To ask for successful prolapse repair surgery stories? Really struggling.

[Inghean2]

I'm 35 and have been diagnosed with a large rectocele and also uterine descent.

Exhausted physio and pessaries and now I've been given a date for surgery soon.

When I look it up, all I seem to find are cases where other prolapses appear after, or where surgery only lasts at most a few years then the repair fails and it comes back

I'm in so much discomfort, and have such issues with bowels because of it, sex is a big problem. My quality of life is bad and looking up the stats and surgery stories is getting me down so much.

Sorry for the AIBU traffic-posting, I am just so scared and could really do with hearing some success stories where repairs (non mesh) lasted more than a few years.

Can't help but think if men had these issues there would be a cure by now..

[Bridget944]

@edwinbear Thankyou for taking time to speak with me. Your right the not knowing is the worst! But I am pretty sure I’m right! I have been refered to a gyno because of a low cervix but because of covid wait times are so long! Been nearly 3 months since my GP referral and still haven’t had an appointment through. I want another baby definitely but I can’t keep living with these symptoms for years and not in a place where I can have another child right now. Some people seem to say it’s ok if you have a c section but defo mixed reviews

[Bridget944]

@Monkeytrousers04 yes please anything is worth a try! I am not on Facebook though

[HotCoffee22]

@Bridget944

@HotCoffee22 have you been offered any surgery for your prolapse ? What are your symptoms. Sending hugs

No - I bypassed the GP and went straight to a physio. I’ve been examined by a consultant at a 6 week check (because I had a tear) and she didn’t notice it, plus a doctor who said they didn’t feel it. But two Physio’s have said it’s a moderate uterine prolapse that’s pulling my bladder down.

I get on really well with a ring pessary so surgery isn’t necessary for me at the moment.

My symptoms were the bulging feeling, feeling an urgency to poo when it came on, a stabbing pain in my bottom, tummy and backache. It all came on when I started running again after DC1. Urinary incontinence - I would stop running and just wet myself and wet myself as I ran. I was doing half marathons and starting to really suffer. I haven’t got up to that distance again which is really sad for me as it’s my thing and not being able to has made me feel quite depressed!

[Fenneloup]

I'm due to have colpocleisis next year. It has a very high success rate. However it basically involves stitching up the vagina so no good if a woman plans to have penetrative sex again, and obviously rules out future childbirth!

[TMC32]

@Monkeytrousers04 also interested to try the online program you mentioned??

[TheProvincialLady]

I had rectocele and enterocele repair and perineal repair 5 years or so ago. In hospital for 5 nights and mostly in bed for 3-4 weeks afterwards. It was quite painful (but I had an infection which made it worse and delayed recovery).

It has been life changing and I would do it all again without hesitation. Like you I struggled with pooing, which was painful and so unhealthy. I have been much healthier ever since and although I avoid high impact exercise and can’t ride a bike, I do lift weights carefully and have built up my core strength. I use oestrogen pessaries now I’m peri menopausal but otherwise it all works very well in there! And the repair has held.

I paid to go private which was about £3.5k at the time and worth every penny.

[Bridget944]

@HotCoffee22 thats awful! Can I ask how old you are ? I’ve heard pessarys are no good for the young? I’m only 28. Can I ask sorry if it’s personal what’s a moderate uterine prolapse? My cervix is about 3 calm in so close to the opening , does this sound the same ?

[Bridget944]

@TheProvincialLady so happy your happy! Can I ask your age? I want an op but I’m young and want another baby in the future but I really can’t carry on living with him this! It’s strange because my birth was straight forward apart from a few stitches but was a fast birth I must have just had a weak pelvic floor :( has sex improved ? Wow 3.5k when looking online it’s starting from 6k but I will look into payment plans

[HotCoffee22]

@Bridget944

@HotCoffee22 thats awful! Can I ask how old you are ? I’ve heard pessarys are no good for the young? I’m only 28. Can I ask sorry if it’s personal what’s a moderate uterine prolapse? My cervix is about 3 calm in so close to the opening , does this sound the same ?

