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!

Hi to everyone who has just had their op. I am waiting for a posterior repair soon, all tests completed but no date as yet. I have been following your journey with interest and it has definitely made me feel more confident. Any tips, and is there anything to avoid? I am concerned that they will send me home too early as this happened in Sept 2010 and I don't want to be at home struggling with pain relief.Good luck with your recovery.

Hi there...I don't know if anyone can help with this one, but I have triple prolapse and had a hysterectomy and repair (just using the existing ligaments) in September. Mainly the rectum, but the bladder too, has now prolapsed again and my surgeon is saying that if I have surgery again he will have to use something which will mean that I will not be able to have sex again as it will be painful. I am only 40 and have no doubt my husband will not be amused by this! Does anyone have any experience of this? Also, have been recommended a consultant called Nick Wales in London....has anyone heard of him???

Aw blobby , I would definately ask for a second opinion. Its not fair to expect you to live a sexless existance as you are still young.
Good luck.

Hi Jackie62,
I'm 2 weeks post rectocele surgery. I can honestly say that stitches aren't a problem for me. I feel well, just walk slower and sit down a bit more carefully . It's tricky not reaching, bending, lifting as you do it without thinking. Hubby has helped lots this week, cooking, ironing etc but on my owm from tomorrow. I know I'll manage fine. Only hiccup I've had is that I think I have an infection so had a swab taken and waiting for results.

Blobbyw-I definately think you deserve a second opinion . No sex aged 40 is ridiculous , there must be something they can do. I got my rectocele repair done so that I could HAVE a sex life again, not to stop it. Good luck, and fight your corner.

Hello can I join please? I have been put on the waiting list for an an anterior repair. I was told it will be 2 to 3 months wait. I am hoping it will happen over the school easter holidays as I do not get sick pay at work and work term time.

I am really nervous of the operation, particularly afterwards and being in hospital. You are all an insperation and I have found it very informative reading this thread.

Thank you Kazimodo. Really nice to hear from you. I am glad your recovery is going well.To be honest I am SO nervous, having not had very good experiences before which is partly why I am in this mess in the first place! Not looking forward to the op but life is becoming very difficult without intervention ( I am sure you know what I mean?!)I have quite a lot of pain on a daily basis and don't feel particularly well, but I'm still soldiering on at work!
Take care and don't lift anything too heavy!

Blobbyw where do you live? My lady was in Leeds and I liked her.

Whops should say I am on this thread but name changed- had op in October.

Hi MegGriffin,
Welcome to our gang. Hopefully you'll find site useful, I know I did pre op and still do as a new post op person . I felt VERY nervous before my op, more what happened afterwards and how sore I would be. I can honestly say that it's never as bad as you imagine . They thought they might have had to do my anterior repair too but not too bad yet so leaving it alone for now. I had an epidural so was awake for operation, it was a really positive experience. They gave me a sedative to calm my nerves so that I felt no embarrassment. Most people have a general anaesthetic. What have you decided? I had a vaginal pack in overnight and a catheter in overnight. I won't lie, it was eye watering removing the pack (I did it myself) but you don't have too, but it was bearable. Catheter removal didn't hurt, first wee did but I hadn't had much to drink, make sure you drink lots and it won't sting . I was told I would be in 3-5 days but got home in 2.

Jackie62-I now don't have to splint anymore, hope you get same result, it's not nice is it ? Have you got a date yet?

Thank you for the lovely welcome kazimodo. Sounds like you have had quite a positive recovery so far and I hope it continues to do so.
I have been told I am having a general which I am happy about. I have had laparoscopies in the past due to endo so I have no fear with that part.
Can anyone tell me how long after the decision was made to operate did you wait for the date for your op. I have been told it will be in 2-3 months but I dont know how much notice you get?

