New thread for those having/had posterior or anterior repairs, TVT, rectocele and all the other down below stitchups

[MissingMySleep]

Hello ladies, I hope you find this, I don't want to lose my pre-op and post-op buddies!!

Welcome Blue. Okay, Just going to share with you what i believe to be cause and effect in my own experience. I am also one week post op. I had rectocele, cystocele and TVT. My bowels work as normal as ever, no splinting. I use docusate and massive amounts of fiber and water, the stools just fall out of me, no use of that bowel muscle at all. When I stand too long or walk to much, I have trouble peeing this is because of swelling building up from pressure down there. You had rectocele, but that would swell just the same as the wee parts and cause difficulting with a lot of things. I have been told from my nurse friends, that just because you are out of the hospital doesn't mean you're better and you don't heal any fater today than you did in 1950s. All the medical advancement we have and not one thing can increase the speed of recovery except good old fashoined rest.
I would hate to see you jeopardize the healing process and possibly reverse the work done by surgery, but the reality is, it could happen if you are not careful. Oh I hope I am not seeming judgemental, I am just giving you a wake-up call. I hope to hear from you again, I feel really bad for your situation, but ultimately you must control your urge to work all the time. Try to look at this like a bit of a holiday in a way, be selfish damn it you deserve it. I would also question how well the surgery worked if you are splinting, but try some major laxatives and see how it goes.

Happy healing my dear.

Faster not fater, sorry for the typos.

I think ladies, it is much easier to 'see it' and be kind to others than it is to be to ourselves, it's how we are conditioned, we are all guilty of it, those naughty thoughts.. no one's looking so I'll just do this or that... well, that is why we need each other and why we should be as kind and good to ourselves as we recommend for each other

You're right Flowers, we tend to advise on stuff we should do, but not necessarily do we practice our own advice. I have been guilty there. I realise that I need to take care of myself and I will do my best to rest. Hubby is going back to work next week and he told me, to rest and really get myself better. I told him I wanted to do one daily activity and that was cook dinner, nothing complicated that would cause me to stand for a long period of time, just some simple meals. He told me that if I was up to it, then yes, but if dinner wasn't made when he gets home, he will make it. He wants me to get better and stay fixed up too.
Well I must go now, take care everyone and Blue hope you post again of your progress, would love to hear from you.

xoxoxo

Well where can I begin, if I was with you all I would give you all a big hug - you are all the friends I didnt know I had, you are all so kind, you are right and I know with what I have been through already that I would tell anyone else new exactly wht you have told me. I am self employed, and could not dare begin to tell you how hard ive worked, I am also divorced and have no family around me apart from the girls.
I was so upset last night with one of my daughters I drove off and rested in a car park for a few hours as it hurt physically to cry - I feel ashamed as she is my responsibility and I clearly have failed to teach her to be the person I expect her to be. I know she will improve and its an age thing but I also know I would have helped so much more had it been my mother and I was my daughter's age...silly little things are getting to me and I am emotional. I feel better already, and thank you for listening!
I got home from work yesterday and the dog had not been out for a walkies, since pre-op, I have a good sized garden but he is more help than the girls, and the guilt when he got my boots out ready was too much - I took him out in the car, he does not need a lead and he is does everything I ask. ( wish he would hang the washing up!) By the time I got to the first gate I had to sit down, I knew I could not walk any further and left him to entertain himself. I was weak and quite light headed. Even I didn't think I would be that bad. No real pain just a bit of pressure and the soreness from the stitches, which after all this I have not touched! :-)
I never did ask if they put any mesh in, however it feels like a razor blade bulging through the perinium stitches, (presumably as you have said swelling)and I do need to apply a little pressure there whilst attempting the BM. I have increased my fluid intake and will try some mild laxatives but do have to assist or would be even more uncomfortable. I did leave some medication on the ward so will try have a chat when I go to collect it.
I know I will one day become an expert on this topic and hope I can welcome, support and advise those girls like me that have lived with this condition in silence for so long. You really have helped me more than you will ever know already. X

Hello again, Thanks for the warm welcome.

I've been slowly working my way through your older posts and boy you're right, way way too much info! but it does help and its amazing that in just 2 days i feel so much more comfortable discussing whats going on with my body. I felt for so long it was just me so thanks again!

