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,
Can I join you and pick your brains please. I think I have a rectocele which I have had since the birth of my 2nd dc. I now have 4 and think it is time to do something about it.
I get quite a bit of pain, like a dragging sensation. I have a bulge and have problems with bm's. I also have bladder issues - not incontinence but never feel like I am able to empty my bladder fully and always need the loo. I haven't been to my gp but what do you think they will suggest?
My smallest is 18 months and I am worried I will not have enough recovery time if I need surgery.

Thanks in advance for any advice

jenniferalisonphillipasue - hi. Don't delay going to your doctor. When you are referred to a consultant you will have plenty of tests to make sure what is exactly is happening, these can take months.
Keep doing your pelvic floor exercises as you will be assessed by a specialist Physio.
After the op I just thought it would be rather like having a baby, for the bruising side, with an episiotomy. Of course, that being the case, you have a baby to look after and other children but the hormones must kick in and you know you just have to get on with things. Maybe it's that I am older I've felt like I have done, but you really should plan who can help you and for how long. I have been surprised how weak I have felt. I am very fit, walking, swimming, leading quite a strenuous lifestyle, but at four weeks post op I can stroll to the post office and to the shop but no carrying. Definitely no lifting and if I sit down to read for an hour or so have been falling asleep!!
Try Movicol to keep BM moving but if you still have a problem take lactulose as well, but your doctor should be able to help you.
I have not attempted to drive yet, still feel uncomfortable and probably wouldn't be able to do an emergency stop, that seems to be the criteria for driving.
I do wish you well.

Hello all.

I am due for a prolapse repair op next Friday. EEKKKKK!

I am not sure about having it done and I am scared shitless of having the op itself due to my anxiety disorder. Keep thing of what could go wrong and do I need to put myself through this?

It was diagnosed about a year ago and I managed with a ring for a while until the nurse at my surgery told me that I should have the op due to my age.

Mine is a womb prolapse. 4 pregnancies including twins. When I get my period, I can feel the bugger poking down and it is very perturbing. Periods are also horrific and painful although I am not sure it is because of this or just my age. Wiping after bowel movements also takes ages as I have to keep on doing it (TMI sorry). When I am not on my period, I can't really feel it.

From what I had read on other sites, the op can sometimes be more trouble than it's worth and the 6 week recovery time is daunting with 4 DCs to look after not to mention the not being able to drive which I can't imagine how I am going to manage.

Any advice would be good, i.e. should I just not bother and get another ring put in. I have managed without for 4 months now as consultant said to take it out as having the op.

Hi wandering, I had my recotcele repair when my little boy had just turned 2 and my little girl was about 7 months. I had a lot of family support and was driving after 2 weeks as I felt comfortable but I behaved myself until my 6 week check with lifting etc. I got my little boy to climb in and out if his cot with help (this didn't encourage him to climb he moved in to a big bed about 4months after). And my little girl we encouraged to climb up and I'd lift her from sitting down. And 7 months on my op repair is still holding strong .

I have now for my appointment through for my second opinion regarding the new womb prolapse, so fingers crossed she comes up with a different option rather than a hysterectomy.

If you have any questions that have helped you all in the past that I should go armed with, I'd gladly hear them.

The appointment is tues 10th.

X

Third time lucky! Would appreciate some advice...

Hello all

Some advice please! Been having trouble leaking urine for about the past year. It's got worse and ranges from everyday leakage to completely wetting myself lately on a night out blush

Saw GP today and got an immediate referral to gynae as she felt my uretha had prolapsed. Said she could see it "popping out" when I coughed. I think she said it was the uretha (well, the word was definitely mentioned but I can't remember if she said bladder prolapse as well??) but I was a bit taken aback as I was expecting to be told it was age/traumatic birth related and just to do PFE (which I do but makes no difference) and wear tena for the rest of my days.

She said it would probably be an operation so here's where I could do with some advice. I'm currently the only bread winner (long story) and don't get sick pay sad What does the op involve? An overnight stay? What recovery time etc?

