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!

KKIER...sorry to hear you are struggling too, when was your repair op? I definitely have my a rectocele back and cannot fully empty my bowels or feel the urge to go. It is very depressing to be back to how things were. I am trying my hardest to resist helping my bm internally, but i am having to press on my perrinneum to go at all. I do wonder if i have a lot of nerve damage after a bad delivery, as i really do not get the need to go until i am really constipated and impacted. I know that no surgery can repair nerves so might just have to get used to this in the knowledge that i tried. I know i did all the right things after surgery, and i can't believe how quickly i have a rectocele back. Anyway i am thankful of this support site as no-one really understands how horrid this is til you have it. SURGERY DOES HELP SOME so is definitely worth trying.

KKIER,
How awful for you - I really hope you havent got your rectocele back. Is it possible you could be thinking yourself into not being able to go? I know I am constantly thinking Im going to need the loo for a wee before I finish walking the dog, so much so, that I nearly always wee myself whilst opening the front door! Although Ive put an exclamation mark, it is not funny at all. I bought myself one of those Kegel exerciser things, and am hoping that it will help strengthen my muscles. As Ive mentioned before, I should have had a cystocele op, but the surgeon only did the rectocele, even though I had more problems with my waterworks. I could cry, especially as I went privately and went in thinking all the waterwork problems were going to be solved. I have paid money I can little afford, thinking I would get better treatment and not catch any nasties. Ha little did I know. I hope you feel better soon. Oh one little tip, if you eat a whole bar of diabetic chocolate, that acts as a laxative - perhaps you could try that.

Dear Ladies
Thank you so much for your continued support.
Have my post op appointment on Monday and will post again then.
OXOB my repair was on 25 November 09 so I'm not far down the line - absolutely devastated that problems have returned so soon.

Dear Savasikan re' your problem with water works - hopefully a further repair should cure that problem. Don't go private, find an NHS uro gyn joined up clinic who specialise in these problems.

I wish we could all meet and have a good greet together!

Hello Kkier
I have a feeling that because of your phrase "have a good greet together" that you are Scottish!! I am a Geordie but exiled in the Midlands! Yesterday and today, I have got round walking my dog WITHOUT weeing myself. I have been doing the Kegel exercises with the help of the exerciser itself, and am wondering if this has helped. I will try anything other than go back and have another op. I know it wasnt too bad, but I have an irrational fear of hospitals and anything medical. Ridiculous I know, but thats how I am. I really hope your rectocele hasnt returned. Did you lift anything heavy after your op`? Try the diabetic chocolate trick and see if it works. Good luck for Monday.

Hello again everyone - can we please talk post op discharge? I am now 19 days post op, and feeling fine but am paranoid I have an infection (would I have pain with an infection?) as my discharge colour has now changed. It was a reddy brown colour, then a salmon pink kind of colour, but is now a sludgy pale green colour!

As I said I feel fine though physically - should I be worried by this discharge?

Also those of you who had rectocele repair, could you feel your lowest lot of stitches? Mine are visible/can see them is this normal?

Hello, aSilverLining. The discharge could be serous fluid which is what you get when the bleeding has settled but the wound isn't completely healed.

It shouldn't smell or be thick like pus, nor should pain increase. If you have had children it's a bit like at the very end of the lochia.

I could certainly feel my rectocele stitches altho' I also had perineal rebuild which were very easy to see (and sore- had a couple removed by the nurse after a week).

The main stitches took ages to go: it felt rough like a sanitory towel had been stiched in!! They all fall out eventually though, don't worry, and it all feels comfy quite quickly (for me any way)

Thanks jo - yes that sounds like what it is, it is isn't a thick consistency and I'm not in pain so I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.

Okay ladies now lets talk stitches. Please? I have just found a long black piece of thick stitch which is maybe made of nylon. It does not look at all disolveable. Should I worry? Did anyone else have these?

Asilverlining, yes it is a stitch...I had the same problem and thought it was more like fishing line as expected cotton stitches. My surgeon advised he had put these in for extra healing time - it took about 10 weeks for these to disappear. Mine were more like the knotted end with a long thread attached....

