Rectocele & Repairs continued....

[CAZ1958]

Rectocele & Repairs...continuation

Hiya Ladies...
Don't know if this will work, above is the Subject Title
Don't want to lose my friends.
Will come back with a link if poss !!!
Fingers crossed
ZZZ

That was a complete waste of time, I'm so angry and disappointed.

I can't stop crying.

The Dr only seem interested in the bladder problems, she sat filling in a sheet. Anything else I mentioned wasn't written down.

She examined me using a spectlum (sp) and did an internal scan on my ovaries. She said my proplaspe wasn't too bad. I said about the pain I am in constantly and she said a prolapse shouldn't be painful. I asked her where the pain was coming from and she just looked at me. She didn't even feel my tummy.

She wants me to have urodynamics done again (I had it done before my TVT) and is referring me to the Dr who did my TVT. She is also referring me to the continence clinic, I have been there before I don't need to be told everything again.

She said "I'm sure losing contol of your bowels is embarassing" I said yes of course and she smiled at me

I feel so let down, I've always had a good word about any Drs I've seen but this was ridiculous.

Oh Coco this seems so unfair, my heart goes out to you....dont buy the pain thing, I know I mentioned to my consultant about the pain and dragging feeling that I had in my lower back, sacral area and bowel, his reply was that " well hopefully we will get this all sorted out for you and you will feel better . No more discomfort" while he did not say it is your prolapse the whole inference was that it was related. I was told that my prolapse was not that bad or my cystocele but when taken together causes more problem, so hence all the work done at once?? definately inequality in treatment across the uk..Was the original consultant anymore sympathetic?. Wait until her referal letter has been sent and call his/her secretary to get a quicker apt. In my experience if you shout loud enough you get..... I would always be reticent about doing this but after all you hear on this forum dont think I would hesitate now xxx sending some love.
Maisied -I am 10wks post op now, and at your stage did have a lot of pain was really not prepared when this happened though all the stitching had unravelled and my insides felt as if they were faling out, cried all the time wondering why I had done this to myself lol why could I not have left well alone, thought my poor hubby was gonna need to run off and get himself a new wife( to which he was horrified I even could think this) felt really irrational x . still have an odd moment like that when my TVTo is bothering me or when I am worried about the dreaded pooing lol its like a 1960's b movie ( The Blob Bob) .
Surewoman- Sorry I got a bit mixed up thought you had your whole op done privately x but I do find it really difficult to understand why some of these ops are done in day surgery? They are quite invasive proceedures with a lot of complications. Beats me how they can monitor things like urinary retention and incomplete voiding in a short space of time ?? I dont know the set up of other day surgeries but have worked briefly in the one in our General hospital and would not think these things would be considered. Even the insertion of TVT alone is done as inpatient here. I was not allowed out of hospital until I had managed to open my bowels which meant in total a 5 day stay in hospital.
Anyway keep well all x

Thanks for the kind words. She gave me a new prescribtion for bladder tablets, I've opened the letter and she has circled 'staff grade'. so not only was she not a consultant she wasn't a registar either!

All's she done is refer me to a consultant who I should have been seeing anyway?

The last time I went to A&E they were referring to the same consultant, maybe it would come through before hers, who knows.

I have phoned a clinic to book an appointment with a gyna dr who special interest is pelvic pain. I don't know what the outcome will be.

i'm so confused, I just want to feel better and go back to work.

Oh Coco - I really feel for you, and totally understand the despair you are going through. I seem to permanently have the sensation that 'they' are all in the 'know' and can't be bothered to fill us in as to WTF is going on with our bodies. Why do they even start mucking about with our vaginas if they then can't be bothered to see it all through to a positive result? I feel like we are being experimented on so in 10 years time they might know what they are talking about.

Yesterday, when I left my wast-of-time appointment having asked what he intended to do now about my bladder problems, I remembered I'd forgotton to ask whether I could start exercising/sport although I am STILL full of stitches - he replied oh yes of course, whatever you like, so I said "swimming?" er, yes, "jogging" er, no, and as he walked off I said "what about skiing?" er, I wouldn't think so; so I then called after him as he was walking away "actually skiing wouldn't be good 'coz I'd have wet myself before I got to the bottom of the slope!!" Don't know whether he got my very unsubtle hint, but he looked embarassed a wee bit!

They really don't take into account the psychological impact of all of this - if it happened to men we would never hear the end of it "poor man can't have sex, he's lost his manhood" "imagine being incontinent at 40, poor man, how awful for him, how degrading.." "he must feel totally useless now he's lost the function of his willy".... i could go on and on... xxx

Hang in there Coco - you will get answers but you may well have to push for them xx

If she'd told me she wasn't a consultant and what her purpose was I might not have felt so let down. really her lack of interest/knowledge was staggering.
It's not like me just to burst into tears, I'd argue the point with anyone!

I agree if this was happening to men they'd be no waiting lists!

