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!!

Hi Everglades. Yes to the upside down weeing! I put a small step in front of the toilet to hold onto incase I toppled off head first!! Getting better now though and can just lean forward a bit.
I'm guessing its to do with internal swelling/bruising, and will eventually return to normal (I hope!).

Thanks for the response Emdee, how far along are you? I don't have to go quite as upside down as I did but was wondering if I would ever get back to fully upright weeing :) Oh well, it's wait and see as per usual.
I am going to ask about medication for urge incontinence when I go for my 6 week check up as think that's the only way forward, I think this op has cured or helped with the stress but so far not had any real test of that.
Trying to think positive but have to admit although I knew that TVT was only for stress and not urge I was hoping it would make a difference as I know it has for some people.
bye for now

Everglades: I had my op 2 weeks ago today. Feels like forever though! How about you?

Would you believe it, 2 weeks ago today - Twins :)
I'm driving again now thank goodness but remembering not to pick up anything heavy is proving difficult.
Hope you are all sorted now, I was hoping I would be but as per earlier post I am not there yet.
take care

Not driving or walking very far. Can't sit down well enough to drive yet. Am hoping this may improve over the next week. Also hoping to be able to walk far enough to take my daughter to pre-school this week (about 2 min walk normally!) I feel like my 97 year old grandmother at the moment lol!

I know what you mean about the lifting too. And bending, I swear I have never dropped so many things on the floor!

Hello again Ladies!

I have been too busy to post this past weekend. It was Canada day here on July 1st and also my daughter's 22nd birthday as well. I had lots of things going on. I am still exhausted, just can't seem to get my energy levels up at all. I hope to hear something helpful on the 6th at the drs.

I had a TVT, so I can relate to the peeing not being so easy. I would say for me, that after 3 weeks post op, I was peeing almost normally again. I just really have to concentrate on relaxing the muscles down there while I go. I used to constantly hold those muscles all day etc to stop the leakage. Now I must learn to relax them more. I would say that my bladder empties completely though and I have not had a leakage accident since surgery.

Everglades, in regards to the small incisions on the groin. I did not have stitches there, it was only sterile stripped together. The incisions were on the inside. My sterile strip came off one side the first day and was wide open. The dr said that was nothing to worry about because the stitch was internal. Also he told me that the tissues in that area just absorb the mesh and it is stays intact, eventually becomes part of you. I am not sure why you would have indentations there??? My two scars are so hard to see, they are just very thin little lines and look like a scratch really. I never had swelling or redness there at any time after the op.

Well I have nothing to report that would have relevance here, so I will talk to you all later.

Thanks for the info, Likeavirgin :)
Sorry you are still feeling under the weather, I hope the doctor has something useful to suggest.
Yes I knew about Canada Day, my son and his family are spending a year in Toronto, normally live in the USA. He was just pleased that the Royal Visit was going to Toronto, his colleagues think he's odd, a Brit who's not interested in the Royals :)
I had steri-strips on that area too, came off after about a week and I was told the stitches were internal but can definitely see a black piece of thread on just one side, doesn't hurt at all though.
Bit fed up about still having leaking if I don't get there quick enough although know the TVT is really just for stress not urgency.
I found out the other day (because hospital sent me a Prosthesis Sheet) that I had a Gynecare TVT.
And am guessing you had more than just the TVT, Emdee, if you are still having problems walking etc.
Hope everyone gets back to 'normal' or hopefully better than that soon.

Well Hello everyone.
Just thought I would pop my head over the fence and say a quick Hi!
I am now virtually 8 weeks post posterior repair op and thought I would pass on how everything was going, for all the newer girls who are not at this stage yet.
Well, everything is pretty much back to normal! I think that all my stitches have gone and there are no longer nay ahces and pains. I was having lower back pain but in the last two weeks I have been off the sofa and back to my normal routine (all be it sedentary!) and the back pain has gone so it must have been slouching on the sofa that has done it!

My moods have been a little erratic all month, I normally get a high after my period but didn't this last cycle so that got to me a little as once my PMT kicked in, I felt cheated!

