Pt 8 (Oct13) Any old prolapse! Uterus/womb prolapse, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, urethrocele, incontinence, pelvic floor, anterior and posterior repair, TVT etc

[Bladderama]

Welcome to thread 8 (again - see below) 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.

With apologies for confusion in thread numbers - an earlier thread was called part 7 but it was actually the 6th thread.

Here are the previous threads:

Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 4
Thread 5
Thread 6
Thread 7

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.

How are you doing noordinarygirl?

At this time in 2 weeks I will be getting admitted into hospital, I'm starting to feel a bit scared!

May I join? Not really sure, but suspect I have some sort of prolapse. I hadn't really thought about it until recently I was having problems positioning my Mooncup correctly, emailed the company for help and they asked if it was possible I had a prolapse. Thinking about it, I realised it did feel more "fleshy" and full in "there"! Sorry, tmi! I sort of have to push a tampon round to one side a bit and my Mooncup was sitting very low. I bought a smaller Mooncup from another company as recommended on MN, thinking that might be easier, but now this is very difficult to insert and is pushed back out.

I've had three children, the last two weighing over 9 lb, all vaginal births. I'm 49, but not menopausal yet.

I'm terrified I've never managed pelvic exercises really and probably have myself to blame. Suffering with depression and anxiety, and this feels like too much to cope with now

I haven't read the whole thread yet, will now go back and do so, then Monday I'll try and get an appointment with my gp and see what she says. I think this has been developing for a while and can't understand why my gp and gynae haven't mentioned it before during smears etc.

Is surgery always necessary? Are there exercises that will help? What is my gp likely to advise?

I can't discuss this with anybody, I am extremely embarrassed talking about body things, don't even talk with my dh about them. I don't feel I can have sex now Also worried something is going to fall out completely.

Grateful for any advice.

Sorry, when I say recently having problems, I think this probably started maybe a year ago.

Mrsclaire I am feeling loads better now, thank you.

I am now Day 11 post op. Over the last couple of days the feeling of wanting to sleep all the time has now gone and most of the time I can now get off the sofa (which is also my bed for the moment) without too much bother. Sometimes I have quite sudden pains in my back but it's not very often and at times there's pain in my stomach area. 'Down below' is still feeling a bit stingy and sore but nothing too bothersome as long as I don't walk around too much. I am still taking ibuprofen and a new pain killer called dihydrocodeine tartrate, which although makes me really thirsty all the time, seems to be less likely to make me constipated, unlike co-codamol.

To be honest I haven't really done much of anything yet. I've just wiped around the kitchen a bit and fettled with some bits of washing but haven't yet got dressed and properly ventured outside and I'm being uber careful about lifting anything more than a cup of tea!

I am having a few prunes everyday, pears, benefibre, lactulose and PLENTY of fluids and so far BMs are still going OK after Monday's trauma.

I was feeling very itchy 'down there' and something didn't smell quite right so I got my mirror out yesterday and had a peak. Thankfully I didn't pass out from shock and everything looked OK except for (TMI coming now) some kind of white stuff. The only way I can describe it is that it looked like bits of loo roll 'debris' that had been hanging around for a while. So I very carefully sponged all my 'bits' out with salted, warm water and let it air dry for a while. (Thankfully I had the house to myself for a while yesterday!!!!) I did that twice yesterday and I shall look again tonight. There was no discharge coming from my vagina, which is good, and I'm now hoping that whatever it was/is will be cured if I continue to do salt 'baths' on myself for a few days! Has anyone else had this sort of thing? Could it be a bit of thrush from all the antibiotics?

As for my home situation, he managed to sit and talk things through, rationally, with me, for a long time and we have agreed to try and begin taking baby steps to rectify a few issues, thank God. The atmosphere in the house was horrendous and I was at an all time low, wondering how the heck I would manage to recover in those circumstances without doing myself some damage. Well, here's hoping that we can at least keep things on an even keel until I'm up and around properly!

Kazza You've come to the right place. You can talk freely on here and it's great comfort knowing that there's always someone on here who's been there, done it, so to speak. There is no need to feel embarrassed or shy. Anything goes here......just look at what I've written 2 paragraphs above!

I would imagine that your GP will refer for a gynae appointment by the sounds of things. A lot of emphasis is put on questions regarding child birth experiences so there must significance between size of babies, types of births (forceps etc) and prolapse occurrences. My first daughter was 8lb 9oz and it was a very long, hard labour, with forceps and I had to be cut from ear to ear (or that's what it felt like) and that was nearly 19 years ago now.

