Any old prolapse! Uterus/womb prolapse, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, urethrocele, incontinence, pelvic floor, anterior and posterior repair, TVT etc part 5

[Piplysmelie]

This is thread 3 of a long-running series of posts from ladies suffering from pelvic prolapses to support each other through the process of diagnosis, repair and recovery.

Here are the previous threads:
Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 5


Info from BBC Health

What is a pelvic prolapse?

As the muscles, ligaments and supporting tissues in the pelvis become weaker, they are less able to hold in the organs of the pelvis such as the womb (uterus) or bladder.

Gravity pulls these organs down and, in the more severe cases, may appear through the entrance to the vagina.

A variety of problems can occur, depending on where the weakness lies and which organs are able to descend, but in every case there is some degree of prolapse of the vaginal wall, which begins to invert (rather like a sock turning inside out).
Prolapse of the womb or uterus is the most common prolapse, affecting as many as one in eight older women to some degree
Prolapse of the bladder, known as a cystocele, is less common.
Prolapse of the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder) is known as a urethrocele.
Prolapse of the intestines is quite rare, and known as an enterocele or rectocele.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on which tissues descend, and how severe the prolapse is.

They may include:
A sense of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis.
The appearance of a bulge of tissue in the genital area, which can be quite alarming, and is often red and sore.
Urinary problems, such as having to urinate more frequently, feeling the need urgently, being incontinent (losing control of the bladder) or, conversely, being unable to pass urine when you need to.
Pain in the pelvis or lower back.
Sexual problems, including pain and decreased libido.
Constipation.
Vaginal discharge or bleeding.

Treatment and recovery

Once a prolapse has developed, surgery to fix the affected organs is usually the only way to cure it effectively.

However, another option is to use a device known as a vaginal ring pessary. This is rather like a contraceptive diaphragm or cervical cap. It's made of silicone or latex, and placed in the vagina to push back the prolapsed organs and hold them in place. Many women happily manage their prolapse this way.

[Piplysmelie]

Oops this is thread 5 and thread 5 above is actually thread 4!

Welcome everyone

[surewoman]

Yey - well done!!! xxx Doesn't matter if we are out of sinc with numbering our threads - a view to the future, that's all!

[surewoman]

Which thread is this? I'm really confused now as I thought we had only got up to 4 ... My favourites bar is all in a muddle!!!
How are you today Pip?

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Never mind about the numbers, thanks for starting the new thread.

I am still lurking and taking note of every word while I wait for my surgery but nothing particular to report at the moment. Am giving a lot of thought to this business of having posterior and anterior repairs done together or separately though.

[wouldratherbeskiing]

Thanks Pip - I would hate to lose touch.

Gail - sorry you couldn't get an appointment before Sept. I have 15 days left on a fit to work certificate stating light duties so will be in touch with my GP just before to renew certificate and hope to set the ball rolling.

[fengirl1]

Checking in!

[Piplysmelie]

Good today thanks for asking, hope everyone is well too.

I should have said this is Thread 5 and the link for Thread 5 above is actually the link for Thread 4. Yes as a group we have managed to write nearly 5000 posts!

[roseanna1]

Well done Pip :)

Well after getting all worked up about my appt, he wouldn't even look! Said he doesn't want to disturb things and will do a thorough investigation at the six week point, but meantime I should be aware that there will still be swelling etc as only 3 wks post op. Kinda like my good friends on this site have been telling me I guess :)

So onto the bladder side of things: I had promised an update on the bladder retraining, but unfortunately didn't get that far. He asked me if there was any difference to the incontinence after the rectocele surgery and I said I wasn't sure so have a 3 day bladder diary to complete and then he will assess that and decide on the best course of action at the 6 wk point.

Sorry I don't have a better update - maybe in a few weeks :o

[Gailjen5]

Checking in :)

[surewoman]

Roseanna - glad he's taking you seriously x

Fen - did you have to take metranidazol ab's for your infections?? GP gave me the wrong ab's (augmentin) which are apparently known to give you thrush, so that should be interesting, coupled with my period which is any day now!!! (ow, ow, ow!!?). How are you today?