The only problem I have had is, once again, terrible first day period pain.
Any of you who have been reading for a while may remember that a month ago I had my first post op period and crikey almighty it knocked me sideways! And TBH it has been almost as bad this time! I have never really had pain as such with my periods, just dull aches and grumbles but post op they have been awful! The only way I can describe it is as though my womb, ovaries and vagina are terribly inflamed and every time my bowel spasms to move waste or air travels along it it send shooting and I mean ARGHHHHH shooting pains all around my internal female organs and up inside my bottom!!! Couple this with the super speedy bowel movements that my period seems to give me and you've got a whole lot of hollering!!!
It is day 1 today and from 5.30am I kept being woken by the pain and had to brace myself against the bed head to stop myself from yelling out!
It took me until 10.30 am before I felt ready to leave the house (it's my b'day today and hubbie took me clothes shopping whoop whoop) and even then, when I sat down shooting pains raged up my bottom!!!
Funny tho, it's all pretty much gone!
I have had similar before during ovulation, just for a few hours the evening that I release an egg but presumed it was because your ovaries have to swell up to release the egg to would be sore when bowel moved... but pre op I never had this during my period.
AnYone ever had this type of pain during periods or ovulation? DO you have any idea what I am trying to describe re: the pain being in the lady area but linked to movements of the bowel?!

Anyway, think that is all for now. I am available for questions!
Sex is my next thing, am hoping once my period is done and I have those 4 days when I actually want sex I will get to it and let you all know! LOL LOL
P.S. forgot to tell you, my rectocele seems a OT better than it was, there is no bulge anymore and the back wall seems firmer (although is a lot softer than when the stitched were there - then it felt like stone!) but I do think it would have been better if he had stitched all the way down to my perineum. I do fear that there is still a tiny tiny pocket (like the size of two thimbles) just inside my vagina and occasionally I dont feel completely empty and once or twice have felt the need to push on my perineum to get everything out. I dont count this as a failure however, and I will see how it goes over the next few weeks, plus I need to see if there is a difference with sex before I give my final evaluation!

Much love to you all ladies
Emily x

P.S. too tired to spellcheck so sorry for any mistakes, hope you can figure out what I am going on about x

Hey everyone!!

How are you all? Hi to all the newbies!

Well I had a nice time on my hols, got back a week ago and have been catching up at home since, feel MUCH better in myself now, almost 100% normal but still just a little tired sometimes, no pain anymore. Lovely time away, very hot weather, lots of nice food, little swimming and lots of floating about, have nice tan and my hair has gone so light in colour

I have post op check monday so looking forward to that, bad thing is I think I still have a prolapse at the front or it has returned, the front wall bulge is the same as ever and I have had 3 little accidents this week :(

14k - I also received confusing information, they insisted I was not getting a hysterectomy but when I came round they had done one, they left my ovaries and said it would delay the menopause, I also had posterior/anterior repairs and cervix removed, 8 weeks post op now

Jewel, sorry to hear you have problems, I dont have any pain at all nor periods so can only say sorry, hope you fell better soon and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Good luck with the nookie once your period passes, we all want a report of how it goes k??

Love to all x

Dear All, just popping in to say hello, workng is interefering with my life, I dont get time for MN. 10 days to go till I am a lady of leisure....

re pelvic floor exercises, I asked consultant at my 6 week scheck if I ought to be doing them and he said no, leave it a few more weeks. So don't rush ladies. A friend has lent me a book, apparently it is super fabby brill, and works ALL the muscles, incl pelvic floor, so for us with stitched up fannies it will be really useful - its called (no sniggering please) "can your vagina really buy you a mercedes" I am going to do these and will report back, but I do need to do something cos even with all the fixing I still feel a bit muscle free down there.

I have found these if any one is interested
www.shapeyourthang.com/exercise.html and have just ordered myself the book and the exercise thingy from stressnomore - I will come back and let you know if they are as fantastic as they are supposed to be

re the TVT, I had great big stitches on the groin area that took a few weeks to fall out, so I guess all surgeons do it differently. Mine was the monarc I believe.

