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.

Well I'm back at home, no op.
Got to hospital at 7am and was seen by the consultant just before 8. She did an examination and then sat me down to explain that things had changed from previous examinations and as well as posterior repair and perrenial revision I now definitely need an anterior repair but also a sacrohysteropexy (where they put a stich into pelvic ligaments to hold up the uterus). She explained in perhaps too straight forward a manner the complications, i.e 24hr pain due to temporary nerve damage and the possibility of not being able to walk properly for up to 6 weeks.
So I sat there totally unable to get my head around the surgery I was now being asked to consent to (and 4 night admission in an nhs ward!) when I mentioned I'd been taking lactulose and arnica in preparation for the surgery. The surgeon looked concerned and asked when I'd last taken arnica, she then went to consult with the anethetist and came back 20 minutes later saying that arnica can cause severe blood loss and they were no longer happy to operate on me :(
I feel like I've been on this huge rollercoaster and that instead of finally coming to a halt I'm instead sitting on the precipice being asked to wait there for a couple more months before taking a jump into the unknown.

Troubled........... sorry to hear you now have another wait, and that it will be more than expected.
I have nipped on to say, now 10 weeks post anteria and posteria repair with TVT. I am feeling much stronger, though still get tired. Still finding stitches on panty liner, which I guess is why I still get tummy ache. Can walk for quite a while and shopping has not been a problem. Back at work but am very tired by the end of the day. Still taking movicol every other day as I dare not get constipated. I look back and realise that this is a very big op and did not really appreciate how long it would take to recover. My advice is the same as others listen to your body, let the washing pile and eat ready meals if you have to. I started cooking after 2 weeks and wish I had not, I thought I 'should'
Take care everyone much love and luck
Happy Christmas

Oh no Troubled so sorry. Back later, school run time now.

Troubled - nooooooooo . Good grief a roller coaster indeed. I was cancelled the first time I went in and was totally in shock. Waited all day (starved) and had to get dressed and somehow gathered myself to get out of the hospital. I didn't have the shock of adding to my required surgery. I don't quite know what to say - big hugs all round. They rescheduled my op in just a fortnight so hope you get a new date through soon so you know where you are. I didn't go back to work because I'd worked myself up to have it done and literally dragged myself physically and mentally to the first date and could not face going back. It's hard to see any reasoning to things at the time but with the benefit of hindsight it worked well for me because I ended up having a consultant that I felt more confident in who specialises in repairs. I can't believe what is happening to all of us - we're caught up in some sort of black comedy!

Slinky - it's so good to hear about recoveries - you've had a lot of work done and seem to be doing really well - I'm sure those facing the same procedures will find your account very encouraging.

Troubled, so sorry to hear about today, it must have been an awful shock. Have you been booked for another consultation? It must be a lot to get your head around. I hope you have some answers soon.

That's terrible Troubled! And after all the build up too.... If you're ready to look on the plus side yet, at least you'll be able to kick your heels up a bit at Christmas! Have a drink and a cry if you need to - you're entitled to.
P.s. I was a 'maybe' for a sacrospinous fixation (similar to what's been proposed) and was told I might get buttock pain for a while, but didn't have it in the end. No mention of nerve damage was made - interesting the different info we all get.

I know Footie, I was so shocked but I'm comforting myself that it's far better to err on the side of caution. I've been googling it today and all I can find are sites suggesting the use of Arnica for surgery, however my surgeon came across a case from September of a man who lost 3.5 litres of blood after a simple tooth extraction so she wasn't prepared to risk it given the severity of my operation, and that was that.
I haven't been offered another date yet but have been told it won't be until mid feb at least. In the meantime I think I'm going to seek a second opinion, can any of you recommend any female consultants in London?

Fen - am so sorry to hear about your dd. Thinking about you and sending hugs x

Troubled - ghastly thing to happen to you. I'm not in London, but I hear Linda Cardoza (sp?) is reputedly best in London surgery wise (dont know about bedside manner though), so may have a long waiting list. Hugs too x

Troubled - So sorry to hear about your delay, but maybe it is for the best, will give you time to get the help you will need in place. I had not posted earlier as I did not want to put you off and make you worry. I am 10 days post op and although I guess I feel a little bit better, I am still very uncomfortable and tired and can not do much at all.

