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!

[kentmumtj]

Hi everyone
It is interesting reading everyones comments especially in terms of how everyone experience is so different.
I am 2 weeks post op for a laerge rectocele.
I had the op done under sedation and a local anasthetic. I was very groggy and felt really sick whilst in recovery.
I had no packs or catheter.
I was suprised how much bleeding there was after the op, very similar to how you are after giving birth.
the first 3 hours post op were uncomfortable, thats is until the local wore off then it was very painful (in my opinion).
I was in as a day surgey patient and left hospital 4 hours after my op.
That night was agony as was the next 3/4 days. I was taking lots of painkillers and genrally found it painful to move and even walk to the toilet.
Going to wee was stinging and i dreaded opening my bowels.
I never took any stool softeners. I just drank loads of water and ate lots of fruit, veg and fibre.
Opening my bowels has been very uncomfortable not sure if painful is the right word as im sure pyschologically it was my mind was telling my body not to 'go'.
My hubby took the first week off work he is now back to work but working less hours.
I am not able to drive at this 2 week stage as i simply can not sit down on my 'bum' area yet.
Pain is not to bad now.
Bleeding stopped after 5 days but i did start to bleed suddenly after 10 days. Hospital belive i have an infection so an now on anitbiotics.
I have been to see my Gp today who has signed me off work for another 2 weeks.
Hope this helps people who are going in to have the op as i remeber before i went in i read sooooo many bad stories that i was petrified.

[kentmumtj]

i forgot to say i have been told i may also need a anterior repair at a later date.
Must say the way i feel now i am not looking forward to it although my doc assures me the posterior is the most painful of the 2.

[pobletsmum]

Just wanted to join in - I will be having a posterior repair for a rectocele and perineal revision (for old episiotomy scar causing ongoing pain) at the same time, in a couple of months. It's already bringing back bad memories for me of my 2 awful childbirth experiences & the awful recovery, but I'm hopeful that this will be better as it's planned, I'll have antibiotics automatically, and set up as much support as poss for the 1st few weeks. I have 2 wonderful but demanding children (1 and 3yrs old) so like the rest of you, will have to stop myself doing too much too soon. I'm determined to get it right this time. I just can't believe I'm going to have all those stitches AGAIN & willingly too!

I'm so happy to have found people going through similar experiences. Thank goodness for mumsnet as always!

[pobletsmum]

Just for the record, the childbirth was planned (!), I just didn't plan to have long, horribe labours, epidurals and lots of stitches both times! So this time, I'll be ready for the stitches and plan accordingly. Hope that makes sense.

[2ndtimeround]

Hi Ladies
Just wanted to join in as I have had this done. Well done for those of you who are Post op and good luck tot he pre-ops. I had a rectocele repair along with some stitches around my episiotomy scar and a TVT bladder repair and hysterectomy last May. I was up and about and looking after my 3 year old and 9 month old after about 10 weeks. I am not sure what the recovery is for pelvic floor repair only, but I imagine no lifting or straining for a bit. They told me the more I rested the better the long term outcome would be. But it takes 6 months for all yout tissues to fully knit together. I couldn't run for 6 months they said...still don't want to but thats because I am lazy!
I would advise investing in laxatives as you really don't want to strain anything. It all made a massive difference though...I am like a new woman down below!

[kentmumtj]

well im nearly 3 weeks post op now and can sit down properly for a short time only still not able to drive but am pottering around the house ok now. 'pobletsmum' if u have a surgeon as skilled as mine it will be sore but follow their advice and you will heal fine.

I too agree you wont need laxatives providing you drink lots of water and eat lots of fibre and fruit and veg, i agree you dont want to strain or push in fact your body and mind wont let you haha

I to have 4 awful births but have ended up with 4 wonderful children.

good luck keep us updated, when are you going in?

[pobletsmum]

I'm not sure when I'll be going in, I haven't got a date yet. I'm on the waiting list, but expect the op to be about June. 2ndtimeround - sounds like you had a lot of work done. Good to hear your positive comments though, thanks.

All you post-op people sound as though you're doing really well - keep up the good (lack of) work!

[pobletsmum]

I wonder if any of you can help...

What did you say to your children about the operation? 'Mummy's having her bottom fixed'????!!!!!!!! My 3 year old son is full of questions and will need to be told something, but I'm not sure what!

What do you do if your period is due around the time of the op or just after?

How are you all doing now?

[bubblerock]

Thank god for this thread I saw the consultant this morning and have been put on the list for a posterior repair, hysteroscopy, D&C & Mirena coil - should be within 3 months but I've stated that I can take a cancellation. V scared to be honest, they reckon 3-4 days in hospital which is my worst fear as I have agorophobia/social phobia. She took a sample from my womb this morning and that hurt like hell!!

