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!

Savanskisan
Did you have bowel emptying problems before posterior op. I'm thinking they may consider another op for cystocele which should hopefully help with bladder problems.
It may be early days and your bladder needs to settle. What does you surgeon say?

Three weeks post op now and things appear to be good particularly BM. Still needing to wee during the night though and have very itchy area on my buttocks just outside back passage which also keeps me awake. Anyone else had this problem?

Sivanskian, They are difficult to get the knack. Once you have cracked it they are easy. You basically pull yourself in as if you are stopping yourself from wetting yourself but NOT pull in the buttocks at the same time. Once you have managed to do that you pull ONLY your pelvic area in from the top of the pelvic bone from the inside. You then have to learn how to do them both together. If you find that you are sort of clenching your bottom area then you are doing them wrong. Once you have worked it out, try to increase your hold on both for 10 seconds. I do these about 5 times a day without fail and has prevented me having the cystocele op. Let me know how you get on.

Hi Kkier and thanks for answering. No I didnt have bowel problems at all, only waterworks. When I was initially examined the surgeon said I had both prolapses (rectocele and cystocele) but when he operated he only did the rectocele and said he didnt think that the cystocele was bad enough to do, even though I get cystitis on and off. The annoying thing is, apart from the worry of the op not being done, I paid to go privately!! I have been back for my six week exam and he said I hadn`t healed properly yet inside and to give it another couple of weeks before I started to ride my bike etc.,Am really cheesed off and do NOT want to go back to have another op as I was past myself before I had the first one! Worried myself to a frazzle I did. I would like to try the pelvic floor exercises and see if that will help my weak bladder.

Thank you Jan Jan I will try them, they sound awfully complicated!! I will let you know the outcome. Merry Christmas to all.

They are complicated at first but once you've realised you've done one properly they are pretty easy. They are certainly worth it if they result in no further surgery.

Dear Savansiskan
Re' pelvic floor exercise. I seen a specialist gynae physiotherapist after my first op. She tested my knowledge and ability to pull in my pelvic floor. She inserted two fingers into my vagina and asked me to pull in my pelvic floor. I thought I was doing this very well but in actual fact I wasn't working the correct muscles only pulling in my buttocks as Jan described.
She then advised using a machine called a pelvitone. This is a machine which works your muscles for you but also teaches you what you should be aiming for.
I would recommend you enquire about a physion who specialises in these treatments. You should be able to access through NHS. Do not buy one of these machines off your own back as they are very expensive. Your physio may let you use one or recommend a supplier - you can buy them for around £60. I have seen them advertised on the internet for £200!
I think this is your best next step. Good luck.

Thanks very much KK. I have looked up the pelvic floor device you talked about, and on one site it is £60. Am doing the pelvic floor exercises every day, but I suppose they will take some time to have any effect.

Savanskisan
Good for you and keep up the good work. I would still urge you to seek out a physio who has specialist gynae experience and who can advise you properly regarding pelvic floor exercises and using a pelvitone.
I can recommend someone Scotland but I'm sure there will be others available nationwide. Your local hospital physio dep't should point you in the right direction.

Hello all,

I am new to this website but was really relieved to find it yesterday, when I was looking into any information on posterior and anterior repairs.

I am having both repairs done in January and I am a bit nervous, but as I have been really struggling to walk around since I gave birth 6 months ago, I really hope the surgery will improve things.

I am worried about how I will look after my 6 month daughter though as she needs lots of lifting. I have help every day for the first 4 weeks with family members helping me out, and I will have some help in week 5 and 6, but after that I will need to be lifting her around. Does anyone else have experience of looking after a young child after this operation and was everything ok, as I can't avoid lifting for 12 weeks as some people seem to advise ? Any advice appreciated.

hi
can anyone tell me what happens at a post op appointment please?

Hi Jacqs62
When I went for mine, consultant asked how i was etc then had a feel inside front and back to see if everything was ok.

Thank you - I thought that was what happens,but wasn't sure if there would be more x-ray type tests.
I am going to mine via train and it takes 3 hours so need to keep to time schedules as I don't want to miss it coming back.

