Any Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery success stories?

[littlecabbage]

I have a grade II cystocoele and a grade I rectocoele (following instrumental delivery during childbirth). I am going to see my GP soon to ask for referral to a women’s healh physio to help with my symptoms, but have been told I will need surgery at some point.

It’s very easy to find negative stories about surgical repairs breaking down, and how they become more and more difficult to repair each time, but I am hoping this is just because women are more likely to post when things have gone wrong and it is on their mind more.

Has anyone had surgery to improve/resolve POP and had (so far) a good outcome? How long ago did you have the surgery? How old were you? What type/grade of prolapse(s) did you have beforehand? Did you do pelvic floor physio before and/or after, and did that help? Do you do any high impact exercise now, or is that too risky? Are your symptoms completely resolved, or just improved?

Thanks for any info you are able to share.

Hi alidew, I think I recognise your username. Did you post on this thread earlier, or do I just recognise it from another thread? Thanks for sharing your positive surgery story, that is really good to hear. Do you mind me asking exactly what was done during the surgery? It seems there are many different types.

I’m surprised you are back at the gym already (not saying that is wrong, just thought recovery would be longer). What advice have you been given for what exercise you can do, or any other lifestyle restrictions long term?

Glad to hear you are doing physio post surgery. Presume that increases the chances of long term success?

multiplemum3, that all sounds tough. I’m glad you’re seeing a gynaecologist soon. Can you take someone with you as an advocate to help you fight your corner if necessary? A trusted friend/partner/your mum? Your’re right, you shouldn’t have to live like this. I’m sure there is surgery that can be done for you - you may have to push hard to find it though. Please stay on this thread for support .

WhereDoWeGo, I’m so sorry to read about your problems here and on the other thread. I can understand why you are feeling so down about it. It sounds as though you haven’t had your diagnosis/ses fully explained to you - is that right? And the attitude of that colorectal surgeon really pisses me off. What a patronising, uncaring bastard.

I’ve been trying to read a lot about prolapses etc on the internet and I really think there are surgeons out there who (a) care and (b) do a good job of properly assessing and repairing women. Can you push your GP to refer you elsewhere for a proper assessment by a different surgeon? And if your GP isn’t helpful, try changing GPs?

The APOPS facebook group mentioned in my other post on this page may be useful, but like I say, it sounds like you might need more information about what is actually causing the double incontinence. Please keep pushing to be treated properly, you deserve better than this. for you too.

WhereDoWeGo, I don’t know the answer to that I’m afraid. Maybe you should be seeing someone else? I have been looking at a document for you by The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, called “The Management of Third- and Fourth-degree Perineal Tears” (link here: www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gtg-29.pdf) and it says that women with ongoing symptoms should be referred either to a colorectal surgeon, OR a specialist gynaecologist.

So maybe you need to see a gynaecologist? Or maybe just a colorectal surgeon with a better attitude? Please think about changing GP practices if yours is not being sympathetic enough. It may make all the difference to you to find a supportive GP. And you really SHOULD be able to request a female GP.

I have also found a Facebook group which seems more appropriate for you - the UK Birth Trauma Association. Apparently the most common problem on there is perineal tears. I know you said you aren’t on FB but is it worth joining just to be able to access this? You could register under a false name if you are worried about privacy issues? There may be lots of women there who know a lot more about this than I do.

www.facebook.com/groups/TheBTA/

WhereDoWeGo I'm pretty sure you have the right to request a second opinion, and so have the right to be referred to someone other than the unhelpful colorectal surgeon? Like I said though, it may take a change of GP.

I'm okay thanks. How much I feel my prolapse varies a lot at the moment. I think it's because I'm still breastfeeding. I went to GP to get oestrogen pessaries as recommended by Verbena87 on this thread, and started them two weeks ago. No real change yet but I'm assuming it takes a while.

