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!!

[Rectdownunder]

Footle, I hope you are okay. Post when you can.

Well I was at my daughter's grad last night and her friend's mom told me about her surgery for cystocele repair from 12 years ago. I am thinking that a TVT sounds much better. She had her op done from the lower pelvic area. They stitched her ligaments that hold up the bladder and urethra back to their original spot. After she was done, she couldn't wee on her own, so they put the catheter back in and she went home with it and had it in for 2 weeks. Got an infection from it and felt rather housebound, she refused to go out with the bag hanging from her leg. Anyway, it did work for her, but now she told me she has to have it done again. I told her they have less invasive ways to fix it now. She wants a hysterectomy to stop bleeding, but they won't do one. I told her about endometrial ablation. Now she wants to go in and have both things done. She was really happy she fixed her bladder and would do it again. By the way, she had 4 kids and she does a lot of heavy lifting on the farm, that's why her repair has worn out. She is in her late 40s.

I am getting nervous I think I can't seem to get a good nights sleep. I am tired, but keep getting up early in the morning and I hate mornings, would sleep in till 9 everyday if I could, but I have been getting up at 5:00 a.m. I feel kind of queazy and nervous a lot of the time. Oh I hope I don't chicken out at the last minute.

Happy healing!

[jewellerymum]

A bit up and down today!
Was silly of me to think yesterday that I was 100% so soon!!
Slept really well after my first toilet traumas (sorry TMI). Tbh my main worries today have been BMs!! Once I started I was going every few hours! Have cut back on the lactulose!! It is just terrifying every time you feel the urge because of stressing the stitches. There has been fresh blood but only a little and none in-between toilet visits.
Was a bit teary this morning as I realised that I have a big row of stitches in my vagina!! And will have for a few weeks! Fortunately they are all internal so sitting is not a problem.
My round up for today is that I have been uncomfortable, like period pain and the second half of today have become aware that I am sore inside. Pain is only a 4 out of 10. My bowels have been gurgling gurgling gurgling all day and BMs are more worrying than painful!
Not sure how many days I can sit on the sofa for, but also realise that after 5 mins of puttering around the house I ache and gave to sit again!
Think my lovely husband is already over the novelty of having to look after me plus his hayfever has kicked in today so he is like a bear with a sore head! Looking forward to boys going to school on Monday as am finding the noise a bother! ( although they are trying hard to be angels)
I guess I spent so long worrying about the op and the general anaesthetic that I failed to think about having a few weeks of stitches in my you know what! It would be easier to have a broken leg, at least then you look like you should be sat on you'd bum all day!
But, for the ease of the op and the fact that the pain isn't too major I would recommend the op definitely. I even think it felt different going to the loo today, already (TMI warning) like it kind of shot out! It didn't go round any corners of get lost at a dead end so to speak!
Long way to go but I know it's do-able !!!
Much love x x

[Rectdownunder]

Jewel, You sure have a good grasp on what and why you're feeling the way you are. I think I will feel quite depressed afterwards, I don't like feeling useless and I definitely like to feel more comfortable physically than I will after the surgery.
I am getting nervous now as my busy time with work and committments are done. Now I have to get the laundry done and clean the house and plant the gaarden and have three days to do that. What did you do to keep busy just before surgery?

Well I am going to bed. Keep me poster.

D

[MegGriffin]

Hi girls. I'm on day 6 after surgery today. This time last week it was the day before my op.
I woulld say my pain is about 4 as well so long as I keep taking the pain killers. One thing i learned at my expense was to keep them going so the pain does not build up otherwise it's harder to keep under control. I am still alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol and save my co-codamol for bed time if I can. I am having 5ml of lactulose 3 times a day and that, with fresh orange juice and fruit etc so far has kept them soft enough to pass without too much trauma. Jewel, youre right about the gurgling and wind flying around your insides. Mine feel like there is something moving around in there sometimes. Must be the lactulose.
I still have some bleeding but only like that of the end of a period. I also have watered down blood when I wipe after a wee but it's slowly becoming less and less.
I have a period due in the next week or two so will have to contend with that using sanitary towels, nice!.
I am still lying down quite a lot but that is because I fing being upright quite uncomfortable, especially sitting. That is also slowly improving with time.
My mum and dad have visited every day and keep saying do you feel better yet? I think it's going to be hard for people to understand it will take weeks until we feel better although at least now I can report small improvements.
Jewel, my DH has so far been fab but I do wonder how long it will be before he feels the burden of being 'mum' and doing all the little things I would normally do.
Rect, you will be absolutely fine! This time next week it will all be over!
With regards to footle, I onder if they kept her in over the weekend? I overheard someone say in hospital that if you don't get discharged on the Friday you have to stay till Monday as there is no Consultant to discharge you over the weekend? Don't know if thats applicable in every hospital though.
Keep your chins up ladies xx

