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Women's health

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Prolapse again after hysterectomy and repair :-( TMI

60 replies

Holycrappamoly · 31/07/2018 22:07

Anyone else had more than one repair?

Had vaginal hysterectomy and anterior repair 2 years ago, but now waiting to find out what damage I've done, lifting more than I knew I was capable of. Feeling such an idiot.

Not sure it's that huge a prolapse, it's not even affecting my ability to wee (yet!) but it's currently enough to ruin my sex life, just when I thought I was ready to go out dating again and look for a new relationship. Beyond gutted.

This is the TMI bit - I'm alarmed and slightly freaked out that it appears to have affected my clitoris. I love my clitoris! But now it just hurts inside and out. I'm so sad.

This happen to anyone else? Feeling like I can't justify surgery just for my non-existant sex life.

Sad
OP posts:
userxx · 02/08/2018 22:32

Does falling out tampon sensation mean prolapse?

littlecabbage · 03/08/2018 09:35

I've just bought the Kegel8 but can't review it yet as not started using it.

Userxx - I would think it definitely indicates weakened vaginal walls, and that tends to go hand in hand with a prolapse. Can you feel a "bulge" inside your vag?

Verbena87 · 03/08/2018 09:58

userxx not necessarily- I’ve got a friend who had that post partum but doesn’t have a prolapse. I had it and I do. Do you have other symptoms? A bulge? Where’s your cervix?

littlecabbage · 03/08/2018 12:15

Holycrappamoly

I have no personal experience but have read that using a fanny zapper helps to get pelvic floor in best possible shape for repair, and helps to keep it strong after and reduce risk of breakdown.

Holycrappamoly · 04/08/2018 15:36

Thanks littlecabbage and Verbena

Fanny zapper of some description is on my shopping list Smile

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Verbena87 · 04/08/2018 16:34

holy good luck! Really has helped me (am also doing 4 sets of 10 long and 10 short kegels a day using nhs Squeezy app, as the nurse is keen to help me get back to running so we’re throwing everything at it to try and do as much as possible with the muscles, as I’m hoping for another baby one day so surgery is out for the time being)

littlecabbage · 04/08/2018 19:58

I was diagnosed with Grade II cystocoele and Grade I rectocoele in 2011, after the birth of my first child. I was told I would need surgery after completing my family but not told anything about women’s health physios, fanny zappers, or success rates of surgery. Wish I’d researched it more back then.

I’ve just completed my family (have a 5 week old baby) and so have been researching it all now (esp as cystocoele initially felt a bit more pronounced, but improving now). Am going to ask GP for referral to specialist physio and see where that takes me. Will also use my Kegel 8 from about 6 w PP.

Verbena87 · 04/08/2018 21:09

@littlecabbage congratulations on your new baby! Do you mind me asking whether you had a vaginal delivery or a c-section and whether the decision was anything to do with your prolapse? Sounds like our diagnoses are similar and I’m hoping to be in your shoes re another child and a not-too-much-worse cystocele! No worries if you’d rather not share though.

I started postnatal Pilates at 8 weeks pp and it’s been amazing for my back, plus gynae and specialist nurse are both sure it’s helping my pelvic floor as it works it in the context of whole body movements (whereas kegels do it in isolation). Make sure it’s taught by someone who knows about post-partum women/ prolapse though as some exercises need to be modified.

littlecabbage · 05/08/2018 21:15

@Verbena87
Thanks! I don't mind sharing at all. It sounds naive now considering what I've read recently, but I hadn't really made any decisions based on whether my condition would worsen at all. This is because the consultant I saw after my first birth gave the impression that I would have surgery once family complete, and job done - fixed!

It's only now that my family IS complete that I have started reading up on it and discovered that (a) surgery can be unsuccessful or may need re-doing, and (b) that I probably should have seen a specialist physio back then, and been doing all sorts of things to maintain my pelvic floor!

My first birth was vaginal, but I had to be induced (because my waters broke at 35w but I didn't go into labour). The contractions began so suddenly and intensely that I just couldn't cope, and had an epidural. So then ended up on my back for the rest of the labour and having an instrumental delivery (forceps) with episiotomy - all things which I now know are associated with pelvic floor damage Sad. A few weeks after the birth, I noticed some urinary incontinence, and a dragging feeling down below, so was referred to the consultant.

I had actually been doing pelvic floor exercises religiously during my pregnancy, and found that it just felt as though there was less muscle there to tense afterwards. However, I continued the exercises for 3 months post partum but felt they made little difference to the incontinence/prolapse, so I kind of gave up after that, thinking "Well, surgery will fix me". Hmm Have been doing high impact exercise/running/lifting heavy weights ever since - oops.

After that, I had two further vaginal births - both a lot more natural - no epidural, no instruments, and upright position. I didn't feel that the pelvic floor situation had worsened at all with either of these, despite doing no PVEs whatsoever. Even the incontinence pretty much resolved.

My recent (4th) vaginal birth was a little trickier, in that baby came out with arm up by head (think Superman), so the pushing stage felt harder and more painful than previously. About 3 weeks PP I felt as though the prolapse (bladder one - I can't feel the rectal one) was worse and a bit sore, and have noticed some mild incontinence.

However I have been doing the NHS Squeezy app 3 times a day and things feel much better - pretty much back to how I was before 4th birth. I have read that breastfeeding hormones worsen symptoms for a while and that it tends to occur a few weeks PP, so I hope that is why things felt worse, and that they will improve when I finish bf.

