To ask about your experiences of birth injuries being repaired *TMI alert*

[Happyhappyveggie]

Posting here for traffic but would really appreciate any advice/ experiences you have.
I have recently been diagnosed with a rectocele (prolapse between back passage and front passage) and a mild fistula. It turns out that after having my DD who is now 5 I tore but it was never picked up 🙄 Have been having horrible symptoms for 5 years.
They have recommended repair surgery for the fistula/ rectocele but wondered if anyone has had it done successfully?
Is it likely to get worse if not treated?
I can’t be sure but I think the rectocele is worse since first having the symptoms but it’s hard to know as only just been diagnosed. The rectocele seems to have made the fistula worse & now I get a bit of incontinence.

Aibu to ask for your experiences? I’m so embarrassed by it all, esp the fistula and gutted it’s taken 5 years to be picked up properly.

Sorry for the TMI too

No advice but you have my sympathy x

I had both rectocele and cystocele surgery - not particularly symptomatic for the second, but it was severe clinically. The results have been less good than I hoped but I am older than you ( my problems developed with the menopause, which is not unusual). I also did not have a fistula and that is something that would definitely need attention. It is not a fast recovery i.e. you have to be really careful about lifting or doing too much for weeks after but the post op pain isn't too bad after a few days. I found lots of help on the patient.info site n the genitourinary forum from lots of others who have had variations of these procedures.

My situation is a bit different because it was picked up pretty quickly. Just let me say straight up I am all fixed now after a fistula! Apologies for TMI but might help you feel more confident discussing things.

After I gave birth to DS doc sent me home with “3rd degree tear” even though I have reason to believe she knew it was worse than that.

Anyway, first day after DS was born there was wind out the front passage. I was feeling pretty vulnerable and drugged up and should have said something then but didn’t. Sounds stupid now but I read all the info they gave me about what to look out for and that wasn’t there so I just went home when told to.

Dr had me on laxatives which in hindsight seems incredibly stupid just for a 3rd degree tear. So I was home 1 night and then diarrhoea out the front passage. Sorry if TMI.

I was beside myself. Ridiculously I felt ashamed to tell DP (who would have been 100% understanding and supportive) so I called the hospital and they said to come in immediately. Went that night, ob had a look and called colorectal surgeon. She put me under for exploratory surgery with a plan to implant some sort of device that would restore correct function and allow me to heal. She took a look and next morning came to tell me thanks to the diarrhoea it was much worse than she thought it would be. Colostomy bag for 4 months. I was devastated.

So surgery happened that day and there I was with a brand new baby, sleep deprived, learning to breastfeed, already emotional and now having to learn how to change a colostomy bag. The nurse commented that I was incredibly calm but by that time I think i’d gone a bit numb.

I had the bag for 4 months, then surgeon went on holiday. I had to have it 2 more months, then finally I had surgery to remove it.

I’m eternally happy to say my amazing surgeon fixed me. No more issues from the fistula at all - good as new. She said sex might be painful but it’s totally fine. I have a small scar where the bag was but it’s barely noticeable given the stretch marks and c-section that came with subsequent twins birth.

I was told never to do vaginal birth again and that they sometimes come back. Mine hasn’t and I think of that surgeon every day and how thankful I am to her.

I’m really sorry you’re going through this. If you ever want to chat feel free to PM me. Surgeons are amazing these days. They will fix it and you will be fine.

Hey

I sure if I am jumping on a thread that isn't active. Have been spying g for ages since my last DD who is now 1. I know I have a rectocele and want a repair, would like to go private and would love to hear any experiences of

1. The surgery itself
2. Private Vs NHS treatment
3. Any surgeon recommendations
4. The sex bit after ward (blush blush!!)

Thanks for taking the time to read

I'd also like to know what happens awhen you go to the GP. They'll want to examine you, right. Then is it a referral to someone (who?) or physio or what? In my case I don't think physio could do anything and I had a horrible experience with a physio when I had SPD so I really wouldn't want to repeat that.

Well I gather a lot of gps just think prolapse "cones other the territory" of child birth. Mine said she can't see one. But I can feel it. Hence why I want to go for a private consultation with a specialist who, hopefully, sees varying prolapses all the time!