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.

I'm checking in at the right time

I had my appointment with the colorectal consultant the other day. Cystocele confirmed, rectocele confirmed, enterocele suspected and my problems are almost definitely caused by a rectal intussusception.

Solution? Well I'm in that grey area. It's major surgery you know and it's the long term you have to worry about. You aren't alone. Let's send you for a defecating proctogram and see what that shows up but really it's major surgery you know and it may relapse....

I was gutted. There have been tears. But onwards and upwards, the DP may show that surgery is indicated. Nobody will be able to make any judgements until that's done and at the very least the gynae is willing to repair the rectocele which has to help a bit surely?

I pooed a spiral today :(

Arghh just typed a full post and lost it

Try again!

Fengirl hope that you are feeling better today what an awful week you have had. Has the tummy ache cleared up? My stitches felt a lot worse and very tight just before they came out at 6 week post op.

Guyfawks I am 11 weeks post anterior, posterior and perineal repair and do not have any surface stitches left. The consultant said last week that there was still deeper stitches in there that could take up to another two months to heal. But I do not have any barbed wire going on and no complaints from DH . Good luck tomorrow with your consultant and hope that you get some relief.

Leoniedelt what a horrific long wait you have had with what sounds like really uncomfortable symptoms keep pushing for appointments.
Also Misery that sounded like an awful appointment for you as well. I really hope that you both get appointments very soon and get yourselves on the road to some treatment and recovery x

Welcome to the fallen fanjo club Vernon the women on this thread are amazing.

Whoknows have you had sex been for a drive yet?

Tinx how are you doing?

Surewoman my chin drops every time that I read about your journey and the humour that you have managed to maintain - you are an inspiration woman!

Living up to my user name here I think that my bladder has developed a mind of its own and is currently going through puberty and totally misbehaving. I have restocked my locker at work with the good old Tena lady again. Any-one got any advice for making bladder's behave?

Lol Footle...think that is a record!

Haven't had the joys of a colorectal consult (yet!) but think their whole approach and anatomical conception is quite different from the urogyn one. Sounds pretty tough and my heart goes out to you x

Fen - just read your post and no need to apologise! I took your advice and called appts to be told that I was on a waiting list to be allocated an appt and that it would be another couple of weeks before I got the appt through, and no they couldn't tell me how long after that I would actually be seen at the multidisciplinary clinic. Came off the phone and simmered for a bit and then phoned back and spoke to someone else. They told me that the consultant who runs the clinic has reviewed my file and she wants to see me herself to decide if I should see the multidisciplinary team. So they have set me up with the first available appt for her on 5 Dec, then she will decide what if anything will be done. If it is the multidisciplinary clinic I will then go back on the waiting lst to be allocated an appt again! Soooo frustrated....can't see anything material happening before the new year which feels lifetime away at the moment...yesterday the cystocele which had been grade 1-2 6 weeks ago finally succeeded in getting just past the 'entrance' with my cervix sitting just behind it. So uncomfortable and I feel really squashed up and achy :(

Bladder - only thing I can suggest is to avoid caffeine and spicy foods and drink plenty of water. Hugs x

Well, I drove my car no sex though.

Hello ladies. It is a long time since my last post but I have been lurking in the shadows on and off to try and keep up with everyone.
I am 17wks post TOT and anterior repair. I had 8 weeks off work and went back after the summer holidays. I teach P.E so have a pretty physical job. I was back on my bike after 7 weeks and am up to 30miles on the road and have just come back from a week mountainbiking in Scotland. I have been lucky with my recovery I think due to being reasonably fit so for all of you out there who are worrying about recovery or having surgery my advice would be to listen to your body and do what you feel you are up to. Everyone is different and we ask heal at different rates. If you are still feeling knackered it is your body saying you have done too much.
Sure: Great to hear you are fully healed and I wish you lots of luck with the man hunt! You must let us know how you get on.
Fen: really hope you are feeling a bit more comfortable and have got that stitch sorted.
Roseanne: Good luck with the next appointment. Be assertive and I hope you get the answers and advice you need.
Bladder: I had the urodynamics tests and I would just go with the flow ( if you will pardon the pun)!!
Nana: hope the new dog is settling in and taking you on lovely long walks!
Slinky: go back to work only when YOU are ready. Don't let anyone else make that decision for you. If you have any doubts do go!

After my swift recovery I have developed a rectocele which was seen by the initial consultation with the GP and overlooked by the consultant! I go in tomorrow to have that repaired and can't wait to function normally again. The symptoms have rapidly got worse since the anterior repair and TOT. I am not looking forward to being on forced bed rest but remain positive that my recovery will again be swift. I will let you know how things go.
Good wishes to everyone out there.