What's happened to shattered?

[Livelongandprosper]

A new thread!

Thanks everyone for replying to my previous post. Having put my fears out there in black and white I feel more positive now about tackling the consultant a third time. When something's making me anxious I tend to refuse to face up to it - I must try to remember it's not a technique that does me any good at all as you can't get moral support from anyone if no one knows you need it.

As they're wheeling me into theatre I shall be shouting "Don't forget the bloody rectocele!"

Roseanna1 - this might sound a bit silly, but what do you record in a bladder diary? Is it just the frequency or are you also measuring your output? Are you recording the urgency factor as well?

Shattered, are you there? How are you?

Bestist wishes to all for a continued speedy recovery.

[roseanna1]

Hi livelong, I've to write down when I go to the loo; whether there was mild, moderate or severe urgency; any wetness and any leaking between visits. He said volume was not necessary.

There are apparently pro forma templates they normally use but he couldn't find any so said just to make my own one up. Am thinking colour coordinated spreadsheet :o

[surewoman]

Roseanna - you can download a form on the urology website (sorry, can't remember the name of the site) - it's called a bladder chart I think x

Shattered, where are you?

Livelong - I dare you to shout that! just to see the look on their faces!

[Livelongandprosper]

Roseanna - I don't know what it is about the idea of a colour-coordinated spreadsheet but it's really making me titter

Surewoman - Perhaps I could leave him a little surprise note hidden behind the cystocele. Imagine my consultant's gratitude for the reminder when he finds my note mid-repair and unrolls it to see "Don't forget the bloody rectocele" in my best handwriting

[surewoman]

Livelong - Fantastic idea ! Ouch my stitches for laughing! Why don't you, just for a joke and see if he mentions it. (tampax applicator necessary me thinks!) xxx

[wouldratherbeskiing]

love that idea - a bit like a party popper with a 'pull here' tag with message - or you know how they write on the bits for the op, say if a knee op - you could write a reminder message up the top of your legs. Love the creative thinking on this forum.

[Skinikki]

Checking in. Day 4 post op and feel remarkably pain free (apart from the bms which seem to have gone from one extreme to the other if you know what I mean!) big bruises starting to come through now. May just have to have a look down there tomorrow! Fingers crossed for all of you who are waiting/ trying to get appointments/ getting yourselves heard. This thread has been a real comfort for me throughout the whole experience so far. Thank you to all. :-)

[fengirl1]

Hello to all. Will come on and reply properly but just wanted to say - Roseanna - the coloured columns sound great, but leave off the brown one lol! Sure, yes I had metronidazole at one point, with augmentin as well as I had BV and a weird type of strep too. Met left a horrible taste in my mouth and I didn't appreciate being on enforced booze strike for nine days (apparently you need to leave two days after finishing). As this didn't clear the infection I then at some point had metronidazole gel with penicillin tablets. (Six lots of ab's, one lot of AB cream and one of gel - no wonder I can't remember what happened when exactly!) If you don't feel the ab's have cleared it when you have finished them, ask for some more and if it goes on too long ask for a scan! Infection definitely increased pain - I have only stopped taking them regularly about three weeks ago.

[shattered00]