I'm 45 and never considered myself prudish but I guess its just the part of the body we're dealing with, if it was a broken arm, lungs or even an in growing toenail I probably wouldn't feel quite so awkward. You ladies dont mince your words and its FAB!

Have been chatting to DH about it and he's going to come to the hospital with me, sit outside while I chat to the Dr and then come if when he tells me whats going on and what if anything they can do. I'm not so sure if I'm more worried they will offer surgery and all that that entails of if they decide to leave things alone and I have to carry on as I am which I think would be the worse option.

I shall continue to work through your posts, its so encouraging to hear from others who felt the same and have come out the other side. Have a lovely bank holiday, rest and thanks again. xXx

Hi Stardrops and welcome! like you I am a newbie here although admit I have been ''stalking'' the site for several months. like you I was never the type to discuss any problems ''down there'' and this will make you laugh probably 5 years ago when attending my female GP with something else I blurted out a little about this condition.....too embarrassed to discuss the real horror stories but she referred me to a consultant general surgeon. I looked him up on the internet and that was enough quite simply there was no-way I was going to talk to ''him'' about my ''private life'' and that was that! I never went and continued to suffer in silence. Scared, ashamed embarrassed and terrified I would have to face so many strangers with my deepest secrets! I know my condition has progressively got worse but this site has helped me so much and the kindness and dignity shown by the staff at hospital has restored my faith in the health service. Be strong, take each hurdle one at a time and when you get through it you will be soo proud of yourself. I know everyone here will support you and those silly little questions that mean so much to you can easily be answered here.

Footle not only are you wise, but you're funny too lol...hahah, I can picture the expression on Yoda's face.
Blue so glad to hear from you. I have 4 daughters and I understand all too well about age related issues. My two oldest daughters are 25 and going to 22 and I have one that just turned 18 so many fresh memories there and a 12 year old who would like to think she is 18. My sons were not the same as the girls, really the were easier to deal with. They do change for the better. I remember when my daughter Alixandra was 16, we got a call from the police she and her two friends were in jail. They were caught stealing. I was horrified at the thought of her doing this. As it turned out the police officer told us he was not going to charge them, as he has seen a lot of these cases and these girls are not criminals, they are just teenage girls who have lost their brains and they will get them back sometime in the next 5 years. He was right, Alix and her friend Abby are good now, they needed to grow up! Well I hope you are able to take it easy for bit, it will help you emotionally as welll, if you rest.
Well have any of you ladies ever developed a yeast infection during your recovery? I think I have one and it is quite bothersome, very itchy and it burns. ouch. After the antibiotics I guess that is what can happen. I can't imagine putting cream in there, I doubt it would be a good idea, I hope I can hang on till Friday when I see the dr.

Hello everyone, just a quick hello. I will come back later for a proper post.

Blue sorry you are having such a hard time at the moment, be kind to yourself!
I hope everyone is healing well.

I am on day 4 of my anti biotics and have not had any bad side affects fingers crossed. Today my bleeding has almost stopped and I am feeling pretty good for the first time since my op. I am now nearly 3 weeks. Today I dared to think about my return to work as a posibility once my 6 weeks are up so I must be feeling good. I am a nursery nurse in a pre-school so it's very physical so I will have to be very careful when I go back. Anyway, little steps,little steps.

Speak soon xx

Hi All, another one of those 'done to much' days! I don't feel bad, ust exhausted. TBH I think I am getting a cold - my throat feels tight, I feel a bit spacey and I have a headache!!
I am also waiting impatiently for my period (day 32 now!) - I think the surgery has frightened it off although I have had my snappy PMT head on for a week! Am wondering if that also explains my spaciness and the ache in my tummy!
Drovean hour and back today to drop my boys off with their grandparents for a few days. The driving was no problem and my OH came with me incase I couldn't manage!!!
I am slowly doing more and the only negative from it is getting tired easily. I ache a little toady where my stitches are but I was think that after 16 days the healing process should be well under way and so the stotches will be pulling at healing skin and so may hurt more now than when they were just done (??)
Rect - Over here we can get a tablet/cream combo for thrush - that may be an option for you and just put the cream on the outside? Although make sure that is what it is and nothing else?!
Right, I'm having a sofa moment now, so I'll catch up again tomorrow
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S - sorry for spellings - I was never one to check back over my work!!

