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.

[mistyviolet]

Whoknows my stitches didn't start to come out until 6 or 7 weeks post op.

Melady I am nearly 12 weeks post op from a TVT, anterior repair and posterior repair. I was told I would need 6 weeks off work (I have a desk job) I didn't go back to work till 9 weeks post op on a phased return and am only going back fulltime from next week. I wan't expecting the posterior repair but I had a lovely urogynae surgeon and he noticed the bulge at the rear when I was under ga and decided to repair it. I'm very glad he did as I wouldn't like to have to go back for further surgery.

Sure my surgeon thinks that the TVT is placed fine and strangely now that I've seen him my urine infections have gone as has the pain I was having. Weird since he didn't do anything. I'm still waiting for a cystoscopy and I will still go even though I'm feeling better as guaranteed the infections would return if I don't.

This week for the first time I'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel. It has been a tough few months but things are on the up. The TVT is doing its job well and has been well tested with my horrible cough I've had. The bulges have gone and I don't feel that something is hanging out of me now. TMI time... now that I've finished a course of flucanazole and several pessaries I am finally thrush free and am ready to try sex for the first time. My hubbie has been warned so keep your fingers crossed for me tonight. I know a lot of people like me do want to know if sex is okay after surgery so I will come back and let you all know.

Take care all x

[Melady]

Mistyviolet, thanks for the words of encouragement. I'm just worried that I'll go in for a 'minor' op and end up with a more major one that will have a huge impact on my work. I can't wait to get the TVT to stop the leaking but scared about a more serious op.

Did your surgeon discuss the possibility of additional surgery or did he just make the decision when you were under GA?

The registrar said because everything's more relaxed under GA they will take a look then but didn't say anymore. Because I knew nothing of this before (although it does explain the aching I feel sometimes), I didn't know what questions to ask. Reading this thread it sounds like a prolapse of some sort but I don't know.

I'm wondering will they explain before they operate and get my consent? I would rather have some time before to make a decision as it sounds like it can be a big job and a long recovery. Then again, if I do need an op then getting everything fixed at once might be better.

Good luck with your recovery too x

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Misty thank you for sharing, I hope you have a good night. I will ask about the stitches at my checkup. I'm starting to think about my return to work, I too have a desk job but it is only 3 mornings a week and I can get up and wander around as much as I like. I had thought about working from home for a bit but my laptop is really heavy and I would struggle with getting it set up etc (can't leave it set up as no space, it has to be put away all the time I'm not using it).

[gottagetthroughthis]

Misty - Good luck and fingers crossed xx

[mistyviolet]

Melady My surgeon didn't say anything about additional surgery beforehand. I'm guessing that he did the additional work because as others have said on here when one prolapse is fixed it can cause the other one to bulge more. Apparently it's also easier to judge when stitching up when both are done at once to ensure you are not sewn too tight. I'm only 39 and made it clear to my surgeon that my sex life is very important to me. The additional work also didn't add anything onto my recovery time of 6 weeks so I'm glad he did it. It would be worth discussing with your consultant what they would do if they found additional work needing done when you're under ga and what you would be happy for them to do. To be honest I didn't know much about the surgery I had until after. This thread has been great. It's so good to read others experiences, good and bad,rather than just going on the medical professionals' opinions on how things should be. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Whoknows Thanks for the good wishes. Don't be in a rush to go back to work and be prepared for extreme exhaustion when you do. I found my first week back really tough but it gets easier every week. I know it's not great being stuck at home but make sure you're fit for work when you do go back.

[fengirl1]

Whoknows - to add about the stitches, last time I was told that I only had one stitch left at around four weeks, but then had loads of bits around the 6/7 week mark including a knot that looked like a spider.

[lyttleangel]

footle thanks for the advice. I will look into this.
I have decided to right notes about everything I can think of that may or may not be related to this. I find it hard to put my point across so will be taking my mum to my next appointment with me, she knows how much this is affecting me and will hopefully be my voice if mine fails! :)
Does anyone else have problems with thrush? I never used to, but since the prolapse I'm getting it regularly I can only think its because eveything is so "exposed"...
Also does anyone else ride a bike regularly? I used to ride my kids to school every day in a bike trailer, we all loved it, but I can't bring myself to do it anymore as it is so extremely uncomfortable. Not just while I'm riding either, afterwards I feel bruised and so sore.
Could someone please tell me what TVT and TOT are? Sorry if its been explained but I have never heard of these before?
Hope everyone is well, thanks for all the support and advice
misty Good luck

[Melady]

Mistyviolet thanks again. I don't have any more appointments booked, as far as I know I will now just get a date for surgery.
I knew a bit about TVT /tot before my last appointment but nothing about 'bulges' so was caught off guard.