Any help gratefully received

shakey1500 - if you have a look back up on this thread I have described details of my surgery. Your consultant will run tests and probably send you off to the specialist Physio for pelvic floor assessment and exercises. I was referred to the gynae consultant with a posterior prolapse but had surgery for an anterior prolapse as well and a repair to my perineum! I knew I was having the op for the posterior prolapse but only really took it all in the morning of the op. This was great for me as I had no time to think about what I was going to have done. Some people want all the details before surgery but life was no fun at the time and any chance of things being more normal and I'd sign on the dotted line!!
Everyone gets over surgery at different rates. I was in hospital for three days. Four weeks into recovery and I am getting back to being me. My consultant did warn me that having surgery doesn't mean I won't get a prolapse in the future.
Her advice was not to do anything for 2-3 weeks, then take things very easy for a couple of weeks, then build up to your normal activity, she would have given me a sick note for 6 weeks. I suppose it depends on what job you do. On the list of things that are a big no no involve lifting, anything heavier than a kettle, no pushing a buggy or supermarket trolly and be very careful when loading the washing machine - sometimes you can have to push quite hard, especially if you overload your machine, err hum, I do that all the time!!!
My take on it is what is 6-8 weeks of doing very little, not as easy as it sounds, when, hopefully my downstairs problems have gone away forever. Just think carefully what you hate about what is happening at the moment and what the medics can do for you and play one off the other.
Wishing you well.

Thanks for replying ninnywing

Something else has occurred to me- I had a 4thdegree tear with DS (7) and my nethers are a car crash. As in there is a LOT of scar tissue including a thick band across my perenium. Would that hinder an op possibly? I mean, I've reconciled with myself that it looks awful and sex is manageable if certain positions are avoided but I worry that it will be made worse (if that's possible!). I have had gynae physio when DS was 18months just before my 4th op to repair the tear, and the physio was useless. I think I have a crap pelvic floor and whilst I've tried to do PFE when I started leaking, it's actually quite painful to do them.

Think I'll be a visitor on this thread for quite a while...

shakey1500 your consultant will do whatever surgery needs doing, she said that some of my problems were possibly due to a poor repair after giving birth. I must admit my undercarriage looked rather like a spatchcock chicken before surgery!!! - now completely different. As I still have stitches I haven't thought about using it yet.
Keep chatting here or look back at what people have written.

I was feeling very heavy last nightso asked my dh if he'd have a look so tmi - stood on the bed while he looked and it's almost protruding so now I'm really looking forward tony appointment on Tuesday, but so nervous that she'll say yup operation, I just want a quick fix that will keep me comfortable for 5/6 years - get the kids in to full time education.

Itching to add just wants to get it off my chest thanks ladies. X

Hope everyone's ok

Just wanted to post a quick update. Today I had a scan to make sure there were no fibroids causing the bulge. She said everything looked fine and no fibroids.

I now have an appointment through for physio on 21st July.

Hello Ladies,
I posted a while back - but then got caught up in arranging consultations etc and didn't make it back.
So .......... I'm booked in for a laparoscopic sacrohysteropexy for a uterine prolapse and an anterior wall repair for cystocele.

Does anyone have any tips for surviving surgery? -before, at hospital or after??

Thanks - Just trying to make things as straightforward as possible now!
Kate

Hello, I'm now a week post op, having had a TVT sling for stress incontinence. So far, so good I had the op late afternoon and stayed in overnight. Was a bit stingy going for a wee after for a couple of days and it was a bit uncomfortable/painful getting in & out of bed for a few days. Had a nice shiny black bruise where my stitches are. But I've pottered about this week and not really needed any painkillers after the first couple of days. Stitches really beginning to itch now. Overall I've been amazed how well I've been. No problems weeing and just trying to keep my BMs soft and regular...lots of veggies, rhubarb, linseeds, etc and lactulose tho that really bloats me up so trying to cut down and increase the fibre in my diet instead.

Hoping to get out a bit more this week with short walks.

So if anyone one else is due to have similar op, don't be anxious. It has been a lot easier than I expected.

Morning ladies,

Just thought I'd update you all. I went for my second opinion and she doesn't agree with the first at all!!

Apparently it's not a uterus/womb prolapse but a bladder one!!

She has offered me surgery but I've turned it down for now as I want the kids in full time education when I go through the 6 week recovery. So I'm now being referred for physio. She was surprised that I hadn't been offered that before as she insists all her patients have that before and after the op.

I'm surprised that the first consultant I visited got it so wrong and wanted to do a hysterectomy .

Hopefully physio will help for the short term (5-6years) and then I'll get it fully repaired.

Thank you all for your support and I hope that you get the answers and results your all looking for.