I was 28 and only 32 now.

[HotCoffee22]

@HotCoffee22

I was 28 and only 32 now.

And sorry in respect of your second question, my cervix is halfway down basically. So its as far out as it is in. TMI but I have a small vagina which complicates things a little so it doesn’t have to travel far to be all the way out!

[Bridget944]

Did you get a pessary through gp or physio? I feel I need something ! Do you have to take it out for sex? I don’t have bladder issues more bowl so wonder if it helps for that

[HotCoffee22]

@Bridget944

Did you get a pessary through gp or physio? I feel I need something ! Do you have to take it out for sex? I don’t have bladder issues more bowl so wonder if it helps for that

A woman’s health physio. There’s lots of different types and some do need to be removed after activity and only worn for short periods. Mine is a very basic ring pessary. I leave it in all the time and only take it out every 6m to change for a new one. I’ve only had to take it out once in between this cycle for a smear test.

[mauvish]

Ring pessaries can work very well for anterior vaginal wall prolapses (cystocoeles). They don't really work for posterior wall prolapses (rectocoeles/enterocoeles). They are fitted by a health care professional, as they come in a wide range of sizes and need to be fitted to the individual. In this country the ethos is then to leave them in place and have them changed every few months; in other countries, women are taught to take them out and put them back in themselves.

They are basically a semirigid plastic ring that sits in your vagina and holds the front wall up. They don't have to be taken out for sex but I've no idea how troublesome their presence during sex would feel for a man!

Pelvic floor exercises are never a bad thing and are best taught (IMO) by a specialist physio. But they tend not to be very helpful in rectoceole/entercoele because the problem there is not really with the pelvic floor.

Losing weight (if you're carrying too much) is ALWAYS a good idea - too much belly weight will simply put pressure on your internal organs and push them downwards and if your pelvic floor is weak or damaged, there's your prolapse. And don't let yourself get constipated; if your bowels are overfull then again they can press on the pelvic floor, and straining on the loo also causes damage.

It's highly unlikely that surgery would be carried out if someone plans to have more children; as someone else said upthread, pregnancy itself causes issues, not just the delivery. But maybe other options like these will help with your symptoms, OP.

[HotCoffee22]

They are basically a semirigid plastic ring that sits in your vagina and holds the front wall up. They don't have to be taken out for sex but I've no idea how troublesome their presence during sex would feel for a man!

All I can say is my DH has asked if it’s there after intercourse - when it’s been in situ the whole time! So I don’t think he finds it problematic. I’m not what what happens to it? I can’t feel it during sex.

[HotCoffee22]

I also get a new one through the post and change it myself. I can and do take it in and out myself.

[Monkeytrousers04]

The online programme is called Restore Your Core. You have to buy it but once you do you’ve got it for life. A series of 20-25min exercise videos that you go through in a sequence, slowly building up your core/ pelvic floor function and strength. The woman behind it is called Lauren O’Hayon and she has a website and YouTube channel so you can do taster vids, etc. The Facebook group is great - it’s called Restore Your Core Community and basically its made up of RYC teachers and clients and people who are just seeking advice. Lauren is also a member too. I don’t have a prolapse but I did have diastasis recti after three pregnancies and very little core strength due to three c-sections. I have completed the programme loads of times, I just go round and round again. Cannot recommend it enough. It’s an education and you’ve got to go with it and invest in it but it is worth it.

[TheProvincialLady]

Pelvic floor exercises are never a bad thing and are best taught (IMO) by a specialist physio. But they tend not to be very helpful in rectoceole/entercoele because the problem there is not really with the pelvic floor.

I didn’t know that - what is the problem then, if not with the pelvic floor?

[Bridget944]

@mauvish thNkyou for taking time to respond. I feel my main symptoms are my womb and a bad rectocele:( so don’t know if it would be much help at all definitely want to look more down the surgical route ? Is the op the same sort of op if someone was to rip during child birth I wonder

[Monkeytrousers04]

@TheProvincialLady

Pelvic floor exercises are never a bad thing and are best taught (IMO) by a specialist physio. But they tend not to be very helpful in rectoceole/entercoele because the problem there is not really with the pelvic floor.