I would definitely go to see your GP ASAP so that you can at least have it confirmed, or not, that you do have a prolapse of some sort. I would also recommend that you do some pelvic floor exercises to get things moving in the right direction! We are ALL probably guilty of neglecting that area and hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Good luck and please try not to get too down about it (although we've ALL been there too!). You'll find plenty of new friends on here and some of the best support around. You will have ups and downs - just read a few of the posts and you'll see just how unstable some of us can be!!! LOL

Hi Noordinarygirl. Hope you feel better soon and keep taking it easy What sort of op have you had and what sort of prolapse did you have?

I will try and get a gp appointment soon, but it isn't easy to get one with a female gp at our village surgery, so I may have to wait a week or two.

I've been trying to do pelvic floor exercises, but don't really know what I'm doing and find it very difficult to squeeze at all. Any idea how to find out I'm doing them correctly?

The only continence issues I have are when coughing or running. I do tend to suffer with constipation and now eat low carb which helps with the constipation as well as my IBS. I still often have to strain, but have discovered (thanks to MN) the YouTube video of how to go, with mmm and ooh!! Maybe straining is the reason for my problems?

None of my labours were particularly long and my youngest is 12 years old, so not a recent birth b

I saw my gynae a month ago, wish I'd asked her about it, but I hadn't really realised at the time. I've had problems with mid cycle bleeding and painful periods for a while, that's why I was referred to the gynae. Could they be related to a prolapse? When first referred a year ago I had a scan which showed no fibroids, endo etc. Noone mentioned prolapse as a possibility though.

Kazza My problems started almost 2 years ago when suddenly I couldn't pee at all. I had to self-catheterise for 6 months on and off until I'd had an MRI and ultrasound which then uncovered that I had a large fibroid that was taking over my insides and squashing my bladder etc.

I had a sub-total hysterectomy in Nov 12 and then last May my cervix totally 'fell out' by about 2/3 cms...imagine your vagina being turned inside out. It looked a bit like I had a penis coming out of me! NICE!? I had a pessary put in for a few months, which wasn't ideal at all but it got me through until now, just.

I had a rectocele fixed (official wording on discharge note says 'mobilisation of rectum') with mesh and a sacrocolpopexy, which is when they stitch mesh onto the outside, front and back, of your vagina and then it's 'hoiked up' around your internal organs and 'nailed' onto your lower spine (sacrum).

All sounds a bit gruesome but actually it's not been too bad, all things considered, apart from the severe constipation. It was done laparoscopically and looking at the 4 'holes' in my belly, you'd hardly really know just how much has been done.

The build-up to it was the worst part but now it's all over I AM glad I've had it done, although still very early days, I'm hoping my lady bits will see me out for the next 46 years!

As far as pelvic floor exercises go, start as if you're holding and squeezing in your pooh then try to carry it further forward by imagining you're trying to 'suck up' a tampon in your vagina!! You should do this 10 times and hold for 10 seconds each time (or build up to 10 seconds if you can't manage that initially) and then do 10 quick ones, only holding in for 1 second each time.

Constipation won't help nor will coughing a lot. I hope that helps.

That sounds awful and the operation sounds complex. I hope you recover well.

Thanks for the pelvic exercise tips, I will practice.

I suffer with anxiety and I am terrified of hospitals and anaesthetics, so am really hoping I won't need surgery

I've downloaded an app to remind me to do pelvic floor exercises

Morning all. Sorry if I seem to be dominating the thread at the moment but I thought some of you may be watching my recovery progress prior to your own surgery. I know that's what I've been doing.

Day 12 post op today and I can hardly believe how well I feel.

My itchy ladybits have now been cured, thanks to cleansing the whole area with warm salt water twice a day but I will continue with that for a while longer just to make sure.

Still taking lactulose twice a day, ibuprofen 3 times a day and the dihyrocodeine tartrate (never heard of it before this week!) twice a day. Considering everything that must be trying to heal inside I feel really good. I AM taking things VERY carefully and I'm keeping careful watch on BMs, making sure I eat LOADS of fibre and drink plenty too.

Still lounging around in pyjamas (and bra-less unless visitors call in!) so not really over-exerting myself at all.

Nothing much else to report really, which is good. Fingers crossed that progress continues uneventfully now.

Happy are you laxative free yet? Have you (honestly!) been doing pelvic floor exercises?

Nanna no more hoovering I hope?

Dragon Any luck with new jobs? You must be feeling exhausted with such long days at work?

Greening How have you been during this last week? Is it still knackering going to work?

