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.

[kianaidan]

Curly - I have the same bloating, nothing coming out. I convinced myself I had some kind of rectal prolapse from back passage but doc has chked and said this is not the case. I do have a diagnosed mild vaginal prolapse and haven.t been told what prolapsing so could be rectocele. I manage to go by having no breakfast in the morning until I.ve been and find drinking peppermint tea makes it come sooner. I have 3 boys and don.t have time to sit o loi waiting for it to happen and so if nothings coming out I wait and drink more water/peppermibt tea. I too have been trying to eat lots of high fibre foods.so don.t know whether this has contributed to it.

[lotsofquestions000]

Bit of a TMI question but I'm 5 days post posterior repair and finding the most painful issue is the wind/BM. The pressure builds up in the base of the bum and then will either pass wind or need to poo. am taking movical and lactulose to keep things loose but just seem to get so much trapped wind it is awful. How long should I keep taking stuff to keep BMs loose - is it just until I feel I can go comfortably?? Anyone know??

[MustTidyUpMustTidyUp]

I'm still taking lactulose and one sachet of movicol 15 days PO. I did read somewhere that lactulose can make wind worse -might be worth a google and look at alternatives?

[lotsofquestions000]

TMI but had first 'proper' BM today and feeling I'm getting on top of the wind issue a bit more now. Although I dont feel like doing too much at the mo am starting to feel lazy!! and wondering when I will be able to do more and how much? Its going to be hard to not do too much when I dont feel so uncomfortable. MustTidy - how much are you finding you are doing now? I'm going to be paranoid about undoing the good work I think!

[jcakec]

I have found lactulose gives me so much wind that I have given up on it. I have been taking dulco-ease but the doc has suggested movicol instead. It is 6 weeks tomorrow since my op and I still need to take something as I still get constipated which seems to cause pressure and pain. no sign of my stitches coming out yet. on a happy note I can now sit for longer periods. It feels like a long recovery but I feel so lucky when I read about the awful post op compications that others on here have suffered.

[lotsofquestions000]

Maybe I should try cutting down on the lactulose then or try something else - have also been using movicol so perhaps the two together is too much - just that I am in fear of getting bunged up - I cant imagine trying to do a normal poo at the moment (sorry all TMI)

[MustTidyUpMustTidyUp]

I'm feeling pretty much back to normal. Only difference being that I get tired more easily, can't walk too far (or am reluctant to?) and I get itchy at night and in the morning. Pretty much off painkillers now. I'm very lucky.

[kianaidan]

Westcounty -.sorru to hear u have had such a difficult time. I too suspect I may have intususeption. Could I ask ur symptoms. Are tgey confident tgeu can fix this 4.u.

[lotsofquestions000]

Will getting constipated undo all the good work or is it more of a comfort thing? My cons said not to do anything for 2 weeks but I do feel as though I could do more ie pottering with dusting and other light duties, but in another week I feel like I will probably want to do a lot more

[WhoKnowsWhereTheBonnetsGo]

Lots you really shouldn't do too much those first couple of weeks, I was told to lift nothing heavier than a half full kettle in that time, and only gradually build up after that.

[kianaidan]

Sorry for jumbled words wriggly baby in my arms lol

[jcakec]

Lots, I think you should try to make yourself do very little for a while yet. In fact it was probably good that I had pain if I did anything as it stopped me. Like you I would have been tempted to start doing stuff as it is very frustrating when you can see things that need doing. try to take care of youself.

[lotsofquestions000]

thanks all - feeling much better today - still achey in bum area but actually wanted to get dressed today and feel more normal. My mantra is going to have to be ' must not do too much, must not do too much' maybe I should change my nickname to it
So now I'm going to enjoy another lazy day looking at all the jobs I cant do!!! Would like to take dog for a walk tho - although as she is a big strong mutt I do know that would not be a good idea!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheBonnetsGo]

Lots - I used my enforced rest time to do all my Christmas shopping online (same time last year for me). You definitely do not want a dog pulling on a lead at the moment!

[lotsofquestions000]

whoknows - yeh I have started thinking about doing online xmas shopping, seems a good bet as I certainly wont be lugging bags of shopping around town this year! Its going to be getting the balance right I think! First in the 6 weeks and then after - need to explain to DH that washing and shopping will have to remain his department for a while longer. I really don't want to have to go through this again and I'm sure work wouldn't appreciate me being off again any time in the next few years

[WhoKnowsWhereTheBonnetsGo]

Yes, I would say it took me 12 weeks to be fully back to strength and I still avoid the heaviest lifting where at all possible. My work were very good about it but, as you say, once is enough.

[wouldratherbeskiing]

Lotsof? I would definitely recommend you listen to your body and give yourself time to heal.