Dawn, it was at 5/6 weeks that I got fed up too, I think it is because I thought I would be fine by then and really I wasn't and also I got fed up not being able to do much - perhaps that is the same for you? Anyway I am cheerful and fine now, it was just a phase, perhaps just part of the process, so I do hope you feel sunnier again soon xx

Everglades I am like you, the TVT does seem to have worked for the stress incontinence (but I still havent tried the trmapiline out) but the urge incontinence is upsetting as I had this idea that I would be perfect again. I am hoping some exercises will help.

so - the nitty gritty - had sex at 11 weeks (DH about to go away for a month so seemed like a good idea) it was ok but bit painful. He was home for one evening before going off for another couple of weeks, so did the deed again, this is now about 15 weeks, and hoorah, it didnt hurt, in fact it was quite fun apart from me being terrified that he was going to bust something ha ha

good luck ladies xx

Oh it's so nice to hear from the ladies I've been reading for weeks :)
That is upsetting for you still having signs of your prolapse, Flowers and i so sympathise on the accidents. Do hope your check up goes ok. A good friend of mine had a triple prolapse op about 5 years back now (her prolapses appeared literally one day out of the blue, no warning!) and she's pretty good now but did get some nerve damage and knows that she has the start of another prolapse starting.
And I'm sorry you also have signs of Urge, Missing, but thank you for posting that as somehow it helps me not feel so 'odd'. I did know in my head that this op might not work for the urge side of things but had managed to try and believe that it would as I've been putting the op off for literally years and have read of some ladies who have found they could throw away their pads!
Take care everyone

Hi I am new on here and from Australia. I was so amazed to find your site. Finally some real information and stories. I am having a anterior and posterior repair on Monday, I am 36 with only 1 child aged 7 (7lbs). I am so nervous especially about the pain and recovery period. I recently started a new full time job and found out I needed the repair so told my employer and 2 days later I got sacked saying he could not cover me for 6 weeks. (he is a surgeon of all people, he does the lap band surgery so makes tonnes of money as you can imagine). Anyway I wanted to know if anyone has had symptoms of flatus from the vagina. More like a popping sound that happens all day every day??? My surgeon said that having the repair may not fix this. I was horrified to hear this. It only starting happening after sex in the beginning (sorry to be so crude but doggy style) then after that from walking and doing any type of activity. and to top it off to try and cross my legs all the time and constantly squeezing my vagina (nothing worse that you making these horrible popping noises when you have an office full of patients) my back especially lower back is painful and when working all day it radiates all the way up to the shoulders. my physio says it is my posture but you try and stop your vagina making all these noises surely it is going to affect your back.. anyway I would like to know if anyone else had these symptoms from prolapse. I am 36 and it is one of the most embarressing things I have ever experienced in my life. it has affected every part of me and sexually omg I can not cope with it. Help!!!!!

Jodichloe, Im so sorry to hear you lost your job, did you seek advice re: the legalities of this termination? Anyway, good luck with the op. I havent had the issues you describe, just the usual pain and problems moving bowels, hope someone on here can support and advise. Ive recently had posterior repair to rectocele.

