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 Footie sorry i embarrased you! ( i do it with my family all the time) i am told i can be too honest.
Surewoman i'm feeling a lot better thankyou so much for asking:)x it's so nice not to be in so much pain, i really feel for everyone out there still going through it, the only thing as some of us know we do survive it and really apreciate good health when we get there, ( well nearly):)

Hello again. I was seen today by a urogynae consultant in Middlesex. She's a lovely lady if anyone is in the area and needs a referral. I saw her privately but she also does a lot of NHS work and her 'area of interest' is prolapses.
She was very thorough and says I have a grade 2 rectocoele and a mild cystocoele. She's referred me to 'women's physiotherapy' to see if I can improve my pelvic floor function. I start tomorrow; can anyone give me a run down on what will be involved?
She's also concerned about my bowel function, she thinks I may have some damage there, so I'm seeing another consultant for more tests there before we discuss surgery.
She doesn't like to rush into surgery as she thinks it often does more harm than good. She's very anti mesh as she says she's been to a few conferences etc, and the 'highly regarded' surgeons are all shying away from using mesh as they feel, it can help in some cases but when it goes wrong it goes VERY wrong. Her words were 'vaginas aren't meant to have mesh in them'.
She feels that post surgical sexual problems are more likely with surgery to the rectal wall, than to the front of the vagina.
The colorectal guy I saw 3 years ago was very pro mesh, and I'm so glad I went with my instincts and said no to what he suggested.
She feels at 41, I'm very young to be having this surgery and suggests we eek it out as long as we can before she cuts me, as she thinks that women who have prolapse in their 30-40s have some inherent tissue weakness and are more likely to need a second and a third op.
I hope this essay above helps someone else!

Well done Fivehours - hope you are feeling reassured now . Out of interest, how thoroughly did she examine you? (just to compare with my consultant who I felt didn't 'look' properly!) xxx

She had a look while I was lying on my back, then got me to turn on my side and used a speculum (I think) to have a look, then had a good rummage while I was on my back again.

Footle - you do make me laugh !!!!

Fivehours - pretty much the same as me then; I just felt that it was somewhat 'brief' as the only diagnosis prior to surgery.... Obviously not !!!!

Surewoman I think she often has other tests done before cutting. She told me that she's 'reluctant to cut' unless there is no other option.

Hi all. Been reading but not saying much as not feeling too great - 'coldy' and have had a constant naggy ache down low for over a week..... Also have tried to chase hosp for a surgery date as I need to let work know so they can cover me with no luck. Also a bit worried about my adhesions and possible problems with surgery they may cause. (Completely forgot to ask surgeon about it as I was so stunned he actually wanted to operate.) Will come back on with details of my extensive PFE programme when I'm feeling a bit better. X

Hi Fengirl - hope you feel better soon, both top and bottom (so to speak!) x

Thanks Sure, feeling somewhat more human today.
Five, you'll probably start how I did, with three positions - sitting leaning forward, elbows on knees, knees wide apart; standing toes together leaning forward (so bum sticks out) (hold on to something!) and standing upright heels together. In each position, deep breath in, squeeze all your pelvic floor muscles and while holding the contraction, breathe normally (!! Haha). Hold as long as you can. You don't have to do each one each time, try to do some 2-3 times a day. Hope this is helpful.
STILL haven't heard a thing from hosp despite being told they'd call me...
I know I'm not the only one, but find living with the anticipation a bit hard at times.
Hope you're all keeping warm. X

Sick kid scuppered physio appointment today. Half term next week, so I have to wait for two weeks to be seen next. Ho hum. Will see rectal consultant the same week, should be a fun one!

Sorry to hear you had to put off your appt Five, better luck next time!

