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.

Leonie - interesting article (not one I want to read, really, as am 3 months post tvt insertion!!!). However, the article doesn't specify which makes of tvt are causing the most erosions etc. There are many different makes, 4 of which were recalled in June this year. Makes you wonder though, and I do wish the doctors could all be a little more transparent with their experiences.

Dawn - lactulose, lots of water and some glycerine suppositories should see you right. Don't strain though!

Williever - don't dispair, you will suddenly feel better and it will all be a distant memory (with luck). I felt very different once I hit the 12 week mark, but even now have the odd twinge if I have been standing still for a long time xxx

Thankyou for all your comments,had first BM, feel much better, I have noticed since the operation I have started to leak urine only a little bit even if I dont really need a wee, but this never happened before operation, is this normal?? xx

Ok so after long chat with hubby this morning we decided to just bite the bullet and and made an appt with my consultant for this evening seeing as I feel like I'm on a downwards slope..... Well since making the appt my GP surgery phoned to say that the swab I had taken on Friday showed mild thrush!!! I don't know whether to be glad or scream (I have a history of continuous treatment for thrush so the docs find it almost impossible to try and clear it now but by the same token I'm glad that its not issues with the surgery... Hopefully just a minor blip that we can get sorted).

Anyways still gonna go and see the consultant tonight as the gp prescribed a pessary which I'm not sure i can use with all the wounds 'up there' :/ Maybe he can prescribe me something else. I'm going to ask if he can put me on a profilaxis to keep it at bay too.

Anyone else been bothered with Thrush after repairs? Is it common?

Love, hugs and speedy recovery wishes to all.

Healing vibes to all x

Hope that your appointment goes well willIever let us know how you get on. £185 is alot for an appointment for you I hope that your consultant can help x

Dawny - keep going with movicol or something similar for a good while yet to keep things moving!
Williever, my sympathies on the thrush. It's probably the antibiotics that have done it. I had a real bout of thrush after nine lots of AB's earlier this year (I won't say how long for! ) I'm feeling very 'stingy' now and wondering if you or anyone else has had this?

Can I join please? Have problems with stress incontinence following a 3rd degree tear two years ago. Also (apologies about the TMI), I find I'm never clean following a BM, I can wipe and wipe but later there is a mark on my underwear. It's getting me down. Anyone else experienced this?

Bella - classic sign of a rectocele, wiping and wiping and more wiping...!! I would go to your GP and ask for a referal to a urogynaecologist who can also help with leaking issues. Good luck and keep us posted xxx

Williever ( keep nearly calling you willie!! sorry, Lol!) How did you get on this evening?

Fen - stingy is quite normal, especially as stitches start to dissolve and you are stretching scar tissue with every BM xxx

I'm still seeing the gynae every few months due to pain during sex, it seems the tear did internal damage that's taking ages to heal. (Well , it's healed over, but with pain, IYSWIM).
I haven't been as diligent with my PFE as I should have, so have felt reluctant to complain about peeing when I sneeze and cough. Although could some of this be due to a rectocele?

Bella - the peeing when you sneeze and cough is called stress incontinence and happens because the muscles and ligaments that support the urethra aren't working properly, maybe because they are torn, stretched or weak. If you google stress incontinence it will tell you more. If you have a dropped bladder (known as a cystocele) this can aggravate the problem. I would say something though, because it might help the gynae decide how best to help you. If you have cystoceles or rectoceles, then pfe don't necessarily help.
Good luck x

Had some good news today, I received a copy of the letter to my gp with urodynamics result and as far as I can interpret all is normal :)
I am nervous though that I may have a cystocele as there is a definite bulge on my anterior wall and from what I've read here once my rectocele has been repaired it could get worse. I've mentioned it before to my urogynae but she said I didn't have one. I have another appointment with her on the 25th so I'll ask to be checked again. Just scared of going through one op only to need another in the future.

Williever, hope your appointment went well.

