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! Haven't been on this thread since everyone encouraged me to see my GP about my rectocele last year. I am now almost 6 weeks post posterior repair and a repair to my perineum. It still hurts like buggery down there! It stings when I pee, sit down, walk, breathe ect and when I wipe it bleeds. I'm on my second lot of antibiotics - penicillin allergy so not co amoxyclav but erythromycin - for a rather rank smell. Everyone keeps telling me I'm doing too much (although they offer no help) and still need to take it easy but I've got 3 kids and my husband works alll day. I'm feeling really sore and low. I'm still exhausted all the time. Consultant said I should be able to go back to work after 6 weeks but my stitches haven't even bloody dissolved yet! I'm an ICU nurse and stand up for 13 hours a day. I don't feel anywhere near ready.

Is this normal? I feel like the severity of the op was totally underplayed by my consulatant and therefore had quite unrealistic expectations on my recovery! Does anyone else feel like this?

Yes I do. I am lucky in that I don't have to worry about going back to work but yes at 6 weeks I would never have been able to stand on my feet for 13 hours, that's totally unrealistic. I went to see my consultant tonight with my husband and he said by may when you next see me you will have started having intercourse again so you will be able to tell if its too tight or not. Now im panicking thinking I won't feel ready to have sex after 6 weeks! These consultants just all seem the same to me, its like because they're doing it everyday they don't think of it as being a big deal but it really is. Luckily I have got a really understanding husband, I don't know where on earth I would be now if I didn't!

PS go back to your gp, I am sure they will sign you off for a bit longer. Hope you feel better soon x

Thank you MrsClairet. I will go back to my GP as there's no chance I'll be back next week! I've been sent an occupational health appointment for next week despite me telling my boss how awful I feel. It's just made me feel rushed and under pressure to get better. When I saw the GP on Monday for yet more antibiotics (5weeks post repair) she asked if I'd resumed having sex. This was as she was examining me and I was in tears as she touched my very sore, bleeding, infected lady bits. I almost laughed! My husband is understanding and lovely but he has to go to work and there is no one around to help me. He has booked a night away for my birthday at the end of April and I've told him to prepare himself for no sex! Can't imagine ever wanting to have sex ever again!!

Thanks for understanding x

Thats okay! By the way I am allergic to penicillin aswell! Have you tried other antibiotics apart from erythromycin? After my last op I got an infection where there was rather a rank smell and I think it was called macrodantin, I think they are slightly stronger antibiotics but that really seemed to clear it up and get rid of the smell. Have they sent off a culture to see if anything grows? I ended up with about 4 different antibiotics and it wasn't until the smell got really bad that they gave me the macrodantin.

Mrsclaire I went back to work after 3.5 weeks following lap. sub-total hysterectomy (and removal of a huge fibroid and dilatation of my urethra as I hadn't been able to pee all the time and had to self-catheterise on and off for 6 months). A locum GP signed me back to work as I said I felt fine. What a big mistake that was. I was walking way too much each day and generally doing all the housework as I used to do. I definitely think that anything involving crouching down should have been banned for a lot longer and carrying heavy loads of washing and cooking big meals for 6 also didn't help. Everyone just assumed (me included) that I was my old self and able to do anything. I just didn't think about all the stuff trying to still heal inside as I had no pain or anything.

That's why I'm being a bit of a 'lazy mare' this time. That said I went out yesterday (back to Slimming World as I've put on a stone - EEK!) and had to sit on a pretty hard chair for an hour, which was NOT comfortable at all. Then I went shopping but by the end of it I was really pretty uncomfortable and had to go and lie down at home. I was supposed to go back out at 5.30pm to take DD1 to street dance but couldn't face the thought of sitting again for a couple of hours so I managed to get a lift for her from someone else, whilst I stayed at home lying propped up on the sofa. That said our ops were not exactly the same and I'm trying to protect my back somewhat too (as they had to pin the mesh onto my spine). The rectum repair also gets quite painful if I've done too much and it all generally feels like someone has kneed me in the crotch if I've walked and been upright for too long yet.