Hi all just a quick one to say I am still alive & kicking. Thanks for asking after me. Have not been able to get on here due to tech difficulties. So, have not caught up on where everyone is but sounds like good news (at last) for you sure-so pleased you are finally getting the treatment and results you deserve. Skinniki-great to hear all going well so far for you. Fen-my tap has been strapped to my leg so not tucked in pants-oh the glamour we ladies get to enjoy! Well, its day 7 for me. Had to have a catheter trial all day today (basically catheter removed and then have to wee, have wee measured and have bladder scanned to see if emptying properly). My bladder is still a bit 'reluctant': flow is slower and feel like I have to 'push' to wee but I am told this is normal and will improve. Had the joy of being taught how to self catheterise just in case, which involved a thorough examination 'down there' sooner than I would have liked. The good news is its looking good and SO much better than pre op (even the nurse said my 'anatomy' was nice compared to many she sees! Still lots of healing to do but was a bit scared what I might find when I looked! So, what else, BM are still pretty painful and they are not even big or hard(sorry gross I know!). Am continuing to take stool softener daily (milpar) and use supps occasionally. The thought of doing a 'proper' poo at moment makes me cringe. When will this settle down? Apparently its all internal bruising. Am a bit achey down there and feel pressure in my bum area. Sitting is not comfortable! Still, early days and hope I am now on the up!

[Skinikki]

Ah Shattered, sounds like things are finally going in the right direction for you. Although I had my catheter out I still feel like everything is really under pressure when I go as if being squeezed through a really small tube. I suppose it's all the swelling. I also go in two stages now. Don't know if this will continue or will return to normal as time goes on! Re the bm's I was more uncomfortable with this than anything. I did opt for some snack bags of dried prunes which really did the trick although yesterday I went from one extreme to the other. I feel so much more comfortable this morning though and sitting isn't as painful because of it. I just hope I don't go back to the other extreme again! Just drink loads and try the prunes, they aren't as bad as you think! :-)
Am going to try and go for a bit of a walk today as am going stir crazy, not sure hubby will let me out though!! He's being a very good nurse though so I mustn't complain :-) Hope you all have had a comfortable night. Look forward to catching up.
Oh and Wouldrather, the consultant said there was no reason at all that I couldnt resume my skiing once everything had healed properly. About 16 wks for something strenuous but depends on the individual and how much you've had done :-). Out of interest, where do you ski??

[Piplysmelie]

Awful cold today just trying to limit pressure on pelvic floor with sneezing and coughing.

Glad things seem to be going well for most.

[Skinikki]

Poor you Pip! Try inhaling with vics or albas oil, should help loosen it all up. X

[fengirl1]

Pip, I hope you're feeling a bit better. How about trying a decongestant to dry up the err mucus??

Sure - hope you're now on the road to recovery.

Just had a very interesting phone call with hosp... Apparent shock that no-one's assessed my muscles (how they decided I needed physio in the first place is a question that springs to mind, but hey). They will give me an appt at the 'complex' clinic but won't be til sept. Nurse then went on to say they won't touch me surgically for a YEAR because of the problems I've had (like I caused them??) As you can imagine I'm quite and rather about it all. Sure how long was it between your repair ops? I would like to be armed with this info ready for the appt.

[wouldratherbeskiing]

Skinikki - Thanks for info, that's very encouraging. I used to ski regularly at the Christchurch dryslope in Dorset and go to the alps before Christmas as it is the cheap week!!! Booked for January next year so this is another reason why I may hold out on next repair and be 'done' after the holiday. I couldn't have contemplated this with the rectocele but so far the cystocele isn't so bad (for now!!!) I am quite at home on the snow - it is just the lifting of skis with lifts etc. I must admit I'm losing confidence in my body and wonder how confident I'll be going once fully repaired - I'm so afraid of undoing things. Pleased things are settling down for you. My experience of BM's mirrored yours - one extreme to the other. I nibbled on prunes, dried apricots etc and even now am careful to keep up with fibre etc. Just don't want to go there ever again!

Pip - oh crikey sneezing and coughing. Hope you recover from your cold soon.

Shattered - good to have an update and that there is some improvement.

Fen - I want a magic wand for you

A better day for me - much more comfortable after last week's bleeding.

[Skinikki]

Wouldrather........you will know Dave (head race coach) and Jen Carpenter then?? Very good friends of mine, have known them for 10 !! Small world :-) Am sure you will be fine with the skiing. My consultant said for the first six weeks I couldn't lift anything that made me change the expression on my face. After that it would be ok to lift things a little heavier. By the time you go I am sure you will be fine :-)