10 weeks - I only had my op 19th Jan! No knot on the one that came out yesterday, just a length of black with two frayed looking ends. Can see another one too not quite out.

I got all nauseous and panicky last night thinking about this. Do't know what's up with me.

Hello Ladies,

I'm after some advice about rectocele repair, sorry if it's a bit long.

Basically, I had a radical hysterectomy as treatment for cervical cancer 4.2 years ago and pretty soon after started having problems with my bowels.

Finally last August as things were getting worse I mentioned it to the Gynaecologist at my yearly cancer check up. I was having to push the bulge in my vagina in to have bowels open and often felt urgency and discomfort when I needed bowels open.

Gynae said not rectocele but prolapsed vault as I had my cervix removed. Fast forward to November, I had abdominal surgery to hoick up the top of my vagina which was supposed to cure all my problems

It was pretty clear fairly soon after I still had a bulge and couldn't have my bowels open without pushing that in. Plus I have less sensation of needing a bowel movement now and I really don't have any sensation of needing to push either. This has got a bit better since initial bit after op but still not right.

Anyway I had post op check up Monday and lo and behold, they told me I have a rectocele. Hmm...tell me somehthing I don't know.

My dilemma is whether to have further surgery which they have recommended or not. I'm worried if I don't have the op the problems will get worse but I'm worried if I do have the op it will cause me more problems because I don't have what I would call 'normal' sensation with my bowels.

I hate hospitals and really can't face another op but I wonder how bad things can get and whether it's better to do it now before things get even worse. The Gynaecologist just said they recommend surgery and left me to think about it.

Those of you who have had the op, is it somehting you are glad you did, has it solved your problems? Do you wish you hadn't bothered?

If anyone can be bothered to answer these questions I'd be really grateful, I just want to try and make an informed decision.

Thankyou and apologies for the length of the post

Hi doyouthinthetsaurus, deffo go for the op, it will make a difference have a look at my previous posts to see what happened with me. I still have the IBS probs but no bulge and now am feeling good. Go for it.

hi
i had my operation at the end of october, but am having trouble going to the loo.

i recently went away for a long weekend and took my movicol and glycerine pessaries but had trouble going as it seemed compacted aand ended up putting a plastic bag over my hand and....well i don't want to go into too much info, but it wasn't nice and i bled alot and was sore .

i dont seem to be able to push and now i am scared it will happen again

my rectum feels sore still and i use the pessaries alot, but sometimes they leak out....it's not nice either and i feel yuk

Jacqs62......take a small glass of prune juice in the morning then one sachet of movicol and 10 ml of lactulose at night (about 7). If you have done what I think you have done, it will take time for your body to get over the shock of an unnatural happening. Your muscles need to re train as you've disturbed them.

Doyouthinktheysarus....yes, i am glad i had the op. the bulge has gone. it was either the op when i had it in september or a bag at a future date.

JanJanJanJan - thank you
I will try what you have suggested.

I have been taking the movicol, but not at regular, set, times of the day and I stopped taking the lactulose

I honestly can't remember when I last went to the toilet normally - it must be around 20 years ,so I suppose even after the op it will take time to get back to normal (if it ever does that is).

In a wsy it was easier when I had the bulge..

'jacs62, that must be awful. I leave for work at 8 so take my movicol at night with the lactulose so i can go to the loo before taking my shower in the morning. The prune juice isnt pleasant at first but you get used to it. I now go each day with ease.

Doyouthinktheysaurus...you have a big decision to make, my rectocele repair has not worked and tho that is disappointing, i am still glad i went for it. Maybe it has improved things by 20% but i do have another rectocele back only 5 months since op. I would advise to go ahead with it as the op + recovery itself are not nearly as bad as it seems. You have obviously been through worse times which might help you cope with this op. For many it changes their life for the better and don't forget those of us who often write on here after their op do so cos things are bad + we need the support still, so you will read bad recoveries, but those who have recovered really well are getting on with their lives and have no need to write.
I also get no sensation of needing to go at all until i become so compacted + constipated, then i can't go without help pain. I am constantly changing my diet to see what might help, but i do believe i have nerve damage that nothing will repair. My main fear is having bowel accidents as i get older...i have control now but dread what the future holds !
Good Luck with your decision.
Jacqs62 i sympathise with you a lot...ive been in similar situations..you are not alone.

