out of the question for quite a long time post-op I think, pre-op, well, depends what level of discomfort you have presently I guess. Well done on your weight loss, I need to lose 3st, I've done my usual thing of losing 10lbs and then falling back into old habits, really need to spur myself back into some willpower.

Exercise bike, even a reclining bike, would be my idea of sheer torture for a long time..... Walking with an incline is an excellent idea.

Charley how about a cross trainer? I have switched from running to cross trainer to reduce (significantly) impact. I have jut bought a great second hand one from eBay.
WRT giving up smoking have you considered trying vaping / e-cigarette? Might be a good step toward giving up completely.

Hi, all. Just found this thread and now posting on Mumsnet for the first time.

I'm 6 week's post- TVT surgery. Having severe pain on one side only, which only started to develop a couple of weeks ago. Have had scans, nothing. Consultant has fobbed me off with antibiotics "in case" and said to come back in a month if I'm still in pain.

It's not constant pain, it's triggered if I stand up for more than a few minutes at a time (so the school gate is a real problem). It's excruciating, presumably it's around the top of the tape, although I can't be 100% sure.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Thanks for your advice as always. I really hope it is just swelling but because the new bulge has appeared so suddenly and in an area that wasn't operated on, I have a horrible feeling I have a whole new prolapse going on.

wrt exercise, usually swim a couple of time a week but can't do that on surgeon's orders until my post-op appointment in 3 weeks. Apparently it's more to do with bacteria in the water than the swimming itself.

I did have a dose of the trots all last week and can thoroughly recommend gastroenteritis for shifting the pounds piled on while laid up. If it's good enough for the Queen, ladies...

duh! never thought of walking on the runing machine, how thick am I
Like the idea of a cross trainer, isn't that the swingy thing, like running in the air?
Funnily enough Musttidyup just bought an e-cig from work tonight, was prompted by the sudden onset of awful hacking cough and cold Thought I might take advantage of it. Haven't had a cough for a long time so will see just how strong my pelvic floor really is :O
RF67, sorry I can't help with to what the pain might be but hope you find out and feel better quickly.
Neo, think I will pass on the gastro thanks, though if I can't start shifting these pounds I may be desperate enough to try it, would be a nice change from being bunged up lol.
Am shattered so off to bed, got a couple of nights off now yipee

A little nervous so am popping on with a quick question - has anyone ever had numbness down below after their op? I'm a week post big repair and today have had a few episodes of my inner thighs and fanjo going tingly and numb. I don't want to be concerned as I saw my consultant yesterday (for new pain meds, thank goodness) and he was really pleased with how it's all healing already. However I'm now lying here with a mixture of dull aching inside and numb tingly outside, no fun. Would just be reassuring to know if anyone else has had this.
TIA xx

Tr0ubled!! Thank the dear Lord you have some more pain meds! I haven't had tingling as such, but I have had some numbness (mixed with pain, or course!). And when I had surgery on my neck ages and ages ago I had exactly that tingling and numbness you describe. That surgeon said that it was just the nerves sorting themselves out. Maybe give your surgeon's secretary a call tomorrow? Won't do any harm.
How's the pooing going???? XX

Thanks cardamom I'm pretty sure there's a simple explanation, googled numbness post op last night and swelling compressing nerves comes up as an option, reckon that's what I've got.
Pooing is still hell unfortunately, and will be until the bottom op stuff has healed apparently. My surgeon thinks that because he has had to virtually reconstruct my pelvic floor it is going into spasm occasionally, causing me the intense pain. Because when I poo I get the backside pain I then tense and bring on the spasm, which on top of the other pain is giving me agony. Strangely just having a reason why has helped a little, I am practicing your 'hypnopooing' each time I go and knowing the pain will pass helps me focus.
Sorry to read that you're feeling worse now than post op. Are you starting to do too much? I would imagine there is a danger around 3/4 weeks of overdoing it as you start to feel better. Guess its a vicious cycle.

Apologies for not responding to other posts, I've been a bit consumed with my pain . Will be back soon.

Tr0ubled glad to hear you got to see your consultant. Things can only get better from now, as the nurses kept telling me. I've not had tingling but maybe I have that still to come.

Hi Troubled...I had a similar numbness after the posterior repair. Lasted about 3 weeks and cons. put it down to nerves being severed. They healed back together again and sensation definately returned at that point...ouch! lol

Re the tvt query - was it tvt or tvto you had done (sry on my phone and can't scroll back to see the name of the person who asked)?

Hi, Roseanna1 - It was TVT.

Thanks RF....reason I asked was that the tvto goes more from side to side than the tvt, which is more centrally 'slung' iykwim...in any case it could be from nerve irritation. Do you have a follow up consultation soon? If not, you could try calling the ward you were booked into to see if they can give you any advice?

going for a second opinion. Pain only started 5 weeks post-op and feels like a ripping pain, really intense but not constant. Only kicks in after I've been on my feet for a few minutes or meeting kids at school gate. Agonising once it starts but can be pain free all day just sitting at the computer at work! Consultant has no idea of the cause, to be honest, so going to see someone privately (no health insurance!) to see if they can shed some light. X

Best of luck rf...these things are great when they work, but seem to cause all sorts of problems when they go wrong. Good to get it seen to quickly though, as my understanding is that they get embedded in the scar tissue very soon. Hugs x

Thanks, Roseanna. I think! :-)

Sorry rf...just reread my post and it sounded a bit scarier than I'd intended! All I mean is, best get it looked at sooner rather than later to give yourself the best chance of a speedy recovery

edwinbear how are you feeling? Are you still mostly bed bound or managing to get up and about a little? And how's your pain? All going in the right direction I hope. I'm more bed bound than I thought I would be 11 days post op; I can get up and potter but only for about 10 minutes before it all hurts too much.
I spoke to my colorectal surgeons nurse about the numbess yesterday and she reassured me it's perfectly normal as tissue and muscle starts to heal. Such an odd feeling! Wish it was numb enough to mask the pain though!

RF67 I'm afraid I have no experience of tape but I hope they fix it for you really soon. Certainly can't be right to be in pain within minutes of standing, but it could however be a perfectly normal stage of your healing if so for the moment you need better painkillers? I am taking tramadol, diclofenac and paracetemol throughout the day and only just keeping my pain at bay! Don't be afraid to take what you need to help you through this temporary stage in our lives.

Just been for 6 weeks consultant check and everything is looking good with my repairs.He said that as it had been a 'massive' enterocele it wasn't unusual to have some granulation which I had treated on the spot with silver nitrate. Anyone else had this?

Hi tr0ubled. I'm pretty good thanks, 7 days post op and I'm pottering about OK. I can be on my feet for maybe 20 mins at a time before I need to lie down again. My stitches are still pretty uncomfortable if I sit though. Pain wise, I'm not clock watching to see when I can next take my painkillers, I'm taking some ibuprofen about lunchtime and a Tramadol before bed. I'm still dosing up on lactulose though, as I'm finding it's having the rather lovely side effect of allowing me to eat biscuits all day and not put any weight on . How are you getting on with your new meds? Is the pooing getting any better at all? I think if 10 mins is the maximum you can manage, then go with it, your body knows what it needs to heal and it's still very early days yet.

Hi edwin, I guess I was just expecting a little more. It's bloody boring lying in bed! The pooing is still horrific however the pain subsides to bearable in about 15 minutes now as opposed to taking nearly an hour, so a definite improvement (keeping positive!). On the plus side I don't have any discomfort from my stitches, strange how we can all have a different experience. My surgeon did say he was going to hide all my stitches, I have no idea how he did this but I've had a look and there's not a stitch in site and that includes on my perenium which has been repaired !!

multimum glad your appointment went well. Not sure i know about granulation, what exactly is it?

tr0ubled hats off to you for being brave enough to have a look! I haven't even been brave enough to have a feel yet, the thought of looking makes me come over all funny.

Well done to everyone who's had check-ups.
Tr0ubled - I have no idea how he does it either!! I had a big re-build in my second surgery and tighten up this time round, and neither time was there anything visible externally.... Strange...!!
RF - sorry you are in so much pain . A second opinion sounds like it might not be a bad idea.
After my good news last week, I have had a minor setback in the form of a bacterial infection. I have pus and everything . It feels like I am sitting on broken glass. I had an appointment with surgeon today and am on antibiotics and am back on the voltarol. Might self-medicate with a large as well...

Multimum4 -I had some treatment with silver nitrate (although my GP thought he was using it to treat polyps...they were NOT polyps, they were exposed veins from a tear omg!)...it was painful for about a day and then fine. My granulation tissue was removed surgically, no problems. I had a lot of discomfort from that granulation tissue, so I hope this treatment gets rid of yours for you!

I definitely had external stitches for my rebuild - it was the episiotomy I didn't have when I had my children . I think there was some skin cut out - it looked like my vagina was all sewn up with an overlocker! Quite a shock!

The stitches dissolved quickly and it looks fine now.

Dahlia - sounds like embarrassing bodies the other might. The women was so happy after you could just see it in her.

Re hiding the stitches this might sound a little strange but I've done this in seeing to close say a cushion or doorstop and can see how this would be possible. Would be very hard to explain but if you fancy looking up invisible stitching on YouTube you might get an idea.

Best rushes to all of you still recovering.

Just wondered about some advice on exercises what best to avoid what really good etc.

Loves low impact is best, walking or swimming. Running only with care to minimise impact. Sit ups and strenuous core exercises eg Shred are best avoided. Pilates good but avoid exercises where both kegs are raised. Google Michelle Kenway for more advice.

Thanks. I had my worst 'episode' after having to lift 4 yr old dd a lot and doing just dance on the wii was a fast forward of what life could be like do really want to avoid it but have to start doing something.

Loves I am just over 4 weeks after posterior repair and am now doing one hour of walking each day which seems fine. I'm keen to start doing something more aerobic but certainly don't feel ready for high impact. Thought that cycling might be good - as long as I don't fall off!

Other than that its just keeping on top of the constipation. It was fine at first but took my eye off the ball and now day 4 without any sign - gulp! Can't really understand as I have been munching figs and dried fruit all day. DH says I need a pint of real ale, might try that tonight.

I'm back to work next week but its been a great help to have had input from this community and I wish all you ladies well in your recovery.

Miss Annie - I am in the same boat 8 1/2 weeks post op. It was really good for the first 3 weeks, then I got an infection etc and it seems to have gone downhill.

Mine is definitely hormone related and I have just had my first period for 6 months with all the other symptoms, so hoping it will improve now.

I am eating soluble fibre, water, fibogel, bactera capsules, and now have added wheat bran. I am sitting forward on the loo to straighten my rectum, doing pelvic release exercises, etc etc ......... and have even seen a physio with a special interest (it was good to see her, but my intestines are still on a go slow)

Hope you have better luck

Loves Had a look at embarrassing bodies - I did not have epis with babies, but had the muscle tearing which was not stitched. The repair gave me the 'episiotomy' but there is no pain, not even where the muscles have been restitched :D - it has healed well and I am pleased

How soon do stitches start to come out?
I'm a little concerned as I'm only 12 days post op and lost one yesterday and another just now.
When my DS was 6 weeks I had a revised episiotomy and it all broke down within a week, mainly due to a hideous infection . I've been really careful this time, especially with not having baths so as not to soak the stitches and dissolve them too fast. But I'm nervous now they're starting to come out that its too soon for any significant healing to have happened and ill be back where I was before

Tr0ubled - the stitches he uses should last longer than that. Call his secretary and let her know. Do it this afternoon, if you can. XX

My external ones disappeared after a couple of weeks which seemed a bit quick.
I stuck my finger up after 5wks (had seen consultant who said 'intercourse' was ok, so thought I may as well have a 'look') and it came out covered in bits which turned out to be bits of stitch ( I thought it was bad thrush for a moment, which it wasn't, ...although I got the thrush later, anyway.......)

Mine were white, and seemed to be stitched 'over and over' and dissolved fast. Not like any pictures I've seen. There was an annoying one that went from the internal stitches through to the outside that felt like a caught up pube. It went 'twang' after about 3 weeks which was much better

troubled my consultant said 6-8 weeks, did yours say how long he expected them to stay in? I agree with cardamom give his secretary a call just to make sure.

I have just come to these threads in the last few days. I have cystocele and rectocele and will be having them repaired with surgery on April 2nd. Just got my date this morning, trying not to panic too much about the recovery time as my dc are aged 3 and 5 and my mum is going come and stay for a couple of weeks. The ILs are on standby for after that, but I'm hoping to avoid handing the reins of my household to my MIL.
Your shared experiences and advice have been useful and scary in equal measure, but it's nice to know you're here.
BTW my nickname is from boob leakage in early motherhood, but has been eerily accurate since my prolapse.

Welcome leakyR. I'm 10 days post op from the same repairs and the recovery has been easier than I'd thought. My dc's are 3 and 15 months and I was really worried about how we would cope. My consultant said I should be OK to lift the children after 2 weeks, although I have childcare arranged for 6 weeks as precaution. This is more because the baby still needs lifting quite a lot. My 3 year old has been brilliant at understanding I can't lift him and frequently scolds the baby when she puts her arms up to be lifted saying 'no dd, mummy can't carry you because she has a poorly bottom'. At 3 and 5 hopefully yours will understand you won't be quite so active for a while.

I'm OK kneeling to help the 3 year old get dressed and can make their meals, kneel by the bath to help with bathtime etc. The first 4-5 days were the worst when I was pretty much bed bound, but I'm pottering about quite happily at home at the moment. I sneezed for the first time this morning and it was so good not feeling my organs popping out of my fanjo for the first time in 3.5 years.

whoknows thanks for the reply about granulation. I hope it's fixed too. Don't fancy any more surgery...My cons said he might have to laser it if it caused trouble in the bedroom department (I haven't yet been to the bedroom department!)
At my 6 weeks I asked about exercise as I feel the need to get more active, and lose the weight gain from all those biscuits, and asked about cycling as the weather seems to be slowly improving. He said that would be fine so I am investing in a lovely squishy soft saddle off the internet as my old one is really hard (owch!)
* leakyR*welcome to the community, it is a mine of useful information where no question is ever too embarrassing unlike the real world.
First afternoon back at work today so far so good although I am feeling pretty achy now. So glad I opted for afternons till Easter. The children and parents were so pleased to see me I felt like a celebrity!

It was someone else Multi. I'm thinking about getting a new bike, I've been out for a short ride on a friend's which was fine comfort wise, but it was a very short ride. My bike is ancient, rusty and I never really liked it (was an old one of DH's).