Glad to hear things have gone so well for you and I'm sure this one will be the same - best of luck tomorrow x

Skini - glad to hear that the other ops were a success. I was wondering how you were. Best of luck for tomorrow and remember, lactulose, suppositories and painkillers are a rectocele recoverer's best friend!!!! Lol!

Why we are never all fixed in one go still amazes me. Every single one of us has had to go back in for further surgery a few months after the first. Oh well....

Hope everyone else is ok today?

Footle - !!! Where on earth did that come from????? xxx Hope things will be better from now on - keep us posted!

Roseanna - keep hastling them to be seen, or you will be put to the bottom of the pile as a 'non-complainer' and then get overlooked. I would ring everyday for a cancelation, just in case! xxx (the more noise you make, the more they seem to take you seriously)

Whoknows - how's the car??? x

Morning All
Sorry amother question. Is it normal to feel everything is going well to then feel worse than you did a few weeks ago ? I have seen some stitches am I right that I read there are layers of stitches ? 5 weeks post op tomorrow. I really want to start some excercise when I can. When can I swim ?

Thanks very much for everyone that has sent me messages...... its wonderful to be listened to as people dont really seem to understand how hard it can be. I really do what to be back to 'normal' as soon as I can, I am not putting it on
Skinikki when did you start your excercise ? I was fit but have put on so much weight sitting around eating and doing nothing ?
Thanks guys x

I'm feeling a bit worried today. 6 weeks post op now. Still no sign of any stitches coming away so I decided to have a little feel, having totally left everything alone so far. It all feels really lumpy and bumpy in there, not much different to how it was pre-op apart from nothing is actually bulging out the entrance. Really disappointing. I know there is still a lot of healing going on, but wasn't expecting that .

Oh no whoknows it does take a lot of time for the scar to flatten out again 3-4 months from what my cons said so try not to worry yet which I know is really hard, have you had your 6 week check yet? x

Slinky I have found that the recovery is also a roller coaster with some weeks being good and some not so. I have done a lot more hours at work this week and have been barely able to sit down today and necking painkillers again.
I think that swimming is only recommended when the surface stitches have come out although I have no clue how we are meant to know when they are out. Do you have a follow up appointment soon?

Roseanna a big un mn hug from me and I really hope that they put you on a fast track to get you sorted again x

Footle 18 months in and a large stitch - wow and ow hope that it helps for you now that it has gone.

Skinikki you made me laugh with your go with the flo comment
Sorry that you are also having ongoing trouble with the rectocele and hope that your repair went well.

Last Urodynamics question, is it just a normal consultant appointment that is a bit longer or do you have to faff about and hang around?

Thanks Bladder. My follow up is a week on Weds, the 21st, so not too long to wait. My urodynamics test was combined with a consultant appt, I can't remember how long it all took, but I did the urodynamics first (just as well as they asked me to turn up with a full bladder) then saw the Dr straight away afterwards in another room, where I had an internal exam. I had two nurses doing the tests, they were very friendly and chatty. Luckily it fell on my day off work and was at my local community hospital, 5 mins walk from home, rather the main one, those factors made it very unfaffy for me, hope yours is well organised too.

Slinky - my notes say you can swim from about 6 weeks, but definitely need to listen to your body, I too am feeling fat and unfit, I gave up running in May when my prolapse developed and didn't get swimming very often over the summer either. Six weeks lazing at home with biscuits and toast hasn't done my waistline any good. However I would rather have a few more weeks of fatness than overdo things at the moment. Also, I am gradually picking up all my normal childcare responsibilities and the lighter household ones, as well as going back to work soon and I have decided that I have got to prioritise those activities energy wise over exercise.

Nikki hope it went well.

Thankyou whoknows my appointment is with a urologist and then I have to go back to the gynaecologist so I am not really sure what happens but am trying not to worry.
I am glad that you don't have long to wait for your follow up appointment and hope that you get some re-assurance. My posterior scar is still a ridge which can sting but I was told not to worry and that it would flatten out with time.

I am going to treat myself to a bubble bath and glass of wine tonight and I can't wait!

I totally agree with the getting back into routine before worrying about exercise although I have not had a great appetite since the surgery so have lost weight but still feel as flabby and unfit.
Fitness still on hold here until I can manage to work full time and run the house and look after dc's etc.

I'm definitely prioritising cooking, having spent the last few weeks in ready meal hell. Finding ways to do it without too much lifting is the challenge.

Ah yes the ready meal weeks we had those too whoknows and I have had to serve a few since going back to work too because I have been so tired.
I relied on my slow cooker when I started cooking again and it made cooking much easier.