So I'd commented on someone else's post a few weeks ago that I was about to go and have POP (pelvic organ prolapse) repair surgery. That was 8 weeks ago so I wanted to share how it went. I had level 2 anterior and posterior prolapses after 3 large babies and I'd been putting up with the prolapses for about 7 years and no amount of pelvic exercises had helped. I couldn't run or jump as I'd soak myself and needed to get up to the loo several times a night. I'm nearly 46. That was very depressing as I used to enjoy running a lot but not being soaked to my knees after 5km!
Anyway, the surgery went to plan and I had one night in hospital with a catheter in overnight. I had to take paracetamol for a few days afterwards and needed a lot of bedrest. I was a bit teary on day 3 when all the anaesthetic wore off, but I kept drinking water and sleeping when I needed to. I also ate a lot of prunes to help with that side of things :-)
My husband arranged to work from home for 3 weeks so he could do the school run etc. By 3 weeks afterwards I felt more like myself but I definitely didn't want to drive yet or walk too far. I have been doing physio exercises from Michelle Kenway's You Tube channel (I also bought her book) to help things along. It took until about 6 weeks for me to feel the stitches were getting there and I returned to work then too (I only work part-time with no long commute). I was driving again after the Christmas school holidays, so by week 5, although out of necessity rather than choice. I'd have preferred to wait until week 6 as I need to drive on small, bumpy country lanes.
I was very glad I had it done, it's been transformative. I no longer have to wee anything like as often and feel that I can empty my bladder properly when I go. I had my consultant checkup today and he said the rectocele was looking firm but the cystocele had descended slightly (I knew that had happened as I'd been lifting heavy laundry in week 3 when I really shouldn't have been).
I'm going to visit a women's health physio to help with that, continue with my exercises at home and use my pelvic toner - I use one that's recommended for use with a prolapse.
I'd be happy to answer any more questions about the surgery. I know lots of people on here have expressed fear about the surgical route. It was a last resort for me as I had tried to cure it myself with exercise but as my gynae explained, the position of my prolapses was such that pelvic floor exercises weren't ever going to help that much (they were sited below where the pelvic floor sits).