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.

Hi Roseanna - not too bad here! I am a bit suspicious that I still have a small rectocele after all that but have got my post op visit on Monday (at last!!!) so will ask then, otherwise everything is fine. TVT all ok and no leaking, cystocele gone (so far) and BM's regular although take a bit of coaxing out (still the odd suppository) - I can't decide if it is because of nerve damage or the existence of a mini rectocele or I'm out of practice on how to poo normally!!! Lol! How about you?xxx

Roseanna hope you manage to cope with the driving. I've lost tracka bit, what's happening to you next WRT your repairs?

Sure glad things are so much improved for you after everything you've been through.

It's been a tough old journey for you too Sure - hopefully you'll get some answers next week. Know what you mean about forgetting how to poo normally :o

On the rectocele side of things I had raised the fact that I was constantly using glycerine suppositories and even then sometimes having to splint, and after he'd examined me he didn't comment further on that, but we'd gotten distracted by the cystocele and urethocele and upcoming tvto by that point! I still use suppositories all the time and am always having to splint now. That is, unless I overdo the fibre etc and it becomes more liquid and found myself having poo incontinence when I sneezed etc - for the first time in my life since I was a baby I woke up in bed about a week ago and realised I'd had an accident in bed. Mortifying doesnt begin to cover it, so have decided in fact that splinting is a better option and I'm staying back from the fibre overloads for a while.

I'm back at the surgeon again in a few weeks to talk about next steps after the tvto debacle. He'd mentioned last time when we'd agreed the tvto needed to come out that there were other options and he was thinking about a mini sling to avoid the nerve complications I had this time, but tbh, I was in so much pain at that point I didn't really take it in, so will need to have a better chat about that. So much to look forward to huh? Mainly I just want a final solution to all of this - feels like I've been having surgery for months and am not much further forward from where I was. I've gotten over the 'poor me/why me' (had a real pity party for a week or so lol) and I just want to get fixed and move on. Feels like I'm asking for the world just to be able to go to work without peeing or pooping myself and have some kind of intamacy with dh. I feel guilty sometimes at feeling like this, because I know its not like I have cancer or anything, but I know many of you will know the frustration and sadness that comes with all of this.

There. Emotional outburst done :o

Hi everyone, I am still here reading the posts, but have not had much to say.

Roseanna1, have I read your post correctly, are you experiencing feacal incontinence after having the rectocele repair??? I am just curious as I have been told I have a real possibility of becoming feacal incontinent after my surgery due to poor sphinter muscles.... Was this discussed with you prior to surgery?

I have a terrible memory but I think it is Whoknows that has just had surgery (its on the previous page) hope your feeling ok and not in too much pain.

My surgery is in 10 weeks and already I feel sick at the thought of it.

One question, is a week long enough to have full time help, I have my mum coming up but unsure if a week is enough.

:) I can spell, just not on a Saturday. Fecal.

Tink - you will probably need full help for 2 weeks xxx

Roseanna - don't have the mini sling as I have heard it was never properly tested and got through on the back of the tvt research (in fact I think Johnson & Johnson have recalled it - might be wrong though). I haven't had any problems at all with the traditional tvt, but the consultant I had has loads of experience and I felt very confident in his hands. I have tried very hard to 'leak' - star jumps when absolutely bursting, running with a full bladder, jumping, leaving the house to go round the supermarket with a full bladder etc. etc. and I still remain dry!!! Hope you get some answers xxx

Lol Rink...knew what you meant :)

Yes, that's right I had a rectocele repair and just had these fecal incontinence symptoms over the last few weeks (repair was about 12 weeks ago). Sphincter deficit was never mentioned, and I never had any tests etc related to that. I should say its not been an issue till I overdid the fibre etc and was pretty liquid (sorry that's gross I know!) and have had no fecal incontinence other than that but can't help thinking it must be related since I've never had that before now. And I'm not even 40 yet...

As for post op, I think it depends on what you need to be responsible for. My kids are teenagers so after a week I didn't worry about being on my own with everyone out for a few hours, but not surei would have been able to manage with toddlers for example...

Oops..should've said Tink...darn spellchecker lol

Thanks Sure, I too have some concerns re mini sling - will need to have a good chat through with the cons. when I see him. Just out of curiosity, has anyone had any experience with the mini sling?

