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 Bladder ((hug)). What a lovely thing for your dh to have done. But surely knowledge is power and although it has been distressing today you are a bit further forward in your recovery.

Hope you do get time to relax in your bath.

Hi everyone, I have not read through the posts, just popping in to say sorry for my moan yesterday, and to let you know that it is not hurting so much today. But still not done a number two . My advice to anyone having this done is too rest, do not do anything, I think I was getting up and walking about too much. I went to bed at 8 last night and I feel a bit better now.

Any advice regarding doing a poo lol, I mean I have eaten (all healthy things) and I have no sensation what so ever really...I guess it will all come out at some point, or else I will just explode lol. I tried the suppository but all that happen was that the liquid from that came out and nothing else, and it made me bleed alot, so much so that I thought I must have bust the stitches!

Anyway all the best to everyone and Troubled I am thinking of you.

Will come back on later and if anyone wants to ask anything will try and answer as best I can. xx

Footle - I have not taken any today

Tink, sorry for the suggestion but maybe you should ask for the district nurse to come and give you an enema? I had a horrible experience after my first op (won't go into details...) and really that's what I should have done. I'm glad you're feeling more positive today - but don't overdo things as a result.

So sorry it was so awful for you Bladder...think the right staff make such a difference to the experience. On the plus side, now they have established a diagnosis there are lots of non surgical things that can help with overactive bladder symptoms - sometimes even cutting down on tea and coffee and caffeinated drinks can help a lot. Hugs xx

Tink - glad you're feeling a bit better. I found suppositories quite useful. Fen's suggestion is a good one too - even if you're not feeling that you can handle an enema, she might be able to suggest.different strategic manoeuvres :)

Lactulose tink! It softens the poo to make it easier to go. Don't know if you can buy it over the counter but I'm sure gp would prescribe? It's standard meds for ladies that have suffered a bad year (including back passage) after childbirth. Failing that, lots of liquorice/ syrup of figs?

Bad tear that was meant to say, not year, lol!

Glad - I had this with my first op and you're absolutely right. I was taking metronidazole (amongst others) and it made me feel dreadful. You would have every justification in asking for another swab to be taken when you have finished this round of ab's to make sure it's all gone - and don't be surprised if you get a BOGOF thrush infection too (sorry!) which hopefully a one-off tablet will see off for you.

Hi just need some reassurance. used the gylcerine suppositories yesterday and this evening, also tried to go this morning. Each time I bleed and toady especially I have bleed heavily. Do you think I have bust the stitches. I dont know what to do.

Thanks in advance.

Tink - if it's coming from your vagina I would get it checked out - unless it could be a period (which would be rotten timing). Call the hospital and ask - they may well say to go in or get checked by a gp. Am I right in thinking you're at your mum's? Don't be afraid to be seen as a temporary resident. Excessive bleeding can be as sign of an infection, so do ask, even if only to set your mind at rest! I hope everything settles down for you (and that the suppositories were worth it.)

Tink - so sorry to hear you are having troubles and feeling low (anaesthetic can give you the blues as it wears off). I found that lactulose morning and night, lots and lots of water during the day, and a suppository only when I felt I sort of needed to go, got things started. Another trick is to wet some loo roll in warm water, with a bit of slippery soap/body wash, and massage your anus to relax it - gets the BM sensation going (and probably TMI! sorry!). Also, I find that if I lean forward with my feet on a box, elbows on knees and say 'mooo' then that creates just enough pressure 'down there' to push things along a bit without hurting. Could it be a period? I had quite a bit of bleeding for the first 10 days, quite clotty too, but apparently this is quite normal if you bled a fair bit during the op (left over stuff!) - but, i would do as Fen suggested and see someone if you are a tall worried. Sometimes just a bit of reassurance makes a huge difference. xxx

Bladder - sorry you had a bad time with the urodynamics. Onward and upwards as they say - it will all be worth it in the end [fmile] xxx

That was supposed to be a but my spelling is not good today, Lol!!!

Hi, Thanks everyone for the advice, I went today and I feel so much better down there, I did bleed an awful lot afterwards but it seems to have settled down. The only problem is I woke up a with a cough and cold and coughing bloody hurts, but I feel now once I get this cough under control i will be fully on the road to recovery.

There's a report button in the blue bar with the poster's name in it. I have reported it.

Ooh, what did I miss???

An advert for a private clinic overseas offering prolapse repairs. Nothing very exciting!

Tink - I hope you have a good day today.

Best wishes to Tink and Glad and anyone else recovering.

The outcome of my consultation was that I do not have any prolapse (which is good) but op might not cure the bowel problems. I decided to risk it though. (thanks to this forum). I have done everything else that I can do.

I did wonder if I was doing the right thing over the weekend and maybe it was just cosmetic. I got a plastic glove and had a feel up my bum properly ( a bit 'awkward') and vag and the wall between them is about 1cm or so of nice muscle on one side, and something like thick skin on the other side. So yes, I am definitely doing the right thing, no doubt there! I really want this stitched up properly. There was originally just one big stitch through the skin when I had my baby, and I don't think it actually did anything useful.

So, I am not looking forward to the anaesthetic etc, and desperately hoping that it will help me poo straight because I have had enough of sideways. It is really worth a go though (I shall come back and read this afterwards, to remind me!

Can I gate crash to pick brains about coping with/improving a rectocele? I can't see that surgery is an option for years yet as how do you recover while looking after 3 DCs (youngest 2)? Not being able to poo straight is getting depressing.

I have tried laxido (prescribed by GP) but found that softer poos almost make it harder to evacuate (TMI?).

Is there anything I can do apart from surgery - or just get used to it? Nothing else is prolapsed (or no more than normal anyway). Thanks.

Hi Nosleep. I think your main aim has got to be to stop things getting any worse at the moment, you can do this by avoiding straining on the loo - are you splinting (thumb in fanjo and press on rectocele) to help with the BMs? Also pelvic floor exercises and try to avoid anything that strains the pelvic floor (heavy lifting, high impact exercise, some strength training). If you are doing your PFEs properly and regularly and tightening the PF muscles every time then you are much better placed to carry on with the exercise, lifting etc. If you need help with that, I would suggest going to see the GP and ask to be referred to the Gynae physio department. Probably a good idea anyway.

The other non-surgical intervention is a pessary, which is a sort of ring that sits inside the vagina and holds everything in place, I think the physio would be able to advise on these, some of the other posters on this thread have used them successfully.