Any old prolapse! Uterus/womb prolapse, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, urethrocele, incontinence, pelvic floor, anterior and posterior repair, TVT etc part 5

[Piplysmelie]

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
Thread 3
Thread 5

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.

PB - Good luck for tomorrow xxx

I saw a woman outside B&Q who, having strapped her toddler, crawler and newborn into the car, was then trying to heave one of those huge fertilizer bags (the kind my consultant told me never to touch again) into the passenger seat. I stopped her and made my son do it for her!! She looked really surprised until I mentioned that she would give herself a prolapse if she carried on like that!!! Lol - couldn't stop myself!! . Why are we never told things like that?? I really think all us MNers on the prolapse thread should travel around the country giving lectures on the consequences of too much heavy lifting! Even to the gymnastic/weightlifter crew xxx

Hi, just had some really frustrating news. I finally managed to get my insurance company to agree that I could be seen privately only to find the consultant I want to see has just been struck off by the GMC for 18 months.
I have been under her team for the past year at St George's Tooting but also under a Colo Rectal surgeon. He refused to operate on my diagnosed large rectocele due to my "young" age but she was very happy to deal with my perennial repair. I wanted to see her privately as she could then do the rectocele as well, plus I felt I'd have more control.
So today I've received an authorisation code from my insurance and went to make the private appt only to discover her suspension.
Now I just don't know what to do. How do I even begin to find a new consultant?
Can anyone reccomend a London based consultant? Preferably SW.

Hi TrOubled - I was recommended one and posted his details on the last thread (haven't used him myself but apparently he is brill) Mr John Bidmead is his name and comes recommended by two of my friends who had cystoceles, rectoceles, tvt, perineum repair, etc. etc. He is in London and if you hang on a sec I'll see if I can locate the details. xxx

Troubled - found the post, it's a copy of a txt I was sent...

...urogynae specialist is called John Bidmead and he sees patients at The Lister Hospital next to Chelsea Bridge or at the London Bridge hospital. From memory he has afternoon and evening clinics but sees NHS patients in Kings College Hospital. His secretary is called Ann and the number is 0208 778 3646. If you google him you will get his profile and info on his special treatments. If you need the urodynamic tests he does them at the Lister. Not the most pleasant experience but all done in a very dignified fashion. Also recommended another friend who found him equally professional.....

I saw that someone else on MN has recommended him too xxxxx

and this from another MN poster ..
John Bidmead at London Bridge Hospital is excellent - extremely patient, kind and actually listens : www.londonbridgehospital.com/LBH/consultant-det/mr-john-bidmead/

hello everyone. Im a bit nervous posting here.
i think i may have some kinf of prolapse - rectal, I think.

I thuoght maybe it was piles, but now after reading around it a bit more I think it could be a prolapse.

ds is 2 and a half and i had a forceps and episiotomy. it was a relatively quick labour at 7and a half hours, and was v quick in the last stages.

i spoke to my GP at my six week check up abuot things 'looking funny' inside my vagina and she said it was just scar tissue. but it still hasnt gone away and has that appearance of looking like my insides are falling out.

ive had three abnormal smears since ds was born.

i dont know what to do. i feel like crying now, actually.

Daisy - xxxx Please don't panic xxxx The best thing to do is get your GP to refer you to a gynaecologist and then you will know for certain one way or another. GP's aren't that good at noticing these things. If she/he is reluctant to do so, just say you have a few issues that you want to speak to a gynae about as it is their department. Can you feel a squidgy lump inside your vagina, either top or bottom? That's what a prolapse feels like (and you can sometimes see it if you look in a mirror and push/strain) Big hugs your way x

surewoman thanks so much for the reply. i think ill be going to see a gynaecologist soon for a colposcopy soon anyway because of my abnormal smears. so maybe i could kill two birds with one stone.
ive had three smear tests with three different GPs in the last 9 months or so ; surely one of them would've noticed if there was something there wouldnt they?
im too afraid to feel for myself...but i will try and build up the courage.
thanks again.

have posted here before, but was just wondering. I had spd when pg, and 2ng degree tear and many grazes and stiches. Single for yrs now but a recent foray into the sexual arena left me with feeling like my bladder was so bruised. I have a slight cystocele and rectocele, well i was told about 4 yrs ago it was within the normal range. But having had sex i just felt so baggy and so uncomforatable. I have to lift my pubic mound up quite alot to be able to pee, the pressure when i try to do kegels, on my bladder is quite uncomfortable and stops me becuase i want to pee. Do i just carry on trying to do them despite this?
Also i had a good lokk and my urethral opening is so south now, well it has been for yrs i suspect bt i have just been putting up with this difficulty weeing. Yet i am ten yrs on from having dd and older and i think the whole feeling of falling southwards is getting worse.
I have alot of lower back and hip pain, but put that down to spd never having gone.

Can i just ask for a gynae refferal, without the doctor saying 'it's normal there', becuae to me it's not normal, or at least it's getting worse.
thanks x

Hi piratecat - I would defo try and get a referral - the GP may need to have a little look but that isn't too bad and involves lying on your left side with your knees hunched up. Your symptoms sound similar to mine (bladder, rectum, small intesting and urethra all gone south. If the GP is not very helpful, you could say it's about periods or something and depending on the doc. you might need to exaggerate the symptoms (ie how it is really affecting your sex life/daily routine, etc. etc.!!!) Sounds to me like you have entered the world of the fallen fanjos - not funny, I know, but one has to laugh or we'd all be crying xxx

