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.

Hi, I posted back in May June when I had a TVT procedure for stress incontinence. I was also offered a mesh repair of rectocele, which I've put off to reconsider next year. I read recently that Scotland have temporarily banned all gynae mesh surgeries including rectocele repair & TVT. I'm in England and can't anything more about the 'investigation' that Scotland is doing. Does anyone know more about it? When are they likely to report? Uncertainty makes me want to wait for the outcome before I go back to see the consultant. Thanks

That's worrying - I'm down for rectocele surgery too, though don't know yet if they want to use mesh. I'll be in Edinburgh over Christmas so I could try asking my MIL up there - she often knows such things...

Ps. Has anyone out there had a proctogram? It sounds hideous and mortifying and I have to have one in January. Ugh. Any tips?

Anyone had one?

I've got a bladder and bowel prolapse and looking at surgery in April. I'm also having the external bits improved and a new perenium (I say new, the existing one is about 3mm wide/long) built by pulling from the top leg muscles. At least I think that's what he said (my head was reeling by this point) Also having a camera inserted into bladder and a biopsy taken

Perkins08 don't worry about the proctogram. Mine was fine, all done very sensitively and behind a curtain. The consultant showed me the x-ray afterwards which is like a film and you could clearly see the bulge from the rectocele. The barium meal is a bit yucky - like drinking a big jug of chalky liquid but bearable. My tip afterwards though is to drink loads, eat lots of fibre & take plenty of laxatives. The whole thing bunged me up the worst I've ever been in the following days.

Film as in like a video x-ray

Has anyone out there undergone a laparoscopic sacropexy for bladder and bowel prolapse. I had a full hysterectomy and cystocele repair over four years ago and knew immediately nothing had worked. I was left with scar tissue, a vault that meant the cystocele and rectocele were no better and were, perhaps even worse. After four years I live with it. The main pain is at intercourse with the scar tissue at the vault. I'm not incontinent and the main problem is if I become constipated the rectocele can hurt my bladder. I've done lots of research and found a surgeon who is very laid back and said ' no problem we'll fix it with a laparoscopic sacropexy'. He doesn't feel that he can do anything with the scar tissue. He aims to go in through my abdomen with mesh and lift the bladder back up and in doing so hopes the bowel will go back up too. If not he will do a traditional rectocele repair at the same time. I am terrified after the trauma of four years ago and just wondering has anyone had one of these? Should I go ahead or accept my life isn't too bad as it is now that I have a come to terms with looking like a road accident in the nether regions?? I'm due for operation jan 20th. I'm a very fit, slim, active 60 yr old. Any advice???!!

Hi all, and hi jool fraid I can't answer your question but I do have one of my own!

I have a rectocele and cystocele and have been thinking about a solution to it all. Obv surgery is an option but what I am hoping someone can tell me is that I can have a ring/pessary or some variant to stop me 'feeling' it.

I have no other problems, no leaking or anything like that but I am just aware of it and would live to have it all hitched up a bit but without invasive surgery.
Fingers crossed someone had the answer.....

And jool hope you get an answer too.

Thanks checkpoint charlie. Am in such a quandary as to whether I should have it done. Am not incontinent, can still run for a couple of miles but sex can be a bit painful because of the old scar tissue which I actually don't think anything can be done about. I just look a bit like a road accident down below but i do believe as long as i keep from being constipated and keep everything hydrated up there(!) it's manageable. Think will go and ring hospital now and see if I can speak to someone!!

Thanks Snowflake. I've got the Senna tablets in ready... The proctogram is on Monday. A friend has just told me she had one and cried all the way through because it was so humiliating, but said, 'they were all really lovely and from their reaction I think a lot of people cry'! So that's alright then! Sorry I don't know much about other peoples' quandaries, but I hope you find some clarity. It's hard to think clearly when it's such an emotive issue and such an intimate part of our bodies.

Hello
I ve been reading all the stories and I am very grateful to those who shared their traumatic experiences as they made me to come forward and share my. I am not sure what the future going to hold for me, I am due to see my haematologist and proctologist again. I just hope there are still some options they can offer …

I wish to every woman, if you have doubts, worries, you have strong feelings, instinct about your labour – to shout them very laud, do not let anybody ignore you.

