anyone had posterior repair/ rectocele repair

[flourybaps]

Hi, got to have surgery at the end of the month, rectocele repair and posterior repair. Have done a search in the archives but found very little about this prob.......

surely I cant be the only person with this problem? Anyone out there? Just wanted to know a little about the recovery. I have an 8 month old dd to look after so im a bit concerened as my Dr said avoid lifting, well thats easier said than done!

I'm 48 on Wednesday. Had vaginal hysterectomy and pelvic floor repair (front wall) 3 yrs ago which cured stress incontinence probs.
Problems with BM since. Need to assist or use enema to evacuate. Feel tired and achy lots of the time.
Having op on 25 November to repair large rectocele and entroceles. Hopefully I'll begin to get my life back. Have been reading other posts and it helps to know I'm not alone.
Will post re progress.

KKier,
Pardon my ignorance but what is an entrocele?
Good luck re your surgery. Today - I feel great. Hope everyone else is doing fine...

Hi All,

How is everyone going. I am two weeks post op today. Woun dup back in hospital for a few hours last week with a mild viral infection which some rehydration and anti nausea drugs helped with.

Was feeling good over weekend but pain increasing again this morning. Feels like my knickers are caught or a pubic hair is pulling. Did anyone else have that sensation?

Got adventurous this morning and went exploring so to speak, it feels like I have this lump on my vaginal wall, firmer than the original rectocele and smaller. But it is very distinct. If it is just eth stitchinng then I am seriously deformed and sex is gonna be an issue! Worried it may be an abcess like someone else had on here (Janjan was it?).

STill have discharge, SOOOO over wearing pads/sanitary napkins/whatevr you call them where you are from lol. When did most people 'dry up'?

Hope everyone is on the mend or looking forward to being on the mend!

Em.

Hi Em,

The pulling sensation you have is probably the stitches tightening up. I did have a lump that was an abscess....it was very tender to touch and I mean tender. The area was inflamed also. There is also another lump in the same area which I think is part of the internal stitching but this has shrunk quite a bit now. I still have a lot of stiches inside (had a little feel yesterday). My discharge stopped at about 5 weeks post op but expect everyone to be different. Bearing in mind, we don't really know what the surgeons have done inside us, there may be a lot of swelling that needs to settle.

morning ladies, i am 4 weeks post op tomorrow, i didnt have a lump but a sort of ridge it felt like it had been very roughly sewn together but it was painless. i wondered at the time if it would always be like that but i am glad to say it has all shrunk back there is only a little ridge there now but it has only been 4 weeks, my discharge stopped after a week and it has been fine

Hi there I am almost 7 weeks post op and now feel great. Still get quite tired but i am so glad i had repair done for a big rectocele. I still try hard not to get constipated, and sometimes sitting on the loo i have to remind myself not to assist my BM When slightly constipated it would be so easy to fall back into old habits and i do not want to do anything to encourage a new rectocele back.
I also had a lump where stitches were, but it has reduced loads, although i can still feel it when i am sitting on the loo, but it does not bother me.
I would encourage anyone to go ahead with this repair. I spent all summer dreading it but that was probably the worst bit, the op and recovery have all been straightforward and i think this thread helps any of our recoveries a lot...just to know you are not alone! Good Luck xx

Hi Jan Jan Jan Jan
Entrocele is a prolapse of the small bowel. Try googling for more info.

HI Ladies, has been very reassuring to read these posts and wish I had read them ages ago. I had surgery for a rectocele 5 weeks ago. Was so worried about getting it done as had read so many scare stories. I have been fine and pain has been pretty minimal. I have had infection and have been on 3x antibiotics but apart from that it has been fine. I can identify with the pain and pulling some of you have talked about but my Doctor reassured me after checking that is is just the stiches tightening up the muscle (does feel like someone is slowing trying to pull a hair out in the same place one at time!! - only lasted 4-5 days 3 weeks post op). Dr has been fantastic and been able to contact her on her moby anytime I am concerned! Not sure how things will feel in a month or so but all ok so far....

