Any old prolapse! Uterus/womb prolapse, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, urethrocele, incontinence, pelvic floor, anterior and posterior repair, TVT etc part 7

[gottagetthroughthis]

This is thread 7 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
Thread 6

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.

Oh dear Tink, hope it clears up soon. I would think you'll be OK so long as you don't develop a bad cough, coughing or sneezing put a strain on the pelvic floor. I sneezed a couple of times the week after my op and it was ouchy. Finegrs crossed for you.

I hope you feel better soon Tink.
I'd like some advice please - my surgeon wouldn't touch my urethrocele. When my bladder's really full (usually only first thing in the morning as I get the urge to go too soon most of the time), I have to go sometimes two or three times to empty my bladder fully. BUT this morning I couldn't wee at all to begin with, five minutes later a tiny trickle, ten minutes after that could finally go. Anything I can do / should do?

Fen I'm not sure about what a urethrocele does, but I might be worried about a UTI. Are you getting any discomfort when you do wee? I think it would be a good idea to drink lots and lots of water to keep things flushing through.

Surewoman it is so good to hear your positive outcome thank you sharing and continuing to support the fallen fanjo club members, it really does help.

Tinx so sorry that you are feeling poorly just before your surgery and I agree with whoknows that you will not want a cough post op.

Fengirl your bladder troubles sound awful, it sounds like you also need to undergo the dreaded urodynamics test if you have not already had one?

I am suddenly full of energy and mischief! I am so pleased with my repaired body and cannot believe the improvement to my quality of life (even with my leaky bladder).
The improvements are so much more than I ever hoped and I am pain free for the first time in 12 years.
Keep with it those of you that are pre-op it is worth it in the end.

Bladder already did the urodynamics - I feel the urge to wee far too soon but then don't get the 'I'm going to wet myself' feeling - the nurse had to stop filling my bladder. It's probably nerve damage from urine retention I had after an op years ago (2 litres when it was finally drained! ) I just hope it was a one-off otherwise I will have to be referred again. If you have any energy spare can you send some my way - you can keep hold of the mischief for now as I'm still equipped with a man trap!

Just thought I would let you know. Consultant yesterday , anteria and posteria repair a sucess. Seems TVT is all ok as well no leaking,no pain . I am 7 weeks post op. Still a few stitches in he said. I asked what I could and could not do now and long term. He said now whatever my body allows me to do as I will not do any damage now . Apart from heavy lifting. After 3 months anything, he said he did these ops so women coulddo what they wanted. He said not very heavy weight training, running, all classes and keep fit all ok. It is only the heavy lifting. I have headrd lots of scare stories of what we must never do.Myconsulant is the topof the field and sits on the NICE guidlines panal to advise. I am so pleased I asked or I would have spent the rest of mylife saying I cant do instaed of just getting on and enjoying life. Back to work today !!
My advice is what consultant said. Listen to your body it will tell you what you are capable of and when you are healed (some have complications so will take longer) we are not invalids we just had repairs, and need to be brave and carry on and enjoy our freedom.
Good luck to all and thanks for being there when I had stupid questions.
XX

That's fantastic Slinky - good luck with your return to work.

Depending on which surgery someone has had the studies show a recurrence of prolapse after surgery of between 10% and 30% . Personally I don't want to risk a recurrence. My surgeon specialises in recurrent prolapse (one of the reasons I chose him, although mine is 1st time). His advice was to take it very easy for 12 weeks and then a phased return to work and physical exercise. The repair is at half strength at 12 weeks and as strong as it's going to be at 6 months post- op. He recommended Pilates which I'm doing one to one with a physiotherapist, lots of walking and a gentle return to cycling and gardening. No heavy lifting ever (defined as a bag of compost). Of course this advice was based on his knowledge of me and my normal activities and hobbies.

hi all hope you are all well and recovering
all this talk of heavy lifting has started to worry me as i go to doctors next week with the hope of returning to work after what will be 12 weeks as we really need the money now as i didnt have any sick pay .my job is a nightshift shelf filler but we have to drag all our own cages out and break them down before we fill the shelves my consultant new what job i did and all he said was take the full 12 weeks so i dont know what to do now

Nana - could you ask for lighter duties, or at least someone to do the heavier bits for you? I know you're under pressure here but anything you can do to lighten the load on your body is worth it. I hope you find a solution, and that your employer is able to help you.