[jewellerymum]

Rect, please try not to worry too much - Yes, I was terrified before I went in - sat in the ward waiting with my head in my hands asking why o why I was doing it! In the anasthetic room I was virtually in tears, shaking and questioning what I was doing, but it really really isnt that bad.
I would say that the whole process is more drawn out and long winded than anything. Recovery will take quite a long time but this will be at a low level of discomfort! My parents and Grandma visited today and I talked candidly to them about what is was like before and when I said that for the last three years I was having to manually 'help' with BMs, was worried every time I was intimate that I would have an 'accident' I realised why I had this done!
There is no guarantee that this will work but I cant be any worse than I was!
Your symptoms are not life threatening.
You CAN live without this operation.
It WILL be difficult for a few weeks.
It will be unfomfortable and be sore.
By by goodness Rect, don't you think you deserve a better quality of life?
As far as I am concerned you only get one go at all this - why spend all this time feeling so wretched!
Someone can fix this for you. Let them!
X X X X
And do ANYTHING you can to keep busy for the next few days - regrout the bathroom, clean out your kitchen cupboards, wash the curtains! I loved coming home to an extraordinarily clean house!!! LOL
Hugs X X X X

[jewellerymum]

Plus, Rect, please accept this as a very small virtual kick up the bum - you need to go into this with a positive attitude - It will go well. I will cope with the pain. I will heal quickly. My life will improve.
Stop thinking that you will be depressed otherwise you are plotting the outcome! No one likes to feel useless but get prepared with stuff to do afterwards that you can do sitting down. I am using my laptop a lot. Preparing new things for my website, making jewellery on a tray. Colouring in (yes I know its kids stuff but i love it!), doodling, reading, knitting, puzzles and you can sleep! If you're already lying down you may as well!
x

[Rectdownunder]

Jewel, you're absolutely right. I will be more positive. I can work on many things sitting down. I am a photographer and am designing a new website as well. I do love to knit and have a project started. I will have plenty of things to do for sure. I just feel bad that it is not the things in particular that need to be done is all. I wait out every long winter to finally be able to go outside and garden and well it will be delayed this year and I won't be able to do the gardening I did last year. Gotta go, company at the door. talk soon!

[Rectdownunder]

I'm back, company's left. Trying to remain in a better frame of mind. I just find myself feeling sickly and nervous in the stomach, I really can't control it. It might be partly premenstrual as I am close to my period, which doesn't help any under these circumstances. I know I will get to the hospital and act like nothing is bothering me, but inside I will be feeling rather beside myself emotionally. I am actually tired of waiting for the outcome, I just want to deal with it and get it over with. I know then I will feel better about things, even if I'm in pain. I am really hoping for my surgery to be booked in the early morning. I won't know until I phone in the night before. The biggest reason is I drink a lot of water and I find it really difficult to go that many hours without water, the later in the day I am the longer I feel thirsty. The other reason of course is feeling nervous while I wait out the day. I know I will deal with it, just want it to happen already.

Bye for now

[jewellerymum]

Everything you are describing is completely normal! If you didn't feel thi way I'd be worried. Times flys and before you know it you'll be day 4 like me. It will go so fast! You cannot remove you nerves, I get that, just make sure you remain in control! You won't turn round and do a runner because you need this and you've waited for it! Nerves are a simple human reaction to the unknown. Now get those last seedlings planted, fill the freezer with yummy food and get yourself ready! I'm going back to bed! Because I can!

[MissingMySleep]

Rect, its so normal to feel like that, I think we all did. Mad cleaning is great. Imagine, you will be fixed and everything will be lovely...! but it will take time.

[Rectdownunder]

Thanks jewel and missing! You guys would understand and I believe you. I will clean my house for the next couple of days as it needs it and it is a huge house, so lots to clean here. Wind has calmed down finally and so the garden can be done today. My husband has the greenhouse set up so I when I feel better I can go out and water the plants without lifting heavy water jugs. I am curious about how long it will take before I can make that walk out to the garden and greenhouse. I is about 100 meters from the house down a little hill. I can see it from my bedroom balcony, so that is nice too. I will not push myself though as hubby is totally capable of taking things while I'm laid up. So jewel, can I ask you what your website is? I would love to see your jewellery. Thanks again, you ladies are wonderful.

