Just had prolapse repair op on NHS 5 days ago ama

[Ithasteeth]

Just had op for enterocele/rectocele posterior prolapse ask me anything

Do they do the operation by going ‘up’ or is there some key hole involved?

The test is to test the strength of your bladder. They fill it for you and then the idea is to make you leak. It's awful, truly awful. This was all on the NHS. I was 35 when I had the test, 35 referred for surgery. The nurse who did my first post baby smear did comment on me having a prolapse, but it was literally the week before covid shut the world down so nothing came of it, I was booked in to see whoever it was at the practice who specialised in gynae issues but all got cancelled/forgotten about and I assumed most of my problems were down to not having long given birth.

Sorry, 36 when referred. I say the test is awful as it's just not pleasant. I didn't find it painful but just uncomfortable and after I had cystitis like symptoms which wasn't pleasant.

@CallingElfRescue have you had an op or still waiting?

Still waiting. They said 9 months to a year and been about 10 months.

Can I ask what area your in? I’m anxious because I’ve heard people have been waiting years. I’ve read 18 weeks on the website you should get treatment but I’m assuming this is now wrong. What was it that made them agree to surgery? Did u have to do physio?

@CallingElfRescue if you can dm me I will be so grateful

@CallingElfRescue, is it a colposuspension?
It sounds like it might be.
The urodynamics isn't a pleasant test. I suspect it brought on the symptoms that bother you, which is why you found it really unpleasant. It's not a pleasant test either way.
I've had one too, but for the opposite symptoms to you, and found out I have nerve damage in my bladder, to the point where the urodynamics technician (no idea of the technical name) wouldn't fill my bladder any more. (I'd had previous urine retention, eventually having over two litres drained from my bladder.)
For full disclosure, I had operations for uterine prolapse, rectocele, cystocele and a perineal floor repair about ten and a half years ago over two surgeries. I have a urethocele which was deemed inoperable (but still gives me problems even now).
My rectocele has recurred, but I now have issues with pelvic floor dysfunction so the way forward for me is unclear. This time round I don't get pain as such, but I do get feelings of bulging and burning so I really want to get it fixed and will ask for an implant if I can get one (not mesh of course) as I really don't want to live with the symptoms I have for the rest of my life.

Ah, yes, culposuspension!

Messaged you!

@Bridget944, the 18 weeks is to first treatment, which is likely to be physiotherapy (if you even get that by 18 weeks). If your symptoms are severe, you might go straight to the surgical route, but that would be unusual.
I have no clue as to waiting times these days as I'm not even in a waiting list for surgery currently, sorry.

There are all different ways of doing the op depending on what type of prolapse what doctor you see and where you are in the world. They cut through wall of vagina to put things back in place and strengthen pelvic floor, they can also go through rectum or keyhole surgery. If you Google you will find all the info

The best thing you can do is see your gp they can tell when they look then they can refer you. There is probably a wait for an appointment as NHS is in a mess but at least you will get one, they can diagnose by looking and will tell you there and then what can be done ask for physio if you have what you think they will refer you they may offer a pessary (mine didn't) see if all those things work if not go on list for op, I jumped queue by agreeing to say stay and taking out catheter if u refused and wanted normal service with nurse removing it I would still be waiting I waited so long because of covid and refusing not the NHS taking so long it depends on area how long list is. My NHS gynaeconsultant surgeon is also the lead of local private hospital so if you have money u can get it all done quicker but it's a drastic thing and if your kids are young you may just need to do exercises and they will work make the appointment get the ball rolling.

Hi everybody. I just posted on mumsnet the first time today but have been reading all these rectocele posts for almost a year now. Not sure where I was supposed to post my own thread so I did the women’s health section? I’m due to go back to work in 3 months and no idea how I will manage as my life is now overtaken by sensations in my bowel and everything else that goes along with having prolapses. I actually can’t do the toilet at all since giving birth and nobody seems to be taking this seriously. Splinting doesn’t even really seem to help. Has anyone had any success with a cube pessary for rectocele? And has anyone had success with the electronic pelvic floor toners? The nhs physio told me not to get one as she says I’m doing exercise correctly. But for me I can hardly even feel like I’m doing them. Hardly any squeeze. The physio and gynae have both been useless when I asked if I have levator avulsion, I got the impression that neither physios even really knew what it was. I asked the gynae if I could have an ultrasound to check and she said pointless as no treatment anyway? But feel like I’m wasting time doing exercises if I don’t even have the muscle that needs exercised? And surely that would affect surgical options/outcome? And fitting in exercises with the toilet regime and baby etc is ridiculous if it’s not even doing anything. I’m actually shocked that any of this goes on. I did my medical training in uk medical schools and have never even heard of a rectocele until I had one, it’s absolutely appalling. Im interested to hear about surgical outcomes but I feel too scared to have an op. All I keep thinking is why did nobody take me seriously when I said I think I should consider a csection? And now the operations I will need are horrific in comparison and might not even help. What I can’t find out is how bad were peoples bowel symptoms before they had the op? Was it more the bulge they were wanting rid of, or was it the bowel symptoms? I actually don’t have much of a bulge unless there is a stool there, but my posterior vaginal wall is very loose and saggy and the whole vaginal entrance is very low. But what I constantly feel is like my rectum lying heavily on my inside of my anus. I just wonder about these specific symptoms post op if they improve or is it just bulges that get taken away? And how on earth do you find a surgeon who has a lot of experience doing these with good outcomes? I work for NHS myself but absolutely no idea about private healthcare and feel this is a route I may end up taking unfortunately.

@Ithasteeth thankyou for the message. I’m in nhs wait list to see a gyno and a physio though I don’t see how physio could help past this stage! I’ve also booked in for a consultation with a private gyno while I wait! I don’t have money for the op but good to know if an op will be an option for me so happy to pay for a consultation! Have you had you op?

@Mistyskypercy hello you are not alone. Can I ask how old you are? Have you got children? I’m in the same position it’s so stressful and draining. I have bowel issues and looseness/buldge and a very low cervix currently waiting for nhs! But also trying to look into private options!

I’m 37 and got an 11 month old, my full back story I posted on a thread “rectocele and perineal descent” in the women’s health section a few days ago if you want to see it. I actually can’t have a bowel motion at all now and even passing wind is difficult. All my symptoms are getting much much worse and having a very hard time moving forward and getting appropriate help. Sorry you’re going through this as well x

@Mistyskypercy im only 28 I worry if I don’t get help I’ll be in a even worst position with age :( . I find it hard to pass a bowel motion. Try sitting in the toilet with a stool like to lift your feet so your more in a squatting position this sometimes helps me! Did you have a bad birth? Hope you find the answers you need! No one talks about these issues but many woman seem to have them. It’s really rueined my self esteem x

It’s very upsetting isn’t it. My birth was ok, if it wasn’t for the problems I’m having now I wouldn’t worry about having another vaginal birth in terms of pain or complications, it was quite quick and told I just had a small 1st degree tear and small grazes, my baby was really small, but so am I. And the midwife didn’t guide me to gently push when he was crowning she kept instructing me to push full force. I honestly think my age, my small size, and the management of the actual delivery all contributed to the state I have been left in, and it just upsets me that I was not given the opportunity to discuss these risks vs caesarean with a consultant as I requested many times. I keep thinking about it, but nothing I can do about it now, but it’s difficult not thinking about it when you are going through these symptoms and the impact they have on your life everyday x