Mrsclaire I know how you feel. I was far more scared prior to this second op than my first one. I think it's because we have 'inside knowledge' and that we just want things to BE RIGHT!

Forgot to share this link previously but there's loads of good information leaflets on here for all sorts of procedures. My consultant pointed me to this website and it's been really helpful.

www.iuga.org/?patientinfo

Hope you all have a good week ahead and enjoy the rest of your Sunday! x

Hi, noordinary keep posting as other people's recovery is interesting for all. My job search will take time and is tricky as I will need my boss's help!
My first week is done and my insides are still inside! It all aches a little but not in a worrying way.
Glad you seem to be getting on ok, man problems aside!

Hi folks. Can anyone put my mind at rest? It's 31 days since my Rectopexy, and this week has been more uncomfortable. Is this normal? I'm quite sore down the left side of my spine (waist to sacrum), and across the left side of my pelvis, and have some pain in the lower right side, as well as a pulling sensation on the right side. Also, I've been to the loo 6 times already today. I've also felt a little sore inside my vagina. Am I worrying over nothing? I have to see my GP tomorrow, because my blood pressure is still bouncing quite high (185/79), and I don't feel I could cope with work yet.

I hope everyone is fairing a bit better than I am lately.
XX

Noordinarygirl - No, the hoovering had to wait! Can't say I'm housewife-of-the-year this week!

Yes laxative free now on a diet of prunes, apricots pears branflakes and lots of water. Looking back my diet was not the best,didn't drink enough water. But the old prunes and that are working a treat. No real straining. Doing pelvic floors everyday now I'm determined to keep my bits inside, have done enough flashing. Glad your recovery is going well. Sorry to hear about your man troubles. I was in that situation with my ex living together when split up. I felt I was walking on egg shells all the while. Glad you have cleared the air a bit but what rotten timing.

Dragon, first week over and that is the hardest. Just take no shit (oops pardon my French) from the wicked witch. Do what you can do and don't let her pressurise you. Hope your little granddaughter is making improvements.

I struggle with constipation and think the straining hasn't helped my situation. It's difficult because I eat low carb (almost) no sugar due to IBS problems, so prunes and other fruits not an option. I don't take laxatives, as I'm scared of becoming dependant on them. I find if I do eat carbs I suffer more with constipation

Kazza suppositories are ok every once in a while. It just works n the lower bowel and rectum, not as harmful as other laxatives as in they don't upset your gut flora good bacteria. I also suffer bouts of ibs so you have my sympathies. I can't drink tea, coffee, nor green veg. etc. But prunes and that seem to working ok so far, no cramps or wind and have very little straining. I've had to learn to relax when on toilet and let gravity so to speak take over. I hope you get some answers soon.

Hi happy, I will take any shit from the old witch! Granddaughter still poorly and will be chronically so, I think. To add to the extreme reflux and allergy to just about everything she also has hypoglycemia. Poor baby.

Happylilme, I really don't fancy the thought of suppositories but will bear them in mind for emergencies. If I stick strictly to low carb I manage fine, it's mainly when I go away or over Christmas, birthdays etc that I struggle. Cutting out gluten has helped a lot. I'm ok with some green veg, but not broccoli, cabbage or sprouts. Think dairy may cause problems too with IBS at least, although I seem ok with a little cheese.

I've just discovered the YouTube video about how to breathe during a BM, and am working on that instead of straining. Managed ok so far since discovering that on Monday, but am also eating low carb.

Dragon, that's really sad about your little granddaughter poor little mite what a rotten start for her and your daughter. You really have had rough deal lately. Just keep trolling through the old job hunt might give you hope that you can get away from the wicked witch.

Kazza I was the same as you regarding suppositories but after someone recommended them on here I tried it when I felt badly constipated and the relief was amazing within 15 minutes of taking. I would recommend it as an emergency backup pardon the pun. Again didn't cause any bowel discomfort or bloating but I will just use it when badly constipated

Hi all,
Dragonroad - sorry to see you have so much on your plate, I hope things will improve for you and yours.

Noordinarygirl - I loved your description of your op!

kazzawazzawoo - I read that the sweetness of prunes is because of the Sorbitol, not so much the sugar, so are you sure you can't risk them?

I saw my GP, and it turns out I have an infection (vagina/womb?). I've got the antibiotics, and am planning to be back at work (reduced hours) next Wednesday. The hoover can sit and sulk for now!

