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

Hi Ladies, i havent been able to post due to a fault with my laptop (PC WORLD customer service is diabolical). Anyway the good news is that i had my surgery on the 10th Jan, TVT, Posterior repair,Perineal body reconstruction and Resection of endometrium.Everything went well and the anaesthetist explained that i would have a spinal block and a GA as this would really help with pain after surgery. I am however really disappointed that Consultant didn't do Anterior repair, during consultation he said i would need to have it done but changed his mind during surgery.I had hoped to have eveything fixed in one go and am now concerned that the cystocele will gradually get bigger and cause further problems. I really can't understand why he didn't repair it. I saw Consultant BRIEFLY the day after surgery and he said he would discuss any issues when i next see him, i have an appointment for the 28th March which is 11 weeks after surgery (is this too long to wait ? i thought it should be 6 to 8 weeks).

I must admit i wasn't prepared for the amount of pain i'm in, after the Spinal wore off it gradually got worse and now 13 days after surgery i'm in AGONY! I can't pinpoint the pain but it's a combination of stabbing, burning,dragging shooting, pulling, tugging horrendousness. I am having difficulty sitting and can only stand for short periods i am waking during the night in excruciating pain. I thought i had a high pain threshold but this is unbelievable. I phoned my GP this morning he has prescribed Tramadol, now i just have to wait for OH to finish work and collect prescription.

I hope all ladies post surgery are doing well and wish pre surgery ladies lots of luck.

Hopefully the Tramadol should sort you out.

When I was being seen 4 years ago for tvt/ablation one of the Drs mentioned had had large varicose veins on my womb. I do have vv's on my vulva (lovely) and i was wondering if my womb lining was staring to grow back, if the veins (inside) are swelling again.

I was awake last night with the pain until 3 'clock. I would describe it as a burning sensation when lying down, and this is one of the symptons of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.

Then again maybe I'm thinking too much .

Have arranged to be referred to a urogynaecologist who sees a lot of prolapses; it's her speciality and she does a lot of NHS work but we have health insurance, so I will see her privately. Maybe I will have surgery on NHS, will wait and see. Appointment is on 7th Feb, can anyone advise me about what might happen on that appointment?

Hiya Ladies....hoping that you are all as good as possible. Very hard to follow all the threads but I keep reading.

Dear Catchme....so pleased that you have come out the other side but you must be dissappointed about them not doing the anterior repair. Seriously I hope that the Tramadol works. I am 5 1/2 wks post op & had similar to you but they did the anterior as well. Had the GA & spinal & yes...the pain was a bit much. I was unlucky to get an infection a couple of weeks ago but cleared with antibiotics. Still struggling to sit properly for any length of time & stand as well without my back killing me & although I cut out all my meds I have started taking a few painkillers again as just not comfortable underneath. Still aching a lot & weeing at night a lot, just wondering if this sounds right this far along ???
The joys of being a woman !!!

Dear Fivehours...I saw a gynae con. He asked lots of question & did a gentle internal. Then discussed the way forward. Make a list of questions to take with you, it does help. My NHS hospital then directed me to all my pre-op tests & gave me my surgery date. I think that I have been very lucky & would recommend Shepton Mallet Somerset to anyone & everyone.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Hi all - just been for a 2nd opinion with uro/gynae man - what a difference to the ob/gynae consultant. He asked loads of questions, wrote everything down, 'listened' to my concerns and was really forthcoming with information.