Hi guys lots of new stories on here I'm guessing most will not remember me but I had a large rectocele in feb 09 so is months ago now

sex is fine now except there is an initial scare of still being touched as i do sometimes feel what can only be described as a raw nerve being touched

In terms of whether I feel it was all worth it I'm not sure as I do still have to assist my bowel motions but not all the time which I guess is an improvement as it is not all the time this started about 6/7 months after the op, before this time my bowel movements were normal and no helpl needed

I do need to go back as I have a cystocele snd I have to go for physio so maybe I will mention my bowel movements and the help I have to give myself and see what they say

Glad to see so many others going through the op with positive results

I go for my post op tomorrow.

I sometimes still feel like my bowel hasn't emptied properly and have to stop myself from using the fingers...
I use the glycerine pessaries, but my rectum is feeling sore and not sure if it's those that are causing it.

Hi all, Im due to have a laparascopic ventral rectopexy operation on jan 11th, Im starting to get a bit concerned though as they are supposed to be sorting out my cystocele at the same time but no-one has mentioned this. Is it normal to have the two things done separately? I also need a bladder sling so suspect this may be done with the cystocele repair. Anyone had similar problems?
I was also wondering how long I should expect to be in hospital as I have a 5 year old I need to sort care out for.
I have quite a stressful job and rarely sit down! I run a very busy reprographics (photocopying!) department single handedly in a school which requires lots of heavy lifting, bending, pulling and running around like a loon! I am worried that this will undo all the work done by the surgeon so can anyone give me an idea of how long I am likely to be off work? They will need to get someone in to temporarily cover me, but I would like to give them an idea of timeframes before my pre-op on the 5th Jan.
If anyone can offer any advice I would be very grateful.
Best wishes and a happy new year to you all

Hi
I had a posterior repair (rectocele which was large) so can't comment on the cystocele.
I was in hospital after the operation for 3 nights and I took sick leave for 8 weeks. I was in alot of discomfort for up to 5 weeks and still get some pain and discomfort after 9 weeks.
I have read that some people are fine after 2 weeks, but don't know how they have managed to be, unless their op was different.

I had my post op yesterday and it has healed well, but still have some problems going to the loo and have been told i may have to take movicol and the pessaries forever as that it better than straining, which can cause the rectocele to return

Hi Jacqs,

I was given a leaflet when I left hospital after my rectocele repair. In the part which talks about going to the loo, it says that when you go, to breathe OUT which should help, and it DOES, so try that- HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE AND A HEALTHY ONE MOST OF ALL.

I had a cystocele repair on 3rd Nov. I went in hosp Tues and was out Thurs. Wasnt in pain after op but my pain came on about the second week, i couldnt walk very far at all.I did manage to do everything for myself thou, like lunch etc. Had my post op on 29th Dec, apparently op has worked but im still getting at lot of back pain, which they now think is not related to my prolapse. I am now being reffered to a back specialist for further tests. Ive heard the saying a pain in the butt but this is rediculous.

Hi I am on here already under the name AboardtheAxiom. I am trying not to think too much about my pending op for cystocele and rectocele, but whenever I do I feel soo anxious.

A silver lining - I know just how you feel, because I was the same - everytime I thought about my impending op I literally started to sweat, and when I was waiting in the anaesthetic room before the op, my legs were shaking. BUT really, there is nothing to be afraid of - I know people said that to me, and I used to think its OK for you to say that` but honestly it is true. I was supposed to have both the ops you are having, but in the end, the surgeon only did the rectocele. He told me it only took him 20 mins. I opted to have a spinal block with sedation - I was sick after the op, but that went away after I was given anti-sickness pills. I was out after three days. So try not to worry too much, and all the best.

Hi, I totally agree with Savanskian, it really is nothing to worry about. You will be fine, just like we all have been. My op was in Sept and cannot beleive the change (for the better) Just honestly wish I had had the guts to speak to someone earlier rather than suffering the length of time I did. Good luck and dont worry. Hope everyone else is doing fine.

silver lining-I have been such a scaredy cat about my op;crying if I had to talk about it at times and really worrying about getting a bad result and now I almost feel prepared it has been cancelled.Im suposed to be having rectocele,cystocele repairs and a vag.hysterectomy tomorrow but because I have acold its been postponed .I wish it was over and done with.
its like a black cloud over you,isnt it?

Laine4kids....pardon my ignorance but what do you mean by "getting a bad result?" if you dont mind me asking.

no problem
I just mean the operation not being succesful in terms of ending up with more discomfort than I already have or worse continance probs or prehaps,having dificulties with sex post op.
do you think I've spent too much time worrying about this? Ihope its going to be fine but I know its not for everyone.x