Any old prolapse! Uterus/womb prolapse, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, urethrocele, incontinence, pelvic floor, anterior and posterior repair, TVT etc part 4

[Ben10NeverAgain]

This is thread 3 of a long-running series of posts from ladies suffering from pelvic prolapses to support each other through the process of diagnosis, repair and recovery.

Here are the previous threads:
Thread 1
Thread 2

Info from BBC Health

What is a pelvic prolapse?

As the muscles, ligaments and supporting tissues in the pelvis become weaker, they are less able to hold in the organs of the pelvis such as the womb (uterus) or bladder.

Gravity pulls these organs down and, in the more severe cases, may appear through the entrance to the vagina.

A variety of problems can occur, depending on where the weakness lies and which organs are able to descend, but in every case there is some degree of prolapse of the vaginal wall, which begins to invert (rather like a sock turning inside out).
Prolapse of the womb or uterus is the most common prolapse, affecting as many as one in eight older women to some degree
Prolapse of the bladder, known as a cystocele, is less common.
Prolapse of the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder) is known as a urethrocele.
Prolapse of the intestines is quite rare, and known as an enterocele or rectocele.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on which tissues descend, and how severe the prolapse is.

They may include:
A sense of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis.
The appearance of a bulge of tissue in the genital area, which can be quite alarming, and is often red and sore.
Urinary problems, such as having to urinate more frequently, feeling the need urgently, being incontinent (losing control of the bladder) or, conversely, being unable to pass urine when you need to.
Pain in the pelvis or lower back.
Sexual problems, including pain and decreased libido.
Constipation.
Vaginal discharge or bleeding.

Treatment and recovery

Once a prolapse has developed, surgery to fix the affected organs is usually the only way to cure it effectively.

However, another option is to use a device known as a vaginal ring pessary. This is rather like a contraceptive diaphragm or cervical cap. It's made of silicone or latex, and placed in the vagina to push back the prolapsed organs and hold them in place. Many women happily manage their prolapse this way.

Ben No tampons till all the stitches disolved , can cause infection if small bit of tampon gets caught on stitch. I continued to use the cotton maternity pads , I did have to change them more frequently as the dont have wings xx. Also dropped a size in tampons since pre-op as length and bredth changed lol xx

Thank you nurse happy. I hate hate hate towels but I do not want to ever have that infection again.

I do have one sharp stitch inside which I'm a bit worried about as I know that Surewoman had problems with these. The external stitches are thick, almost string-like and whitish. I don't know what colour this one is but it is much thinner and hard. Don't know if it's worth calling the surgeon?

Ben-Are u relaxing in hot baths now?? how many wks again post op?. I had a couple of stubborn ends of stitches started going for long leasurely baths as had showered for first 5 weeks by week 7/8 all gone , but I know some people who have had to go get ends snipped off, so maybe another visit to Gp would be good xx

Hi there - I posted this on general health but have been advised that you ladies are the experts! I'm soon to leave the UK for good but have the option of getting TVT surgery for stress incontinence on private medical before I go. The problem is, the surgery would be 1-2 weeks before I fly to New Zealand (the proposed date at the moment is only 4 days before leaving but I would be v hesitant to book that!).

I have a 3 year old and a 8 month old baby (9lb 11oz at birth) but my husband will be travelling with me. My worry is that it's all a bit much in such a busy time. The surgeon has been reassuring me that the surgery is minor (day surgery) and recovery is quick but I'm a bit skeptical. The other issue is that my 'leaks' are not THAT bad...only when I jump/suddenly run etc and I'm still breastfeeding at the moment so things may improve a bit. He did say my pelvic floor muscles were 'very weak' though...but I'm leaning towards saying no, and hoping that if the problem gets worse that the waiting lists in NZ won't be too bad in the public system.

Any advice from those that have had the op - or have knowledge - very much appreciated!!

Tattle do you have accompanying prolapse(s)? If not, for now as you're still bring, I would ask for a referral for a women's physio as they may be able to help improve the stress incontinence rather than having surgery first. Also, if you don't have prolapsed, you can get some good pelvic floor exercisers on the market with weights in them that you can use. Amazon have some great reviews. Not electric ones, but cones with optional weights. Welcome anyway! We talk about all sorts on here. Nothing is TMI. X

echo what pombear has said ...