My sick note last until 20th April, at which point I'll be just under 9 weeks post op and I still don't think I'll be up to going back to work at that point so I'm hoping to try and get another 4 weeks off as I know as soon as I go back seemingly fit and well, my insides will be forgotten by everyone there and they just won't understand the pain that comes after doing too much. I just really want to protect myself from any more ops in future. It's also better to have just one incident of sickness (however long) rather than 2. There are more job losses looming and I know that they DO look at sickness records going back 2 years and it's the number of absences rather than the length that they look at. Oh well, if I'm for the chop at least I should be fit enough to seek employment elsewhere!

Oh and btw there's no way I'd entertain sex yet either!

I think I said the wrong antibiotic, I think it was metronadizole. Sorry about that.

Thanks noordinarygirl, its always interesting to know how much others are doing. I am 3 weeks now post op and haven't done anything like ironing yet but have been picking things up off the floor and putting washing away.

I feel a little bit down at the moment as I have a pile which is causing problems. It hurts when I go to the toilet and it is still hard to get clean. I was secretly hoping that was the rectocele and so this operation would fix it but it seems not.

Mrs Claire I also have a pile but it comes and goes depending on how 'easy' my BMs are. It seems a lot better than before the op and I'm hoping when I finally regain full muscle strength down there it will be much improved again.

I still have to rush to the loo if I've had too much fibre IYKWIM as I can't seem to hold it in at all. If I need to go....I don't have long to get to the loo. It's a real guessing game knowing how much is just the right amount of fibre to eat without risking getting 'caught out' if I'm out walking. Has anyone else had this problem? It's from one extreme to another! So unfair

I can't believe I am talking about this but my bottom is so sore, I have put a bit of sudocrem on it and a bit of anusol but they don't seem to be helping. I have got to go to the doctors today to get more of the pill on repeat prescription so I might ask her but I am so fed up of people looking at my backside!! When I had to go into hospital I got a really upset stomach and I didn't have any cream with me, then I wasn't really sure if I could put it on so I think that's why it has got so sore. Noordinarygirl I agree that it is so unfair. I am pretty much not doing anything these days, not exercising, not going out socially because I am afraid of making the prolapse worse or I feel uncomfortable. The operation has made the prolapse better but I still can't go out on long days out with my kids because the pile makes standing up and walking uncomfortable. I just want to be able to live a normal life, I get by and still do stuff with my kids like take them to the cinema etc but just wish I could get out and do a bit more while I'm still young.

Hello all
Me again ! With the exact same issue than both of you but without the operation. :-) meaning finding the right amount o fiber to go ton the loo with rhe good shape not too hard not liquid and managing a painful pile .
Msclairet and nordinary i understand you are FED up with all that
But hang on others have seen light at the end of the famous tunnel and you are so lucky to be post op. I am sûre that after complète healing post op you Will manage it. On my side i cut tea coffee spices i bath after each poo my but in a very cold water and noticed suppositories were more efficient eventhough i am lucky enough to have internal and External piles ! Good luck to both of you

Thanks French frog, yes I am glad I am post op, I think i just have to come to terms with the fact that the operation isn't going to solve all my problems which is going to take a bit of time. I had been taking one dulcoease a day which meant I didn't get constipated but as it is a stimulant laxative I'm not sure about the effects of taking it every day. I haven't left the house since Saturday either I think for my own sanity I need to get out of the house today!