Hi Footie glad to hear i didn't embarrass you too much:) i saw gynea yesterday (they rang and asked if i could go in early) my app was for 22nd feb
i told him i didn't want perineum repair and would like to leave cyctocele for as long as poss, he couldn't say how long i would last out.
he is very quiet and it is like getting blood out of a stone! i asked him three times what kind of cysts they were and i think he thought i should be just happy they were benighn,( which i am) and at one time i would have just left it but seeing how everyone else asks questions and get answers gave me courage. i made the mistake of expressing my worrys over him leaving me too tight after rectocele repair. when he asked me about my sex life i was so embarassed i told him i could take it or leave it but after some searching on google, i realized i may never be able to make love with my DH again. i told him before op i had a good marrage and wanted to keep it that way, so i woke up to find he had only done rectocle so i am exactly the same as before.but i would rather that obviously than have what you are going through.
Hi Surewoman how are you any better?

Hi dudrop, hope you're feeling ok, and not too sore?

I'm ok - still painful in the vag area due to new incision and stitches, also still bleeding, so I'm probably doing too much (couldn't get more time off work and am therefore hobbling around). Keep getting pelvic pains this time, as if I'm about to have my period but presume this is due to the prodding and poking about last week under GA. I just hope to God that the rectocele isn't back as they said that might happen and I'd have to have it done again. As long as the enterocele doesn't come back as that was quite horrific!

Out of interest, did your Gynae say how common it was to have problems with sex after posterior repair? I was never told anything and didn't think to ask - but then I seem to have got the consultant whose middle name is Sweeney Todd!!!
x

Sure - just really told you off so probably just as well it got lost in the ether .... BUT I have just checked back and know you work sp needs kids. I work in education and know very well no-one will tell you to go home, and that if you're there you have to be 100%. PLEASE think about taking some time off if you can - you should be concentrating and healing right now. (Just to make you feel better, I give you full permission to slap my wrist if I need it!) look after yourself. Xxx

That's 'with sp needs kids' and 'concentrating on'.... My typing on my phone is awful!

Oh bum... Concentrating on resting and healing!!!!!

Point made Fen - but half term next week!!
Think I might have a bladder infection (?) as it kills when I pee now (period type pains) - never had one before so don't really know, therefore if anyone has and could point out the symptoms I would be really grateful (before I go and bother the GP) xx Just feel like ripping out my fanjo and being done with all this...

Hello Ladies....I just keep following this thread as it has been so good to me !!!

Dear Sure.....Are you sure that what you are doing is the right thing for you ??? Please please take care
I finally saw my Consultant 8wks post-op today....I am healing well with
minimal as possible scarring. Still no driving/lifting/work !!! I have another 4 weeks off work with baby steps....with this softly softly approach, I am assured that I can resume my life as much as normal.
Now comes the time for the "making love" again again !!! My Consultant told me it could hurt/use lubricant, got a muscle that needs stretching/using but very gently again !!! Plenty of PME, which I have been doing.....will keep you informed without TMI.
I am a bit scared to be honest
Love to ALL of you pre & post-op Ladies.
XXXXXXXXXXXX

It really hurt to pee after my op....then it calmed down a bit. 3 weeks later
I got an infection, had to see my doc for an internal & he said it was still battered & bruised from the op so this was normal.
With a basic cycstitas (sorry about the spelling) you want to wee all the time,it burns like crazy, but hardly a drop comes out !!! Then you want to go again before you have even left the damn toilet !!!
Hope this helps and isn't tmi.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Caz - really pleased it's good news for you xx Do keep us all informed re. the bed department .... and good luck !!!

Hi Surewoman my gynae has given me very little info! unless i know the questions to ask(which i didn't then) and my appointment was just a week after my mum died so maybe i should have cancelled, but i was desperate to get something done (it had taken me a year to go to my gp about it)
I rang gynae's secretrary and explained what i had said to him, she was very understanding and told me i probably would have ended up unable to have sex again as i'd said it wasn't important to me. She said she would make sure i saw him to speak to before op. also i think another reason he didn't repair cyctocele was that he ran out of theatre time so i had to walk down to the day ward for my op,(a nurse told me later)
I agree with everyone else you really should be resting more :) i can't believe that you are having to work so soon after everything you have been through.
Footie can i ask if you are seeing your physio one a one to one basis? because when i went there must have been about 30 of us and i couldn't get near to ask any questions.

Surewoman, my consultant told me that it was 'very common' to have problems with sex after a rectocoele repair. This is why she was reluctant to do it unless there was no other option.