It has been ten and half years since the birth of my son. During the birth, I have suffered paralyses of my colon/bowel streach. The baby was stuck in the birthing canal. Prior to the birth, I asked my midwife on every occasion I saw her, about C- section, pointing that I have piles and being extremely scared of giving birth. My labor was a traumatic, 24-hour experience, I still remember every minute of it. I am suffering the physical and mental consequences ever since. In 2008, I was admitted to hospital with life threatening haemoglobin level, which resulted in blood transfusion and weekly ion infusions. The bleeding piles and not being able to evacuate my bowels properly due to the prolapse of my colon / paralysis of my colon were consequences of my labour and lead to anaemia. Up to until now, I ve had number of procedures to treat my bleeding piles, number of very unpleasant and painful diagnostic procedures including proctogram, ct, mri,few colonoscopies, countles "manual examination", biofeedback, surgery to treat my prolapse (Laparoscopic Ventral Mesh Rectopexy) and all of them failed. Today, I am still bleeding, I suffer from either diarrhoea or constipation, I have to use laxatives on the daily basis, and I have extreme chronic exhaustion due to anaemia, headaches, mental instability, and abdominal pain. There is no quality of life; my work (I work for myself, working as an employee would not be possible at all) and family life are affected. All my suffering, all was avoidable if only someone listened to me before labour.

Hi, I was had a fairly hideous vaginal birth (it involved rotational forceps) almost a year ago. Result was a 3rd degree tear plus episiotomy. I've just started to try and do some exercise again and within a minute of anything that involves jumping / running I feel like I need to wee, even if I have just been to the toilet.
General speaking I don't suffer from any other incontinence, but when walking I can't wait for a wee like I used to.
I'm mainly wondering if this is normal given the circumstances, or if I should be concerned. You all (unfortunately) seem like such experts. Reading through the thread I can't help but think I got off lightly.

I had prolapsed bladder in 2010, at age 40, after having 4 children. I was healthy and fit and active. They used a polypropylene mesh bladder sling for both POP and SUI. I have been disabled and in constant severe pelvic pain ever since!! Apparently, I'm one of the unlucky 10-15% of transvaginal mesh implant recipients who experience what is called "Mesh Erosion" which basically means the plastic starts grating/slicing through your vagina and urethra, nerves and tissue. It is excruciating! Like a giant splinter, all inflamed, but in your lady parts. What shocked me even more was that my doctor then said "oh, it's not really removable - mesh is a permanent implant." So why put it into women when 10-15% of them need to have it out??? Anyway, 7 surgeries in the past 4 years to try to remove the plastic. And I still have some inside me, "shards' they say, and that's how it feels. I can no longer sit - at all. Mesh damaged my pudendal nerve, and I have constant burning pain "down there." I have to go to a pain management doc monthly and get heavy painkillers just to tolerate the pain. And relations with the hubby are impossible. Had to quit my nursing job. And ladies, these side effects I"m having are NOT RARE, even the FDA in the US agrees with that. Please, please, please if you have prolapse of any kind, or urinary incontinence, do NOT let them repair it with mesh. Have the surgery using your own muscle fascia tissue, if you need surgery. I'm telling you, I was the healthiest person ever, not one single medical issue, other than prolapse. And now, I'm nothing like the person I was 4 years ago. There are Facebook support groups for women who have or are considering mesh implants - the best one is Women's POP/SUI TvMesh Complications Support. Also, here's a must-read article for anyone considering mesh implant. Please read!! meshmenot.wordpress.com/top-10-things-to-know-about-mesh-before-surgery-for-pop-sui/

Also, should mention to those of you who already have mesh and are having problems. Mesh does not always cause problems immediately. But later on, many women experience: pelvic/vaginal/urethral/rectal pain, pressure, dyspareunia (painful sex), leg or hip pain, lower back pain, abdominal pain, trouble urinating, trouble defecating, increased urinary leakage. ALSO polypropylene in the body is proven to cause autoimmune conditions - like Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Raynaud's Disease, MS. Many mesh implanted women experience mesh-induced fatigue, weight gain/abdominal swelling, brain fog/memory loss, joint pain, plantar fasciitis. In addition to the above links, a great research site that explains all of this is: www.meshproblems.weebly.com

And YES, Scotland has banned mesh procedures for the time being. Many other countries are following suit. Here in the US, there are 100,000 women who were injured badly enough to go to the trouble of filing a lawsuit (it is NOT easy to do that here, and requires re-living very traumatic events, so most people won't bother unless it is very severe). Women from all over the world are traveling to two surgeons for mesh removal here - Dr. Raz in California and Dr. Veronikis in St. Louis, Missouri. It is proven that partial removals or "revisions" of the mesh that is eroding into vaginas causes more problems than it helps. Partially removing mesh leaves the edges sharp to cut through more tissue, and also allows shards of mesh to break off and lodge in organs and nerves (that is my main issue). Full removal is the only way to possibly stop the pain, and full removal is very difficult, even for these experienced surgeons. I believe, when all is said and done, that mesh manufacturers will be forced to pull the products from the market completely, in all countries. Because as more and more is discovered, the complication rates are looking more like 25% of women who end up in severe, lifelong pain. That is just unacceptable.

