Pt 8 (Oct13) Any old prolapse! Uterus/womb prolapse, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, urethrocele, incontinence, pelvic floor, anterior and posterior repair, TVT etc (994 Posts)

[gottagetthroughthis]

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
Thread 8

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.

kazza - I hide things also - sometimes womanly things should be kept that way - also my physio (who also has a rectocele) calls it a hernia, which I much prefer and really that is what it is. I do get really down sometimes and cant talk to anyone about it - my sis doesn't understand and I have tried to explain. I am sure there are some men really understanding but mine isn't and prob wouldn't wanna know.
Yes I do like to dtd as it makes me feel womanly - its not what it used to be but all I want is my femininity/womanly/sexy feelings kept - and I will keep doing it for as long as is possible (with the help of the KY!!! ). I have known about this for about 3 or 4 years now and it hasn't really bothered me - I use a vagifem pessary twice a week and sometimes I can get it in easily and other times I have to take my time! It is supposed to help with lubrication because of my age (postmeno about 6 years now) omg I have rambled on and on and on soooo sorry - just love this thread it makes me feel normal

Hello everyone , just looking for some advice please. Just back from first hosp appt for suspected prolapse and I feel it went terribly.

I can see a couple of 'things' protruding from my vagina and suspect some kind of rectal issue too.im 35 and have two kids, youngest 8mo. Am def finished my family.

The first doc who examined said it wasn't too bad and seemed to dismiss what I could see when I looked myself and kept talking abt things slipping intermittently. She wanted to refer me to a physio and see me again in a year. I felt quite disappointed with this. I'm not desperate for surgery but felt a bit fobbed off.

So she called in the consultant who asked a couple more q's and examined again and this time also did a rectal exam which first doc had not. He said yes I do need repair but also physio.

So I get a date for surgery which is not until march next year and the nurse who checks me out says oh you should think carefully abt surgery and my dc are so young etc.

So im left now not really knowing what in having surgery for, if I rally need it and why do I have tot wait so bloody long if I do!

I just feel quite frustrated and sisapponted after waiting so long for this appt

gottagetthroughthis, I struggle to talk about anything like this. Feel very embarrassed - and also like I'm defective somehow. Dh is 6.5 years younger than me and now I'm approaching 50 fast I feel much older than him, in body anyway!

Kazzawazzawoo - mine dh is 11 years older and I still feel older mainly because of this I feel my life's on hold eg wont go to the gym anymore too afraid of making things worse - however if it was going to be like this just because I was being careful I wouldn't mind giving that "pleasure" up! I miss all the things I used to do before I found out about this but i'm "content" atm where I am. I'm going to see the NHS physio and the first appt was about 20 women all different age groups and the physio herself is about 25yo and a stick insect. Then she put her foot in it by saying "hold onto your wombs ladies - it's your scaffolding"!!!! well I felt like screaming - my sis has just had a hysterectomy and it wasn't that she actually WANTED one!! I just wonder if there were any ladies in the room feeling OMG what have I done! Where do they get them from? Then we were all given a form to fill in for a full 7 days record of drinking/urinating etc and times which, when completed we are to return to the clinic (Oh and for those who are working - take a small jug to work and try to measure it during the working day) - then the physio says "there's no point in sending it in UNLESS you fill it in because you just won't be seen". I felt so disappointed - like a child being told what to do - that's the end of that then!! Rant over!

Kazza - how lovely to have a toyboy

I think I have been sent an appointment for an individual physiotherapy session, rather than a group. It's not til 21st July though.

kazza go for it I really do think it works - I just need to discipline myself to do them every day but if I feel a bit "odd" down below I do them every day and it def makes it improve

Daisy - I feel your frustration. I have three kids 17,13 and 10. I have been trying to get help for a rectal prolapse for so long. Every time I got the hospital appointment through I ended up at a group clinic with the jug scenario that's already been mentioned and although I had very slight leakage the problem was most definitely the back not the front, but they always want to try physio first which obviously is not a bad thing but if you're at the point of seeing things actually protruding out of your vagina would suggest that physio alone may not be enough to help you.