X

Monty123 about 15 years ago I saw a consultant as I was having bladder problems and he advised physio which really did help. I had a rectocele as well but it wasn't bothering me back then. The physio was quite intense, I went every two weeks or so then monthly, in all I had about ten appointments. This improved my symptoms greatly, I would say 80%. I hope you find that your troubles are lightened. Do remember that your consultants opinion is just that, it's always good to get a second opinion. Good luck.

Hi all. New to this thread and it makes for very interesting reading. I have suffered with posterior prolapse for quite some time. Think most damage was done from my eldest sons delivery and he is know 17 but until recently wasn't deemed sufficiently prolapsed enough for surgery.

I have just this week interviewed for a new job (I currently work from home) and am really keen if successful to take the new job. However on the day of my interview I attended a last minute consultation due to someone else cancelling and the gyny approved me for surgery and as he had cancellations slot can do next weds 18th June for posterior vag repair. I will hear today or tomorrow if I have been successful on the job front, it is part time desk based admin work. If I am successful I am wondering when I can realistically say I'm available to start as before I went to appointment I intimated that I could start soon, then I thought oh well it will only be a couple of weeks but after reading on here this looks like I could be being overly optimistic.

Sorry this is so long and thanks for reading. Just looking for opinions from people that have been through it I looked on the royal college of obs and gyns website and that said light, part time work could be retuned to as early as 2-3 weeks. Thanks again for reading.

Hi dieting,

I had a prosteria repair back in nov last year, and I felt comfortable enough to get back to my hectic life of kids and animals after about 4 weeks but told myself to hold of till the 6 week check and then I did light exercise till week 8 post op. The key thing to remember us that everyone is different and it's very important to listen to your body. Good luck with the job and all the best xx

I lost track of the thread due to holidays and life in general! Last I wrote I was waiting in a 2nd opinion about a uterine and bladder prolapse.

I seen the urogyn specialist this week and she has confirmed I have a cystocele, rectocele and uterine prolapse. She thinks the uterus is pulling the other organs down with it and that is why the bladder op I had in Nov has failed. The surgery she has suggested seems a good idea. Without going into too much detail it's a more permanent fox rather than just a hysterectomy which she agrees would leave me prone to other problems. She would not recommend I have that operation. Instead she has offered a few alternatives, some with mesh and some without. Also different ways of doing each op. It looks like open surgery with mesh and a subtotal hysterectomy is best option due to risks, benefits, successful rates and mesh erosion stats. The wait is problematic tho as I'll run out of sick pay and work aren't happy obviously as I've been off 6 months already.

Thanks Monty for your reply. I got offered the job today and have told them that I am aiming to be able to start two weeks post op. I may need to invest in a cushion to sit on.

have I lost the thread or is everyone enjoying the good weather? help I cant do without this thread!!!

I know Im Hoping its just good weather!

lovely ladies....are you there? I love this thread and just wonder has it moved somewhere as my computer was playing up - I love to read all the experiences as i'm going to physio now for - they tell me rectocele and I also think bladder prolapse at 53 going on 54 - what happens if the ops aren't successful - do they keep doing them until they are? mmmm feeling a bit scared and some days I say Not gonna let this beat me and other days cant cope. anyways frenchfogbutt hows you. Wondering - my partner would like to put his finger in (tmi I know!!!!) would he feel a difference (referring to above prolapses) can't bring myself to feel so don't know - I know i'm SUCH a whoose - any experiences would be greatly appreciated.

gottaget, I would like to know that too. I'm also too much of a wuss to put my finger in too.

gottaget you made me smile!! Ignore me if this question is too personal - do you do the deed? sex that is. If so, why worry about a finger!! My DH never said anything, it was me that had the sensation change. I am 6 weeks post op and am starting to get a bit ooh er about sex. My undercarriage has changed that much, going from a yawn to a very tiny looking 'o'! Still have stitches so not attempted anything yet.

kazza - I just can't do it - have these horrible images of what I might feel

Ninni - yes I do the deed with no bother atm (i'm post menopause so have to use the KY Jelly) but he used to put his finger and now I won't let him (I just couldn't bring myself to tell him my all) but i'm soooo afraid of what he might feel and i'm runnin outta excuses!!

same here gottogetthroughthis I'm very scared of what I might feel and struggle to talk to dh about it. I've told him now that I've been to the drs and that I have a partial prolapse but no more. He's suggested we don't bother with penetration at present, but did say it felt no different to him. I've felt so down about it that I haven't fancied doing the deed anyway, but I need to get over that. I also worry about my other "bits" that suffered during childbirth (Piles for example), I try desperately to hide them from him!