I am still bleeding, looks like fresh blood and everytime I go for a BM it really bleeds, I am a bit concerned but dont know what to do so thought I would wait another week.

I think it may have failed and have been feeling very sorry for myself as I would never want to go through this again. My first two BM were (painful) but normal and although it hurt like mad it was such a relief to go properly after all those years of having to help it along, but since then, I have not been properly and it is not all coming out, which makes me feel very uncomfortable. TMI - before I would have manually had to get it out, but am too scared to mess around down there so just leave it till the next time. Also if it is too soft I can barely make it too the loo.

Is this normal???

Still sitting to one side lol, and its annoying.

Anyway take care everyone. xxx

Tink - you MUST call someone to get the bleeding checked. As I said before, it could be an infection and I was very ill after my first op. As for the sitting, I'm ten weeks out and still find it hard at times!

Tink , that last post sounded rather harsh. You sound worried. Please call.

Fen it wasn't harsh But it has definitely not worked, went this morning and knew it wasn't all out so put a lubricated finger up my bum and the rest of it is sitting on a shelf . Like you I have family problems at the moment which are more of a concern. I feel like I am moaning, could get a degree in it its just all so depressing.

Hi everyone, just wondered if anyone had any advice?

For a few months I've been having some pelvic pain. It was mainly by my right hip but sometimes was also on my left side. It was always worse with exercise, anything physical, and also worse before my period, sometimes during. The pain was a dull constant ache that would go into my legs. I also had some issues with pooing. felt i couldnt empty my bowel completey and sometimes would have to splint.I'm 41 with two small DCs. I knew I had a rectocele and cystocele diagnosed last year but only slight.

So I went to the GP? Was misdiagnosed with groin strain, IBS etc got blood works done for ovarain cancer and bowel cancer, all clear. Got ultrasound done, all fine. By this point GP was getting irritated by me :(. So went private to physio, exercises she gave left me unable to walk. So referred to orthropecics, had MRI scan done, showed it was gynae problem, dialated Fallopian tube and ovarain cyst. Saw gynae, she confirmed all of this along with the rectocele. She did a laparoscopy, removed the cysts and the Fallopian tube. She also did the rectocele repair. Apparently it was quite a major deal as I was in surgery for two hours. Everything was sent to lab. All fine, 'simple' cysts.

The problem is the pain is still there. It's not as bad as it was, someways it's not there at all :) and instead of being constant it comes and goes more.

I saw the gynae for my follow up appointment and told her.. She said I'd had a fair bit done and I was now just healing. She said it would settle down in time. She said there was nothing seriously wrong and I should try to relax. Really????Trouble is I've been through a really rough time with this and I'm scared its something else, can't think what though? Beginning to wonder if I'm going mad:(. I know it's considered major surgery but I've got two small DCs so have to get on with it .....

Anyone? Thank xx

Tink - yes, do call your gynae ward or GP and get checked out, I also had an infection which caused increased bleeding, although my bleeding was generally quite light. Try not to worry about it having failed, it probably hasn't but it is too early to tell. I had the same thing with BMs the first couple of weeks, the feeling of not having emptied properly and the rush to get to the loo, but you need to remember that there is a lot of bruising and swelling at this stage and it takes a good few weeks to all settle down and establish normal sensations, muscle control etc.

Troubled hope you are feeling a bit better about things today, I'm not in London either so my consultant wouldn't be any use to you (Hampshire), he's male anyway. I have never heard that about the arnica but I suppose they can't take any chances. I don't remember being told to stay off any medication pre-op.

As for me, I'm 12 weeks post op now. I've had an increase in aches again this week which I have taken as an indication that I'm overdoing it, so I have started having regular mini-rests with my feet up during the day, if I'm at work I slouch as far down as I can in my office chair for a break from sitting upright. I'm still not totally comfy on hard chairs, I struggled at my works do last night as the chairs were hard and had very small seats so I couldn't slouch. My physio appt has come through for early March and my Iphone app is keeping me doing my PFEs.

X-posted with Tink and Stepaway.

Tink I'm not surprised you feel depressed, I really do think you need to get checked out. Can you get to the GP?

Stepaway - how many weeks is it since you had your procedures? As I said in my last post I'm still not totally free of aches at 12 weeks and I only had a rectocele repair, you had a lot more done. I can't think of anything else that you haven't had checked out. It is very hard getting back to your normal routines, I nearly burst into tears the other night when I was trying to get the DCs dinner and aching and feeling all bloated and they were playing me up and getting in the way.