I did not have tvt so cant comment other than what I have heard on here. tVT might go swimmingly and you will have no problem... but its still a heck of a long haul flight with two young DC that may well want carried and be unsettled and need played with as well as all the usual packing and unpacking that will put pressure on a tender area where the tape is bedding in.

Its also rather near flights if summat did go wrong or you just did not feel as good as anticipated ..... and there have been some on here who have had it not all go according to plan.

hope otheres come along soon .... wuld like to see how they are getting along anyway as not heard form them for a while

I bfing not bring!

Thanks for the warm welcome :) Pombear - no prolapse thankfully. I (naively?) went along to consultant thinking he'd recommend some type of extra physio/exercises and was quite shocked he suggested surgery straight away with no middle ground. Also shocked he thought the appointment on 30 May would be fine for flying out on 3 June! I did have the not-very-fun urodynamics test as well so I guess he has the evidence but still think it would put a heck of a lot of pressure on me right now, especially with no family here in Scotland.. I think if in doubt I should err on side of caution. Just aware I probably won't have private health again for a loooong time (going to be SAHM for next 18 months - then will 'relaunch' my career when oldest is at school)..

it does rather seem to go against the usual advice tattiescone ( flippin eck it's years since I had one of them ) ... from the HCP to do the exercises first before they will even think of surgery ( well unless you have already done them for years or are just about peeing with the lightest lady like cough!!!)

It does seem all of a rush ....... and I can think of better recovery activities than a long haul flight even without babes !

you must be getting kinda excited atm .

Hi ladies, long while since I looked at this thread but as I have had a TVT I thought I'd chip in :)
Tattiescone, I do think it would be quite risky to be doing all that so soon after a TVT op. Yes you may feel absolutely fine but the one thing you are most emphatically told not to do for quite a few weeks is lift anything heavy. Think the first week or so I was told nothing heavier than a kettle and then nothing too heavy for at least a month or so and I can't imagine how you could manage to do that with toddler, baby and loads of luggage! I am a lot older than you and had a variety of problems following TVT which hopefully you wouldn't but do think the surgeon is being overly optimistic.
Good luck with whatever you do.

Hi all, have been to see consultant again today before TVT op in June to be told that basically I am right back to square one and will be having anterior, posterior (again) and TVT all at the same time and this time 3/4 days in hospital.

I really urge anyone going through any of this to make sure that they are referred to a gynae/uro-gynae who knows wtf they are up to before going under the knife. I have learned the hard way that a GP doesn't necessarily refer you to the best man for the job so do search around and demand to see the properly qualified person. It is exactly a year since I first went to the GP about prolapses and I am no better off having had two ops, 12 weeks in total off work and now the prospect of having to take at least another 6 weeks off next month. Not a happy camper but at least I know now that I am in the right hands with someone who knows their arse from their elbow and at last will get mended. And at last I am going to get some answers as to why I was not fixed, wrong sutures, mis-informed, wasted surgery etc.

Maybe I will at last be able to join the ranks of the (0) brigade rather than the (8) club!!!

Love to all those recovering - Fen, keep positive, you will get better and you will be back to your independent self soonx

Happy

I'm 7 weeks and 1 day. I'll take to having long hot baths for a week or so and then try and get into the GP.

Thank you resident nursey :)

sure
While I am really sorry that you are back at square one, at least this time they are taking it seriously. None of that day-case rubbish. I look forward to welcoming you into the (((0))) club

Fengirl
Hope you are doing OK. You've been quiet....

Tattiescone
I agree with the others. I haven't had TVT but have had anterior and posterior repair. I'm one of those who had complications and I definitely couldn't have travelled in the pain that I was in - esp long distance with children.

My consultant rang me yesterday (4 weeks post op today). She was meant to ring me 2 weeks post op and apologised that both the registrars were on leave at the same time so no one called . Anyway, she said that as I am still bleeding it could be an nfection, even if no bad smell. She recommended I either go to the clinic or see my GP and said they shouldn't need to do swabs and 'blind prescribe' me antibiotics in case I have an infection.