Hi I am 4 weeks post op. and heading to gy. today. My gyn. told me he took special care to not make me to tight. I don't no about any of that, but boy does it look different down there!! I am eagerly awaiting to be released for love making. I am 4 weeks and 1 day post op. and am hoping my DR. will release me for sex for Val. Day that will be 5 weeks exactly. I had cyct., ureth., rect, ent, anterior, posterior repair, perinium, vault, wall,and sacralspinal ligament as well. I will let all know what Dr. says. I cheated on sex a little the other day. My mate and I just started putting penis into vagina and I swear it won't fit but 1-2 inches in. He said he thinks my vagina ended?!. We stopped immediatly and never moved just tried to see if it would go in. I sure hope I didn't mess up anything. Has anyone heard of this happening? I am going to assume it is just real swollen still. I don't want to even think about having to use dilaters to make vagina longer if it can even work that way. I am never going to cheat again. I will tell you what DR. says and will follow all instructions to the letter. Later. Also when released for sex what part of the sex hurts, and do women have to be restretched or am I having a nightmare in the daytime? Later KIM

HI KAZIMODO, Thank you for your message. I don't have a date yet and am checking the post expectantly every day. When you are in pain it is difficult to remember that you are way down a list somewhere! My situation is a bit complicated in that two consultants are talking to eachother about their plans so I expect this will make things a bit slower. Had a lot of pain today both back and front (which is unusual, I think I may have pulled something, I was driving an enormous transit van 50 miles so that may have been a factor?!
Anyway, Take care all of you! no heavy lifting!

On a bit of a downer today... rectocele feels like it's back (though not as bad as pre-repair) and I'm only about 9 weeks post op. I'm struggling not to lift - well, not managing at all, with a nearly-one-year-old - it would be impossible.

Hoping that getting back to the PFEs (which I've struggled with) will help, and I'm thinking about getting a 'Kegel8' to see if that will help, as there's no way I want to have to go through surgery again. Angry and disappointed with myself.

I have my post op check up in 4 weeks so hope I can improve things before then...

Hi Meg griffin, hoping you are feeling less anxious now that you have found this site. it is amazing how many women go through a similar thing. I never gave it much thought really but I didn't expect there to be sites which you could join and share your story. Thank goodness for good surgeons, and I hope we get one of them! XX
ET63 Sorry you were having a bad day yesterday. I hope you are feeling better today? Are you still feeling like the rectocele has come back? I can imagine that it is almost impossible not to lift with such a young baby,and you have to do what is necessary, but take care! I remember having surgery on a really bad appendix scar when my youngest was about 18 months(and huge!). Everytime he bumped against my stomach I almost went through the roof for weeks!
This time I don't have small children so am not in the same position.
Would it help to check things out with your GP and put your mind at rest? XX

Thanks, jackie62, I think it may be all the scar tissue, but it's prompted me to get going with the exercises and to minimise lifting. DD2 has just started walking, which helps a bit. I'll see how it goes, but I think I'd rather not know at the moment, do what I can to improve things, and see how it is at my post-op check up. I was having a bad day generally, so the mere thought of it coming back was more than I could really bear.

Hi ET63

I am 11 weeks post rectocele op and feel exactly like you . The perinuem is still tender and I feel very lumpy inside and I am very worried that the prolpase may be returning. Saw the consultant 4 weeks ago and he did say that the scar tissue can make you feel as though you have the prolapse back and he said everything felt fine but I think it has got worse since then. Friends keep urging me to go back to the doc but like you I cant face being told taht I may have the rectocele back. Will you let me know how you get on at your post op checkup? I dont know whether i am just being over anxious.

Hi jackie62, how long have you been on the waiting list for?

Hi everyone,
I'm on a little bit of a downer as I have a raging infection and on double strength antibiotics . GP took a swab and had to wait 5 days for results so infection had taken hold by then, I was really surprised that they didn't put me on them straight away. I have a really sore tummy but think stitches are OK. I still feel like I have a littler rectocele and am hoping that it is just things settling down. I'm probably being paranoid as I really want it to work and don't want to have had it done for nothing . I go for my post op check early March and can't face sex yet (only 3 weeks post op)although looking forward to it . Anyway, rant over- as ever thanks for listening.

Sorry you are feeling rough at the moment. It seems a long journey to become well from these operations.