Haven't posted in a while. I think I've posted on here before about nagging worries about repairs not holding in the future and I know a lot of on here share my concern. Since my cystocele repair in January I have made a steady recovery - much quicker than for the rectocele repair carried out 9 months earlier. I am back cycling to work daily and have been horse riding. I've even been back on skis. Just recently I've been aware of being uncomfortable, a slight dragging which filled me with dread. Inside things feel intact. I have had a sort of pinching feeling in my bottom since the first op and I am used to that but this feeling was new - an ache that remained even while sitting or laying. The back wall is solid and the front slightly spongy but no obvious bulges. Can someone tell me - is spongy normal?

Anyway, in the last three days things have miraculously improved and things feel less pressured. I am hoping things stay like this. I am wondering whether this was due to scar tissue.

I suppose the reason I'm posting is to share this progress and to say there is light at the end of the tunnel. I think it is normal to worry having gone on this physical and mental roller coaster. Good luck you lovely ladies.

[lotsofquestions000]

Still doing ok. Not doing much - spoken to a friend who had same thing done and she is doing lots more than me (cleaning floors, walking and cooking, tho not lifting). Am I doing the right thing being really lazy and just pottering about??? 10days post op

[Mrsbapandbabies]

Hi Ladies,

Not posted in here before but I have a rectocele, a bit of a cystocele (sp?) and I'm convinced my cervix has dropped down into my vagina. I was referred to a gyne physio last year who gave my pelvic floor a 4.5 out of 5 (proud face) and basically told me that it wasn't so bad down there and I was expecting too much from my vagina after 3 normal deliveries. She gave me some super duper pelvic floor exercises to do alongside my pelvic exerciser. I didn't bother go back and felt gutted that I'd waited 5 months for that! Anyhoo, things are still crap down there. I'm in constant pain from my lower back and I have a lot of deep pain (if you know what I mean). I have to put my fingers inside my vagina to push my poo out or else it sits inside my vagina. I wee myself when I laugh, cough, exercise. I can't keep a tampon in. I won't have sex with my husband as a, it hurts b, it must feel very different for him (I certainly couldn't let him SEE down there!) and c, I just feel so unsexy.

Is this 'not too bad'?? It feels like hell to me!! Going back to the GP on Monday as I've had enough. Can I ask to be referred to a gynecologist? I'm only 30.

Thanks x

[MustTidyUpMustTidyUp]

mrsB your symptoms are worse than mine were and I've just had surgery to repair rectocele x

[kianaidan]

Mrsb - you sound emotionally exactly how I feel. I won.t let hubby touch me. I also have 3 boys and its such hard work trying m best to.still be a good mum whilst feeling like this. I haven.t leaked urine but have bowel issues, lower back ache like u say etc. I.d go bk see ur gp and tell them ur symptoms both physical and mental. Some gps aren.t as sympathetc as others. I thats the case go see another. I dthat and 2nd was much better. If they still won.t refer u (althoufh I.m sure they will) some1 pn here mentioned paying for a private consultation and getting put on there nhs waiting list.

[lotsofquestions000]

MrsB - I would definitely go back and make more fuss. I have only had rectocele repair and although you may have strong PFs this is different I believe in that your muscles have actually got separated/too weak?? My GP said no amount of PFs would get rid of it once there

[Mrsbapandbabies]

Thanks ladies!! I didn't think it was ok but when the physio said it wasn't too bad I thought maybe it wasn't too bad.

MustTidyUp - you've just had it done. You're very brave! How bad was the op/post op healing?

Kia - it's shit isn't it! I can't let him touch me down there and it's really hard on our marriage. Have you had your repaired?

LotsOf - I thought that no amount of pelvic floor exercises will sort it out! I'm glad you think so too!

To be honest I'm really scared about it being surgically repaired. Has anyone been offered something that's non surgical?

I've made a GP appointment and I'll look into seeing a private gynecologist if they won't help.

Thanks for your kind words and advice x

[IDoAllMyOwnStunts]

MrsB - you must ask for a referral to a gynaecologist. I was only leaking urine from stress incontinence without the added problems you mentioned and had the surgery last month which has changed my life.

You must and should not put up with this and it most definitely is not something you should suffer as a result of your having babies. You must make a fuss and tell them how much it is impacting on your quality of life and day to day activities.

I suffered for 10 years as I was too embarrassed about my situation but I am now strangely evangelical that other women must not suffer like I did when the surgery is out there to help put it right.
Best of luck x

[jcakec]

Mrs B I can't believe you have been told it's not too bad (well sadly I can). Just because it is seen as non essential so many of us are advised that we can live with these problems. Well we can live with them but they make life really miserable. I put off having an operation for a rectocele for a couple of years as I found even the gynea put me off having an op and I am not confident or assertive enough to say what I want. I did do a few months of physio then tried the ring pessary which didnt suit me but does help some Finally a different gp said to me that I am too young to be putting up with this and that I should get the operation done and get on with my life. Well I had it done 6 weeks ago so hopefully I will soon notice a difference once stitches dissapear and I am all healed. so please do go back and ask to see a gynea as you are really suffering. Take care of yourself.