Catchme - you are very lucky you didn't have the anterior repair as the man I saw today said that success rate is 20% because they hardly ever do extensive urodynamics tests beforehand which are absolutely vital. I was down for Anterior/Posterior/TVT-o and only got the Posterior - I had originally gone to the dr because of urine problems i.e. the cystocele. I still have the cystocele but the uro/gynae I saw today said that he wouldn't touch it at all until I have had extensive tests and that I had a lucky escape in that they didn't touch it whilst doing the posterior repair. The 'I-need-a-wee-all-the-time' scenario can have multiple sources that will only show up under extensive urodynamics testing and if this is not done, half the time surgery is carried out to 'fix' the wrong problem.
With regards to the TVT-o, he also said that this wasn't as succesful as older methods (to those that are wondering)

Following on from my stitches scenario - they used the wrong bloody thread !!! Looks like I have nylon stitches (polypropolene ?), which, as the uro/gynae said is like two rows of spikes all the way up the vagina (he also said that if this is the case I shall have to have them surgically removed as they will never dissolve!!) I knew I wasn't imagining things..... I have now been prescribed painkillers on a regular basis and he said that it is better to take painkillers regularly rather than wait until the pain gets too bad as it then has a counter effect on the healing. I have been told to take Diclofenac and paracetamol every day. He is going to ring me (personally!!!) in 2/3 days when he knows exactly which thread they used and we will take it from there.

To those that don't know the ins and outs - I had a posterior/enterocele repair 3 months ago and was told the stitches would dissolve in 7-10 days!!

Dear Caz - maybe you should try taking the painkillers regularly for a few days and see if that helps. xxxx

Catch me, good to hear it is all over. Who operated in the end? Were you in colorectal or gyny at the JR?
I hope the pain is better today, probably best to stick to the heavy painkillers for a few days and then gradually wean off and see what the situation is. I didn't have extreme pain with the posterior repair but the perineal body repair was painful, ( the nurse told me it was the most painful operation they do). Hopefully it will resolve.

Coco, I also have a varicose vein on the vulva after my first very heavy baby, it's a right pain and I don't know of anything that will relieve it, do you? Did you find my post about the perineal body?! Just wondering if this is the case for you as it sounds so similar to my symptoms. And... you can never think too much...! Thinking is good! Reading is also good, I have been told by members of the medical profession that I 'read too much' which I think is pretty insulting really. What they are really saying is 'you appear to know more than me and I don't like it'.
Good luck everyone, xx

Catchme - one more thing, the Tramadol might make you constipated, so make sure you take lactalose (or something similar to soften your stools). If, like me, you have a high pain tolerance, don't get fobbed off - ring your consultant's sec. and demand to be seen, it might be that you have an infection and need a short course of anti-biotics. I was in agony after 10 weeks (not like me at all to lose the plot and cry) but the anti-bios made a difference although there didn't appear to be an infection - was told today that the infections don't always show up on swabs as they are 'underneath' but are very common with this type of surgery.

Hope you feel better xxxx

Dear Jackie62. Thankyou..... Mr Jackson done the op at the JR, you're right the staff on the gynae ward were fantastic. It was also explained to me that recovery from Perineal repair was going to be very painful but as i said it's alot worse than i thought. Still i'm so glad that part one of my surgery is done it's been a long long wait. Not sure when 2nd op will be. I know you have had several surgeries, do you have any idea how long they like to wait between ops?

Any way how is your recovey going? well i hopex

CAZ1958. Thankyou....... Yes i'm disappointed and baffled as to why Anterior repair wasn't done. I will definitley be asking Consultant WHY? at next appointment. I do have to have further surgery so perhaps it will be done then?

SUREWOMAN. Thankyou..... As far as i'm aware i had all the urodynamic tests that are available, the outcome was that i had excellent bladder capacity but a weak sphincter, which the Consultant said would be sorted out with TVT. The Anterior repair was supposed to strengthen up the vaginal wall.
I have a good supply of Lactulose as i'm terrified at the thought of being constipated. So far so good on the BM front, although painful at least i'm not having to "help them out. Same with the TVT, so far so good NO leaking.
Thanks for the warning about infection being "underneath". i will see how i feel at the end of the week, if the pain is still horrendous i'll call Consultants secretary and get it checked out.