This thread has helped to explain some things and I realise now that I have had symptoms of prolapse without realising what it was. We girls seem to get used to strange sensations and regular aches and pains through having periods and then childbirth.

I suppose I will just have to wait and see what gynae sees.

Mel x

[Bladderama]

Fen your DDs comment was funny [hsmile] and the spider knot!

Lyttleangel so sorry that you are having such a difficult time with diagnosis and treatment. I am nearly 10 weeks post anterior and posterior repair and although I do have some ongoing issues I am delighted with the the general outcome. I feel so much more comfortable both in my body and mind and have no regrets at all. Really good idea to make notes I get quite overwhelmed with information in appointments and forget to ask the questions that I need to.

Tinx so sorry that you are feeling down and that things have taken so long for you

Ring pessaries I did try one but it shot out within an hour which I have since been advised was because of the rectocele, the ring type are only suitable to use for cystocele/uterine prolapse when you don't have a rectocele. It also gave me a horrendous dose of thrush. I can see that they would help some people but definitely not for me.
Gootagetthrough this my GP said that the pessary would not get in the way during sex.

I am interested in the tampon talk and gave a nod of agreement to whoever said about the half in half out feeling. I haven't braved them yet post repair and with my current symptoms don't think that I will in the near future which is quite disappointing because that it some thing that I was hoping would be easier post repair

Whoknows I had no signs of any stitches until the 6 week mark when they seemed to come away over a few days (accompanied by some v yucky discharge )

Nana2 so pleased to hear that things are improving for you

Troubled your consultant sounds really nice and I hope that all goes well for you

Welcome Melady, I had to take more time off work than I planned and am still building my hours back up. I have found that I am back to being exhausted again but I guess that it all just takes time. I have not had a TVT or TOT so cannot advise on that but did find the recovery tiredness a bit of a shock. Good luck with your gynae

Misty so good to hear that you have come out of the other side of this hope that things went well.

[WhodveThought]

Hi, I was pointed to this thread by someone in the 'ragged bits' thread. Maybe someone can help me with stories or advice (or just enablement to sit on the couch and drown my sorrows today!).

I had a series of mortifying tests done this morning and was told that I have to have surgery to fix an anterior rectocele that has left me incontinent. I am 30 and only have one child, I am feeling terrified.

This is my second surgery since a botched forceps delivery to correct 'complications' they caused. The first was vaginal reconstruction after masses of tearing. I, well, I am tired of this and feeling very stressed.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Oh dear Whodve, yes you are certainly in the right place on this thread. Sorry you've had such a rough time of it, you are young to be going through this. When you say incontinent, do you mean bowel or bladder or both? Normally a rectocele is referred to as a posterior prolapse, which is of the rectum into the vagina and causes problems with bowel movements, whereas an anterior prolapse is of the bladder or urethra into the vagina which can cause urinary problems.

I had surgery for a rectocele 4.5 weeks ago, mine was also caused by a forceps delivery, which was stitched badly at the time. Many people on this thread have had surgery for all sorts of different prolapse and there are a lot of success stories, however it is a big commitment to time off work (6 weeks plus) and getting a lot of help around the house, especially with lifting. How old is your DC?

[WhodveThought]

My daughter is 2. She will be heavier than what I am allowed to lift after the surgery. This is a little bit heartbreaking to me.

The front wall of my rectum is collapsing into my vagina (another one of those things I hoped never to say) and causing bowel incontinence. Humiliating and, actually, becoming quite debilitating as I am scared to go out in case of having an accident.

