Anyone had surgery for Stress Incontinence

[golfgirl79]

Hello
I'm 30 years old and just had my second child 5 months ago. A traumatic forceps birth, it has left me with severe stress incontinence... its so bad I am having accidents every time I stand up, walk, basically anytime except when I am sitting down still.

I am hoping to hear from anybody who has had surgery for incontinence. The doctors want me to wait another 7 months before I consider it. I really feel if it was going to get better, it would have by now... I have been seeing a physio and also using eletrical stimulation with no results... I am tired of my life being 'on hold' while I deal with this...

My uro-gynae says he has no doubt I will definitely need surgery, but to wait 12 months til after the birth to give my body a chance to fully recover... I just feel if I am going to have the surgery what is the point in waiting.

He is suggesting tvt, although I have read some horrible things about it. Keen to hear some success stories...!!

Also since I'm only 30, I am worried in a few years time my symptoms will come back (as the surgery doesn't last forever) and then I will have no further avenues, since surgery is sort of the last stop.

I'd love to hear from anyone who can give me any advice or offer personal experience.

This is the worst thing I have had to deal with and having this for the next 50 odd years scares the hell out of me.

Thanks in advance,
Golfgirl79

Hi Annem1
welcome to mumsnet. I'm sorry that your post didn't get answered sooner; this is quite an old thread and so is not as active as it once was! I'm not one of post-surgery ladies, so cannot answer your question about swollen stomach, but I didn't want your post to go unanswered. Hopefully someone else will pop back in soon.
...and don't worry, on mumsnet, you don't need to be embarrassed...I've found it great to find that I'm not alone with all these post baby probs!

Hi Annem1, how are you feeling now - any improvement?

I can't really comment on your swollen stomach as I didn't really get much pain but can totally sympathise with the embarrasments you have faced. The last straw for me was when I tripped over in the street and because it was unexpected I could "hold" myself so wet through my clothes. Luckily I was wearing dark trousers so no-one noticed but it made me realise I didn't want to live the rest of my life that way if there was a solution.

I too have only told a handful of people - a few friends, my parents and obviously DH who has been a total rock to me. I had my op about 6 weeks ago and I felt more or less recovered after a couple of weeks so had to try and force myself to not do things. That said, I'm not sure how much of a success my operation has been. I "think" my stress incontinence has been helped/cured but have been left with terrible urge incontinence (I share your pain golfgirl79!!!) to the point where I feel more or less constantly like I need a wee, have to go far more than before and leak if I try and wait - nightmare!!! I went back for my 6 week check-up this week and was told that urge incontinence can occur after the op but would normally have diminished by now so have been put on some tablets for over-active bladder. Today is day 4 of taking them (they said it could take 1-2 weeks to kick in) but I have noticed a marked improvement today so am feeling much more upbeat!!!!

The joys of childbirth eh??? I thought I was lucky as had fairly easy births but just goes to show that the damage was done anyway!!!!

hi there
i am thinking maybe you should perhaps get your tummy checked if it is swollen, i hadn't heard that as one of the side effects? of course everyone reacts and recovers to surgery differently... i would say i felt 100% by probably day 10.... now its been over two weeks and i feel absolutely fine, no problems at all.... i am not lifting my son, which is hard, and i am desperate to start exercise as i have put on weight from the two kids and being so inactive, but i am mindful not to do anything too soon as the last thing i want is to jeopardise my results...

i too was classed as incredibly severe, i couldn't even stand without pretty much completely emptying my bladder, it was horrendous to live with, just awful.... i couldn't walk, had to wear massive pads every day and there wasn't a movement no matter how small that i didn't 'pre-think' and know that i would be leaking the whole time.... i never want to return to that...

i'd say my op has been a great success, i have sneezed several times and NO LEAKS!! i just wear a slim panty liner each day, and only use one.... i have a few drips etc but nothing major and i can totally deal with it.... i think its with bending over and standing up again perhaps?? not sure?

the urge incontinence is getting better, i am not leaving it so long to go to the toilet, trying to remember to go every 2 hours or so instead of leaving it to 3 or 4 (if i have been sitting at work for example), then when i stand i am busting... i don't have a huge sensation of when i need to pee, which makes this difficult.

one thing i have noticed which is slightly upsetting, but still a massive improvement on my original condition so i am not losing too much sleep over, is i seem to be having bladder spasms in my sleep.... even though i can sneeze and cough and not leak, i am leaking in my sleep.... i sometimes have a few secons of waking and feeling like i have momentarily let my bladder go, i presume these are bladder spasms, anyways i am not too worried and will bring it up at my six week check, maybe the overactive bladder tablets will help fix it.

sorry i have waffled on.... i hope you are getting on better now and improving... hang in there and if there is anything truely worrying you it doesn't hurt to get it checked out. it sounds as though our conditions were similar in severity, and i think if you recover well and have results even similar to mine you will be happy with the surgery. i feel i am almost back to leading a normal life (besides not over-exerting myself) although i now realise i will have these issues for the rest of my life.... i suppose i thought maybe the surgery would fix everything and i would be back to normal, but i realise now that will never happen, i am always going to have little accidents now and then caused by the urgency, or have issues at overnight maybe, and thats probably a life sentence, but its a hell of a lot better than not being able to walk without wetting myself.

at least during the day i will be able to be active and know i am pretty safe. i feel like i can't ask much more than that, and i am also happy with that result.

please write back and let us know how you are getting on. i also suffer extreme embarassment at 30 years old i have had to deal with this, and as a result haven't told many people. the people i have told don't exactly bring it up, so i literally do not speak about it to anyone, except here! hence the essay of a response, sorry.

Thank you ladies for your comments. I am now two weeks post op and feeling much better in myself. My stomach. Is no longer swollen and I can fit into my jeans again. I think i may have out in a couple of pounds due to being inactive for a couple of weeks though! Do you work if so how long did you have off work. My surgeon said could go back to work after three weeks if sedentary job but ideally after six weeks. I am a legal executive and my surgeon said I shouldn't lift any files until six weeks post op which would make going back to work a bit Tricky but i am getting v bored and lonely at home. When did you return to driving I am nervous about trying to drive again my surgeon said should be able to drive at two to four weeks post op. I am finding it hard to get comfortable when sleeping and a bit of discomfort when walking but generally much better and energy levels are returning slowly. I think the operation has been a success so far I can cough and sneeze without a leak! I am concerned as to how the op will affect me in future surgeon said no jogging, aerobics, lifting furniture or
heavy gardening.

Hi
I have just found this thread. Has anyone had any recent experience of a TVT operation. I had one nine weeks ago. I've been jogging once and leaked (badly), but I think - fingers' crossed - that usually when I cough/sneeze it is ok (may be a couple of drops). Just wondered how everyone else found it after the op, and whether what I'm going through is normal?

Link to the other thread in case you haven't found it

lots of people (incl me) who have had it and lots of blow by blow details

only read if you are happy with TMI...!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1205782-New-thread-for-those-having-had-posterior-or-anterior-repairs-TVT-rectocele-and-all-the-other-down-below-stitchups/AllOnOnePage

Hi,
I am 33 years old with traumatic forceps delivery. I have only 1 child. After my delivery I had lost complete bladder co trolley. Over time I jave regained back the bladder control but still experience I continence everyday. I am.tired of this and wanting to hear some successful stories of people who jave experienced this and how have you got cured. Any surgery/non surgery success stories please.

Sorry I meant lost complete bladder control