Catch me, glad you had a good experience on the gyny ward. I was there Sept and then over Christmas and they were great. Not sure how long they will wait between ops as my story is different.
I had surgery Sept 2010, which wasn't successful, ( colorectal, where the surgeon realised that there was something wrong and he didn't understand what), after tests I then had the posterior repair, perineal body repair, TVT and perineum repair in September 2011, and a further operation four days later when the TVT was loosened as I couldn't wee at all. Then I had problems with the TVT with,lots of pain ( all logged previously, I don't want to depress you, but it was a real problem). I then had the TVT removed completely by Natalia Price at the JR just before Christmas as it was causing unbelievable pain and problems.
I really hope that your pain will settle and you go on to make a good recovery. I recovered well from the original operation, painful, and slow but sure, but the TVT symptoms broke through when I reduced the painkillers. Having the TVT removed has been more difficult to recover from, partly because it is a major operation but also because I had been ill for two years before surgery, had three ops over the period of a year, and then had to have another. I am worn out and just getting back on my feet now after nearly 5 weeks! Keep us updated, xx

Sure, the stitch scenario sounds very similar to when I had my daughter. I was stitched all the way up in a spiral shape ( don't ever give birth standing, my baby came out like a samurai sword!) by an Egyptian doctor who was really fed up at being woken. He used something turquoise which needed to be surgical removed three weeks later, stitch by stitch...I remember it well and she is 18 now!

Hi,
I wondered whether anyone can help. I had a TVT operation in September 2010. Unfortunately, I still leak when I have sex and sometimes when I run. I'm OK when I sneeze, pick up the kids, and walk fast. I don't want to have another operation so has anyone got any advice about what my options are? I really hoped the operation was going to 'cure' me of this....

sorry I meant September 2011

Grrrrrrr it logged me out just as I tried to post and now it's gone....

Hi ladies,

Can't sleep, 2.30 am and it's 32 degrees....

So many new ladies, I can't keep up with it...

Surewoman I am amazed that surgeon is allowed to pick up a pen, totally incompetent and needs reporting for what he has put you through. Thank goodness you have found someone who knows what they are doing, I am so pleased for you. It will be great to see you finally get sorted out. Thank goodness for Mum.

Bug 40 I had tvt and repair in dec and it has not leaked at all, you don't say if you had a repair unless I missed that bit. Have you tried increasing your pelvic floor exit may help.

Caz hope you manage to get your pain back under control, you must have your post op soon good luck with that. Your not alone with having to pee during the night I have to get up too... Had my post op yesterday and didn't think to ask!

Post op went well I can resume my life was told can start pelvic floors and swimming and work up to running, bedroom department is open for business ( shame hubby's away) although a teeny bit worried about that, words like dilators and pain keep flashing in my head.

Finally went swimming today (yay) may have overdone the excercise bit just a tad (boo) I think it may have been mounting giant inflatable croc and belly sliding into the pool like a 7 yr old! Not one of my best ideas ever, think I have pulled something, hoping that I have not done any lasting damage! I am vowing to act my age for at least a week...

Hi Bruffy - nice to see you back in the land of the living x

Hi all; need some advice. The uro/gynae consultant phoned me today to say that they used very slow absorbing PDS sutures which means I can a) carry on suffering for 'probably' another 3/4 months maybe more (about 6/7 months from date of original op. with barbed wire up my fanjo) and take regular painkillers and anti-inflamatories or b) go back into theatre and have them surgically removed which 'shouldn't' disturb the original incision (although he couldn't promise it) and he would try and remove all the knots. He said it could be that the stitches suddenly start to go but it looked unlikely as they were still very rigid. AAARGHHH

What to do? He said if I could live with it it might be better to wait, but as things stand today re. pain I just want the bloody things out.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Happy - is it you that is a nurse? and have you come across this before? x

