Rectocele/cystocele repair - post op recovery

[Gimmesomemore]

Hi,

I've posted a couple of threads in chat this past week, and thought I'd post here to see if any of the lovely ladies can offer any advice re post surgery recovery, in relation to rectocele and cystocele repair.

I've been reading through a couple of the "any old prolapse" threads, but wanted to ask for some experiences following post op.

Ok, it's been a week today that I've had surgery for both rectocele and cystocele repair. I also had some work done on my perineum, and an ablation after d&c/hysteroscopy.

I've still not found going to the toilet very easy. Despite drinking lots of water and eating well, and taking lactulose. I feel very constipated and uncomfortable. I also had to have the catheter back in the same day they removed it as I couldn't wee, despite having a full bladder. So when I need a wee, I feel like I have to strain a bit to properly empty my bladder.

I've got lots of bleeding (and discharge from the ablation), and I'm only allowed to shower, but would love to have a soak in a bath but was told no due to the stitches.

I've been pottering about the house gradually, although I get tired easily.

DH has been working from home last week, so he can take over from the children and school runs etc, but returned to work this morning.

I felt really positive last night, but then ds, who is 4, was sick all night! So is home today. The upstairs bath is full of sicky bedding and pjs so my parents are coming to help clean up and help remake the bed.

DH is questioning whether I really need to wait 3-4 weeks before driving, although I questioned my consultant on this and he was adamant to wait between this period of time.

I still feel really emotional and tired, although I didn't get much sleep with ds last night.

I'm also worried about lifting, and feel like I'm milking it when I constantly ask DH to help carry something or other for me. I feel that as the weeks pass this will increase too.

How the hell do women cope when they have no support from family with school runs etc? It baffles me.

I know I'm lucky that my parents are supportive, and will do the school runs for me and help with housework etc, but I still feel helpless and a burden!

Did anyone else have feelings like these? Any information and experiences that you care to share would be greatly appreciated. Especially regarding driving and emotions/pain.

Many thanks.

Forgot to add, that I've been told to wear the compression socks for 2 weeks as well. Is this even when I'm up and about during the day? As I've not been resting much during the day, I thought they were a must when immobile only?

Just checking back, and thought I'd add a couple of things I've noticed, that I wasn't expecting.

I had terrible Spd in all 3 of my pregnancies and had crutches for the last. Since the op, I've noticed similar pain in my pubic bone.

I'm putting that down to the position I must have been in during surgery and stirrups. I never thought to mention this at my pre-op, but I definitely have a weakness there that is aggravated.

I've also been experiencing strong cystitis like pain towards the end of a wee.

Also, I have 3 dc and dh gone back to work today. I wish he was home for at least this week as well, as by evening I'm so tired and dinner was a real mission this evening.

Luckily my eldest is 13 and he has been so good with helping his younger brothers.

I wonder if you have a urine infection? You must not lift anything!!!!!!!!
And don't drive until you are allowed.
When you can manage try and do pelvic floor excercises. Not too many and not too hard, just build up gradually.

DH needs to up his game. He needs to take up your slack whilst you rest and you mustn't feel pressured into doing your normal routine, no way! He may be working but a bit of hard graft from him at home for a couple of weeks isn't going to kill him whereas you lifting and driving too soon WILL set you back and may do damage.

Feeling a bit more comfortable today, and the cystitis pain has subsided.

I'm still not sleeping well, and plan to just take things slowly and not overthink everything.

Gobbin, you are right. I spoke to DH when he got home last night, and said that if he sees something that needs doing then he'll have to do it himself. I do not want to end up back at square one with more ops.

Luckily his boss had a similar op 5 years ago, and told him yesterday on his return to work that it took a good couple of months for herself to recover.

I had just the rectocele repair and perineum two years ago. No kids around.

After a week, I was just getting over the GA and still spending most of my time reclining on the sofa, watching channel 4 cookery programmes. The bleeding went on for a good couple of weeks.

I was told I could go back to ballet after 4 weeks. I tried it, then it was half term. 6 weeks was better. After 3 weeks, I drove to choir practice and was getting pretty uncomfortable sitting after the first half!

I also kept getting VA/thrush symptoms which didn't help

The thing I didn't expect was that it took weeks to get rid of the 'can't be arsed' feeling and I plodded on just doing the basics for quite some time.

Did you get any kind of post-op written info? You should have.

I was worse than you. I had to have a catheter for a week and thought I'd never wee normally again. I kept going back to the hospital every 2-3 days after being in for 5 days and each time could not wee normally.

I'm sorry you are feeling worried but it's very early days. You need a lot of help. It can take a week at least to get the general anaesthetic out of your system.

I also had my uterus hitched up so had to take even more care. Youngest DC was almost 3.

DH took 2 weeks leave and then for 2 more weeks worked from home. My mum came to stay for 2 weeks once he had gone back to work. This was to give me 6 weeks of rest as much as possible.

You must not lift anything- not even a full kettle. Don't stand for long periods of time and rest in the afternoons with your feet up.

You need a freezer full of food that is quick and easy, and the family to cook for you! I'm actually shocked at how little support you seem to be getting. Forget about housework, driving, shopping etc- get your food delivered online and rope in the family to do the minimum of housework.

I hope you feel better but you need to take it easy for a good 6 weeks.

Hi pinkfrocks,

Thanks for sharing your experience with me, and thanks also to all the other posters too.

I didn't get any post op literature. On discharge from the hospital I got post op guidance on the ablation and hysteroscopy. Nothing on the cystocele/rectocele or perineum repair. When I had a pre op assessment I was told they'd run out of this info, so I was given the post op leaflet for hysterectomy, which has not been useful really!

I have a lot of discomfort still, especially with passing urine. I've upped my water intake, and I hope this subsides soon.

Thanks again for your post.