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.

thanks for all the advice.. and sorry for talking across you fengirl

I saw my GP today and she feels things are not too bad but a bit lax. I've been referred to physio, which I am happy with.

Not a problem at all Falling! Good news that you have a way forward. Hopefully the physio will sort you out - and if it doesn't you know where to come and ask now!

Hi Fen - glad your Mum's op went ok. Please don't use this as an excuse to do too much yourself as you will only end up back at square one, especially now you are beginning to turn a corner and feel a bit more on top of it all. You need to be very careful for at least 6 weeks!!!

I'm feeling really miz - can't believe I have to go through all of this again so soon, and worse this time as it will be anterior, posterior and TVT. Realised today that I will only have 3 weeks after op before my boys break up for the summer so I am trying to persuade their absent father to see them for a bit, otherwise they will die of boredom in the holidays. Also fed up because I really wanted us to have a nice holiday this year before my eldest leaves home - he will be finishing school this time next year - oh well, maybe skiing instead if I am continent by then, lol! Life can be really shitty sometimes, and to top it all my father died last week so I need to take care of my mother now too. All a bit too much .... Oh well!

Sure - I'm so sorry about your dad. Xxx

So sorry about your Dad Sure XX

Sure sorry to hear about your dad...... life can be a bit shitty at times, hope all the family are coping it is such a hard time, sending lots of love xxx

Thanks all - he'd been ill with aml (leukemia) and had a heart attack which was a relief for him but a shock for my Mum. Still can't believe it really, although expected. Just makes you realise what a thin line we all tread between life and death. It's the paper work that goes with it that is a killer - so time consuming and stressful xxx Sorry - should really be ranting on about fallen fanjos!!! Hope all are feeling positive and recovering well xxx

Quick question - to all those that had anterior, posterior and tvt - how long will it be before I can drive long distance afterwards???

Sure - I know I've come on here to talk about other stuff too. That's what makes this thread a lovely place to be - the support that total strangers in RL are prepared to give each other. Take care of yourself. Xxx

Pleased the op went well Fen. Take care of yourself though.

Sure So sorry to hear about your dad :(

Fengirl -glad your Mum's op went ok and that your brother was able to visit.

Sure - sorry about your Dad.

Well, I have got my appt with gynae through, it's the week after next, I got all the paperwork today, I didn't realise I was going to have to do a three day diary of volumes of liquid in and out, that'll be fun at work! I phoned the dept with a query and the nurse I spoke to said it will be the consultant I see, not one of the team, so that's good. I have also found a friend who was treated by him for similar and she spoke very highly of him, so I am feeling a bit more cheerful. I'm going to make a list of all the ways this is affecting me to take along.

Whoknows - thanks. WhenI did my in/out chart I waited til the weekend and luckily I had Friday off too. (it made me very aware of how often I went for a wee!) You could always start on days off and if necessary smuggle a small container you know the volume of into work with you (in a placcy bag in your handbag maybe?) so you could estimate although I was told if I couldn't record the volume of every wee it wasn't the end of the world. Hope that's helpful.

Thanks Fengirl, that's what i rang up about today, the nurse said don't worry too much about measuring the volume of wee, as I don't really have urinary problems. It's supposed to be the thee days immediately prior to the appt, which as luck would have it are my three work days. Actually, there is a basin inside the cubicle in the ladies at work, with a cupboard where we can stash personal stuff (tampons etc, there's only a few of us), I could take a plastic cup, wash it and put it in a bag in the cupboard (must remember to chuck it away at the end!)

I did a clinical trial once where you had to collect 24 hours worth of urine in one big container, that was a complete nightmare socially! Was definitely not worth the tenner we got paid to do it.

Sure had all you are getting done and really couldnt drive very long distances for at least 12 weeks but my Tvto was a bit tight and goes from grion to grion, TvT is in pubic bone area so may be better. x

Whoknows - I peed into a measuring jug, the sort used for cooking, which I kept in my handbag (hand sack!!!) with my chart. I also had one of those little medicine pots which went up to 30 mls as I tend to need to pee about 10 times before I can get to sleep at night. Also, as Fen said, if you use the same cup/glass/mug all day, then you know exactly how much fluid you are taking in.

Happy - that's what I suspected which means absolutely no big road trip round Europe this summer with my boys. Bother. Do you have any problems now with the tvto?? And have all your bulges gone for good??? Still hoping xxx

Thanks all for the kind words regarding my Dad. My poor mother is in hyper mode to avoid facing reality; clearing out 52 years of junk, making endless lists, madly planting flowers in the garden til it is so dark she can't see anymore, etc. and still hasn't managed to cry yet... it's hard to know how to help her, so any advice welcome xxx

:( Sure just be there , even if it is in the background believe me you draw comfort from that, 52 yrs is a long time a lifetime to her the future is to hard to imagine /contemplate. I cleaned my house the morning my son died it is a coping mechanism, when I look back I think people must have thought I was mad but they just quietly let me get on with it, sitting in the background. You have also lost your dad so you have to grieve too, we talked openly, continually mentioned his name , laughed and cried . I also had an Angel(christmas ornament) that holds a candle we( DH,DD X2) decided to light it when we thought of Colin . It was quite comforting to see it lit knowing that others were thinking of him but not verbalising. Make a memory box for the kids also just small whith small things in it , involve your mum so she realises what he meant to them too xx hope this helps xx most of all just be a family pull together xNothing really will take the hurt away to grieve properly you all have to work through it.
Now on to practicle things when all the swelling goes it does look normal down there, whatever normal is but a hell of a lot better than before lol Post op,All the lumpy bumpy bits eventually go. I had Tvto stretched 2 weeks ago so still have a little discomfort, If I sneezed or squated or did a power walk I felt it cut into me (tighten across my grion) so hopefully things will settle for me but as I said before I can hold wee longer, pass more and only get up once at night. I dont wet myself when I cough or sneeze ( still have a little urge incont but that is the cafeine or vino) and no interupting sex to wee.