Hi Surewoman-Yes I am a nurse but unfortunately as a senior staff nurse in CCU I dont get to see the inside of many Fanjo's lol so to speak . Any stitching I have seen are all external and wouldnt involve deep fascia . Sorry I cant be of much help with this, wish I could, everyone heals at diffferent rates but another 3 mths :( . All my stitches have gone around 6/7wks now 11ks post op(upper layers anyway). I think I would take the chance and have them removed but that is me, I would be factoring the time I have had/would need off work ect, but again everyones financial circumstances differ. I think you have to make the best decision for you? If the pain is unbearable are there any guarantees that this will ease anytime soon. I was unprepared to the mental torture this whole process was and I dont think I could cope with another 3 mths...this coming from a glass half full kind of person hence the username :) but I have been tested to the limit in the last few weeks as I know have many others xxx I hope you can come to a decision for the best xxx

All you TVT/TVTO mumsnetters can you trace the line of your tape?, at either side of my urethra, It feels very tight and rigid is this normal and at one side I am not sure if a very very small section feels exposed?? but not sure.... Think I will have to contact surgeon again but dont want to if this is normal even asked DH to check but he is not sure. Feels as if I have a piece of nicker elastic going across the way xxx

Thanks Happy - that echoes my sentiments. I am so sick of this and you're right, it is emotionally exhausting. I just want to put it behind me now, but am also scared that going back into surgery they might muck things up even more (lost my faith a bit).

As it stands, I can't really do much at the moment as I am constantly reminded of my 'spikes' with every move. The 2nd consultant did say that they 'should' have softened by now but were still rigid and sharp, so whose to say that this won't be the case in another 3 months, and that's 6 months of my life wasted to this.... what a bummer in more ways than one! Plus it can't be good for me to have to take paracetamol and dec.... (?) for so long surely?

Having stitches in for so long, will it make for worse scar tissue/granulation?

I have to give him a decision on Thursday when he calls..... (really appreciate his concern and advice - very nice man - wish I'd seen him in the first place but trusted the GP and her referral) x

Surewoman if it was me, I would definately risk having them removed rather than have another 3 months of pills and pain :)

I would risk the surgery as well, to be honest.

I saw the consulantant who was able to make a diagnosis from an internal scan. I have adendnyosis, which is when the tissue that lines the uterus is present and grows within the muscular walls of the uterus. He suspects there will be endometriosis as well.

I'm having a MRI scan next week to determine where it is exactly, then I'll go on the waiting list for a hysterectomy. He said in the meantime I'll have injections that will shut down my hormones completely. If this stops the pain then they know it's purely gynae. If there is still pain they would need to look at my TVT site.

But it's a hysterectomy any way.

Hope everyone is having a good day

Surewoman with the tissue granulation aspect i imagine that the longer the stitches are in the worse this may be around the stitches themselves, the tissue may permanently attach/grow over the stitches if they do not dissolve. I think you have to retain your faith in that it is a different surgeon and so far has been honest and open. you may find when you actually give him the decision he will open up and say it is the write one, remmember this is his colleague and he is taking on the responsibility of his mistakes so in a way will not want to influence your decision incase things do deteriorate?.
If under normal circumstances the healing process for the incision would be completed by now, why would taking out the stitches be detromental? . I would possibly ask the consultant this. good luck, but I cant help thinking and
I may be stating the obvious but why oh why did they use such strong material?? I would be wanting answers. I understand that you just want to get better as quickly and hassle free as possible but I would be seeking answers when you are strong enough, maybe this is a practice he needs to change and if challenged he may stop somebody else from suffering as you.
Thinking of you and hope you make the best decision for you xxx

Happy - thank you so much for that, I'd forgotten that under normal circumstances I would have been stitch free before Christmas. I've booked an appointment with the GP just to fill her in tomorrow (basically so she doesn't send anyone else to my original consultant) and I will ask her opinion anyway... be interesting to see what she suggests!! x

Coco - sorry it's more bad news but at least you're getting some explanation as to the pain. What a pity this wasn't picked up in the first place? Feeling for you xxx

Thanks, but at least I know I'll get better. I'll have to defect over to the hysterectomy and menopause threads!

There's a good american site called Hystersisters x (but don't go..xx)