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.

I'm obviously no expert, but suspect your long term prognosis may be better than if you had a prolapse.

(As maybe your pelvic floor muscles are not damaged)

I agree I think a cyst sounds preferable long term to a prolapse so touch wood that’s how it works out gingrrbread
Good luck with first appts - the physio should ask for a history and do an internal. From my experience they won’t commit to an improvement level until you have a couple of appts and they see what kind of muscle improvement you can produce. My physio is rapidly becoming one of my favourite people, as is my Pilates instructor!

Something I have come to realise is all the literature online says that prolapses don’t heal etc and you are better off never running again. However all the experts say some ridiculous % of women have them post birth and most don’t know. I assume many of these recover and go on to exercise normally. So it might not be half as bad as the literature seems to say if you’re not that badly off. I am confident now I’ll be able to run again and it’s only 3m
Post partum.

I had surgery 4 years ago for similar damage in similar circs. I was, honestly, terrified as recovery from the birth itself was traumatic enough. HOWEVER, recovery from surgery was way way more straightforward and I now have the fresh nethers of a virgin, with no problems whatsoever. I never pee myself (if you don’t count the one inadvisable trip to the trampoline park ), sex is absolutely grand and I feel whole again. It’s not necessarily a super fun process but not as bad as I feared and so so so so worth it!

@timeisnotaline, I don’t think they recover as such, I think some women have unite minor prolapses without symptoms, and so carry on running etc without issues. Or maybe they run for years with a minor prolapse and only realise they have one when it gets worse.

Before my surgery, I didn’t realise I had a rectocele - I’d actually gone to the the gynaecologist for another issue. And now I have plenty of days with no or minor symptoms, so I can easily seem me writing it off os a bit of discomfort and running etc.

It’s a funny thing the ‘most post partum women have some degree of prolapse’ bit. I do sometimes think how weird it is that both my breasts and my pelvic organs have totally changed in size, shape, texture and saggy/bagginess, and the fact they bounce when I bounce, but I feel so different - I like my boobs and don’t feel like a failure for needing a bra, but my prolapse can still make me cry. Do wonder how much is physical and how much is about one being pathologised as a problem and the other being seen a normal body change.

Yes, running is bad for my prolapse, probably. But it stops me getting so anxious/depressed I can’t work, is good for my heart and lungs and legs etc as well. For now that seems worth the risk.

@Verbena87 I completely agree re the running (I am a runner too)
When I was under the physio team for my 'prolapse' which turned out to be probably my all caused by a large cyst, they were never discouraging of my running at all.
They said on balance it was better to keep running than stop completely and risk mental health and weight gain which I was pleasantly surprised about. They said they weren't there to put restrictions on women with pelvic floor problems. They did mention running downhill slower and also shortening my stride to help protect the prolapse but definitely weren't in the business of putting a stop to it. My Consultant fully supported it too.

gingerbread yes I’ve got a supportive consultant and nurse as well. It’s a balancing act isn’t it? Hope you get on ok with your surgery.

My damage was done after my first birth, but I don't feel like it got any worse after births 2 and 3, despite doing some running, heavy lifting, aerobics, trampolining etc, and no pelvic physio whatsoever, not even kegels! (I hadn't been advised re any of this).

And at first I though my recent 4th birth had worsened things, but it feels a bit better again now, so I'm hoping it was just hormones fluctuating. So I agree that running doesn't seem to worsen things, at least not in my case.

But have read some cases where these actions seem to have contributed to surgical repairs breaking down, so maybe it is different if you've had surgery?

@Mamabem That is very encouraging. Wow, fresh nethers of a virgin eh? Something for the rest of us to aspire to

Pondering further... the fact that apparently 50% of women who had a vaginal delivery have mild prolapse but many can't feel it.... do these women merrily go out running etc for years, but not doing any pelvic floor training to counteract it, then suddenly menopause hits and things worsen?

littlecabbage yes to all that, I think. I’m a couple of weeks into topical estrogen and I do think things are a bit better as a result, so guess menopause could be the point where it all goes south (as like breastfeeding your body is low on oestrogen).

On an unrelated note, hope sleep is getting easier. I’ve just convinced my 1 year old to go to sleep after 2 whole hours of feeding/rolling about/trying to climb out of the cot/crying/trying to take his nappy off. I’m going to go and eat icecream!!

Don't blame you! Sleep a bit better again thanks, but who knows for how long 🤔

Some good points to the running theories!
Re those evb shorts verbena how did the fitting go? I’ve emailed them given lm 12 weeks pp and the waist measure is going to go down. They aren’t that much use if they only fit for a couple of months.

