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.

Yes it's all good here no problems.

I have heard some horrors so thought well not everyone suffers after this type of surgery. It's good to have a balance I think.

Was painful at first what with a bruised rear and painful farts/poo even though it was done vaginally.

All settled very well though

Been lurking for a while but wondered if anyone could explain the link between caffeine and prolapse, is it just a coincidence I need to wee more after a diet coke? Is avoiding caffeine helpful? Thanks

I'm amazed to say this and hope I don't jinx myself but I'm almost symptom free of my prolapse lately....

Is the pelvic floor really capable of making that much difference??

Can healing after birth keep progressing into the seventh month post labour?

I've also started Pilates at the Physio centre and it puts a bit of pressure on me down below the next day but nothing near what it was like and on a constant basis at that.

My GP has written a referral letter to the gynae team finally and I'll follow up with that regardless.

I'd just love to hear if anyone else has intermittent symptoms like mine? I've been told I have an anterior/bladder prolapse that is somewhere between a. Stage 1 and 2 (everybody keeps giving a different score on it)....

And if it's it's relevant... My pelvic floor was not working at all up til a few weeks ago. I had no capacity to 'collect' the muscles at the front, but I feel able to make that connection now and do the lifts easily now.

And I realise all the pf lifts I did while pregnant - was not doing them right at all

Caffeine is a diuretic Trying so you will need to go to the loo more. Aside from that I don't know of any other link .

Hello ladies. I've just stumbled upon you all after a Google search.

Is there anyone here who's had a TVT? I had mine done in January this year (I'm in the UK) and so far all is well aside from constipation 😫.

That said I'm having some pulling feelings at the site my stitches were the last couple of days and was looking for anyone who may have experienced the same thing?

Thanks it just seems so marked much more than other diuretics

Hi, is anyone still here?

After umpteen doctors and Physio visits both have confirmed that I have an anterior wall laxity issue and my bladder is bulging into the weakness but my bladder has not slipped or dropped.

I've got a gynae appointment in June with the NHS and from googling private options it seems like the fix is vaginal repair with stitching. It sounds quite straightforward... (Of course it won't be....)

I'm getting so little help with NHS gps and physios in comparison to the options from my private physio and gp. I've also got a private gynae consultant appt but ideally I'd rather any repair was done on the NHS as my private healthcare package won't cover anything pregnancy related! What shocks me is the range of options to fix it compared to the endless "do your exercises", "try a pessary".

Anyone had a vaginal wall stitched to strengthen it?

I'm still here hav
So, good news but it sounds like a frustrating process to get to this point.

I'm still waiting for a date for my hysterectomy and bowel repair. So bloody frustrating because the date has a knock on effect on my husband - he'll need to take holiday to look after our disabled son, and the rest of his team at work who have agreed not to book their summer hols until he knows his dates.
In France summer hols are extensive and I think the two surgical teams are still deciding when theirs start from. Harumph.

Thought I'd join in here, was diagnosed with a grade 2 cystocele and rectocele 2 years ago after having my son. Have seen physio previously and sent off with exercises, but now feel it's getting worse and more symptomatic.

I'm reluctant to try the surgery first off as I'm self employed and NHS seem reluctant to offer it! Although I just want my life back, want to run about with my kids and run myself! I'm thinking of asking for a pessary to see if I can at least run and do the kegels with a bit more support. Any success stories? I'm resigned to surgery longer term but I'm only 31 so if it didn't work I'd be out of options.

Tortandgrab

Hiya. I think you need a private Physio, someone who specialises in pelvic floor disfunction. I've had good progress either Physio (mild cystocele and recto also) and I'm 9 months pp. I am now told I've no prolapse just a laxity issue that will continue to improve until 24 months pp. and if it doesn't they will do surgery on the NHS.

A good (a really good) Physio is essential. I've seen a few shite ones! There is quite a difference.

There are a few! Going to try a private physio, need a GP referral for the one I've found. I worry that 2 years in it's going to be irreversible but so glad to hear of a positive story, thank you!!

Long term lurker on this thread, finally facing up to it. I'm having a posterior and perineum repair next week. I'm freaking out a bit about recovery, any tips to make it easier and keep me occupied, pain free and healthy?

Havalina, Pilates is not a good thing for women with prolapse issues unless you have a teacher who specialises in this. See Michelle Kenway's website - Australian gynae physio.

Hi pop I had this done last week. The worst thing is feeling totally wiped out. Probably from the anaesthetic. I am supposed to be going for little walks, but haven't managed to yet. Also very sore to sit down still. I am showering twice a day and blotting the area with clean towels every time to keep the stitches clean and as it is so hot at the mo. Make sure you have some stool softener to make it easier to 'go'. I am scared to sneeze or cough. Hopefully someone a bit further on in their recovery will come and offer some encouragement. Best of luck. Keep posting.

Footle Pilates is ok if your teacher knows what's going on! It's really helped me alongside my exercises that I do alongside those given by the Physio. My class is run at my Physio centre by the other practitioner and she knows why I'm at the women's clinic. I think there's loads of exercises we can do. I also do exercises to strengthen my bum - that's really weakened too and that affects my pelvic floor greatly.

