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.

Roseanna - hope you get your cough sorted. You made me laugh re. shades of grey, as I had thought of getting all three books yesterday until I remembered that any form of arousal in that dep is not good for stitches!!! . I get bad coughs too when ill and find breathing in steam with a towel over your head and a bowl of hot water (not on head, under towel!) soothes the cough (sometimes chuck in Vicks to the water) - in through the nose, out through the mouth!!!

I've been trying to keep a track of fluid intake and what comes out the other end as I had problems after the op in hospital - 5 jugs of water and an empty catheter bag, followed by very fast iv drip during the night resulting in 2 bags of cranberry juice, then up the next night every half hour to pee once the catheter came out. Does anyone know if what goes in should more or less (allowing for sweating etc.) come out the other end??

Pip - re constipation; a roll of loo paper under the hot tap, then gently tap your anus got things going quite easily for me. (was getting desperate too as am on iron and lactulose and going nowhere!)

3 - Ouch!! re stitch, glad you're on the mend now
Footle - thanks for that! Lol!

Good that everyone's managing to have a laugh today despite any ongoing worries. Pip's comment was quite apt for me as u went to drs again today (another swab taken and a week of antifungals and cream). When I got home dd1 said to me 'Crikey Mum, is there anyone who hasn't seen your fanny?' to which I blithely replied 'I'm at the point now where the next time I go I'll end up stripping off and laying on the examination table with my legs apart and they'll say they only want to listen to my chest'! The saying about leaving your dignity at the door has long since passed for me - I think I'll unpack mine from its box when this is all over.

I'm still lurking on here, not much to report from me, but I am still reading the thread every day and just wanted you all to know that I am thinking about you. Also that I am making all sorts of notes of things that might come in useful once my surgery actually happens, what a lovely supportive bunch you all are.

Fen - I did just that... went into an appointment with the nurse in Feb and took off my trousers without giving it a second thought - then saw her face; "I only wanted to take your blood pressure", she said !!!!! Lol! xxx

I think I have well and truly lost my dignity forever now. It didn't even phase me in hospital having to sit next to my bed completely stark naked after I had projectile vomited all over the nurse, bed, pyjamas, floor, etc. whilst they cleaned everything and me up! Oh well...

Sure what comes out should roughly equal what goes in with deductions for poo/vomit/sweat lol . If poo watery more off urine loss IYSWIM . If you fast your body will not pass as much urine as it will hold on to fluids to make up for the period of fasting. More will come out if you take medications like diuretics but if not should all balance out over few days. Normal urine should be light straw coloured if darker need to drink more. Hope this helps x

Roseanna - INSIST you see a doctor today - make sure they know you're worried about bursting stitches. If they still refuse, ask if they will record in your notes that an appointment was requested. You will probably find that suddenly you have one. Don't leave it over the weekend, you'll only end up worrying.

Roseanna how are you today did you get an appointment?

thanks happy x How are you getting on? Didn't you have tvt too??

Hi all, ended up having a high temperature, wheezing and couldn't get a breath last night, so ended up in a&e with IV ab's overnight. Feeling a lot better now, but started bleeding fresh red blood in quite large amounts this morning so a bit worried about what damage I've done. A lot less miserable than yesterday though :)

Hi all, been following everyone's stories and hoping for the best for everyone. Good luck Roseanna - hope you start feeling better soon. I am booked in for next Tuesday for anterior/posterior/perimeum rebuild and feeling very nervous. Going back to Nurses adding to our misery, the nurse who did my pre-op assessment this week opened the door and said, with a smirk, "You're a bit young for this aren't you?!'. When I said that from what I had read there were lots of young women who had vaginal deliveries who had these problems she agreed and then laughed and asked if I had seen embarrassing bodies and the 20 year old who had had the op. I am glad she found it so amusing!! Actually thinking about commenting on it in the feedback questionnaire she gave me - am i being over sensitive??? Also, found out today that the urogyn surgeon I was supposed to have the surgery done by a couple of weeks ago but was mysteriously cancelled has been suspended for 18 months and being investigated by GMC...guess I had a lucky escape. Pre Op ladies...I have been sent a small book by the hospital called "Hysterectomy, vaginal repair, and surgery for stress incontinence" 6th edition by Sally Haslett and others, published by Beaconsfield ISBN 978-0-906584-62-0 which contains really helpful advice on preparing for surgery and recovery if anyone is interested. Also, another book I have found really useful is "Pelvic Organ Prolapse: The Silent Epidemic" Sherrie Palm. Again, contains really useful practical advice on surgery and recovery tips.