Will let you know how I get on - please keep adding positive stories and thanks to those who have already posted - It's great to hear your experiences, get better soon

[ladybug40]

Hi Flourybaps

I just had my anterior & posterior repair on the 12th. I had my checkup today. I am still having discomfort in the hiny but it is controlled by motrin (800 mg). I have not had a pain pill in over a week. The dr released me to drive today. I have two children ages 3 & 4 and I am still not able to pick them up. Just rest as much as possible and NO lifting. The dr. should give you a stool softener. My dr has me on them for a month. You are supposed to avoid constipation after surgery. My first bowel movement post op was painful but after that first one it got easier. Good luck with your surgery.

[kentmumtj]

hi guys just updating you all
i am still off work 4 weeks post op and doc has signed me off for 2 more weeks. Am on my 2nd lot of antibiotics as have an infection which is hindering the healing.

I am so incredibly sore sitting down and avoid it as much as possible hence i cant drive still. Doc says its the infection which is causing most of this as i should be able to sit by now.

heres hoping this course of anti will get me on the proper road to recovery.

[suzisuzi]

Hi all, just done a search for this rectocele thingy as I have been told today I need one. I have read all the posts about recovery etc..but not many people have said anything about whether things "down there" change much after, my consultant made a joke about a narrowing of the vagina being a good result, but how much narrowing is he talking about? will it affect my sex life (which is very good at the moment!) do you have to be more gentle sexually afterwards? for a short while or forever?

I've not suffered any pain from the problem, just awful discomfort and problems with BMs.

I work for the NHS so time off work isn't a problem and my children are old enough to get themselves to/from school etc, so resting to recover is not a problem, I'm just worried having the op is going to result in more problems afterwards than the initialy problem actually is giving me.

[kentmumtj]

Hi suzi
well i am 5 weeks post op and to be honest i havent even thought about sex lol its tooo sore
do you know when u gotta have op

[flourybaps]

Hi all, sorry for not getting on sooner, this dosent come up on my threads im on for some reason.

Anyway I should be asleepso just a quick update. Im 6 weeks post op now and had my final visit to gynae for my postop check up and all is well! horay!

Stiches have healed up and rectocele gone. Im trying to be good as far as I can with lifting but not so easy with a hefty baby to lug about, as for the sex question, cant answer that as havent tried it yet but going too loo so much easier as far as im concerened its been worth it just for that!

Anyway good luck everyone with your ops, I have had a positive experience really. Needed rest and painkillers and laxatives and lots of patience but overall not been too bad at all.

[flourybaps]

Hi all, sorry for not getting on sooner, this dosent come up on my threads im on for some reason.

Anyway I should be asleepso just a quick update. Im 6 weeks post op now and had my final visit to gynae for my postop check up and all is well! horay!

Stiches have healed up and rectocele gone. Im trying to be good as far as I can with lifting but not so easy with a hefty baby to lug about, as for the sex question, cant answer that as havent tried it yet but going too loo so much easier as far as im concerened its been worth it just for that!

Anyway good luck everyone with your ops, I have had a positive experience really. Needed rest and painkillers and laxatives and lots of patience but overall not been too bad at all.

[flourybaps]

Hi all, sorry for not getting on sooner, this dosent come up on my threads im on for some reason.

Anyway I should be asleepso just a quick update. Im 6 weeks post op now and had my final visit to gynae for my postop check up and all is well! horay!

Stiches have healed up and rectocele gone. Im trying to be good as far as I can with lifting but not so easy with a hefty baby to lug about, as for the sex question, cant answer that as havent tried it yet but going too loo so much easier as far as im concerened its been worth it just for that!

Anyway good luck everyone with your ops, I have had a positive experience really. Needed rest and painkillers and laxatives and lots of patience but overall not been too bad at all.

[flourybaps]

sorry

[kentmumtj]

lol flourybaps lol 3 x lol

Well i am just over 5 weeks post op now infection has gone thank goodness and im able to now drive coz i can sit down finally. Those infections can be nasty. Anyways i am feeling much much better.

Got my check up next wek so heres hoping its all ok.

As for sexual activity im still unable to comment

[denise21]

I have had anterior and posterior vaginal repair and a TVT - 3 in 1 operation. for those of you about to udertake here's some of my experiences.... also have some questions for those of you who have already had....

operation on 29th april, that day and next felt tired bit uncompfratble but surprisingly well - however that was the morphine and other drugs I was on - took a downturn day 3 when swapped onto other drugs. Also catherter was removed but had too much residual fluid in bladder everytime i went to the loo so kept having to have bladder drained several times a day. this has been the main issue post op for me to date. i ended up going home with a catherter which i could open and shut a tap duirng the day and then attach to a bag during the night - this didn't work i kept weeing through my vagina as well as the tap - so had to go back in and have catherter replaced. that didnt work same problems so ended up having to be attached to the bag day and night for another 6 days. HOWEVER, went into hospital for a TWOC (trial wothout catheter) as a day admission, and after a couple of bladder drains finally got a poinbt where the residual fluid was low enough after weeing for me to be discharged. So dont get disheartened if this happens to you it does get better in time. I am a bit sore down below and obviously get frustrated with all the things you cant do but apart from that its not so bad. now just over two weeks post op, very slight discharge from op, no drugs now, and next stage is to go back early june for 6 week post op consultation with consultant and two weeks after an appointment with a gyne physio.