I didn’t know that - what is the problem then, if not with the pelvic floor?

Think of a cylinder full of pressure inside you made up of your diaphragm at the top, pelvic floor at the bottom and abdominal muscles wrapping round the front. You need good postural alignment in order for this cylinder (core) to work as it should. If things are not aligned properly that pressure looks for an escape route - too much downwards pressure can cause prolapse, pressure elsewhere can cause diastasis recti/ hernia. Pregnancy throws our posture all off and creates extra pressure, hence women are more prone to these issues following pregnancy & child birth. Pelvic floor exercises are only part of the solution. They need to be paired with good posture/ alignment and supported by effective breathing techniques so as to better manage the pressure and enable your core to function as it should.

[Bridget944]

Has anyone had hysteropexy operation done? (Lifts the womb back into place)

[mauvish]

Bridget, I'm sorry if I'm wrong but it does sound a bit as though you're trying to second-guess what might be the best treatment for your problems; and no-one except a specialist who has talked to you and examined you is going to be in a position to make those suggestions.

You really need to get an accurate diagnosis first, THEN talk through all the treatment options and get information about what might be recommended for you and why (and why others might not be right for you).

Obviously I'm not your doc but I think it's unlikely that surgery of any sort will be offered unless and until you've explored all the suitable non-surgical options especially if you're planning on more pregnancies. So at the risk of sounding like a stuck record, I'm again going to suggest that you try to avoid constipation and straining on the loo; that you look at losing weight if you're carrying extra; and that, even if it's not ideal for your problems, you really hammer the pelvic floor exercises. Oh, and quite smoking if you're a smoker coughing is very bad for the pelvic floor! Otherwise you'll wait to be seen, then could be told to go away and try all those things for 3 months before anything more might be considered.

[TheProvincialLady]

Thanks @Monkeytrousers04 for that very helpful explanation. It makes sense to me. The whole area got a general battering with pregnancy and traumatic childbirth.

Sorry @Inghean2 I missed your question about my age when I had the surgery. It was 41 and my child bearing days were well and truly over.

I do tend to agree with the advice that you need a consultation and a diagnosis rather than rushing to think about treatments just yet. You could probably go private for that for around £200. In my case the consultant works for the NHS too and can put women on her private or NHS list for surgery. Obviously there would be the wait for NHS surgery if that’s where you ultimately end up, but at least you wouldn’t have wasted a few months.

[Bridget944]

@mauvish i am on the route to see specialist and ask for treatment but I know my symptoms are severe. I’ve been doing pelvic floor muscles for years , I don’t smoke and im only 10 stone (size 8) so wouldn’t say I carry any extra pounds. I’ve used kegal 8 and also yoga. I just can’t take it anymore I need the fix. Physio doesn’t cure the prolapse it just makes your pelvic floor muscles stronger. My prolapse is definitely past that. It’s making me depressed. I’m looking into options of womb surgery without removing my womb

[Notimetothink]

I had my cystocoele, rectocoele, perineal repair and cervical amputation done through gynae and a vaginal approach 20 years ago.
It has pretty much all failed now but the only one giving symptoms is the rectocoele. Second time I was referred through colorectal department which was far better. For me the 1% risk of “catastrophic” failure with abdominal approach and mesh was not something I was prepared to take, so have opted for conservative management- Pilates, yoga, breathing, weight loss, womens health physio and high fibre diet to prevent constipation.
Its such a complicated area, I’m not sure there’s an ideal fix. My gynae did say that I should never have a hysterectomy though because my womb is plugging the large hole in my pelvic floor.

[Bridget944]

Hi guys I went to a gynaecologist a month ago and even thou I’ve got bad symptoms and even showed her a photo she said my prolapse is very mild (grade 1) (if that) and has told me to stop worrying. Very annoyed as I know it is far worse it’s effecting my day to day life and my cervix is just inside the opening I don’t know how she can’t see this!! Is there a scan that can show position of organs ?