Roseanna - don't want to scare you but read this...

The recalled Gynecare TVT Secur belongs to a class of Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) devices called ?mini slings.? Synthetic SUI slings such as the Gynecare TVT and the TVT-O have been on the market since the late 1990′s. Thanks in large part to capitalistic medicine and the 510(k) process, synthetic mini slings were born as the next step in ?sling technology.? Due to their design that requires a single intra-vaginal incision (as opposed to standard TVT or TVT-O designs that require two additional abdominal or upper-thigh incisions), mini-slings are marketed as ?micro-invasive? approaches to SUI surgery. While the TVT Secur is the only product involved in the recall, Ethicon continues to market its lineup of ?standard? TVT devices such as the TVT, the TVT-O, and the TVT Exact.

Thanks Sure, that's a bit of a worry. Had a look online and tbh I do have some concerns about even the non-recalled slings too. There's so much unknown about them, and given that there's been obviously two recent surgeries for me in the urethral area which still hurts, I am worried about going in again and what that will do to me as well. All the choices seem to have their own problems, so not really sure what the best plan will be. Going to be a long chat with the surgeon I think!

Bladderama - how are you feeling today?

Bladder - thinking of you. Tink - I had someone do the majority of cleaning for 6 weeks and I was on my own much of the time! Don't overdo it.
All I have to say is:
Short-tempered - check
Under pressure from work - check
Worried sick - check
In pain - check
Sorry....

Oh Fen....sending you hugs.... Xxx

Fen - nearly there! You'll be able to have such a good stress free rest afterwards as it will all be behind you - focus on that instead and try and look forward to it (hard I know, but a change in mind set did help for me). You'll be fine, it will all go ok and you will be a ((0)) club member afterwards!!! Just think of that! Lots of hugs xxxx

hello ladies wondered if any of you have experienced what i am now i had anterior and posterior repair and coil fitted 21 days ago and i still cant wee i have to self catheterise up to 5 times a day and measure everthing which i really hate doing i am under the gynae nurses they just keep saying when the swelling goes down and stitches dissolve things will improve but i feel i am the only one so fed up now just keep crying i keep thinking i will be like this forever

Good luck tomorrow Fengirl will be thinking of you x

Hope that today goes well for you Roseanna with the commute and work let us know how you get on.

Whoknows how are you doing? Hope that you are still getting plenty of rest x

Welcome nanaof2 sorry I have no experience of coils or urine retention but hope that someone else will be along soon to answer for you.

Not too good here still. Been to see the practice nurse this morning and have been given two lots of hefty anti-b's until swab results come back. I am till bleeding after friday, did anyone else start bleeding again at 5-6 weeks post op?
She did say that alot of the stitches were still in place and I did have a sly grin when she had to go and find a teeny tiny speculum to use!
Not sure whether to contact the cons or not.

Apologies for still moaning this journey is like a roller coaster.

Sorry I also meant to say thank you for asking how I was

Roseanna the information on tvt's and bladder slings looks very scary and daunting, big discussion required with your consultant about them.

Good luck for tomorrow Fen.

Hope you feeling ok Whoknows.

Bladder that sounded painful, hope the anit-b's help.

Thanks for replying Roseanna re the incontinence, I hope yours improves, I am really worried that I wake up after my op and have swopped one problem for another, guess time will tell.

Thanks for the advice on the needing help bit... Have now booked my mother for two weeks and then my two teenage boys will have to step up to the mark, which should prove interesting, as one of the just grunts most of the time :-)

Nanaof2, that is upsetting, I really hope you get sorted soon, I have not had my op yet so am of no use regard advice.

i am so mad to top all my other problems i have just had the most rudiest phonecall off the people that delivered a box of catheters last week(which i thought were sent from hospital but now turns out was not)saying i owed them a perscription for them i told them i got a prescription off my doctor and because there was no envelope with the catheters to order some more the kind girls at the coop pharmacy had ordered me some and were going to bring them to me .the woman told me off and said that was their prescription and i was to get another immediately for the amount they had sent and send it to them i said i cant send it to you as i dont have any envelopes and that i was told that i only needed to send when i needed some more ,she said make sure you get a prescription and an envelope will be sent to you and i take you dont want us to send you anymore i said no i dont i will use the coop pharmacy and she hung up
i really dont need this i top of everything else
sorry rant over
xx

Oh Nana how awful, feel free to vent here. I would be ringing them back in a week or two when you feel better and making a complaint. I can't offer any advice about the catheterisation but it must absolutely grim, really hope you improve soon.