Also started a Pilates class last week, run by a Women's Health physio. I've told her about my issues so that she can advise me to adapt certain exercises. She seems really nice. Other than that, it's just pelvic floor exercises four times a day.

Planning to stop BFing around July time, so will see what happens in the following months.

Please do let us know how you get on with everything.

Hi everyone, I have asked MN to move this thread to Women’s Health now, so that people searching for help on this topic in future can find us a bit more easily (I had originally put it in AIBU for the high traffic).

New on this thread.
I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself

I think I have developed a bladder prolapse over the last week.

Gave birth vaginally to 9lb DD with a 98th percentile head circumference 14 months ago. Only had a tiny grade 2 tear and had a really good post partum recovery, even doing some running last summer with no issues (just didn't really stick with it... Too busy/too lazy).

The last 10 days we have had a really nasty cold sweep through the family, the cold came with a really bad chesty cough, and I think all the coughing has resulted in a bladder prolapse (not sure how bad). I'm feeling really angry with myself as I was a bit complacent and didn't really work at my pelvic floor exercises.

Also I have a copper iud fitted, had it for about 8 months, had my first period since pregnancy 2 weeks ago (still breastfeeding, it's been wonderful being period free so long), and when I checked a few days after my period the IUD has dropped down (I can feel the plastic stem rather than the threads), but by the time I checked it I had the cough, so don't know whether the expulsion is related to the cough or my period.

Add to that I am home alone all week with DD and ddog and utterly exhausted trying to keep them entertained rather than being able to rest, and I just need a break.

Does anyone have any experience of hypopressive exercises, I am in the fortunate position to have a private specialist physio locally, but I have only returned to work part time so money is tighter. Is it worth getting gp referral, waiting list then NHS physio, or am I best off just sucking up the cost and going private straight away (ie as soon as this damn cold has gone)?

Hi Cyw2018 and welcome. I've just seen your post. Sorry to hear of your issues. I am about to start the crazy morning routine but will answer you properly later today.

Cyw2018

Hiya, I have a bit of free time finally! As you suggest, it sounds like your cough has caused the prolapse to become apparent (it was probably already there though but just not symptomatic). I know how devastating it feels when you first realise what's going on though.

Tbh, if money is tight, I would see what the waiting list is like for an NHS physio first. I hadn't heard of hypopressive exercises and have had a bit of a google today, and it generally seems there is a lack of decent evidence for them being any better than pelvic floor exercises. I think NHS physios can vary but they can at least get you started. I think I have reached the limit of what mine can offer now and have been talking to a private one who seems to have more knowledge. But some people on here have been really pleased with their NHS physios.

You ought to see a urogynaecologist as well for proper assessment and grading but I don't see why you can't be referred to both at the same time.

In the meantime, download the NHS app Squeezy and read the info on exactly what to do, then build up to 4 times daily of the three types of kegal - a set of 10 strong ones which are held for 10 seconds, a set of 10 quick strong ones, then a sustained one at 50% contraction strength. Don't expect to feel improvement till at least a few weeks later. Don't give up!

Also, get plenty of sleep, don't lift anything heavy (or if you must e.g. your child, squeeze and lift your pelvic floor before and during the lift. No high impact exercise. Drink plenty of fluids.

That's all I can think of for now but stick around this thread if it helps.

Hi
I had a hysterectomy in March to help with my double prolapse and other issues, at 6 weeks post op things looked fine but now it seems I have a slight Cystocele. Have been doing my PFE via Squeezy App but now looking into a "fanny zapper" - has anyone used a specific brand that they could recommend.
I am also doing Pilates once a week to try and help with core strength.

Try the kegel 8 website. I use one every week day, have cystocele and rectocele and whilst it doesn't make it better, it's not making it worse either! I'd totally recommend them!

