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Original poster

Rectocele surgery recovery (tmi warning)

59 replies

Peacefulmama · 02/04/2018 21:15

Hi everyone,

Has anyone had rectocele repair surgery? If so, can you please share your experiences of recovery with me? I'm 6 days post-op for a straightforward repair, and have spent most of the last week laying flat in bed not wanting to jeopardise the recovery process. The bleeding stopped after just 3 days. But (tmi, sorry) I've just had diahorrea and when I wiped the surgery area, there was some fresh blood. About 4cm x 2cm on the tissue paper. I've put a towel back in and gone back to laying flat in bed, having a few more stinging pains than I was before but not constantly, just a few. Can anyone offer any reassurance based on their own experiences? I'm freaking the funk out that I've messed things up down there. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
TTM11 · 07/01/2019 22:49

For constipation I used a senna laxative which 3 days after surgery I had a bowel movement. I will say this.. Don't strain!! Allow your muscles to relax naturally and it will happen naturally. Learn the relaxation techniques of how to sit properly (don't lean back) and breathe. I kept taking the senna for approx 2 weeks as I began to retrain my bowels. Hope this helps! Its now 39 post op for me and I'm beginning to feel more normal though its still uncomfortable to sit on hard surfaces.

TTM11 · 07/01/2019 22:54

Thank you seaweed42! This really gives me more hope that it was a successful surgery. I have a follow up on a couple weeks which will be 7 weeks post surgery. I hope to hear that I'm healing correctly!

1viviana · 08/01/2019 00:33

I’m I’m 11 days post opp on badder lift and rectocele.. I feel amazing other than the pressure down there..I drove yesterday to get groceries and put them in smaller bags..

Impatientgirl · 08/01/2019 06:52

Does anyone still have poo smears after rectocele surgery, really worried
I’m 2 Weeks post op

Impatientgirl · 08/01/2019 06:53

Thank you

Helpformum · 12/01/2019 13:31

Hi, I had my transanal rectocele repair 3 days ago and left hospital with no instructions apart from a bottle of lactulose! Not had a bm yet but have lots of wind and am losing mucus, blood and not sure what else (tmi sorry everyone). I know it's early days but am surprised at how uncomfortable i am. Thank goodness for you ladies, you have made me feel my recovery is normal xx

Helpformum · 12/01/2019 18:23

I too am leaking liquid poo! 🙈

Impatientgirl · 12/01/2019 19:16

Think I may have infection, nearly 3 weeks now since op, but I can’t sit for long periods, feels s sore and swelled still

Helpformum · 12/01/2019 19:39

Oh hope you haven't got infection, but better to get checked out. The registrar came round in hospital and I asked her if I had any packing inside and she said no! I went to the toilet and packing fell out! I am disappointed with the lack of information about what to expect after the op. Ringing surgeons secretary first thing Monday.

Impatientgirl · 12/01/2019 22:45

I also wasn’t given much information regarding aftercare. I ended up back in hospital the night I was discharged as I was full of gas and felt like I was going to explode then could hardly breathe. You just feel like you don’t know what to do or you’ve done something to ruin your op.

Helpformum · 12/01/2019 23:18

I completely understand what you mean. I had a tvt op 4 years ago but couldn't wee after and ended up having to self catheter for months, which put me off having this op. This time my anaesthiatist was fab and even visited the day after the op to make sure my bladder was working.she told me she wasnt going to put spinal block In when asleep incase it affected my bladder. But you really do think it's guess work!! X

Impatientgirl · 26/01/2019 13:58

5 weeks now post rectocele op, after wiped myself clean after a bowel movement, I go to the toilet and there is smears of poo there again. Will this get better and not have dirty bottom area, it’s worrying as I don’t think I could bare this still happening .

Impatientgirl · 26/01/2019 14:46

Did you constantly feel you had ruined your op. I am 5 weeks post op for rectocele and still leaking after bowel movements. I completely clean bottom but then the next time I go to toilet I’m dirty again. Does this go away, it’s getting me down. Help

Helpformum · 05/02/2019 18:34

Well it'll be 4 weeks tomorrow since my surgery. Would love to say I'm back to normal or getting back to normal but have tenesmus. Went to gp and he's referring me to my consultant, told him I've tried contacting them and not heard a thing back, who I do appreciate is busy, but he's operated on my rectum at the end of the day and I need some help! Got my post op appointment on 29th April 2019, so over 4 mths after op! Anyone else had this problem? Impatientgirl I still leak too.

4swolfe · 06/02/2019 01:19

I am almost 12 weeks post op and I still have vaginal and sometimes rectal smears from time to time. It will slow down. I still wear pads most days just in case. As of right now I still have an open wound between vagina and rectum. It has gotten much better but very worrisome almost 12 weeks out.
Still get sore down there and sit on a pillow to drive and at the office. I ordered on of those ones that are good for your back. It has really helped keep the pain down from sitting. I had my surgery the end of November and have times I feel like I will never heal but then other times I am doing great. This forum has been great for me to know that others have been where I am at!

