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!!

[suzy75]

Good luck ladies! hope all goes well for you! S x

[Rectdownunder]

Wow it seems weid, three of you are going to be away for a bit until you are home and ready to tell all. I hope all is well for all three of you. I think you are 7 hours ahead of me, so that means jewel is going in fairly soon as it is already Thursday there. I will be in the same position next Thursday, starting to get a bit anxious now. Have lots to do to keep my mind off of it though.

Missing, glad you are still off work for a bit, that is great for you. Do you still think that the TVT might not have worked for the leakage? I want so bad for that procedure to work above everything else. The success rate is only 80% and of the 20% left, 10% feel some improvement, 5% feel slight improvement and 5% have absolutely no improvement. Out of 100 woman 1 will have a total disaster and end up with vaginal erosion which I understand is devastating. Thbese are factual stats I got from my doc and looked it up online with the company manufacturing the sling.

The horror stories regarding lawsuits were towards a manufacturer from 8-10 years ago. The tape was not designed with mesh type holes and this caused the tape to erode the urethra over time and left woman completely incontinent. It actually killed the tissues it rested against because it was a solid unbreathabble tape. The TVts designed now are breathable mesh, allowing tissues to adhere to it nad become part of it without causing tissue death.


Well that's all I know, sorry for the long post, just had a lot to get down, haven't been in touch always this past week.

[MegGriffin]

Hello, i'm back!
I came home yesterday afternoon so only 2 nights in thank goodness.
I went in Monday at 7:30 and went down to theatre at about 10:15 (I was second on the list). When I saw the surgeon he told me I also had posterior and uterine prolapse but not as bad as cystocele. I tild him do what you need to even hysterectomy if necessary as I would prefer not to come back. In the end he only did the anterior repair as he said others not too bad.
I was put to sleep at 11am and woke up in recovery at 1pm. As my bleeding was not too much they did not pack me. I had a large sanitary pad which they left between my legs and checked and changed regularly.
I was severly uncomfortable with the catheter and needed lots of pain relief until I was comfortable. They removed that Tuesday morning and gave me a bed bath. later that day I walked gingerly to the toilet and sat on it, feeling like my insides might fall down it (they didn't!)
I was lucky in that I had no nausea and started to eat and drink so the drip was removed and felt much more comfortable and was able to move around a bit more in bed.
I came home with Lactulose, co-codamol and ibuprofen. I had a BM last night (it was like having a baby including labour before hand ) but didnt really hurt. I have heeded the warnings about the codeine and constipation so will only use them if in a lot of pain.
Need to lie down now as I am typing this laying on my side in bad and really tired already! Hope the others are going well and can't wait to hear their stories. It's funny, all the magazines and books, puzzle books I packed I didnt need in the end as I was too zonked to concentrate!
Im sure I will have more questions but im not thinking straight at the moment x

[Flowers40]

Well done Meg, glad its all over for you, now rest and take care of yourself xx

[Rectdownunder]

Good for you Meg, I hope I am as brave as you were. Just reading your post got me very nervous for next week. I also plan to let the doctor know prior to surgery, to do whatever he feels is necessary to fix me. I am having the posterior repair and the TVT. I think that my cystocele is really a lot worse than he thinks, but then I don't really have any others to compare it to.

Keep us posted as you feel up to it, but you're recovery is #1 right now, so take it easy.

Glad to hear your story.

[MegGriffin]

Rect sorry didn't want to make you nervous. I am glad I had it done even though it's early days. They take great care of you in hospital. Don't be afraid to tell them if you are in pain as they tend to start small (paracetamol) but are happy to give you more on top of it as required. I had more lots .

[MegGriffin]

Thanks flowers

[jewellerymum]

I told you I'd do this - woke up an hour ago and here I am with an update!!! LoL - they unfortunately couldn't surgically remove my iPhone!
I feel surprisingly well. Perhaps that's all thedrugs!
They just did a rectocele repair. Haven't spoken to surgeon yet but it all seems to have gone to plan.
My only discomfort is heartburn (which I'm sure is due to not eating for a while) and I hate the catheter. It doesn't hurt but is just 'odd'!!
So, so far so good!
Staying in tonight and then home tomorrow all being well
A little apprehensive about how I feel when the cocktail of drugs wears off but apart from that it's all fine!
Love to all x

[MegGriffin]

Wow jewelry I bow down to you. I was totally away with the fairys for the first 24 hours! Glad it went well and keep us updated!