[wouldratherbeskiing]

WhodveThought welcome. No wonder you are terrified - it is miserable and scary. I had two difficult births, posterior presentation for both, long labours, one manual removal of the placenta and one high forceps. I had a rectocele repair in March and it has worked well. I developed problems due to menopause - didn't know I'd reached it! By the time I got to surgery I was a physical and emotional wreck and relieved to be 'out the other side'. WhoKnows has emphasised the importance of getting help. Healing takes time and so many of us on here mention the tiredness. Will it be difficult for you to get help post-op?

[lyttleangel]

whodve sorry to hear you are feeling so bad, I can completely sympathise with you. I am only 25 and still have not got my head around this happening to me at my age. I have a rectocele and cystocele, I don't suffer too much with bowel problems but am bladder incontinent, which controls my life. I cannot comment on surgery as my urogyne is being quite dubious about operating on me because of my age, but I would say ask plenty of questions on here to put your mind at rest. Everyone is very helpful. Keep your chin up

[tinkxx65]

Hi Everyone,

Just been for my GI physiotherapy and it has been confirmed that I now also have a rectal prolapse - I cried - So I am now having to go back to the colorectal consultant, hopefully to be seen before my operation in December. It was a relief in a way to be honest, I knew something was wrong but had been made to feel a fool by my doctor and he also told me the wrong information, he said it was normal to get a rectal prolapse with a rectocele - it is not, they are two different things although the rectocele problems can contribute to getting a rectal prolapse. That is why I am so upset and angry, I feel if they had fixed the rectocele months ago, the rectal prolapse might not of happened. Anyway cant change things now.

Whodve - I had some mortifying tests done as well so you have my sympathy, I can honestly say I have no dignity left these days. And the lady I saw this morning said I would probley need the one where they make you poo while they xray it - I told her it wouldnt be happening, not ever and that she can pass that on to the consultant, I am just not doing it.

Thanks for everyones support, it really does mean alot. It is horrible thing to happen at any age, but lyttle and whodve my heart goes out to you, you are both so young to be facing these horrible problems.

Take care everyone xx

[surewoman]

Tink - for you. At least they are now aware of what is going on with your 'bits'. I hope you don't mind me saying this, but I would go ahead and have the poo tests done (not much different to the wee tests!) because if there are any other problems, ie enterocele, etc. then you will at least know and have more chance of getting everything fixed in one go. Grit your teeth, swallow the very last of your dignity and remind yourself that if it wasn't for problems like yours, then none of the consultants would have a job!!!
I have a slight rectal prolapse, but, as the consultant said - do you think you could live with this? My reply was, actually yes, compared to everything else, I could. The rectocele being fixed has lessened my problems to a huge degree and to be honest I don't have the feeling of everything falling out of my vagina any more, so anything else is kind of private IYKWIM and I can live with that.

I'm glad that you didn't take your GP's word - it just goes to show that we really do know our own bodies and must not be fobbed off by money saving NHS GP's!!! (who in the long run create more costs through further surgery, etc. etc.).

Keep smiling Tink - you will get there, and feel a million dollars afterwards.
Big hugs xxx

[surewoman]

Misty - what's the verdict, post coital, with regard to anterior, posterior and tvt and sex???? Please let us knows xxx

[mistyviolet]

Melady I hope everything goes well for you.

Lyttle TVT and TOT are tapes that are used to treat stress incontinence. They are placed under the urethra to support it and stop leaking when you cough, jump etc. I had one fitted as part of my surgery and no longer leak at all. I know that's not very descriptive but even though I've had one I don't know much about them.

Sure I am pleased to report that all is in working order. To be honest it did hurt a bit around the entrance. It wasn't agony more a stinging pain where the skin stretched. Hopefully that will get better with time. It's like being a virgin again Inside there was no pain at all from any of my scars and my hubbie didn't notice anything untoward. He actually he said he didn't notice any difference although it had been so long he couldn't remember. I was a bit disappointed with that as my fanjo is definitely much tighter now but he never had a problem before the op. It was me who felt loose. Maybe both bulges stopped him noticing!