Hi, I've ben reading through this thread - I had my daughter 22 months ago, she wasn't big but the induced birth was very quick and I tore badly. Things have never been right - I have a hole in one of my labia, and also have struggled with bms since thebirth - but I was originally told it was swelling and to be honest haven't really been able to face the doctor. After a bad cough it now feels awful, inserting a tampon feels like negotiating between fleshy lumps, I can feel my cervix and I have to really strain to go despite fibre and water. Reading online it seems like it probably is a rectocele and other prolapse. I am tearful and despairing - I'm only 34 and doPilates and pelvic floor but it is getting worse! Have told DH but so humiliated and nervous about docs appointment on Monday :(

I now understand why so many women want elective c sections ladies. Poor vaginas

Read first few pages but have to ask

Did lackadaisy womb/cancer get sorted ? Bad enough to have prolapse but then that on top

Can't read too fast as on phone but hope she is ok

Perkins08 - hope it went well?

Janet4554 - so sorry to hear about your awful complications. I'm still living with my rectocele as need to be completely convinced of mesh repair vs other alternatives. My TVT repair was mesh of course & so far so good. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

Hi All, I have just joined, found the site by researching rectocele repairs, after reading through the threads and posts it looks positive! I have just been referred to Gynae team for a moderate rectocele, have had it for a while but now becoming troublesome, painful sex, sore and bleeds also bowel movements becoming more difficult so I have opted to have a repair, I also was dx with a small cystocele but have not had any probs with weeing, a few times feels strained but ok, would anyone advise having both done together or just opt for the rectocele repair? Hope this thread revives, anyone else waiting on an op?

Hello ladies. I am starting to think I might have a vaginal prolapse. I'm not sure though. I would appreciate your advice.
Symptoms are difficulty passing stool (I wodge up some loo roll and sort of press my pelvic floor to do it), complete inability to wear a tampon or moon cup (they just fall out. Literally. I played tennis and found my tampon half way down my leggings. Mooncup pokes out about an inch no matter how high I place it), doing a bit of wee when I sneeze or cough (and a whole wee once when I got a coughing fit), and a funny round pink thing poking out of my vagina, but not too far out - I have to bend right over to see it, it comes from the back I think.
Nothing is painful. I don't have to rush for a wee. The most inconvenient thing is having to use pads for my period.
I am 36 and have had 3 vaginal births. Big babies. Tearing and stitches every time.
I am due for a smear. Shall I mention it and see what she says?
What do you think? Is this something squeeze exercises might solve?

Welcome to the thread. I can't offer any great knowledge but I think it's safe to say that both Tomnmum and Shhh need surgical intervention.

I had my first repair done in 2009 and my second in 2013 with mesh. They didn't repair my bowel though as they said it wasn't too bad and now I can feel it getting worse. Really hoping to avoid a 3rd operation by upping the pelvic floor exercises and losing some weight.

Tomnmum when you see the consultant I would emphasise that you want a full and final operation. It's hard enough organising the long recovery period as it is.

Shhh, definitely mention it at your smear test and ask them how bad it is. Then visit your GP. I did find that a course of physio was very helpful so you could start by asking for a referral.

Hi all.

I would like to join in too please. I have 2 DC's and am pretty sure I have a prolapse so am off to the GP on Wednesday.

Had an episiotomy with the first DC and an induction and very fast labour with the second but I am aware of feeling like the elastic has gone and always feel like there is something to push up back into my vagina.

I had a coil fitted in the summer which had to be done at the GUM clinic as the doctor couldn't do it (a comment on where my uterus was and had I delivered large babies) - has made me think there was evidence then too.

What should I expect? What is the route for assessment/timescale. I'm a bit freaked out but am pretty sure of my self diagnosis after these threads.

Batbear, I had 12 months from my first GP appointment to surgery. There was an initial wait to see the consultant, who then wanted some urodynamic tests (where they measure how much urine you can hold and the strength of your muscles). Then I had 3 physio sessions.

My op was initially booked for January, but was cancelled the night before and didn't actually happen until the April. So I guess it could have been 9 months from GP appt.

Hope it goes well on Weds. If the Dr says that you don't need surgery ask them for a physio assessment. It does help you undertand what's going on and it keeps you in the system iyswim.