Here's hoping all goes to plan.

xx

I'm hoping someone has some advice as I am feeling so low at the moment and don't know who to talk to. I gave birth to my little boy 5 weeks ago today. It was a water birth with no pain relief and I felt like everything went really well. When the midwife checked me over, it turned out I had a grade 4 tear so ended up in theatre. He came out back to back and too quickly, in one push, which ripped through my anal sphincter.

I am so worried about being left incontinent forever. At the moment it just feels so numb down there, I'm finding it really hard to hold in gas and when I need to go, it's really urgent. Other times it feels like I need to go but then I don't. There isn't that much advice about grade 4 tears online so I'm really hoping to hear from other people that have experienced this. Do my feelings at the moment make it probable that I will have FI or is it normal this early on in the healing process?
I am only 28 years old and had a really healthy, active pregnancy. It just feels so unfair to have had this happen and it has made it hard to bond with my gorgeous little boy because I just want to be normal again.

Please help if you can, I feel so lonely and scared by all this.

Aveiro welcome to our little club of knackered ladybits! Please don't feel lonely. There's SO many of us out here who can offer support and hand-holding for you. Although we don't all have the same problems, there is a common vein that runs through them all. I would feel confident in saying that we have all been scared at some point and we've all worried ourselves silly too.

From reading your description I would hazard a guess that it's still very early days in your recovery from child birth and I would try to give yourself longer to heal bit more before worrying too much. I know it's easier said than done and it's understandable that you're feeling pretty rotten.

The way you describe your bowel problem is almost exactly how mine are at the moment, following a rectocele fix ( nearly 2 weeks ago) amongst other things. I think it's due to the fact that we have had stitches etc down there and the muscles just aren't back in working order again yet. I can't hold any wind in and just have to let it go whenever it comes! And if I need to pooh, I have to slowly 'rush' to the loo.

I also had a pretty major episiotomy when I had my first daughter. It took 8 months to heal properly before I would let my husband anywhere near me!

Do you have a good health visitor following you up after child birth - can't remember how long they visit for as I had my kids so long ago now? Do you feel OK apart from the bowel problem or are you feeling generally very low? Could there be a possibility of a hint post natal depression creeping in? Please, please speak to someone if you are that unhappy. I'm not a medical professional in any way, shape or form but I don't think it's quite right that you are feeling unable to bond with your gorgeous new baby. Do you have family/friends support close at hand?

Take care of yourself, as well as your lovely son.

Nanna I hope your antibiotics kick in quickly and that you are more comfortable very soon. Is the hoover on the 'naughty step' now?!

Do you feel ready, physically and emotionally, to go back to work? It's just that people very quickly forget that you've had surgery once you've returned and there's no going back off sick without looking like a real slacker!

That's one of my main concerns (not for a long while yet though!), as it also counts as a second period of sickness if you go back to work only to need to be signed off again. Sounds daft, I know, but I work for a local authority and with further job losses looming I want to keep absences down to a minimum. So I'd be better off with one longer one than 2 shorter.

Can I ask a quick question? Even if I've not had surgery and am not sure whether I have a prolapse, should I be avoiding lifting heavy objects? And what is classed as heavy? I don't want to make things worse

Also what exactly does a prolapse feel like inside? I haven't really inspected in there before, so font know whether it's different or not. It just feels like something can be pushed away at the back a bit and feels very full and I have to push around things when I insert a tampon. I can still insert one though, but not my mooncup.

I knew nothing about prolapsed until reading about them on MN and wish we were made more aware when pregnant.

I have had constipation issues for years that are probably linked in some way, but I didn't know

Can I ask a quick question? Even if I've not had surgery and am not sure whether I have a prolapse, should I be avoiding lifting heavy objects? And what is classed as heavy? I don't want to make things worse

Also what exactly does a prolapse feel like inside? I haven't really inspected in there before, so don't know whether it's different or not. It just feels like something can be pushed away at the back a bit and feels very full and I have to push around things when I insert a tampon. I can still insert one though, but not my mooncup.

I knew nothing about prolapses until reading about them on MN and wish we were made more aware when pregnant.

I have had constipation issues for years that are probably linked in some way, but I didn't know

Can I ask a quick question? Even if I've not had surgery and am not sure whether I have a prolapse, should I be avoiding lifting heavy objects? And what is classed as heavy? I don't want to make things worse

Also what exactly does a prolapse feel like inside? I haven't really inspected in there before, so don't know whether it's different or not. It just feels like something can be pushed away at the back a bit and feels very full and I have to push around things when I insert a tampon. I can still insert one though, but not my mooncup.

I knew nothing about prolapses until reading about them on MN and wish we were made more aware when pregnant.

I have had constipation issues for years that are probably linked in some way, but I didn't know