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 all. I am new here. Am having posterior repair on Friday (also tubes tied) So excited to get my life back! Please tell me how was sex after op? This is very important to me that I get tightened up down there iykwim

Thanks colouring I will search for that group. Will it show up on my profile for all to see though? . Ive finally had a good spell since discovering the worsened bulge last week and have wrote down a list of things to ask at my obs consultant appt tomorrow. I hope they're ready for me I'm going to ask about whether I can have a pessary fitted while still pregnant but we shall see. I really hope that you have success with your pessary colouring as it looks like if you get a well fitted one you could do all those things with your boys again.

Hi steph I'm relatively new to the thread and have only just received my diagnosis so I can't advise but absolute best of luck for Friday. I think I will be a frequent spammer on this thread for the foreseeable so will be about when you're lay up on bed rest

Hi Steph, all the best for Friday.

Imsticking it's a private group so no doesn't show up.

Hi Steph, re the surgery/repair. The recovery is slower than you might think. If you read up some of the previous threads you will see some with people who had come through surgery. These will be helpful to you after surgery.
You come out feeling like an 85yr old shuffly old lady with an invisible pregnant tummy who can't put on her shoe! However, it does come good day by day, but patience is needed in the first few weeks after.
NOTE: tell your partner it could be at least 8wks before you have sex after the op! You might get the ok at your 6wk check up but you might not feel like it till another couple of weeks later, so don't be putting pressure on yourself by expecting a 2nd honeymoon at 6wks.
You find out what your abdominal and pelvic muscles have been doing all these years. I had my repair (anterior & a smaller posterior) in 2014. The sex definitely improved. I could only manage with me lying down on my back before, but other positions are now comfortable as well. I won't say it's exactly like I was before I had kids, but it's a massive improvement on when I had the prolapse. And my other symptoms are virtually non-existent too. I still have a bit of a twitchy urethra sometimes, when I lie down sometimes it feels like I need to pee for a few minutes but that is disappearing now as well.
And the good news is, it gets better as yet another year has passed. I did another program of Pelvic floor with a specialist physio to try to make sure I keep the repairs in good order. Before the op, I couldn't actually feel myself tightening the muscles down there, now I can. I had a 'simple' repair with no mesh. I was in hospital (private) for 3 nights.

Hi anyone also with experience? Sex after rectocele repair? This is a huge concern of mine. I am hoping to be tightened up after this!?????!! I'm going in tomorrow yaaay and eeek!

Still nothing to add steph but absolutely best of luck tomorrow!!!

I went to consultant appt today and they're happy to do a section if thats what I want. But she warned that a section would be a problem if I wanted suspension surgery at a later date and also that sections risk a bladder prolapse. Its given me food for thought but tbh ive not read this anywhere online. I know that she is the expert but I can't find anything re the bladder prolapse risk (which I would think is significant with a natural delivery anyway) and nothing regarding sacrohysteropexy not being possible if you have a caesarian scar. I asked about a pessary and she said they can't be worn if you're sexually active also which can't be right either.

Im pleased that there's no battle to be had though. In other news im leaking when I cough and it doesn't smell like wee so I've taken to just staring at and sniffing my knickers all day long trying to decide whether it's urine or amniotic fluid. I need a hobby.

If you're leaking when you cough the midwives can do a swab to see if there's any amniotic fluid in it. How many weeks are you? I'm guessing its urine - especially becausr of prolapse - but if you can get it tested and stop worrying that would be good.

I have heard about c-sections causing complications with a prolapse repair, I think it's to do with scar tissue and if it seizes to something it's difficult to separate when you move it to a new position? Possibly completely made that up!

Thanks faux im only 28 weeks and it was the midwife who mentioned the possibility but didn't test it. Im satisfied that its just wee now though.

Oh that's a shame, but it makes sense. More food for thought!

Imsticking your consultant doesn't sound great tbh! There are def pessaries you can wear and have sex with, or take out yourself before you have sex.

I've done a lot of reading and haven't heard about the c section thing, but I can see it could have complications.

In my opinion and experience, docs are v good at saying risks of c section, whilst ignoring risk of vaginal deliver (eg incontinence) I had a c section with my second dc after major birth injury with first. Very good decision for me, but obviously your situation is different.

Yes the comment about predators made me think WTF as I know its not true.

Im trying to keep an open mind wrt how to deliver the baby but ive had a foul experience of doing it 'naturally' and always feel that this way is being sold in the UK. At the end of the day, I want to avoid what happened last time (forceps and episiotomy) and definitely don't want an emergency section, so the only way I can do that is through an elective. I could very well end up with scar tissue from an emergency section anyway, and a cystocele is a possibility from natural childbirth so I think I know what my decision will be.

In my experience an elective cesarean was like a walk in the park compared to vaginal delivery forceps, episiotomy And tear.

Well I'm done sore tummy and anus lol also hard to pee but I'm ok

Ooh Steph, glad its all over! rest well

That's exactly what I want to hear colouring!

Good news steph time to take it easy now

I'm glad to find this thread. I am lost menopausal and have a prolapse ( multiple but straightforward births). Gynaecologist has referred me for urodynamics so am currently recording all my fluid in and out. Not looking forward to Weds tests. He thinks the only thing holding everything up (ish!) may be a kink in my urethra... if so it's a hysterectomy for me. Just sharing really for some hand holding. PS how come I consume so much more fluid than I wee out?

I'm post menopause! Haven't quite lost it yet! Auto correct!

Hello chatty! At first I thought you meant the kink was the only problem which sounded alarming to have a hysterectomy due to that! Hope the tests go ok on Weds and you can look forward to having it all treated.

Thank you. I have read the literature properly now and am not looking forward to the tube up the bum or the catheter. Has anyone else had urodynamics?

I did it sucks

Hi all. I have a rectocele and stage 1 uterine prolapse, 1 child and I have EDS. I'm not seeking any treatment until I'm done with having kids and am considered too young age this point anyway (mid 30s).

Rhoda poor you to have problems so young. I had a slight prolapse in my 30s after child birth but with exercise it recovered. Apparently the loss of hormones post menopause is why it gets worse.

Steph not literally I hope?! Does it hurt (should I take pain killers?) or is it just uncomfortable and undignified? Do you get sedated?

I'm fed up with not being listened to and I have an appointment on Friday (long awaited!)

I received a letter last week which stated I said I had no urinary symptoms - not fucking true I said I had no incontinence problems bar the odd mild mishap but I am not emptying my bladder properly.

So I'm doing a fluid in and out chart today and tomorrow so I can show at my appointment written down what my bladder is doing. Quite pleased with myself for thinking of it really.

It is uncomfortable and it hurts I already take pain killers so I took one. It's not that bad but definitely not fun

Faux Gina sounds a good idea to keep a chart as that's what I've been asked to do for 3 days. All fluid in and out and the urgency of each loo trip rated 0-4. Tedious but useful. Think I will take some paracetamol half an hour before then. I have prescription ones but don't want to be whoozy - or do I?