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.

Hi everyone, I'm alive

Had anterior and posterior repair done tuesday morning around 11am was back up on the ward by 2 and I had been given morphine and sat there thinking this isnt too bad, then the morphine wore off and I was very uncomfortable, its hard to explain to those who have not had it done, its not pain as in being stuck with a pin, more a constant discomfort that I found quite hard to deal with, but once I got on top of it with painkillers it is bearable and at times I could not feel anything. I am finding it hard to move from one position to another but on the whole I would say the first twenty four hours are the worst and then as long as you keep popping the pills it is fine. I came home yesterday evening and they prescribed me tramadol, which is now my best friend.

The consultant who did the repair said he was pleased but has warned me that my vagina is now very tight, must of been like the mersey tunnel before lol, anyway he has stressed how tight it is now and I have to take it easy the first time I have sex and I might need to use those expanders things, but he said on the follow up they will assess it.

And I must admit I feel much better down there, I always had a heavy feeling especially around my bum and that has gone, so am hopeful that it is going to stay this way, have had a quick look and am pleased with the finished result, though it is a bit swollen at the moment.

So for those who are about to have this done, I would say go for it and just try and keep on top of the discomfort with painkillers, tramadol for me has been great.

I think I am waffling, will come back on when more with it.

But would like to thank you all for thinking of me xxxx

That's brilliant Tink.

Hi Tink, I am a very new poster on this thread but have been reading through everything you ladies have been through. Just to say glad everything went ok for you. x

Thanks Whoknows - I do not know if I need any tests - will probably find out tomorrow.
I am hoping it will just be a repair of the back vaginal wall, but the GP mentioned something about the internal anal sphincter being involved sometimes and I don't know if she suspects that too. Will find out tomorrow.

All will be revealed tomorrow

Glad you are ok Tink and hope recovery goes well. I have gone from not wanting to find out what is wrong to desperately wanting to get this done - no idea why after reading this thread! It has encouraged me, though :)

PS I have been to the hairdressers in preparation for my appt with gynae. Am I mad, or what!!

Tink, I have been eagerly awaiting your post! So pleased to hear you're doing ok and feeling so positive. I am getting more and more anxious - 1 week to go! I'm starting to not sleep at night and also have sinusitis but doc prescribed me antibiotics so should be fine by next Thursday.

footie, keen to know what's wrong with Tramadol. Obviously want to make sure I'm sent home with the right pain relief.

X

Thanks Footie, that makes sense.

Tinx - relieved to hear everything has gone so well for you. You just need to give yourself plenty of time for a full recovery - do not overdo things.

Jan - I too am pleased to hear that a pessary is working well for you. I found it fantastic while I was waiting for a rectocele repair but couldn't see myself using one long term - after gathering every bit of information I could lay my hands on I decided surgery was for me and it has been successful.

Just need to get the cystocele sorted. I am really hoping to get my life back on track for 2013.

Hello Tink! Good to hear from you.
Whoknows - interesting to hear about how much pain / aching you get.... Maybe I am over-doing it or it could be all the extra stitching I had. I've been to work the last two days and am glad I don't work Fridays as I'm now on my knees! I suppose I'll just have to see how things go. Thanks for thinking of me.
Hello to all the new ladies!

Tink - best wishes for your recovery. Its a path I will most likely take at some point and I am very interested to hear how you get on.

Tink - so glad you are out the other side! I agree with what Footle says - stay off the Tramadol and Co-comadol too, they are bad for constipation and can also become addictive (after an extended while) and to be honest, paracetamol and iboprofen alternatively every four hours work just as well and also won't make you depressed!!!

I was also told I would be very tight down below, however, all seems pretty normal now (6 months post) and the only questionable moment was the first post op attempt at tampax no hole!!!???!!! But all is ok now, although not tested to the full yet x Here's hoping the festive season will deliver!!!

Fen- don't over do it!! xxx

Dhalia- which type of hairdressers is that??? Lol x

Troubled - don't panic!! (she says, having been a nervous wreck herself prior to the ops!!!) xxx

So pleased that things went well for you Tinx and Tramadol kept me sane for that first week although probably contributed to the BM troubles.

Fen 9 weeks post anterior,posterior and perineal repair I was still very uncomfortable and achey and could only sit in a proper seat for about 3/4hour. It took until 12 weeks to feel more normal so go easy on yourself.

Try and keep calm troubled it will all be worth it but will be thinking of you x

I did giggle at your gynae ready haircut too dahlia! Goodluck tomorrow with your appointment

Frequentwee I am another one with ongoing bladder troubles and have the urodynamic testing tomorrow [gulps] after the anterior repair didn't help with the symptoms, hope that you get the help you need soon

Welcome to all the other new ladies and hope that the rest of you are all recovering well, including the lurkers x

Bladder (and anybody else who's facing it), REALLY, the urodynamics is ok, nowhere near as bad as I'm sure you are imagining! T'will be fine.

Thank you Fen. I think that the thing that I am most worried about is not being able to find out what is causing the symptoms or there not being anything they can do to help silly eh?