Hi all thought I would pop my head back in with an update. Well my recovery has gone well back to gym and doing lots of walking etc. My scar tissue is feeling smaller now, no big ridge or zip line running down. I am a bit over keen with the old pelvic floors with my gp telling me to calm down. I'll be bulging with Muscles down there as opposed to bulging with prolapse.
I do tend to still get bouts of constipation even though I eat prunes apricots and fibre. I drink a lot of water but I guess my constipation is going to be part of my life. It's just difficult when you feel you are doing everything to prevent it.
You have my sympathies Mrsclairet about your rather sore bum. I wasn't sure if mine was caused by the swelling post op or the over pooing but sometimes the pain was terrible. It has all settled down now. I found cold water to relief the pain and lying down on bed with legs apart. The things us poor women have to deal with. But on the whole my foofoo has been to hell and back but things look rather healthy down there

Ah thanks happylilme yes its hard when you are in the middle of recovery to see the light at the end of the tunnel but its nice to be reminded its not all doom and gloom. My dh has bought white bread which has caused me to get constipated again. I also find it hard sometimes to keep fresh fruit in the house, we always seem to have a couple of days a week when we have run out of fruit and its not convenient to get to the shops. Does anyone else get abdominal pain with constipation? I have had a scan and they have ruled out anything serious so now I'm wondering whether its my diet that is causing it.

I've read warm prune juice can really help get things moving. Prunes themselves too of course, more likely these won't run out so you could take some extra when the fruit cupboard is bare.
Magnesium is also said to help. (Milk of Magnesia as well maybe?)

Hi just checking in again (with a slightly changed name! reregistered as forgotten password and changed email address) I am about 6mnths post rectocele repair but have other issues now and just wondering if anybody on here has got/had similar! I have recently been referred to a continence nurse [embarrassed] at my young age!! cos I need to wee rather often (cant usually last longer than 2hrs) Anyway after a few sessions with her she tells me that my bladder doesn't empty properly. She has now referred me back to gynae although I am not really sure if it is a gynae problem or not. It was something I mentioned to my GP when I got referred but she said to see how I was after repair. Well initially I seemed much better but this has gradually gone back to how it was before. I don't think my rectocele has returned (it certainly doesn't seem that way) and I would have thought/hoped that if there were any more gynae issues then they would have been picked up on before op. Anyway if they aren't gynae issues then this is probably the wrong forum but I wondered if anyone else has experienced anything similar.

By the way - all those of you more recently post op and experiencing bowel issues, I can sympathise with you. I am not sure if it is cos we are now much more aware of straining things that the bowels go on strike more now or the op itself but I find I still have to take laxitives every now and again as just cant go sometimes - there is no rhyme nor reason for it, but the trouble I find now is that the laxitives just don't work as well as they did before so can still struggle. Although things have been a bit easier now weather is getting better as Im eating more salads which seem to help

Mrsclairet I get lots of abdominal pain when constipated I even get back pain and a light head. After years of complaining about back pain etc I have now realised it's all down to constipation.I have also realised that about 10 days prior to period I get badly constipated and then a day before I go the other way (sorry tmi) I asked gp about any links and he said that hormones do play a role in our bowel habits. I complete cut out carbs and tea/coffee/alcohol and try to drink lots of water (which I struggle with) I have only started this experiment but I will try anything.

Lotsof sorry to hear you are experiencing more issues I hope you get answers soon. I haven't had issues as such just this blinking constipation malarkey. I think I think about to much now. I mean if I don't go everyday now I start to get concerned

I'm going to try the warm prune juice. Yuk but like I said I'll try anything

Hi All, I'm now 7 weeks post op and everything's good. I had my check up with consultant yesterday and he said everything is looking (and feeling) fine. I did tell him about my early bowel issues but (touch wood) since I came off all the painkillers it's all been good with BMs. I have to go back again in another 4 months before I'm taken 'off the books' but I'm feeling very positive about it all now - eventually.

I can now walk 2 miles pretty easily and at a good pace without any repercussions so it'll be brilliant when I can get back to my 4/5 miles most days.

I still eat loads of fruit and always have tins of prunes in the cupboard, just in case! I'm convinced that it's a mix of walking and no painkillers that has helped massively.