I went back to my doc for the third or fourth time and she again referred me to hospital but this time I saw a gynaecologist not a urologist and he listened exactly and for the first time addressed the real problem, and approved me for posterior vaginal repair surgery which due to a cancellation I had the following week. So I would go back to your gp to explore your next move.

My problem for everyone out there is I am 12 days post op and everything is feeling good apart from terrible pain at the externally stitched area. I have looked and it doesn't look swollen, there is a bit that is a bit pinker than the rest but not angry red. How do I know if my stitches are infected. It is so painful just to pat dry area after going to the toilet. Off for another soak in bath, that seems to help for a bit.

Thanks to anyone that can offer some advice.

DietingAgain you are lucky getting fixed so quickly, it's taken just over 12 months from start to finish for me. I am 8 weeks post op. Did your surgeon repair your perineum? That would account for the pink uncomfortable area. Try drying your bits with a hair drier, it works!!! Don't have the dryer set too hot though!
I am off for my post op check this week. I have had a feel around, sorry if tmi, and know I have a bit of a fold just inside. I have tried 'the deed' as I thought if I experience any problems it would be wise to try before seeing the consultant. I do know that in that little area I feel a bit too tight other than that wey hey!!
I do find it strange that some of you have had group sessions for urinary incontinance, what happens to patient confidentiality? I would certainly not want the lady up the street knowing I was having trouble in the knicker area, as her me. The physio will help and set you in good stead for the surgery.
Keep smiling girls.

Thanks for your reply ninniwig. He didn't mention perineum but there was some vaginal trimming and it is the external stitches that are worrying me. It started bleeding yesterday but that has stopped now. I've managed to get an appt for tomorrow morning for the nurse at gp surgery to take a look. She said they should be getting less sore not more so hopefully she'll be able to sort me out.

I realise how lucky I was, I was absolutely amazed at the speed which it happened. Right place, right time springs to mind. Stuff like that never normally happens.

Dietingagain I think most, if not all of us can become a bit anxious about our healing scars. I too had a spotting of blood from one of my scars with some discomfort in my lower belly and rushed off to the doctor only to be told that I had probably overdone the lactulose!!! The spotting was nothing. The doctor said that I had had fairly major surgery and nearly all scars leak a little and not to worry. Probably its a case of taking more care of ourselves, being rather over observant as it's a big thing for our bodies, but really rather 'run of the mill' to the doctor. As women we're very good at looking after everyone else's woes and can tend to push our needs to the back burner.
You do right to get yourself checked out. Hope all goes well, I'm sure it will. Will be thinking of you.

Thanks ninni. I've seen the practice nurse this morning and my stitches are infected. So I've started on antibiotics and salt baths. Hopefully I'll feel some improvement soon.

DietingAgain good to hear you've got sorted, hopefully your discomfort passes soon.
I saw the consultant, everything is good. One small problem is the fold. This seems to be an extra thick piece of scar tissue. I asked if, tmi sorry, if use would flatten it. She thought it to be unlikely but try. She is happy to remove it and has listed me as a day patient to do so. In the mean time I'll give 'gentle massage' a go!

That good that they're going to sort it out. Hopefully that will be the end of complications and should be smooth sailing all way. Good luck and I'll be thinking of you.

Hello ladies,

Just thought you might like to know that this thread has been featured on the Prolapse Information Network.

Hopefully this will help more women find this great community.

Shannon
(Prolapse Information Network blogger)

Well I'm now 7 months post surgery for rectocele and perineum repair. Things seem to be holding well even doing gym, run for 5 k on gradient 2.5 cycle 15 k and row for 3000 metres. I also do some light weights 10 kg on machine upper arms and chest only.
On the whole everything has drastically improved but still suffer with constipation so occasionally have to use suppository as I am afraid of pushing.
Th only thing I've noted that when I am due on and during period I get pain and a little swelling around scar tissue apart from that everything is grand.
It's so good to see this thread still going as it was my life line post op. Keep posting girlies xx