I can poo with no hands , and I do not take forever in the toilet and know I can go out without planning tiolet stops, infact quite often now my hubby will say you better go to loo quote" you always need the tiolet" I actually can say to him now I dont need to go its funny cause we kinda argue about it in a funny way , with him repeating but you do xx :)

Thanks Happy - my mother and I both hoovered the house when the ambulance took him away; me upstairs in the bedroom and my mother downstairs. When we finally got to the hospital they were delighted to find out his name - we had forgotten to tell the ambulance crew and he was lying there as 'the man with no name' wired up to all the machines!! Lovely idea about the candle - I shall pass that on to my mum. The memory box has already been started and will be overflowing if all the grandchildren have their say!

Feel really encouraged re ops, thanks. Sounds bizarre I know, but I can't wait to get in to hospital to get this all fixed (big finger crossing going on here) as I have now been exactly one year in and out of hospital etc. and at last have someone who has promised to do a 'proper' job and sort me out once and for all (well as long as repairs, third time round, can hold!!!) xxxxx

Anyone contemplating going under the knife - do NOT trust your GP when you are referred, and do your homework first. Big mistake of mine but I had never been ill in my life and had such severe bowel issues due to the enterocele that I just went along with it, glad to find a solution to my problem. Now look!!!! xxxxx love to all X

Happy - I'm so glad you mentioned lumpy bits as I have them a-plenty and have been worrying!

.... But should I mention they're on the posterior wall which wasn't repaired???

Sure - I don't know how to advise you but I am thinking of you. Xxxx

Had my appointment today and she confirmed that I have a posterior prolapse, but that it's not treatable. I do have stress incontinence and I'll be having an op in Sep (some kind of tape thing that pulls the opening to my bladder up! ) I'm pleased that she confirmed that I have a problem, but cross that she basically said that there's nothing I can do to repair the posterior prolapse and the pain I'm suffering from.

Basically I'm going to see how the op goes, leave it a while and then see how it goes and then maybe ask for a second opinion...

Alloverit - did they say why? If you're not on the waiting list might be worth getting a second opinion now (or even if you are) - just a thought as surely one op would be better than two?

Yet another question.... I can drive and feel safe to do an emergency stop but it makes me v sore after. Should I leave it a while?

Not quite sure fengirl. She said that my vagina had shortened quite a bit and this was the cause of the discomfort during sex. There's something they can give me to try and lengthen in sounded painful! She said that the posterior wall was scarred quite badly due to my third degree tear, but that as the discomfort was internal rather than the outer part, if you see what I mean, then perineum massage wouldn't help an awful lot. I guess they don't want to create more scarring on that wall by operating. I'm not sure why they couldn't repair the prolapse, but as it's not affecting my no 2s or anything, then there wasn't much they could do. I'm not too worried as it's the stress incontinence that's the killer and if they can sort that, I'll feel like a whole new woman ! I think I felt a bit overwhelmed by it all. I've never even broken a bone, apart from pregnancy and birth I've never needed any hospital treatment whatsoever. The thought of a GA is petrifying me!

Alloverit - they may well offer a spinal if you would prefer? Although I have to say I've now had 10 or 11 GA's (lost count) and I've never had a problem!

Hi there
I think I might need to join you guys or at least ask for a bit of advice. I have been having a heaviness in my vagina for about 2 months and suffering from constipation. The heaviness and the need to go to the loo is not constant but comes and goes throughout each day. So I went to the GP thinking that she would be diagnosed me with a prolapse but she said that she was unable to see anything, but the heaviness is still there. I did also have a bulging feeling about a month ago but that has now dissapeared. I wondered if these symptoms link in to a prolaspe (as I think I may have) or if it is all in my head!

I had the spinal Alloverit. I was petrified of a spinal due to previous experiences with local but they gave me a bit of a sedative and it was fabulous.

Hawes Can you see anything strange in the mirror when you bear down or cough. I'v eput pics somewhere above which show what a prolapse looks like

Alloverit (and Hawes -welcome!!)- please get a second opinion before you have any ops. The consultant I have now said that if there is a prolapse present before putting the tape in, then it will make things difficult in the future should the prolapse need fixing at a later date as it would muck up the tape (sling) which isn't so easy to do again. I knew I still had a prolapse when I went to him about incontinence issues but he said he couldn't see anything. He didn't dismiss me as a fool though and said that if a woman can feel that things aren't quite right then she should be listened to as after all it is her body - he then examined me standing up, pushing, and sure enough... prolapse!! He then said that he wanted to do anterior and posterior as it was better to fix everything all in one go, with the bladder sling (TVT) at the same time - job lot! Lol!

So.... Please, please do not just trust your GP and one consultant. Do some googling and find a good uro/gynaecologist in your area and ask to see that one. I think I'm right in saying most of them also work in NHS hospitals as well as private clinics. XXXX