I hope you feel better really soon

Hello everyone. Its been heartening to read this thread to see so many people able to get a repair. I think I have a prolapsed urethra, bladder and rectum. I am seeing a gynae tomorrow afternoon. Can anyone pass on their pearls of wisdom about how their initial consultation went to start the road to getting a repair? I am worried I might be fobbed off.

Hello Elsa. I think it depends on your symptoms and what 'grade' your prolapses are. I went three years ago initially (bladder prolapse) and it was suggested I could manage with pv excersises as it was classed as mild. I went again two weeks ago and have been referred for surgery as it is now grade 2 and will only get worse. The alternative is a ring they can insert but that wont cure it, only control it. I am only 41 and could not live with the discomfort and pain, especially as it will get worse.
What you want should be taken into consideration and you should discuss this with them. Good luck tomorrow.

Dear all,

thank you for your concern. I have been 'in the system' for over a year now as I had a horrible bout of bleeding from the back end in November 2009 which was shocking and out of the blue. Then in December 2009 something 'broke'. By the time I had an appointment with the Dr it was about 2-3 weeks down the line and I was in a bit of a state. The bleeding and pain thing turned out to be a large polyp. That was removed in September and I was supposed to have haemerroiddectomy (no idea how to spell it!) at the same time. Luckily the Surgeon looked outside the box and realised that the damage down by three badly managed births and large babies had done far more damage globally than they had ever considered and that the haem things were not that at all, it was a prolapse. Thank God for intelligent doctors. I have spent the past 5 months having a variety of tests to see what the damage is and am now waiting for an appoint to discuss the next stage.I am between two consultants and this seems to make things more complicated. Meanwhile I am clinging onto my quality of life as it is at present and hoping that things don't get any worse. Very aware that I may have to give up my job at any point and become more sessile!
The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy version of rectocele tests is worth a look: No point smiling for the camera, don't bother asking how they inflate the balloon and don't ask what colour the balloon is!!!

Kazimodo, really sorry to hear about your infection.I hope you are feeling a bit better. I have an amazing Medical Herbalist friend who suggested 'citricidal' which you can get from health food shops. Its a sort of internal cleanser made of grapefruit I think. Might be worth a go along with the antibiotics?
Elsa 123, hope your appointment went well. Don't let anyone undermine you, you are really important and they need to know that before giving you an assessment.I have had some really stupid questions such as 'Were you really trying?' when we looked at the Proctogram results which had revealed a large rectocele. Really trying??? I was spitting nails!!! I'm afraid that poor doctor got it in the neck!Hope your experience was better!!

Hi gals,
Thanks for the support. Feeling a bit more like my old self today, still funny coloured discharge (yellowish) but much sweeter smell (TMI-sorry) , still have a sore tummy so unsure if I might need some more antibiotics. Think I'll give it the weekend and see how I am then.

Jackie 62 - Thanks for the tip re citricidal, I'll look into it.

Elsa123- I first saw GP in January 2010 with suspected prolapse who referred me to see gyny but to do 3 months of pelvic floor exercises with physio. Saw gyny in April 2010 with a grade 1 cystocele and grade 2 rectocele, pessary unsuitable as a bad stitch up job after DD1 and PF exercises did diddly squat. Told to try oestrogen creme for 2 weeks and lidocaine into vagina before sex. Well, it stopped it hurting but couldn't feel anything and the end of his knob was numb too . Total disaster. Went back in August 2010 and she put me on list for op in January 2011. Fair, firm and listened to how it affected me. She took into consideration age, sex life, job, pain etc. I think she was great; short and to the point. If you explain just how bad it's affecting your life in general, ie walking, toileting and sex life just to name a few, you shouldn't be fobbed off. Grade of prolapse really important too. I got the impression they are reluctant to do surgery if only Grade 1.

Hi all, can anyone explain their prolapse pain? I've been told that prolapse for women is not painful and all my pain is nerve related. My pain is down there and gets worse if I stand for any length of time, lift or do physical activities. eg I can't push a shopping trolley. All my pelvic organs are prolapsed. My rectocele is grade 2 but am told that a third of women my age group (41)have this grade of prolapse and most don't notice!