Well the thrush is not bothering me as much as yesterday, so I will see if I can wait it out till I see the dr, just in case it happens to be something else. My husband figures a does of diflucan (oral yeast med.) couldn't hurt anything. I have to get into town or the city to get some meds though.

I took it super easy today. I was tired and sore and felt unsteady and lightheaded, so I spent most of the day in bed resting and knitting. I almost have completed a long sweater for myself since surgery.

Hubby goes back to work tomorrow, so I will fend for myself. I think I will be fine, I am not going to overdo any activity and supper is really the onlly task at hand.

Well must go now and be in touch tomorrow.

Hello, all, hello new ladies. So many posts!!

Re the razor blade feeling YES I had the same it felt like razors - its the stitches and the swelling and it goes away. Very slowly.... Just take it easy - I know it goes against the grain but imagine how you felt if you overdid it, went back to the doc and they said well the whole thing needs to be redone cos you didn't rest..

For ages it has felt like razor blades in my perineum (my new double the old size perieneum) when I wiped after a wee, but either that has gone away now or I have gotten so used to it I don't notice it, hmmm, I will have to check.

Rect re the TVT yes to groin pain, oh dear, this isn't good. At 9 weeks post op its still bothering me but only on one side. Guess that muscle got poked. It is easing off, it is getting better but almost imperceptibly. However I don't recall having the pain shoot down my leg, but shooting grin pain, oh yes, many times in the last couple of months. I also get it at what I imagine is the bit where the urethra is, but not that often and that is a sharp pain, not the big deep pain that I get along the side, where I guess the TVT goes. But hey so far its worth it to be peeing properly, nice big wees instead of the constant micro wees I used to do.

Flowers I am sorry you have all this to deal with, and also Blue, I do hope things settle down and that you get that cash Flowers. Love and light ladies xx

HI everyone

Thanks missing, Im not too hopeful I will but feel much better and even jumped up at 8am today and had fired off a job app by noon, sooo pleases with myself and hope to get back in the job seeking groove.. dont wanna be on stupid benefits anyway

Rect. so glad you are taking it easy.. sounds much better and keep knitting away, once you've finished your own sweater you can make us all one ;)

Jewel, hope you manage to ward the cold off, take it easy wont you x

Blue and stardrops, hope yr both ok x

I feel alive again today instead of half corpse-like after a relaxing all wknd, my eldest girl has been here cooking and cleaning like an angel, only tiny niggle is my tooth infection aint budgin despite being on anti-b's, was hoping it would kill it aswell

Hope your all doin well
xoxox

The Ups and Downs we all have!!!
Just keep it in mind that downs are followed by ups!!!!
We are all in the dumps a bit (except for Flowers who is doing her damnest to keep her chin up!)!!
I have a really sore throat!! Also been really tired and achey today! Althought sitting on the sofa all day has made me feel lazy and bored and now I'm stir-crazy!!!
Moan moan moan !!!!!
Nothing else to report just sending you vibes to make it through the crappy bits!!
Much Love
xxxxxxx

Snotty!

Hell everyone, wow this thread has taken off! I'm ten or eleven days post op and can totally empathise with the 'barbed wire perineum'. I cannot 'sit' on it so am still lounging in bed. Had to use frozen peas last night wrapped in a towel - there is no dignity with this is there?? Also have a tooth prob Flowers40. I went to see the dentist last week and she prescribed me a 3 day course of anti b's, seemed to sort it but back with a vengeance this morning. OH went and spoke to her at the surgery and persuaded her to give me another course, 5 days this time which hopefully will do the job.
May I send a hug to anyone who needs one? Although I have fantastic support now, I know exactly what its like to have none. My heart goes out to anyone struggling. Look after yourselves ladies :-)

Hi Teedee, sorry about the tooth and Flowers, that is something you dont deserve on top of everything else - was one of my fears before I went in needing the dentist. I think I am a day ahead of you post surgery and wondering if the razor blade I am sitting on will rip open any second now.
Rect, Missing and Footle, I did need a wake up call - thank you, I am so independant and never ask for any help before I certainly could not go through this again so I am slowing down - my body has made sure I do by giving me some horrible bug overnight. have still come into work though to sit behind the desk or I know the vacuum will come out! by the time I get home I know I wont manage it but what will the ASDA delivery man say? I wonder if he will stay and help when I tell him what awful daughters I have!
I will blame you all if he doesnt as I am only following your instructions..... :)