Thanks all for your responses about the stitches. What a bugger! I had really hoped you'd all respond that it was quite normal. I'm a bit loathed to call his secretary as I bet he'd want to see me and I don't really want to drag the whole family up to central London to see him and I can't get there on my own. Also is there really anything he could do? He's unlikely to put any new stitches in now.

leakyR my children are also 3 and 5 and have shown wonderful understanding. We told them that mummy was having a cut at the base of her tummy (DS would have happily told his teachers it was my fanny if I'd been truthful!) and we said that I wouldn't be able to lift them for a while or have climb on cuddles. We focused on having snuggles instead, so now they climb into bed next to me and snuggle up. My 3yo did start wetting herself before my surgery and for the whole time I was in hospital however it stopped the minute I got home. I'm not as mobile as edwinbear and am still fairly bed bound but this hasn't bothered my kids. I think the fact I'm not ill and lying in bed sweating and shivering and sneezing makes it all ok, I'm just physically restricted for a while but their mummy is otherwise just the same.

multimum so pleased you had a happy return to work.

cardamom how are you doing? Have the anti b's started to work?
Xx

Sorry I haven't caught up properly but just want to say to Troubled please contact your consultant's secretary. I pulled some stitches out within two weeks which was too early and have ended up having to have repeat work done (my own fault I know ). It is much easier to fix now if it needs it rather than later and have the whole six week recovery again.

whoknows sorry! it was whodve... easy mistake to make ?At the risk of repeating myself (please read my comment above)

Thanks bladder, I didn't really think there was anything they'd do but I'll definitely check with his secretary tomorrow.
I've had a little look and the stitches I can now see (which were previously buried) are black and the bits I thought were stitches were white so I guess there's a chance it wasn't them. Argh so annoying!!

Thanks for the welcome. Tr0ubled I like the idea of telling Ds that it's to fix my tummy as I can picture him telling all and sundry that my "bum and tuppence" are broken.

Morning all!
Tr0ubled - white?? Hmm, mine are grey/black too.... Still think I'd call and check...
The antibiotics have started to kick in now, thanks. Still hurts and still discharge, but less that it was. I'm seeing him next week.
Hi Leaky - good luck for the 2nd!

Trying to get childcare/school runs etc covered for after my op on 2nd April. I know I need to do very little for the first couple of weeks. DH will be at home for the first few days after I get home then my mum is staying for 2 weeks. Realistically do I need another pair of hands after that for another week, or two? All family live 150 miles away so I'd need to give the ILs a bit of notice.
Btw dc are 3 and 5.

Hi Leaky. I think you should try and arrange as much help as you can for as long as you can! You are not going to be able to do any lifting for 8 weeks. And that includes things like pushing (if any DCs are still in a buggy) or vacuuming. Even excluding lifting, I've certainly felt too tired/in pain/generally yucky to do anything that energetic for about the first 6 weeks. Other people seem to recover quicker than me, but I think you should expect to not really want to do anything more than gentle puttering for the first 4 weeks.

I agree Leaky - my DCs are 7 and 9 and I arranged other people to take them to and from school for about 6 weeks, even though it's only 10 mins walk away - I could manage 10 min walks OK, but not all the inevitable hanging around in the playground plus the walk back. It was also a problem with after school activities, which might not be so bad for you as yours are younger, but mine have a hectic weekday schedule and cooking tea etc. I also had help from DM / DMIL around the house for several days a week for at least 4 weeks and even after that DH had to do a lot more than usual (hoovering, putting bins out, carrying baskets of laundry around etc) for another month or so.

leaky I would definitely get help for longer. My view has been that this is big surgery and I don't want to ruin my recovery and land up doing it all again, I stressed this to my DH and mother and friends early on. I'm now 13 days post op and would not be happy to be on my own with my
3yo, my 6yo maybe. Just yesterday my 3yo tripped when she was running through the house and had my mum not been here to scoop her up (I then comforted her) I would have had to compromise my wound by lifting her, which of course I would have done.

My 7 year old fell off a chair in the house when I was about 2 weeks post op, which made me realise we weren't totally safe in each other's sole care at that point.

Hmmmm reading this is making me think I need to slow down a bit. 10 days post op and I have been bouncing around at soft play with my 3 yr old and 15 month old today. OK I had someone else with me to do the lifting, catching and buggy pushing but the saying 'pride comes before a fall' has sprung to mind. Thanks ladies.

Thanks for the reality check. I think I can have mum or the ILs around for about 4 weeks and then if needs be DH will have to take some more time or work from home. Even these last few days I've been noticing all the stuff I do with/for dc that will be out of the question post-op. We've been trying to encourage ds who is nearly 6 to do things independently to help his confidence at school, dd has picked up on it and is keen to try to do things for herself too, so I think I'm going to have a real push on independence in these next couple of weeks.

edwinbear you may get away with it hon but I don't think it's worth the risk this early on. My mum had an abdominal hysterectomy many years ago and she commented yesterday that the recovery for my prolapse surgery should be similar but because you physically can do things you shouldn't there is a danger of overdoing it. Whereas if we had abdominal muscles cut we wouldn't actually be physically able to. So think of it as being as serious - these are your core muscles after all.

Have you got friends or neighbours that could help with the school runs Leaky? I owe a lot of people a lot of favours now, was quite overwhelmed by how helpful people were

A friend has offered to take ds to and from school and dd's preschool is 2 streets away so whoever is home with me; DH, mum, MIL or FIL can take her quite quickly and easily.
I'm freaking out a little bit, with what-ifs; by trying to feel prepared and reading a lot about the procedure and recovery, I've now got lots of bad experiences foremost in my mind. I know that this will improve my quality of if it works out, I just need to stop horriblising.

I have been told that I have a moderate rectocele by a Gyne Dr. At the time I wasnt having really any issues etc but just recently I have. I am due to see Gyne Dr in a couple of weeks and will mention to her my problems.

My question is will they do tests? If so what?

Also how bad do things have to get before they will do anything? I have googled my symptoms but can't see any answers to them.

TIA

Hi Oneproblem - what symptoms are you having?

Have had the problem of not completing a motion and then when wiping I would need to go more which was a pain but manageable, but just recently I have been continuing to have the motion when I have been wiping and unfortunately a few times managed to flick it. Am really embarrassed at this as at the time I wasn't aware that I had been IYKNWIM

Oh dear, I think this thread must be THE place for embarrassing information on MN. Although I have had a rectocele repaired I had a different set of symptoms so I'm not quite sure what they are likely to offer you but I think there have been other posters with similar problems, so hopefully someone will come along with some better info. They tend not to offer surgery unless your problems are having a fairly substantial impact on your life as it is major surgery with a long recovery time, it also depends on your age and whether you have completed your family.

I have completed my family - 3DDs. I am mid 40's. I am not sure its surgery I am after, a few years ago I did have a TVT repair. I just wondered whether this was a "normal" symptom and if so what could I do to help sort it.

leaky I know I've been posting on here a lot since my surgery about pain but I just want to reassure you that from straight after my op I have felt better than I thought I would. I do have some painful moments but I have far more pain free moments. I'm sorry if I've added to your fears. Remember there are many many ladies who have the easiest of recoveries but because of this they are unlikely to need all of us and so do not post. x

oneproblem my NHS hospital sent me for quite a few tests to diagnose the severity of my rectocele (and entrocele). Firstly I had a colonoscopy although I'm not sure why, then I had 2 defecating proctograms, and then I had some biodynamic tests where they put various different electronic probes and ultrasound probes up your bottom! I also had (fingers crossed!) a cystocele and so have had the pleasure of a urodynamics test as well.
I remember when I was given the leaflets on all these tests I wept for a day fearing the indignity and humiliation. However the people who do the tests have to be some of the nicest in the NHS, I was always put at ease and never at anytime did I feel humiliated.

leaky the pain for me, the first 4-5 days was pretty bad, I won't lie. But from day 7 or so onwards I was off the painkillers and relatively mobile. My stitches are still sore to sit on but it hasn't been as bad as I had anticipated. I'm sure it's individual for everyone. One definite plus is the lounging about at home being waited on hand and foot!

oneproblem I had a rectocele and cystocele, I didn't have any tests at all as my only symptom was the physical sensation of things falling out and the bulge sensation. My gynae did a speculum exam, could see the prolapses and operated on that basis.

tr0ubled I can't see any update on your stitches, I may have missed it, but have you spoken to your consultants secretary at all? Have you lost anymore? How are you doing generally?

Leaky - I didn't really have much pain after the first night in hospital, once the packing was out I was OK, it was more discomfort than pain, I was only using ibuprofen and paracetamol at home.

Sorry about yesterday's mini freak-out, you are all very supportive and positive about your experiences. It's helping My DH has a quite severe medical phobia (counselling during both pregnancies so he could attend my mercifully straightforward, not v medical births) so conversation on what is going to happen has been limited. I think that means I've been overthinking stuff. He read the info from the hospital today and changed colour slightly when he saw that I'll have a catheter and morphine driver attached after surgery. I would like him to visit in the first day, but will understand if he'd rather not, until I'm not hooked up to things (he tends to faint - very stressful for everyone). He says he WILL come on day one, especially as all our family live on the other side of the country. We'll see. I've a friend who'll visit if DH can't or if he keels over.

Thank you TrOubled and Edwin. I have an appointment on the 28th March so will talk to Gyne then.

leaky I was in hospital Tues - Thurs and dh didn't visit as he was on childcare duty. I was fine, I'm not sure I would have been up for visitors anyway to be honest and for me, definitely not on day one when I was trying to get on top of the pain and getting over the GA. I had a friend visit on the Weds and whilst it was lovely to see her, I still wasn't quite 'with it' if that's makes sense.

Oneproblem our experiences were so different so I'm not sure how much we've helped! I guess now you can be prepared for for any level of testing. I initially saw a colorectal surgeon as opposed to a UroGynae so maybe that's why I had so many tests.

edwin having discovered that all my stitches are black I decided that I probably hadn't lost a stitch, though still not sure what it was. But all looks 'ok' down there.

I am feeling quite disappointed in how slow my recovery seems to be. Aside from the pain I definitely felt an improvement in the first 10 days but in the last 5-6 days nothing seems to have changed at all, in fact I've gone backwards a bit. It all hurts after about 30 minutes on my feet and the most comfortable place to be is still my bed. I do wonder if this is how I would have been had I not had the hemorrhoidectomy as well as all the prolapse and perenium repairs. It is really quite difficult to tell exactly where my pain is and it just feels at times like I've been kicked in the whole area. I have read online that a hemorrhoidectomy is the most painful surgery you can have, and if that is the case then I feel as though I'm getting away lightly as even though I have pain it's not constant. It's just not much better than a week ago

Hello Leaky. If your DH does visit the first day you just have to tell him which side of the bed to sit, so he won't see the catheter bag ( if you do still have a catheter in ). I was more worried about the catheter than anything else, before the op ( rectocele repair nearly 2 years ago ). In fact is was fine. I was pretty out of anyway, and it was great being able to lie there and drift instead of worrying about the next pee. It was still a huge relief to have it out, but it wasn't the big deal I had dreaded.

Saw my surgeon this morning and he confirmed what I suspected: anterior repair is excellent but I have a brand spanking new cystocele and an being booked for further surgery. Kind of relieved that I wasn't fussing over nothing AND it's going to get sorted out.

*New rectocele. Autocorrect.

Don't you just love it when your phone knows what kind of vaginal prolapse you've already had?

You've made me laugh there Neoprene. Sorry you're facing more surgery but glad the surgeon is on the ball and gong to get you sorted.

Hi Neoprane. I'm so so sorry. I have been thinking of you and really hoping it was just post-operative swelling. . You're only about 4 weeks post surgery? When is your next lot of surgery booked - do you have a date yet? Just a thought, but would it be an idea to wait for maybe 6 months or so to see if anything else gives way? If you have a new rectocele now, then that might suggest that things are generally pretty weak inside and further prolapse may reveal itself as the months go on. Waiting might mean looking at just one larger operation, rather than potentially an additional one further down the line. Not trying to be a downer about things, and if you're like me you probably just want things to be sorted ASAP.
A similar thing happened to me. My second operation involved rectocele repair and perineum rebuild and soon thereafter a new cystocele showed up. We decided to wait until I was fit enough to 'road test' the repairs that had already been done to see if anything else gave out. Low and behold, a new rectocele and a spanking new enterocele developed.
X

Thank you ladies. Card the surgeon said 3 months from now would be a sufficient wait. You're absolutely right though; I don't want to wait.

Whoknows I'm glad I made you smile.

tr0ubled I've had a couple of bits of white, stringy like discharge (nice huh) could it have been that? Also, one of the nurses told me there can be a bit of a dip in recovery after a couple of weeks "when all the bruising comes out", I'm not too sure what she meant by that but I nodded sagely and am waiting for my 2 week dip.

neoprane I am so sorry to hear this, but glad you at least have some answers and a game plan.

edwin thanks hon that could make sense. I've definitely been experiencing new types of pain as well (actually more like mini electric shocks deep within my nether regions) which I had thought might be down to the next stage of healing. Guess I just hoped by now I'd be less bed bound and at least on the sofa within the buzz of my home, but totally taking the weight of my pelvic floor is definitely the best way for me to be and so I'm in bed rather alot.

Anyway I've got to pull myself together because it's my little boys 6th birthday tomorrow. I've organised a small party for him at a local playzone which I'm hoping will work perfectly; they organize all the food and drinks around a party table and the playzone is fab. Plus there's good coffee and sofa seating for the grown ups so I should be ok for a couple of hours.

Hi everyone

I've been pointed here by the lovely WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes who gave me some kind advice on my thread about my broken fanjo and arse

I'm gradually trying to accept that, despite major Dr phobia following a grim birth experience 2.5 yrs ago (10lb OP baby, induction, big ouch, referred for physio afterwards but never went as in denial) I will have to go and get myself looked at but its a scary thought and I'm not sure I can do it just yet.

So yeah. My name is LiftWantedAroundTheWorld, I have a collapsing pelvic floor, external piles on my perineum, floppy lumps of skin from being stitched up crappily after childbirth, and a mystery labial lump The first step is to recognise the problem, right?!

Hi Tr0ubled. Yeah, I get the electric shock thing as well. I think it's the muscles starting to wake up and having little spasms. Hopefully when the stitches start to give way 5-7 weeks after surgery, things won't be as bad. If it does get bad around this time, do give him a call - if there are any loose stitches that are causing problems, he'll take them out. I'm having this done this afternoon!
Hi Liftwanted. . It's grim and scary, but you're right, the first step is to make that first appointment with the GP. You'll get lots of hand holding and support here - you're not alone in this. XX

Good luck today Card. Hope you're more comfortable later.

Welcome Lift! I've surprised myself at how au fait I am discussing my nether regions but then I also feel like I left my dignity at the door of the delivery suite three years ago . I've even considered giving my pelvic floor its own blog. Get yourself looked at. No-one finds it fun and it is so worth it to get it sorted. You wouldn't let your daughter/best friend put up with it, would you?

Tr0ubled it could well be nerves starting to come to life again. Hope the party goes well, I'm sure it will do you the world of good to get out for a bit but hope it's not too painful/tiring for you.