Sure- Yes got TVTO had it stretched and some erosion covered up, still uncomfortable with certain positions, kinda toothachey, lol and not the sexy kind. Anyhow back to work and busy busy 12 1/2 hrs at least on feet in the ward I work in so testing it to the max. Dont know if this is what is agrivating it but see consultant in sept will discuss it more then and see what his plan of action is, it may be removal :( but wont go for that till next year quite frankly had enough at moment. Going on my hols on Sunday so will hopefully enjoy the rest. Not on as much now leaving it to all the neewbies but have a little hover over some of the posts. Hope you are doing well and have an uneventful speedy recovery

Happy - sorry to hear you are having problems with the TVT-O (what have I done springs to mind ) Maybe you are really putting it through it's paces by being back on long shifts at work - they do say these things need a good year to settle completely???(big fingers crossed going on here!) I hope your holiday and rest will make a difference.

Thanks for the advice on input/output re urine, I'd forgotten about liquid used in bm's and as I'm on lactulose (which has an osmotic effect) there must be quite a bit of fluid going into my BMs, so less concerned now. Still a bit pink though. How long did it take for your anterior incision to calm down?? Mine is still spotting bright red, especially after I have needed to go for a wee.

On another note, the tape definitely works as I was bursting this morning but made a cup of tea before going to the loo (which in the past was asking for trouble - tap, wait, tea, etc.) and all good - easy to hold on til I was ready, iykwim!! However, I am aware of the path of the tape inside - kind of burny, tender, but it's early days yet (one week) and I can visualize the 'teeth' on the edges of it gripping my tissue inside which will ease with scar tissue production I suppose! XXX

Roseanna - are you still bleeding? It could be that your stitches are coming away as this happened to me last time and it's normal to experience fresh bleeding as they give. Hope this is the case for you? Please let us know, been worried about you xxx

Shattered - completely understand the nerves!!! Only consolation is that once you are out the other side the stress you felt pre-op just slides off and that is a lovely feeling (even better with the chilled out feeling re narcotics!!! Lol!) Hang in there and feel free to ask any questions. xxx

The pain after is controllable as long as you stick to rigid times with drugs to start with (I keep track and write down everytime I take something and how much pain built up, and it's easy to then get control of it). The problem is boredom and wanting to do stuff - after a few days you feel mentally fine, so get out of bed and then remember you are physically shot to sh.. !!! That's a hard one to deal with. But I am being very good this time (third op in 7 months) and am NOT going to go through this again!!!! (please God I don't need TVT removal EVER!!!!)

Long post - everyone is asleep and I've been wide awake since 5.00 am, sorry!

Hi Sure, I'm up now too lol. Feeling quite human now, so hopefully get home later today :) The bleeding stopped yesterday evening, just as suddenly as it began so hopefully on the mend again. Thanks for the advice on the stitches - didn't realise they would bleed on the way out. Is it quite a bit of bleeding or just a little? The bleeding yesterday was like a heavy period. Its a general admissions ward at our local hospital I'm in, and they didn't want to even examine me in case the disturbed things more. Got an appt a week on tues with my gynae consultant, so probs best to wait till then. Anyways - how are you getting on? Are you managing to find things to keep you occupied and stop you moving around too much - that's often the biggest challenge isn't it (speshley when you can't read shades of gray lol!) You sound like you're doing well with pain control though?

Happy - so jealous of you going off on your hols :o You deserve it so make sure you have a fab time!

Shattered - I only had a posterior repair, but worried myself sick before the surgery. Woke up in recovery and thought 'is that it?'. Then the local anaesthetic wore off lol. But seriously, not nearly as bad as you think it will be and as lots of the ladies here will tell you, the waiting is the worst part. You'll get loads of support here too - its been a godsend to me.

Fen - how are you doing honey?

Sorry for the enormous post everyone - had a couple of days to catch up on :o

Home and back to my comfy sofa :)

Roseanna - heavy bleeding is not usual, but I know Ben10 had it when a haematoma emerged! Take it very easy and do contact someone if it starts up again. I would consider asking for a scan if I were you so that you can find out if that was it was - I had either a haematoma or an abcsess and it hasn't been nice! However, the antibiotics would have got on top of any possible infection so that's a big plus. I hope the rest of your recovery is uneventful!

Think I will mention that when I see the consultant Fen - he has a small scanner in his room so should be easy enough for him to accommodate that. Glad the bleeding has stopped at least for now :) One thing occurred to me earlier though...(tmi warning!) I still have very little sensation whatsoever in the fanjo area. Which would be fine, except I have had significant pain every time I have, am about to have, or recently have had, a bm. No sensation of needing a bm other than the building pain. Am a little worried tbh that I'm not feeling pain in the fanjo area but should be when I'm bleeding iykwim? Or if the bad pain in the back passage area is actually because of some problem that's making me bleed? I'm 9 days post op so is having that much bm pain normal?