Hello everyone, have posted here once before but read with interest as I'm getting a referral with a view to possibly having something done about my bladder and rectal prolapse. The bladder doesn't seem too bad 9 no incontinence but have urgency when I need to go) but the rectal one is now really large, almost hanging out of me sometimes. I'm finding managing my toilet stops kind of challenging at the moment.
I was assessed a number of years ago for surgery but the (private) surgeon was too vague for my liking. I was wondering if I should try going NHS as you ladies seem to think they are better.
Actually any advice would be very welcome.

Hi all!

Surewoman, You are justified in needing to "rant", I could have cried for you when I read this. It has helped to fire me up again, re: getting a journalist to help fight our cause!
Cocopelew, same as surewoman, we are still not being listened to! "I'm sure losing contol of your bowels is embarassing" WHAT AN UNDERSTATEMENT! How can someone else just dismiss our pain, embarrassment, loss of normality? I couldn't believe what the colorectal surgeon had said to me (and that he threw away the evidence of what I was passing!).

I had an interesting/frustrating phone call this morning! The MRI dept. rang to offer me a contrast MRI on my bowel (I hope, as my vagina is not, at present, giving me any problems of it's own), but when I told her it conflicts with seeing an Orthopaedic surgeon, at another hospital, she said "which one do you want?", so I had to choose this bowel scan, and ring to delay the other appointment, as I have waited so long for them to even look in the right place!
My sister has said I should complain, as they could have offered me a different time, so both areas could carry on being dealt with. I am in so much constant pain, I don't know which way to turn, most days. he other hospital said they cannot offer me another Ortho appointment for another 2 months, but gave me the number of his secretary, to see if she can help (she's not in until Monday, so fingers crossed!
Has anyone else contacted Ms Brosely, at the Guardian? I think we need all the help we can get!
My husband and I have often jested? that they won't establish the cause of my problem, until I end up on a pathologist's slab! (sorry, dark humour, but I do get some very bleak days!)

Surewoman, I've just read your bit about the consultant, and Skiing, and thought "isn't it amazing, that someone intelligent enough to be a surgeon, can't grasp the seriousness of the situation!"

I wonder if anyone has ever done prison time for the effect of these "professionals" on their lives? It has to make you think, doesn't it?

Should have Ms Bosely, sorry for mis-spelling.

Coco- funny when I was reading your post I did think to myself Bet she hasnt seen the consultant just the registrar...but hey even that is bad enough but the staff grade. I went to an opt clinic once and refused to see the staff grade( you should have seen thelook on her face :) ) I said no I would like to see cons who most definately was sitting in next room splitting the work so to speak x Try push that other apt xxx

Warning of TMI coming up .....(!)

Just been brave and had a little feel - loads of wire-like stitches all the way up. My cervix feels enormous (why?????) quite near the entrance and very tender and aches a lot. Had to force my way past an enormous cystocele/urethrocele (?) and still have a lump where the rectocele was. Anyone else had similar??

Just booked an appointment for Dr next week and have phoned major consultant (family friend who turns out to be uro/gynae specialising in pelvic floor issues) and left a message.

Having had a very good look through all my notes again, Consultant wrote in his original letter in July last year that I was down for anterior and posterior (and TVT-o 4-6 months later) but now won't talk about the anterior repair (or lack of it). It also said in the pre-op information leaflet that I would be able to talk through all possible procedures dependent on what they find during surgery on the day, prior to operation, with the consultant - didn't get to see anyone other than registrar who hadn't a clue.
I was sent for a scan pre-op and the results of this were not even looked at until I demanded to see the consultant in December - showed I also had a uterine prolapse and beginnings of fibroids (reckon I should have had a hysterectomy too!!!).
My personal post-op instructions clearly state that all stitches should dissolve between 7-10 days and I am now 84 days (big difference).

My agony over stitches last week has still not been explained as the consultant couldn't find the results of the swabs, only the pre-op ones for Saturday op (which he then cancelled) which had been taken in the arthroscopy unit and he asked me if I'd just had knee surgery (Der...!). Still don't know for sure if it was an infection (although after anti-biotics I am a lot less sore).

I am going mad with all this ....Argh

Sorry to keep writing such long posts - helping me arrange my notes/memory !! before I speak to the main man in gynae!! - i shall print it all off now!!! xxx

Nanaslyv (guru) - it's too much sex that's the at the root of all your problems !! Only kidding, I really feel for you and your never ending saga x Keep positive x

Fivehourssleep - go NHS but demand that you see a uro/gynae that specialises in pelvic floor issues and prolapse, or you will be shunted from pillar to post like us! (...and welcome back x)

surewoman that's shocking, 84 days! Do you think the put non-dissovling ones in by mistake?

Sorry if I don't reply to some people but by the time I've read more than one post I've forgotten who's who

Surewoman, it's been so long, that my memories are fading into the distance, and I will need a manual, if I ever get started again! lol What is this thing sex"?

How's the knee surgery going? haha

Cocopelew, the posts have become so interesting, I have to keep copying/pasting/referring to as I work down the page.