[Tr0ubled]

Tinx, I had to have 2 defecating proctograms, no idea why as they to all the results they needed on the first. During the first one the vertical X-ray machine wouldn't stay in position at my waist level and kept falling to the ground so the doctor had to come out from behind the screen and hold it in place squatting right next to me whilst I pooed. I couldn't have been more mortified however humour kicked in and I asked if anyone had a newspaper!! Even given how wrong mine went it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, I even went back for a second one! x

[WhodveThought]

Tinkx-While the defecating proctogram was no fun, I am glad it gave me answers. In fact, it confirmed I have an anterior rectocele and a rectal prolapse. Both of these can now be fixed (hopefully for last time). I completely understand your fear and reluctance, but if you do decide to go please feel free to post here or send me a message and I will answer any and all questions if I can.

Lyttleangel-here is a too-young-for-this-shit-high-five from me! I hate this so very much. I have a surgical referral and more humiliating tests lined up for a fortnight from now, I am just so sick of it all. I am sorry you are going through this too

[surewoman]

Misty - thanks for that info !!! Could he/you feel the tvt at all?? xxx

Didn't someone have an op today??? If so, hope it went well x (sorry I can't remember who)

[tinkxx65]

Whodve, have they told you how they are going to fix the rectal prolapse? I am booked in for a rectocele repair on the 11th Dec and I am hoping that this might improve the rectal prolapse?

Thanks for the kind words Sure, I am trying to keep positive, but it has all been going on so long and now this, I just want to be fixed and move on and get a job.

And as much as I try I just cant see myself pooing in front of someone, just hoping it doesnt come to that, I am hoping that just having a look will do, as it pops out very easily lol. And trouble - TWICE - that really is too much.

Night everyone, take care x

[WhodveThought]

Tinks I will find out how they will repair everything in a couple of weeks. At the moment all they have said is that the first 6 inches of the anterior wall needs strengthening, and that kind of repair (I think) is usually a mesh wall or tight suturing? They haven't been clear because they are worried that nerve damage might be affecting things further up. Scary, scary.

[mistyviolet]

Sure - he didn't say anything about feeling the TVT and I'm sure he would have said if he had as I quizzed him quite thoroughly afterwards. I didn't notice the TVT at all either so that's encouraging. I've read so many horror stories about TVT that I was really worried but looks like I am one of the fortunate ones. I suppose the majority of people who post about TVT will be the people with problems. The people with successful ops are less likely to be trawling the internet for info and then posting their stories. We've since had another go and it was much better this time. The stinging pain had gone and there was just a slight discomfort which disappeared quickly. I am sure with plenty of practice I'll be broken in in no time at all . I still can't believe my surgeon told me that we could have sex 6 weeks after the op. There is no way I could have done that then. I don't think any of my stitches had come out at that point and that would just have been wrong with the stitches in situ .

[stepawayfromthefridge]

Hi everyone, I wonder if any of you ladies can offer me any advice?

I'm 40 and have 2 DCs aged 8 and 4. Both normal deliveries.

Last year I had some aching and pressure down below and I was diagnosed with a rectocele and a cystocele. Mild apparently and I was told to do pelvic floor exercises to delay surgery.

The aching wore off after a few weeks and I didn't really think about it the.

In July I had some aching by my hip for a few weeks which then reappeared on the other side and it has remained there since. It's also in my groin and the top of my leg. It gets worse in the week before my period and although I can retain a tampon it's painful. I can't have a complete BM and sometimes have to splint :( ( The bulge is quite high up but is exactly where the pain is coming from) Sitting on a hard surface makes it worse and so does exercise. I loved going to the gym but can't do any exercise, not even swimming, as it makes it worse. Had a routine smear yesterday and the aching was much worse afterwards.

I've had various diagnosis - groin strain, IBS, I've had a gynaecology ultrasound - all fine, bloods works including makers for ovarian and bowel cancer, all clear. My GP refused to refer me to gynaecologist so I had to go private and saw a uro gynae. He said it wasn't the prolapse but was muscle problem and referred me to physio. Physio didn't know but tried ultrasound therapy, it didn't work so she referred me to orthopaedic consultant. He did an MRI scan, all fine. He said it was gynae and has referred me for a second opinion. He said if the gynae can't sort it then to go back to him and he will give me a cortisone injection in my groin for the pain :(

So that's where I'm at now. Seeing next gynae on Saturday. I have been resting for the last few weeks and it has eased a bit. I feel like I'm going crazy. So worried. Why would you need to splint if it wasn't related to prolapse? Maybe it's anxiety on my part?