[denise21]

hi ran out of space on my first post for a few questions below:

• any of you been told whehter you should shower or bath - i've only been showering to date and unsure when to venutre into bath (i've had TVT, anterior and posterior vaginal repairs)

anyone been able and signed off to drive before 6 weeks?

know about not lifting, driving etc but what about bending stretching?

a more personal question for those who've had vaginal repairs - does everything still work in the same way - e.g. self lubricating, orgasms etc? how wwas sex the first time and did you try after your post op consultation or leave for much longer?

[ouchitreallyhurts]

Hi Denise

I'm 4 weeks post anterior repair and had similar prob's with my wee (residuals too high)

oh is asking me if I can hurry up and drive now so I think I will ask the insurance co if I'm covered.

you can bath as soon as you want to.

not sure what kind of stretching you have in mind but if it helps, I've been cobweb dusting from very high ceilings with no problems.

just still feel very tired mid afternoon otherwise feel quite good so far

[denise21]

Hi thanks for the info - good luck with the driving sign off.

I'm tired too in the afternoons if i've done anything slightly active in the mornings - although this could also be down to getting up several times in the night to pee!

getting better each day though....

keep well

[tootolpops]

hi i had a anterior repair and also got tvt tape done on th 13 th of feb which is about 14 weeks ago ,was wondering if anyone can help me figure out some symptoms . we have tryed sex about a week ago and that was a no go there is large sharp and i mean sharp stitches that stops us for been sexualy active. these stitches hurt me when i walk or on my feet for an hour is this normal did anyone else have ths proplem . tvt tape has been a bit annoying too i sting every time i pass urine the flow hesitates and i can be there for ages just passing urine and ai also have to move about on the toilet to get a good flow . i dont see my consaltant till end of july 5 mnths after surgery which i think is too long but i have been bck and forwar to my own doctor for support . can anyone let me know how you felt after this op
many thanks ali x

[Kristina50]

Hi!I had TVT and prolapse repair (anterior -and posterior for a rectocele) 2 weeks ago on May 5th. How I wish I had found this website and thread before I'd had the surgery! I searched the net when I was deciding whether or not to go ahead with it all and all I found were horror stories of what could go wrong! Consequently, when I went into hospital I was very anxious and unsure. For this reason I thought I would add my experince to everyone else's in the hope it would reassure anyone thinking of having these procedures done. Like everyone else, I woke up from the general anaesthetic with a vaginal pack and catheter but both were taken out the next day and there weren't any problems. Pain relief was good -they gave me a kind of morphine which is basically heroin and very effective!! I was lucky and after a few attempts to pee was managing fine with quite low residuals. I was terrified of the first bowel movement as I had a lot of stitches as my old episiotomy had been re-done and it took 3 days, Movicol, Lactulose and finally an enema for anything to happen!! However it really wasn't bad at all and what joy, after a rectocele, to actually be able to have a bowel movement normally!! That has already hugely improved my quality of life! My body is taking a while to get used to the tape - feels odd towards the end as I pee and a bit uncomfortable and I have a lump on each side of my groin where the tape goes in and out. They say this will calm down. They discovered during the cystoscopy that I have severe trigonitis (inflammation of the bladder) which has caused and is causing more pain than anything else. I will be on antibiotics for weeks to try and treat this but it is a real relief because the mystery of my constant pre-op bladder pain and blood in urine had finally been explained. So, if you are hesitating about these procedures I would say ... go for it! It really will improve your quality of life. Obviously, as you can see from my nickname, I am older than a lot of people who have posted messages here and my son is 16 so there is no issue about me not being able to rest. I have been very lucky as friends have taken it in turn to care for me and I would not have been able to cope without that support. However, I am sorry I waited so long to have it done. Despite the tiredness and pain (most of mine is from the trigonitis and the trauma an already inflamed bladder recived from various procedures)it is worth it in the long run. A friend of mine had it all done a year ago and has never looked back. If anyone else out there has been diagnosed with trigonitis I would love to hear from you!

[Bluesunflower]

Thank you for your reassuring words Kristina50. I've been looking at various threads on mumsnet for a while now and found it a few months after I first discovered my rectocele.

I've been told that I've got a 'moderate' rectocele and have a rectocele repair operation booked for early July. I had 3 pages of questions to ask the consultant at the hospital - since I discovered the rectocele I've been so worried and scared. For example, I still want to breastfeed my one year old - will I still be able to do that? How will I cope through 12 weeks of not being able to lift at all especially when I have 2 small children? I think I've got answers to the above (although I'd be interested to hear about anybody else's experiences with this) but...

One thing that really worries me though is whether or not I can, or indeed, should ever lift the children (especially when they are so young) after the operation (even after the 12 week no lifting ban) ever again. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of this in reality and in practice? If I do lift them after the 12 week no lifting ban, do I risk another prolapse?