It been four weeks since my op. I know it's major surgery and I had a lot done. Trouble is I've never had any kind of 'major' surgery dozen so I don't know what recovery is like. Consultant said that theres nothing seriously wrong with me and she even took photos (before and after shots) of my insides. Just don't know if this is normal for recovery.

Step it's a real shock to the system isn't it, mentally as well as physically. At four weeks I was still in a great deal of discomfort and spending as little time sitting upright as I could get away with, I also still needed a lot of help with the DCs and the housework, so I am not surprised that you are still finding it painful. I think realistically you need to give it a good two to three months to recover and get back to your normal activity levels and at that point if you are still having pain maybe see the doctor again. Are you getting support from your family?

My DH has been great, had two weeks off work etc but my DCs are only 8 and 4 so they are too young to help. So i have to get on with it. I was back on the school run (walking not car) including walking up and down hills at two weeks, didn't want to just had to. My mum has died and my dad is severely disabled so there's no one else to help. I can manage, it's not like I'm doubled up or anything but I can achy and tired etc. just wondered if this was normal. For the most part, I feel things have improved. Before the op the pain was constant and now it comes and goes and isn't quite as bad. I have no reason not to believe the consultant when she said it was healing but then I've googled it and obviously I'm imagining all sorts of things. Sorry, maybe I'm just naive?

Thought I would try and go for a walk today, I have a step by step recovery advice sheet and it said days 5 to 7 go for a five minute walk (I hadnt) and then weeks one to two increase walking, stop if you feel tired. Well I set off and ended up stuck unable to go forward or back, and burst into tears (I was with my mum) it was so painful, I cant even describe what it was like, hot poker up the fanjo sort of. I was sweating with the pain. Anyone else had this???

I have phoned the hospital and they have told me to go to the doctors, have to wait till Monday now though. The pain has eased after a lie down on the sofa, but that walk will stay in my memory forever.

Oh Tink I'm so sorry you're suffering so much. I know I haven't been in your position yet but it does sound as if its more painful than it possibly should be. Are there any walk in clinics near you where you could be seen today? If there is an infection the sooner you get antibiotics the sooner you'll start to feel better.
I'm feeling more positive today, seeing this delay as a chance to get my head around my new surgical plan and maybe even do the whole thing privately. Having got as far as the ward yesterday I've now seen what's on offer and it wasn't very nice. I was on the same ward 10 yrs ago with an ectopic pregnancy and it hasn't had a lick of paint since. I can't help thinking that right now I'd be staring at the strip lighting on the ceiling, in pain, and how much better I'd feel if I was lying in a private room with nice lighting and maybe a cup of tea! Perhaps I'm being silly but I'm sure these things must help with the mental side of healing at least. Unfortunately the surgeon I'm seeing doesn't have a private practice though, hence my reason for asking for any recommendations.
X

Glad you're feeling more positive Troubled - as you say, it gives you time to consider other options.

Tink - I didn't get that sort of pain at any point, but everyone is different. I was able to potter round the house for up to half an hour at two weeks but I really didn't venture out very far for a bit longer. I know it's the weekend, but if your bleeding worsens or you get a temperature you must get yourself off to a walk-in or A&E.

Step - All I can suggest to you is that you rest whenever you can, leave the housework, just do the essentials, use convenience food whatever. I found cooking hard for a good few weeks because it involves standing still, walking is a lot less ache-making than standing still. Has DH got time off over Christmas to help with the DCs in the holidays?

I dont know what I have done, but whatever it is it hurts, so much so that I have taken a tramadol. And any future plans for going for a walk have gone for a burton.

Glad you feeling more positive too Troubled. Just make sure you have someone to look after you when you finally get your operation

I am off to bed, its getting earlier and earlier lol, am praying I will wake up pain free. Night all xxx

Tinkx - really hope tomorrow is a better day. I also didn't have pain like you describe.

Troubled - glad you are feeling positive after that hideous episode.

WhoKnows - physically and mentally I've found this whole thing difficult.

Step - sorry I can't offer any ideas on the type of pain you describe.

Feeling really 'dragging' today - much too much time on my feet and running around too much pre-Christmas. Early night for me too.