I still have another week and a half off work and I'm personally hoping for a little longer when my current sick note runs out. I know I still wouldn't yet be able to sit for extended periods of time at a desk or be on my feet for up to 12 hours a day, dependent upon which type of 'shifts' I'm doing. That alongside the fact that me and my partner are going through a hellish split and are about to put the house on the market is not helping my stress levels either. So, thank God that my body is well on the way to recovery now or I think I'd go mad! The thought of moving house is filling me with dread.

I'd say my biggest turning points on the road to recovery were around week 4/5 and then another around 6/7.

Happy it's fabulous to hear that you're back at the gym and can I ask how long/gradient/hills/mountains you're walking now? Rucksack size? Any cycling? Really curious to know when I can expect to be far more my old self as far as getting out and about is concerned.

Mrsclaire whilst I was having bouts of horrendous constipation I had terrible stomach ache and I also felt very nauseous with it too. I continue to drink peppermint tea everyday and that helps with all sorts of digestive problems IMO.

Noordinary I would say it wasn't until the 3rd month that I felt totally like old self again. I can knock out a couple of peaks now up in the high peaks, not sure how big but I still struggle to carry anything heavier than 5 - 7lb bag for any considerable distance, I get uncomfortable after a short distance. I do running machine on a low gradient tried fast walking on high gradient but felt pulling. I cycle to work everyday with no problems about 6 miles a day . I did a 10k walk other week on hilly terrain as was absolutely fine. Glad you are well on road to recovery x

Thanks for the advice, I had some veg soup today for lunch and I have got some peppermint tea in the cupboard so I will try that later.

Noordinarygirl I am hoping for a turning point soon, it will be 4 weeks on sat so I'm hoping I will be able to drive next week. I'm sorry you are going through a split. My cousin is going through a divorce at the moment which is really sad, she has a 6 year old and a 12 year old.

Happylilme wow that is really impressive! Did you have mesh? I didn't so I'm going to make sure I'm really careful but I suppose you have still got to live your life.

Lotsofquestions could you have a bladder prolapse? I had bowel and bladder and I felt like I needed the toilet constantly. I still feel now if I get constipated that causes problems with emptying my bladder.

Hi. Glad to hear all of those who I was chatting to during my operation are recovering well. All is ok with me. I am back at work and feeling fine. I get a bit sore due to the TVT at times - a sort of heavy, pulling, swollen pain or ache that lasts 24 hours around my bladder. It's not often now.
My bits and pieces are all working as they should. I have lost the urge to tell everyone I didn't pee myself every time I sneeze and I have been on a trampoline! Happy days.

Hello again me with a question have you noticed for those who had a rectocele that you were more enclined to dévelop
Bladder infection or vaginal irritation ? Yesterday i went to my gyn for a cystite and hé told me that besides the rectocele that is indeed often associated with that kind of pbs there was also the fact that my perineum was shorter meaning that the distance between vagina and anus is shorter . He added something very weird that chir would be unlikely to offer operation anyway as often on case of too short perineum these ops failed ? Why on earth ? I dont understand ... Each visite each week bring me Awful perspective for the future ..

Hey everyone
I have recently been to my GP as I think I have a prolapse in my rectum and he has referred my to gynae. My appointment is this week and I'm terrified of what it all means. Reading some of your posts is quite scary.

So I was just wondering if anyone can give me a heads up on what I need to know? Or anything I need to do or anything that can help me? Just looking for any support really.

Hope everyone else is well :-)

Hello
Sorry that you have to live that . I dont really know
The english health système SO wont be able to tell you about the différents Steps in the process
Is IT a rectocele or a prolapse of the rectum itself i guess IT Will dépend on which IT is your gp is either likely to send you to physio or to surgeon consultant Gynecologue if its a rectocele most of the Time or proctologue if its a prolapse and if they décide surgery is the best option.
I suggest you write down all your symptoms and feelings as well as a list of question and that you go to the meetings with your partner not only for support but also its always better to remember everything that was SAID . I noticed that i was so emotional during those meeting that i almost black out after . Dont Worry all the members of the thread Will give you more pertinent answers . Take care !