Hi all can I join? Went to my gp today to discuss something else and got the ok for referral for that then got it together to discuss my continence issues. Dr's words of:

"I can see the prolapse already"

And

"you have absolutely no muscle tone at all"

Followed and we're accompanied with the diagnosis of rectocele and cystocele. She's not going to bother sending me for physio and instead I'm being put to the gynaecology team for surgery.

I thought I was just going to be told about pelvic floor exercises!

So what do I need to know? I've got 6-8 weeks before my appointment. Forewarned is forearmed.

Hi all. I'm 8 weeks post op for a rectocele - happy to share experiences if that helps! I was in hospital for two nights, which was great as I needed their help getting the balance right between the painkillers, the anti-sickness drugs and the laxatives. It took me much longer than I thought to recover from the op, and the side effects of the drugs were worse than expected - so do be prepared to be lying down a lot at first, and get yourself lots of support - especially if your kids are wee! I'm back at work now and feeling fine to be there, if a little tired by the end of the day. I had my post op appointment with the surgeon on Friday. Cheerfully expected to be signed off, all better, but thought I'd just check the bulge I sometimes feel is only swelling. The good news, he said, is that the rectocele is all fixed and nearly healed (the stitches take months to dissolve apparently), and by all means go running, live your life. The bad news though... is that I have developed a cystocele prolapse. Aargh! Here we go again - referrals to consultant and for biofeedback in the post, and back round we go. Still,
at least pooing is easier now!

hi Perkins08 I'd appreciate you sharing your experience as I'm due to have laparoscopic repair shortly. Which op did you have for rectocele repair? Did you have a mesh repair? How long were you off work?

Morning. I had a trans vaginal rectocele repair with levatorplasty. No mesh - the surgeon basically cut open the back wall of my vagina, pushed the rectum back where it should be, then overlapped the walls and sewed them up. Mesh wasn't offered. I had six weeks off work and, much to my surprise, really needed it. It turns out I'm not good with morphine, anaesthetics etc so it took ages to get them out of my system. Plus the codeine-type drugs make you really constipated, and I found the balance of those drugs with the laxatives really hard to get right. I never knew constipation could be so debilitating - especially when you can't get it over with a good push! I went back to work on 4 hour days for the first 3 weeks. In fact, I'm just realising I can't count - I'm 10 weeks post op today! Oops! There's hardly any lifting in my work, so that's fine. My 2 and 4 year olds are more of an issue there, but they're coping well. Anyway, sorry for the long post. Feel free to ask anything else!

Hi I had a Rectocele repair three weeks ago. I used to be very fit. Now I can't imagine ever being able to get back to my job, let alone do a spin class. Please tell me it gets better! I hate convalescance.

thanks Perkins that's good to know. Do you work every day/full time? I do and so trying to second guess the impact on work. Expecting about 6 weeks off post-op and then some kind of phased return. I was thinking 3 days/week would be sensible but it sounds like 3 half-days/week is more realistic to begin with.

I'm also trying to decide how soon to have it done - in next couple of months or wait until next spring when hopefully I can spend my recovery on the patio.

Hi. Yes, I work full time. A mixture of sitting and standing/walking, but no heavy lifting (unless I'm daft enough to try and replace the bottle in the water cooler myself!). I went back for 4 hour days for the first 3 weeks. Was a bit weepy sometimes by the end of the day, but fine really. The trouble with half days was that I found it really hard to get the message across to my boss/colleagues, and consequently hard to leave after the 4 hours were up! I found I was iller than I expected for the first 4-5 weeks after the op, then got better very quickly in the weeks that followed. If it wasn't for the flippin' cystocele I've now developed, I'd be as good as new now! Greentea, don't worry about feeling rubbish now (assuming you've not got an infection of course). Being fit before will surely help your recovery once the anaesthetic and other drugs are out of your system. Coconutty, I delayed my op for a year (until my youngest child could walk) - I guess it's a question of how long you can live with the symptoms? Mind you, I'm so sick of the whole thing I want the cystocele done immediately!

I have had it for years so can wait another few months and want to lose a bit of weight and really try to get what is left of my pelvic floor in better shape pre-op. I hope these two things will give subsequent recovery a good foundation. I have been warned that whilst they think the planned repair will fix things, the shifting of organs may precipitate a further prolapse that may need more surgery. Having said that I think I actually have rectocele, cystocele and enterocele as all three have been mentioned by colorectal or urogyn consultants. I am having rectocele repair which i hope will fix all three!

Hi, I have been on and off a few of these threads but they fill up so quickly I miss a lot so apologies if this has already been asked....I have IBS and was also diagnosed with a rectocele (I also had a bladder prolapse but tvt op fixed that) I suffer badly with faecal urge incontinence and wonder if I got the rectocele fixed it would help with that?

I can't offer any advice to anyone as not had any surgery (yet) but am 3 years post baby and been diagnosed with a rectocele. I had physio for a few months after childbirth then they discharged me. Since then, the rectocele has developed but I haven't been referred for any surgery and am just learning to live with it. I've just started using the Intimina pelvic floor trainer as am to lazy to do the exercises myself!

My question is if anyone has had vaginal rejuvenation laser treatment as a treatment for their prolapse? A gynae I saw last week mentioned it was a new thing, expensive but effective, and avoids the need for traditional mesh surgery. Does anyone know anything about this?