It's good to hear your experiences. I really want to do postnatal Pilates as my back feels weak as well but will wait to see if GP or specialist physio can recommend one for pelvic floor issues. I would also like surgery one day and be totally "fixed" if that is possible. Always hoped I'd run the London marathon one day! Maybe will have to wait until techniques have improved and chances of complete success are higher? Maybe need to research which surgeons are best?

Anyway, I hope my story of little/no worsening of symptoms despite total lack of consideration/care for pelvic floor, gives you some hope! Did you have an instrumental delivery by any chance?

Verbena87 · 05/08/2018 21:48

@littlecabbage that’s all so good to hear; you’ve made my evening Grin

Good luck with managing it all going forward. Will report back on pessary and running when I get hold of one if you think it might be useful? I feel like I’ve got a marathon in my legs somewhere as well (have done a half over the Welsh mountains pre baby and it’s an amazing feeling!); fingers crossed we’ll both get there one day AND cross the finish line with all our organs inside our bodies Wink

Honestly, so glad to hear your subsequent births and actually-doing-proper-exercise didn’t totally exacerbate things. It’s made me feel loads calmer and more hopeful.

Verbena87 · 05/08/2018 21:49

And yep, forceps delivery of back-to-back 10lb9oz baby through my size 6 hips here! So really, I’m probably doing well that the whole lot doesn’t just dangle out Blush

littlecabbage · 05/08/2018 22:37

Ah, glad to be of help! Yes do report back re pessary, will be interesting to see how you get on. It's so comforting to speak to others in the same boat. None of my RL friends seem to have these issues.

Holycrappamoly · 07/08/2018 08:08

Size 6 hips and 10lb baby - sheesh Verbena, you are doing really well!

Littlecabbage your story is very encouraging to read. I've never met another who gave birth to a superman baby! You are not alone! Passing head and shoulder together is pretty huge (my DS has a flipping big head too! Adult size hats from age 6 Shock ). My second got stuck after head was out for the longest 5 minutes of my life! Luckily no forceps, although Episiotomy and cystocele both times and uterine prolapse which worsened over time, until it basically fell out. Heavy lifting again. I too didn't really realise the long term implications or I'd have been a lot more careful. There's no telling some people Grin

OP posts:
Verbena87 · 07/08/2018 08:15

holy rubbish that your womb basically fell out, that must have been miserable and scary. Feeling glad that at least my little chunk kept his arms by his sides!

littlecabbage my RL friends all seem to be fully recovered now as well, which is tough as I end up feeling lonely and a bit envious.

Thank goodness for the kindness of Internet strangers and for not feeling so alone.

Toofle · 07/08/2018 09:25

I had a rectocele repair 7 years ago and it hasn't failed so far. I also have a cystocele but was told there's not enough tissue left to repair it.
Sorry this thread was necessary but thanks for starting it, OP. It's made me think again about lifting things I know are too heavy.

Holycrappamoly · 07/08/2018 13:16

You're welcome Toofle and yes be careful with that cystocele. It's so hard to say how much is too much lifting isn't it? We're all different, plus you can get different advice! The physio told me due to the nature of the repair (not sure if she meant mine specifically or in general) no heavy lifting, high impact stuff or sit ups etc ever again. But then a GP and others have said never say never, just be careful and build up slow. So goodness knows! Scan tomorrow, finger's crossed results will be quick.

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littlecabbage · 07/08/2018 14:32

Good luck for tomorrow @Holycrappamoly

Holycrappamoly · 07/08/2018 17:10

Thanks littlecabbage Smile

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Verbena87 · 08/08/2018 16:36

Hope you got on ok today holycrappamoly

Holycrappamoly · 09/08/2018 10:48

All healthy! Smile

PHEW.

Think I just learnt something about limits.

It has all been feeling a little better just these last few days but didn't want to get my hopes up. Last time I went in thinking it's not that bad (lord knows why with it all half hanging out!) and came out looking at hysterectomy!

I just mustn't celebrate by going round heavy lifting just because I think I can!

OP posts:
Verbena87 · 09/08/2018 10:51

Ah wonderful news! GrinCakeWine

Holycrappamoly · 09/08/2018 11:00

Thank you! Smile

Here's hoping that with a bit more focussed physio plan and fanny zapper, I won't give myself such a scare in the future!

It's given me a right boost actually - now I kind of know it's all a bit stronger than I thought - thank goodness!

OP posts:
littlecabbage · 09/08/2018 11:42

Fantastic news! I'm so pleased for you. It also gives me hope for the future that surgery can be a long term option (i.e. can last a long time).

I was looking at the website for the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and it quotes 25-30% of women getting another prolapse at some point after surgery. But it doesn't say what percentage of these (a) have an underlying connective tissue disorder, and (b) didn't continue pelvic floor exercises after the surgery. I would like to hope that having no CT disorder and continuing PFEs has a better outcome statistically? Food for thought.

Btw, Holycrappamoly, my kids are in adult cycle helmets from age 5-6 also!

Verbena87 · 09/08/2018 13:32

littlecabbage that’s a good point about needing more information to make sense of success rates.

Really loving how hopeful and positive this thread has become: thanks for the support.

Holycrappamoly · 09/08/2018 15:55

Yes, thank you everyone who's posted Flowers and here's to all our bits staying where they should!

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