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.

They’d stick out of my 3” Nike shorts, but they’re mid thigh, not like knee length.

Hey fanny friends

Had my first pelvic physio sesh on Tuesday. Lovely woman, really put me at ease. Had to answer lots of questions about my symptoms, then had an internal exam (whilst we marvelled over the modern phenomenon of entirely shaved vulvas! [For the record, I have a neatly trimmed bush]).

She gave me lots of reassurance about how 10 weeks post partum is very early days, and said my pelvic floor strength was reasonable for this stage. But it doesn't kick in automatically when I cough, but hopefully this will return at some point.

She doesn't think I have levator ani avulsion (I specifically asked). She was quite positive about exercise in the future, including running, high impact stuff, but said it's a case of having a strong pelvic floor (by exercising it) and learning to use it to counteract damaging forces during exercise. She has okayed me to do postnatal pilates, so I'm starting a class tomorrow, yay!

She doesn't think a pelvic toner would benefit me (says that research shows PFEs done properly are just as effective) but could consider using it in the future if I find this more motivating than doing PFEs.

She found the left hand side of my deep pelvic floor muscles was too tense, and "stretched" it by digging her finger in my vaginal wall - ouch! Still a bit sore from that 2 days later.

So I have new and increased PFEs to do, and exercises to relax/stretch my PF also, and back again in 3 weeks. Overall, I'm feeling a lot more positive

YES!!! littlecabbage that all sounds amazing. I think they gave me the zapper because of nerve damage (it recruits bits of the muscle that my brain wasn’t able to talk to, and is meant to help encourage nerve regrowth), so definitely good for me but great to hear that kegels are just as good if you’re ok nerve wise.

Do you think you’ll still go for surgery or see what you can manage through physio first?

I ran for 20 minutes without stopping today and am elated!

Verbena87

Brilliant news on the running! It must be such a relief to get back to it. Sounds to me as though all our physios think running is acceptable with the right precautions. Makes sense about the fanny zapper too.

I definitely don't want surgery now, except as last resort. My physio said she has prolapses, worse than mine and will avoid surgery as much as poss. I asked if the menopause is likely to worsen things to the point of needing surgery, and she said not necessarily if I am vigilant with PFEs, doing "the knack", etc.

My nurse has prolapses too and is having a repair, but that’s after 25 years of conservative management.

The running is a total game-changer in terms of coming out of the fog of disappointment and feeling like I’m friends with my body again. Feel so much happier in my skin, and like I’m strong and resilient and proud rather than diluted and defective.

I'm so pleased for you. You should indeed feel proud. Your body carried and birthed a child, and although you sustained damage, you have picked yourself up and done the work to start making things better.

These are exciting updates! Fabulous re the running verbena. And very positive with the physio cabbages. It’s kind of reassuring that the physios have them too, I feel less like I should have known and worked harder on pf during pregnancy and I wouldn’t be here ... although I really think it’s the weeks of hay fever before and after the birth that did it.
My physio said the same about retraining the reflexes to contract before coughing sneezing etc. Breathing practice really helps , to have a breath out, contract pf up and abdomen in .

timeisnotaline

I did PFEs religiously every day during my first pregnancy, and still ended up with prolapses. It was the prolonged pushing stage and then forceps delivery that did it.

time I also did my PFEs every day during my pregnancy and restarted them as soon as the community midwife advised (within a week of giving birth). I cried in my first appointment with the urogynaecologist because I thought maybe if I hadn’t run a bit/used a sling after birth it wouldn’t have happened. He laughed (in a kind way) and said it was nothing to do with being my fault, and everything to do with my labour (2 hours of pushing, forceps, back-to-back 10lb9oz baby who got distressed so was delivered as quickly as possible once forceps were sorted so he could have oxygen). He did also say it would likely be much worse had I not been so on it with PFE and that he was really impressed I’d managed to regain my continence so quickly.

So I really don’t think you should be worrying it’s your fault. I don’t think it is.

Hello everyone. Just a small update to say that I'm going for my op (to repair bladder prolapse) next week. Timing wise it's really inconvenient but don't want to put it off any longer. I am equally excited and petrified 😁 sounds daft but for anyone who has had the op did things improve, umm, sexually? Been so focussed on the thought of improving my weeing abilities hadn't given much though to any other benefits! Also how were people's recovery times?

My mum had a repair after having me 52 years ago, and it’s still going strong.

littlecabbage what were the exercises you were given to relax/stretch the PF, if you don't mind me asking?

Good luck Randomusername01, let us know how you get on. I can’t give you any post surgical advice, but hopefully smeone will co,e alomg who can.

Ohyesiam Wow, that’s the best story so far! Do you know which kind of prolapses she had?

Drummingisfun Of course, I’ll try to post of pics of the sheets.....

Pelvic floor stretches. In the first picture, it is the three that are ticked (deep breathing, adductor/hip external rotation stretch, and pelvic tilts), then the “Happy Baby”pose from thr second picture.

I am told to do them prior to a set of pelvic floor exercises.

Thanks littlecabbage!

Hi - was wondering how many of you were initially misdiagnosed?

My tale of woe is thus: induction, long labour, episiotomy plus tearing, forceps. Been left with quite a few symptoms of anterior wall prolapse and I feel like I can see bulges both top and bottom.

Got referred to physio and they basically just said do PFEs - no prolapse.

Got a gynae referral and she said no prolapse - one of my bulges is apparently just a massive skin tag from the epi. Marvellous. And I have to get a bum scan as they suspect nerve damage to my rectum!

Anyway, both times I've been examined lying down which I know from mumsnet not ideal for prolapse detection. Willing to be told I'm paranoid but I just want to be totally sure of what's going on with my bits so I don't do any further damage. I exercised a lot before having a baby but now feel I can only go swimming.

Gynae referred me for more physio so I hope this round will be more helpful, still waiting for that referral. Overall 5 months on things have improved hugely but so hard to tell if my aches and pains are scar tissue, breastfeeding, or a combo of everything!

I was examined lying down by the physio, and I must admit, did wonder if the true extent of my prolapses was revealed. I am considering asking to be examined stood up at my next appointment, although I am happy to say that things feel a bit better after a couple of weeks of following her advice.

I was examined lying down but she asked me to cough and I think that’s when she could really tell.

Yes, I was asked to cough several times.

Hello everyone, currently sitting in a hospital bed with a fair bit of discomfort. Dr has confirmed the 5kg for life rule this morning. Can't get my head around how this works in real life !

Hey Randomusername01, so you’ve had the surgery? Sorry to hear you’re uncomfortable. Can you ask for more pain relief? How long will you be in hospital?

I had surgery this afternoon. It's between pain and discomfort. They pack your vag with a bag which in turn is pressing on my bladder. It's only temp till tomorrow but I'm just feeling sorry for myself 😁 will get out either tomorrow or day after, depending how well I recover.

Hmmm, bag-in-vag doesn't sound great but hopefully it'll be worth it. Do you mind me asking what kind of prolapse you had, and what kind of surgery was performed?

It was a bladder prolapse but because I'm relatively young/local nhs spent all the cash/New procedures they have just stitched up my pelvic floor. Dr said that before they would have also slung up my bladder at the same time but now they do one, see how that gets on then, if needs be sling around the bladder.

I see, thanks. Hope you have a comfortable night and a good recovery.