Well done Tink...was thinking of you so glad you're doing ok x

Bladderama - I had urodynamics a few months ago and worked myself into a right state. After I had it done I felt a bit silly for getting myself so worked up about it, but it really is not that bad...I thought I'd be completely humiliated, but was nothing at all like that and the staff really put you at ease. I'm going back in 4 weeks for a retest and not batting an eyelid this time. The test will help them work out pretty accurately what is causing your symptoms so they can decide what the best course of action is - and there's something different they can do for each kind of urinary incontinence so dont worry about them not being able to do anything for you either. Good luck and let us know how you get on x

Bladder - good luck tomorrow, I agree with Roseanna and Fen that it really is OK. Ask them lots of questions as they do it, it is interesting.

Fen - do bear in mind that I have only had the rectocele repair and no perineum work, plus no previous surgery so not surprising if my aches and pains are lesser. I noticed about two or three weeks ago that they really did ease off quite suddenly just when I was beginning to think they would never go away. I've just spent an entire evening in a pub and restaurant (both with cushioned chairs thank goodness) and really would not have been able to do that until very recently. I was a bit achey by the end of it though. My day off tomorrow too, will be sitting back and writing Christmas cards.

Hi,

day three and I dont like it I am sore and it is more painful, uncomfortable than ever before. I agree about the tramadol, but I cant manage without it. I am beginning to wish I had not had it done. Tried to do a number two today, but cld'nt and I think the rectal prolapse is still there, so all in all feeling very fed up. I can walk, but I can not sit upright at all. My mum has just gone to the shop to get me some glycerine suppositories which I hope will help. I have eaten prunes (very disgusting and I nearly puked) and dried apricots as well as porridge and wholemeal bread, but nothing is happening. When I tried to go, all that seemed to happen was that I started to bleed even more, which is slightly worrying.

Sorry for the moan, but I feel useless and uncomfortable and might just sit and cry today.

Oh Tink, sorry to hear that. Don't even try sitting upright just yet, I couldn't do it for more than a couple of minutes for the first two or three weeks let alone days, either stay in bed or lie on the sofa. I didn't have any BMs till about Day 3 (TMI alert - mine were watery and more like wet farts for the first few days) they were still uncomfortable, I felt as though I needed to go most of the time even when I didn't). Hope the suppositories help.

Tinx sorry to hear that you are having a low day x
I had to take the Tramadol for 10 days and finished the box so do what you need to do for you to keep you comfortable.
I tried the glycerine suppositories and they did not really help it was fresh pineapple that got things moving for me, far tmi I know and probably a new one for this thread.
Take care and stay in bed! Thinking of you x

Thank you Roseanna and whoknows for more reassurance I know that I am being silly

Waves was told I could have the operation to rectify it but it could come back so I elected not to.

WillBeReadingTheThreadWithInterestTiggaxx

Oh tinx - it is quite normal to feel things are going well and then to have a dip. It is such early days and the surgery is very invasive. I hope the suppositories help. Constipation, or even just going after the op is scary - I have been there - the suppositories did help plus I used a bit of vaseline (more tmi). The codeine will be making the problem worse - you should be on a laxative from the hospital. By the time you read this post I'm hoping things have sorted a bit. It's important to keep regular - the pineapple tip sounds brilliant and I shall be adding that to my list of things to have at home when I have my next op. It will get better - it takes time and if your recovery is like mine there are a few steps forward and a few back but it really does get better and for me it was all worth it. There were times when I thought it hadn't worked but it is just the swelling. Take care and keep us informed.

Fen - I think it is still early days - it can take such a damn long time to feel fully recovered. I think we all get unfit in the run up to dealing with these conditions and then post op. It takes a while to rebuild our strength and for things to stop pulling and I definitely still felt an aching feeling at 9 weeks.

Tigga - welcome.

Tink - hope you are feeling a bit better.

Bladder- have been thinking about you today, how did things go?

My bladder has been really irritated today, I've been running up and down the corridors at work to the loo. I'm also quite sore. Not sure if symptoms are exacerbated by stress? Feeling a bit low about the prospect of all this discomfort over Christmas, especially as I have to work!

I am sorry fallen fanjo ladies but it was truly awful

The urologist diagnosed an overactive bladder, urge incontinence and abnormal post residual volume. I think that he was disappointed that I didn't have stress incontinence and would not completely wee all over my feet
The report is being sent to my normal cons who I have to go back and see although he did say something about medication for the urge issues and urethral dilation for the post void problem - wtf is that?

So came home feeling utterly miserable and in need of a long soak in the bath when DH gave me a new pair of diamond earring saying that he was so proud that I was finally dealing with all of this. Much weeping and feeling very blessed to have my supportive DH.

Thank you for thinking of me frequentwee and so sorry that you have these bladder troubles too. Coffee irritates my bladder have you had some today?

Hope that you are feeling better Tinx x

I'm sorry it wasn't a nice experience Bladder. But lucky you to have such a lovely DH! And always remember it doesn't matter how you move forward as long as you do.
Tink - thinking of you. Take to your bed if that's more comfortable for you, sleep lots and generally take very good care of yourself. X