Hi Liftwanted, sounds like it's definitely time to make that appointment. Once you've had it looked at, at least you know what you are dealing with, it doesn't mean you have to go ahead with anything, just that you know what the options are.

cardamom good luck for today.

hello ladies havent posted on here for since the new year but have kept reading all your posts
well after a very long and hard 6 months finally had my 6 month check up after my front and back repair and considering all my problems having to learn to self catherise water infections etc.. i am pleased to say that it has all been worth it everything is back to how it should be and consultant really pleased with everything down below so to all you out there if i can get through this anybody can
i would like to thankyou all for all your kind words and advice when i was feeling at my lowest you all really did help xxx

Nana - that's brilliant news, I remember how awful those first few weeks were for you. Can't believe it's six months already, six months for me next week too. Thank you for coming back and updating us.

Hello Lift - I see you've had lots more advice on your other thread, well done for taking those first steps.

Troubled - IIRC I was still in bed an awful lot for about 4+ weeks, it was just the comfiest place to be.

Nana thank you for giving us some light at the end of the tunnel (so to speak!).

nana lovely to read your post. I followed your recovery from when I joined this thread so it is great to read how well you're doing now. All the best for a happy healed future.

Fab news nana

Can anyone give me some advice, please? I've had a prolapse and am waiting to see a doctor - I want to see the only woman at the practice - is that daft? What can I expect to happen - is there likely to be a long wait for surgery? Are the vaginal rings I've read about any good? Who fits them - and is there likely to be a wait for that too? I'm in a lot of discomfort and feel pretty horrible. things haven't been right since I had my second baby at the age of 41. I'm 49 now and think that being menopausal has made it much worse. I was convinced I had ovarian cancer so was quite relieved when the nurse I saw said it was a 'significant prolapse.' The relief has worn off though and I'm now just horrified! I will look through these threads for more info too - but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by them all at the moment. Love your joke nana about light at the end of the tunnel!

Nowhere hello and welcome. It's up to you whether you request a female doctor or not. My surgeon/consultant is male but it honestly doesn't bother me and a female chaperone/nurse is always present for exams.

From being referred for surgery to having my op, I waited about 4 weeks. However, I went through 3 years of physio (pelvic floor exercises) with a women's health physio (she doesn't need to know I refer to her as the fanny physio away from her office ) before we decided it wasn't working and i got my gp to refer me to a surgeon. However, I did have another baby in that time and you have to wait at least a year after giving birth and have finished your family before you'll be considered for surgery; it sounds as though you don't have that restraint so you should be able to get fixed more quickly.

I never tried anyone the rings as when I saw the ob/gyn about it he booked me in for surgery instead!

Can't remember your other questions and I can't see your post on my phone while I'm writing - will add another post if I've forgotten anything!

Ah yes, the rings can be fitted by your gp but my fanny physio advised me off-record to get referred to a gynae to do it as they're apparently quite tricky to get right so you want someone who does them all the time. She did warn there might be reluctance to refer you because it costs more so you might have to be insistent.

Hello again. Nightmare day where at 12.30 pm a letter arrived telling me that my pre-op appointment was at 9.50 TODAY!! Useful. Phoned hospital to be told by a delightful, monotone "computer says no" type that they would " probably have to cancel my operation". Just what I need to hear after a week of organising childcare and asking relatives from Northumberland to come to stay to help out. I then kicked off spoke to a genuinely helpful lady who managed to get me a cancelled appointment at 15.30. Cue DH rushing home to get back in time for the school run and me dashing to the hospital. Perhaps unsurprisingly, my blood pressure was a touch high at the beginning of the appointment.
Troubled how did your Ds' party go? Both dc have April birthdays and pre arranged parties, although I don't know how much help I'll be for Ds' party on the 14th.
Nana it's nice to hear that you'd doing so well and Neoprene you made me laugh with your light at the end of the tunnel joke too

Glad I've made you laugh, though it's a risky business on this thread, eh?

Leaky what a nightmare indeed! How was the letter so late? Glad you got to speak to someone with a brain an ability to sympathise and help and you still have your op date. Is it next week then?

leaky thanks for asking, the party was a great success. However even though I did very little I was shattered when I got home, couldn't sleep but didn't have the energy to keep my eyes open so just lay on my bed with my eyes shut for ages. Amazing how much energy your body uses to heal so how little is left for anything else.
I can't believe your hospital administration nearly screwed up your operation, you must have been so high on adrenalin trying to get it all sorted. How nerve racking for you but hope it's all resolved.

Hi nowhere. I think you'll find from reading these threads that we all have such different experiences from the point at which our GP refers us. For me I had tests over the course of 18 months in the NHS and was never offered a pessary. I was booked for surgery just before Xmas but they cancelled me on the day. I never heard again from them despite calling the dept several times so I decided to go privately and had my operation (cystocele, rectocele, entrocele, perenium repair and hemorrhoidectomy, and a cystoscopy!)) 3 weeks ago today. However there are others on here who had one consultant appointment and were then booked for surgery.

Can I have a little moan.... my doctor has prescribed a 2week course of new antibiotics as my cystoscopy found a high grade bladder infection however when I looked at the leaflet it says that they react with the pain meds I've been prescribed. I rang my doctor to alert her and check what I should do and was told to stop the pain meds for the next 2 weeks while I'm taking the antibiotics. However I still have quite a lot of pain, especially on my bottom and perinium, plus I started my period yesterday . She didn't seem bothered by this and advised I just stick to paracetamol.
I just feel really down about it as I had finally got my pain pretty much under control but today I am hurting again. Feel really cross that my GP is so dismissive. I blame all the f***ing leaflets that say the total recovery is 6 weeks giving GP's completely un realistic ideas as to how we should be feeling.

Neoprene I got my op date last Thursday when I saw the consultant for the first time. The letter with my pre-op info was posted second class on the 18th for an appointment on the 21st, when I asked why I hadn't had a phone call to confirm the details I was told that if it is less than 3 weeks away then no call is made. WTF?! How many appointments and ops must they have to reschedule?

Hello nowhere as you can see from the paragraph above, I was referred to gynaecologist by my GP in February following 6 months of me pretending my undercarriage hadn't gone TWANG in a Zumba class and 6m of attending continence clinic with lots of old dears, lots of pelvic floor exercises and v.little progress. Because I've also lost 3.5 stone in the last year which seems to have had no positive effect on my cystocele or rectocele and it has definitely had a detrimental effect on my mental well being and my physical relationship with DH, the consultant booked me straight in for surgery. I was surprised at how quickly surgery has one bout after my referral, but know it will be marvellous if it all comes good in the end.

Troubled it sounds like you're having an awful time of it. I hope the pain is not unmanageable. So glad your DS' party went well. I've been stuffing party bags and wrapping prizes today. I'm trying to be uber organised for both parties, so that DH has it all there for him.

Op is 2nd April Neoprene. Knew there was something else I meant to type in last post.

Tr0ubled glad the party went well but so sorry to hear about the antibiotics clashing with your pain meds. Your GP sounds a bit crap to say the least, she has prescribed you something with contraindications to existing medication you are taking? At best, that sounds pretty careless, you must be rally down . I do have one non medical pain suggestion though, have you ever seen these? gel packs They go in the freezer and then you stick them in your knickers, I used them post birth and also post surgery and found them really good.

pain relief suggestion.....not pain suggestion, you have had enough of that to last a lifetime......

Leaky and Troubled I'm so sorry you're having a rough time of it (more so than necessary).

Tr0ubled - that is shit and inexcusable. Who prescribed it? Even if it wasn't your gynae surgeon, he is probably pretty amenable to sorting this out, so I'd give them a call.
Bugger. Got to go. Wanted to write more but we are staying with PIL for 2 weeks, so privacy is tenuous to say the least. And my father has just turned up, so privacy to write about my vagina is now nil . I am really stressed!!!

Cardamom My consultant put in his post op letter to my GP that he would like me to take the antibiotics, and so it was the GP that then wrote the prescription. One of the contradictory painkillers were a private prescription from my consultant, given when I went to see him a couple of weeks ago because of the pain. The prescription for the other painkiller was from my GP. Difficult to know who's to blame really. Anyway a friend of mine is a pharmacist and has kindly researched it all for me in more depth and has reassured me I'm ok to carry on with the Tramadol so I'm doing that.
Sorry to hear you're stressed. Surely you're with your PIL to help alleviate your stresses not add to them?!!

edwinbear thanks for the gel packs link. Not sure I can use them at the moment because of AF but will invest in some for when I stop bleeding. How's your recovery going?

Do be careful ladies. Do not rush into this surgery. I can no longer have sexual intercourse because of painful scar tissue following cytocele and rectocele repair in July 2012. I have since discovered that a survey in Australia in 2010 found 30% women ceased sexual intercourse after this surgery because it was too painful. Painful scarring is mainly associated with rectocele surgery. I was not told of this risk. Some gynaecologists do not recommend this surgery for sexually active women. I was given oestrogen cream to help with the healing but I stopped it after 6 months because of the health risks and now I have another prolapse. This surgery should be a last resort.

Tr0ubled I've had no problem using them when bleeding, both post birth and post surgery (when I also had AF, great timing Mother Nature). There is a disposable, gauze material thing that goes over the actual gel pack and then i just rest mine on top of a pad. It's gets bloody, of course, but you just chuck it away. I'm doing OK thanks, still getting pressure if I'm on my feet for too long, but saw the surgeon on Thursday and he said he was 'very pleased' with his work. I could have kissed him when he asked the nurse for a small size speculum for the examination, haven't needed one of those since before children. I actually felt quite proud of my fanjo for the first time in nearly 4 years

Pamel I'm so sorry to hear about your problems. This is one of the two things my consultant warned me about (the other was the risk of bowel issues). He said that a % of all scars have issues and this is true with this surgery too.

I decided not to have surgery at this time. Right now the risks do not outweight my everyday issues. Don't get me wrong it does already affect my sex life, not just intercourse but now have issues with orgasming (anyone else?) These are serious operations and I for one am so glad of all the experiences and advice shared over these threads.

Hi Pamel. So sorry to hear about your experience. That's dreadful. Problematic scar tissue to that degree of severity seems quite unusual. What has your surgeon said? Did you have the surgery in the UK? (I'm asking this because I know that in other countries polypropylene mesh is used for vaginal repairs and that this can lead to problems.) Has specialist physio been suggested as something that could help (I'm thinking of dilators to soften and stretch the scar tissue)? What were the health risks of the cream that you were concerned about? What did your surgeon say about this?
I'm interested to know about that study you mention. 30% of women reporting no sexual activity at all post-surgery is extremely high and is a figure that I've certainly never heard in all my very lengthy an in-depth conversations with my surgeon. It makes me ask questions not only about the quality of the study, and the questions they asked (including at what point they collected the data) but about the characteristics of the study population. I'm not doubting that you read what you read! But if almost a third of women were unable to have sex ever again following what is actually a quite routine and standard operation (I'm not discounting our individual and collective experiences of the difficulties of recovery - I just mean that it's not an unusual procedure), it just wouldn't be offered to women who were sexually active. And it is. I'd be interested to know who these gynaes are who say not to have the surgery. I know some women here have been told not to have it until they have completed their families, although other surgeons (including mine) are perfectly happy to operate if a woman intends to have more children, so long as she has (usually an early) ELCS.
I think for anyone who is contemplating this kind of surgery it's always good to ask your surgeon tough questions about all the side effects and risks and not just in terms of overall statistics, but his/her rates of side effects and how your own individual presentation, set of symptoms, etc may effect the chances of side effects.
I'm so sorry that you now have another prolapse. That's a not uncommon phenomenon on this thread . What seems to happen is that the second prolapse was there all along, it was just being held back by the tissue that had been fixed and that now it is unsupported, it has a chance to do what it always wanted to do which was to prolapse. I guess you're not going to want to have more surgery. Has there been any talk of a ring pessary for you, or would that be too painful? I'm so sorry .
X

hi, sorry to barge in, but i was just wondering if anyone here has experience of a prolapse during pregnancy?

i'm about 6 weeks pg with #3 & although i was aware something wasn't quite right since dc#2 was born 3 years ago, i only really workd out it was a prolapse 2 weeks ago, just after i realised i was expecting.

i bookes an appointment with a female gp straight away but was told i'd have to wait 2 weeks, so i now have an appt for tomorrow. basically i'm going to have to tell her i'm pregnant in one breath, & that i have a prolapse woth the next. have had 2 low risk pregnancies, inc 1 home birth, so i'm not really used to complications. so pised off because i'd promised myself i'd stay active this time & not gain so much weight. doesn't seem like that'll be possible.

it seems to be the rear vaginal wall protruding if that helps? any advice welcome.

Hi bangOn I had a low grade posterior prolapse (aka rectocele) when pregnant with my second child and saw a gynaecologist about it (and also bad episiotomy scar tissue from DC1) but she decided I was fine to deliver vaginally, which I did without any problems. My eventual problems actually stemmed from the birth of my first child and the terrible episiotomy I received.
But each case is so individual so I definitely recommend you ask to see a gynaecologist. However bear in mind that some prolapses progress very slowly and some very quickly, so I would be inclined to see the gynaecologist further into your pregnancy as 9 months is a long time in the life of a prolapse.

Hi bangon. I had a prolapse after the birth of dc1 and it definitely go worse during pregnancy with dc2 even at that early stage. It's to do with the relaxin your body releases during pregnancy, making tissues a bit looser (clearly not the medical description but I hole ykwim!).

I'm also interested in the study so we can collectively discredit it to find out sample size, geography, whether the subjects never had sex ever again or just nothing a specified period. I am not trivialising anyone's negative experience though and I do appreciate reading good and bad.

I am aware that scar tissue can make the vagina too tight though. My surgeon seems pretty clued up though and said he wouldn't repair a cystocele and rectocele in the same op for that reason (he'd prefer to want for one to heal to see he extent of the scar tissue first) and he's also offered to repair my perineal tear but only after my prolapse surgeries, again so the scar tissue can be assessed first.

Hoping I'm not screwed perhaps a bad choice of word! then as I have had cystocele, entrocele, rectocele and a perenioplasty all done together. Guess it's a waiting game but I doubt this is the first time my surgeon has done these repairs together in his 20 years so I can only hope he has a high success rate in women who go on to be prolapse free and sexually active.

I must admit the really negative talk is quite difficult to take whilst you're in the middle of recovering from the operation. It's hard enough to deal with the day to day frustration of healing without the positive future you're hoping for being stamped on. That's not to say that bad experiences shouldn't be posted and shared, we all need to be prepared, it's just hard to listen to.

Is it too early for ?!

I know what you mean Troubled. Surgeons have different views (mine prefers local anaesthetics for all these ops - no-one else seems to be having this!). I'm assuming you talked through your concerns with your surgeon first and got the info you needed to conclude surgery was best for you. Remember that. Each procedure is different, each case is different. All will be well.

I'm rereading nana's success story and sticking my fingers in my ears for anything else

Her this stupid cough has set my back off and my stomach aches from it.

Hi bangon I suffered my cystocele and rectocele after the birth of dc1, but had a very straightforward pregnancy and delivery with dc2. I was given the OK to have a home birth but opted for a hospital birth because I tested positive for Strep B. I did 90% of my labour in the pool and would have delivered in the water, only I got out to have my waters broken and dd literally fell out 2 mins after that, so I didn't have to time to get back in. Personally I think the absence of a pelvic floor made dd's birth so much easier. I also felt like I healed better from dd's birth and actually found the prolapse marginally better than after ds. So for me, having a prolapse during pregnancy caused no issues at all.