Hello Girls,

I am now , hmmm! just over 9 weeks post op rectocele repair.

Fully recovered, I don't feel worried about lifting or stretching, but crouching for long periods is still a no. Bowels are even thinking about spontaneous expulsion these days ! (not in an incontinent way, in a normal un- assisted by physical or chemical intervention way).
Have a deep scar like ridge internally, but it all works like a teenager , from what I remember ;)

Over the last two days and without having had sex, to aggravate anything, I have one small sore area that has developed around my vaginal opening over an area of incision. It looks like it may not be fully healed and yet it was initially.
Has anyone else had similar, I wonder if it could be my body ejecting some suture material it can't digest but it seems strange to develop problems this far down the line?

Glad your all doing well

Hi,
How has everyone got their energies back? I was allowed to drive yesterday as was 6 weeks post op. Drove to GP's which is literally two miles down the road, by the time I got back I was absolutely shattered so ended up back in bed sleeping until late afternoon. I feel fine most days, still have loads of stiches inside that havent desolved yet. Has everyone else thats over 6 weeks post op lost their stitches now? What happens if they don't desolve? Am managing to to BM quite easily each morning and its great not having to aide this. Hope everyone else is doing fine.

well, I'm 4 1/2 wks post op and only lost 1 stitch so far!. I've got one just inside my perineum which looks like it might be healing around it which will leave a hole. I keep thinking about taking it out but as i had perineal rebuild as well as post repair and abdominal uterine prolapse surgery, I don't want anything to unravel!!I've still got quite a lot of aching between my vagina and buttock after BM and if standing or walking for more than 40-50 mins. Dunno which bit of the surgery caused that though.
On the up side everything is working well, lots of fibre in diet and fybogel still ( so maybe some of the discomfort is gas!)

Hi, had posterior repair surgery nearly 4 weeks ago. The procedure went fine and I was only in hospital for 2 nights. Pretty sore and sorry for myself on discharge, but luckily have lots of help at home. Told to take Paracetamol and Ibuprofen as needed, but had to ask GP for something stronger. Given Co-codamol, good for pain but made me badly constipated - which you don't want!
Started to bleed really heavily 10 days post op, but then stopped as quickly as it started. Still feel tired and soon know if I have overdone it. Back to GP this week and will ask for another sicknote for 2 -3 weeks. My job is physically and emotionally tiring and I want to recover properly before going back. We are all so different, but its reassuring to know there are so many of us out there!

I am so happy to read that some other ladies are still sore 4 weeks after their posterior repairs. Not that i would wish pain on anyone but I was begining to get worried as i am 4 wks post op today and i am still sore, so I am glad that this is normal for most of us.
I also had a vaginal hysterectomy and anterior repair on June 23rd 09, my doctor said he was going to do all three repairs as i call them the front middle and back. But he decided not to go ahead with the posterior repair during my operation because he said I was too small. I was devastated as this was my major complaint. However at my 6 week check up he decided as my rectocele was so bad he had no choice but to operate again on October 13th 09.I have been out of action for so long now, as both recovery periods are so long. I am back to see my doctor next Wed Nov 18th, I can not wait to get my life going again. There is a possibility I wont be able to ride again after having these 2 operation, it is a big price to pay. But I am getting on a bit now so I can live with it I hope. Best of Luck to all you other ladies out there going through this, thank you all for taking the time to write here, as i do not feel worried anymore..........

Hi all, am now 5 weeks post op and am really one of the lucky ones, no real problems. Still get twinges and pulling inside when I am in my bed but apart from that getting on fine. I have been advised by my GP not to look after my grandsons until the 8 week mark, as they are only 18 months and 23 months old, so there will be quite a bit of lifting. I help out 2 days a week, but I know it will be tiring, husband helps out on one of the days. Oh to win the lottery so my daughter need not work, oh well. Nice to hear that most of you are goin on fine.

