Finally got an appointment for rectocele (NHS sending me private I think). Help me with questions

[dontcryitsonlyajoke]

Namechanged for this - due a change as people know my posting name, and this is an embarrassing bodies type problem so figured the time was right now!

So DC3 is about to turn 1 and back in Jan I went to GP as things had changed since having him. I was (and still am) having problems pooing - can't clear out my bowels fully, can't clean my bum properly. Also have bulging of the whole area between urethra and vagina when weeing and almost feels numb somehow. She says she's fairly certain I have a rectocele, and also skin tags from old piles. She referred me to a consultant and said I may well need surgery/referring on from local hospital to London specialist.

I'm over the 18 weeks waiting list now and phoned to chase last week. Miraculously, this seems to have triggered things and I've just been asked to attend an appt at a private hospital on Friday eve so I presume they've outsourced me!

Given the long wait I've had, I want to make sure I ask as many detailed questions as I can and get all the answers I need. So anyone with experience of rectocele and associated problems - I would love to know what I need to know! Can you share your tips, the things you wish you'd known, the things you think I need to ask etc?

I've had no physio or anything yet, no treatment whatsoever, so wondering if that is the first step. It affects my day to day life in the sense that it's not pleasant and I need to use lots of wipes and have to change my underwear regularly, but it's not painful so I'm willing to consider non-surgical solutions first unless the consensus is that they're a waste of time.

Anyone able to help? Thank you!

Bump

Not too helpful as my surgery almost two months ago was more about the cystocele and uterine prolapse though they tackled a rectocele at the same time, but I would Google APOPS and join the Facebook group. Lots of discussion about pee and poo. Only appealing if such things dominate your life, which I assume they do.

Yes, join that group, it is great. A lot depends on whether you intend having more children, I had a successful rectocele repair 2 years ago when mine were about 9 and 7 and we did not want any more. If it's liveable with I would definitely recommend a women's health physio as a first step, they can give you a lot of advice on stopping it getting worse, for example avoiding high impact exercise and heavy lifting (not easy with a one year old I know).

Thanks both. Definitely don't want any more DCs so nothing to think about there. I'll take a look at APOPS.

Hiya!
I'm afraid I don't have the answer to your question but having suffered faecal incontinence after birth and livings with a bladder/uterus prolapse (small but still stops me from running, jumping and lifting more than 10/15kg) I have visited urogynaecology and colorectal departments a number of times.
Unless your symptoms are very bad, physio is normally the first port of call. To determine the seriousness of your condition, you will very probably be asked to fill in a questionnaire about your toilet habits and your sex life. Even though I know its the best way for healthcare professionals to assess you, I thought I'd give you a head start. Some of the questions are very intimate. Some questions shocked me (it was an eye opener to what some people have to live with).
Before surgery they may try physio (biofeedback and maybe electrostimulation if they think it can improve nerve messages), changes to diet and/or using an enema.
I didn't know about APOPS but it looks useful. There are a couple of threads here you might want to try:
Any old prolapse
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2029642-PART-9-Mar-2014-Any-old-prolapse-Uterus-womb-prolapse-rectocele-cystocele-enterocele-urethrocele-incontinence-pelvic-floor-anterior-and-posterior-repair-TVT-etc

Ragged bits
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1597449-Calling-all-Raggedies-the-THIRD-Ragged-Bits-thread-Childbirth-injuries-sphincter-problems-fistulae-all-welcome?pg=35

Always go to the last page as the threads are very long.

I'm sorry you're suffering like this. I wish you all the best.

Agree with penguina. There are surgical solutions and non surgical ones with pros and cons for each, not least a chance that surgery may need to be repeated. Things can also get worse with menopause. As well as physio people seem to have real success with pessaries though not all types seem available on the NHS. So it's well worth educating yourself on options, learning how to prevent things from deteriorating and keeping options open.

Thank you

Hi - I've have been diagnosed with stage 2 rectocele and cystocele last week. Am in my early 30's.
I was told that I need surgery for both as well as perineum repaired. Am private so no wait but I'm not ready for surgery yet as its a long recovery not easy with small kids. First step for both prolapses was a pessary fitted at the consultant appt, it's really helped cystocele but not rectocele. It's changed every 6 months and I can't feel it, had sex once and that was fine. They may or may not offer you that.
Next step was referral to physio which I've been told will need to keep up forever to prevent worsening and recurrence if I have surgery. Physio said damage so bad not sure if she can help but worth ago. She said it's really important to have physio straight after birth as that's when they can really help repair and re activate pelvic floor muscles. Physio also gave tips for positioning etc to help bowl movement without straining.
Consultant also suggested movicol forever to keep stool soft and help prevent getting stuck in rectocele. Constipation also makes it worse over time.
I went on my own to the appt and found there was a lot to take in so would be helpful to have somebody there with you. Also make prior notes of all your symptoms as chances you might forget things when you are in the appt.
The examination was pretty embarrassing including finger up the bum! But once you've had kids I guess it's not so bad.
Do as much research as you can about pessary / surgery beforehand.
She said if I left it with no treatment it would get much worse but couldn't say if that would be in a year or years.
Hope that helps and please ask if there's anything else I might be able to help given just last week I had this appt.
Good luck.

Also ask about success rates and recurrence of you have surgery. She told me 50% chance rectocele repair might not stop difficult with bowl motion in which case would have to refer me to a colo-rectal surgeon. Plus 10-15% chance prolapses would occur again as young to have them hence movicol and physio to help avoid recurrence.