With regard painful sex post surgery, my surgeon did a cystocele and rectocele repair at the same time, he said sex may be uncomfortable at first, but I would soon stretch. I think all our circumstances are so individual that we have to be guided by our own medical professionals who are the experts in our bodies after their examinations, their personal ability and the available surgical techniques.

thanks edwinbear & everyone else, reassuring to hear positive birth experiences. how did you find things like walking as the pregnancy progressed? are there any safe or recommended forms of excercise? i feel pelvic floor excercises are doing bugger all...

Hi all
Just over 7 weeks following rectocele repair and apart from a little soreness at times at the site of the scar, all is well and Consultant was pleased to allow me back to normal activities (except heavy lifting of course). Prior to prolapse issues I loved to exercise, running and strength work being my favourites. I asked my consultant whether I could restart running and he told me to go for it- my concern is this seems to be contradictory advice to that on this and other websites. I don't see my physio for another 5 weeks, but I'm itching to get my trainers on and go for a run. Has anyone else managed to start running again following prolapse surgery with no complications? I don't want to undo the surgeon's handiwork.
Thanks in advance x

Hi slave to two there is so much conflicting advice that it's hard to know. I have read on some sites that it takes up to 6 months for the deep tissue to be fully healed and those internal stitches to dissolve, and on other sites I've read that it's 3 months. Personally I have told myself I'm going to give it 12 weeks before I start any excercise regime (I've been doing pelvic floor excercises since day 1 post op though). As running is such a contributor to prolapse in the first place I would probably hold off for as long as you can.

I'm taking it very easy with running, just gentle stuff for me now (jogging/power walking) with the agreement of the physio, I waited till about 4 months post repair. However I have still got an unrepaired cystocele, which is currently symptomless and I would like it to stay that way. Swimming is what I've been doing as my main exercise. Strength training needs caution too, I do pilates but don't do the stronger core stuff. I'm following Michelle Kenway's guidance, she's a women's health physio who blogs about exercise. A lot of strength work puts strain on the pelvic floor.

Hello, just popping on here to see if anyone has had a tvt obturator op. I'm having one in two weeks and am rather nervous.

I've had sress incontinence since my DD was born 21 months ago, and although it is not terribly bad, it is getting me down.

I am however starting to worry about having the op, and recovery from it.

Sorry to post and run (not actually run, you understand) yesterday, was taking my Mum for a boozy birthday lunch.
Thanks for the replies, I think I'll leave it for a few more weeks. I knew I wasn't going to be able to return to any type of weight-lifting which is why I only asked my consultant about running. I do also have a mild cystocele that he won't touch yet as I had a mini arc sling put in last May. All a bit of a mess down there really! I do hope one day I'll be able to get back to exercising properly without the fear of something falling out.
On the positive side, for those worrying about operations, I had a fairly easy recovery apart from a slight problem when I thought bits of flesh were coming out of the site of the stitches which turned out to be nothing to worry about at all.

BangOn I had no issues with walking at all. In fact as my bump got bigger and lifted out of my pelvis there was less pressure pushing on the prolapse and I was more comfortable than pre pregnancy. With regards exercise, I swam, which I will continue to do post surgery. My consultant also said a cross trainer would be OK.

I am not a runner, but my consultant told me that it would be 6 months before all the tissues had fully repaired and personally, I wouldn't consider any impact exercise before then. I used to do a lot of weight lifting, but I'm resigned to the fact that this is going to be off limits now for life. I think a spinning class would be OK though, once my stitches have dissolved and I'm a bit less sore.

Lemon, quite a lot of people here have had TVT ops ( not me ) but I haven't heard of the obturator bit. What does it mean ?

In the booklet I was given it shows 4 different ways of doing the op. The obturator bit show that the tape stuff is stitched into the edges of the vagina. There is no external part to it.

OK, I'm new to this thread but I'm pretty sure I have a prolapse of some kind

I've just noticed it now after using the toilet, felt a bulge down there and when I had a feel around could feel something just in the entrance of my vagina. I've had a look with a mirror and it looks like my insides are just sitting there . Also, I am able to push it back up (although it just comes straight back down again!), is this normal? I'm not in pain, just discomfort really, feels a little sore and feels full down there.

I've just tried to get an appointment with the Dr but can't get one with a female Dr for another few weeks. This isn't something I need to see a Dr for urgently is it, I'm OK waiting?

So, as this is all new to me, please can you fill me in on what I need to know? I know about doing pelvic floor exercises but have been doing them for years (youngest DC almost 4y) and still have a little bit of stress incontinence at times so I don't think doing more is going to help me . Although, I've heard about a digital pelvic floor exerciser, do you think this may be wirth trying?

Hi all

I have not posted for ages, my son was diagnosed with schizophrenia and it has been awful, anyway thats for another forum, Just an update really, finally had my appointment with the "bum man" and yes its a rectal prolapse and I have to have a ventral rectopexy? Anyone else had this. But before I get booked in for it have to have more tests and I have also been referred back to the gynae as it looks like the front wall has dropped down. For those that remember me, it was a year ago that I first went to the consultant and anterior and posterior repair in Dec 12. But like my bum man said today it was all a waste as I should have had everything done together, as the straining because of the bowel problem has undone everything.

Troubled - you got all sorted at last :-) Hope you are doing well.

Anyway take care all.

Dear tinkxx, you must be wondering when you're going to wake up ! That is a lot of nightmare for one post.
I don't remember exactly what you had wrong , or what the bowel condition is, or what a ventral rectopexy is ( and I'm not googling ! ) but it sounds as if it might be a repair done through the abdomen maybe ?
Best wishes for your son's treatment and for your own. Hope you'll be back here.

Lemon - I had a tvto last September. It's very similar to the tvt (in fact many sites use the term tvt to cover both traditional tvt and the newer tvto). The main difference is that tvt is done by creating a mesh sling supporting the urethra via incisions in the pubic area and one at the urethra, whereas tvto creates the same effect but the pubic incisions are in the creases in the leg instead because the tape is slung side to side rather than up and down iykwim. The benefit of the tvto over the tvt is that is doesn't pass so closely to other organs eg.bladder during insertion so minimises complications due to accidental perforation. l personally hada bad experience and had to have it removed because of nerve damage, but don't let that put you off as the surgeon told me this was exceptionally rare and I was the first patient he'd ever had to remove a tvto from and he does them dayin day out, so I was not the norm.

Flossy - sorry to hear about your recent discovery! It's a bit of a shock isn't it? I doubt things would change in the next couple of weeks, so waiting should be fine if you're ok with that. They normally refer to a specialist physio before any discussions re surgery even if you've been doing them yourself. The physio makes sure you're doing the pelvic floor exercises properly (apparently lots of women think they're doing them but arent doing them properly) and give you special exercises and sometimes equipment to use for a few months to see if it helps.

Tink - I remember you; we must be veterans of this site! My heart goes out to you and I am truly sorry to hear of your issues, both with your son and the prolapse issues. Sounds like you've really been through the mill and I can only imagine the frustration of going through the surgery just to find they should've done it all together. Can't offer any advice, but hugs and hand to hold are always on offer xxxx

As for me...endometrial biopsy results were normal (yeeha!) but consultant wants to do a more thorough biopsy at the same time as the ablation and tvt just to be sure. Am very reassured given the clear ultrasound and biopsy though, so feel like its just a formality now. Just waiting for the date now...gawd isn't the waiting awful lol

I'm 4 weeks post op and I think I may have thrush and just wondered if I can use canesten cream around my healing scars? They're still very raw and for the moment I'm just using sudocream but would like to use something more appropriate.

tinkx so sorry to hear about your current situation.

Troubled I'm not sure about cream. Can you take an oral pill instead?

Welcome Flossy. If you'd prefer a female doctor and can wait then do. What you've said all sounds familiar.

Thanks roseanna and NP.

I'll carry on with the pelvic floor exercised until my appointment.

I just wanted to check, is it normally to feel a bit bloated and have some pain in the stomach, side and back, and to empty your bowels more often? These symptoms all seem to have started yesterday (which is when I discovered the prolapse) so wondering if they are all linked or just a coincidence?

Troubled - I had thrush about 3 weeks post-op, oral canesten sorted me out.

Flossy - definitely ask for a referral to the women's health physio when you see your GP, they will be able to sort you out with optimised PFEs and also give general lifestyl advice to stop it deteriorating. I had mine for several years (front and back) before the back one became troublesome last year.

Tink - Oh no, so sorry to hear about your op failure, also about your DS, I hope you can get everythig sorted this time round.

Roseanna - glad your results were clear, another step on the way to it all being dealt with.

Bit of a post and run from me. No broadband at home so I've not had chance to pop back. We're at the out-laws for the weekend so I'm saying hi and that I'll come back and let you know how things go. Still scheduled for rectocele and cystocele repair on Tuesday all being well. I'm assuming it's normal to lie awake at night worrying about the op, the recovery and everything else in the run -up to it. I'm so tired and stressy.
Hope you all manage to have a nice Easter weekend. Keep your fingers crossed for me on Tuesday.

Yes, I think it is entirely normal Leaky. Good luck, we'll look forward to hearing from you again afterwards.

Just popping back topost on recovery. Anteria and posteria repair and TVT
5 1/2 months and just started to feel really well. Stitches were still comeing away untill a couple of weeks ago. Back to excercising, swimming, weights and treadmill, and feeling somuch better for it after gaining so much weight doing nothing. For those still only a short while post op, have patience I never thought I would feel well again. There are so many negative comments posted because people are worried and want advice, I thought it would be good to post a great outcome.I had a very bad cough that went on for weeks but fingers crossed all seems well. I did become someone who seemed to think about 'my bits'all the time. I went back to my consultant as I was convinced the ops had not worked, had a scan and examination and all is good.
Sorry long post but when I was recovering I could noy find anything that told me it was a sucess
Good luck to all. These ops were done so we can do things not so we cant

leaky thinking of you for Tuesday, you will be just fine. Look forward to hearing from you after.

slinkychick thankyou for your positive post, it was just what I needed. I'm 4 weeks post op (5 procedures in total) and although I am so much better than a couple of weeks ago I still have quite a bit of pain and am nowhere near as mobile as I thought I'd be (FYI Leaky, I'm pretty sure my pain is from my perenium repair and hemorrhoidectomy, not the rectocele or cystocele) It's not helped by my family now saying 'oh I thought you'd be so much better by now', it makes you start to question why you're not. So anyhow it is good to read something positive - even if I've got another 4 months to get there!!

That's good to hear Slinky. I'm fine 6 months post op too and back to exercising (only problem at the moment is tennis elbow and I really can't blame that on the gynae stuff). I've been doing Pilates again for a couple of months and can definitely feel the strength coming back. I can spend hours walking without any dragging, I did a short Easter Fun Run yesterday as well. So hang on in everyone.

Slinky that's awesome. I love you. I'm desperate to get swimming again. I can officially start again this week.

Leaky I have everything crossed for you for Tuesday (except legs ). Let us know when you're on the other side!

Haven't been on for a while, to be honest I was getting a bit fed up of thinking about the whole thing and was trying my best to ignore it! Finally went to see the consultant on thursday, Ended up waiting for 2 hours cos they were running late. She asked me a bunch of questions then examined me. Outcome was my pelvic floor muscles are in great shape for someone with 5 children but she can't see any prolapse!!! What she actually said was that given my symptoms and history she was expecting to see a severe problem. She can't repair what she can't see? How she can't see the lumpy bulge sticking out is beyond me. Told to go away and come back in six months. Was very upset when I got out and no idea what the hell she did in there but was very sore and spotting for a few days after. Thinking about it though she did show me a computer image of a rectocele and talked about it for a bit then said I may have been better off seeing a colorectal surgeon so am a bit puzzled. Have made an appointment to see a different gp and see what she says and find out what the heck is going on. Other thing I was wondering if someone could help me with is I have very low back pain and a pain/achey thing very low down on my left side sort of near my hip? Could this be down to the rectocele? I am still baffled as to how she couldn't see it, I mean I can take hold of the damn thing! Anyway am still a bit upset and down about the whole bloody thing and fed up of everything hurting and still not knowing what the heck is going on

She should have examined you standing up. What a waste of your, and her, time.

Footie I wasn't ever examined standing up but, tmi sorry, I first saw a colorectal surgeon and he put a finger up my bottom and then pushed into my rectocele so it was then very obvious in my vagina. He then sent me for a defecating proctogram and this is what the UroGynae referred to when I eventually saw them. I would push for a colorectal referral charley and then take it from there.

I'm getting really concerned about how tight I am down below. I know there will be a considerable amount of swelling but I can't even get my little finger in . I've been trawling through past posts trying to see if anyone else had the same but can't find any reference to tightness. I'm so scared. Still in quite a bit of pain and am finding it harder to bear whilst feeling so nervous of the eventually outcome to all this surgery and that I may be one of the few that can't ever enjoy sex again

I think that is where I am going to go Troubled. I agree Footle, I too thought it was a total waste of everyones time!
How long are you past surgery Troubled? Could it still be swelling that hasn't gone down yet? I think I remember from reading past posts that a few people were having difficulty even seeing an opening due to swelling!
I am just plain nervous all the time now.I was nervous they were going to say I needed the surgery now I am nervous they are going to fob me off and leave me the way I am lol. Bag of nerves here
On the up side though I finished work at the weekend. Very sad to go and am really going to miss everyone I work with but am relieved to know I won't have to go in and lug big heavy crates around for 6 hours every other night.
Hope someone comes on and puts your mind at ease troubled.

Troubled - the doctor managed to get a small speculum in at 3 wks for a swab and the gynae at 5 wks. Didn't try anything else till 6 weeks, with lots of lubricant. And that was only a small rectocele.

Since you have swelling from all directions, it may require a bit more patience! Don't panic yet

I am still a little sore/require lubricant after 12 weeks.

Charley - What can anyone say! My gynae said that everything was OK but I know there is a bulge high up on the left - just told me to do pelvic floors. Fortunately it does not cause any symptoms. Hope you get to see someone more useful soon.

I am still having constipation issues. I am trying to learn pelvic floor release exercises now, for a change. I think all those years of overcompensating may not have helped.

Charley, I think quite a few people have mentioned pain around hips.

Dahlia, what a good thought, pelvic release. I'm sure all the Kegels (tightening) have a bad effect on some of us , and I haven't gone back to Pilates either.

Troubled, I can tell you my experience of sex after rectocele repair. I was 63 when I had the surgery, nearly two years ago, and the surgeon said he had had to do a pretty tight repair. I haven't gone back about my cystocele so far, because I don't think he would be optimistic about the result. My tissues will have taken longer to heal than a younger woman's.

