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.
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General health
Any old prolapse! Uterus/womb prolapse, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, urethrocele, incontinence, pelvic floor, anterior and posterior repair, TVT etc part 4
Ben10NeverAgain · 06/04/2012 19:43
Hi All xxx
Huggy was also scared of the dying bit and was frightened to say it out loud , I think this is why I was so manic post op and did not sleep for 13hrs post op recovery xxx Just glad to be alive 
check up 6wks, driving at least 6wks ( this is what I was told ) as they cut into muscles used for emergency breaking and some insurers will not cover you xx
Back to work sedentary job 6wks , manual 12wks... I took longer because of complications xx
Absolutely no to lifting buggy even empty after 2wks and I was told not to push a shopping trolley ( no hoovering and this can involve similar motion to pushing/pulling buggy xx your stitches may not dissolve for at least 6wks (more if you are sure ) you dont want them going ping and nothing to be lifted over 3 lbs for first 6 wks xx then max 10kg wieght ever, so I was told ( I am a nurse so this may be dificult but I am gonna try). I do not have small children so this was never an issue to me , sorry to be so negative but mabe some of the other ladies might have some coping strategies. What about family ? x I must admit I very much under estimated the amount of recovery time (although I had several infections and a perforated womb) lol
Tazzle you are naughty lol slow down xx it was about 14/16wks before my cervix was normal had been all swollen inside up until then. So much so I could not differentiate the rim of my cervix from other tissue, just cause you cant see inside you, dont know whats going on . I am going back to work :( so practicing my senior staff nurse vioce :). We really are our own worst enemies as we think we are superwomen xxx
Abitsnowy- dont know about hyst ?unless you have uterine prolapse?? or other issues involving your womb.
Dont think they tighten the tummy muscles lol x not with repair of anterior/posterior ( if you get one without paying for it lol I want the name of your surgeon xx I got an abdominal scan this will show up anything within your abdominal cavity that could be causing the swelling, something like a cyst ?. My referal took all in 3mths max from Gp to first surgery date offered x but I know things seem to move a little faster in Scotland in general xx
Hi to all new and old xx sorry for long post but things moving so fast again think it is the new post title as it is so inclusive which is fantastic xx Thanks Ben again xx
hi huggy
have several (((((0))))))
Have you not had any info from the hospital about post op care yet , I got some in the post with my date.
here is the royal college of gynaecologists ghuse to show DH
www.rcog.org.uk/information-for-you-after-pelvic-floor-repair-operation
but some examples used as not to do stuff before 6 week check
no lifting shopping baskets or pushing supermarket trolleys
no hoovering
no lifting children
no running / jogging
no driving for 3-4 weeks
Its hard not to do stuff after first week or two as legs / arms all work ok and the temptation to so things is immense.........but as many of us have found we do pay the price if we hurry along, we have to let our insides heal. If we had a cast on a broken arm we, and others, would have no issue with not doing stuff ,,, just because our stitches are inside / invisible its harder to remember we need to rest to heal and not put strain on the stitching.
I dont think that pushing a pushchair and getting it on and off buses will be wise in the first month post op.
Can you ask the hopsital to give you post op advice ......maybe even phone and ask them to email it to you so you can make arrangements explaining aobut children and that OH works away and you need to make arrangements for at least 6 weeks till post op check.
hi snowy
unless uterus falling out lots they not likely to take it out... and even less inclined if its "plump" 
like mine and needing abdominal removal.
errrmm most repairs done through vagina ...... dont touch the tummy muscles ..... if they did would have certainly asked them to do mine
lrgth of treatment.....well depends on what they diagnose / decide to so as treatment. The general requirement is that they treat within 18 weeks of firest appointment .......but if they trial with as pessary or you need more investigastion time to the actual op can take months. Have to say though that for me once the decision to operate was made the time to op was about 5 weeks.
good luck with op .(((0)))
Thank you. 
Yes, I had secretly hoped that they would throw in a tummytuck abdominal repair.
Huggy - mine's on the 23rd. If you look up the thread a bit, you'll see a list I posted of all the things I'm scared about. I think it's entirely normal to feel like this. As one of the lovely ladies on this thread said, feelings like this are what stop us taking silly, rash decisions at other times.
Ever since I got my surgery date, I've been feeling a lot better, with fewer bowel and abdominal pain symptoms. I was beginning to think that I'd made a mistake, and didn't need the surgery at all. However, yesterday, I had horrible feelings of constipation, combined with apalling wind. It reminded me why I'm having this done!
Abitsnowy - I was offered the option of either a hysterectomy or a sacrohysteropexy, where they put a mesh sling under the uterus and support it. My uterus has dropped about half the way down, so something needed to be done. I've opted for the sacrohysteropexy as there's nothing atually wrong with my uterus - it's just the support structure that's gone AWOL! In terms of recovery, I don't think there's that much difference, but I'm quite fond of my uterus, and wanted to keep it if at all possible.
Console yourself with the fact you're highly unlikely to ever have to go through it again, Tink.
I'm really annoyed with myself and upset today. I moved some furniture two days ago and my rectocele is now visibly worse. 
I know I'm getting it fixed but it's made me realise how much I'm going to have to ask for help in future. I've always (had to) been very independent and I don't really want to give that up but looks like I have no choice.
glad to hear your recovery is going so well skiing .... it can be very hard to be sensible though 
. Agree we cant wrap ourselves in cotton wool and my work involves manual handling people / wheelchairs so its gonna be hard to draw the line 
....or decide even where the line is ...... also got to get saddle on my horse
absolutely brill tink that you are now the other side .. you survived that dreaded day intact .... whooopeeee.
totally empathise fengirl.... my OH is actually being more sensible than me telling me off on a daily basis when I try to do summat / anything remotely connected with lifting / pushing / pulling moe than his dinner on a plate
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Hi Tink ... very possible to leak and not know, I did it on regular basis, something as simple as bending would be enough for me to leak I would stand up and pants would be wet but I would not have had the sensation.
Dont forget someone has just had a good rummage down there and upset the status quo so to speak , maybe it will settle in a few days . I think some of the other girls had similar experience after first real physical exam I know I did xxx dont be too disheartened x
Well I have my date in for 4th may, as consultant says "for a good rumage" and the fixing/stretching of my TVTO plus ablation of my womb. Got a date for day surgery ( cause I asked for it as did not want to be in too long) Kinda wish I had just went in too ward getting that anxious feeling again :(. He did say this may be a problem to the anaesthatist as I am obese 
boy did I feel bad, but he has obviously slotted me in ... what if I get there and anaesthatist refuses to do me I will be horrified. Funny how you dont feel too then someone points out the obvious lol furious diet until op xx and I have no idea how he stretches TVTO after it has been in there for 5mths lol .
I had just resummed to work now I have this date for 3 wks and ward manager gonna love me. Oh well back on the merry go round lol xx
I've read the whole thread and ((hug))
Saw female doc today and she thinks it is a retrocele, cystocele, prolapsed uterus and fibroids.
The good news is that the cervix is healthy.
They tend to go for the physiotherapy route first here so they begin by working on the completely knackered pelvic floor muscles first then on to ultrasound scan etc next.
It is going to take ages, isn't it?
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