Yes, I know. Am over thinking everything and just being neurotic :o

Roseanna - bear in mind that swelling can take up to six months to fully go! I had a distinct lack of sensation apart from when painkillers wore off. I graduated from a strong pain, to shooting pains up my fanjo and I still get aches especially at the end of the day. I didn't have a posterior repair (although I do get pains 'at the back') so I don't know how this relates to you. I definitely had a lack of feeling the need to go for bm's with increasing pain being the only sign, which has now settled. If you've ever watched the procedures on youtube (NOT for the faint-hearted), you'll be in no doubt about the fact that you are well and truly prodded, poked and generally mauled around whilst under. I was well and truly under the illusion that I would be returning to work rested, relaxed, glowing and with beautiful mani and pedi! That was until I realised we are told to take the length of time off that we are.... It's very hard to not put pressure on yourself to do more when you start to feel mentally and physically more up to it, but your body definitely needs a good length of time to heal. I think the problem is we don't have scars we can easily see - if we did, we might be easier on ourselves!

Roseanna I had that pain in fanjo when I needed a BM but I have to say in four weeks it has significantly improved and I now have a lot more feelings of wanted to go to the loo and pain has disappeared.

Fantastic WE so far DH came home early on Friday and surprised me by taking me and DC to the beach for surfing and a BBQ. I got to sit in a chair while he took the DC in the cold sea. He is my hero bless him. Then we all sat around trying not to freeze whilst eating sausages. Fan-blood- tactic.

Felt like a proper family outing just a shame I missed out on the sufing!

Hope you are all well and having great WE's too.

Pip

Thanks Pip and Fen....problem for me is that I literally don't feel anything in the fanjo area even with no pain relief at all. There's virtually no swelling - can feel a neat row of stitches with a very slight swelling at the wound itself, but that's it. Thought I would be in agony when the doc used the speculum when I had to go back last week, but I felt absolutely nothing until he accidentally caught a stitch. Just think it sounds unlike most other people's descriptions? The pain and swelling etc that everyone else described I feel in the perianal or anal area instead. Maybe I'm just weird :o

Thanks for the reassurance re lack of sensations for bms though.Puts my mind at rest.

Tried to look at the YouTube videos before surgery and lasted on average 3 seconds lol....can't bear to watch :o

Think actually the main problem is that I've had far too much time to think about it and overanalysing too much...

Pip - sounds fantastic (and think you got a great deal keeping warm AND getting the bbq lol)

Roseanna - when I had my posterior repair in Nov I had a lot of pain too when I needed a BM, and so in the end I just used suppositories quite regularly to help me go and alleviate the pain (felt as if I had been kicked in the backside by a horse!). It took quite a while for the nerves too start working properly again and when I went back in to hospital in Feb to have the stitches removed things were only then just beginning to function properly. It must be relatively 'normal' for this type of surgery as the same thing is happening this time - I get a very uncomfortable feeling of pressure/pain but no feeling of needing a BM. Don't know if this helps, just sharing my experience X

Hi all last post so to speak , not with a trumpet I may add only till I am back my hols. No sensation pretty normal nerves have been sliced through so the pathway not there at present but will come back when tissue nits together. Pain in back passage nrmal when needing a bowel motion as pulling of internal stitches when rectum fills , this was the only sensation I got when needing to go. I bled quite heavy for 3 wks then like a light period for another 3-4. I did have merina coil which had to be removed and a few infections . I did notice that everytime I lost a stitch pain would increase then a bit more bleeding but it would settle till next time.

Sure- felt the same with TVTO I could literally feel it working its way down into tissue would get better for a bit then start all over again , I am defo hoping that it is just the increase in activity that has made things worse. I have also convinced myself that losing weight will help too so will really try when I get back from hols. Yes it works wonderfully wait till you sneeze and dont need to cross legs lol fabulous. This is why wanting to perservere and not get it removed because cons says will defo wet myself again., I do feel sorer if I have been on my feet all day so here is hoping xx

For all you ladies considering buying the must have 50 shades of grey a little warning and a TMI ALERT!!!!. About 10 days post op had one of those naughty dreams (probs due to lack of activity and wishful thinking things were gonna be back to normal) but woke up out my sleep having a big 0 if only it was that easy all the time hehehehe!!! any way you would have thought I had just had a nail bomb explode in my insides. Most alarming did put me off thinking about the ikky sex thing for a while so be warned, dont know if it was the merina/infection or just all the muscles pulling on the stitches but just imagine those spiky world war 2 anti ship/submarine mines along the british coast and you can geuss the rest lolol . But since normal duties have returned I will be sure to let you know how I get on with my book on hols, kindle at the ready lol

hope all are found healing well xx

Thank you so much for all your kind advice - its put my mind a ease as I was beginning to think I was a bit of a freak (well still am - just in the hypochondriac kinda way lol)

Happy - haven't laughed so much on ages...you've made my day lmao

Happy - wishing you Happy Hols!! (enjoy your book!!!Lol! - have you got all three??? - you'll need a rest when you get back )

All 3!!!!, I am a fast reader ..... and an even faster learner lol .... OMG hilarity good for the soul xxx