Hi all, sorry not reading the whole thread but I was wondering if anyone has mentioned the Emsella chair yet. If they haven't, it's a chair that you sit on fully clothed whilst it zaps a current into your pelvic floor and makes it tighten, a bit like a kegel8. One 28 minute session is equivalent to 11,000 pelvic floors and I have recently had 7 sessions. My pelvic floor feels much better and I am now able to contract it whilst I am stood up, which I couldn't do before. And I can now sneeze without worry. There are 5 chairs in the UK, and you can have up to a grade 3 prolapse. Apparently these chairs are everywhere in the USA and in Australia they are in GP surgeries. It's not cheap (£250 a session) but most places offer the first one free. They claim to have a 95% success rate in curing/improving incontinence. But they are really new over here, (the lady I saw had only been in business 2 weeks) and physios and GPs don't seem to know about them yet. Anyway, I just wanted to say that this really helped me, and I hope my post helps someone else.

Had a grade 2 cystocele. Grade 2 uterocele and grade 1 rectocele after an instrumental delivery. I had it repaired initially after failed physio. Surgery lasted a year.
Had second son via c section to try and stop it happening again. However it did regardless of the delivery.

Couldnt keep rings in and became incontinent. Uterus fell out again. So I had to have a hysterectomy at 30.

3 years on that also has failed. I'm now incontinent again and grade 2 cystocele and 1 rectocele....

Not massive I hear you say... However no pelvic control whatsoever! Have been waiting now nearly 2 years for a colproburch suspension as tvt has been banned. Still no surgery date! Whole thing is a nightmare. Sorry

Hi onetiredmum

Sorry to hear that - sounds very tough. Are you on the APOPS facebook group? It’s very supportive. Are you doing pelvic floor exercises still? I know they won’t fix the problem, but do they reduce symptoms at all? I really do feel for you, it’s shit what childbirth does to some women

@littlecabbage ...I’m a prolapsed vet! Where are you? Am recently pp with second and my bits have disintegrated...

Oh no! Sorry to hear you've joined our sorry group

What kind of disintegration do you have?

Grade 2 cystocele, grade 3 rectocele, urethrocele, slight uterine descent.

Ah, sorry to hear that. How are you getting on? Who have you seen? Do you have a plan of action?

I have a cube pessary and am doing physio and have seen a urogynae doctor a couple of times. Conservative management for now and see where I'm at 1yr pp. Uncertain about surgery as some degree of levator damage r side (arm by face birth of second) and strong family hx/possible connective tissue etc. However, rectocele repairs aren't apparently as affected by avulsion, different surgeons have very different 10yr success rates which is worth considering and my anterior prolapse is more minor and my uterus relatively normal in position... We'll see. Are you in practice? We own a practice bought with the idea that we'd both run it together and I'm terrified POP will mess with my job - I don't want to do some boring desk job, I love being a vet :(

All sounds like you’re getting the right advice. My damage was mostly caused by the birth of my first child, didn’t seem to worsen at all with births 2 and 3, but my 4th was an arm-by-face one, and made things slightly worse than previously.

It sounds crazy doesn’t it that I decided to have 3 more kids after the first trauma, but I had seen a urogyn at that point who just casually said that it would be fixed with surgery once I’d completed my family. Didn’t advise me about the high relapse rates, didn’t refer me to physio, etc etc. I only discovered this stuff after my 4th 🙁. Anyway, I don’t regret them of course!

I’m not working at the mo. Various factors both at work and in my personal life led me to decide to take a break from working for a bit. Will return to work within next few years, but perhaps not vetting.....

I have a urogyn appt (different one to the previous one) in 2 months and still waiting for a pessary assessment.

I had corrective surgery last year for bladder prolapse, am so glad I did. It healed as expected although it affected my sex life in ways which I didn't anticipate but even that's much better 8 months on. I got uti on a near weekly basis, have not had one since surgery. I can go on a trampoline now without fear 😂 I bought the innovo thing as well to help me with my pelvic floor exercises which was ineffective beforehand but has made a difference post surgery.

did you ever see anyone about this? How did you get on?

Hi K0714879

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