Should we find some way of flooding the NHS intranet with all the information on symptoms/life-effects they don't note down, when we talk to them, have their hearing checked (as they obviously have hearing problems), deny them access to toilet facilities until they feel the embarrassment we experience on a daily basis, put chastity belts on them, so they get to miss their sex-lives?

I have decided that all of this must be affecting my brain, as I am now finding the whole situation laughable (in a black comedy kind of way).
Should we be getting Jo Brand to take up the cause, she's the right age (for many of us), afraid of nothing (I bet she could make the surgeons grasp the situation), and everyone listens to her! I bet no-one has ever told her that her life was unimportant - and got away with it! Mind you, I'm not sure BBC/ITV could handle this one!

Sorry to be glib, but I feel like they all need shooting today, and I'd rather laugh, than give in to it!

Best wishes to all!
Keep your chins up ladies!

Nannasylv - you do make me laugh . Jo Bland would be absolutely hysterical to listen to on this subject!!!!! And Jenny (?) - the one with the white hair and glasses (?).

Am feeling absolutely fab right now (no its not the big glass of celebratory wine I just downed) - Main Uro/Gynae man just rang me back !!! How I love him!!! He listened to everything (even the lump in my throat as I fought back the tears) and said that I'd probably been given the kind of sutures that have been likened to a barbed wire fence (which he obviously does not recommend) that take months to dissolve, and would I like to go and see him on Monday for a second opinion and some answers to my questions; And, that I have obviously been fobbed off, and that it was not really correct to call me in for surgery on Saturday and then not even bother to look at me on Thursday.. Such a nice guy; asked if I needed to go through my GP and he said don't bother, it would take months, and as he worked in the same trust as my other consultant, could access my notes straight away. Hooray, hooray - lots!!!! At last someone wants to listen...

We even talked about fibroids (v. v. common and no need for hysterectomy) and that uterine prolapse is most often responsible for bladder retention as it causes a kink in the urethra, so urodynamics test is vital before having anterior repair (and said I'd had a lucky escape that the consultant hadn't touched the cystocele without having done that first). And, this was all over the phone!!! Just goes to show that if they want to listen, they do!

So, all of you contemplating surgery - find a uro/gynae!!!! xxxx

I just looked her up, Jenny Eclair?, and what about Victoria Wood?

I know this is a rough situation, for all of us, but the image of a comedienne taking the p, out of all the a who have fobbed us off, has helped no end today.

Surewoman, it's now obvious that the saying "it's not what you know, but who you know that counts" is true! How do we get a uro/gynae, I'm lucky if I can get a referral here! When I do get one, I get fobbed off with a concerned trainee, then a consultant who believes a patronising comment, and a pat on the hand makes it all better GRRRR!

Jo Brand here I come! lol

Nannasylv, that's the one, Jenny Eclair, how hysterical would that be - it almost makes this all worth while, just for the mental image of them at it!!!! (this topic, that is! lol)

So true it's who you know. Only problem is that my 80 year old Mum sorted this out [embarassed].

I suppose it would be possible to contact one via their secretary and ask for over-the-phone advice and see what happens then? Even if it is just to talk, I felt it didn't matter that I wasn't in the same room, just someone to listen to me that could understand the emotional trauma over all of this helped a load. I did say I'd googled him to check his credentials first, and he didn't seem to mind, and he said that it was easier to access someone for a second opinion within the same trust as my original gynae as you could almost go direct without having to involve a 3rd party i.e. Dr/GP

xxx worth a try

Great mental image - Jo Brand, Jenny Eclair and Henry the Hoover!!! lol discuss prolapse and subsequent surgery!!! x

Little Britain "at the gynaecologist" (lol) i.e. 'computer says no', 'I don't think so' etc. etc.

Sorry all - I'm going to sign off; in too much of a good mood and it's all seeming sooo ridiculously sad its making me laugh so much x

That's the spirit!
I told you that today I just had to laugh about it, or I didn't know what I would have done.
I like the Henry the Hoover finish, we have half of a full sketch together already!
Computer says no, converts well to Consultant says no, don't you think?

lol like the bit about the knee op, should have told him that is correct cause any longer and thats where your bits would be sitting!!!! watch him blush then xx

Nice one, happy2beme
Sleep well all! XX

Welcome five hour, i have had difficult experiences under both NHS and private. However my private experience nearly killed me. In that week my consultant took no notice of the fact that I was bleeding heavily and collapsed in the bathroom, a friends neighbour ended up being 'blue lighted' to the .local NHS hospital and another patient died in the same week! One of the problems is being in a very private room.things happen and you can't always pull the alarm. You could be(and I was) on the floor for ages. Personally I would recommend NHS as the doctors do the operations every day and generally someone knows where you are.

Coco, did the doctor check your perineal body? I had very similar symptoms to you. I was under the impression that the Actual prolapse doesn't hurt as they said the same to me, but the perineal body splitting in two does and then that allows the bowel to fall forward. They never ask WHY these things happen do they. If they diagnose something it's a case of 'now we know what is wrong' but that is not the end of the story, why did it happen? Might be useful to know!! It exasperates me!!

Good luck everybody, I have completely lost the thread now, so much has happened! Xx