Fen - good luck for tomorrow, really hope all goes smoothly.

Bladder - have you had your 6 week check yet? Maybe give your gynae ward a ring and talk things over with them?

Tink - I too worried about the fecal incontinence but so far so good, even on lactulose. I really couldn't have carried on my normal life much longer in the state I was in pre-op, so I had to go for it.

Roseanna - was it today you went back to work? I can't scroll as I'm on my phone, hope it went well.

i have just spoke to my doctors they are going to do me a prescription for the 30 i had so just got to wait for these damn envelopes to come they said it all boils down to money and that when i feel up to it make a complaint about their attitude and that i should have been told properly what to do
so stressed just want to wee but cant so i need them without all this hassle

Happy to report I had a good first day back. My boss was really good about everything and is letting me work from home 3 days a week so that'll help a lot. The drive was fine in the end - I think having motorway most of the way helped so there wasnt the constant movement between pedals etc to irritate my hip unlike the shorter journeys I had been trying. All in all an unexpected success!

Fen - best of luck tomorrow...will be thinking of you x

Bladder - I had a haematoma but it was much earlier and had zero bleeding by 5 weeks. I think a call to the ward is a good suggestion. Didn't like the sound of things tearing and you might be best to get an opinion from the nurses who deal with this kind of thing every day.

Nana - people can be so rude and inconsiderate and its the last thing you need when you feel bad as it is. Rest assured there a lot of lovely supportive ladies on here and you'll get lots of support x
Tink - I think the whole thing is a gamble, but a calculated one. That makes it scary,but for me I can't contemplate continuing the way I am either, so I guess all we can do is educate ourselves as much as we can and put our faith in a good surgeon!

Thanks for the messages of support. To use a phrase, I'm cacking it! But actually a bit calmer now I've got work out of the way (nearly in tears at the end of the day). Ho hum, what will be, will be at this point.... Will post when I can. X

Good luck Fen - It'll be a huge relief to finally get in there and on the road to a proper recovery. What a long haul it's been for you. Will be thinking of you.

Nanaof2 - it beggars belief how some people behave just at a time when you need some TLC. Hope things sort soon for you and cathetars will no longer be needed. So distressing.

Bladder - I'm sorry to read about your set backs - hope things settle and heal well. It's so worrying not knowing what is going on.

Rosanna - good to hear return to work has gone well - sorry to read you've such a lot going on.

Sure - really hope rectocele turns out to be only a suspicion.

Tink - I've been away for a week and have been reading posts but also didn't feel I had anything to say. I do feel for you but hope the consultant is giving you the very worse scenario to cover his back.

I am increasingly uncomfortable and anxious for my consultant's appointment on Friday. It will be good to know what exactly is slipping now - perhaps it's my tonsils!

Fen - really good luck for tomorrow xxx

Welcome Nana x sorry to hear of all your woes.

I had my post-op check at last today (3 months). All is very nice and neat, no big lumpy scars, no sign of any rectocele or cystocele and absolutely no problems with the tvt so I am..... AT LAST a (((0))) club member, it's official!! Hooray . My problems with initiating BMs he thinks is nerve ending related plus a sub-conscious eversion to pushing anything out. He did say to be brave and just go for it and that I wouldn't ruin anything. I said I was probably just out of practice!!! He sort of agreed! Lol! I am very glad he sewed me up tight, because everything now is about right and has stretched sufficiently for a normal sized speculum etc.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, so Fen, Roseanna, Bladder, WhoKnows, Wouldrather (and all the other lovely ladies), hang in there and you will get there eventually. Onwards and Upwards I say!!! xxxx

I will stick around on here though in case I can be of help to anyone, Love to all xxxx

I'm sooo pleased for you Sure - congrats on being a fully fledged ((o)) member. High fiving you right now! Xxx

Hope for us all :)