Posterior rectocele surgery advise

[Debdoo]

Hi everyone, I’m almost 3 weeks post posterior rectocele surgery and today I started having a darker pink than normal watery discharge! I’ve been leaking really pale liquid ever since surgery, some days more than others but today it’s been a lot heavier and more redder but not bright red and my stomach feels crampy and the stitches sting alittle near the perinium! Is anyone else out there had this procedure can give me any advice? I don’t wanna bother the doctors if i don’t need to as they have enough to deal with in winter and don’t know whether this is normal or if I’ve just over done it abit today or if it’s something more serious? X

[theimportanceofbeinghappy]

I'd maybe want to get it checked out in case there's a wee infection starting.

You're never bothering a doctor if you're concerned about your own health - particularly after surgery.

I hope the rest of your recovery goes smoothly

[Debdoo]

Thanks- I had a smelly discharge last week so was prescribed amoxicillin so I shouldn’t have an infection as nearly at end of my weeks treatment! just so hard to know whether or not I’m doing too much as I feel able to do stuff, I can’t lift as not allowed to but I feel generally well in myself and started driving again this week! But I’ve 3 kids and obviously life doesn’t stop when your a mum, so just wondered if anyone out there had had this surgery and could share their experience! I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how well and how little pain I’ve been in since the surgery! But today’s just made me anxious! X

[Bluetrews25]

Is it a period? Or have you had hysterectomy also?
Unless it is period, you shouldn't be losing like this at this stage, I wouldn't have thought. Surgery can disrupt your cycle.
Maybe scale down the activities a bit, and definitely stick to your weight-lifting limits - or your prolapse will recur. There are no warning shots for this.
Can you phone the ward for advice? There should be someone in who can advise generally if not knowing you specifically.
(Used to work in gynae)
Hope it settles.

[Debdoo]

Hi thanks for responding! It shouldn’t be a period no as if started my period 2 days before the surgery and not due on til xmas day according to my Ovia app! However I can’t tell as I can’t, I’m normally very heavy and this isn’t, nor is it bright red! It’s pinkish, but a lot darker and heavier than it has been! Problem is I feel relatively normal now... or at least til today! Not had any pain for a week, I had a smelly discharge last week and although doctor didn’t examine me, she prescribed me antibiotics incase it was an infection! So I’ve been taking them, but woke this morning and mom I sat on edge of bed it felt sore around perinium and I thought maybe the stitches were dissolving and was abit sore or something and then I walked kids to school which is only a 10 min walk as I’ve no other choice and I sat down with ice between my legs when I got back as felt pressure feeling and then i walked the dogs as again I’ve not much choice as their border collies and sat down all afternoon until I went to collect the kids from school! It was mid afternoon when I went to loo and realised I was bleeding a lot more than normal! So this evening before I posted my thread I tried having a look in the mirror with my phone torch and although I can se the bloody water coming out I can’t actually visibly see anything else! My stomach feels bloated and Achy and I had a wierd stitch feeling this morning in my leg groin walking back from school! My stomach feels abit like when you’ve done too many sit ups and your abs ache! That’s only way I can describe it! But I don’t know as well if I could be alittle constipated as I’m trying to wean off the stool softeners as I can’t go unless I take them and hospital only told me to use them for a few days after surgery! My hubby works in London a lot, however he finishes for xmas this week so next week I won’t be doing anything as he’ll be here to do it all! But at present I don’t have any choice...I’m a mother! X

[Ohyesiam]

Contact the ward. X

[sadie9]

I had an anterior repair. I had heard that around the 3/4 weeks mark was the worst as the stitches were healing and kind of 'pulling' in so causing those aches and pains.
I'd say you could do without walking the dogs for another couple of weeks. I am hoping the dogs aren't on leads that you sometimes have to pull on because that wouldn't be good.
Just because you don't feel pain doesn't mean you don't have to absolutely mind yourself this first 6 weeks. Set off earlier with the kids so you can walk really slowly.
I went for a short walk the 2nd week and got some spotting. I rang the ward and it said it sounded okay. But I did retreat to the sofa again and stayed there.
My stomach did feel bloated and achy for a good bit afterwards. I could not bend down properly for ages (months probably) and had to wear loose things around my middle as it was uncomfortable. It was like an invisible pregnant belly.
I also felt the pressure down there for ages and kept thinking the prolapse was back. This happened on and off for months and months, but actually it all settled down very well and that feeling went away.
Do the barest minimum you have to for the 6 weeks...really you need those stitches to not be disturbed.

[Debdoo]

Just changed pad before bed and it’s really Redrow and increased and I’ve still cramping in lower abdomen! Just wonder whether blewtrews25 could be right and period come early as cramping feels similar but I’ve no way of knowing have I? X

[Debdoo]

Red not Redrow lol x

[Fauxgina]

Sounds like it could be an infection and I'd call the ward. I had a posterior repair and don't remember any bleeding from behind (I did also have other repairs.)

I got a nasty infection 3 weeks but it did presented itself differently (pain mainly). Either way it's a quick phonecall to say "Is this normal?!" And ask them what to do

[Bluetrews25]

Is it period-like cramping?
If you had infection you'd feel generally unwell - hot/cold, shivery etc, and there would be infection markers showing on a blood test (not that you can check this at home!) - if this should happen seek help asap.
Try do do little lifting, keep walking if you need to (obviously you do!) If you continue to bleed irrespective of activity, it would make me think it's period.
Phone ward for advice, they may suggest you pop to GP, come to ward for visit, or go to out-patients - all they need to do is peek inside and see if bleeding coming from cervix = period, or repaired area = problem. Or they might be quite confident it's just period.
I'm hoping that it's 'just' your period! (fairly likely)

[Debdoo]

Thanks for the advice, the bleeding stopped and wasn’t my period as that came a week later! I rang the ward and they said they weren’t concerned unless it was clots that were cooking away! I took it easier for couple of days and it eased off xxx