Yes, it could be menopause related. I think I'm entering the perimenopause (I'm 40) and it's definitely got worse recently. I think running and heavy lifting is something that some surgeons advise to avoid post-surgery, but others do not. I wasn't told to avoid anything after the first six months or so, but my recent issues started up after a week of lifting and carrying my preschooler when DP was away.

time I didn’t get mine til I was probably 6 months post partum or so, so just went for my normal pre pregnancy size. they’re compression so you have to do a very unsexy dance to get your hips and arse into them, so I think if I had a size up they might still be ok.

I will just get the current size one then. They have offered 10% off if I get both sizes and I’m tempted! I’m
planning more babies so both the larger and my usual size should come in handy again...

Oooh if they’re offering money off I’d maybe get shorts and longs for when it gets chilly as I think them and leggings might be a bit much. I half considered saving for some of the leggings running in the rain yesterday!

Timely for me come across this thread.

Just this morning I deferred my prolapse repair and Novasure op, due in 2 weeks, to January citing DH can't get time off work as a reason. Reason being I'm pretty scared of having it having read lots of negative stories. Consultant said he will do a hysterectomy during the op if he thinks it necessary - bulky uterus and I want rid of my monthly bloodbath! This the 2nd time I've wimped out .

At the mo, I can jump up and down 20 times in a row before any leakage, I can feel it for a day or two if I carry anything really heavy, feel it during my period and have a bit of tummy pain after a strenuous session of relations with DH but it's not toooo bad. I keep thinking the risks of dying (over dramatic much), post op complications or worsening symptoms don't justify the amount discomfort it's giving me. I know it will only get worse so reading this it's probably a good thing to put it off until it's much worse? I'm 47. Can't keep tampons in which is a pita.

I believe mine was due to two back to back pregnancies (10 months between births) with the 2nd one being pretty hefty twins delivered by c-section. Didn't really notice though until after my last pregnancy which was a VBAC - nearly 10lb DS delivered in two hours start to finish.

I do weight train and notice I feel it more after stomach crunches so need to rethink those!

I am not sure what method was going to be used but the consultant said he does not not use mesh.

In two minds about it all. I want to feel, ahem, secure but are the potential negatives worth it at the moment.

Up to you madmum but I’m finding conservative management definitely good enough at the moment. Good luck deciding.

@MadMum101 Are you seeing a pelvic physio? Sounds like that should be explored before any surgery.

Anyone considering EVB sportswear, I have the briefs, shorts and leggings and found them great.
If you only choose one I'd consider the briefs to wear under running leggings, or the running leggings - they make your legs look really slim too!
The shorts I find quite unflattering though I do wear them in the summer. They look a bit like cycling shorts and I find them a funny length. I far prefer wearing the briefs under my Nike running shorts.

Had a grade 2 cystocele. Grade 2 uterocele and a grade 1 rectocele at age 25 froma forceps delivery.

Tried physio and pessaries but they kept falling out!!!😳😳😳

Had my 1st repair done 9 months later.

Fell pregnant with my second and although they advised me to have a section, it still prolapsed possibly due to the weight?!

Had a second repair done (with a total hysterectomy) at age 30.

Omg i felt utterly amazing after!! I also got the surgeon to sort my labia out. I said look i really dont want any more surgery so please could you tidy it up.... and he did!! He was amazing!

Anyway 9 years on, again it is slightly prolapsed. I have been offered surgery to lift with mesh or without. However the horror storiesof the mesh scare me more with all the law suits in america goingon!

Anyway im having physio at the moment and highly likely i will need further surgery at some point.

Would i have it done again? Definately!

Would i recommend this surgery? Definately!!

@gingerbread88 are the shorts much longer than the briefs then? They only look a couple of inches longer, still the shirt bike shorts category you can wear running shorts over.
I don’t want leggings as I’m aistralian and considering moving back there which means leggings will be too warm if it’s the wrong season when I can always wear leggings or tracksuit pants over them.

@madmum101 if I were in your shoes and hadn’t explored physio, Pilates and a pessary I would definitely do those first with your symptoms. But only you can say how that level of symptoms affects your quality of life.

time the shorts are unflattering but I figured when I’m running I’m already red, sweaty and muddy so don’t give a toss (also could only find the briefs in a fetching shade of NHS-orthopaedic-truss beige and I just couldn’t quite go there.)