Hello to all, Was admitted Thurs 30th, for Posterior repair to rectal prolapse, sorry for delay in getting on net, been really tired and also been back on ward with complications today.
Anyway had to be in for 10am Thursday, taken down at 1.30, was first on list cos of the hypos, had op at 2pm, went great, even though they kept pushing me right up until the last minute to have a spinal, (must be cos of less risk or cheaper or something, lol,) I still opted for a general, woke up, recovery room, in fact I was wide awake unlike in Oct when i had a simple ear op in day case, as i dont remember recovery room then and slept rest of afternoon!
Taken back to room around 4pm, still not tired and wide awake despite being given Morphine along with anaesthetics in theatre, felt great, had a drip and a catheter, last of which was taken out Sat morn, what a relief, it was hard to turn in bed attached to this thing and you had to pick the bag up n lug it around on a little cage thing! Packing had been taken out day before, yeah, it IS miles long!
Awful night first night, pain and just couldnt drop off, they were giving me two 30mg codeine plus paracetomol and Ibuprofen first day but knocked off the codeine second day, (I can cope with having it now for necessary pain relief, obviously didnt want the side effect of constipation but I went eventually with the help of Lactulose!) Also waking you for 2 hourly obs even in the night isnt conducive to a good nights sleep! They also have the audacity to stab you in the stomach every evening with an anti-clotting injection and make you wear the 'sexy' anti-embolism stockings! Im black n blue still lol.
I was discharged Sat evening, so far so good, went for a walk to shops yesterday with my oldest which is about a 10 min walk. SHE carried the orange juice n 4 pint milk...Im not allowed haha.
Had some bleeding and clots again last night, but its settled down again to slight n pink, frequent urination and chronic itching inside, plus a patch of soreness just inside which makes me hit the ceiling every time i wee, had a bit of a temp this morning so as id had recent thrush and a pelvic infection which Id thought was cured but the pains have come back I phoned the ward who said to come in and doc would see me. They took swabs and tested urine which showed leukocytes and blood which shows a urine infection. Hopefully the antibiotics theyve given me will sort it anyway.
Gettin to be a pain when I need stuff and ive got to get taxis, used to being able to jump in the car or walk but Im not allowed to do either apart from short walks. Oh well, have to be good and not do too much or Ill ruin all the good work.
I'll keep you updated.
Lots of love to all xx

Hello ladies I will comment in general for everyone and those of you will know who I am addressing. I am always 7 hours behind and when I get on here, there are just so many posts to catch up on.
Jewel I think I know what you are talking about. After I had my babies, I experienced pain while having a bowel movement like no other before. I was afraid to have this op for fear of that pain again. I basically felt like while the stools were coming down into the rectum, like I was being stabbed on the inside of the vagina/bowel. It only happened during a bowel movement. Once the stool passed I was fine, well gasping for breath and in shock. I remember screaming one time and almost passing out with pain. Even if my stools were loose, it would still happen. This went on for about one week post delivery and then with every period for the next 3 months and then subsided. It happened with every baby I had. I still don't understand why this happened. My doctor never really had an answer for it either. I do know that even now I have excruciating pain in the right ovary area and into the hip bone to the point where it is painful to move, happened during ovulation only. My bowels act for the worse with every period.
I still have signs of cystocele also. I am not so concerned about this though. The TVT is working and the rectocele is fixed. My doc told me that the cystocele repair would not last. Not enough stable tissue to sew it to. I would need a mesh to support it if I wanted to fix it again. The reason he didn't do mesh the first time is because I asked him to do the cystocelel repair just prior to going into the surgery and he would not have been prepared for that.
For those of you afraid to have spinal block. It is really the most amazing experience I have had in the way of medical procedures. I did not feel the needle going in and when I was on the table during surgery I was mildly sedated with ativan and felt 100% great. It seemed like only 10 mins, but it was 2 hours. The coolest part was the fact that I did not have any pain sensation for 20 hours afterwards. I felt my legs and everything, just no pain. I could walk around that night and when they removed the packing and catheter, I still had the affects of the spinal in my system, so no pain then either. Spinal is safer than general because you are breathing on your own. This is less risk to patients, especially the elderly who may have heart conditions, high blood pressure, etc. Here in Canada they are doing spinals for all the hip and knee replacement surgeries. I would take spinal over general any day of the week no matter what.
Well I am off to the doctor tomorrow and hopefully he has some good news in the way of anemia help. After cleaning the house yesterday, it was like the equivalent to running a full marathon. I need to get this fixed up. Take care everyone.

Seriously busy day today, hospital visit was absolutely necessary but also just been to supermarket, should really rest now but sometimes its difficult, taxis have cost a fortune today alone, cant go on like this as Im a single parent on benefits, have to start catching buses. Usually Im the type that hardly ever sits down so its hard.
Im doing the pelvic floor exercises, (I was visited by a physio and given the instruction pamphlet, was told to start when catheter was removed.)