Anyway, he told me not to try making love for 11 - 12 weeks, and we didn't , but I did bear in mind another consultant saying "don't leave it too long - some older women never go back to it", ie use it or lose it. Sex is very important to OH and me , as much now as 30+ years ago. I need lubrication, like any post-meno woman. KY Jelly stings so we use Yes or Sylk, both fine. I used vaginal dilators for a bit but hated them. I use Vagifem pessaries twice a week and they help.

We make love a couple of times a week. It does hurt at first , every time , no matter how long we spend on warming up, but it does stop hurting once we've got going, as long as we take care about positions. I think it hurts enough that if I didn't want to make love any more , I would be justified in giving it up. But there's no way I would do that. I still love doing it ( yes I do have orgasms ) and I love him , and it's a hell of a lot better than no sex !

Someone 20 years younger would have a better chance of a complete recovery.

It has been quite an effort writing that so I hope it helps someone.

charley I wasn't examined standing up and when I asked my consultant why, he said he does examinations standing up if a patient is experiencing symptoms but he can't see a prolapse when he examines with the patient lying down. In my case the prolapse was so obvious with me lying down he didn't need to. I think an appointment with another GP sounds like a very good idea.

Tr0ubled I think you are very brave poking about down there in the first place! When I had my 2 week follow up the surgeon managed to insert his finger and a small speculum (not at the same time ) and whilst it was sore and felt tight it wasn't too bad. You have had so many procedures though I wouldn't be at all surprised if you weren't still very swollen.

Thanks footie its really reassuring to know.
I'm going to see my consultant in a couple of weeks so will see what he says.

Does anyone know if its too early to start using sweet almond oil at 4 weeks post op? I've heard its really good for scar tissue and I want to make sure I'm doing all I can.

Charley I agree you should get a second opinion and be examined standing up. I'd have good days (nothing to see) and bad (impossible to miss) with mine. Sorry you've been messed about.

Any news from LeakyR? Her op was scheduled for today. Hope all's well.

Leaky hope you're doing ok post op. It's very quiet on here at the moment but I'm always checking in so please post if you need to.

I think I've turned a corner in terms of recovery. I still have pain that is only managed through quite strong painkillers but I'm now on my feet for long sessions without hurting. I'm even managing to cook the kids tea, do the washing up etc.. I'm at my mums at the moment and my littlest is being more demanding of me. In a way this has been good as its made me get my arse in gear but also it's meant I've been doing somethings I shouldn't, i.e lifting her onto the loo, leaning over the bath to wash her etc.. It can be hard with this recovery as your physically able to do more than you should, and especially when you're controlling your pain it's easy to forget.

I'm still vey nervous that I'm too tight but guess I'll have to deal with that later in my recovery. Also still interested to know if anyone has used any oils to help with healing and softening perenium scars? I was thinking of sweet almond oil or wheatgerm oil, but would love some opinions.

Urethra sling

Has anyone had this?

Is there a surgon/hospital I should/n't go with?
How long were you in hospital for?
How long was recovery and what could/n't you do?
What are the side effects?
Has anyone done this and it didn't work/went wrong? What happened and how did they fix the issues (the original one/s and the subsequent one/s)?
When did you have post op sex?

I have little ones and would like to take a beach/swimming holiday, 4 weeks after the operation so was wondering if this was possible and the effects on the family life during the 4 weeks after surgery.

Tr0ubled glad to hear you have turned a corner. I'm doing much the same sort of activities re cooking tea and leaning over the bath, but do you really need to be lifting her onto the loo? Can you get a step? You've come so far it would be awful to ruin it, although I understand exactly where you are coming from. I picked dd up about 2 weeks post up, it was just a reflex as she had tripped, I soon put her down again once I had realised what I'd done. With regards the oils, I'm not familiar with them in terms of aiding recovery, are they the same ones you use if you want to do perineum massage before birth?

ohhhhnooo I haven't had a sling, but an anterior and posterior repair. However, I'm now 4 weeks post surgery and definitely wouldn't be up for a holiday. I'm pottering about at home very well but definitely wouldn't be picking up suitcases, catching little ones around the pool etc. It's a different op of course though, so hopefully someone who has had it will be along with a better idea.

Hello again all,
Well I finally had my op, and am now 9 days post op for posterior repair and merena, they didn't do the anterior as he said it was only small and too close to the bladder muscle to be safe, he hoped that the posterior repair, which was quite big, was going to offer support to the bladder, they also took a polyp from the cervix, he said had probably been caused by the pessary ring.
So its all been a blurr, was asked to pack and go from from the hospital 36hours post op, once I'd done my 3 weeks, cos they were desperate for beds.
The first thing I noticed that once asleep in my own bed, was I didnt have to get up for a wee in the night, bloody marvelous that is :-) I can't remember how long its been since I've had an uninterrupted nights sleep, so I guess the repair has helped the bladder :-)
Then it went downhill for a few days over the weekend as I couldn't poo, was Tuesday before I had a proper poo, so 7 days, those days were agony and I may have well have lived in the bathroom, passing a half a baked bean every half hour, senekot seems to have been the best thing, so anyway tonight I'm going tho try without any laxatives as I seem to need a poo every time I stand for a few mins.
I feel extremely glad that they only did one side, troubled I have no idea how you have managed with so many procedures, and I think you must be really swollen, my hat goes off to you with how well your coping.
I have been very lucky with support, dp has been very attentive and my mum is here now, running around after us, cooking and cleaning, even Ds has been a bit helpful.
Hope everyone is OK, tink, sorry to hear your news.

Wees not weeks

Ohnoo, isn't that what bladderama had on the last procedure, I'm sure if you read back someone has had that in the last 3 months.

Troubled, if it was me, I don't think I'd be using oils until the stitches have come out, I would be too worried that the oils would erode the stitches early iyswim. However, that is only my opinion, and I have no actual experience as to whether it would
:-)

oh nooo I had anteria, posteria and TVT which is the sling that you are having.That healed well with no pain at all where the ends comeout abouve the pubic bone.I had heard terrible things and read of so many side effects so was very worried. I did have twinges for several weeks, and it took a couple of weeks to get back to weeing normally (but no pain,just wierd) but all settled and no leaking now even when I had a bad cough
I know every one is different and I am 57 so probably took longer than others to heal. My other repairs were the hardest I think. My friend had her bladder sling done day surgery and was back to normal about 4 weeks later.Hope this helps. by all means email me

Hi.

Thanks for the replies.

I looked at bladderama's posts and she had quite alot of work and from what I could glisten it wasnt the sling as such.

Slinkychick - I will pm you, thank you.

Embassing bodies is on 4 right now with a prolapse on looks like they will show the poo X-ray thing (sorry can't remember the proper name)

Hi everyone!

I haven't posted for a while although I lurk around occasionally to see how people are getting on. I joined mumsnet after I had my surgery (anterior repair, posterior repair and TVT) in August last year. Like others the reason I found the thread is because I was worried and could only find scare stories in other places. I suppose people with success stories are less likely to find these threads and to post their stories so information is a bit skewed.

Anyhow, I am a success story so I thought I'd let you all know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

In the weeks following surgery I did have a wound infection and recurring urine infections so had 8 lots of antibiotics which left me feeling like crap and constant thrush. I did feel that I would never get better and that having surgery was the worst thing I could have done...... but I think that may be partly down to the 'magic 6 weeks'. I was told by my surgeon (who was a brilliant urogynae specialist) that I would need 6 weeks off work and could resume marital relations after 6 weeks. Rubbish! Where they get this from I'll never know. I was literally counting the days to 6 weeks post op and when I got there I was so disappointed that I didn't feel back to normal and pretty much all of my stitches were still 'in situ' so work and other things were out of the question.

I returned to work after a 9 week break and to be honest should have left it at least a week longer. My employers were very nice and weren't rushing me to return but I thought I would go mad if I didn't. I had a phased return working part time for 2 weeks then full time for 4 days on the third week and 5 days full time thereafter. I have an office job and spend most of my day sitting at a desk. Even though my job was not physically demanding I was exhausted for about the first month back.

After about 12 weeks I felt human again and ready to resume normal relations. A healthy love life was very important to me and the thing I worried about most post surgery. I had read horror stories about people being sewn up too tight and bad pains because of scar tissue, especially with posterior repairs, so was obviously nervous. The good news was that although slightly painful the first few times the pain didn't last long and everything was fine. Now 7 months after surgery I don't have any pain at all and everything feels normal and the same or even better than before. Everybody is different. I think a lot depends on your age (I'm 40) and the skill of your surgeon.

I wouldn't like to go through the surgery again but now feel that it was all worth it. I am completely back to normal. I don't have lumps or bumps and nothing feels like it's hanging out. I don't wet myself anymore (my TVT has been well tested with a persistent cough) and I can poo straight!

Anyway, that's my story and I just wanted to assure you all that things do workout for a lot of people. If anybody has any questions, just ask!

Wishing you all a speedy recovery and a normal life post surgery x

misty thank you so much for posting such a positive story. I'm 4 weeks post anterior and posterior repair and I will be amazed if I'm ready to go back to work at the magic 6 week mark. Feels like my stitches are still very much in situ (and I'm happy for them to remain so for as long as possible), I've also been worried about painful sex so it's great to hear a success story. Thank you.

misty thanks from me too
I'm coming up 5 weeks post op and have been really fearful. As I said in a post a few days ago the recovery will be so much easier to get through if I feel positive about the eventual outcome, but I am so nervous of being too tight, painful etc... Anyway your post is lovely to read - I might take a screen shot of it to refer to on my down days

thrifty I hadn't really thought about the oil dissolving the stitches faster but now you've mentioned it I think I'll hold back a few more weeks. I've just been focusing on making the scar softer - based again on my huge fears of being too tight. And I guess you're right edwin having had so many procedures I'm swollen everywhere! How are you doing btw?

Its lovely to know there is successes out there, thank you for posting misty. This is where mn could do with a like button for posts :-)

Good news from me too. 9 weeks post op for cystocele repair and one year rectocele repair. Started back to work this week half days and had my check up today. Lovely registrar. I said I was feeling really well but needed reassurance that everything is ok as I can feel a slight lump and my uterus seems to be lower. She examined me - no discomfort and talked through exactly which bit was which. She said she knew what I was referring to and it is just where the stitches are still healing and it is scar tissue that will flatten. She said there is absolutely no sign of prolapse and she confirmed it was my uterus I could feel when I had a rummage but reassured me it was ok.

I feel fantastic. Everybody has commented on how well I look. The rectocele surgery did take longer to recover from - the cystocele repair has been a doddle in comparison. I still get those draggy feelings if I've been on my feet a lot but think they will go when fully healed. It will be a while before the worry that something might give fades. Surgery was definitely worth it for me and I was heartened today to meet such a lovely, kind, humourous young doctor who seemed to 'get it' and didn't just fob me off.

Onwards and upwards! Xx

Thanks for the success stories! Really lovely to know.

When did you use tampons again? AF due any day now and I'm nearly 7 weeks post op. Feel fine but nervous after the trauma of them turning around and falling out head-first previously.

I didn't even know that was possible.

Edwinbear, Troubled, Thrifty and Neoprene, you are very welcome. I remember how terrified I was after my surgery. Every lump or bump, or jaggy feeling or pain filled me with horror. I was convinced that something had gone wrong and I would need further surgery. Then once I got over that I worried about being too tight. The swelling took a while to go down so I thought that I was tiny but I got over that too. There was just a distinct lack of success stories out there and I really needed something to give me hope so if I can pass that on to anyone I'm really happy to do so.

Neoprene I had the joy of getting my period 2 days after my surgery so I think from memory that I was either 8 weeks or 12 weeks after surgery before I used tampons again. I didn't use them till I thought my stitches were gone as I didn't want them getting tangled up! The good news is that they now stay in straight and don't just fall out when I go to the toilet like they used to! I have to say that they did feel a bit weird and scratchy when I first used them but that feeling disappeared. Good luck!

Hi all,

I am currently 10 days post surgery for rectocele and cystocele repair, vaginal hysterectomy, and sacrospinous fixation, (where they stitch the top of your vagina to a ligament in your sacrum.)

I had a terrible birth with my son 5 years ago, which resulted in a prolapsed cervix. Following the pregnancy with my daughter, 3 years later, my cervix was visibly protruding by a couple of inches. Emptying my bowels and bladder, (when I was ready for them too!) was difficult, sex was a logistical nightmare, and the discomfort of walking, standing, periods, backache, was reason enough for me to have surgery. I've just turned 37, but thankfully am sure that our lovely family was enough for us all, and that having more children was something I was sure I didn't want.

I was incredibly nervous prior to my op, and was still in tears as they wheeled me down to theatre. I spent some time before hand looking at various sites and reading people's experiences, but this just scared me more. I guess we are most likely to post when things have gone wrong, but it does make for pretty scarey bedtime reading. I'd like to think that there are lots of success stories out there, but I struggled to find one.

Hence, me writing today I guess.

I hope I'm not jinxing anything by posting like this, but already things look, and feel, and are working better than they did before I went in. It was major surgery and I am being very careful to make sure I get the proper recovery I need, as are my two children and my husband, who are amazing me daily, with their ability to get on and try without me, and their kindness. The drugs are pretty good and are undoubtedly making things look a little rosey, but I am excited by being 'repaired' , and the future right now is looking good x x

Mumof2munchkins - what an amazing post. You've clearly had so much to deal with and I 'm sure your account is going to reassure a lot of people. Look after yourself.

mumof2, brilliant positive post! Hope your recovery continues to go smoothly. Rest as much as you can, I am just over 5 weeks post op and have only just started to spend more time dressed than in pj's but still find lying on my bed or sofa the comfiest place to be!

Hello again. I am sorry I haven't been back sooner, our broadband box died and my smartphone is tiny and rubbish and I thought this would be a long one.
Here I am 7 days post rectocele and cystocele repair, the operation went smoothly and the pain in hospital was manageable with regular meds ;in fact on day one I couldn't believe how well I looked or felt. I woke on the second morning feeling worse and promptly threw up after my pack and catheter were removed, then had spells of nausea and very loose BM for the rest of the day (no food).The nurses seemed to think it might be a reaction to the general anaesthetic or the suppository used after surgery. The next day brought the mortification of being encouraged to try some lunch, only to shuffle at speed to the loo after several bites, not manage to get there in time and decorate the corridor, the bathroom, my nightie, slippers and anti embolism stockings with liquid poo. My dressing gown was remarkably unscathed, so I stripped, cleaned up as best I could with just water and paper towels and put that back on. Only to come out of the bathroom to be told by a fellow patient standing watching the nurse cleaning up,
"Your gown isn't fastened properly, my husband is here and I do not want him to see you"
I shuffled, embarrassed and angry out of her view muttering,
"I had no intention of exposing myself to anyone!"
At which point she screeched
"I am not saying that, just telling you to have some dignity".
Well ladies I don't know about anyone else,but for me, dignity is hard to muster when you're in hospital having your faulty vagina mended and you've just pooed all over yourself and the bathroom floor. The tears were there by now but I didn't let the horrible witch see, and had a copious, cleansing weep in the shower instead. The staff were all lovely and one of my favourite nurses simply said when she next came to do my obs,
"The lady in the next bay down, has gone home, which is nice for all of us".
Was put in a side ward after that until I went home on Friday lunchtime, in case I had something infectious, it wasn't and it did settle down overnight.
My medical phobic husband managed 2 visits and didn't faint. I was very pleased to see the dc again, but 3yo dd has been very whingy, clingy and demanding since I got back, I think my disappearing for a few days in this hospital place and then really not being able to do much when I came home has hit her harder than we thought. The ILs are here this week to help and yesterday on the walk to preschool dd asked grandma several times if I would be at home when she came back.
I'm feeling quite bruised and swollen and do get a dragging pain if I stand or walk about for too long, but I'm coping better with this resting thing than I thought I would.
I'm very sorry to talk too much about poo, but would anyone recommend something like fybogel to soften up stools? I have had a bm every day since Saturday, but it's very hard and painful and I'm worried about getting a fissure on top of everything else going on down there. I'm eating lots of fruit and veg and drinking a lot of water, so think I might need some extra help for a couple of days.

