Anyone had a posterior prolapse repair?

[Honeysucklelane]

Sorry if TMI. I’ve had this issue for over two years. Was offered physio therapy first which didn’t make any difference, and sachets to help loosen stools.

I then asked to be refered to see a specialist who said it wasn’t that bad but they would discuss surgery. I was called by someone who asked loads of questions before they discussed whether I can get it repaired.

The person I spoke to went on about how it’s a massively painful recovery and how the pain is really significant compared to what they actually do. I am now on the waiting list, which I’ve been on at least 4 months so far, maybe longer.

Has anyone had this operation done? I’m having to use suppositories regularly and I’m really uncomfortable if stools are ‘stuck’ or backed up.

(Chose post-natal health as I couldn’t find health as a topic, 14 years post-natal though!)

I haven’t had a repair but watching with interest as I also have a rectocele and I just feel like symptoms are getting worse and worse. My doctor hasn’t even offered me physical therapy just the sachets which I have found cause their own problems.
I now find dealing with a period a problem as I can’t use tampons and I hate pads.
going to the toilet is a problem for the same reason as you.
my pelvis has started to ache constantly, bending down or crouching down kills me.
and I’m just starting to find sex uncomfortable when that hasn’t bothered me until now.
So, I’m really interested in a repair and trying to pluck up to courage to go to GP and be a bit assertive about seeing a specialist.

Sorry to hear this. Do go to your GP and ask for a referral. I suffer with back pain every morning when I wake up, it eases after a while once I get up. It’s driving me mad as I wake up every day uncomfortable and there’s no way I could have a lie in. I believe it’s potentially linked as it started as the rectocele worsened in a similar time frame and I’ve tried different pillows and beds.

The lady who spoke to me seemed to be trying to put me off it by going on about how painful the op is.

I wonder if the lady you spoke to has had the operation. I have similar after 3rd degree tearing 14 years ago and like you have just put up with it to some extent. I can't see how the repair could be any more painful than the original injury and that was tolerable. Also this time you won't have a screaming newborn sapping the life out of you while you recover. I like the way that they always say do pelvic floor exercises....well the bit they actually stitched back together works fine but no amount of squeezing is going to force muscle that wasn't rejoined get any tighter.

I was fine for years after having kids. The rectocele has become a problem in the last 2 years, probably even 4 years. I’ve lost track of time post lockdowns!

I think everything’s just weakened down there, I’ve always been prone to having bowel problems, if I eat too much bread products I can struggle to poo. That’s probably put a strain on it as well as pregnancy and childbirth.

I looked into this. I have a mild prolapse that at the moment only causes bother when I get constipated (which happens annoyingly easily because of a genetic disease I was born with). It seems they like to leave it until it's causing daily issues with bowel movements and severe change to quality of life before they do surgery because a) it can go wrong and make things worse or b) achieve nothing at all and yet still have a long and painful recovery.

I'm only in my 40s but hoping by some miracle I can avoid it

I had a successful repair and it changed my life. The recovery was horrendous but absolutely worth it long-term.

Hello ive had the repair and yes there was a recovery period but it wasnt especially painful and i wasnt ever told to expect severe pain . The bigger issue for me was looking after two kids when i wasnt allowed to lift.

I was told the success rate is not that great for bowel issues, and i still have issues- though better now due to a combination of lifestyle changes and the op.

I would recommend trying physio, diet and exercise first as you may not get a huge improvement from surgery. Theres also a device you can get- i can’t remember the name but i just looked on line and there is something called “femmeze” which is similar- I was recommended it by the physio (but didnt get it as my symptoms are not that bad)

Will PM you.

I have. I had the surgery 9 years ago when I was in my early thirties. I have since had another baby (via C section) and the repairs held up despite the pregnancy too which I was told would probably cause it to fail.
Its actually quite hard to remember the surgery now as it was a while ago but I was told to take 6 weeks off work for recovery, which I did, but I remember feeling like I could have definitely gone back to my office based role within maybe 3 weeks, definitely felt fine after 4 weeks. I took codeine for a few weeks as pain relief and I do remember it was obviously painful but it had been built up to be the worst pain ever, that it really wasn’t as bad as I had expected it to be. Going to the toilet was a bit stressful afterwards for a bit but the whole thing was worth it for me.

My rectocele was caused by my first pregnancy/labour and I didnt/don’t feel like everything is exactly as it was before this, but much much better since the surgery as the symptoms improved very significantly.

Yes ive had it, and front as well. Was life changing, definitely recommend it.