Surewoman, thankyou so much for your response. I've made an appointment with my GP early next week to see if they have an alternative for me (even though i wanted to see the uro gynea privately she was going to be my nhs surgeon anyway). I'll keep John Bidmeads details to hand and ask the gp for a referal to him.
Thanks again x

thanks surewoman, i am ok with being examined but the last doc a few yrs baxck just said its within normal and that was that. I suppose I can ask for a refferal yes? Who would that be with. Oh i was only examined lying on my back with my legs akimbo. Are they supposed to lie you on your side for a particular reason?

tia x

Hi piratecat - for some reason lying on your side shows up prolapse more (don't ask me why as haven't a clue!). I would ask for a referral to a urogynaecologist as they are the most qualified in dealing with prolapse. I wasted 4 years having been told by a GP that I was just constipated - turned out that I had a massive enterocele (when your intestines fall down between vagina and rectum) so don't take no for an answer! x

Had urogynae appt today for 6wk check and review of bladder diary. He is happy the repair is holding :) but said there are still a lot of stitches and quite extensive bruising still there which is why I'm still having quite a lot of pain, especially with BM's. Overall quite a relief though as I'd more or less convinced myself it hadn't worked.

Bladder diary was a different story - said he is not convinced the incontinence I've had is down to overactive bladder after all so I've to go for urodynamic testing. He described this as a probe placed into the rectum and catheter with probes into the bladder area. They fill you with water and then see when you need to go/ if you leak after doing starjumps etc. I was like...SERIOUSLY? Thought he was winding me up to begin with. Has anyone else had this? Am really freaking out about it and was so upset I forgot to ask what the test is testing for!

Roseanna - someone else had to do the star jump thing but I can't remember who. Sorry. I think it's to do with whether it's stress incontinence but might be wrong.

I know I've been a complete idiot (so please don't tell me so).... I mentioned the gardening the other day (believing I was ok to carry on as normal as I was told) - since feeling something go, I've had pain all the time (not unbearable but making me want to take painkillers which I'm not keen on) - should I do anything or just wait??? I feel so stupid and know it's self inflicted...

I had this as part of my original gynae appt Roseanna, despite not having any serious incontinence issues. It was fine, the two nurses doing it were very chatty and matter of fact, and took great pains to preserve my dignity (they left the room while I did my wee for example). In fact it was quite interesting (I am a scientist though so I find any sort of experiment interesting). A computer records it all, how much you fill and empty (you wee into a special commode which weighs and measures it all), speed of emptying, at what point you start feeling you need to go etc.

x-posted, Fen - oh no, you poor thing. If it is still painful tomorrow I would think about going to the Dr again, or calling your surgeon's secretary or something. You could say that you just felt something go, without mentioning the gardening. Hope it feels better in the morning.

Thanks ladies..am hopeless with things like this (takes me a lot just to go for the smear test after some issues in my past ) so this sounds like the worst thing I can imagine. Will just need to grit my teeth and get on with it I guess.

Fen - go and get yourself looked at honey...sending you hugs xxx

Fen -Get lots of rest tomorrow poor you, stay in bed and do nothing (!). Maybe it was a rogue stitch that has finally come loose, as they can hang around for a long time? xxx

Roseanna - I had a urodynamics test done. If you leave your dignity outside, then it is actually quite amusing ... jumping up and down in front of my consultant, he in his suit and me naked waist down (was wearing a gown though) doing star jumps and weeing all over his floor!!! Lol . I consoled myself with the fact that this is what they do all the time and are really only looking at the numbers on the charts. The test is to see if you suffer from stress incontinence, which can be sorted with a tvt inserted under the urethra (that's what I have, done at same time as cystocele + rectocele) - so far, so good as no urine stinky knickers any more and no need for pads!!! (anyone want my stash of tena's??) XXX

Morning all, had posterior repair yesterday. Consultant happy with how the op went. Being well supplied with pain killers. Unfortunately, the op was much later in the day than I hoped and I was a nervous wreck by the time I went in. I have IBS, so two hours after I came out of the op, I am being helped to the loo, while connected to tubes, catheters and monitors to have the most awful diarrhoea! They thought I was delusional, as usually the big worry is constipation, but they definitely weren't delusional for long, specially as the vaginal pack got 'contaminated'. Oh deep joy!
Rubbish night os sleep as so terrified I would shit myself - but hopefully my guts will calm down soon. Hoping to go home this afternoon. Pack, catheter and very uncomfortable cannula out in next couple of hours I hope.
Thank you all for the good wishes and support and I hope I haven't put anyone off their breakfast with the over share!

Morning all. Have not posted for a while and haven't had chance to read all the posts in detail but really hope people are on the road to recovery and getting themselves sorted.
Fen, sorry to hear about your complication. Hope you manage to get some reassurance soon.
I am 3 1/2 wks post op now and in the middle of a week long sailing event for 156 kids!! ( I am not sailing myself just organising and overseeing) it does involve alot of standing and walking though and I am getting to lunch time and my back really aches and I get a real period like pain. I presume this is just my body saying I am doing too much. Am trying to sit down as much as I can but it's very difficult. Day 3 today and I'm tired before I've even got there!! Let's hope the sun shines :-)
Have a good day everyone.

Bugsy - no lactulose and senakot for you then . Hope you are feeling ok today (don't rush going home as it's harder to rest!). Hugs xxx

Skinikki - please don't over do it or you'll be back to square one! Standing still is one of the worst things you can do xxx

Hope that you get home today Post and glad to hear that you are on the road to recovery.

Roseanna I had no idea that urodynamics involved star jumps either!

Skinikki I am shocked that you are doing that so quickly and hope that you can get as much rest as possible.

Well my appointment has arrived for tuesday but with the wrong consultant just waiting for them to phone back. I am starting to feel quite stressed.

The consultant that I wanted is unavailable so my GP agreed another one with the hospital which has really pissed me off. Now seeing a gynae instead of urogynae, so much for going private giving you the healthcare of your choice