Never fancied epidural when having the kids, the thought of a needle in my back etc just freaked me also the 2 ladies in my room had it and said it wore off really quickly, they were feeling irritation and aching in their backs where the needle had gone in and they said because of it wearing off fast it didnt make a difference to pain. Anaesthetist had tried to sell the idea to me for the added pain relief. I cope so well with a general that I just wanted to stick with what I knew instead of going for something Id never had that might just cause problems. Everyone is different. Then again if I was having anything else done in the future Id give it a go next time especially as they also sedate you so you dont know whats going on. I try anything once!

Hi Jodiechloe - I thin kI know what you are talking about.
In the car on the way home from the hospital after my second child (who is now 7) i passed wind (hey I'd just had a baby I was excused!) and some of the air seemed to get lodged in my vagina (sorry about the detail!) as I was sitting down. When I stodd up I had to kind of push my pelvis forwards and wiggle a bit to make the air come out!!! It still happens now, 7 years on, occasionally. It's not always related to passing wind, sometimes I feel there is a bubble of air inside me! I also seem to suck up bath water!!! After a long bath i 'leak' bath water for an hour or so!
The air I have trapped on a day to day basis doesnt make any noise but yes, the sex ones do!!! I know what you are talking about, especially in the position you are talking about! Air seems to get forced in their and afterwards there is an almighty farty noise!!! I was mortified the first few times this happened but fortunately my husband is very understanding and I just blame him for putting it there in the first place!!
My idea on it is that after my two children, everything got a little 'slack' in there and I am a little overweight and have quite a lot going on down there and so I guess sometimes air just gets trapped in there! I am sure it is all anatomical.
When it comes to sex I really think you have to try and mke light of it. It is just normal air that is coming out, it's like bottom gas that has been made while your food breaks down in the gut. And as I do, have a giggle and tell of your man for thrusting all that air up there! Sorry this is causing you problems, wish I could help more but I have yet not found a way to get rid of the problem x

Jannie 49. Sorry that you are having so much things going on and being a single mom is not easy, I've been there. I was a single parent of 6 kids, but only three living at home at the time. I am married now, what an incredible amount to take on for my husband, he loves me!!! He also has a son and so together we have 7. I hope you get better soon, I know how hard it is when you are used to being active and then suddenly that comes to a halt. I feel down on myself for being lazy, though I don't want to be, my body just can't handle everything it did pre-op.

I never had epidurals with labour and delivery either as I was scared about the needle in my back. An epidural and a spinal block are different. Epidural does not give total pain block, as a spinal does. You won't feel a thing with a spinal block guaranteed. Epidural only goes around the dura. The spinal block is injected right into the dura. Also to let you know for future reference, spinal block gives pain relief within 5 mins of injection and epidural can take up to 30 mins. The needle is injected into the spine at L2 which is below the actual spinal cord. This avoids any possible injury to the spinal cord itself. I have had both general and spinal now and I would say that spinal was the best thing I ever did, I was scared to death, but so glad I did it. I hope you don't have to have anymore surgeries, but if you do, give it a try.

Yes to the vaginal air. I get that after sex sometimes, depends on the angle we do it. It gets passed and my husband thinks nothing of it really. I just tell him he should put it in another way and prevent this from happening. I do feel for your situation though. Well must go make dinner. take care I will report on my dr visit after tomorrow.

Thanks jewellerymum. It definitely started while having sex in that position but now every time I sit, stand no matter what I am doing it happens. Hopefully putting everything back where it should be will help. I had a little urinary symptoms and bm problems but I put the bm problems down to having lap band surgery 3 years ago and not eating enough. I lost 62kg in that time. I am trying to eat more fibre now but with a band bread etc is a problem.