Bella, do you have problems emptying your bowls too? I would definitely push for a specialist referral, you shouldn't have to live with pain hon.

Hi there. I only have pain during sex, which is on the front wall of the vagina, where the pelvic ridge is. Consultant thinks the tear might have gone through to the pelvic bone and damaged the surface of it.
I don't have problems doing a BM, it's the staying clean that's upsetting me. Thanks for your advice.

Well folks, saw my consultant last night and he's given me a weeks course of fluconazole for the thrush (which i hope works as it hasn't in the past. He's given me 100mg per day so might have been on 50mg last time). He checked me over and said my repairs still looked great and were healing well although it did look very red and angry with the thrush. I'm hopeful that things are heading in the right direction albeit with a few minor hitches along the way.

Anyway, I'm spending my time laying around with the ipad watching trashy daytime TV whilst the hubby runs after the kids. It's quite a dangerous combination really as all I've done this past 8 weeks is buy buy buy! Just had the Karcher window vac delivered today (Max, my 6 year old said "wow that's one of those things advertised on the TV that doesn't leave any marks. Can I have a go" lol he takes after his mother!)

Sure - I don't mind you calling me willie ... I suppose its quite apt on this forum

Love to all x

well hope you ladies are all well and taking things easy
its been five week since my operation the weeing is getting better but still have to self catheterise morning and night which is getting me down(i cry every time i have to do it) last friday i developed a water infection which didnt help but have been told would probably get because of the self catheterising
i am beginning to wish i never had this operation as i cant do anything i cant even help my daughter with our grandson who is teething or take the other one to the park to give her a break i feel totally useless

Nana - hang in there, you will feel better soooon, it just takes time and the more you can rest the quicker you will heal. Hopefully you will turn a corner at th 6 week mark. Healing vibes going your way xxxx

Hi Everyone,
Been extremely absent from this thread. Hope everyone, old and new alike, is doing OK.

I've just started a new thread on this, but wanted to post here too, as it is relevant to us all:
RCOG are inviting submissions from professionals and service users on a new Patient Information Leaflet on Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Closing date is 31 October.
www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/consultation-documents
It's right at the bottom on the page.
XX

Yikes - we need a new thread, anyone up to sorting it?

Exactly a week today since I had my ring pessary fitted. I have all four prolapses so perhaps I shouldn't expect too much. Initially the pessary relieved the dragging/tampon feeling, which was great. But as the week has worn on I am having bowel trouble and a nasty burning sensation, not sure whether it is my bladder or vagina. I am also getting some of the tampon falling out feeling again. Ho hum. The alternative is surgery, but I want to avoid that if I possibly can.

jan310 - do you think it could have slipped? I think it would be best to get it checked out with the symptoms you describe. I found one really helpful for a rectocele but must admit now I have a cystocele and (I think) uterine prolapse I'm not so confident in having one fitted. There seems to be too much going on. Good luck.

Sure - sorry no idea how to create continuing thread. We need help - can't lose touch on here.

try this fingers crossed

new thread

Hi Ladies,
I'm new to mums net. I'm 44 and not a new mother but have been suffering from the same problems as you girls for years. I have 3 kids -all 9.5lbs+ and born with their backs to mine so probably not surprising I have problems Youngest is 17 now so it's been going on for a long time, gradually getting worse.

I finally found the courage and spoke to my urologist (see him for a separate unrelated problem with kidney) and he sent me to urodynamics and then referred for TOT procedure.

Saw the registrar and she says I need TVT as they don't offer TOT at my local hospital. I heard that TOT is less likely to have complications??

She also mentioned that I have a 'bulge at the back' and that they'd look under general anaesthetic.

She told me about the TVT op but didn't cover the bulge and now I'm wondering what she meant and what it will mean for my recovery.

I'm self employed and can't take much time off. I work mainly sat at my PC and was told i should be ok aft 1 week, now I'm wondering after reading the threads if a 2nd repair would mean more time off.

I'd appreciate any advice you can offer.

Thanks girls
Mel x