Nana, could you ask the GP to refer you to a physio if you haven't already seen one? They have fantastic advice on how to bend and lift and will be able to give you tailored advice for your job.

i will have to have a proper talk with my doctor next wednesday and ask her for her advice as i dont see my consultant until next march for a six month checkup with all the problems i have had with the weeing which is almost right except the first one in a morning where i have to go 2 or 3 times to empty my bladder i really dont want to do any damage but we really need my money now with xmas coming up my husband says it dont matter if i need more time off we will manage but i do worry
when reading this thread it seems everybody is given different advice from consultants and doctors and checkups vary from 6 weeks to 6 months(which is mine and i checked because i thought it was rather long time but told it was right)why it is so different depending on where you live surely everyone should be told the same things

Are you a union member Nana? If so you could speak to your safety rep, Otherwise a letter from your GP saying what you can do and when is probably the best bet. I agree that all the advice is so contradictory, it is very frustrating. I'm definitely going to stay in the play it safe camp for the foreseeable to prevent the cystocele getting worse.

my gp knows what is involved in my job as she asked last time i went and signed me straight off for another 4 weeks saying i would not be ready to go back and she would see what things were like at 12 weeks
i work with my best friend and i know she will help me bless her but i just wish i had been told this all before my operation as i told my consultant what my job involved and he just said thats fine after 12 weeks you will be alright and with all that has gone wrong i dont think i could have another operation as i would be too scared that the same things would happen to me and i dont think i could go through all this again it has been the worse 12 weeks of my life

Good evening ladies, how are we all? (I'm including myself in that as I'm not sure!) Nana - I do hope you can get things sorted out so you don't have to worry. I would put a Christmassy smile on but don't know how.

Evening Fen - I'm doing OK thanks, I have noticed over the last few days that there is a lot less discomfort when either sitting or walking for long periods. I spent three hours Christmas shopping yesterday and the only part of me that ached afterwards was my feet, which was a massive improvement over the last time I did similar, which was on the day of my pre-op and totally wiped me out. How are you getting along?

Hi Whoknows! I'm glad to hear you're finally feeling the benefits. I'm doing quite well, doing more so still feeling tired; and occasionally spiking myself! I'm back to see the gp this week with a view to going back to work, but not full days yet. (I really don't think I could manage it.) I'm feeling not at all ready for Christmas so that's not helping with getting my head round being back at work.... But at least there's the holidays to give me a bit of a break!

Yes, I'm looking forward to the holidays too. What sort of work do you do Fen, is it a full time job? I'm pretty well back to my normal hours now but that is only 10 a week. It's the DCs that are wearing me out to be honest.

Hi Fen, I have still got my cold :( and my op is a week Tuesday so am feeling very unsure if it is going to go ahead. Nose is still bunged up and I am coughing now and again. Going to go to the doctors tomorrow although I do not think I have a chest infection, but they may be able to give me something to help get rid of it?

Good to hear that you and Whoknows are both feeling better, how many weeks is it since you had your op Fen?

I am not ready for Christmas either, was thinking the other day wouldnt it be nice if it could be postponed for a week or two lol. I am going to put my tree up today, which is way earlier than I normally do, but I am driving up to pick my mother up next weekend and then its the op (hopefully) so its now or never.

Quick question, do the hospital give you painkillers to take home, or do I need to get some in. Is Ibuprofen best?

I had my pre op the other day and they did not go through anything, and I feel a bit of a fool for not asking questions, but it was very rushed and I was shunted from one room to the next and forgot to ask anything.

Trouble, how are you?

Hugs to all x

Tink - I would get your own paunkillers in, I had paracetamol and Ibuprofen. I'm sure the hospital would give you them but it might delay your discharge as it all has to be prescribed by a doctor and sent for from the pharmacy. They told me this because they wanted me to take lactulose and said it was much easier if people had their own at home. Don't take your own in though, it is mych sim

oops, phone fingers. Much simpler not to, in fact you probably wouldn't be allowed them. The woman next to me had her blood pressure tablets with her and the nurses had to get them approved by the doctor and pharmacy. That was one thing that struck me in hospital, how strict the procedures for medication were.

Hope that you feel better soon Tinx x

Nana also hope that you have managed to sort something out with work it is a real worry and I am in the worrier camp because I don't not want the prolapses to return. I have had several OH reviews since my return to work and am still on reduced activities but am back full time. I wish that I knew the answer to how heavy is too heavy for us to lift and move etc. The advice does seem to be quite mixed and I am going to ask my consultant in Jan.

I am totally unprepared for xmas this year which is very unusual for me so I think that I had better get internet shopping tonight. We put the tree up today and the DC's are so excited which is lovely. I am so looking forward to spending some quality time with them after the complete wash out of a summer pre and post op.

How is the bladder Fen?

Good to hear that you are feeling much better whoknows