Hi I haven't been on here for a while but just thought I would pop in. I am nearly 4 months post op and everything seems to be okay, apart from my piles playing up. It was hurting when I did a poo and my gp said I have got a fissure and gave me some laxatives. I am glad I had the op but just wish I could get rid of these damn piles. Also I still haven't attempted sex, my gp thought they stitched me too tightly and I can't face having anything else done as already have had to have the op twice. Luckily my dh is very understanding, so its a mixed bag for me. I'm glad things have improved but just wish they could get a little bit better still!

happylilme good to hear that things hopefully will return to normal. I'm a pretty positive person and there's always a way around some small things that may happen. My consultant intimated that I will always take movicol. I have certainly changed my diet, although I thought I had a good one before my operation.
mrsclairet have you tried movicol. You can buy it over the counter or the dr will give you a prescription. I must admit sex is a bit different, I feel I need to be careful. The scar tissue I have just inside seems to be giving a bit, I'll make up my mind as to whether to have it removed or not. You and I are lucky in that our dhs are like they are. At least the day to day unpleasantness has ceased, that's a huge relief.

Hello everyone. Good to see so many of you coming through the other side.

I have my date through for my op. It's next week! So much for the 12 week wait! I'm having a subtotal hysterectomy with sacrocolpopexy. I'm very worried about the mesh aspect but it seems for me it's the right choice. Has anyone has this done? It's going to be an open surgery....

Izzy there is a lady on here Noordinary who had same or very similar op, she's the one to have a chat with. I believe she has come out the other side with no issues with the mesh xxx but she would be a great person to talk to.

Good luck with op and just take it real easy after x lots of support and help if you can

Izzy think I've seen you elsewhere. Just wanted to say I am booked for sacrocolpopexy with mesh on NHS. Open surgery like you. Scared ? yeah very. This is my second prolapse surgery so have lost the optimism I had first time which was just 2 years ago. I had anterior and posterior repair with transvaginal hysterectomy at that time. Got better for a while and then slowly worse. Seems to be getting worse faster now. Not sure if this surgery will help but going for it. Have concerns about mesh like you. LOL. Worth the risk to me and think it must be for you too. Hopefully no ordinary can help us with info. Maybe we can report back too so that whoever has surgery first can tell the other what to expect. I am booked for 25th July but this is NHS so as they say no guarantees, lol

My last post now sounds a bit me me me selfish.
If anyone wants any info or feedback on anterior (cystocele) posterior (rectocele) or hysterectomy/ uterine prolapse be happy to share my experience. Just like to say for those awaiting surgery that surgery gave me my life back. Even though I now need further surgery I have no regrets about my previous surgery. It worked and life went from bad to good overnight. x

jess my surgery was meant to be next week. NHS fuck up has meant I'm back on waiting list for now.... I too am having a 2nd surgery as mine failed last Nov. Fun!

Jess and Izzy I was just having a quick look back on here and spotted my 'name'. Indeed I have 'come out the other end' after having a sacrocolpopexy and mobilisation of rectum (is that called a rectopexy - Not sure. It's what was written on my discharge letter!) on Feb 18th this year. All done laparoscopically. Brilliant consultant. Yes, I was absolutely petrified before the op. However, there are different ways of doing this op though. My consultant explained the differences really well and I'm happy I trusted him.

I had a lap sub-total hysterectomy 18 months previous and a very large fibroid removed.

I am now almost 5 months post op and the mesh is no problem at all, I'm feeling great and sex is wonderful now. It's all tighter down there too. I was a little worried about that so I bought a new 'Roger' (vibrator) and tried that first. I see my consultant again on Tuesday but it should all be OK.

It was pretty rough going for me for a while after the op BM-wise but it's just about back to normal now. However, I do watch what I eat and make sure I eat loads of fibre. I hardly ever eat bread now and only have meat on the odd occasion.

If either of you would like more info please feel free to PM me. I remember how many questions I had and how alone I felt beforehand until I discovered one other lady who'd had the same op. It was a real life-saver for me as I really was so, SOOO scared.