Impatienthurl · 06/02/2019 15:35

I am 6 weeks post op, went back to work on phased return, it was exhausting and so was so sore afterwards. Still having poo smears, is this normal and will it go away soon.

Rubus411 · 21/02/2019 08:19

Hi I am exactly three weeks post op...rectocele repair and vaginal hysterectomy..can still feel a bulge there when I stand but from what I can see pretty swollen still so am hoping it is just the swelling /stitches I can feel!Anybody else experiencing this?...getting paranoid that operation hadn't relieved symptoms 😬

Weeze82 · 07/07/2019 07:22

Hi there, I had my rectocele surgery 2.5 weeks ago now and I am just starting to feel a little better. I had bad constipation which was so awful in the first 2 weeks! All ok with that now but I am so paranoid that all is undone!
Yesterday I decided to have a look down there to see how it looked and actually just inside the opening of my vagina I could see a small bulge, light pink in colour which I am now worried about as it's at the front!?! (Sorry tmi)
As anyone else experienced this at all?!
Another issue also is I have very little control over the bowel situation this week which is rather embarrassing and really and truly hoping it is not permanent! As anyone also experienced this? I feel like I am now constantly thinking that I have gone through all of this only for it not to work!!!!!
Help!

Rubus411 · 07/07/2019 08:12

Hi had rectocele repair and vaginal hysterectomy around 23 weeks ago...never imagined it would take so long to heal! hysterectomy side of things is fab but posterior repair been soooo long..getting there but still not right.Have three good days then one sore day!.I was really active before ( did aerobics five times a week and walked around 6 miles a day) trying to re introduce some more substantial exercise like before but find it tough. If the do too much then the scar tissue becomes sore.Consultant said you have to allow 6-12 months to be completely healed...I do have a small cystocele which I can feel slightly and am contemplating having that repaired in the not too distant future☺️

SophieGiroux · 20/01/2020 23:27

How is everyone getting on now? @Impatienthurl @Impatientgirl @Helpformum @TheProvincialLady, anyone else?

I'm thinking I may need to have this op soon as feels like my grade 2 rectocele is turning into grade 3, can feel it now, like a tampon that's too low. Really irritating but this thread has really put me off as sounds like op has lots of complications and hasn't even improved things in some cases! Please tell me that you all got better?!

Sweet74 · 31/01/2020 07:05

I am new here. I have had a hysterectomy and rectocele repair in December. I have been going through so many different stages being on my own worrying about everything. Doctors away over the Christmas break.
I have had all sorts of discomfort. Hip and stitches and going to the toilet . But the pain medication they gave me was good. Weird but they gave me anti-inflammatory suppositories which were a blessing. Do your research on Doctor's. No hip pain now or stitches pain. But going to the toilet is getting better but still can hurt occasionally. But getting better every week. I worry alot about not having ovaries etc..new things to research and get used to HRT etc..But I will say that the for the first few weeks because of the swelling I didn't think it had worked. It felt bulging still. Scared me so much but all normal now swelling reduced. And stitches were tight but at the six week check up Dr removed the one that was giving me grief. Which was ready to come out. Has anyone had Estrogen that is a suppository? More HRT subject.
Overall happy I did it. No more bleeding and can go to the toilet properly again. Keep drinking lots of water and stool softeners. Not fully recovered yet still get sore sitting for too long. Have to lay on my side. But keep positive a few months of this is going to be quality of life laterWink fingers crossed

Sweet74 · 01/02/2020 04:58

After six weeks is it still painful to go number 2? Not constipation just the first bit of starting off. Then sore after? Hoping it is just healing still.

Ditron · 01/03/2020 02:45

Hi, first time poster. I had an ANAL rectocele repair done 4 weeks ago. Its been the most painful 4 weeks of my life. I still cannot sit for long & spend most days alternating from bed to sofa to bed. Im sleeping ALOT....i take a stool softener every day & thats helps keep things going smoothly. Im still in alot of pain & still taking Endone every day. Paracetamol does nothing at all...I certainly had no idea of what I was in for with this op & nothing was explained to me re post op. If I had known I would never have had it done...i hope there is light at the end of the tunnel as this situation scares me.
I also have no sensation that my bladder is full and that I need to pee...I have to remind myself to go. Has anyone else experienced this...
I see most of the posts here are from ladies who have had a vaginal repair, so I'm hoping someone here can share their experience of an anal one. I wish I had had the option...
Thank you..

Sweet74 · 01/03/2020 06:21

I am here. I had a rectocele repair. I had my operation in December. My doctor told me it is going to take 6 months to heal. I am still taking movical. It still hurts to sit for a long time. But going to the toilet normal again is great.

Sweet74 · 01/03/2020 06:24

It was vaginally done. I'm scared things are getting pulled south too. Confused

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