D

[jewellerymum]

Hi Rect. You'll be able to walk short distances, but will need to sit down as soon as you get whereever you'e going! It will make you ache, like a heavy dragging feeling but it wont damage you as long as it is just a short potter. I am avoiding walk as much as possible but have been up and down stairs to the loo and around the house. I would be concerned about you lifting even little jusgs of water tho!!!!
A week or two of sitting seems like a long time but it will go quickly!
I know that it is really daughnting (sp?) but once you have decided that enough is eough you just have to grit your teeth and take the plunge!

I'll PM you my website as I wouldn't want anyone to think i was shamelessley advertising! There isn't that much stock on there, but enjoy your browsing!!!
Em
x

[Rectdownunder]

Thanks Em. re: website and info. I won't be lifting water jugs at all. He is putting large buckets of water in the greenhouse with an old well ladel in it. It holds about 2 cups of water and I will just scoop the water in the plant pots that are in the greenhouse. There is a lawn chair in there too, so I can sit when I get there. I like sitting in the greenhouse, smells so fresh and it is warm, makes me feel good. I believe that I have convinced myself that I will take it really easy for the first month for sure and just ease back into activity slowly. I don't want to end up overdoing it and setting myself back. I have a wedding to photograph on July 23rd. I must be ready for a big day by then, so I just have to take it easy and heal. Talk to you later.
D

[Rectdownunder]

Hi Footle, glad you are out there, was getting worried. Don't worry about us, just yet, but nice of you to brief yourself on the goings on. I have the nervous feeling pretty much every time I think about another three days, but I am dealing with everything the best way I can. I am not obsessed about it though. I have lots to do for now, so can't wait to hear from you soon.

D

[jewellerymum]

Yey! Footle x x x

[MegGriffin]

Hello Footle, glad you're back. xx

[MissingMySleep]

Hi Footle glad you're back, hope it all went well and you are ok.

[MrsBonkers]

Ladies, you've all been so brave and done so well.
Rect, you will do well too. You have loads of positive vibes coming from us here.
Listening to your recovery stories has made my mind up for me; I'm not going to pursue the surgery route until my dd is older. She's only 10 months and there's no way I could rest the way you're meant to post op'.
Guess I'll have to find other ways of coping for a while.
I do find it heartening to know there is a solution out there though.x.

[Rectdownunder]

Footle, sounds like things are going well, was concerned about what might have happened. So is it routine to stay in hospital as long as you had. I don't think here in Canada they let you stay in very long, which is fine by me as I feel more comfortable at home.
I spent the entire day cleaning, planting garden, organizing, hanging pictures and doing all those things I have procrastinated for so long. I feel great now for having done all that. I have a whole new list for tomorrow and Wednesday.
I am also trying to prepare my bowels for post-op, so I have been eating extra fiber and drinking extra water. I thought it might help for the first bowel movement.
I take tramadol when my fibromyalgia and arthritis are acting up. It is a pretty good drug and is less constipating, I will try to manage without them, but I know me, if it really hurts I'm begging for drugs.
A couple of questions for anyone, did they shave any of the area down there? How long after surgery did the first BM come?
MrsBonkers, sorry that you will have to put off surgery until later, but caring for your child is important. Perhaps we can advise you in some way on dealing with the difficulties until then. I have had my rectocele and cystocele for over 6 years now. I found ways to manage, but now I am definitely tired of it.

That's all for now, take care all.

[MegGriffin]

Hello all hope you are ok this morning?
Can I start with a post op question please. It's a bit TMI i'm afraid.. My blood loss I have at them moment smells a bit funny but i'm not sure if it is meant to smell a bit or if i have an infection. Could anyone post op help me with this please?
Also I have been told I will need 6 - 8 weeks off work but the hospital only sighed me off for 2. Does anyone know if I have to see the doctor to get more sick notes or if can ring the surgery and not have an appointment. It all seems a bit of a waste of time when the consulltant tells me I need x amount off but then only signs me off for 2 weeks. I will ring and ask but just wondered what other peoples experience are. Also it seems i'm not going to get a follow up with the consultant according to the paper work??
MrsBonkers, 10 month olds are hard work and I understand why you would want to wait until they are a bit older. You can always change your mind at any time as well.
Footle so good to hear you are ok and home. Isn't it lovely to be in your own bed, with your own toilet etc..