Woke up this morning with a tender lower belly and a few stabby pains so got an appt for this pm with the GP. Hopefully they'll give me AB's and I am also hoping they won't want to prod around....

Feeling a bit glum about it all.

shattered I have a 19 month old DD. We use a lightweight plastic step stool from tesco. It gets used everywhere. She now sits on it at the coffee table in the lounge to eat her food, she climbs on it to get in the bath and steps on it to get out, she can climb in the car on her own now and gets into the car seat. I also recommend just taking stuff to her rather than trying to persuade her to do things your way. E.g, I change her nappy where she is rather than taking her upstairs and I wash and dress her on the spot too.

(((hugs))) huggy. Sounds exacty like me. I didn't have a smell but I had loads more bleeding than I expected. I was given erythromycin (I'm allergic to penecillin) and metronizodole anti-bs as well as tranexamic acid to reduce the bleeding.

I did have a swab taken but it wasn't very sore. This did confirm that the infection that I had was reactive to the anti-bs that I'd been prescribed "blind".

The meds did make me feel pretty shit but as soon as they were over, the bleeding was almost nothing at all and I felt so much better in myself. I didn't realise how rough the infection was making me feel.

Thanks Ben. Am going to write those down and take to the doc! A side effect of tranexamic acid is bad headaches, so if I get that will make sure I get painkillers too. Can't be much worse than my current headache though!

Huggy had same 3 lots AB's over first 6 weeks I bled in total till week 8 /9 varying degrees as this did include periods x2 , lol actually took my period the day I came out of hospital.... crap luck. Felt much better after got last lot of AB's. Can I just say how proud you must be of your little angel so independent xxxx
Tattiescone I would not even consider going on a long journey after Tvt, I had Tvto along with anterior and posterior repair, I have had mesh errosion from tvto and had to have this repaired and also tvto stretched. It is working and I am glad I have had it done but no way would I have been ready to do a journey like you are planning and have cases and small children. It does take a good few weeks to settle in uncomfortable and you are not supposed to do any lifting. I do have a friend who has had tvto done in dec and she has had no issues other than discomfort for first 4 weeks, Consultant says some ppeople are just more sensitive to the mesh but you cant tell that till it is in lol xx Hope this helps butyou have to do whats best for you xxx
Sure OMG what else can I say, hope all goes well this time although 6 weeks may be a little optimistic , Another friend has had a redo of her anterior repair only and she is struggling at 6 weeks , still getting swelling ect but she is a nurse so her job involves heavy lifting, come to think of it doesnt yours?.
Anyhow I must be unlucky to know, another friend has just had a full grade 4 uterovaginal prolapse and she also works for health service lol . Poor soul is in agony xxx
Hope all you other ladies do well , stay strong x

Hi ladies - I'm still here, but just lurking at the moment as I feel pretty rotten.
Urine infection seems to have gone/be going as no more blood or pain when weeing, so that's good. However, movicol is working its usual 'magic' on me - I got to three sachets (supposed to go to four) and dared go no further due to explosive results and a very churny stomach. Haven't been brave enough to have more than half a sachet today.
Anyway, to the main issue - I have constant low pain (which I can manage in the day) that wakes me up to three times every night. Is this normal? (I'm also getting the occasional splodge of creamy discharge which is blood-stained again don't know if this is normal. I've also been getting headaches which I can't do anything about unless I take codeine which I'm trying very hard to avoid for obvious reasons.
I sound like a right moaner don't I? I'm even spending the day in bed in the hopes it might make me feel better - I don't mind dealing with pain, but not feeling well is really getting me down.
I'm sure some of you will tell me to see my gp but that's a two hour round trip and £18 in taxi fares - that's why I'm asking here first.
Sorry for the epic post.

Oh I forgot - Sure, you must have been gutted. I'm so sorry. But at least you have no excuse not to keep talking to us!

Could you ring your GP and ask for a phone consultation Fen? Then you could see what they say. Sympathy for you re the headaches! Pants isn't it?

I have my first appointment with a consultant regarding rectocele repair next Tuesday.

I have private healthcare cover through my work, so I'm hoping to get the op done this summer, while work is quiet & whilst the children are off school - they are quite grown up, so I'm hoping they might be able to help out while I'm a bit feeble.