Dear ladies
Had my post op last Monday and doc has reassured me that op has been successful and there are is no rectocele or entrocele.
My continuing bowel problems need further investigation by colorectal surgeon. Irritation around my back passage he feels may be due to leakage from the bowel which causes anus to be continually moist. He has prescribed prosectidly? suppositories to help with this.

I have been on a diet (slimming world) as my daughter gets married in July and the regime of regular healthy meals which includes a pear every morning seems to be producing daily bowel movements in the morning which are fairly normal.

Re' lady who is unsure whether or not to go ahead with op - I hated the rectocele and my problem has improved but not gone away.
Tentative sexual intercourse has happened twice and was painful but doc reassured me it would become less so.

Some ladies have had dramatic improvement so I can't advise either way. My feeling before the op was that it was worth a try. This blog is a godsend but there really should be a local network for ladies who have these problems to meet and share stories and solutions as it is something you just cannot talk about with anyone!

Thanks everyone who posts it really is good to hear others experiences and receive epathic responses to personal posts.
Good luck to all who are embarking and in recovery.

Hi ladies,

I had a rectocele repair in Jan and have been okay so far. I am still constipated all the time and have to take prune juice, movicol and dulcoease every day to keep me moving. Very depressing thought that will need to do this forever. My question for more experienced in these matters. I have had sex twice since the op and although it was okay at the time I now feel like I have low level cystitis. I feel conscious of my bladder at all times and its tingly and not comfortable. Has anyone else had this? I am hoping it is just because it is early days but it would like to hear if this is a common symptom..

Thanks a lot
x

blackcat -I had a rectocele repair and my bowels were fine but like you I felt very conscious of my bladder. After several months of going backwards and forwards to my GP , I was eventually diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and prescribed antibiotics which cleared it up. Apparently this is quite a common occurrence after having a catheter inserted. Do go and ask your GP, as if left untreated it can apparently get quite nasty.
By the way, did anyone else have the embarrassing misfortune of developing a crush on their gynaecologist? Even though I m happily married it took me ages to get over him. He was so lovely.

Ok ladies, please can you advise,
I have been to see my Gp about my post natal undercarriage.
We have known that I have a rectocele, for a while and that my cervix is very close to the vaginal entrance.
BM are now almost impossible without intervention.
After discussing this with my gp she has looked, agreed that the cervix is resting on the rectocele and recommended that I start swimming, after confirming that my pelvic floor isn't too bad.

I don't want surgery hav never been in hospital overnight but I also don't know how swimming is going to help.

can anyone advise??

swimming I would ask to be referred to a gynaecologist so you can discuss it with someone who knows what they are talking about with them.

I hope you don't mind me asking, and you don't have to answer, but why don't you want the surgery?

Bythe Power< I agree with asilverlining: you need to be seen by a gynaecologist.

It sounds like you have a prolapse as well as the rectocele if your cervix is that low. How far postnatal are you?

If its only a few weeks i suppose pelvic floor exercises and falling pregnancy hormones might improve things (not sure about swimming tho'!) but i think leaving things for years as I did means the repair is more extensive and less affective.

Ask for a referral. Good luck

i mean effective: must check before i post

i doubt i will ever be the same again, but i don't have the bulge that i could press against to get things moving.

i have the occassional bowel accident, expecially if i use the pessary. I am trying to stop using them as often and drinking the movicol and lactulose.,but hate the taste.

sex is painful around the perinium? area (the bit between the vigina and rectum, but it always has been since the birth of my first child almost 20 yrs ago...

i sometimes, even now, try the old way of going to the loo, but it doesn't work since the bulge has gone..

don't know if i would have it done again - i am 50 - 50 about that and hopefully i wont have to have it done again.

didn't have a crush on my doctor as she is married :-)

infact, thatwas the last thing on my mind