[jewellerymum]

I know! I'm really surprised too! I'm wondering whether they've actually done anything! 4 hours since I woke up and I have a very light ache low down in my tummy a big like a mild period pain. Maybe he went in and didn't think it needed doing!!! If not for thd catheter I think I would've been happy going home but it's good for hubbie to have a nice quiet night!
One moan - I flipping hate plastic NHS beds! I'm so blinking hot and have to keep peeling myself off it despite the sheet between me and it!! Lol
Right book reading time
X x x x x

[MegGriffin]

You are a good advert for surgery. Long may it continue.

[Rectdownunder]

Wow! Jewel and Meg, you too are amazing, maybe I'll be so lucky too. So tell me, what drugs did you settle with in the Hosp.? Were you nervous just before going in? I think I am most nervous about having the spinal block, when they put the needle in my back, don't know what to expect. Hope the sedatives are good!

The next most unnerving part is having the 1st and perhaps 2nd, 3rd , 4th, etc. BMs.

Well I have less than a week to wait Talk to you soon.

[jewellerymum]

16 hours post op and still amazed at how well I feel!
I arrived yesterday at 12 but didn't go to anaesthetic until 3.15. By then I was a wreck but kept the tears back!!
Was chatting to one nurse while another injected into canula on back of my hand. My face went a little pin prickly and then I woke up in recovery. 4.20pm wasn't award of any tube - she said I spat it out!
For ten minutes I talked and talked to the recovery nurse like a nutcase as I was so glad I was alive! Had trouble keeping my eyes open bug was awake.
At 4.30 I was back on the ward all smiles and on the phone to my mum and dad!
Right - medication - one lot of Morphine, diclofenic and paracetamol to start with at 2pm
Then at 10pm last night had more diclo and para but refused codeine
Also blood thinner injection

This morning have just had para

Pretty much I have no pain!
The catheter was not fun to start with as I felt like I was erring myself but soon this sensation went and I wasn't aware of any fluids moving and it was wonderful to fill my body full of lpads of water and not have to keep weeing!
By 5 this morning I had had enough of it was achey and it was takenout at 6am. Ouch!!! Flippin heck. Glad it only took a second as it stung like merry hell!
Two and a bit hours and not been for wee yet. Passing wind (sorry TMI).
Virtually no bleeding - no packing - just a pad but only one while in bed.
I am being realistic I am sure I will have more pain and bleeding when I move round more but I am genuinely surprised at how well feel

Just waiting to see what the surgeon has to say and what he's actually done. Can't feel any perineal stitches so think it's all interior. Perhaps it only needed one or two?
I'll let you all know
Big kisses to all esp this weeks patients! Hope yours doing ok Meg and Footle
Xxxxxxxx

[MegGriffin]

Rect, I has morphine in recovery room then on the ward had paracetamol and oral morphine and/or diclophenac (sp?) I dont know if having an anterior repair may be different with regards to BM but I did not have pain as such. It is difficult as you dont want to 'push' it out through fear of bursting stiches or pain. I sat there for ages, then stood up, then sat down, rubbed my back etc. I had a few fase alarms where I thought I was going to poo and instead did a massive fart . After, my stomach ached but not too terrible. I think the lactulose makes you windy but it is helping to soften things. I also had one dose of senocot in hospital.
I know it's easy to say but don't worry too much as they really do take good care of you.

[jewellerymum]

Sorry for all the spelling mistakes. Predictive text is a pain! Hope you can figure out what I mean!

[MegGriffin]

Jewel, my first wee was red with blood. No one warned me about that!

[Rectdownunder]

Why is the first wee bloody? The BM issue is going to be so scarey, that I really don't know if I will eat until I am healed. I can remember postpartum how painful having a BM was. Probably for the first two months. I had it with all 6 of my children. It seemed like when the stool was entering the rectal area I could feel a horrible stabbing pain inside that would not pass until I passed the stool completely. It was horrible. It was probably due to intestines going back to their place after delivery and all the bruising feeling along the rectal muscle area. Knowing that they are now cutting the vaginal wall right along the rectal muscle and then sewing that back together, I am terrified for the pain afterwards during a BM. I almost passed out having a BM after my kids were born, this is going to be awful. I am not too wimpy, had children without pain med during labour. i guess there is nothing I can do about it, whatever happens, happens.