Jannie49, I spoke to my union and they said it is borderline unfair dismissal and that I would need alot of evidence to prove it. but do I really want to go through that at this time. It is hard financially when my partner doesn't earn enough to pay the mortgage and I have one child and he has 2 children that stay with us 3 nights a fortnight and half school holidays. I have never been out of work before and to be sacked for something out of my control is even worse. (the surgeon that fired me did my lap band surgery 3 years ago) you think he would be understanding. especially when the rectocele prolapse could have been avoided if I was informed more on diet etc especially with increasing fibre and having normal bm's. I think the past 3 years of pushing and hard stools has done this. I had a normal labour just a bit of tearing and only a 7lb baby 7 years ago.
I am now taking stool softeners every night which is definitely helping and adding fibre into my diet is helping too. When you have a band you really don't eat enough to maintain daily bms. I am afraid now that eating more I will stack the weight back on. I was probably only ever having about 400 calories per day.

With regards to the air getting trapped my physio said that there are women out there with prolapses that have it all the time with every movement and she said that she can't hear mine of course it doesnt happen when I am there for a session. It is so loud and I must look like an idiot with the movements I do to try and stop it. Well fingers crossed everything goes well on Monday. Reading all your posts has helped me especially knowing what to expect with pain and the first BM. (The gynae didnt tell me about the first BM and now I am so scared!!!!!!)
apparently the worst pain is the perineum repair. my perineum muscles are split in two and there is virtually nothing left. has anyone had this reconstructed? I would love to hear from you.

Once again thank you everyone for all the great advise you put on here. I have been researching for about a month and could find nothing especially in Australia. You think there would be more information out there for women.

Anyway I have gone on enough. xxxxx

Hello again Ladies,
I've been following all your postings and you are all such a help, I'm waiting to go back to the hospital in August to be seen at both the Colorectal and Continence clinics. I've been struggling for years with stress and urge incontinence and what I now know to be a rectocele but I was wondering does/did anyone have any symptoms that include diarrhea? I'm fine for days/weeks on end, struggling to go and having to splint and then out of the blue i cant keep away from the toilet! Talk about 1 extreme to the other!! I have an empty hollow feeling yet at the same time I feel very heavy and uncomfortable. Been off work with it for a couple of days now but am too scared to take a diacalm as I know I'll only get bunged up completely...nightmare.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated. :)

Hi Stardrops,
Sorry I am no use to you as although I know loads about stress and urge incontinence (and wish I didn't!) I have no knowledge on your other problems and all I have had is the TVT op, nearly 3 weeks ago.
Do hope someone else comes along with more knowledge but didn't want you to go unanswered.
My only other thought was could it be IBS?
Good luck with your August appt.

fifitot. Hi i know exactly what you are talking about feeling open all the time. every time I move something moves there, bend over pop, bend back pop. My partner said I was passing wind in my sleep but I finally had to confess to him this is what I had been trying to tell him for a couple of months that I feel like there is air trapped and I have to cross my legs. Everytime I sit down I have to hold my vagina as it will make a sound. I am having a posterior and vaginal repair on Monday and am absolutely scared. I need my perineum reconstructed, absolutely nothing left separating my vagina from my anus. very sad really. I didn't put up with the symptoms for very long. Noticed air coming out about a year ago after sex but not every day movement. Then in May I got frequency, then bladder spasms. I worked full time and found that the position I was sitting in made my back especially lower back flare up to the point of the end of the day not being able to walk. I recently lost my job due to telling them I need surgery so have rested this week. and guess what not as much air and back pain pretty much gone. I am having the discharge too. Never had discharge before except for mid cycle. Very strange every day my knickers are covered in white discharge. No odour so put it down to the prolapse. Very strange how things come on so quickly. My surgeon said that he may not be able to fix the flatus. But OMG if it doesn't help I think I will be absolutely devastated. It will ruin my life and will not be able to work again. I have worked full time all my life and been very independent. anyway I will let everyone know how I go on Monday.....so scared.....and dont really want to be in hospital until Friday. Fingers crossed. Take care everyone and thanks again everyone for posting what happens after the op. much appreciated.

Good Luck Jodichloe. I really hope they are able to do everything you wish for. Don't be scared about the op though. Mine wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected. Just rest LOTS after because it is quite a slow recovery, and it will probably feel even slower if you are a naturally busy person who has always worked. We'll be thinking of you on Monday!