Hi all,
I am 7 weeks post op now and feel fine. Still get tired pretty easily but am improving day by day. BM seem normal now too. Taking a glass of prune juice 2-3 times a day along with the lactulose has definitely helped. A number of stitches are still to desolve. The "dragging" sensation I had when standing for a longer period has now gone too. Take care. xx

Hi, GP gave me a sick note for another 4 weeks (will be 8 weeks post op by then), but I don't think I'll need that long. Feeling stronger each day. Haven't driven yet, but think I will give it a go in the next couple of days.
Lost first stitch yesterday. Tempted to frame it, but if the reaction from my significant other is anything to go by...... perhaps not!
Still got the 'dragging' feeling if I stand too long, but glad to hear that goes eventually. Still taking paracetamol and ibuprofen morning and evening, but nothing for BM which is all fine. Making sure I get my 5 a day though.
Sympathy with JMCW. My 2 grand daughters 3 years and 13 months are having to get used to nanna getting down to them and not lifting them up.
I'm sure it will all be worthwhile though and I can't wait to get active again and walk, cycle etc!

Hi all, thanks to septemberbabe. Am I the only one never to have seen any stitches, never seen a one, is that good or bad anybody know.

JMCW - I could only see one stitch at the beginning which was at the perenial repair area. All the others were inside.

hi
I am just over 2 weeks post op.

I have alot of pain in the backside area and some nights it wakes me up or i can't sleep and get comfortable.

The stitches don't bother me and i don't know i have them it is the BM even when soft it is soooo painful, it makes me feel like screaming or passing out.

I have paracetamol and anti inflamotories, i try not to take the codeine as they can make you constipated - i also take movicol twice a day still due to the pain.

It hurts in my buttock area (i think) when i walk or sit.

is this normal?

Jacqs62,
Hi, your symptoms do seem normal. I suggest you ask your GP for some lactulose too as this sort of "greases" your insides and makes it easier for the motion to pass. On the plus side, it does get easier and less painful. Also, ensure you take plenty of rest. I understand the bowel doesnt like being intefered with and can go into spasm during surgery so takes a little time to re-adjust. Good luck.

Hi jacqs62, I had exactly your pain: could have done with Entonox! ur at the worst: it'll start to get better soon. I took lactulose, fybogel and movicol and ate loads of hi fibre stuff, loads of water (as advised on this thread, thankyou).The pain slowly improved- don't miss any pain killers. I'm 5 1/2 weeks now and pretty comfy tho still fixated with soft motions!! Hang on in there asnd good luck.

Thank you for your replies.

I am off to the docs tomorrow for more painkillers and also more movicol - i will see if they will let me have the other stuff too.
It seems to be worst later in the day and then into the night.

Walking is a bit easier, but the aching in the buttock area is a bit scarey

thanks again
Jacqueline

Hi Jacqs62, i am 12days post op for anterior repair and im having the same pain(discomfort) my buttocks & bottom of my back are killing me at the min im just taking paracetamol & ibruprofen but i feel like crap. It started last week but though it was due to the fact me period would have been due but it came back with avengenous(sp) today along with few stomach cramps and leg ache. I too was thinking of seeing gp justto get some other painkiller. Let me know how you get on with yours. I was thinking about having a walk to the school tomorrow(10mins) but am really having second thoughts now.

jacqueline, i presume you had a posterior repair: if you think how far up your vaginal wall the rectocele was and that this area has now been been cut and stitched big time any bruising will be pressing directly where you are getting the pain (if its the same as mine). I assumed I probably had a haemotoma which takes ages to absorb but it always throbbed for ages after a BM and when i'd been stood up for any length of time.It seemed to go quite suddenly at 4-5 weeks although it had been improving steadily from 2-3. hope this helps. jo

Hi

I have had a few short walks out now. I take it gentley, with no rushing. I overdid it one day, by going for a short walk then to the supermarket. I had to stop and rest on a wall for a while and I paid for it later. The pain comes on though with just sitting. I sort of think it's when my BM are starting to "work" - they haven't done that for years and years, so it must be a shock to the system.
I also didn't really realise how big an operation it was - and what it involves
thank you for all you support
J