Troubled so glad you're feeling like you've turned a corner. I am in awe of how you've managed after so many procedures at once. As everyone else has said there must be a lot of swelling and bruising everywhere.
Misty Wouldrather Thrifty and Mumoftwo thanks for such positive encouraging posts. I have to say I noticed straightaway the improved sleep from not having to get up and wee every time I even slightly stir during the night.
footle thank you for sharing your experience, it's a brave and generous thing to do for us.

mumof2 really glad to hear you are feeling positive and everything is going well so far - long may it continue!

leaky I'm so sorry, but I did chuckle reading your post. The only positive I can make from it is that I suppose at least you didn't have to worry about when that first post surgery poo was going to come. I had quite the opposite problem and felt like I was to explode, but nothing came. And clearly you also looked so fabulous post surgery she felt threatened by you . I was advised to take senna to help as well as lactulose. I got a very good syrup of figs with senna in it from Boots which kept everything soft. I'm also sure your dd will be fine once she realises that you're not going to disappear off again for a few days.

5 weeks post surgery today here - stitches are still sore and I still feel pretty swollen, but other than that I'm pretty good. Had a lovely massage and facial this morning which was a lovely way to spend the morning.

Leaky - I can't believe that woman! What does she think hospitals are for!!!! Glad you are ok.

I got by with fibogel and glycerine suppositories (and the high fibre diet and water) post surgery. A lot of people used movicol, which I have found good later on.

I still have poo problems - ( I was told that the rectocele repair surgery would probably not solve it but one hopes.....) although some aspects have definitely improved and I feel a whole lot less insecure when I go

I now take the fibogel twice daily, take acidophilus capsules, eat porridge with all bran in it for breakfast, drink loads and have wholegrain everything and loads of veg. And ortisan cubes. Still can't get past a 2/3 on the Bristol poo chart http://foodhospital.channel4.com/fibre-challenge/stool-chart/.

I finally got hold of some movicol and had my first type 4 I am now going to try and stay there whilst reducing the movicol.

Pelvic floor relaxation is also useful to know about: http://pelvicphysiotherapy.com/downloads and michelle kenway has useful info. http://www.pelvicexercises.com.au/constipation-and-prolapse/

Bother - will try the links again:

foodhospital.channel4.com/fibre-challenge/stool-chart/

pelvicphysiotherapy.com/downloads

www.pelvicexercises.com.au/constipation-and-prolapse/

Thanks dahlia. Is it wrong that I am fascinated by the poo chart? I have to say I probably am close to a 4 normally with occasional lapses into 3 or 5. Since hospital it's 2-1. MIL brought back some Dulco-ease from the 'nice pharmacist' in Boots, we'll see how I do with that.

I am aware that many posting here have been through or are going through long recoveries but I just want to give some positive news. 8.5 weeks post rectocele repair and just in the last week have started to feel almost fully normal - just slight draggy feeling after long time on my feet. Very pleased to announce that have resumed relations with DH and......better than ever, or at least for a long time. Got my tightness back and DH is delighted, as am I. New lease of life! 6 weeks ago I never would have believed it. Wishing you all well and full recoveries xxx

MrsAnnie thanks for the update. I'm starting to think about intimacy and wondering how it will be - glad to hear your DH has also noticed an improvement!

Edwin - just need to go gently. I was very nervous but found that I could manage fine. A little sore but made up for by more intensive feelings all round : ). Now all systems go. I know it's just one aspect of recovery but def part of the bigger picture.

Leaky - the poo chart is unfortunately very fascinating. I look forward to the day that it becomes irrelevant .... I am sure I have found versions with more explanation of the significance on the different types, and transit time. I did a 'transit test' with sweetcorn. Never saw it again.

Have tried dulcoease with success. I am pleased with the movicol, and it is an opportunity to drink more.

One unexpected positive effect of the rectocele repair is that I can wee straight, and more tidily

Hello!
I'm new to this thread - just introducing myself.

I'm 32 on 1st pregnancy, currently 38 weeks. I had very bad hyperemesis which I don't think helped my pelvic floor at all. Lots of retching and vomiting for weeks on end.
Then just after Christmas I noticed a very uncomfortable bulge in my vagina, had a look in the mirror and was shocked to see a prolapse at the entrance to my vagina!

Got my GP to look at it who referred me to obstetrician.
Obstetrician doctor was not that helpful to be honest. Basically gave no explanation to what exactly it was and how this happened and she just wanted to know how I planned on giving birth, vaginally or c section.

She did not give me the risks of giving birth vaginally with this what she described as ''mild anterior vaginal prolapse' and I said I would like a vaginal delivery if its possible.

She described it as mild but surely a mild one is one you can't visibly see hanging out your lady bits?! And when I left the appointment I had no idea on how it was to be sorted out other than pelvic floor exercises.

My CMW since spoke to the dr who said they can not do anything until I've had the baby, which is fine, but it would have been nice to have been told that.
I am over it now but was initially very shocked and upset at having a vaginal prolapse at my age and having never been pregnant before.
GP tells me it's unusual for first time pregnancy and I'm just unlucky.

Somehow I don't think pelvic floor exercises is going to make it go away. Will I need surgery ?!

Glossy, I think pelvic floor exercises are over-rated as far as prevention or cure for prolapse is concerned. And not easy in late pregnancy. Hope you get to see a more down-to-earth consultant , one who has a proper plan.

Leaky, thank you.Xx. Actually I forgot to say that I am very pleased I had the surgery because if I hadn't, I don't think we would be making love at all by now.

Aghhh am having a sneezing attack, ouch!

Have had a very mixed week; Monday night I had reflexology and Tuesday and Wednesday was in lots of pain. Not sure it was related but the pain definitely felt like a step back. Then last night I had some visceral therapy massage, and he worked on my sacrum which is linked to pelvic floor and was very tight. Today has been almost pain free! However my current sneezes have left me reaching for more painkillers. Such a flipping rollercoaster. The thing is I have no idea which repair it is that gives me pain, I suppose it could just be a different one of the 5 procedures each time!

glossy so sorry you've found yourself with a prolapse at such a young age. Mine started in my early 30's too but only in the last few years did I feel the need to do so something about it, and now at 38 I've had my op (6 weeks ago today) and am currently crossing everything for a successful recovery.

Well, I have just got back from the dr for my fist visit to them regarding the prolapse and have been told I don't actually have a prolapse, just prominent vaginal folds. The treatment recommended is fybogel to loosen my stools, and lose weight. Been told to give the fybogel a month and then go back to see if it's made any difference.

I've come home feeling really upset and I'm actually in tears as I write this (which is just not me, I'm not a crying kind of person!). I just feel that I haven't been given the right diagnosis or treatment. For fear of giving tmi, I open my bowels regularly, my stools are mostly soft although can suffer from constipation sometimes so I'm not sure softening my stools is gonna make that much of a difference. Also, I was put on fybogel as a teenager when my adhesions got misdiagnosed as ibs and the stuff made no difference to my motions then so can't see how this time it will be any different.

I accept I have to lose weight, that was not news to me, I am about 3 stone overweight. This is something I am working on.

I think I am upset at the thought of my vagina being like this for the rest of my life. I'm only 33! It really hurt when she examined me and I've had plenty of smears which don't hurt at all. I've even got the coil and had no pain when having that inserted so getting that much pain just from a simple vaginal examination is not normal. I haven't attempted to have sex since I discovered the bulge but if an examination hurt that much, I can't see sex being pain free. FFS, I'm only 33, I want sex again!

I did try to argue the fact that I have got all the signs and symptoms of a prolapse and that I didn't feel I needed stool softeners but she asked me to try it for a month and then go back. I felt it would be unreasonable to not at least give her plan a go so said yes. So now I am stuck like this for even longer and it just feels rubbish.

Sorry for the long post, really needed a good rant!

Yes - they do seem to like to push the soft stools and pelvic floor exercise bit. It is quite disheartening. I got round it because I'm pretty active (dance) and have strong pelvic floor muscles, and a high fibre diet that wasn't helping. Also, it was repairing historic childbirth damage, that was not done properly at the time.

After the op, I still need the exercise and I am trying to sort out the constipation issues, as this may put the repair in jeopardy and I may end up with another rectocele which is harder to repair, and I don't want to go there!

I wouldn't take it too personally - they are just making sure all the boxes are ticked. Keep a diary of your diet etc and try and get to see a physio to tick that one off too! A physio might be more help in dealing with the lump.

Hopefully, someone will be along with more experience than me soon.

(I keep getting told to eat more fibre and drink more. It seems to cover everything! I don't think I can eat/drink any more than I do!)

I think I still have a rectocele
6 weeks post repair and I've been finding it harder and harder to go to the loo. Today it took me over half an hour to go, so I had a feel and the posterior wall was definitely bulging. I didn't apply any pressure to it as I still have loads of stitches and don't want to cause any damage so I just waited and waited and unfortunately had to strain a lot to eventually go. Feeling really miserable now that possibly this could have failed, and so early on

Dear Troubled, I really hope this is just the healing process taking longer and with more swelling than most of us experienced , because you had such a lot done.
xx

Flossyfloo - I'm sorry- it is a miserable dealing with these conditions and not feeling listened to. My GP said my 'lumps' were very mild and recommended pelvic floor exercises. I did everything he said and then went back and set out a case for a referral in a calm, measured way emphasising what a huge impact it was having on my life and a disaster for my intimate life. Losing weight is difficult but if you even manage to lose a little plus keep the food diary then it will show willing. Plus good idea from Dahlia to get going with the pelvic floor exercises and you can report that too. Good luck.

Troubled. really hope it is just the swelling. I had my check up over a week ago around 9 weeks post op and was told all is well despite me feeling a bit squidgy and a possible lump. I was told it was just the healing scar tissue. It did reassure me. Hope you can 'go' with ease soon.

Thankyou both. I've got a new prescription for Movicol and will go back to taking 2 doses a day and hope that helps. There is definitely a lot of swelling inside however I could feel the familiar rectocele bulge and it actually touched my anterior wall. Once I'd managed to go it no longer touched.
Seeing my consultant on Friday, hopefully he'll reassure me this is all part of the healing process.

Never known it to be so quiet for so long on here. Hope everyone's ok?

Hello Troubled I am so sorry that you have been feeling low. It really does take time to heal especially when you have had a lot done at the same time, be kind to yourself and keep your spirits up. It IS worth all of this when everything is healed but it takes alot longer that we think or are told that it will.

Sorry I have not been around on the thread there is so much going on in RL right now and I am stressed out of my wits tbh.

Recovery wise things are going really well. I had a couple of bladder scans a few weeks ago and am now only retaining about 60ml urine post void in comparison to over 200ml pre surgery. Not quite in the normal range but a huge improvement and I am really pleased, it has also really reduced all of the leaking which is just fantastic.
Still get uncomfortable from the back wall repair at work when sat at my desk for too long but still early days so I am not too worried.

I have also started taking Tranaxemic Acid which works so wonderfully well, wish that I had known about that years ago!

Hope that all others are well and healing and welcome to all of the new ladies. This is quite a journey and one that seems to take us all a very long time to come out of the other side of.
I dont know what I would have done without the support on this thread, thank you all x

Hope that all goes well on Friday when you see your cons Troubled x

Troubled - hope it goes well tomorrow. I still (6 months on) have a ridge where the rectocele was, but I am reassured now that it isn't one (I was not at all convinced at my 8 week checkup). It is the "seam" where the surgery took place. Hope yours turns out to be similar.

Bladder - glad things are going well healthwise, but sorry life is so stressful for you at the moment.

Flossy - hope you are feeling a bit less upset now, that does all sound very distressing. Regarding the weight - I have been about 3 stone overweight for most of my adult life and kept doing half hearted diets but never losing more than a stone. I had a rectocele repair 6 months ago and put on another 9 pounds whilst recovering. Anyway, at the beginning of Jan I decided to make a proper effort to lose the weight to improve the long term prospects for my repair, then I had a gynae physio appt last month and told the physio I was losing weight now and she said that was good but I should have done it before surgery if possible as losing weight alters the layout down below and is not brilliant for the repair. So, with hindsight I would have made a real effort last year while I was on the waiting list. If you do go forward for surgery therefore I would really recommend you try and lose some of the weight beforehand.

Hello everyone, just looking for some advice and somewhere to air my concerns and thought this might be a good place.

Am pretty sure I have a prolapse (womb or uterus I suppose) and maybe even rectocele too after having DS 3 years ago. Thing is Im now pregnant again an am absolutely terrified of another vaginal birth and what it might do to me.

Anyone any experiences of this?

thank you

Gosh it is quiet isn't it? Any news Troubled?
I've been lurking a bit but not posting. Dahlia that Michelle Kenway 'brace and bulge' technique has been a revelation and really helped. Dh is tickled by the 'MmmmOooooo' sounds coming from the bathroom and sometimes shouts 'Baaaa' as he goes past . Pain-wise things seem better every day, but I am so tired! I really haven't been doing a lot just pottering and the occasional short walk but at times I'm so wiped out that I feel nauseous. My mam has been here for 10 days and goes home on Saturday, DH is working from home next week as I really have no idea how I'll manage the DC day-to-day stuff without some help.
My big concern is that now the swelling from the op has gone down I can see and feel a bulge in front of the stitches for my cystocele. I'm terrified it's a new one and feel utterly demoralised, like I'll never feel 'normal' again. Should I contact the hospital or just wait for my post op check? My period is due around now, could that have an impact (she asks in desperation)?

Hi Daisy - I have read of people who have been pregnant with prolapses on this thread and previous threads - hope someone comes along who has experience.

I am logging on to report back that, 3 1/2 months after my rectocele repair, I am starting to get the hang of pooing! The repair in itself did not seem to solve my problem. I have tried to avoid being constipated, but it seems that once it starts, the fibre etc does nothing, as the slow transit time means that all the following contents dry out and contribute to further constipation. After trying diet, fluids, pelvic floor release exercises, etc, I seem to have had a bit of a breakthrough.