Keep healing ladies!

[MegGriffin]

Rect, hopefully jewellerymum will have a positive story about post surgery BM as she has had the same exact procedure as you.
I had the blood I think fron the catheter. Each wee I had, had less in it until after about 4 or so wees it was fine except if blood dripped from my wound in to the toilet bowl. The first couple of wees you do after the procedure, you collect for them so they can make sure your bladder is not retaining urine. When I did the first one i was shocked as it had lots of blood (was totally red) but the nurse looked very casual about it and said that it didn't worry her. I assume it was from the catherter removal although she didn't say and I didn't ask.

[MegGriffin]

For those ladies that have had this done - I have an ache from my waist down throughout my whole abdomen a bit like period pain. Can anyone tell me if this is normal please? I expect they pushed and pulled my insides about whilst they were in there?

[MissingMySleep]

Jewell - that is just what I did, I woke up from the op and was so glad to be alive I stroked the recovery nurses face saying "thank you, thank you" cos I was so happy - when I sobered up I was quite embarrassed...!

Rect, I think, I hope, the TVT has worked, sometimes I think argh no it hasnt then other times I don't go for ages and am sure its perfect, so I am at the moment refusing to think anything negative and let myself not worry for another 6 weeks. I am sure I have improvement but until I am back to normal activity levels I just can't really tell for sure. Even if I have some improvement but not 100% then I will still be happy. I refuse to be one of the 1%!!

What you have described there, the pre poo pain, that is the worst part of this for me BUT its only been when I have taken the codeine, so if you eat piles of veg, dates and so on, and skip the codeine as much as poss you might be ok. I am eating lots of salad, mushrooms etc at the mo and its very effective!

My first wee only had a bit of blood in it, I think everyone's different and as you pee in a bowl so they can check you are outputting properly, the nurse will be checking it and so will tell you if there's anything worrisome. After a catheter for a day, with me drinking everything I could, my first wees were HUGE it was great fun after tiny wees for the last 5 years

good recovery ladies, it's all onwards and upwards from here xx

[MegGriffin]

Missing, did you get general abdominal ache like period pains during your recovery?

[jewellerymum]

Meg - I have the same pain
From my waist downwards - including my lower back
I am little more uncomfortable today but am back home now and had to walk to the car etc etc.
I am already stressing about BMs - I feel that it is there low down in my bowel but I dont have a huge urge to go yet and so would only do it with straining! The slightest straining makes me bleed so I just avoiding it for now - taking lactulose, drinking as much as poss!
TBH I think the majority of my 'tummy' pain is that I need a poo!!!!
Hoping that some more lactulose tonight and a good sleep will lead to a movement in the morning!!!
Still feeling OK but the initial 'wow' has worn off a little now I am home and am realising it wont be easy with the healing and trying no to do stuff! My mum has told me to stay in my Pjs all weekend to remind people that I am ill!
Think I will!
Kisses to all
x

[MegGriffin]

jewel, that's exactly the same I have got so must be normal. I found with the BM was to wait until the urge was strong, then it comes naturaly without too much pushing. I have been eating fruit/sultanas and drinking lots of liquids and with that and the lactlose have been ok. Don't get stressed about it as the more you realx the easier it will be!

[jewellerymum]

Thanks Meg - I know it's just as much about mental as it is physical!!!!
When you worry about something it makes it worse! The fresh blood when I go for a wee makes it more scarey!!!

Footle??? Where are you? We need to hear from you to complete this weeks patient updates! Hope you are OK. Love to hear from you when you are able x x x

[MissingMySleep]

Re the abdominal pain I just cant remember. I took a lot of pain killers so think that probably masked it, then I suffered for that (the painkillers) later when I finally had BMs

to be honest all the abdominal pain was poo pain, and it was grim so eat that lettuce, that fruit, ladies!!

and yes, stay in your pjs for the first week and if poss, stay upstairs!! I was like a mad lady in the attic, didnt go downstairs till one week after op

have a good restful day ladies, and hope footle is ok xx