What should I be asking the consultant?

Hello all you amazing ladies.

I hope you know there are some very grateful women out here (like me), who find these threads of real people's experiences absolutely brilliant.

There are so many of you I want to thank. You've saved my sanity over many months, years even, when I've popped into this amazing chain of threads and found answers and reassurance.

I'm not going to bore you with my whole history but it includes a botched episiotomy after first child, two vaginal repairs 2 years later, then 20 years later a Fentons procedure (scar tissue removal) which you don't hear much about so if anyone wants any info and this comes up in a google search, I'm happy to share. In short, it did the trick and I'd recommend it.

Endometrial ablation in 2009.

Sub-total hysterectomy end of 2010 which went wrong but that's another story and not really relevant as I'm OK now and I don't want to frighten anyone.

I'm currently 5 weeks post op from a TVT bladder sling op and am doing well. There's been ups and downs but the most important thing is it seems to have worked. I'm not wetting myself any more, whooppee!

I'm scared that sex might hurt (especially after all my previous problems scar tissue problems post childhirth and ongoing till the Fentions) but I read someone's advice from their consultant to use dilators to calm the nerves and this seems like a good idea.

Anyway, there are so many scary stories about TVT that I wanted to post something positive. I had severe incontinence, not just sneezing / laughing, but just pouring out of me whenever I walked about or even moved.

So for me, I am (touches wood) thrilled with how it's going so far.

Fen the pain at night can be quite scary , when its just you and the shaddows. My pain was worse as the day wore on, lol I used to think I was going mad... but it did settle.I normally thought I had good pain threshold but guess compared to some I was deluding myself. I always found if I lay on my tummy it felt better and I had 3 yes 3 hot water bottles for back, front and in between legs lol toastie pie literally. I was told that a lot of the pain can be the internal sutures dissolving and the tissue nitting together, nerve ending regrowing. Basically the consultant said I would be sore for some time and that was when I saw him at the 9week stage. But maybe a little re-assurance from Gp via the telephone may be a good thing xxx good luck anyway xx

Oh and Hi Missusrob xx The sex ok for me from tvto point of view just after a few mths a portion of the mesh erroded through vaginal wall and this was sensitive if touched directly during sex, but not enough to put me off lol xx

Hi to everyone.
My first post(anywhere), been a lurker here for a while though.
Mine is a long story and this is a first post so suffice to say I am in the fallen fanjo club, grade 3 rectocele and cystocele some descent of uterus!!
Surgery booked June Hereford County Hospital/Any info tazzle would be appreciated. I am scared, very little support at home(husband partly disabled and can't cook or use washing machine anyway)have 10 year old son. Playing it by ear at present no real plan.
Should I try to make one. Eg Tell other family they have to help?
I am the carer cook housekeeper and as the nickname suggests shepherdess.
This post is getting too long, sorry.
Its great to join you and thanks for the help your posts have been to me as a lurkerxxx

Fen - are they sure that you don't have an infection other than the UTI? My pain mostly went when I got treated for mine. I was in absolute agony.

Hi jcb
Welcome.

I had the same surgery 7 weeks ago. I think it would be worth seeing if you can get any help in from the carers centre or social services, seeing as you the carer is incapacitated and there is a child in the house.

Your DS would be able to help fill the machine and take it out but obvsiouly cooking is another matter. For the first few days at home at least it would be best if you could get some help.; Otherwise ready meals and a freezer stocked with pre-made meals that you could stick in the microwave or oven.

Sorry for prying but does your husband's disability mean that he could be responsibile for school drop offs/pick ups or is there a mum who could do this for you. Could he manage to put something from the freezer into the microwave? The least standing to start with the better so waiting in the playground if you don't have to to start with would be good.

I'm a townie but do you actually have sheep that you look after? Is there anyone locally who would be able to help with this. Tazzle is an animal person so could definitely help with ideas on what would be possible animal wise.

It is a scarey prospect having the surgery but I am very pleased that I did. 7 weeks on now and the only sign of me having had the surgery is 1 stitch and a drastically improved fanjo (((0)))

PS I'm pleased that our somewhat TMI ramblings have helped you :)