The breakthrough came with the use of movicol, to break the cycle of long term constipation, then the fibre, fluid (and kiwi fruit). That, and the confidence to give a little 'push' where needed as a result of the repair being healed, and relaxation in the right places and bingo! I think I've finally got it!!!!! I am now going normally most days for the first time in 21 years and am really, really pleased I do feel that it has all been worth it now.

Goodness, Leaky! We seem to have managed to cross post on a thread that has been quiet for days.

Glad things are going better for you. My children are all a uni, but I have still found it hard to get going. They all came back for Easter, and I was just about ready for them (had op in Jan), although the cleaning etc that had been done was just the basics. Be gentle on yourself.

When do you have the post op check? I have found that I am feeling more normal at the repair site as time goes on. It is a little lumpy, but since I can no longer feel a 'gap' between rectum and vag, I have to trust it is all as it should be. My check was at 4 1/2 weeks when my gynae though I should be up and about and dancing, but in truth, that was when I was just starting to dip my toe in the water and sitting was becoming more achievable!

Leaky, I emailed my surgeon's PA when I thought I had a new prolapse post-op and he got me in two days later (and confired it ). Worth a shot?

Daisy, I had a cystocele after dc1 and then got pregnant with dc2 15 months later. The pregnancy itself made everything a bit looser (all that relaxin) but the birth itself did no further damage. Not everyone is he same if course but I got referred to the obgyn when I got pregnant to explain my worries and she said essentially the damage is done so another vaginal birth won't exacerbate things. Talk to your midwife and see the obgyn if you think it might help.

*confirmed

My procedures were done on NHS and follow up with consultant is not a matter of course; only just realised this having reread all the paperwork from hospital. Apparently my next port of call is back to GP, I'm only 22 days post op - I'm not sure I want my GP poking round in there. I'm going to chance a call to the Women's Healthcare team tomorrow, the worst they can do is refer me back to GP.

Hey everyone, I was here a while back. Can I join again?

Started IS cathetering yesterday at 26+5 weeks pregnant, has anyone else here done this?

Leaky did women's health offer any advice? Sorry you feel your prolapse isn't sorted, I'm the same. I had to cancel last weeks appt but will be seeing my consultant tomorrow. Couldn't come soon enough, the last week has been pretty bad trying to go for a poo and I have been in more pain again. It's not unbearable but it's horrid to feel like you're taking a step backwards.
Dahlia I really feel as though I need to put pressure on too but I'm still quite full of stitches so don't dare, plus I don't want to as this is one of the things I was trying to fix.
Daisy have you asked to be referred to see if you can have a vaginal delivery? I have read on here of women delivering with rectoceles and cystoceles but not a uterine prolapse.

Nice to have a bit more chat on the board again, it's been so quiet!

Hello Schro, I remember you from last year, hope things have improved since then and congratulations on your pregnancy. I haven't done catheterisation, hooefully someone will come along who has.

WhoKnows Sorry I disappeared, I was finding it hard to keep up with the thread.

Things are unfortunately worse and ended up in Maternity the other day in retention, they tried to convince me to take a bag. I wasn't having it.

Was booked for cystoscopy and dilation before I found out I was pregnant again but they can't do it until the baby is born, I definitely have urethral strictures and they are querying the cystocele as they can feel a bulge as well but said "no obvious cystocele" , I can feel a quite obvious rectocele as well

I hope you have been okay?

Into the world of ISC, finding it much easier today after my appointment with the Uro nurse and being taught properly (I had to self teach myself in Maternity Assesment last night), managed to pee on a mirror in front of the nurse though.

The thread was pretty busy around then IIRC, I was on a lot because I was due my surgery in Sept and had a lot of questions. All repaired successfully now, so I tend to just lurk, but it's nice when people come back.

Sorry things aren't so good, I'm not very clued up on the urinary side of things (mine was a rectocele) but it sounds as though you are getting some good support from the Uro nurse.

How did you find the surgery, if you don't mind me asking?

Yeah, support is definitely getting better.

It was OK, all went to plan and there wasn't too much pain, the recovery was pretty smooth too, but I would say it took 3-4 months to be fully fit and active again, the first 6 weeks were pretty trying in terms of childcare, housework etc. I feel much better than I did a year ago (it's a year this week since it all went wrong down below quite suddenly). I've still got a cystocele so need to take care of that, but it doesn't cause me any problems at the moment.

I'm glad you recovered well. Are they going to do anything about the cystocele?

Thanks, they referred me to the gynae physio for advice on how to prevent the cystocele getting worse now it hasn't got the rectocele supporting it (PFEs tailored to my exact needs, general lifestyle advice) and so far so good, it isn't causing any problems at all. The surgeon told me I could self refer back to him if I did develop problems and not have to get another GP referral, which is good news for if it does happen (I suspect it will inevitably at some point).

Hi everyone. I've not been on here for ages, as life got VERY busy! I've been single again for 10 weeks now, and started a new job 6 weeks ago. Life is good, but would be even better, if I could get fixed! I so envy all of you, who are coming out the other side! Anyone know if Mr. Harmston, at Coventry is good? I'm seeing him soon. Fingers crossed!!!

Good to see you, NannaS. I'm glad you have an appt and I hope someone can reassure you about the consultant. There should be some details on the hospital website about how he is rated and what his specialty is. Congrats on your new single status and new job, and I hope you are happy with both of them. I lurk and post here occasionally, and I hope I'll see any updates that you post - I often wonder how you are doing.
all the best.

Just checking back in. 8 weeks post cystocele and rectocele repair on Tuesday. I've been discharged by my consultant after a final check up who said everything looked good. I still have a couple more stitches to dissolve so no sex for another couple of weeks (not that I am in any rush at all to jump back in the saddle), but I'm back at work and have started doing a bit of light exercise in the gym, swimming, the cross trainer and a spinning class this morning. The class wasn't a great idea in hindsight, stitches are still too sore for that. I have to say, I still don't feel 100% healed, probably about 90%, but still have had the dragging sensation just before my period and still a bit sore.

Tr0ubled how did you get on with the consultant on Friday?

Hi edwinbear I got on ok thankyou. I have a cople of stitches still to loose too but otherwise healing well. There's a small tag at the bottom of my perenium scar that if it doesn't go he'll cut off under local in a month.
Still unfortunately have a few BM issues and weeing is very slow. Can get quite a lot of aching after a BM and he thinks my pelvic floor is still spasm'ing therefore not relaxing to let me go. He's referring my for physio to try and retrain the muscles. I hadn't realised quite how bad they were before - he told me after the op that he'd had to put more stitches than ever before in but on Friday he said that my pelvic floor had totally separated. It's no wonder it still hurts as he's brought it together and the muscles aren't used to it yet.

nanna I hope all goes well with your appointment and you finally get a positive plan for surgery.

Hi Troubled. Your gynae seems more use than mine. I found my poo physio very helpful and I am still practicing my pelvic release exercises, although I have good days and bad days for pooing.

A bit sore in the repair today - don't know if it is infection or meno, so have had a swab. Antibiotic cream prescribed is not stocked at the chemist, so I will have to wait until morning . On the plus side, they stock Sylk on the shelf, which is more than the local Boots can manage.

Thanks folks, and Footle, yes I'm happier than I've been for years. It's made a huge difference, not living with someone who treated me as badly as he did. Stress exacerbates health issues, so at least I don't have to cope with that too. Hugs to all!

Hi folks! Not been on for ages, husband left and I am picking up the pieces, gradually shredding 28 years of relationship.
Just to give you all hope with rectocele surgery...18 months on still doing well and pooing straight with the help of all bran every day!
As long as you don't get constipated it appears that the prognosis can be very good!
As for the wee side, not so good. Some of you will remember I had a disastrous TVT and removal. Still struggling with the seroma but hopefully the surgeon will address that quite soon. Uncharted waters with that complication unfortunately. Yesterday I had a bit of a disaster at work. I had to run after a young lad and I don't do running anynmore as my bladder control is not what it used to be, with the inevitable consequences! Quite embarrassing really, but generally I don't have too much of a problem on a day to day basis. Michelle ken way deserves a medal for her pelvic floor research.
Really sad reading about new folk and the uphill battles. Still, this site has been so valuable to so many people over a considerable period of time now.
Take care all of you. Good luck with the surgery and don't do too much,
Love jackie xxx

Hi everyone.
Just wanted to stop by and show my face. Things not fab at the moment. Physically, at 11 weeks post surgery, I seem to be doing OK. But emotionally I'm having a complete and extended meltdown. So, just wanted to say sorry for not being on the thread. Hopefully I'll be back soon when I'm feeling a bit stronger.
Hope everyone is doing OK. Love to all of you.

Hugs all round ((((()))))

Hello again, sorry I disappeared. I had a mini meltdown last week, at first couldn't get through to the hospital, so I avoided making the call again until Monday, mad I know, but I had gotten myself so down about the idea of another prolapse that I think on some level, I didn't want my worst fears confirmed. The woman I spoke to was quite defensive at first
"What makes you think you've got another prolapse, when your surgery was only on the second?" When I told her I could see and feel a bulge and she heard my voice cracking she softened right up, thankfully. She told me that I needed to go to my GP, but if it did look like another prolapse then it would only take 14 days to get a clinic appointment with my consultant.
I managed to get an appointment on Monday with the nice female GP in the practise. Since I felt the bulge last Wednesday I had noticed the discharge on my pad was heavier, greenish and progressively worse smelling as the days went on (OMG the things I find myself typing on this thread). GP examined me and said that there was an obvious infection, that my stitches did not seem to be dissolving at all and when I was pushing as she requested there wasn't the bulging of a prolapse, just a lot of swelling round my stitches probably from the infection and no urine loss when bearing down either. She took a swab and a urine sample and I got my antibiotics yesterday. I'm feeling cautiously optimistic. This morning in the bath some stitches were floating on the water when I got out. Looked like knotted thick cotton, it was greenish but I'm assuming that's because of the infection.
My pain is a lot better, just uncomfortable mainly and i'm having longer and longer spells where I feel almost normal. Managing well with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Dh has worked from home this week which has been a help, but has just dropped the bombshell that he has to go to Athens next Tuesday to Friday for work. The ILs are on holiday and my DM is 150 miles away, so I'll be on my own and relying on friends to help with stuff like school runs etc.
Now for some stupid questions:
When did you all feel able to drive again? My insurers have said I can resume driving whenever I feel able to. I don't think I'm far off that.
Also do any of you do an online grocery shop? Provided I don't order anything huge or heavy for me to get out bags, does the the delivery chap carry it all into the house in bags for you to put away? I've never done t before.
I'm sorry about the essay,I obviously stayed away too long. It's a relief to be able to get it all out. As I said to my friend yesterday " there are probably porn actresses who think about their vaginas less than I do".

Virtual hugs to all who are having a hard/stressful/painful time at the moment too.

Sorry to hear about the infection Leaky (although I suppose it is a lot better than another prolapse....) I have some sort of infection too at nearly 4 months It was all going so nicely..... Of course it could be the dreaded Vag. At. (for those who watched Getting On) but I have to wait for the swab results. I have antbiotic cream with applicator, which is an experience

Can you get enough shopping delivered before OH goes away? I always found that it was best to get everthing well prepared in advance before my OH went away, when my little ones were all toddlers, then just survive until he got back. They usually bring it into the house, but I have only ever had them leave it in the hallway, as they would have to tramp through the sitting room to get to the kitchen.

I was driving after 3-4 weeks (just rectocele repair) although it was only short journeys, and not terribly comfortable (actually, it isn't now due to infection).

Evening all,

Good to hear from some of you who haven't posted for a while, sorry to those who are struggling.

Leaky - my surgeon told me not to drive until 6 weeks (rectocele repair) and the insurance company said I had to stick with that. As I really only use the car for work and shopping that was OK for me. As for shopping I had been using Ocado regularly for about a year when I had my op and post-op I either booked a delivery for when someone else was at home (even if it was only the DCs, mine are 9 and 7 and capable of carrying it) or asked the driver to carry it through to the kitchen, they were fine about that, I have always found Ocado drivers very friendly. You could probably give them a call and ask if they could make a note on your booking if you really needed it guaranteed.

cardamom I have been wondering how you are doing, really sorry that you're having a tough time at the moment and hope that you feel more positive soon.

leaky I'm relieved for you that you haven't got a new prolapse but sorry about having an infection, hope the antibiotics have got on top of it and you're not too uncomfortable.
Regarding driving, my insurance was very different in that they wanted written authority from my consultant that I could drive. As I didn't see him until 8 weeks post op I didn't start driving until then.

Dahlia sorry to hear about your infection too, again I hope the antibiotics work soon and you feel better.

I'm being very rude and place marking, sorry as I think this thread could be really useful for me as I've just been out on the list to have a rectocele repair surgery and a perinuim-somethingorother, I've signed the constant forms but I am incrediably nervous and scared. I need a bladder prolapse repair operation but they can't do both at the same time so I need to wait for the first one to heal.

Thanks for the advice re driving and shopping. I think if at all possible I will continue to let my friend do school runs next week and not go back to driving until I'm a bit more comfortable, hopefully when the infection has cleared up fully.
Hi FourLittleDudes I'm 4 and a bit weeks post cystocele and rectocele repair and this thread has been a lifeline; a great source of advice, encouragement and empathy and a place here you can unashamedly ask questions or describe things that might be too awkward or embarrassing in RL. I was extremely nervous before my op and it's entirely normal to feel that way, it's a big thing and the long slow recovery afterwards can also be pretty daunting, especially if you have young dc.

hello all, I just had a rectocele op 3 days ago and just found your thread, yay!

I'm about to read back.

just had a very bad poo, felt like something popped. a bit of bleeding after, settled down now. been taking laxido and drinking water. does this sound ok?

Hi everyone! I was suggested to check this thread out and I've been reading and reading! So much to read. I'm glad I found this.

I'm 27, mother of 1, born -05. Had a small cystocele after that but it wasn't really bothering me so much. After being constipated for ages I now have a grade 2 cystocele + rectocele. Saw a doctor at gyn some weeks ago and she offered me a ring and a combined operation after I've got my stomach regular again. Going to see the surgeon in a month and hopefully have it done by august. I'm seeing that the aftercare routines most of you get seem different than the ones here (I'm a swede)! Here it's back to work (if no heavy lifting) within 1-2 weeks and they say you're back to normal in a short time. Maybe that's not true though. I commute 2 hours one way for university and start again in beginning of September and need to be able to sit the long drives so I'm hoping having it done early august will be enough.

I'm sorry we are having these troubles but glad still that there's support to be found!

Hi All

I'm going to jump straight in here ....

I had an anterior repair for a bladder and uterus prolapse and a sacrospinus fixation back in December 2012 and I don't think it has worked.

I've had my suspisions from the start that it all felt a bit odd - knowing it would never really feel the same again (but you know how you kind of keep kidding yourself that all is ok when its not). I have started a small exercise regime now that the weather is more clement and been walking DS to and from school (2 miles there and back) and I can only describe 'up there' being sore and (sorry) I can feel a bulge, only this time it is further 'up' than it was before. Before my op I was wearing a ring pessary and without it the bulge was low.

Also prior to surgery I was lucky enough not to have any waterworks problems despite having a bladder prolapse but now I go to the loo and when I stand get a final 'dribble' which is damn annoying especially when in a rush (actually gave in and bought my first pack of Tena 2 days ago!)

I am GUTTED. I had the prolapse for 6 years whilst trying to conceive (unsuccessfully) a second child and got to age 42 and threw in the towel re another baby and decided to go for the op. I actually felt like we were moving on.

The thought of having to go to GP ... see consultant again with the likelihood of having another op is to say the least. Unfortunately where I live there is no 6 week check with consultant so you have the op and away you go ...

Sorry ... I needed to have a moan .... and not usually a drama queen but I could cry

Not been in for a while, but lurking and trying to keep up
Had my tvt and ablation last week, and the surgeon had a good rummage and confirmed that the rectocele is now officially back. Surgery number six now being planned

Kotinka - might be nothing, but perhaps worth a call to the ward if only to put your mind at rest.

Rebels - that recovery time sounds very optimistic to me. I know I wouldn't have been able to manage a long commute that soon after surgery.

Someone'seaten - I know its overwhelming when you've gone through all that and more surgery is looking likely,but it might be helpful to go back and see what they have to say. Even if its not good news, getting your options straight and a clear diagnosis makes me feel a little bit more in control (even tho I am a certified drama queen and cry buckets afterwards lol). Sending you hugs xx

Hi everyone,

Just whizzing by, spotted another thread today which had some useful information and experience about stress incontinence on it so I have mentioned this thread on there and am going to link that one on here.

Stress incontinence thread

Hi rebels. I agree with roseanna that recovery time may well be too optimistic. I was convinced I would be back to work after 2 weeks as I have a desk job and short commute but the reality was that I did not return fully until 6 weeks. I worked from home week 4 and went in for half days week 5 but found that a struggle. What I didn't expect was the tiredness and the dragging feeling that only went when I lay down (sitting only ok for a while). I did not drive until 6 weeks and that felt about right - would not have wanted to earlier. My op was for rectocele only and although you are quite a bit younger than me, I think you may need to allow a little more time. On a positive note - I feel great now, the op really sorted me out - all systems go.

thanks roseanna, I went to docs as the ward wouldn't give me any info.

I'm bleeding a bit more than I should be and can't sit but doing ok.

my scar looks nice and neat though, high hopes of it working!

mrsannie how long ago was your op?

Great news re the scar Kotinka - fingers crossed for you. Take it easy meantime...when I had the rectocele repair I found it easier to lie on my side rather than sitting upright. Tried to convince myself that it was a glamorous 'chaise lounge' look

Posted earlier but lost it.

Rebels - I agree totally with MrsA about recovery time, I had a rectocele repair in Sept and was not driving or working again until 6 weeks, even then it was a gradual build-up to my usual level of activity by about 12 weeks and I'd say it was 4 months till I was really back to normal. I'm in my 40s and have a sedentary job, no lifting or standing for long periods, I would have been off longer in either of those cases.

Evening all, not been on for a while as at 9 weeks post cystocele and rectocele repair things are good. Back at work, although I was only back for 1 week then DD got chickenpox so I had another unscheduled week off, but life is slowly returning to normal. Still get the odd twinge if I'm tired and that dragging sensation before my period, but for the first time in 3.5 years I have days where I forget I ever had a prolapse.

So, last weekend with the help of a bottle glass of wine, and lots of lube, I had sex. It felt tight, and a little sore, but once I relaxed into it, it wasn't unpleasant at all. My question is, for those who have already been there, did any of you bleed afterwards? I had a not insignificant amount of pinky blood and was a bit worried. It stopped after a while but started again after a....ahem....repeat performance. So, do I take this as a sign I'm not quite ready or is this just things being stretched a bit and will soon settle down?

I have not had bleeding (4mths post rectocele repair), but have had swelling and soreness. Also have this post period, with pinkish wet discharge. I thought it was infection (swab says no), or sensitivity to the lube or condoms. The doc thinks it is hormones and has given me some vagifem.
There is something in this, as I was taken off the pill by another gp last September, and this (after 29 years) and perimenopause is probably not helpful!

edwinbear I'm so impressed you had sex!!
I'm 10 weeks post op today and the thought of sex terrifies me! Internally it all feels ok but my perenium is still sore and my old episiotomy scar is now really hard and sore too. Have been feeling quite down about it all over the past couple of weeks tbh.
I also can't poo properly despite still taking Movicol. It all gets backed up and uncomfortable but won't come out. Sorry far tmi! Anyway my consultant thinks my pelvic floor is now too tight so I'm unable to relax and 'let go'. I'm having trigger point massage next week to try and help - just when I thought the indignity was all over!

You will have to tell all about the massage!!

I am all too familiar with the 'wont come out' scenario - it is what I hoped the op would solve, but it didn't (I was told it probably would not )

I am continuing with the 'pelvic floor release' exercises the physio told me about, ( pelvicphysiotherapy.com/release-exercises), though I must admit I find these difficult to make sense of. I have read about pelvic floor dysfunction too. I am sure my recent swelling problems have probably not helped.

The gynae said my problem was probably a 'diverticule' in the rectum, where the wall had become overstretched, like a bubble. I don't know if this mendable by a colorectal surgeon, as I only saw the urogynae. It was worth having the rectocele and perineum repair though, as everything feels much more stable.

Still, I find occasional movicol helps. Thanks to everyone who has given this tip - it is the best laxative I have found. If I had a pound for every professional who has told me that I just need to eat a high fibre breakfast and to drink enough to solve everything, it would be a guaranteed source of income!

I sometimes sit (with feed raised on a box to give optimal position, straightening out the rectum) and wonder why it has to be so difficult.

dahlia, no improvement on poking here either but it's early days for me. it still just gets stuck a bit above"where it needs to be" and I have to use a glycerin suppository to get it to go that extra.

I'm using laxido, is novices better?

thanks everyone on here for being so honest, you're a big help.

aargh poking! I typed pooing but this bloody autocorrect got me!

Hi, Kotinka. It is indeed early days, and it is best to use whatever works for you. I still use the suppositories on occasions, but I think I have piles and they do not help with that Movicol does it for me.

I have oats, all bran and kiwi fruit for breakfast. And plenty whole meal things and vegetables the rest of the time. If I can keep to a 'type 4' or 'type 5' on the Bristol Stool scale, things seem to work properly, with a little push (not strain) to get it going. I have to take movicol about once a week to maintain this though.

Have you checked out the michelle kenaway website?

no I haven't i'll Google it now, thanks.

bit of a worry you might be able to help with if you don't mind?

Im 8 days post op. I just did 10 min tidying, put a wash load on etc. now my whole undercarriage is burning and very worrying pushing down feelings inside me, small amount of bleeding but that hadn't stopped completely anyway. Have I done something wrong?

Kotinka - you still need to be getting as much rest (lying down) as possible at 8 days. You probably haven't done any damage but really do need to lay off the chores for a bit longer if you possibly can, especially anything that involves pushing, pulling or lifting. Hope you start feeling a bit better soon.

Good news for me today, just been back for my follow up with the gynae physio (had first appt 2 months ago, which was 4 months post-rectocele repair). My PF is much stronger now and my cystocele has reduced to the extent that it is not apparent at all when lying down. She says provided I keep up my PFEs and general exercise everything should be OK going forward.

"Going forward" indeed... tell her it's all about going downward.

Good news, whoknows

Kotinka - I second the advice to rest. My physio told me to rest (horizontally) each time I did something and not wait to get tired. I will never forget the desperate need to get horizontal after 20 minutes on the computer, following a shower, 5 days post-op!

thanks dahlia and whoknows, who knew 10 minutes is too much?!! lying in bed with a towel wrapped ice pack on the offending article now.

at footle

Thank you ladies for your feedback on the recovery time. I also wonder, what kind of pain medications have you been on after the operation? Here you get sent home with 2 Tablets x3 per day of paracetamol and some ibuprofen for 3 days. I am thinking it can hurt far more than this. It's also a day operation meaning you go home the same day (if you can pee) here.

I'm going to try to opt for an earlier operation, I know they have some time even if it's summer. I really need to be ok until early september.

Great to hear you are feeling well now WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes!

rebels I went to my gp a few days before the op. told him I was not likely to be given any pain relief to take home and he knows they send you home very quickly where I am. he gave me a weeks supply of tramadol.

I was fine with just paracetamol and ibuprofen after the first night Rebels - I stayed in two night because my surgery was in the afternoon and they wanted to keep the packing (a wodge of bandage that they place in the vagina) in for 24 hours, then I had to pee three times before going home. I was in moderate pain while the packing was in and had one dose of tramadol and one of morphine but once the packing was out it was more discomfort than pain. However from this thread I know that some people do suffer with more pain. Our hospital would have sent medication home if needed, but it would have taken longer to organise (several hours). I stocked up with paracetamol, ibuprofen and laxatives at home beforehand.

I had paracetomol and ibuprofen at home.

In hospital, I had oramorph twice the first night and codeine the second night. I came home with codeine, but did not need it. I did not have the vag pack, so wonder if there was more swelling as a result.

I was on regular paracetamol, ibuprofen and tramadol for about 2 weeks. Whilst I was in hospital I also had morphine top ups when I needed them. They dosed me up on morphine to get me through the car journey back home too. Marvellous stuff it is.

Tr0ubled I just wanted to get it over and done with so to speak, that sounds awful doesn't it? So sorry to hear the poo situation is ongoing, but hope the massage helps. 10 weeks after all the procedures you've had done strikes me as still being relatively early days.

rebels I was in for 4 nights after my op, but as edwinbear said I did have quite a few procedures (cystocele, rectocele, entrocele, perenium rebuild and a hemorrhoidectomy!) all done at the same time. I had paracetamol, Diclofenac and Tramadol to take home and 10 weeks on I now take ibuprofen and paracetamol and occasionally a Tramadol too - I have my period at the moment and even the Tramadol isn't enough to numb the pain.
I really wanted morphine whilst in hospital but they never offered it.

Okay, it seems it differs a bit how much pain you're in. I'm really pain-sensitive, I think my fear comes from that. I live with chronic pain from my tailbone which seems to have made me really sensitive to any pain. I will make sure I get some decent pain medications with me home just in case :-)

Doctors are funny, I'm supposed to get rid of my constipation but no doctors want to stop the medications I'm on (which make it worse) but instead I now have 3 differnet kinds of laxatives at the pharmacy to pick out. I'm taking movicol atm and it's going so-so, I think I need to up the dosage.

I'm sory you're in such pain by the way Tr0ubled! How odd that they did not give you morphine in the hospital.

rebels definitely getting the constipation sorted out helps s lot. have you tried laxido?

Yes I'm on laxido atm. I got inolaxol and laktulos too to take. I will try two bags of laxido first.

innit great being a woman?!!

[Grin] rofl, indeed!

did anyone else get this, ladies?

day 10 after surgery, had a heavy bleed and high temp that lasted roughly 24 hours, fair bit of pain, a bit like cervix opening.

then after that, pain has gone, temp back to normal, more of a watery discharge now than a bleed.

is this normal? thanks.

No - bleeding should gradually stop.

Have you called your doctor's surgery? I would ask for an urgent appt or phone call.

thanks, will do!

Hi, I am new here. I am due to have a bladder and bowel prolapse next Thursday and am feeling very scared! I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old so am also worried about how they are going to cope and how much rest I will get! My husband has got 2 and a half weeks off and after that my mum is going to come and stay for 2 weeks but then I think I will be pretty much on my own! Also I am quite young so it all feels a bit unfair really but am hoping that my age will help with the recovery. I look forward to getting to know you all a bit better over the next few weeks!

I have just read that back - bladder and bowel prolapse repair I meant!

Mi MrsClairet, I just wanted to put your mind at rest a bit, I think with your husband off for a couple of weeks and then help from your mum you'll probably be well supported. But your H will need to do EVERYTHING for the first week at least, preferably both. Might be good if a relative can have the kids for the odd afternoon to give your H a rest.

I think your op has more going on than mine, they didn't end up doing the bladder repair I was expecting, they just did the rectocele (bowel) prolapse. So you might have it tougher than me, but I can give you some idea of what to expect.

I was out of hospital the day after the op. My H had 2 weeks off and I pretty much stayed in bed that time, with little walks about. Sitting was NOT HAPPENING for the first 12 days for me.

I'm now able to sit for short times which makes car journeys more bearable, I can walk and stand for a good length of time, but I'm finding I need a lie down now & again.

The pain hasn't been very bad at all, even straight after the op. I arranged with my GP to have painkillers ready at home. After the packing was taken out (about 20 hrs after the op) I was able to walk around, go to the loo, get washed dressed etc.

My H is going back to work on Monday & I'm feeling ok about it, the only job I'm planning on doing is collecting the kids from school by taxi and preparing a simple meal for them (I'm going to use supermarket stuff to make it easier this week). The rest of the time I'll be resting, ignoring housework & building up strength again by doing little walks.

Just keep an eye on the bleeding when you get home, if it starts to look more than a normal period or is still doing this after a week, see your GP urgently.

The FIRST POO was a bit of a worry for me and I've made that manageable by sticking to a vegetarian diet since the op and taking one sachet a day of Laxido or Movicol. You MUST NOT STRAIN when you do your first poo, I caused myself a bit of a bleed by just doing one average push. Use glycerine suppositories from tesco or asda to get it going rather than your muscles.

If you have any questions, please don't be embarrassed, ask away,

all the best!

Nice summary there, kotinka ! Good luck mrsc.

Hi mrsc, I had the same repair as kotinka as recovery for me was much the same.

Good luck, and do let us know how you get on x

Hi, thank you. I started reading this thread from the beginning but soon realised I wouldn't be able to get through it all by the time of my op! But it has been really useful and given me some information I wouldn't have known otherwise.
kotinka - one question I do have is you said you arranged with the gp to have medication when you got back, do I need to do that? Did the doctor give you laxatives aswell or did the hospital give those to you?

My in laws live quite nearby so they will be able to help out a little bit but my sister in law is due to have a baby on the day of my op!! Hopefully it will be a bit late. It's quite exciting as we don't know whether it's going to be a girl or a boy.

mrsc yes I went to the doc and told him my op was coming up and asked if I could have some pain killers for when I got home, he gave me tramadol and laxido.

see a man, they're more sympathetic (ducks for cover! )

Hi all. I had my appt. with Mr. Harmston, and (despite his comment that he, too, didn't think repair was a solution???) he has agreed to do another urodynamics? test, and will have me in for a day to check me physically under a full anaesthetic. I had my blood tests done, while I was there, and my pre-op check up. I found Coventry so efficient, and they were very pleasant! Hopefully he will be able to find out what is pressing on my SI joint when my rectum fills up! He reckons that it is impossible for my bowel to be doing this?? I can't think what else can be, as it only happens when that area is filling up. Any suggestions?

Hugs and best wishes to all of you out there! XX

nanny I'd be surprised if it's the bowel, what a mystery! hope you get some answers.